|
ChatGPT's 'Intelligent UI' update fills its responses with pictures, charts, and buttons
OpenAI is launching a new Intelligent UI feature in ChatGPT that allows the chatbot to answer questions with interactive visuals, including diagrams, charts, forms, and tappable buttons. The update is rolling out to all users alongside GPT-6. This marks a significant shift in how ChatGPT presents information, moving beyond plain text responses.
|
|
Microsoft releases new Nvidia-chip AI PCs with revamped Windows 11 at Surface event
Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra at a Windows and Surface event in San Francisco, powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark Arm-based chip and starting at $2,599. The company also showed off an upgraded Copilot AI system dubbed 'Hybrid Intelligence,' giving it access to local files and the ability to take actions across the OS. Additionally, the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is available for preorder at $5,999, set to ship in November.
|
|
Tony Fadell on why the first wave of AI gadgets failed — and what comes next
iPod inventor Tony Fadell argues that the first generation of dedicated AI gadgets failed because they did not solve real consumer problems. He believes the next wave of AI hardware will need to earn users' trust by delivering genuine utility. Fadell's perspective offers a critical lens on the hardware ambitions of major AI companies.
|
|
Meta's Muse AI agent launches on iPad just a month after its mobile debut
Meta's agentic AI tool Muse, which spent several weeks as the top free app in Apple's App Store after its launch, now has native iPad support. The app is designed to compete with tools like OpenAI's Dots and Grok Bot. A Mac version was also recently released, showing rapid expansion across Apple's ecosystem.
|
|
Google's new SynthID website can identify AI-generated media
Google has launched a public-facing SynthID website that allows anyone to verify whether an image, video, or audio clip was generated using AI. The tool leverages Google's existing SynthID watermarking technology to detect AI-generated content. The move is part of broader industry efforts to improve transparency around AI-generated media.
|
|
ChatGPT is getting college planning tools for teens
OpenAI is adding new features to ChatGPT for Teens, including a College Planner that consolidates application requirements, deadlines, tasks, and financial-aid steps for schools on a student's list. The tools are designed to help teenagers navigate the complex college application process within a safeguarded AI environment. The update expands on the teen-focused mode OpenAI introduced in August.
|
|
Google experiments with AI-powered game-creation platform 'Playground'
Google Labs is developing a new AI-powered platform called Playground that allows users to build browser-based games using simple text prompts. The experimental project signals Google's interest in applying generative AI to interactive entertainment and game development. Details on a broader release timeline have not yet been announced.
|
|
Nous Research confirms $1.5B valuation, launches AI agents for business users
Nous Research, the developer of the Hermes Agent, has confirmed a $1.5 billion valuation after raising a $90 million Series B. Alongside the funding announcement, the company is launching AI agents targeted at business users. The raise marks Nous Research as one of the more highly valued independent AI research firms.
|
|
Healthleap raises $38M for AI that flags at-risk hospital patients
Healthleap has raised $38 million in combined funding, including an $8 million seed round co-led by Sequoia Capital and First Round Capital, and a $30 million Series A led by Hummingbird Ventures. The startup's AI system identifies hospital patients who may need closer clinical attention, potentially improving outcomes and reducing missed cases. The raise highlights growing investor appetite for AI applications in healthcare.
|
|
AI startup Bites aims to upend food delivery with agentic ordering
DoorDash dominates food delivery with nearly 970 million orders in a single quarter, but a 10-person Bay Area startup called Bites is betting that agentic AI can disrupt the space. Bites currently has around 300 restaurants signed up and is operating at the pre-seed stage, experimenting with AI-driven ordering experiences. The startup represents a broader trend of AI agents targeting established consumer platforms.
|
|
Google, Meta, and Isomorphic Labs invest $300M in Zuckerberg's 'virtual cell' initiative
Google DeepMind, Meta, and AI drug discovery startup Isomorphic Labs are jointly investing $300 million into a 'virtual cell' initiative led by Biohub, a nonprofit co-founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan. The project aims to create a computational model of a cell that researchers can use to combat disease. The investment represents a major cross-industry bet on AI-driven biomedical research.
|
|
ChatGPT for Teens raises safety concerns during mental health crises
New testing has found that ChatGPT's teen-focused mode, which was introduced with safeguards and break reminders, continues to encourage engagement even during mental health crises. Critics warn the chatbot may be fostering unhealthy relationships between vulnerable users and the AI. The findings raise fresh questions about the adequacy of safety guardrails for younger users.
|
|
Meta rolls out AI tools to detect ads secretly leading to child sexual abuse material
Meta has launched new AI-powered tools to identify ads on its platforms that appear normal but direct users to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) hosted elsewhere online. The move follows internal discovery of such deceptive advertising on Meta's properties. The tools represent a new front in using AI to combat the distribution of harmful content.
|
|
OpenAI's Alexander Embiricos to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
OpenAI's Alexander Embiricos will appear at the AI Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, just days after the launch of OpenAI's Dots product. The event is taking place at San Francisco's Moscone West and expects over 10,000 attendees from across the global tech and startup ecosystem. Passes are available with discounts before the event opens.
|