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OpenAI and production studio Vertigo Films have announced a collaborative effort to turn the 2023 short film Critterz, originally created as a showcase for OpenAI's DALL·E image generator, into a full-length family adventure. The project, budgeted at less than $30 million, aims to complete production within roughly nine months and target a debut at the Cannes Film Festival the following May. Creative specialist Chad Nelson, who directed the short, will oversee the expansion, while seasoned writers James Lamont and Jon Foster are attached to pen the script. The production will blend human sketches with advanced AI models to animate the film, reflecting a broader push toward AI‑enabled filmmaking despite ongoing industry controversy and copyright concerns.Leggi di più

Apple's recent iPhone 17 launch highlighted its Apple Intelligence suite, yet Siri remains a basic voice assistant that often returns web links instead of conversational answers. Industry leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have voiced support for replacing Siri with more sophisticated AI like ChatGPT Voice. Rumors suggest Apple may be in talks with Google to enhance Siri’s functionality. Users are calling for a Siri that can hold conversations, answer simple queries directly, and match the capabilities of emerging AI voice modes.Leggi di più

Anthropic has expanded its Claude AI assistant to generate fully functional Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and PDFs directly from user prompts. The feature runs code in a secure, sandboxed environment and is available to Claude’s Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers. Users can request data analysis, formatting, and file conversions in a single conversation, receiving downloadable files in minutes. Anthropic warns that the capability is experimental, recommends close supervision, and notes that the tool is aimed at higher‑end subscribers seeking productivity gains.Leggi di più

Google has expanded its NotebookLM platform with new AI features that automatically create flashcards and quizzes from users' uploaded documents. The tools generate multiple‑choice questions and flashcards that include key concepts, vocabulary, and citations that point back to the original source. Users can customize the difficulty and scope, and the system can produce study guides based on missed questions, providing an interactive, source‑verified learning experience that moves beyond passive summarization.Leggi di più

Google has expanded its Gemini AI assistant to accept audio file uploads, allowing users to obtain transcriptions, summaries and key information from recordings up to ten minutes long. The feature, described as the most‑requested addition by Gemini’s VP Josh Woodward, works through the web and mobile apps and complements existing Gemini Live voice interactions. While free‑tier users face daily limits and pricing details remain undisclosed, the update positions Gemini alongside competitors like Anthropic’s Claude and Perplexity, which also offer audio processing tools.Leggi di più

Senator Ted Cruz has introduced the SANDBOX Act, a proposal that would let artificial‑intelligence companies obtain waivers from existing federal regulations to test and deploy AI systems with limited oversight. The bill would require companies to disclose risk‑mitigation plans, allow waivers up to ten years, and give the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy final appeal authority. Critics, including the Tech Oversight Project and Public Citizen, warn the legislation could give big tech a preferential regulatory environment and undermine existing agency authority.Leggi di più

Replit announced a $250 million financing round that lifts its valuation to $3 billion. The round was led by Prysm Capital with participation from Amex Ventures and Google’s AI Futures Fund, while earlier backers such as Y Combinator, Andreessen Horowitz, and Coatue also took part. The company reports an annualized revenue surge from $2.8 million to $150 million in less than a year, surpassing the $100 million ARR reported in June. Replit’s deep ties to Google Cloud and its recent inclusion on Microsoft Azure highlight its expanding platform ecosystem.Leggi di più

A recent look at what makes a song stick in listeners' heads combines a 2014 museum survey, lists generated by AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, and the perspectives of veteran New Jersey DJ Mark Pomeroy and Atlanta DJ Sloan Lee. While the museum study ranked tracks like the Spice Girls' "Wannabe" as the most recognizable, AI models produced overlapping but varied selections. DJs emphasize beat tempo, crowd vibe, and social media trends such as TikTok as key drivers of catchiness. Together, these viewpoints illustrate that earworms are shaped by rhythm, cultural context, and evolving listener habits.Leggi di più

Apple’s HomePod line has struggled to keep pace with the rapid evolution of smart‑speaker markets and the broader AI push. Launched years after Amazon and Google’s offerings, the HomePod arrived late, at a high price point, and with a Siri that fell short of consumer expectations. Subsequent versions, including the HomePod Mini and the second‑generation HomePod with Thread support, added incremental improvements but did not reshape the product’s market position. As AI assistants migrate toward smartphones and computers, Apple’s roadmap now points to a major Siri overhaul slated for 2026 and a new smart‑home hub expected no earlier than 2027, leaving the HomePod largely sidelined.Leggi di più

AegisAI, a new email security startup founded by former Google Safe Browsing and reCAPTCHA leaders Cy Khormaee and Ryan Luo, has emerged from stealth with a $13 million seed round co‑led by Accel and Foundation Capital. The company builds a network of autonomous AI agents that analyze every component of an email in real time to detect phishing, malware, and business‑email‑compromise threats. Early pilots in the United States and Europe have already added paying customers, and the team plans to expand its technical and go‑to‑market capabilities.Leggi di più

After years of speculation dating back to 2017, Spotify is finally introducing lossless audio streaming. The new tier‑less offering will reach Premium subscribers across 50 markets, starting with regions such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Japan. Users will receive in‑app notifications, enable lossless in the media quality settings, and see an indicator when listening. Initial device support includes Sony, Bose, Samsung and Sennheiser hardware, with Sonos and Amazon devices slated to follow. The service tops out at 24‑bit / 44.1 kHz FLAC, which is lower than the 24‑bit / 192 kHz offered by competitors like Apple Music, Tidal and Qobuz. YouTube remains the only major streaming platform without a lossless option.Leggi di più

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has written to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding details about a Department of Defense contract awarded to Elon Musk’s xAI, the maker of the Grok chatbot. Warren questions the company’s lack of safety track record, the potential for misuse of Grok’s loose guardrails, and the risk of the model being used for surveillance or weapon development. The contract, worth up to $200 million, also includes OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, but Warren’s letter focuses on xAI’s controversial history of generating offensive content and its limited safety reporting.Leggi di più

Nvidia released a fresh GeForce Game Ready driver that adds Borderlands 4 optimizations, including DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, and Reflex support, as well as enhancements for Dying Light: The Beast. At the same time the company refreshed its RTX Remix tool, adding fire and smoke particle capabilities for modders working on legacy titles. More than 165 games are now RTX Remix‑ready, and Nvidia highlighted its RTX 50‑series graphics cards now back in stock across major retailers.Leggi di più

Nikon has introduced the ZR, its first cinema camera co‑designed with RED. The hybrid model blends RED’s color science and video codecs with Nikon’s advanced subject‑detect autofocus and five‑axis in‑body stabilization. Featuring a partially stacked 24‑megapixel sensor with Dual Base ISO 800/6400 and 15+ stops of dynamic range, the ZR can record up to 12K RAW video and supports multiple RAW and ProRes formats. Built‑in 32‑bit float audio, versatile mic patterns, and a high‑brightness 4‑inch display round out a feature set aimed at creators seeking high performance at a lower price point.Leggi di più

Microsoft’s September update for Windows 11 introduces a suite of new features, many of which are tied to the Copilot+ AI platform. Highlights include a new Recall homepage, expanded AI Agent in Settings, customizable lock‑screen widgets, improved search layout, and a corrected CPU usage display in Task Manager. Additional refinements address Click‑to‑Do tutorials, a refreshed Windows Hello design, larger clock options, and clearer permission prompts. The update’s size, roughly 4 GB, carries AI models even for devices without Copilot+, prompting concerns about download time and storage impact.Leggi di più

Prime Video’s new thriller “The Girlfriend,” starring Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, and Waleed Zuaiter, offers a tense, dual‑perspective narrative that keeps viewers guessing about reliability and motive. Set against a backdrop of strained marriages and secret affairs, the series uses alternating viewpoints to heighten suspense. Cast members highlight the demanding scenes in episodes five and six, while Wright’s dual role as actor‑director adds a layer of collaborative intensity. Executive producer Jonathan Cavendish praises Wright’s ability to judge performances on both sides of the camera, underscoring the series’ focus on nuanced character dynamics.Leggi di più

Pokémon Legends Z‑A pre‑orders are available at a range of retailers in the United States and United Kingdom, each offering its own exclusive free gift. U.S. shoppers can receive a set of Pokémon‑themed pins from Walmart or a tote bag from GameStop, while UK customers may obtain a sticker set from ShopTo or figurines and pins from Nintendo’s online store. The promotion also notes that console bundles, including the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, remain available for pre‑order at select outlets.Leggi di più

Spotify has begun rolling out its long‑awaited Lossless audio tier to Premium users across more than 50 regions, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. The feature, offered at no extra charge, provides up to 24‑bit/44.1 kHz FLAC playback and will be available for the majority of the catalog. Users must manually enable Lossless on each device, and the service recommends streaming over Wi‑Fi or wired connections because Bluetooth bandwidth is currently insufficient. The rollout will continue through October.Leggi di più

Apple introduced a live translation capability for its AirPods Pro 3, supporting English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish at launch, with plans for Italian, Japanese, Korean and simplified Chinese. The feature does not work in the EU, affecting its 450 million residents. Reviewers found the translation lagged behind natural conversation, struggled in noisy environments, and raised concerns about reduced cultural immersion and safety when users wear noise‑cancelling earbuds in public. While the technology is novel, its practical usefulness remains uncertain.Leggi di più

Apple introduced a bold new hue for its flagship iPhone 17 Pro: a deep, “cosmic orange” that wraps the aluminum body and camera bump. The shade aligns with current fashion runway trends and summer color palettes, and its timing coincides with pop‑culture moments such as Taylor Swift’s recent orange‑themed tour outfits. Reviewers praise the color’s vibrancy and its ability to stand out on a table, while the more muted silver and deep‑blue options provide alternatives. The launch marks a rare instance of Apple using a high‑impact color as its hero shade for a Pro model.Leggi di più