OpenAI abandons yet another side quest: ChatGPT’s erotic mode
OpenAI has put the kibosh on yet another project, at least for the time being. On Thursday, the Financial Times reported that the AI company is suspending plans to develop an “erotic” mode for ChatGPT “indefinitely.” The idea of an “adult mode”, first proposed by CEO Sam Altman in October, generated considerable controversy from technology […]
Two of Silicon Valley’s biggest dramas have intersected: LiteLLM and Delve
This is one of those real-life Silicon Valley episodes that looks like it was ripped from an HBO satire. This week, some pretty heinous malware was discovered in an open source project developed by Y Combinator alum LiteLLM. LiteLLM gives developers easy access to hundreds of AI models and provides features such as spend management. […]
A major hacking tool has been leaked online, putting millions of iPhones at risk. Here’s what you need to know:
Security researchers have discovered a series of cyberattacks targeting Apple customers around the world. The tools used in these hacking campaigns, called Coruna and DarkSword, have been used by both government spies and cybercriminals to steal data from people’s iPhones and iPads. Widespread hacks targeting iPhone and iPad users are rare. The only precedent in […]
Conntour raises $7M from YC’s General Catalyst to build AI search engine for security video systems
The surveillance technology industry is in the spotlight today, but that’s not the only reason. Controversy over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of Flock’s camera network to surveil people, and home camera maker Ring drawing criticism for developing a new feature that allows law enforcement to ask homeowners for footage of their neighborhoods, are […]
WhatsApp can now draft AI-generated responses based on conversations
WhatsApp is rolling out a number of new features and updates, including the ability to use AI to generate suggested replies based on your conversations. The Meta-owned messaging platform is also releasing other features, including new ways to free up space and the ability to touch up photos with Meta AI. Most notably, however, the […]
‘A lot of meat’ from data centers: One senator’s answer to job losses due to AI
Signs are already mounting that AI could lead to mass turnover, with the number of entry-level jobs in the U.S. falling 35% since 2023, mass layoffs rampant across big tech companies, and even AI leaders themselves warning of what’s to come. Backstage at the Axios AI Summit in Washington on Wednesday, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) […]
Mistral releases new open source model for speech generation
French AI company Mistral on Thursday released a new open-source text-to-speech model that can be used in enterprise use cases such as voice AI assistants and customer support. This model allows businesses to build voice agents for sales and customer engagement, putting Mistral in direct competition with the likes of Celebrities, Deepgram, and OpenAI. The […]
Little-known Croatian startup enters robotaxis market with help from Uber
Mate Rimac, founder of Croatian electric car maker Rimac Group, started working on electric robotaxis seven years ago. Now, part of his vision is becoming a reality through a strategic partnership between Uber, Chinese self-driving car company Pony.ai, and his own robotaxi startup Verne. The three companies on Thursday announced plans to launch a commercial […]
The most amazing chapter in Manus’ story is what’s happening now
Now, the United States and China are engaged in an all-out war to build the most powerful AI on the planet. The Chinese government is spending billions on domestic models, tightening its grip on high-tech sectors and nervously watching AI talent gravitate toward American companies. But Manas, one of China’s hottest AI startups, quietly relocated […]
The AI skills gap is here and power users are ahead, AI companies say
Anthropic’s latest research suggests that while AI is rapidly changing the way work is done, it is not eliminating jobs in any meaningful way. At least not yet. But while the labor market, which Peter McCrory, Anthropic’s head of economics, said “remains healthy”, early signs point to an uneven impact on young workers, particularly those […]