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 →