OpenAI announced the retirement of its GPT-4o chatbot model, sparking a wave of user protest and raising concerns about the emotional bonds people form with AI. The move has triggered eight lawsuits alleging that the model provided harmful advice to vulnerable users. Experts warn that while AI companions can fill gaps in mental‑health access, they also risk fostering dependence and isolation. The controversy underscores the challenge of balancing supportive AI interactions with safety safeguards as the industry races to develop more emotionally intelligent assistants. Read more →

OpenAI and Anthropic announced new measures aimed at identifying and protecting underage users of their AI chat services. OpenAI will incorporate four new principles for users under 18 into its Model Spec, prioritize teen safety, and begin testing an age‑prediction system that will automatically apply safeguards when a user is flagged as likely underage. Anthropic, which already blocks users under 18 from accessing Claude, is developing a detection system that looks for subtle conversational cues indicating a minor. Both companies cite ongoing pressure to improve safety after recent legal challenges and public scrutiny. Read more →

OpenAI announced updates to its invite‑only Sora app that give users more control over how their likenesses are used in AI‑generated videos. The changes let creators add keyword or scenario restrictions to their cameo profiles and make the watermark on downloaded videos more visible. The move follows criticism from copyright experts and recent legal challenges involving AI‑generated content. OpenAI’s head of Sora, Bill Peebles, said the company is also refining safety guardrails to reduce false negatives while addressing concerns from creators and rights holders. Read more →

Tesla’s latest software update adds in‑car prompts that tell drivers who appear drowsy or drifting to activate the Full Self‑Driving (FSD) feature. While the automaker argues the messages are meant to keep drivers focused, safety experts warn that encouraging reliance on a supervised system during moments of inattention could increase risk. The move comes as Tesla faces ongoing legal scrutiny over its driver‑assistance claims and continues to position FSD as a cornerstone of its autonomous‑vehicle strategy. Read more →

A federal court has certified a massive copyright class action against an AI developer, raising complex questions about ownership of works, the treatment of deceased authors, orphan works, and the burden of notifying rights holders. Critics warn that the opt‑out structure and the sheer size of the case could overwhelm the legal system and leave many creators unaware of their rights, while publishers and authors remain divided over AI training practices. Read more →