New features and launches in ChatGPT, Cursor, Perplexity and other AI tools, plus changes to pricing and availability.
Elon Musk's xAI is reportedly preparing to release a standalone consumer app to let people access the Grok chatbot directly, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The rollout will likely follow a fresh $5 billion funding round that could value the company at $50 billion.
ElevenLabs just added GenFM to its ElevenReader iOS app, letting you convert PDFs, articles, and ebooks into customized podcasts voiced by AI co-hosts. The feature supports 32 languages and generates conversational episodes in seconds. Android support is expected in the coming weeks.
Anthropic just added custom response styles to Claude, moving beyond generic AI outputs. Users can choose from three presets—Concise, Explanatory, or Formal—or upload their own writing samples so Claude mimics their personal tone. The custom persona stays consistent across new chats, meaning no more repetitive prompt tinkering.
Google just rolled out a Spotify extension for Gemini on Android, letting users search and stream music using everyday language. You can pull up tracks by artist, album, or vibe, though it won't build custom playlists just yet. The catch: it's currently English-only and won't work on iOS or the web.
Google Labs just released GenChess, an experimental project powered by the Imagen 3 image generation model. Players can type text prompts to design custom classic or creative chess pieces, then play a match directly against the computer across several difficulty levels. It is currently available in select regions.
OpenAI just added an 'Open SearchGPT' action to Apple's Shortcuts app for iPhone and iPad. Tapping the shortcut immediately launches ChatGPT right into its web search feature without extra clicks. The capability is currently live for Plus and Team subscribers, with rollout to free users planned in the coming months.
Perplexity just partnered with Quartr to integrate its API, giving users worldwide access to live earnings call transcripts paired with AI summaries. Institutional investors used to hoard these analytical tools, but now anyone can track corporate earnings in real time.
Intuit just rolled out new AI features for QuickBooks, embedding Intuit Assist to automatically turn notes, emails, or PDFs into invoices and categorize expenses. CEO Sasan Goodarzi noted that longer-term, AI agents could even take over roles typically handled by CFOs or CMOs at midsize businesses.
Luma AI just expanded its video generator Dream Machine into a full creative platform, introducing a new foundation image model called Photon. The model is reportedly up to 800% faster than comparable tools, arriving alongside a refreshed interface, an iOS mobile app, and a dedicated image API for developers.
AMD just launched Amuse 2.2 Beta, bringing support for Stable Diffusion 3.5 to Ryzen AI 300 and Radeon 7000 hardware. The update introduces offline high-quality modes and XDNA super-resolution, boosting native output resolutions up to 2048x2048 pixels. Why it matters: Local generative AI on everyday AMD laptops is finally getting fast, painless, and sharp.
Google's first Android 16 developer preview reveals a new "app functions" API designed to let Gemini perform tasks directly inside apps. Instead of just searching your inbox, the assistant could soon order food without you opening a delivery app, mirroring Apple's App Intents roadmap. Why it matters: Mobile AI assistants are finally evolving from conversational chatbots into actionable agents.
Threads is now testing AI-generated summaries in its U.S. "Trending now" section, taking a page out of X's Grok-powered playbook. Alongside date-range search and expanded topic lists, Meta is rushing out quality-of-life upgrades as rival Bluesky keeps picking up steam.
Brave just added a chat bar to its Answer with AI summaries, letting users ask follow-up questions directly beneath search results. The feature combines open and proprietary LLMs to provide cited contextual answers without logging user data. Why it matters: It bridges the gap between classic search links and conversational chatbots where Google still lags.
Anthropic just rolled out direct Google Docs integration for Claude chats and Projects. You can bring your docs in by pasting a link or picking from recent files, cutting out the friction of manual copying and pasting when analyzing shared work.
Rabbit just rolled out beta access to teach mode for all R1 users, finally delivering on one of its biggest initial promises. The feature lets you record clicks on any website via the Rabbithole hub, training the AI to autonomously repeat the workflow on your pocket device. Why it matters: It takes the device closer to a true personal agent, though automations are currently limited to web browsers and can still feel unpolished.
Vercel just upgraded v0 to build and run full-stack Next.js and React apps instead of just isolated UI snippets. It can now generate multiple files at once, pull in project environment variables, and deploy straight to Vercel. Basically, v0 is evolving from a UI generator into an end-to-end web dev sandbox.
ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode might finally be getting eyes. Code discovered in the latest v1.2024.317 beta reveals upcoming Live Camera features alongside real-time video processing and visual recognition. Six months after OpenAI first demoed the capability back in May, a broader rollout could be inching closer.
Paris-based AI startup H just launched Runner H, its first product designed for agentic tasks like QA testing and RPA. Powered by a compact 2-billion-parameter model, the company claims it outperforms Anthropic's Computer Use by 29% on WebVoyager benchmarks while cutting operating costs.
Meta just announced major upgrades to Messenger Calling, rolling out AI-generated backgrounds powered by Meta AI alongside HD video and voice isolation. Users can also leave audio or video messages when friends miss a call, turning the chat app into a much more capable communication hub.
Amazon is reportedly partnering with brands like Uber, DoorDash, and Ticketmaster to make its upgraded Alexa actually handle tasks from start to finish. Instead of relying purely on LLMs to navigate web pages, Amazon wants direct API hooks with around 200 partners by Q3 next year. It's a far more practical bet on assistants actually getting things done.
