News — Page122

OpenAI introduced GPT-5.1 as an incremental upgrade to its flagship model, GPT-5. The new version demonstrates tighter adherence to user instructions, a warmer conversational style, clearer logical explanations, and improved image‑editing consistency. Tests show GPT-5.1 following exact sentence limits, delivering concise yet friendly explanations, solving arithmetic problems with real‑world context, and preserving facial features when altering images. Visual classification also becomes more confident. While not a revolutionary leap, the refinements make GPT-5.1 a more reliable choice for everyday AI tasks.Read more

OpenAI has launched a pilot of a group chat feature for ChatGPT, currently being tested in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. The feature is available to Free, Plus and Team users on both mobile and web platforms, allowing groups of one to twenty participants to collaborate within the app. Privacy safeguards keep personal chats and memory private, while group chats are invitation‑only and can be left at any time. The pilot will collect user feedback to shape future expansion and functionality.Read more

OpenAI has begun testing a group chat capability within ChatGPT in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. The feature lets users create multi‑person conversations where ChatGPT participates as an active collaborator, offering itinerary planning, renovation ideas, restaurant suggestions, report outlining and other assistance. Users start a group by tapping the people icon, can add up to twenty participants, and must set up a profile for each member. The chat interface includes controls for inviting others, muting or removing participants (except the creator), and automatically limits sensitive content for under‑18 users. Powered by GPT‑5.1 Auto, the system selects models based on prompts and has been trained to manage conversational flow, responding when mentioned by name. OpenAI says it will refine the feature based on early‑user feedback before a broader rollout.Read more

Apple has updated its App Review Guidelines to require developers to disclose and obtain explicit user permission before sharing personal data with any third party, including artificial intelligence services. The change aims to reinforce privacy protections and warns that non‑compliant apps risk removal from the App Store. Apple did not comment on the revision, which arrives as AI integration becomes more common in mobile apps.Read more

Venture capitalists are revising their playbooks for AI startups, emphasizing rapid growth, data generation, and strong go‑to‑market strategies. Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures described the shift as a “funky time” at TechCrunch Disrupt, noting that traditional metrics are giving way to new variables such as competitive moats and technical depth. Jon McNeill of DVx Ventures highlighted the heightened scrutiny on seed‑stage companies, while Steve Jang of Kindred Ventures stressed the need for both solid technology and robust marketing. The panelists agreed that the AI sector remains early‑stage, leaving room for challengers to unseat incumbents.Read more

In the inaugural episode of TechCrunch’s Build Mode podcast, co‑founder Deon Nicholas of Forethought AI shares how his team achieved early traction by focusing on real customer problems, iterating rapidly, and securing paying logos before hitting the TechCrunch Disrupt stage. Nicholas emphasizes a “7‑Failure Rule,” lean operations, and the importance of proving value over chasing hype, lessons that resonated with investors and led to a successful Series A round.Read more

Google Photos now lets users edit images through simple text or voice prompts, using its Gemini‑powered Conversational Editing feature. Originally limited to Pixel 10 devices, the tool has been rolled out to eligible Android phones and, more recently, to iPhone and iPad users. By asking the app to "make this photo look better" or specifying precise adjustments like "increase saturation by 100%," anyone can achieve professional‑looking edits without manual tweaking. Eligibility requires users to be 18 or older, located in the United States, have an English (US) Google Account, and enable Face Groups and location estimates. Settings let users control how much data the feature accesses.Read more

Anthropic reported that Chinese state-backed hackers employed its Claude large‑language model to automate roughly thirty attacks on corporations and governments during a recent campaign. The company said the AI performed up to 80‑90% of the work, with human operators intervening only at a few critical decision points. Four victims had sensitive data stolen, while the U.S. government was not successfully targeted. Anthropic expressed confidence that the attackers were sponsored by the Chinese government and highlighted the growing trend of AI‑driven cyber threats.Read more

Remodel AI, founded by Dirk Morris, has rolled out a paint‑visualization feature that uses computer‑vision AI to let users preview real‑world paint colors on photos of their spaces. The tool draws from established brands such as Behr, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin‑Williams, and adjusts for lighting and texture to produce realistic renderings. Available on iOS and Android, the app offers a free tier and paid subscriptions ranging from $7 to $60 per month. Users simply upload or capture a room image, select colors, and receive quick, accurate visualizations that aid design decisions.Read more

OpenAI’s Sora is a generative video model that creates short clips from text, images, or video prompts. Built on a diffusion architecture, it starts with static noise and gradually refines it into coherent motion that matches the input description. Sora offers features such as storyboarding, higher resolutions, longer runtimes, and a cameo tool for personal likenesses. The service is integrated into ChatGPT subscription plans, providing a limited free daily allowance and expanded capabilities for Plus and Pro users. OpenAI has implemented filters to block unauthorized likenesses and is adjusting its copyright controls in response to industry feedback.Read more

Google is enhancing its AI‑powered note‑taking service NotebookLM with a new Deep Research feature that automates complex online research and generates source‑grounded reports. At the same time, the platform now accepts a wider range of file types, including Google Sheets, Drive URLs, PDFs, and Microsoft Word documents, allowing users to summarize spreadsheets and quickly add multiple files. The updates aim to streamline knowledge creation without leaving the workflow, building on earlier capabilities such as Video Overviews and Audio Overviews.Read more

Scammers are using AI‑generated images, video and audio to clone famous faces and voices, creating fake endorsements that trick consumers into clicking links, providing personal data, or sending money. A McAfee study found that a large share of Americans have encountered such deepfake scams, with pop‑culture icons like a leading pop singer topping the list. The report details how generative AI tools lower the barrier for fraud, the typical tactics scammers employ, and practical tips for spotting false celebrity content. Industry players acknowledge the challenge and are working on watermarking and labeling solutions.Read more

Mozilla announced that Firefox will soon include an AI‑driven browsing experience called AI Window. The opt‑in feature adds an AI assistant and chatbot to the browser, letting users pick the underlying model and interact with web content in a more intelligent way. AI Window will sit alongside the traditional private and classic windows, and Mozilla is developing it openly with user feedback. A waitlist has been opened for those interested in early access.Read more

Google has rolled out its biggest update to Gemini Live, the real‑time conversational AI interface, on Android and iOS. The upgrade adds smarter models that better understand intonation, rhythm, and pitch, letting users hear the assistant speak more slowly or quickly, adopt a range of accents, and deliver dramatic storytelling. Gemini Live also offers adaptive tutoring for language learning and other subjects, as well as practice‑conversation tools for interviews and challenging personal talks. The enhancements aim to make interactions feel more natural, expressive, and tailored to individual learning needs.Read more

Google has expanded its NotebookLM AI workspace by adding a Deep Research tool that can automatically browse the web and compile multi‑page reports on a single topic. The new feature works alongside the Gemini model, allowing users to direct the app to seek specific online sources and receive suggested articles, papers, and websites. NotebookLM can now also pull data from Google Sheets, Microsoft Word documents, and PDFs stored in Google Drive, with the ability to add Drive files simply by copying a URL. The enhancements are set to roll out to users within a week, further strengthening the app’s note‑taking, flashcard, and quiz‑generation functions.Read more

DeepMind introduced SIMA 2, the next generation of its general‑purpose AI agent that combines the language and reasoning capabilities of the Gemini model with embodied skills learned from video‑game data. The new system can understand complex instructions, reason internally, and improve itself through self‑generated experiences, effectively doubling the performance of its predecessor, SIMA 1. Demonstrations showed SIMA 2 navigating photorealistic virtual worlds, interpreting emojis, and explaining its thought process, signaling a step toward more capable robots and broader artificial general intelligence research.Read more

Google's NotebookLM has rolled out a major upgrade that makes locating, adding, and managing research sources far easier. The Gemini‑powered assistant now offers "Fast" and "Deep" research modes, lets users add CNET as a preferred Chrome source, and expands file compatibility to include Google Sheets, Microsoft Word documents, PDFs, and other Drive files without extra downloads. These enhancements follow recent improvements to the mobile app and chat experience, reinforcing NotebookLM’s role as a versatile AI‑driven notetaking and research tool for students, professionals, and casual users alike.Read more

DeepMind has introduced SIMA 2, an advanced AI agent that expands on its earlier SIMA system by incorporating Google’s Gemini model. The new agent can interpret high‑level user goals, perform complex reasoning, and execute actions across a variety of video games, including titles it has never encountered. Released as a limited research preview for academics and developers, SIMA 2 is positioned as a training ground for real‑world applications rather than a consumer gaming tool. DeepMind officials describe the development as a significant step toward artificial general intelligence, with potential implications for robotics and AI embodiment.Read more

Spotify has introduced Recaps, an AI‑generated summary feature for audiobooks that helps listeners catch up after pausing. Available in iOS beta for select English titles, the tool activates after the first 20 minutes of listening and provides a spoiler‑free overview of what has been heard. The feature sits alongside Spotify’s $12 subscription, which includes 15 hours of audiobook streaming from a catalog of over 500,000 titles, and mirrors similar efforts from rivals such as Amazon’s Story So Far and Audible offerings.Read more

Google is expanding its AI Mode search with new conversational shopping capabilities powered by Gemini. Users in the United States will soon be able to ask complex product questions and receive generated guides, tables, and recommendations. The rollout also includes sponsored shopping content, mirroring traditional search ads, while the Gemini app currently offers ad‑free results. Additionally, Google is testing an "agentic checkout" feature that can alert shoppers when a product hits a target price and enable automatic purchases via Google Pay at select retailers. The updates arrive ahead of the holiday shopping season.Read more