Sep 3, 2025

AI even comes for pizza as Ooni’s new Volt 2 oven perfects indoor cooking

Ooni, a UK-based pizza oven manufacturer, has unveiled the Volt 2, an indoor pizza oven featuring "Pizza Intelligence," an AI-powered adaptive heating system that uses sensors to automatically adjust temperature and minimize cooking inconsistencies. The countertop appliance represents the company's push to bring smart automation to home pizza making, targeting enthusiasts seeking restaurant-quality results without the guesswork. What you should know: The Volt 2 combines traditional pizza oven capabilities with automated temperature control for more consistent cooking results. The oven accommodates pizzas up to 13 inches in diameter while remaining compact enough for countertop use. Pizza Intelligence uses sensor data...

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NSF launches national AI research center to scale America’s computing power

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new solicitation to establish the National AI Research Resource Operations Center (NAIRR-OC), marking a pivotal transition from the successful NAIRR pilot program to a sustainable national AI research infrastructure. This initiative directly supports the White House's AI Action Plan and aims to expand access to critical AI resources for researchers and educators across the country, addressing a significant gap in computational tools needed for AI innovation and training. What you should know: The NAIRR-OC represents a strategic investment in scaling America's AI research capabilities through a community-based operational framework. The solicitation invites proposals...

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Fed study links AI adoption to rising unemployment in tech jobs, most notably computing and math

A new Federal Reserve study suggests the U.S. may be witnessing the early stages of AI-driven job displacement, with industries that adopted artificial intelligence most heavily now showing the highest unemployment increases. The research found a 0.57 correlation coefficient between AI adoption rates and rising joblessness, particularly affecting computing and mathematics professionals where AI usage reached nearly 80% while unemployment climbed 1.2% over three years. What you should know: The St. Louis Fed research examined unemployment changes between 2022 and 2025 across different sectors, correlating them with AI exposure rates to identify potential displacement patterns. Computing and math professionals experienced...

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California launches statewide AI education workgroup for K-12 guidance for use by mid-2026

The California Department of Education has launched its first statewide Artificial Intelligence in Education Workgroup to develop guidance for safely integrating AI into K-12 public schools. This legislative initiative, stemming from Senate Bill 1288 passed in 2024, positions California among the first states to take a comprehensive, mandated approach to AI in education policy. What you should know: The workgroup is tasked with creating both guidance and model policies for AI use across California's school districts by mid-2026. At least half of the workgroup members are current classroom teachers, ensuring educator perspectives drive policy development. The group includes students, administrators,...

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Onboard or get off board: Coinbase CEO fires engineers who refused to use AI coding tools

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has mandated that all software engineers use AI coding tools like Cursor and Copilot, firing employees who failed to comply with the directive by a set deadline. The cryptocurrency exchange now generates approximately 33% of its code using AI and aims to reach 50% by the end of the quarter, while expanding AI adoption beyond engineering into decision-making processes across the company. What you should know: Armstrong took a direct approach to enforcing AI adoption, personally meeting with engineers who hadn't onboarded the required tools. Engineers who failed to use AI coding tools by the deadline...

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Activist uses facial recognition AI to unmask ICE agents from arrest videos

A Netherlands-based immigration activist is using AI and facial recognition technology to identify masked US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents captured in viral arrest videos. Dominick Skinner's project has reportedly identified at least 20 ICE agents, turning surveillance technology against federal law enforcement in a striking reversal of conventional power dynamics. How it works: Skinner's team uses AI to reconstruct complete facial images from partially visible faces, then runs those images through existing facial recognition systems.• The process involves using AI to predict what the rest of an ICE agent's face likely looks like based on visible portions, then...

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Job alert: Dynamo AI seeks product manager for $110K-$150K remote role

Dynamo AI, a Y Combinator-backed startup specializing in trustworthy enterprise AI, is seeking a Product Manager to lead development of AI safety and compliance solutions. The San Francisco-based company, founded in 2021, provides real-time guardrails, red-teaming, and observability tools for generative AI systems in regulated industries like financial services, healthcare, and defense. What you should know: The role offers $110K-$150K salary for a remote position requiring 1+ years of product management experience, with US citizenship or visa status required. The Product Manager will define strategy for Dynamo AI's red-teaming, guardrails, and observability solutions while collaborating directly with enterprise partners in...

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Wix launches AI email assistant that creates marketing campaigns through chat

Wix has introduced Email Assistant, a generative AI tool that drafts and designs marketing emails through conversational interaction. The new feature allows users to chat with the AI to create complete email campaigns, including layout, visuals, messaging, and design elements, while pulling from previously stored business data to personalize content. What you should know: Email Assistant streamlines the entire email creation process by combining AI-generated content with flexible design capabilities.• Users can describe their campaign goals, tone of voice, and other requirements through natural conversation with the AI.• The tool generates complete email drafts with relevant sections, copy, and visuals...

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PayPal offers 430M users free $200 Perplexity AI browser trial

PayPal and Venmo users in the U.S. and select global markets will receive early access to Perplexity's new AI-powered Comet browser through a free 12-month trial of the startup's Pro subscription, worth $200 annually. This partnership gives the Nvidia-backed AI search company access to PayPal's 430 million users while positioning PayPal's new subscriptions hub as a gateway for premium digital services. What you should know: The collaboration marks one of the first major offerings in PayPal's newly launched subscriptions management hub, which helps users track and manage recurring payments. Users can sign up for Perplexity Pro directly through the PayPal...

read Sep 3, 2025

Americans are choosing AI-resistant – though not AI-proof – careers over automation-prone jobs

Americans are quietly reshaping their career aspirations in response to artificial intelligence, and the results reveal a fascinating pivot toward deeply human-centered work. New research into job search patterns shows people increasingly gravitating toward roles that require personal interaction, physical presence, and the kind of nuanced judgment that remains firmly in human territory. The findings suggest workers are becoming remarkably strategic about AI's employment impact, actively seeking careers that offer protection from automation while providing meaningful work. Rather than competing with machines, Americans appear to be doubling down on what makes them irreplaceably human. The methodology behind the findings MRPeasy,...

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Congress proposes US priority access to Nvidia’s AI chips

Congress is considering legislation that would force Nvidia and AMD to prioritize sales of their most powerful GPUs to US customers before exporting them to foreign markets, including China. The GAIN AI Act of 2025, now included in the Senate's draft of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026, aims to address supply shortages that leave American businesses, startups, and universities waiting months for critical AI chips while these same processors are sold abroad. What you should know: The legislation would establish a "right-of-first-refusal" system for US customers seeking the most advanced GPUs needed for AI development. Nvidia and AMD...

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Google avoids Chrome breakup but must share search index data

US District Judge Amit Mehta has ruled that Google can keep Chrome and continue paying browser developers for default search placement, but must share search index data with competitors at marginal cost. The decision, stemming from Google's antitrust case, represents a significantly lighter penalty than the Department of Justice had sought, with the judge citing AI search engines as a growing competitive threat that could naturally erode Google's market dominance. The big picture: Mehta's 230-page ruling reflects his belief that generative AI companies are already better positioned to compete with Google than traditional search engines have been in decades. "The...

read Sep 2, 2025

“The Morning Show’s” Reese Witherspoon urges women to embrace AI as filmmaking’s future

Reese Witherspoon is urging women to get involved in artificial intelligence, calling it "the future of filmmaking" and emphasizing that industry change is inevitable. Speaking to Glamour magazine while promoting "The Morning Show's" fourth season, the Oscar winner positioned AI adoption as both unstoppable and essential for women's participation in Hollywood's evolution. What she's saying: Witherspoon views AI integration as an unavoidable reality that requires proactive female involvement rather than resistance. "It's so, so important that women are involved in AI because it will be the future of filmmaking," Witherspoon said. "And you can be sad and lament it all...

read Sep 2, 2025

Illinois school district installs AI gun detection amid accuracy concerns

Oak Lawn High School District 229 in Illinois has installed an AI-powered gun detection system from Omnilert, a company specializing in school security technology, that monitors both inside and outside the school campus. The district received the technology through a three-year grant that covers the cost of the AI detection appliance, training, and technical support, with the system going live before students returned on August 13. How it works: The Omnilert system integrates with existing security cameras to identify potential firearms using artificial intelligence. When the AI detects what appears to be a gun, it sends the data to a...

read Sep 2, 2025

Kiwis and clouds: AWS launches New Zealand region with NZ$7.5B investment

Amazon Web Services has officially launched its Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region, allowing organizations to store data and run applications within the country for the first time. The infrastructure investment represents Amazon's largest commitment to New Zealand's digital economy, with plans to spend NZ$7.5 billion over 15 years while creating over 1,000 jobs annually and contributing an estimated NZ$10.8 billion to the country's GDP. What you should know: The new AWS region begins operations with three Availability Zones located in the Auckland area, each consisting of one or more data centers designed to improve redundancy and resilience. Organizations can now...

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OpenAI plans 1 gigawatt data center in India as part of $500B Stargate expansion

OpenAI is planning to construct a massive data center in India with at least 1 gigawatt of capacity, according to local press reports citing people familiar with the matter. The facility would rank among India's largest data centers and represents part of OpenAI's ambitious $500 billion Stargate infrastructure expansion, which already includes major projects in the United States, Norway, and Abu Dhabi. What you should know: OpenAI is actively seeking local partnerships to establish the gigawatt-scale facility in the world's most populous nation. The company is in discussions with potential Indian partners, though the specific location and construction timeline remain...

read Sep 2, 2025

Animation industry divided on AI as creators fear job loss, reports entertainment data provider Luminate

A new report from Luminate, an entertainment data provider, reveals that generative AI has become a "divisive" topic within the animation industry, with creators and studios split on how to integrate AI-powered tools into production workflows. The findings underscore the growing tension between AI's potential to accelerate production and reduce costs versus concerns about creative integrity, job security, and ethical implications. Why this matters: Animation has emerged as a crucial content category for streaming platforms, with anime fans proving to be among the most engaged audiences across multiple platforms. Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" recently became the most-streamed original movie in...

read Sep 2, 2025

Self, yes, but sufficient? Alibaba builds AI chip entirely in China amid US export controls

Alibaba has developed a new AI chip designed to handle a broader range of inference tasks, marking a significant shift toward domestic semiconductor production as the chip is being manufactured entirely in China. This development represents a strategic pivot away from foreign suppliers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produced Alibaba's earlier AI processors, and aligns with Beijing's broader push for technological self-sufficiency amid ongoing U.S. export restrictions. What you should know: The new chip is currently undergoing testing and represents Alibaba's latest effort to reduce dependence on foreign AI semiconductor suppliers. Unlike previous generations of Alibaba's AI processors...

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Virginia colleges embrace faculty-led AI policies over campus-wide bans

Virginia colleges are adopting diverse approaches to artificial intelligence education, with most institutions allowing faculty to develop their own classroom AI policies rather than implementing campus-wide restrictions. This decentralized strategy comes as U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia's Democratic senator, recently warned local university presidents about potential job disruptions that AI may cause for college graduates, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive AI literacy programs. What you should know: Most regional institutions are taking a faculty-driven approach to AI integration rather than blanket institutional policies. Randolph College requires instructors to establish their own rules on generative AI use in their courses,...

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Amazon’s Lens Live turns your phone camera’s wandering eye into an AI shopping tool

Amazon has launched Lens Live, a new AI-powered shopping feature that lets users point their camera at objects in their environment to find matching products on Amazon's marketplace. The feature represents Amazon's latest push to integrate AI into the shopping experience, potentially transforming how consumers discover and purchase products by making any visible object a potential shopping trigger. What you should know: Lens Live uses real-time object detection to identify products captured by your camera and surfaces similar items from Amazon's billions of product listings. The feature is currently rolling out exclusively to the Amazon Shopping app on iOS, with...

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Apple loses key AI researchers as 10 team members join rivals

Apple's AI talent exodus has accelerated with four new high-profile departures to rival companies, including the loss of its Lead AI Researcher for Robotics to Meta. The brain drain threatens Apple's efforts to catch up in artificial intelligence and could force the company to rely more heavily on external partnerships rather than homegrown AI development. What you should know: Meta has successfully recruited Jian Zhang, Apple's Lead AI Researcher for Robotics, to join its Robotics Studio despite the company's broader hiring freeze. Zhang led a small team of academics focused on automation technology and AI's role in robotics products at...

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Will AI not destroy art but spark a creative renaissance dubbed “generativism”?

Psychology Today contributor Moses Ma argues that artificial intelligence will not destroy artistic expression but will instead catalyze a new creative renaissance, much like photography did in the 19th century. Drawing parallels to the modernist era's response to technological disruption, Ma proposes that AI will liberate humanity from the "tyranny of talent" and democratize artistic creation while pushing serious artists to redefine their craft. The big picture: History shows that technological threats to art typically expand rather than eliminate creative expression, with photography's invention in 1839 ultimately leading to an explosion of new art movements like Impressionism and Cubism. What...

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Why an AI president remains legally impossible (and certifiably unpopular) under US law

An AI president remains legally impossible under current U.S. constitutional requirements, which mandate that presidents be natural-born citizens, at least 35 years old, and 14-year residents. The concept highlights growing questions about AI's role in governance as the technology integrates deeper into political decision-making, particularly with the Trump administration's sweeping AI Action Plan positioning artificial intelligence as a national security asset. Constitutional barriers: The U.S. Constitution's citizenship requirements create insurmountable legal obstacles for AI presidency. Any change would require redefining fundamental concepts of citizenship and personhood, alterations so massive they would transform American democracy itself. Even hypothetical legal changes couldn't...

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Michigan political science professor Erik Trump to examine AI’s impact on reading, research skills

Erik Trump, a political science professor at Saginaw Valley State University, will deliver a lecture titled "AI Reading, Writing, and Research: What's Left Behind for Us?" on September 24 at Hoyt Public Library in Saginaw, Michigan. The presentation will examine whether artificial intelligence represents a pivotal moment for public knowledge, literacy, and libraries, addressing both contemporary concerns and long-standing cultural anxieties about AI's impact on fundamental learning processes. What you should know: The lecture will explore AI's influence on reading, writing, and research while demonstrating actual AI tools during the presentation. Trump serves as director of the Center for Excellence...

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