AI Tech
Coverage from the AI Tech desk.
Boll & Branch Draws Internal Lines on AI-Generated Advertising
Boll & Branch has been folding generative AI into its marketing imagery and campaign copy, but the premium home brand is setting its own guardrails on where the tools are allowed, chief creative officer Kristen Deyco says.
Student's AI Tool Translates Murakami's New Novel Into Mandarin in Four Hours for Under $2
A 21-year-old Chinese literature student built an AI tool that rendered Haruki Murakami's newest novel into Mandarin within four hours of its Tokyo release, at a cost of about 13 RMB.
Luxury's Identity Crisis: AI Belongs Behind the Scenes, Human Touch on Centre Stage
A luxury executive with 38 years of experience managing operations across 15 countries argues the sector is confusing modernization with mechanization, and that screens, kiosks and algorithms cannot deliver ultra-luxury.
OpenAI Pauses $200-a-Month Pro Sign-Ups as Astra Demand Strains Systems
OpenAI has temporarily halted new subscriptions to its $200-per-month Pro plan, saying the tier places the heaviest load on its infrastructure amid unprecedented demand for its newest model, Astra.
Instacart Launches White-Label Cart Assistant and Clementine AI Shopping Tool
Source signal: Instacart launches custom AI assistants for retailers, and its own
Nvidia's Huang Points to 70% Growth Next Year, Rejects Talk of 'Circular' Deals
Nvidia founder and chief executive Jensen Huang says the chipmaker's record revenue streak will stretch through the end of next year, projecting growth of about 70% while pushing back on claims that its business deals are circular.
Chinese EV Makers Chase Affordable Humanoid Robots for Consumers
Nio's William Li says tomorrow's cars will essentially be robots, as more than 10 Chinese smart-vehicle manufacturers push into humanoid robotics using shared EV supply chains.
AEON Malaysia's AI Venture Moves From Transaction Segments to Life-Stage Profiling
AEON360, the data and AI joint venture of AEON Co. (M) Bhd and AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad, is shifting customer personalisation away from static transaction-based segments and towards tracking life stages across retail, mall and financial services data.
China's First Fully AI-Generated Series 'Beyond Wukong' Debuts in Prime Time
The Later Journey to the West, also titled Beyond Wukong, has premiered in prime time on Hunan Satellite Television and Mango TV, billed as China's first fully AI-generated series.
Consumers Trust AI to Search but Not to Shop, Mintel Report Finds
A Mintel report finds shoppers are comfortable using artificial intelligence to search, compare and simplify purchase decisions, but far less willing to let it act on their behalf and complete the transaction. The trust gap persists even as brands keep spending on agentic AI.
Galbot opens Hong Kong's first robot-run retail stores
Chinese robotics developer Galbot is launching three Hong Kong stores staffed entirely by a humanoid robot manager named Xiao Gai, marking its first commercial move outside mainland China.
Meta Unveils Muse, a Personal AI Agent That Taps Email, Calendars and Payments
Meta has introduced Muse, a personal AI agent for U.S. users that connects to everyday apps and services to carry out tasks on their behalf, in what the company calls its largest consumer AI bet to date.
Cognition raises $2B at $48B valuation for AI coding assistant Devin
Cognition, the company behind the AI coding assistant Devin, has raised $2 billion at a $48 billion valuation, up sharply from a $26 billion round just four months earlier. The investment signals that venture capitalists believe the AI coding market can support several major players.
Anthropic Warns Claude Users After Subscriber Reports Token Theft
An AI consultant in the U.K. discovered his Claude Max account burning tokens while he was idle, prompting an investigation and a warning from Anthropic about hackers.
AI Agents Could Turn Time Between Trips Into Revenue Channel
Airlines and travel companies are deploying AI agents that remember customer context across journeys, potentially turning service moments into direct bookings and loyalty.
Tesla Cybercab Event in Austin Falls Short as Robotaxi Fleet Remains Tiny
Wall Street showed little enthusiasm for Tesla's Cybercab event in Austin, where the company has registered just 45 robotaxis in Texas so far.
Kalanick’s Atoms Prepares Robotaxi Push With Uber in Talks
Travis Kalanick’s startup Atoms appears ready to enter the robotaxi arena, with plans for aggressive hiring and acquisitions and talks with Uber about deploying its self-driving technology.
Publishers, Agents Face Backlash Over Anthropic Settlement Claims
Writers are pushing back against publishers and agents attempting to claim a share of payments from Anthropic's $1.5 billion copyright settlement, including for books whose rights have long reverted to authors.
AI Assistant Instinct Books Hotel Rooms via Plain Text, Showing Travel What Frictionless Really Looks Like
Instinct, an invite-only AI assistant created by 23-year-old Noah Shinn, can book and rebook travel directly from a text thread, offering a concrete example of frictionless booking.
Robot Dogs Greet Freshmen at Chinese Universities, Sparking AI Debate
AI-powered robot dogs have joined student orientation at Chinese universities this fall, assisting with guiding and carrying luggage. The high-tech welcome has prompted a debate over whether the machines are a bold innovation or an expensive gimmick.
Tesla Cybercab Details: No Children Under 13 Allowed in Robotaxi
Tesla has revealed new details about its Cybercab robotaxi, including a policy barring children under 13 from riding, even with a parent. The disclosures followed a low-key private launch event.
AI compute provider Nscale seeks $3.5B in pre-IPO financing
British AI infrastructure company Nscale is in talks to raise $3.5 billion ahead of a possible IPO later this month, following its $45 billion deal with Anthropic.
Why Is a Do-Nothing Robot Duck Selling Out? Microduck Sparks AI Craze
The Microduck, a 25-centimeter open-source robot duck that performs no practical tasks, sold over 5,000 units within 24 hours of its launch at USD 399. The device has become a sensation among AI developers for its programmability via reinforcement learning.
OpenAI's 'Recurrent Depth' Technique in Astra Model Alarms AI Safety Experts
OpenAI plans to deploy a reasoning method called 'recurrent depth' in its upcoming Astra model, a move that has safety experts worried about the visibility of the AI's chain of thought.
Instagram restricts undisclosed AI profiles with new label
Instagram is updating its AI disclosure rules to make it clearer when profiles feature AI-generated people, and will limit the reach of accounts that fail to label them.
AI Videos on TikTok Go Mislead Hotel Travelers and Property Owners
TikTok's new hotel booking feature is being flooded with AI-generated videos that promote nonexistent amenities, raising concerns among property owners. A Sedona resort says a viral clip showcased a suite that does not exist.
Pro-AI Group Backed by Tech Investors Plans Data Center Ad Blitz in Midterm States
Source signal: A group funded by Andreessen, Horowitz, and Brockman plans data center ads to sway midterms
Australians trust AI shopping advice more than retail staff
Source signal: Australians are turning to AI for shopping research, whilst retail staff remain part of the purchase journey.
China’s Youth Turns ‘Vibe Coding’ Into a Social Scene
A new AI-driven trend called ‘vibe coding’ lets people build apps using natural language instead of complex syntax, and China’s creative youth are turning it into a weekend social activity.
Vijay Pande's VZVC trades a16z scale for small, AI-driven bets
Former a16z biotech lead Vijay Pande has swapped a roughly $4 billion practice for a lean new firm, VZVC, where he plans just a handful of concentrated investments each year. He argues that open, shared datasets are key to unlocking AI's potential in medicine.
At TechBBQ, Europe Asks Who Should Control AI
European investors, founders and operators gathered at TechBBQ in Copenhagen to wrestle with AI sovereignty, a debate sharpened by Anthropic's recent withdrawal of its Mythos and Fable models from the region. The annual conference ended August 27 under the theme 'Emerging from Agency.'
CapsuleTransit launches tech-integrated Sleep Lounge at Kuala Lumpur Airport
CapsuleTransit, owned by CHG, has opened a 111.5-square-meter Sleep Lounge at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1, featuring 38 smart pods with sleep-monitoring technology for pre-flight rest.
Sony Music, Warner Chappell Sue Anthropic Over Copyright Infringement
Source signal: Sony Music, Warner sue Anthropic, alleging a “brazen campaign” of intellectual property theft
Consumers Welcome AI Research but Resist Automated Purchasing
A new Ipsos report finds that while most consumers are comfortable using AI for product research and comparisons, only one-third would let it make purchases without human approval.
Barret Zoph joins Google as VP of research after brief OpenAI return
Barret Zoph, a co-founder of Thinking Machines who made a short-lived return to OpenAI earlier this year, has joined Google as vice president of research, where he will focus on reinforcement learning and post-training for Gemini.
Meta's $18B Settlement Includes Legal Pass to Retain Kids' Data for Age-Detection Model
Meta will pay up to $18 billion and adopt new child safety measures, but its settlement with 29 states also grants the company permission to retain certain data from children under 13 for training and testing an age-detection model.
Instagram’s First Draft feature automates Reels editing into a 10-second rough cut
Instagram is rolling out First Draft, a new editing tool that automatically trims selected clips and removes pauses to produce a rough cut in under 10 seconds, making Reels creation faster and more accessible.
Travel’s AI Reckoning: Data, Trust, and ROI Take Center Stage
The travel industry is shifting from AI hype to measurable outcomes, with Google paying $10 million for Spirit Airlines' data and Airbnb reporting real AI-driven savings.
TapTap Maker Lets Anyone Build Games With a Single Prompt
TapTap's AI tool, TapTap Maker, is enabling anyone to create games with simple prompts, leading to a nearly ninefold jump in new releases on the platform.
Hilton CEO: AI Changes Who Recommends Hotels, Not What Earns the Booking
Christopher Nassetta says reliability and guest loyalty still drive recommendations even as AI becomes the new gatekeeper in travel search.
Waymo builds custom chip to power next-gen robotaxi
Waymo has developed a custom 5nm ASIC chip designed to handle the heavy data flow of its sixth-generation self-driving system, a key step as the company expands its Ojai robotaxi to all riders in three cities.
Linkdaze smart calendar organizes family schedules with AI meal planner, no paywall
Linkdaze's touchscreen calendar syncs Google, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo and Cozi schedules, and includes an AI meal planner at no extra cost.
Uber Hit With €825 Million Fine Over Automated Driver Deactivations
The Dutch Data Protection Authority has fined Uber €825 million (about $966 million) for using an automated process to deactivate driver accounts without sufficient human oversight, marking the second-largest penalty under Europe's GDPR.
Marketers adopt AI but draw the line on customer-facing content
Most marketers now use AI in creative work, but many are setting strict boundaries on customer-facing content. New research shows nearly all plan to increase AI investment, even as consumer confidence in AI-generated quality drops.
Mystery Deepens Around AI Model Ox Alpha's Origins
A free AI model called Ox Alpha appeared on OpenRouter, triggering intense speculation about its anonymous creator. The stealth model has drawn theories ranging from China's Z.ai to Microsoft, with Stripe CEO Patrick Collison among those praising it.
Two in three Southeast Asian consumers buy on creator recommendations, report finds
A new report reveals that 67% of Southeast Asian shoppers have made a purchase due to a creator's recommendation, even as generative AI tools like ChatGPT gain ground in product discovery.
Apple cuts more than 200 roles across Siri, Vision Pro teams
Apple has confirmed layoffs impacting over 200 employees, including about half from the Vision Pro team and others from Siri and AI integration groups, as it pivots toward new AI initiatives.
Rillet hits $1B valuation after $100M round raised in 48 hours
AI-native accounting startup Rillet has raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation, a deal that came together in two days after a board meeting highlighted surging growth.
AI Moves Beyond Code Generation in Retail Integrations
Retail commerce teams are adopting AI faster than they can govern it, but the next phase of integration focuses on embedding AI into workflows and monitoring, not just generating code.
Cognition CEO denies report of SpaceX acquisition talks
Cognition CEO Scott Wu pushed back on a report claiming SpaceX attempted to acquire the AI coding startup, saying the company is not for sale and no talks have taken place. The denial follows SpaceX's recent $60 billion acquisition of rival coding startup Cursor.
OpenAI unveils privacy-first safety system to counter Anthropic's data retention policy
OpenAI is previewing Private Safety Processing, a service that monitors for misuse without retaining customer data. The move directly counters Anthropic's recently announced 30-day data-retention policy for its Mythos-class models.
Waymo opens next-gen Ojai robotaxi to all riders in three cities
Waymo has opened its next-generation Ojai robotaxi to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco, marking a step toward cheaper autonomous rides at scale.
DTC Startups Rethink Wholesale and Adopt AI to Scale, Founders Say at eTail Boston
At eTail Boston, a panel of founders and executives from direct-to-consumer brands discussed using AI for search, content and operations while reshaping wholesale relationships to drive growth.
AI automation startup Relay shuts down; staff joins Google Chrome team
Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation platform launched in 2021, is shutting down. Founder and CEO Jacob Bank is rejoining Google as VP of Product for Chrome, along with some staff.
Google Wins Spirit Airlines Data in Bankruptcy Sale for $10 Million
Google won a bankruptcy auction for Spirit Airlines' business data and software code for $10 million, and plans to use the assets to improve its AI models and products.
Nvidia to Invest $1.5B in SoftBank-OpenAI Data Center Developer
Nvidia will invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy, a data center developer backed by SoftBank and OpenAI, securing its role as sole compute supplier for OpenAI's Ports-Pike facility near Cincinnati, Ohio.
Zuckerberg's AI Vision Faces Widespread Skepticism
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 6,500-word essay envisioning an AI-powered future has drawn criticism, with observers citing his company's social media track record as a reason for doubt.
Anthropic CEO calls AI backlash a 'crisis of trust'
Dario Amodei rejected claims that his warnings about AI risks have fueled public backlash, arguing the real issue is a crisis of trust.
AI Streamlines Beauty’s Direct-to-Consumer Tech Stack
Generative AI is helping direct-to-consumer beauty brands shrink their technology stacks, speed up website development and operate with leaner teams.
Woman joins lawsuit alleging Grok turned childhood photo into explicit images
A woman known as Jane Doe 4 has joined a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI, alleging her stepfather used the Grok chatbot to create more than 7,000 explicit images from a childhood photo. The suit, filed by three Tennessee teens, accuses the company of failing to prevent the AI tool from generating images of minors.
Anthropic details how Claude's text watermarking will work
Anthropic has published a blog post explaining how it will watermark text generated by its Claude chatbot, a move tied to the EU AI Act's Transparency Code. The company says the watermark is invisible to readers but detectable with a key and does not affect output quality.
Twitch Defaults Creators Into Amazon AI Training
Twitch will automatically use creators’ livestreams to train Amazon’s generative AI models unless they opt out, a policy that has drawn sharp criticism from the platform’s community.
Fermi Taps Lee McIntire as CEO to Lead Project Matador Buildout
Fermi has appointed board member Lee McIntire as CEO, filling the vacancy left by ousted co-founder Toby Neugebauer. The former TerraPower and CH2M Hill chief will oversee construction of the company's Amarillo AI campus.
Writer launches Palmyra X6 AI model and revamped harness to cut token costs
Writer has introduced Palmyra X6, a flagship AI model built on Z.ai's open-source GLM-5.2, along with upgraded agentic harness infrastructure. The company says the combination could reduce customer costs by up to 50% for basic tasks.
Stanley 1913 Reworks Content for AI Search Visibility
Stanley 1913 is shifting from hack-driven SEO tactics to a long-term content strategy designed for AI search engines, adding FAQs and usage guides to answer real consumer questions.
Sandbar CEO: Voice is key to winning in AI wearables
Sandbar, the startup behind the Stream voice ring, has raised $36 million and argues that voice-controlled wearables that keep users in charge will succeed where earlier AI notetakers failed.
Automattic’s AI-powered contact manager Mesh arrives on Android
Automattic’s personal CRM and contacts app Mesh is now available on Android, letting users track relationships and schedule reminders across devices.
Accel closes oversubscribed $550M India fund in weeks
Accel has closed a new $550 million India-focused fund, oversubscribed and raised less than two years after its previous $650 million vehicle.
Gen Z Investors Turn Xiaohongshu Into Wishing Well for Unitree Robotics IPO
Unitree Robotics has become the world’s first listed humanoid robot company with its STAR Market IPO, igniting a social media frenzy among young Chinese investors.
Discovered Materials raises $9M to speed up microchip material discovery with AI
The startup has closed a $9 million seed round to deploy AI agents on a high-volume hunt for new materials that could make integrated circuits more efficient and cooler-running.
From Red-Light District to AI Powerhouse: King's Cross Emerges as Global Tech Hub
Once among London's seamiest neighborhoods, King's Cross has become one of the world's most sought-after AI hubs, drawing startups and tech giants alike.
New Algorithm Generates Patterns That Fool Surveillance Cameras
A security researcher has built an algorithm that generates patterns capable of fooling surveillance cameras and license plate readers into missing people, faces and vehicles.
Jill Lepore warns tech leaders are misreading science fiction and eroding democracy
In a new book and podcast interview, the Harvard historian argues that Silicon Valley's embrace of 'government by machines' threatens democratic institutions.
Cloudflare unveils Kitesurf, a cloud browser tailored for AI agents
Cloudflare has introduced Kitesurf, a cloud-hosted browser designed specifically for AI agents rather than human users, helping developers build browser-based automation more efficiently.
Rippling Launches AI Spend Console to Curb Runaway Token Costs
Rippling has introduced AI Spend Console, a tool that tracks and contains employee AI spending, after the company's own AI costs ballooned. The product maps spending by individual, team and role and links it to productivity.
Investors See Human-First Beauty and Wellness Brands as AI-Era Winners
As artificial intelligence floods beauty with product recommendations, investors are betting on human expertise, trust and long-term relationships as key competitive advantages.
OpenAI Smart Speaker to Be Priced at $300-$400, Report Says
New details indicate OpenAI's upcoming AI smart speaker will carry a premium price tag, with a distinctive design and materials.
Google warns of vishing attacks targeting US financial firms
Source signal: Google says hackers are calling financial firm employees to hack and extort victims
OpenAI Trials Product Carousel Ads on ChatGPT
OpenAI is testing a product carousel ad format in ChatGPT, allowing multiple products to appear side-by-side in a single ad placement at the bottom of conversations.
OpenAI and Statsig settle DOJ hiring discrimination claims over green-card sponsorships
The Justice Department announced a settlement with OpenAI and former subsidiary Statsig over allegations they failed to recruit U.S. citizens before sponsoring immigrant employees for green cards.