News — Page155

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

OpenAI's upcoming DevDay event will spotlight a range of potential updates, from a consumer AI hardware partnership with designer Jony Ive to possible changes for the Sora video generator and a rumored browser project. The gathering also follows years of debate over leadership, safety, environmental impact, and high‑profile disputes, including those involving Elon Musk. Attendees will look for the next evolution of ChatGPT after the recent Pulse features, as the company continues to navigate both technical innovation and public scrutiny.Read more

OpenAI has introduced Sora, a new social network that streams only AI‑generated videos. The iOS app, identified by a navy‑and‑white cloud icon, requires an invite code to join. Users must log in with a ChatGPT account, request notification when access opens, and allow push notifications. OpenAI says the initial rollout targets the United States and Canada, with plans to expand quickly and prioritize paying Pro users. Once admitted, members receive four additional invite codes to share. A disclaimer notes that none of the content is authentic, and a separate lawsuit from Ziff Davis alleges copyright infringement in OpenAI’s AI training.Read more

Autograph, a startup founded by Cristian Cibils Bernandes and Santiago Racca, offers an AI‑driven service that records personal memories through phone calls with a virtual biographer named Walter. While the platform promises a living archive of voices and stories, a reviewer found the experience uncomfortable, citing repetitive prompts, awkward pacing, and limited privacy clarity. Autograph provides a free 14‑day trial and a $30‑per‑month subscription, but the reviewer concluded the service does not yet meet expectations for ease of use or trust.Read more

Apple has reportedly set aside plans for now to develop a lighter, lower‑cost version of its Vision Pro headset. The company is instead concentrating on a secret augmented‑reality glasses project. Analysts note that the Vision Pro’s high price, heavy design and limited content have hampered sales, and the pause raises questions about the headset’s future as Apple eyes a more mainstream AR solution.Read more

OpenAI is working on a palm‑sized, always‑on AI gadget that would listen to its surroundings and respond without prompts. The company faces key hurdles, including how to provide enough local and cloud compute power and how to shape the device’s personality so it feels helpful rather than creepy. The effort follows earlier missteps with ChatGPT’s tone and the controversial rollout of the Sora 2 video generator, highlighting OpenAI’s ongoing struggle to balance innovation with user comfort.Read more

OpenAI announced plans to transform ChatGPT into a universal app frontend, enabling instant checkout through an "agentic commerce protocol" and integrating a growing roster of third‑party services such as Expedia, Booking.com, Peloton, Target, Uber and DoorDash. Developers can now use a new SDK and a set of guidelines to submit apps for inclusion in a curated directory, with higher‑quality apps receiving prominent placement. The company also unveiled AgentKit, a visual tool for building specialized chatbots, demonstrated with a live "Ask Froge" demo. Additional updates include Slack integration for the Codex coding agent and the release of new models like Sora 2 and GPT‑5 Pro via API.Read more

Researchers led by Shin have pinpointed a distinct group of neurons in the primary visual cortex that facilitate local pattern completion, a process tied to the perception of illusory contours. While the study confirmed the neurons' causal role through optogenetic stimulation, it did not assess behavioral outcomes, noting current technical limits on the number of neurons that can be activated. Future experiments aim to expand stimulation scope to explore potential behavioral responses.Read more

Evernote has released its first major version since 2020, introducing a suite of AI-driven tools. The new AI Assistant, built with OpenAI's technology, lets users search, interact with, and generate content within notes. Semantic Search adds context‑based retrieval, surfacing relevant documents without exact keyword matches. Expanded recording and transcription capabilities now capture and summarize meetings in multiple languages. The features roll out to paid users on desktop and web first, with mobile following, and pricing remains unchanged for now.Read more

Google announced a new bug bounty program focused on its AI products, defining AI bugs as issues that use large language models or generative AI to cause harm or exploit security gaps. The program rewards researchers for uncovering rogue actions such as prompt‑injection attacks that could unlock a Google Home device or exfiltrate email data. Since its inception two years ago, participants have earned over $430,000. Alongside the bounty, Google introduced CodeMender, an AI‑driven agent that has already patched 72 security fixes in open‑source projects after human review.Read more

A comprehensive review of pool vacuum robots evaluates both corded and cordless models, highlighting their cleaning power, battery life, suction performance, and filtration capabilities. Corded units eliminate concerns about recharging and battery degradation, while cordless robots offer flexibility for pools far from power sources. The analysis discusses suction ratings measured in gallons per hour, the importance of nanofilters for fine debris, and price ranges from budget to premium models. Brands such as Dolphin and Beatbot are examined, providing guidance for pool owners seeking reliable, efficient cleaning solutions.Read more

OpenAI announced at its Dev Day that the company is rolling out a new app ecosystem for ChatGPT, beginning with a Zillow integration that lets users search for homes directly within the chatbot. The launch also includes partner apps such as Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, and Spotify, available in English‑speaking markets outside the EU. Future additions slated for later this year include DoorDash, Peloton, Uber, TripAdvisor, OpenTable and Target. The move aims to make third‑party services more accessible without leaving the ChatGPT conversation, signaling a broader push toward conversational commerce and AI‑driven user experiences.Read more

OpenAI has expanded ChatGPT with a new in‑chat app platform that lets users invoke services such as Spotify, Canva, Zillow, Booking.com, Expedia, Figma, Coursera and others directly within a conversation. The feature works by detecting user intent and automatically offering the appropriate third‑party app, eliminating the need to click external links. Users grant access permissions the first time an app is used, and developers can build their own integrations with OpenAI’s SDK. The rollout is currently global except for the European Union, with plans to add more partners over time.Read more

Smart security camera maker Eufy launched a winter promotion that offered owners $2 for each video showing a package theft or a person pulling on a car door, regardless of whether the footage was genuine or staged. The campaign aimed to collect 20,000 clips of each scenario to train the company’s artificial‑intelligence detection software. Eufy, a subsidiary of Anker, capped payouts at $20 per device and did not comment on the initiative. The move reflects a broader, still‑uncommon trend of tech firms paying consumers for data, while raising fresh concerns about privacy and past security lapses in Eufy’s products.Read more

OpenAI announced that ChatGPT can now connect to a range of third‑party apps, including Spotify and Canva, through its new Apps SDK. Users can invoke these apps directly in conversation, prompting account linking the first time. The rollout also includes Coursera, Figma, Zillow and promises additional services such as DoorDash, OpenTable, Target and Uber in the coming weeks, with OpenAI planning to accept app submissions for review later this year.Read more

A seasoned professional reflects on how returning to college after two decades would differ thanks to AI‑driven tools. The focus is on Genio Notes, a purpose‑built note‑taking app that records lectures, timestamps notes, imports slides, and offers near‑perfect transcription. The app also organizes material into collections and provides AI features such as automatic outlines and quiz generation. Available on iOS and Android, Genio Notes costs $129/£144 per year with a free 30‑day trial, positioning itself as a comprehensive solution for today’s students.Read more

Generative AI chatbots are increasingly marketed as mental‑health companions, but researchers and clinicians say they lack the safeguards and expertise of licensed therapists. Studies reveal flaws in their therapeutic approach, and regulators are beginning to act, with state laws banning AI‑based therapy and federal investigations targeting major AI firms. While some companies add disclaimers, the technology’s confidence and tendency to affirm users can be harmful. Experts advise seeking qualified human professionals and using purpose‑built therapy bots rather than generic AI chat tools.Read more

OpenAI’s partnership with designer Jony Ive is encountering technical hurdles that could delay the launch of their anticipated AI hardware, slated for sometime in 2026. Issues include defining the assistant’s voice and personality, addressing privacy concerns of a constantly listening device, and managing budget pressures tied to the required computing power. CEO Sam Altman has hinted at a pocket-sized, display‑free form factor, but the project remains in flux as the team works through these challenges, especially after the market disappointment of similar products like the Humane AI Pin.Read more

OpenAI has launched Sora, a new social media app focused on AI‑generated videos. The iOS‑only service, which also runs at Sora.com, is being released initially in the United States and Canada and is limited to users who receive an invite code. Access is prioritized for paying ChatGPT Pro subscribers, who can share up to four additional codes with friends. All content on Sora is labeled as AI‑created, and the app requires users to log in with a ChatGPT account and enable push notifications to receive updates on availability.Read more

OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, is partnering with designer Jony Ive to develop a palm‑sized, screen‑less AI gadget that can sit on a desk or be carried. The device will interact through microphones, speakers and cameras, aiming to offer a conversational experience that feels like a helpful friend rather than a generic digital assistant. Engineers are wrestling with challenges around the device’s voice, personality, engagement timing, privacy and the massive compute power needed to run advanced language models. The first unit is slated for release in late 2026 or early 2027.Read more