News/Image
Forget the dressing room, Google adds AI-generated clothing images and virtual try-on to shopping search
Google is launching two new AI-powered shopping features this fall: an AI Mode that generates synthetic clothing and decor images to help users find real products, and a virtual try-on tool that shows how clothes look on users' uploaded photos. These features represent Google's push to inject more generative AI into its Search shopping experience, potentially offering a more personalized and visually-driven approach to online retail discovery. What you should know: The AI Mode shopping feature will create synthetic images based on user descriptions to guide product recommendations more effectively than text-based searches alone.• Users searching for "a green flowy...
read Jul 23, 2025Google expands AI photo-to-video tools to Photos and YouTube Shorts
Google is expanding its AI-powered photo-to-video capabilities to Google Photos and YouTube Shorts, bringing the technology that debuted in its Gemini app to a broader audience. The rollout represents Google's push to democratize AI video generation tools, though these implementations come with more limitations than the original Gemini version. What you should know: The new features use Google's older Veo 2 video model rather than the more advanced Veo 3 that powers Gemini's photo-to-video tool. Google Photos users can create six-second video clips from still images, while YouTube Shorts allows variable clip lengths. Unlike Gemini, neither tool accepts custom prompts—users...
read Jul 22, 2025DroneDeploy’s Progress AI turns drone photos into instant construction reports
DroneDeploy has launched Progress AI, an artificial intelligence tool that analyzes drone imagery and 360-degree photos to generate instant construction progress reports. The AI tool transforms routine aerial mapping into premium analytics services, calculating completion percentages for every trade and floor in minutes rather than the days typically required for manual progress tracking. What you should know: Progress AI processes existing drone maps and 360-degree panoramas to create color-coded progress reports without requiring BIM model alignment or manual heat map creation. The system answers voice or chat queries like "How far along is Level 4 drywall?" by reading its "photographic...
read Jul 22, 2025“God this is nuts.” Florida police wrongfully arrest man using 93% AI facial recognition match.
Police in Florida wrongfully arrested Robert Dillon based on a 93% facial recognition match, charging him with attempting to lure a 12-year-old child despite his complete innocence. The case highlights growing concerns about AI-powered policing tools that lack constitutional probable cause standards and enable law enforcement agencies to avoid accountability through jurisdictional buck-passing. What happened: The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Jacksonville Beach Police Department used facial recognition software to identify Dillon as a suspect in a November 2023 child luring case, leading to his arrest in August 2024. AI software flagged Dillon as a "93 percent match" to surveillance footage...
read Jul 21, 2025MIT researchers show image tokenizers can generate pictures without AI generators
MIT researchers have discovered that image tokenizers—neural networks typically used only to compress visual data—can actually generate and edit images without requiring traditional AI generators. The breakthrough could dramatically reduce computational costs for AI image creation while opening new possibilities for automated image manipulation. What you should know: The research team found that one-dimensional tokenizers can perform complex image operations by manipulating individual tokens within compressed image data. A 1D tokenizer can compress a 256x256-pixel image into just 32 tokens, with each token representing a 12-digit binary number offering about 4,000 possible combinations. By systematically replacing individual tokens, researchers discovered...
read Jul 21, 2025PDFgear Scan delivers free AI document scanning with OCR and math solving
Document scanning apps have become essential tools for modern professionals, but most force users into expensive subscription models for basic features like text recognition or multi-page PDF creation. PDFgear Scan, a new AI-powered scanning application, challenges this norm by offering enterprise-grade scanning capabilities completely free of charge. This comprehensive scanning solution goes beyond simple photo-to-PDF conversion, incorporating artificial intelligence to automatically classify documents, extract editable text, and even solve mathematical problems found within scanned materials. For business users juggling contracts, receipts, invoices, and other critical paperwork, PDFgear Scan represents a significant departure from the subscription-heavy alternatives that dominate the mobile...
read Jul 21, 2025Synth you’ve been gone: DuckDuckGo launches AI image blocker to combat synthetic search results
DuckDuckGo has launched a new feature that allows users to block AI-generated images from their search results, addressing growing frustration with "AI slop" cluttering image searches. The privacy-focused search engine admits the tool "isn't perfect" but promises to "greatly reduce the number of AI-generated images you see," using manually curated open-source blocklists to filter synthetic content. How it works: The feature relies on established content-blocking technology and offers multiple ways to access cleaner search results. Users can toggle the AI image filter on or off through a dropdown menu in DuckDuckGo's Images tab after conducting a search. For consistent AI-free...
read Jul 18, 2025NYPD taps FDNY to bypass facial recognition ban
The NYPD circumvented its facial recognition ban by using the New York Fire Department to identify a pro-Palestinian protester at Columbia University, according to court documents and a recent lawsuit. The arrangement allowed police to access Clearview AI facial recognition technology and DMV records that are typically restricted under NYPD policy, raising significant concerns about surveillance oversight and government accountability. What happened: Fire marshals used Clearview AI to identify Zuhdi Ahmed, a 21-year-old CUNY pre-med student, after he was accused of throwing a rock at a pro-Israeli protester during April 2024 demonstrations at Columbia University. The FDNY searched social media...
read Jul 18, 2025Study reveals 12.8B-image AI dataset contains millions of personal documents
A new study reveals that DataComp CommonPool, one of the largest open-source AI training datasets with 12.8 billion samples, contains millions of images with personally identifiable information including passports, credit cards, birth certificates, and identifiable faces. The findings highlight a fundamental privacy crisis in AI development, as researchers estimate hundreds of millions of personal documents may be embedded in datasets used to train popular image generation models like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney. What you should know: Researchers audited just 0.1% of CommonPool's data and found thousands of validated identity documents and over 800 job application materials linked to real people....
read Jul 18, 2025ChatGPT may watermark AI images for free users only
OpenAI is testing watermarks on AI-generated images in ChatGPT, with evidence found in the Android beta version suggesting the feature may be limited to free users. The move could represent a significant shift in how AI companies monetize their image generation services, potentially forcing users to upgrade to paid plans to avoid watermarked content. What you should know: The watermark feature was discovered through code references and beta testing, though its final implementation remains unclear. Android Authority spotted a "save without watermark" option in the latest ChatGPT beta for Android, originally identified by X user Tibor Blaho who found "image-gen-watermark-for-free"...
read Jul 16, 2025Let $17 AI headshots replace the $300 photography sesh
ResumePhoto AI has launched a premium package offering professional headshots generated by artificial intelligence for $16.97, down from its regular $29 price. The service allows users to create LinkedIn-ready professional portraits without hiring a photographer, targeting professionals who need quality headshots for networking, interviews, and social media profiles. How it works: Users upload at least eight casual selfies with good lighting, and the AI generates dozens of high-resolution professional headshots within five minutes. The platform offers various realistic outfits ranging from suits to sweaters and backdrops from offices to parks to suit different industries. All uploaded photos are automatically deleted...
read Jul 16, 2025Microsoft Copilot Vision now scans entire computer screens
Microsoft is expanding Copilot Vision's capabilities to scan entire computer screens, not just individual apps. The AI tool can now analyze everything on a user's desktop or any specific browser or app window, representing a significant upgrade from its previous limitation of viewing only two apps simultaneously. What you should know: Copilot Vision now provides comprehensive desktop analysis through an opt-in screen sharing approach. Users can activate the feature by clicking the glasses icon in the Copilot app and selecting which desktop they want the AI to analyze. The tool can "help analyze content, provide insights, and answer your questions,...
read Jul 15, 2025IronyWatch: Microsoft’s AI job ad for designers contains obvious flaws any human would catch
A Microsoft Xbox employee used a poorly generated AI image to advertise graphic designer positions, featuring glaring errors like code appearing on the back of a computer monitor and disconnected hardware. The post has drawn widespread criticism and viral attention, particularly given that Microsoft laid off over 9,000 employees just weeks earlier, including many from the Xbox division. The big picture: The incident highlights the growing tension between AI automation and creative jobs, especially when companies use AI tools to replace the very positions they're trying to fill. What went wrong: The AI-generated image contained multiple obvious flaws that any...
read Jul 14, 2025Claude creates and edits Canva designs through chat prompts
Anthropic's Claude chatbot can now create, edit, and manage Canva designs through natural language prompts, marking the first AI assistant to support Canva design workflows via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). The integration enables users to handle design tasks like creating presentations, resizing images, and filling templates without leaving their Claude conversation, representing a significant step toward AI-first creative workflows. What you should know: The feature requires both paid subscriptions—Canva Pro starting at $15 monthly and Claude at $17 monthly—and uses Canva's MCP server launched last month. Users can create presentations, resize images, and automatically fill premade templates using text...
read Jul 10, 2025Google’s Gemini AI now turns photos into 8-second videos with audio
Google has launched a new Gemini AI feature that transforms photos into video clips using its Veo 3 video model. The feature generates eight-second videos complete with AI-generated audio, including background noises, environmental sounds, and speech that sync to the visuals, expanding Google's AI capabilities beyond text and static images. What you should know: The photo-to-video capability is now available to Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers in select regions, rolling out on web today and mobile devices throughout the week. Users access the feature by clicking "tools" in the prompt bar, selecting "video," and uploading their photo alongside a...
read Jul 10, 2025AI-generated child abuse imagery surges 400% in first half of 2025
Reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery have surged 400% in the first half of 2025, according to new data from the Internet Watch Foundation, a UK-based nonprofit that monitors illegal content online. The alarming increase highlights how readily available artificial intelligence tools are being weaponized to create illegal content that is often indistinguishable from real footage, forcing authorities to treat it as actual abuse material under UK law. The stark numbers: The Internet Watch Foundation recorded 210 webpages containing AI-generated child abuse material in the first six months of 2025, compared to just 42 in the same period the...
read Jul 10, 2025Safecracking Cambridge researchers undermine artist anti-AI defenses with new tool
University of Cambridge researchers have developed LightShed, a proof-of-concept tool that can effectively strip away anti-AI protections from digital artwork, neutralizing defenses like Glaze and Nightshade that artists use to prevent their work from being scraped for AI training. The technology represents a significant escalation in the ongoing battle between artists seeking to protect their intellectual property and AI companies needing training data, potentially undermining the digital defenses that 7.5 million artists have downloaded to safeguard their work. The big picture: LightShed demonstrates that current artist protection tools may provide only temporary security, as AI researchers can develop countermeasures that...
read Jul 2, 2025False, flagged: Maine police caught using AI to fake drug bust photo on Facebook
The Westbrook Maine Police Department posted an AI-generated image of a supposed drug bust on Facebook, then doubled down and falsely claimed it was real when called out by residents. The incident highlights growing concerns about law enforcement's understanding of AI technology and the potential for digital evidence manipulation. What happened: Police shared an obviously fake photo over the weekend featuring telltale AI artifacts like gibberish text on drug packaging and scales. • When AI-savvy locals immediately identified the image as artificial, the department posted a defensive follow-up insisting "this is NOT an AI-generated photo." • Officers claimed the "weird"...
read Jul 1, 2025Decades out, Napster relaunches as AI companion service with photorealistic avatars for $19/month
Napster has relaunched as an AI company offering "Napster Companions"—AI-generated agents with distinct personalities that users can chat with via video interfaces. The rebranded platform, owned by a Florida company that purchased the Napster name for $207 million in March, represents yet another reinvention of the once-famous file-sharing brand, this time targeting the growing market for personalized AI assistants. What you should know: The AI companions are designed to provide expertise across various domains, from cooking and finance to health and software development. Users pay $19 monthly or $219 annually for access, with the annual plan including a "Napster View"—a...
read Jul 1, 2025Google launches AI Mode search with animated Doodle across platforms
Google has launched a new Doodle promoting AI Mode, its enhanced search experience that uses artificial intelligence to deliver comprehensive results. The promotion appears across Google's homepage, Chrome New Tab pages, and mobile apps, featuring animated graphics that transform Google's logo letters into the company's gradient 'G' icon to symbolize how AI Mode combines and summarizes information. What you should know: The Doodle campaign represents Google's most visible push yet for AI Mode adoption, appearing in multiple formats across its platforms. On the US homepage, both signed-in and logged-out users see a bouncy animation where the Google wordmark letters combine...
read Jul 1, 2025Facebook tests AI access to your camera roll for content suggestions
Facebook is testing a new feature that allows Meta AI to access users' camera rolls to generate content suggestions, even for photos that haven't been uploaded to the platform yet. The feature, currently being tested in the US and Canada, represents a significant expansion of how social media companies can access personal data, potentially raising new privacy concerns as Meta seeks to compete for younger users who have been abandoning the platform. What you should know: Users encountering Facebook's Story feature are being prompted to enable "cloud processing" through a pop-up that grants Meta AI access to their entire camera...
read Jun 27, 2025Google Photos relaunches Ask Photos AI search with faster performance
Google Photos is officially rolling out Ask Photos, its AI-powered search feature, after pulling back beta testing earlier this month due to performance issues. The enhanced version now combines traditional search capabilities with AI functionality to deliver faster results for both simple and complex photo queries. What you should know: Ask Photos uses Google's Gemini AI models to understand natural language searches and provide more intuitive photo discovery. Users can make conversational queries like "suggest photos that'd make great phone backgrounds" or "what did I eat on my trip to Barcelona?" For the Barcelona food query, the AI identifies photo...
read Jun 27, 2025MrBeast backs off, removes $80 AI thumbnail tool after creator backlash
MrBeast has removed an AI-powered YouTube thumbnail generator from his platform after facing criticism from fellow creators who accused the tool of stealing their work. The world's most-subscribed YouTuber acknowledged he "missed the mark" with the $80-per-month tool and will replace it with links to human artists available for commission. What happened: The AI thumbnail generator allowed users to insert themselves into existing thumbnails and recreate other creators' work, sparking backlash from prominent YouTubers. PointCrow, a US streamer whose real name is Eric Morino, accused MrBeast of creating "something that can steal... hard work without a thought" and alleged the...
read Jun 24, 2025Google to launch 50+ AI satellites for 15-minute wildfire detection
Google has partnered with nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance and satellite manufacturer Muon Space to launch Fire Sat, a constellation of specialized wildfire-tracking satellites that will use AI to detect fires in their earliest stages. The initiative aims to deploy 50+ satellites by 2029, capturing images of fire-prone areas every 15 minutes and processing the data through Google's machine learning systems to distinguish actual fires from false positives like hot roofs or reflected sunlight. What you should know: Fire Sat represents Google's ambitious entry into space-based wildfire monitoring, combining satellite technology with AI processing to transform early fire detection. The first...
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