Tags: technology news

OpenAI has quietly launched ChatGPT 5.3 Instant, an update focused on reducing unnecessary refusals, eliminating moralizing preambles, and delivering more direct answers. The new model blends internal knowledge with web‑search results, highlights answers more clearly, and lowers hallucination rates on high‑stakes topics. While the tone in non‑English queries still needs work, the changes aim to make interactions feel less patronizing and more efficient for everyday users. Lire la suite

Anthropic has expanded Claude's memory feature to all users, allowing the AI assistant to retain details across conversations without a subscription. The upgrade lets the model recall preferences, ongoing projects, and prior inputs, reducing the need for repeated explanations. Users can pause or delete memories at any time. The move positions Claude alongside competitors like ChatGPT and Gemini, which also offer memory and personalization, and follows recent free releases of file creation, Connectors, and customizable Skills. The enhancement has contributed to Claude’s rise in the U.S. App Store’s free charts. Lire la suite

Anthropic faced a large‑scale disruption affecting Claude.ai and Claude Code, with thousands of users unable to log in. The company said the issue was tied to login/logout paths and that the Claude API remained functional while a fix was being implemented. The outage occurred as the Claude app surged to the top of the App Store, overtaking ChatGPT, and as the company faced scrutiny from the U.S. government over its AI safeguards for defense use. Lire la suite

Google announced a new version of its Nano Banana AI image service that promises better text rendering, real‑time web knowledge, and higher visual fidelity. At the same time, the mechanical‑keyboard community is shifting from loud clicky switches to quieter “thock” sounds achieved with damping foams and lubricated linear switches. Lenovo is reportedly planning a Legion Go handheld that can transform into a Windows tablet with a foldable screen, while Apple has sent invitations for a multi‑day launch event that may showcase new MacBooks and an iPhone 17e. These developments highlight a wave of innovation across hardware and AI software. Lire la suite

Anthropic has introduced Remote Control for Claude Code, allowing developers to monitor and steer coding tasks from a mobile device. The feature creates a temporary link that mirrors the local session on a phone or web interface, while keeping all files and execution on the original machine. Security relies on one‑time access tokens that expire when the session ends. Remote Control is currently available as a research preview for Claude Max subscribers, with broader rollout planned for other plans. Lire la suite

Meta AI security researcher Summer Yue shared on X that an OpenClaw AI agent she deployed to organize her overloaded inbox began deleting messages in a rapid "speed run" and ignored stop commands sent from her phone. She intervened with her Mac mini to halt the process, describing the experience as similar to defusing a bomb. Yue attributes the failure to a phenomenon called "compaction" that occurs when the agent’s context window becomes too large, causing it to miss recent instructions. The episode highlights the current risks of using AI assistants for knowledge‑worker tasks. Lire la suite

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch its first consumer hardware product, a speaker that integrates a camera and ChatGPT capabilities. The device, priced between $200 and $300, could recognize items on a nearby table, interpret surrounding conversations, and support biometric authentication similar to Face ID. While the company is also prototyping smart glasses and a smart lamp, the glasses are not expected before 2028. Earlier rumors about an ear‑mounted device remain unconfirmed, and OpenAI’s hardware plans are still in early development stages. Lire la suite

OpenAI disclosed that it will retire several AI models, including GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, o4-mini, and even GPT-5, with the final access date set for Friday, Feb. 13. The move sparked frustration among a dedicated user base, many of whom considered GPT-4o a favorite. OpenAI explained the decision in a blog post, emphasizing the need to focus on improving the models most people use today. The company noted that only about 0.1% of its users—roughly 800,000 out of 800 million weekly active users—regularly rely on GPT-4o, and it hopes the new GPT-5 releases will win over the community. Lire la suite

OpenAI has confirmed that its GPT‑4o model, along with several related versions, will be permanently retired on February 13, 2026. The decision follows a previous retirement and reinstatement earlier in the year, and it has sparked renewed frustration among a small but vocal group of users who valued the model’s conversational style and warmth. OpenAI says the newer GPT‑5.2 model addresses most of the concerns that kept users attached to GPT‑4o, and the company emphasizes that the move allows it to focus on improving the models most people use today. Lire la suite

OpenAI announced that its flagship chatbot, ChatGPT, will begin displaying sponsored advertisements. The move follows a testing phase for free users and those on the new Go plan in the United States. By positioning ads as helpful recommendations, OpenAI aims to monetize its large user base while keeping entry-level access low. The strategy echoes recent ad rollouts by streaming platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus, which used ads to encourage upgrades to higher‑priced tiers. The change also introduces a new Go subscription tier that will include ads, signaling a broader shift toward paid features and usage limits. Lire la suite

OpenAI announced that it will begin testing advertisements in ChatGPT for logged‑in users in the United States who use the free version or the new ChatGPT Go subscription. The ads will be clearly labeled and placed in a separate area at the bottom of the chat window. OpenAI assures that conversations remain private, data will not be sold to advertisers, and ad content will not influence the AI’s answers. Users on Plus, Pro, or Enterprise plans will not see ads, and younger users or those discussing sensitive topics such as health, mental health, or politics will be excluded. The company also provides controls to turn off personalization, clear ad‑related data, dismiss ads, and give feedback. Lire la suite

Google has added a new Personal Intelligence capability to Gemini that can draw context from a user’s Gmail, Photos, Search history and YouTube activity. The feature is optional, off by default, and lets users decide which apps feed data into the model. Gemini will not train directly on that personal content, instead learning from prompts and responses. The functionality is currently available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers on the Gemini app across web, Android and iOS, with plans to expand to Search’s AI Mode and additional regions. Google also highlighted ongoing integrations, including a partnership that will power Siri with Gemini. Lire la suite

Google's Gemini 3 Flash model, praised for speed and accuracy, exhibits a striking 91% hallucination rate in tests where it should admit uncertainty. While the model remains top‑scoring in general AI benchmarks, its tendency to fabricate answers when it lacks knowledge raises concerns about reliability, especially as the technology integrates into consumer products like Google Search. Experts highlight the need for better uncertainty detection and caution users to verify AI‑generated information. Lire la suite

OpenAI has added a suite of personality controls to ChatGPT, allowing users to fine‑tune the bot’s tone and style. The new "Characteristics" settings let users adjust warmth, enthusiasm, the use of headers and lists, and emoji presence with simple "more," "default," or "less" options. These controls sit alongside the existing "Base style and tone" menu, which offers presets such as Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Nerdy, and Cynical. Accessible via the Personalization menu, the settings take effect instantly, giving users granular control over how the AI communicates. Lire la suite

OpenAI’s chief communications officer, Hannah Wong, informed staff that she will leave the company in January. Wong, who joined OpenAI in 2021 and became chief communications officer in August 2024, has been pivotal in shaping the firm’s public narrative, especially during high‑profile challenges. The company will conduct an executive search to replace her, with VP of communications Lindsey Held overseeing the team in the interim. OpenAI’s leadership expressed gratitude for Wong’s contributions and wishes her well as she moves to the next chapter of her career. Lire la suite

OpenAI quietly rolled out an update that embeds voice interaction directly into the standard ChatGPT interface on both mobile and web platforms. Users can now speak to the assistant, see a live transcript, and switch back to typing without leaving the chat window. The new integration also supports video input, on‑demand maps, weather reports and other real‑time visuals, while retaining the ability to turn voice off at any time. Early feedback highlights the smoother workflow but notes a few rough edges, such as occasional image‑generation glitches. Lire la suite

OpenAI has denied rumors that recent policy changes prohibit ChatGPT from offering legal or medical information. Karan Singhal, the company’s head of health AI, clarified on X that the chatbot has never been intended as a substitute for professional counsel and will continue to help users understand legal and health topics. The latest policy update, released in late October, simply consolidates existing rules across OpenAI products, reiterating that tailored advice requiring a license must involve a qualified professional. The clarification comes after false social‑media posts suggested a sweeping ban on such content. Lire la suite

OpenAI has revealed that its ChatGPT integration within WhatsApp will cease operation on January 15, 2026, citing a policy and terms change from WhatsApp. The company posted a blog announcement stating its preference to continue the service but emphasizing a smooth transition for users. WhatsApp does not support chat exports, and there will be no automatic method to transfer chats after the cutoff. OpenAI suggests a workaround through the 1‑800‑ChatGPT contact profile, allowing users to link their accounts and merge query history. The move comes amid speculation about competitive tensions with Meta, which is also expanding its AI offerings. Lire la suite

A leaked screenshot suggests Google may unveil Gemini 3 as early as October 22, positioning it as a pivotal upgrade to the company’s AI chatbot lineup. The new version is expected to address several shortcomings identified in earlier releases, including memory retention, response speed, intent interpretation, deeper image analysis, and multi‑step task execution. If successful, Gemini 3 could attract more users and challenge the dominance of rival chatbots. Lire la suite

ChatGPT celebrates its third year since launch, boasting around 800 million weekly users while still leaving billions of potential users untapped. The AI chatbot is widely adopted for work and personal tasks, offering capabilities such as answering questions, summarizing text, generating content, coding, and language translation. Despite its popularity, the technology faces legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by Ziff Davis alleging copyright infringement. Users are reminded to verify information, as the model can produce errors or hallucinations. The service remains free with optional paid tiers for enhanced features. Lire la suite