New features and launches in ChatGPT, Cursor, Perplexity and other AI tools, plus changes to pricing and availability.
Google just expanded AI Mode in Search with desktop support for images and incoming PDF uploads that cross-reference the web. The update also brings a dynamic Canvas side panel for building study plans and rolls out Search Live, bringing real-time video queries from Project Astra directly into Lens. Most features are currently available to enrolled Labs users in the U.S.
Adobe just added Generative Upscale to Photoshop, letting users boost image resolution up to eight megapixels with a single click without losing clarity. The update also introduces Harmonize to automatically match lighting across composite elements, alongside an upgraded Remove Tool and a Firefly model picker.
OpenAI just introduced study mode in ChatGPT, replacing instant answers with step-by-step guidance. Available now to Free, Plus, Pro, and Team users, the mode leans on Socratic questioning, scaffolded explanations, and knowledge checks to build real comprehension. OpenAI plans to eventually bake these pedagogical behaviors straight into its core models.
Google just launched AI Mode for Search in the UK, designed to tackle messy, multi-part queries that usually take multiple searches. Powered by a custom Gemini 2.5 model, it breaks down your prompt into subtopics and fires off multiple searches simultaneously using query fan-out. It works with text, voice, and camera inputs, showing up as a dedicated tab on web and mobile.
OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Agent was just caught effortlessly bypassing Cloudflare’s "Verify you are human" checkbox. While completing a video conversion task in its sandboxed browser, the AI even narrated its own actions, claiming it had to prove it wasn't a bot to proceed. It’s an ironic milestone showing basic anti-bot screening is officially obsolete against autonomous agents.
Microsoft just started testing an experimental Copilot Mode in Edge. It lets the assistant search across all your open tabs to compare hotels or purchases, adds Copilot directly to the new tab page, and will soon handle bookings. It's optional and free for a limited time, though Microsoft hints it may eventually require a subscription.
Similarweb just launched its GenAI Intelligence Toolkit, allowing brands to measure their visibility across AI platforms like ChatGPT and track referral traffic. With AI referrals hitting 1.1 billion visits in June 2025 (up 357% year-over-year), marketers can now analyze real prompt triggers and benchmark against competitors.
Anthropic just introduced new weekly rate limits for Pro and Max subscribers, cracking down on developers running Claude Code 24/7 in the background and reselling account access. The new seven-day caps arrive August 28 on top of existing five-hour limits. Anthropic claims the change will impact less than 5% of users, and Max subscribers can purchase extra usage at standard API rates.
Microsoft just started previewing Copilot Appearance in Copilot Labs, bringing a virtual avatar that smiles, nods, and reacts with real-time expressions. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman envisions an assistant with a permanent identity, its own virtual room, and a "digital patina" that ages over time. It's rolling out to select users in the US, UK, and Canada.
Microsoft is experimenting with a new Copilot 3D feature that generates 3D objects from uploaded images. Testers can now duplicate and manage their assets inside a new My Creations hub. The fidelity is still visibly rough, but it signals Microsoft's push to bring quick 3D prototyping directly into its AI assistant.
OpenAI just rolled out its new ChatGPT Agent to all Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers, including users in Europe. The agent blends the VM-based web browsing of Operator with Deep Research capabilities, letting you watch it search, click, and run terminal commands live on screen. Plus users get 40 agent messages a month, while Pro users get 400.
OpenTable just launched Concierge, a free AI assistant built directly into its app and website to answer diner questions. Powered by OpenAI and Perplexity APIs alongside data from over 60,000 restaurants, it handles menu tips and dietary concerns, answering roughly 80% of common queries before eventually handling table bookings too.
Google just launched Web Guide in Search Labs, an experimental interface powered by a custom Gemini model that groups search results by specific topic angles. It uses concurrent queries behind the scenes to dig up deeper web pages for complex, open-ended questions. Currently rolling out to opt-in users inside the Web tab.
Figma just released Figma Make to all users, letting anyone build interactive prototypes and apps from text prompts without coding experience. A major plus is that it can reference existing Figma designs or images alongside prompts. The catch: free and lower-tier users can only experiment in personal drafts, while publishing still requires a Full Seat subscription.
Google Labs just launched Opal, an experimental tool that lets you build and share functional AI mini-apps using plain English and visual editing. It chains prompts, models, and tools into multi-step workflows without writing a single line of code. It is currently rolling out in a US-only public beta.
Cursor just moved Bugbot out of beta, rolling out its AI code review agent to all users. The tool automatically analyzes pull requests for edge cases and logic bugs before code hits production, guided by custom rules via BUGBOT.md. During beta, it reviewed over 1 million PRs, with over 50% of detected issues resolved before merge.
OpenAI is rolling out new personality presets for ChatGPT, letting users switch tone between a direct "Robot," a sarcastic "Cynic," and a supportive "Listener." A guided "Study Together" homework mode is also rolling out, while backend clues point to Sora 2 and GPT-5 testing ahead of DevDay.
Higgsfield AI just launched Steal, a browser extension that lets users hover over any web image to capture its pose, lighting, and outfit, recreating it with their own face using Soul ID. While it turns visual cloning into a one-click affair, the tool is already drawing heavy backlash over creator copyright theft and the security risks of side-loading unverified extensions.
GitHub just launched Spark in public preview for Copilot Pro+ subscribers, enabling users to generate and deploy full-stack apps using natural language. Powered by Claude Sonnet 4, it provides built-in hosting, auth, and multi-model LLM access without juggling API keys. Why it matters: it compresses turning an idea into a live, running app down to minutes.
GitHub just launched a free inference API through GitHub Models, removing the friction of requiring users to supply paid API keys. It speaks the OpenAI API spec and serves models like GPT-4o, DeepSeek-R1, and Llama 3 via standard GitHub tokens. Why it matters: developers can now build and ship zero-setup AI tools and GitHub Actions without forcing contributors to buy subscriptions.
