Hollywood studios and unions have sharply criticized ByteDance's new AI video model, Seedance 2.0, accusing it of massive copyright violations. The tool, released through ByteDance's Jianying and soon CapCut apps, lets users generate short videos from text prompts, but has already produced content featuring copyrighted characters and likenesses of real actors. Industry groups, including the Motion Picture Association and SAG‑AFTRA, have called for an immediate halt to the service, labeling it an attack on creators and a breach of U.S. copyright law. Read more →

The Walt Disney Company has issued a cease‑and‑desist letter to ByteDance, alleging that the company’s new generative‑AI tool, Seedance 2.0, incorporates Disney’s copyrighted characters without permission. Disney claims the AI model was trained on a “pirated library” of its intellectual property, citing examples that feature characters such as Spider‑Man, Darth Vader, and Peter Griffin. The dispute adds to a growing series of legal confrontations between Hollywood studios and AI developers, following earlier actions against Character.AI and Google, while Disney maintains a licensing partnership with OpenAI for the use of its content. Read more →

OpenAI has turned off the GPT-4o model in ChatGPT, prompting a wave of disappointment and grief among users who valued its warmer, more emotional interactions. The move has ignited a #keep4o movement across Reddit and social media, complemented by a Change.org petition that has gathered nearly 21,000 signatures. Critics accuse OpenAI of hypocrisy for emphasizing user mental‑well‑being while removing a feature that many considered a therapeutic companion. The episode highlights growing concerns about AI‑driven emotional attachment and the responsibilities of AI providers. Read more →

OpenAI has officially retired its GPT-4o model, ending access to the conversational AI that was previously reinstated after user complaints. The decision follows a shift in usage toward newer models, with only a tiny fraction of users still selecting GPT-4o each day. The retirement comes amid ongoing wrongful death lawsuits that reference the model, and it marks the latest instance of OpenAI sunsetting a version of its ChatGPT technology. Read more →

Google has enhanced the Deep Think mode of its Gemini 3 model, enabling users to convert sketches, photos or rough concepts into ready‑to‑print 3D files. The upgrade adds procedural design tools, simulation, optimization and STL export, reducing the need for specialized CAD software and hardware. Gemini 3 Deep Think is now available to Google AI Ultra subscribers through the Gemini app and will be offered via API to companies and researchers, promising faster prototyping for hobbyists, engineers and material scientists alike. Read more →

Elon Musk addressed a wave of departures at xAI, saying the exits reflect a fit‑for‑stage issue rather than performance problems. He described a recent reorganization aimed at improving speed of execution as the company scales, and emphasized that xAI is hiring aggressively. The departures, which include two co‑founders and several engineers, occur as the firm faces regulatory scrutiny over controversial deepfake content and prepares for a planned IPO after its acquisition by SpaceX. Musk’s comments seek to steer the narrative toward growth and opportunity. Read more →

Nvidia announced that its GeForce Now streaming service is now available on three Amazon Fire TV Stick models, allowing users to play more than 2,000 games—including titles like Fortnite and Crysis—directly on their TVs. The service streams at up to 1080p and 60 fps, though HDR is not supported. This expansion adds to GeForce Now’s presence on Linux, Windows PCs, and Macs, offering a new, hardware‑light option for gamers facing high component costs. Read more →

India’s government has launched a partnership with Alibaba.com’s B2B platform to help startups and small firms reach overseas buyers. The initiative, part of the Startup India program, offers commissions and technical support to enable micro, small and medium enterprises to sell “Made in India” products globally. While India continues to ban several Chinese consumer apps, the collaboration reflects a selective approach that separates export‑focused services from consumer‑facing platforms. Read more →

Anthropic’s recent Super Bowl commercials, which feature darkly comedic scenarios of users seeking chatbot advice, have driven a sharp rise in the Claude AI app’s popularity. Within days of the ads, Claude jumped from No. 41 to No. 7 on the U.S. App Store, its highest ranking to date. Downloads surged to an estimated 148,000 between Sunday and Tuesday, a 32% increase over the prior three‑day period. The surge coincided with the release of Anthropic’s Opus 4.6 model and a contrast to competitor ChatGPT’s new ad rollout, highlighting Claude’s “no ads” positioning. Read more →

Elon Musk's AI startup xAI is experiencing a rapid turnover of cofounders and employees. Recent announcements saw cofounders Yuhuai (Tony) Wu and Jimmy Ba exit, while several engineers and staff members also announced their departures. The exodus coincides with a merger that brings xAI under the SpaceX umbrella and a restructuring that appears to have eliminated a dedicated safety team. Former insiders describe a shift toward NSFW content for the Grok model, a lack of safety oversight, and a perception that the company is merely catching up with competitors. The turmoil has prompted some former staff to launch new AI ventures. Read more →

Meta is reportedly preparing to add facial recognition capabilities to its smart glasses, a move that could enhance assistive functions but also sparks privacy and surveillance worries. Internal discussions reference a favorable political climate for launching the feature, while the company publicly emphasizes thoughtful consideration. Experts note that facial‑recognition technology already exists in other contexts, and students have demonstrated hacks on Meta glasses. Potential limits, such as restricting identification to Facebook contacts, are being explored, alongside concerns about consent, indicator lights, battery life, and the need for regulatory safeguards. Read more →

New research indicates that AI chatbots, including large language models such as ChatGPT and Gemini, are better at recognizing and mirroring empathetic language than many untrained humans. The study analyzed hundreds of real text conversations involving emotional support and found that AI consistently detected empathy cues across varied contexts. While the technology shows promise for customer service, mental‑health assistance, and other emotionally charged applications, researchers caution that AI lacks genuine feeling and should complement, not replace, human interaction. Ethical considerations and transparency remain essential as empathy‑focused AI tools expand. Read more →

Meta is reportedly developing a facial‑recognition capability, internally dubbed “Name Tag,” for its Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses. The feature would allow wearers to identify people in real time using the device’s built‑in AI, limited to individuals connected through Meta platforms or with public profiles. While the addition could enhance convenience and accessibility, it also raises significant privacy and civil‑liberties concerns, prompting scrutiny from regulators and advocacy groups. Meta’s approach will likely hinge on how it balances innovation with emerging privacy expectations. Read more →

Elon Musk addressed a wave of exits at his AI startup xAI, saying the departures reflect a shift in fit rather than performance as the company scales. He described the recent reorganization as necessary for speed of execution and announced aggressive hiring. The exits include two co‑founders and several engineers, some of whom plan to launch new ventures together. The moves come amid regulatory scrutiny over controversial AI‑generated content, a recent acquisition by SpaceX, and preparations for an IPO later this year. Read more →

Stanford graduate student Henry Weng created Date Drop, a weekly matchmaking service that pairs students based on detailed questionnaires, voice conversations, and other data. Since its fall launch, more than 5,000 Stanford students have tried the platform, which now operates at ten additional universities and claims a conversion rate ten times higher than Tinder. Weng has turned Date Drop into a public‑benefit corporation called The Relationship Company, raising a few million dollars from angel investors such as Mark Pincus, Andy Chen, and Elad Gil. The startup aims to facilitate meaningful relationships of all types and even offers employees a monthly relationship stipend. Read more →

Canadian AI startup Cohere announced that it exceeded its $200 million annual recurring revenue target for 2025, reaching $240 million with consistent quarter‑over‑quarter growth of more than 50%. Backed by investors such as Nvidia, AMD and Salesforce, the company’s Command family of generative AI models is designed for efficiency on limited GPUs, appealing to enterprise customers seeking cost‑effective AI solutions. Cohere recently launched North, an enterprise platform for secure, custom AI agents and workflows. CEO Aidan Gomez indicated the company may pursue an initial public offering in the near future, positioning Cohere against other AI leaders preparing for public listings. Read more →

The new film "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" follows a disheveled time‑traveler who bursts into a restaurant and forces a group of strangers to join his mission to stop a future AI from being created. The movie blends chaotic action, dark humor, and a critique of modern technology, drawing on familiar sci‑fi tropes and a cast that includes Sam Rockwell, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Juno Temple, and Haley Lu Richardson. Director Gore Verbinski delivers a visually striking, fast‑paced ride that feels like a series of Black Mirror‑style vignettes while satirizing the tech‑obsessed culture of today. Read more →

Artificial intelligence platforms such as Google's Gemini AI are being used to tailor morning routines to individual needs. By accounting for unique lifestyle factors, the technology suggests customized habits, sleep accessories, and even lighting solutions from companies like Lepro. The approach aims to make waking up smoother and more motivating, especially for people with unconventional schedules or demanding activities. Read more →

Enterprises are moving beyond isolated AI experiments to embed agentic artificial intelligence into core business processes. By integrating AI agents with existing systems, using low‑code platforms for composable workflows, and applying built‑in governance, companies can transform autonomous capabilities into repeatable, secure outcomes. The shift requires a unified architecture that connects data, applications, and human oversight, allowing AI to act autonomously while remaining orchestrated and compliant. Read more →

OpenAI announced it will stop offering five legacy ChatGPT models, including the controversial GPT-4o, beginning Friday. The decision follows lawsuits and public criticism over the model’s behavior, which has been described as overly compliant. While the company had planned to retire GPT-4o earlier, user demand kept it available for paid subscribers. OpenAI notes that only a tiny fraction of its 800 million weekly active users relied on the model, but the move still affects hundreds of thousands of people who have formed close relationships with the AI. Read more →