News/Leadership
Whatcha gon’ do? Friend AI CEO embraces vandalized subway ads as marketing strategy
Friend AI startup CEO Avi Schiffmann is embracing the backlash from his company's controversial New York City subway advertising campaign, even posing for photos in front of the heavily vandalized billboards. The 22-year-old executive claims the negative reaction was intentional, designed to spark conversation about Friend's AI pendant that constantly listens to users and sends AI-generated text responses. What you should know: Friend's subway ads became targets for public frustration, with vandals covering the white billboards with handwritten criticism. "Befriend something alive," one person wrote, while another scrawled "AI wouldn't care if you lived or died." A third vandal warned:...
read Oct 7, 2025Not all GOP are gung-ho on AI: Florida’s DeSantis pushes insurance regulation, industry resists
Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing for AI regulation in Florida despite insurance industry lobbyists arguing that existing state laws already adequately govern artificial intelligence use in their sector. The debate highlights a growing tension between proactive AI oversight and industry claims that current regulatory frameworks are sufficient to manage emerging technologies. What you should know: Insurance industry representatives told a Florida House subcommittee that AI tools are already subject to the same legal standards as human decision-makers. "Any decision made or any action taken by an insurance company, be it by a person, a human, an AI platform, all of...
read Oct 7, 2025Jony Ive’s screenless AI device aims to fix our toxic tech relationship
Former Apple designer Jony Ive offered his first public comments about his mysterious AI hardware project with OpenAI, revealing that the device aims to address the "overwhelm and despair" caused by current technology. Speaking at OpenAI's developer conference, Ive suggested his upcoming device will prioritize user well-being over productivity, marking a potential shift away from the addictive design patterns that have defined modern smartphones and social media. What they're saying: Ive expressed deep concerns about humanity's relationship with current technology during his appearance. "I don't think we have an easy relationship with our technology at the moment," Ive told the...
read Oct 7, 2025Affable “MrBeast” warns AI video tools pose frightening threat to creators
MrBeast, the world's biggest YouTuber with over 330 million subscribers, has expressed concerns that AI video generation tools pose a "scary" threat to the millions of creators who make their living on the platform. His comments, posted on social media, specifically questioned what would happen to creators "when AI videos are just as good as normal videos," highlighting growing anxiety within the creator economy about AI's potential to automate content production. What you should know: MrBeast's concerns center on recent advances in AI video generation, particularly OpenAI's Sora tool released last week, which can create fully-formed videos from simple text...
read Oct 6, 2025Robin Williams’ daughter asks fans to stop sending AI videos of late father
Robin Williams' daughter Zelda Williams has publicly asked fans to stop sending her AI-generated videos of her late father, calling the practice "gross" and "personally disturbing." The filmmaker's emotional Instagram story posts highlight growing concerns about AI's use of deceased celebrities' likenesses without consent, particularly as the technology becomes more accessible for creating deepfake content. What they're saying: Zelda Williams delivered a pointed message to those creating and sharing AI recreations of her father. "Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad," she wrote. "Stop believing I wanna see it or that I'll understand, I don't and I won't."...
read Oct 6, 2025Sen. Chuck Grassley demands answers from federal judges over AI court ruling errors
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is demanding answers from two federal judges about whether they used artificial intelligence to draft court rulings that contained serious errors. The Republican senator from Iowa sent letters Monday to judges who withdrew flawed orders in July, marking the first high-profile congressional inquiry into potential AI misuse by the federal judiciary itself. What you should know: Grassley targeted U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals in New Jersey and U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate in Mississippi, both of whom withdrew written rulings after lawyers identified factual inaccuracies and other serious errors.• The senator asked...
read Oct 6, 2025Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu unveils roadmap to artificial superintelligence
Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu announced the company's "Roadmap to Artificial Superintelligence" at the Alibaba Cloud conference in Hangzhou, making Alibaba the first major Chinese tech giant to explicitly invoke artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI). This marks a notable shift in China's AI strategy, challenging Western perceptions that Chinese companies focus primarily on practical AI applications rather than pursuing advanced AI capabilities that could rival or surpass human intelligence. What you should know: Wu's presentation outlined Alibaba's vision for developing AI systems that match and then exceed human cognitive abilities. "Achieving AGI — an intelligent system with general...
read Oct 6, 2025Consulting firm Emergn appoints first Chief AI Officer to accelerate enterprise solutions
Emergn, a global consulting firm that has been developing AI and machine learning solutions since 2015, has appointed Aldis Erglis as its first Chief AI Officer. This executive appointment signals the company's commitment to accelerating AI-driven product development and positioning artificial intelligence as a core growth engine alongside its established consulting services. What you should know: Erglis brings over two decades of technological innovation experience and will lead Emergn's comprehensive AI strategy across all operations. He previously served as Emergn's Vice President of Technology Strategy, where he supported clients in digital transformation and AI initiatives while leading the Machine Learning...
read Oct 3, 2025Bot bucks: Reflexivity CEO predicts AI will replace human financial advisors
Jan Szilagyi, CEO of financial technology company Reflexivity, predicts that AI tools will eventually replace human financial advisors entirely. His bold assertion comes as the financial services industry grapples with increasing automation and the potential for artificial intelligence to reshape traditional advisory relationships. What you should know: Szilagyi's company has developed AI-powered chatbot technology designed to provide financial guidance and advisory services. The CEO appeared on CNBC's 'Power Lunch' to discuss his vision for AI's role in financial planning and wealth management. Reflexivity is positioning itself at the forefront of this technological shift, betting that automated solutions will prove more...
read Oct 3, 2025EU chief pushes for self-driving car network to rival US and China
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a continent-wide push to develop self-driving cars during Italian Tech Week in Turin, positioning artificial intelligence as a key solution for reviving Europe's struggling automotive sector. Her "AI first" strategy aims to help European automakers catch up with competitors in the United States and China while improving road safety and preserving millions of jobs across the region. What she's proposing: Von der Leyen outlined an ambitious plan to establish Europe as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology through coordinated action across member states. She proposed creating a network of European cities...
read Oct 3, 2025Bezos warns AI is in an “industrial bubble” but says tech is real, will endure
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos declared artificial intelligence is currently in an "industrial bubble" during Italian Tech Week, comparing the current AI investment frenzy to the dotcom crash of 2000. Despite the bubble conditions, Bezos emphasized that AI technology is "real" and will deliver "gigantic" benefits to society once the market stabilizes. What you should know: Bezos identified classic bubble characteristics currently present in the AI industry, including inflated valuations and indiscriminate funding. Stock prices have become "disconnected from the fundamentals" of businesses, with investors struggling to distinguish between good and bad ideas amid the excitement. He cited examples of six-person...
read Oct 2, 2025Meanwhile, a half world away, Telegram founder unveils decentralized AI lab serving 1B+ users
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced the opening of a new AI lab in Astana at Kazakhstan's Digital Bridge forum, marking a significant expansion of the messaging platform's AI capabilities. The lab will focus on developing decentralized AI technology that combines artificial intelligence with blockchain, potentially serving Telegram's billion-plus users while positioning Kazakhstan as a central hub for East-West technological collaboration. The big picture: The Digital Bridge forum showcased Kazakhstan's emergence as a major AI development center, with world leaders and tech executives emphasizing the country's strategic position to bridge Eastern and Western innovation.• Hungary's President Tamás Sulyok highlighted how Kazakhstan...
read Oct 2, 2025Electropop act Imogen Heap embraces AI as “next stage of evolution” in music
Pop-electronica musician Imogen Heap recently opened up about her creative journey, upcoming projects, and controversial embrace of AI technology in a wide-ranging Q&A with The Guardian. The conversation reveals an artist who has consistently pushed boundaries—from remortgaging her flat to fund her breakthrough album to now advocating for AI as "the next stage of evolution" in music creation. What you should know: Heap's 2005 album "Speak For Yourself" was entirely self-funded after a disappointing major label experience, and her song "Hide and Seek" has found new life on TikTok two decades later. She remortgaged her £120,000 Waterloo flat when it...
read Oct 2, 2025Ballerin-AI: Former Macedonian ballet dancer uses tech to transform performance training in Georgia
Former professional ballet dancer Milka Trajkova is now using artificial intelligence to transform dance training and performance analysis at Georgia Tech's Expressive Machinery Lab. Her research bridges the gap between artistic movement and data science, creating AI tools that help dancers perfect their technique while making dance training more accessible and precise. What you should know: Trajkova's journey from ballet dancer to AI researcher began when a toe injury ended her performing career at age 20 with the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. She discovered human-computer interaction (HCI) while studying information systems management, which she describes as "a fusion of design,...
read Oct 2, 2025“Squid Game” creator invests $3M in AI startup to unlock film archives
Hwang Dong-hyuk, creator of "Squid Game," has invested $3 million through his Firstman Studio in TwelveLabs, a San Francisco-based AI company specializing in video production technology. The partnership positions the entertainment industry to leverage AI for faster content creation while addressing concerns about technology replacing human creativity. What you should know: TwelveLabs focuses on enhancing existing video content rather than generating new material from scratch. The company's system "indexes and enriches video metadata down to the scene level, enabling editors, directors, and producers to work with unprecedented speed and precision while maintaining creative control." Co-founded by Jae Lee and Soyoung...
read Oct 2, 2025James Cameron says AI will never replace human artists’ “flow” in filmmaking
James Cameron is breaking his usual post-release moratorium to revisit "Avatar: The Way of Water" ahead of its October 3 theatrical re-release, driven by the need to maintain thematic consistency with the upcoming third film, "Avatar: Fire and Ash," set for December release. The director also revealed his evolving approach to visual effects production and expressed strong views on generative AI's role in filmmaking, emphasizing that "we need our artists" and that AI "is never going to take the place" of human creativity. What you should know: Cameron has fundamentally changed how he approaches visual effects work, creating what he...
read Oct 1, 2025SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin targets AI actress in upcoming talent agent talks
SAG-AFTRA's newly elected president Sean Astin is taking a firm stance on AI performer Tilly Norwood, the synthetic actress created by Particle6 that has attracted interest from major talent agencies. The union plans to address AI representation directly with the Association of Talent Agents during upcoming negotiations, signaling an escalation in Hollywood's battle over artificial intelligence compensation and performer protections. What you should know: Astin emphasized that SAG-AFTRA has been preparing for AI challenges long before the Tilly Norwood controversy emerged. "We had a 118-day strike, fighting very hard to put AI provisions and protections in place. The teams at...
read Oct 1, 2025Everyone an Edison: Ex-OpenAI CTO launches Tinker to democratize AI model fine-tuning
Thinking Machines Lab, the heavily funded AI startup cofounded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has launched Tinker, a tool that automates the creation of custom frontier AI models through fine-tuning. The product represents the company's bet that democratizing access to advanced model customization will be the next major frontier in artificial intelligence development. What you should know: Tinker allows businesses, researchers, and hobbyists to fine-tune cutting-edge AI models without managing complex infrastructure or specialized software tools. Users can currently fine-tune two open source models: Meta's Llama and Alibaba's Qwen through supervised learning or reinforcement learning methods. The tool abstracts...
read Oct 1, 2025Bollywood super couple sues Google over AI-generated deepfakes
Bollywood power couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have filed a legal petition asking Indian courts to protect their "personality rights" and prevent AI-generated content that uses their likenesses. The case specifically targets YouTube's parent company Google, demanding safeguards to prevent their images from being used to train AI models, potentially setting a significant precedent for celebrity image rights in the AI era. What you should know: The actors are challenging YouTube's policy that allows certain videos to be used as training material for third-party AI generation models.• They argue this practice contributes to the spread of false information...
read Oct 1, 2025Microsoft reorganizes its leadership files to intensify AI development efforts
Microsoft has appointed Chief Commercial Officer Judson Althoff as CEO of commercial business, allowing CEO Satya Nadella to focus more heavily on technical development as the company intensifies its AI competition efforts. The reorganization creates a new unified organization combining sales, marketing, and operations under Althoff's leadership while freeing Nadella to concentrate on datacenter buildout, systems architecture, AI science, and product innovation. What you should know: Althoff will lead a comprehensive commercial leadership team that spans multiple business functions. The new team includes leaders from engineering, sales, marketing, operations, and finance, creating a unified approach to Microsoft's commercial strategy. Althoff...
read Oct 1, 2025“Disquiet on the set!” Italian producer unveils first AI-directed feature film amid industry pushback
Italian producer Andrea Iervolino has unveiled The Sweet Idleness, what he claims is the first feature film directed by an artificial intelligence system called FellinAI. The project arrives amid intensifying industry debate over AI's role in filmmaking, particularly following recent controversy surrounding AI actress Tilly Norwood's potential talent agency representation. What you should know: FellinAI operates as a virtual director designed to "celebrate the poetic and dreamlike language of great European cinema." The AI system is housed at Andrea Iervolino Company AI, with Iervolino serving as the "human-in-the-loop" supervisor and producer who guides and monitors the technology. The Sweet Idleness...
read Sep 30, 2025Denver appoints first-ever chief AI officer to transform city services
Denver CIO Suma Nallapati will expand her role to become the city's first chief artificial intelligence and information officer (CAIO), a move Mayor Mike Johnston says positions Denver as a leader in municipal AI adoption. This new role reflects the growing importance of AI in city operations and the need for dedicated leadership to ensure responsible implementation across government services. What you should know: Nallapati, who has served as Denver's CIO since 2023, will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive AI strategy for the city and county.• Her expanded responsibilities include creating policies around AI governance and equity...
read Sep 30, 2025Bad therapists are making AI substitutes feel superior by default, argues expert
A psychotherapist argues that AI therapy tools are gaining popularity not because they're superior to human therapy, but because modern therapists have abandoned effective practices in favor of endless validation and emotional coddling. This shift has created dangerous gaps in mental health care, as evidenced by tragic cases like Sophie Rottenberg, who confided suicidal plans to ChatGPT before taking her own life in February, receiving only comfort rather than intervention. The core problem: Modern therapy has drifted away from building resilience and challenging patients, instead prioritizing validation and emotional protection at all costs. Therapist training now emphasizes affirming feelings and...
read Sep 29, 2025Survey: 73% of CIOs now use Macs primarily for AI processing
Apple Macs are gaining significant traction in enterprise IT environments, with 73% of CIOs now citing AI processing as the primary use case for Apple hardware according to a new MacStadium survey of 300 chief information officers. This shift represents a fundamental change from Macs' traditional role in creative work and app development, positioning them as critical infrastructure for AI workloads as enterprises prioritize artificial intelligence capabilities. What you should know: Enterprise adoption of Mac infrastructure is accelerating rapidly across multiple dimensions.• Apple technologies now account for an average of 63% of enterprise endpoints, with nearly all respondents (96%) expecting...
read