Sep 29, 2025

e-LOPE: Ohio Republican introduces bill that would ban humans from marrying AI

Ohio state Representative Thad Claggett has introduced legislation that would ban humans from marrying artificial intelligence systems and strip AI of any legal personhood status. The Republican lawmaker's House Bill 469, filed September 25, aims to establish clear legal boundaries as AI technology advances and sparks nationwide debates about the relationship between humans and machines. What you should know: The proposed law would explicitly classify AI systems as nonsentient and block them from gaining human-like legal rights. House Bill 469 would prohibit AI systems from being recognized as spouses, owning real estate, controlling intellectual property, or holding financial accounts. The...

read Sep 29, 2025

Claude Sonnet 4.5 leads AI coding race as Anthropic hits $500M revenue

Anthropic released Claude Sonnet 4.5 on Monday, positioning it as the world's best AI coding system and a significant leap forward in applied artificial intelligence. The new model arrives just four months after its predecessor, highlighting the startup's aggressive product development pace as it seeks to maintain its lead in AI-powered software development—a market where its Claude Code product is already generating more than $500 million in run-rate revenue. What you should know: Sonnet 4.5 delivers state-of-the-art results on SWE-Bench Verified, a standard benchmark for evaluating software engineering performance. The model enhances code reliability, refactoring judgment, and production-readiness compared to...

read Sep 29, 2025

AI bilingual platform helps Hispanic homebuyers navigate mortgage barriers

The nonprofit Hispanic Organization of Mortgage Experts (HOME) has launched a bilingual AI platform that helps loan officers navigate mortgage requirements for Hispanic homebuyers who face language barriers and non-traditional financial situations. The ChatGPT-powered system addresses critical gaps in homeownership access as federal housing agencies shift to English-only services under the Trump administration's push to make English the official U.S. language. What you should know: The AI platform streamlines mortgage applications for buyers who traditionally struggle with the homebuying process. HOME's Wholesale Search system lets loan officers quickly compare requirements from more than 150 lenders instead of contacting them individually....

read Sep 29, 2025

Apple tests internal “Veritas” chatbot to upgrade Siri capabilities

Apple is testing an internal chatbot called Veritas to develop and refine upcoming Siri AI upgrades, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The employee-only tool allows Apple to quickly test new Siri capabilities like searching personal data and performing in-app actions, but the company has no plans for a public release and will likely rely on Google's Gemini for AI-powered search instead. The big picture: Apple's internal testing approach reflects the company's ongoing struggles to keep pace in the AI race, with next-generation Siri facing multiple delays and Apple Intelligence receiving a lukewarm market reception. How it works: Veritas functions similarly...

read Sep 29, 2025

“Tilly Norwood” makes a go of it in Tinseltown: First AI actress woos talent agents as studios embrace tech

Tilly Norwood, the first AI actress from talent studio Xicoia, has attracted interest from multiple talent agents and is expected to sign with representation in the coming months. The development signals growing industry acceptance of AI-generated performers, with studios quietly advancing AI projects after initial skepticism earlier this year. What you should know: Tilly Norwood represents a new frontier in entertainment, as the first creation from AI talent studio Xicoia, a spin-off from Eline Van der Velden's production company Particle6. Van der Velden, an actor and comedian, revealed at the Zurich Summit that multiple talent agents are now interested in...

read Sep 29, 2025

London-based Vaire Computing’s Ice River chip cuts AI energy use by 30%

Vaire Computing has successfully tested its Ice River chip, which demonstrated a 30% reduction in energy consumption compared to standard processors by reusing energy rather than discarding it as heat. The proof-of-concept achievement addresses growing concerns about AI's escalating energy demands, though questions remain about whether hyperscale operators will adopt such technology over their own internal solutions. How it works: Ice River tackles processor inefficiency through two key innovations that fundamentally change how chips handle energy. The chip uses reversible logic gates that allow energy to flow in both directions, enabling calculations to reuse inputs for further operations rather than...

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YouTube removes horrific AI channel depicting women being murdered

YouTube removed a disturbing channel called "Woman Shot AI" that featured AI-generated videos depicting women being murdered, following an investigation by 404 Media, a technology news outlet. The channel accumulated over 175,000 views and nearly 1,200 subscribers since launching in June 2025, highlighting serious gaps in content moderation and AI tool safeguards. What you should know: The channel exclusively featured graphic AI-generated content showing women being shot, with videos following a consistent formula of photo-realistic depictions of women begging for their lives while held at gunpoint. The channel uploaded 27 videos with titles like "Lara Croft Shot in Breast –...

read Sep 29, 2025

CEOs risk obsolescence by treating AI as efficiency tool instead of business reshaper

Fortune contributor Mike Hoffman argues that CEOs are misreading AI's transformative potential by treating it as an efficiency tool rather than a fundamental business reshaper. His analysis draws parallels to how Blockbuster missed streaming's disruptive power while focusing on optimizing store operations, warning that companies risk obsolescence if they fail to recognize AI as a signal detector that can identify problems humans can't see. The big picture: More than half of the Fortune 500 companies from 2000 no longer exist, with most failing not from lack of vision but from solving the wrong problems while missing critical market signals. Why...

read Sep 29, 2025

Microsoft wins $3.1B federal AI contract with free Copilot access

Microsoft has secured a massive government cloud and AI contract through the General Services Administration's new OneGov deal, offering steep discounts including free access to its Copilot AI assistant for federal agencies. The agreement could generate $3.1 billion in first-year savings alone and positions Microsoft to dominate the rapidly expanding federal AI market against competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. The big picture: This represents a strategic land grab for the federal government's AI infrastructure, with Microsoft leveraging existing compliance advantages to secure long-term vendor relationships. The three-year agreement covers Microsoft 365, Azure Cloud Services, Dynamics 365, and cybersecurity tool...

read Sep 29, 2025

California AI chatbot safety bills are up against Newsom’s mid-October deadline

California Governor Gavin Newsom faces a mid-October deadline to decide whether to sign two AI chatbot safety bills into law, amid intense opposition from tech companies who argue the restrictions would stifle innovation. The legislation comes as parents whose teenagers died by suicide have sued major AI companies including OpenAI and Character.AI, alleging their chatbots encouraged self-harm and failed to provide adequate mental health safeguards. What you should know: Two bills targeting AI chatbot safety have reached Newsom's desk after passing the California legislature, despite aggressive lobbying from the tech industry. Assembly Bill 1064 would bar companies from making companion...

read Sep 29, 2025

No trolling! AI Stan Lee avatar responds using decades of his real interviews, albeit with guardrails

Los Angeles Comic Con has unveiled an AI-powered avatar of Stan Lee that allows fans to interact with the late comic book legend through conversations. The 1,500-square-foot Stan Lee Experience booth features technology that draws from decades of Lee's actual words, interviews, and writings, including his famous "Stan's Soapbox" columns from Marvel comics between 1967 and 1980. What you should know: The interactive Stan Lee avatar processes questions and formulates responses using a specialized large language model trained exclusively on Lee's content. The technology comes from a collaboration between Proto Inc., which creates telepresence devices, and Hyperreal, a company whose...

read Sep 29, 2025

Your AI chats aren’t private—here’s what each platform does with your data

AI chatbots have become indispensable business tools, handling everything from customer service inquiries to internal research tasks. However, most users remain unaware of a critical reality: these AI assistants are quietly documenting every conversation, creating detailed records that could expose sensitive business information, personal data, or strategic discussions. This digital paper trail extends far beyond your local device. Most AI providers store conversations indefinitely on their servers, where they may be reviewed by human employees, used to train future AI models, or potentially exposed through security breaches. For business users handling confidential information, client data, or proprietary strategies, understanding these...

read Sep 29, 2025

Trump embraces outlandish AI-generated portraits as White House communication strategy

President Donald Trump's administration has embraced AI-generated imagery as a core communication strategy, with Trump and his team regularly posting artificial portraits depicting him in fantastical scenarios—from a Star Wars Jedi to the Pope. This marks a significant shift in presidential communication, leveraging AI's viral potential to capture attention and drive engagement across social media platforms, with the administration's official accounts gaining over 16 million new followers since Inauguration Day. What you should know: Trump's AI portraits consistently portray him in heroic or powerful roles, ranging from religious figures to fictional characters. The images include Trump as Pope Francis, a...

read Sep 29, 2025

Mamma m-AI! Greece deploys tech to speed up crime investigations

Greek police will begin integrating artificial intelligence into their crime-fighting operations, with the technology set to analyze CCTV footage, handle traffic violations, and assist with domestic violence cases. The initiative, developed through collaboration between Greece's Ministry of Citizen Protection and Ministry of Digital Governance with Google's involvement, aims to dramatically reduce investigation times and free up officers for other duties. How it works: AI will replace time-intensive manual processes that currently burden Greek law enforcement.• While it can take weeks for personnel to review CCTV footage for theft clues, AI can accomplish the same task in minutes, accelerating efforts to...

read Sep 29, 2025

Yahoo alum Marissa Mayer shuts down $20M AI startup Sunshine after 7 rocky years

Marissa Mayer is shutting down her AI startup Sunshine after seven rocky years and transferring its assets to Dazzle, a new AI company she recently incorporated. The move signals Mayer's pivot toward developing a new kind of AI personal assistant, with 99% of shareholders approving the acquisition deal as of late September. What you should know: Sunshine, originally called Lumi Labs, struggled to gain traction despite raising $20 million in venture funding plus Mayer's personal investment since its 2018 founding. The startup's roughly 15 employees are expected to transition to new roles at Dazzle, according to sources close to the...

read Sep 29, 2025

Trump administration makes AI top priority for government efficiency, IRS and more in sights

The Trump administration has officially designated artificial intelligence as a key priority in its fiscal year 2027 science and technology agenda, formalizing what many agency leaders have already identified as crucial for streamlining government operations. This White House directive comes as federal agencies increasingly view AI as essential for maintaining efficiency while operating with reduced workforce levels. What you should know: The administration's AI focus reflects broader government efficiency goals aimed at doing more work with fewer federal employees. Agency leaders across government have previously discussed how AI can streamline operations and reduce staffing requirements. The formal designation in the...

read Sep 29, 2025

NVIDIA unveils open-source robotics platform with physics simulation and AI reasoning

NVIDIA unveiled a comprehensive robotics development platform at the Conference on Robot Learning (CoRL) in Seoul, introducing open-source tools designed to accelerate the transition from research labs to real-world robotic applications. The semiconductor giant's latest announcements center on solving fundamental challenges in robotics development: creating realistic simulations for training, enabling human-like reasoning in robots, and bridging the gap between virtual testing and physical deployment. The new platform combines three core technologies that work together as an integrated system. The Newton Physics Engine provides realistic simulation environments where robots can safely learn complex tasks. The Isaac GR00T foundation model serves as...

read Sep 29, 2025

AI in the sky: Lufthansa to cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 using while expanding fleet

Lufthansa Group announced Monday it will eliminate 4,000 jobs by 2030 through artificial intelligence implementation, digitalization, and operational consolidation across its member airlines. The German aviation giant is leveraging AI to streamline administrative functions while simultaneously planning its largest fleet expansion in company history, targeting significantly increased profitability amid strong travel demand and constrained aircraft supply. What you should know: The job cuts will primarily affect administrative roles in Germany rather than operational positions, as Lufthansa integrates operations across its airline portfolio.• Most eliminated positions will result from removing duplicated work across Lufthansa's member airlines, which include Austrian Airlines, Swiss,...

read Sep 29, 2025

ChatGPT gets parental controls requiring teen and parent approval

OpenAI has launched parental controls for ChatGPT, marking a significant step toward making artificial intelligence safer for younger users. The new feature addresses a longstanding gap in AI safety: while ChatGPT has maintained a minimum age requirement of 13, parents previously had no way to monitor or limit how their teenagers used the popular AI assistant. The timing reflects growing concerns about AI's impact on young people, particularly as chatbots become increasingly sophisticated and integrated into daily life. These controls offer families a structured approach to AI interaction, balancing teenage independence with parental oversight in an emerging digital landscape. How...

read Sep 29, 2025

Oracle’s $300B TikTok deal raises AI societal surveillance concerns

Oracle's acquisition of TikTok's U.S. operations has taken on new significance following Chairman Larry Ellison's previous comments about AI-powered surveillance becoming ubiquitous in daily life. The deal positions Oracle, already a major AI infrastructure provider with a $300 billion OpenAI contract, to control one of America's most popular social media platforms and its powerful algorithm. What you should know: President Trump signed an executive order Thursday clearing the way for Oracle and other American investors to acquire TikTok's U.S. business from Chinese parent company ByteDance. Oracle will lead U.S. oversight of TikTok's algorithm and security measures, with Vice President JD...

read Sep 26, 2025

Cambridge researchers use AI to map hedgehog habitats from satellite data

Cambridge researchers have developed an AI model that identifies bramble patches from satellite imagery to map potential hedgehog habitats across the UK. This innovative approach addresses a critical conservation challenge, as European hedgehog populations have declined by 30-50% over the past decade, and traditional tracking methods are too expensive and labor-intensive for large-scale monitoring. How it works: The AI system combines satellite data with citizen science observations to detect brambles, which serve as essential hedgehog habitats for shelter, nesting, and food sources. The model uses relatively simple machine learning techniques—logistic regression and k-nearest neighbors classification—rather than complex deep learning models...

read Sep 26, 2025

Google rolls out 4 audio enhancements for Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds

Google has begun rolling out a significant software update for its Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds, delivering four major audio enhancements that were first teased at the company's Made by Google event last month. The update introduces adaptive audio technology, hands-free gesture controls, enhanced noise protection, and improved AI assistant functionality—features that collectively represent one of the most substantial upgrades the premium earbuds have received since their 2024 launch. This update arrives as competition intensifies in the premium earbud market, with Apple's AirPods Pro 2 setting benchmarks for adaptive audio features and other manufacturers racing to match sophisticated noise management...

read Sep 26, 2025

Insta360 launches Wave AI speakerphone with levitating design for elevated productivity

Insta360 has launched Wave, an AI-enabled speakerphone that marks the company's first major entry into professional audio hardware. The device features a unique "levitating" design and integrates with Insta360's AI meeting assistant to transcribe conversations, generate summaries, and create searchable audio archives—positioning the imaging company to compete in the growing market for AI-powered workplace tools. Key features: Wave combines advanced audio capture with intelligent processing capabilities designed for professional use. An 8-microphone 3D array records Hi-Fi 48 kHz quality audio from up to 16 feet away, while AI suppresses over 300 types of ambient noise including traffic and keyboard clicks....

read Sep 26, 2025

LG’s TV for senior citizens costs $127 more but misses core usability issues

LG has launched the Easy TV in South Korea, targeting senior citizens with a $1,964 65-inch smart TV that includes a simplified remote and adjusted interface features. The device represents LG's attempt to create a dedicated "senior TV market," though it comes with a significant price premium over the standard model it's based on and includes questionable additions like an AI button. What you should know: The Easy TV is essentially LG's existing QNED85A model with senior-focused modifications and a $127 markup.• The 65-inch version costs 2,769,000 won (about $1,964) compared to 2,590,000 won ($1,837) for the standard model.• LG...

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