Reddit just sued Perplexity and three data scraping providers, alleging they bypass protections to illicitly siphon forum posts for its AI "answer engine." Reddit claims it set a trap by publishing a post accessible only to Google, which Perplexity surfaced within hours by allegedly scraping search results. Perplexity responded that it doesn't train models and refuses to bow to strong-arm licensing tactics.
GM just announced eyes-off highway driving is coming in 2028, debuting on the Cadillac Escalade IQ before expanding across its lineup. The setup combines Super Cruise with Cruise technology and LiDAR-based sensor fusion on a platform packing 35 times more AI performance. Drivers won't have to wait that long for smarter cabins, though: GM is rolling out Google Gemini-powered conversational AI to vehicles starting next year.
Samsung just unveiled Galaxy XR, the first device running Google’s Android XR platform, priced at $1,799. Powered by multimodal Gemini Live, the headset lets users control spatial apps with their eyes, hands, and voice, while converting 2D media into 3D environments. It is available now in the US and Korea.
OpenAI is shutting down ChatGPT on WhatsApp on January 15, 2026, citing platform policy changes. Users who message 1-800-ChatGPT need to link their accounts through its profile link before that deadline to transfer conversation history to official ChatGPT apps, as chats won't export automatically.
Opera just expanded its Neon AI browser with ODRA, a dedicated deep research agent. It breaks down complex queries, runs parallel searches across multiple models like OpenAI and Google, and compiles the results into detailed summaries. Why it matters: It marks a shift toward multi-agent orchestration directly inside browser workspaces, though Neon is still invite-only.
OpenAI just launched ChatGPT Atlas, a brand-new web browser built around its AI assistant. Atlas features browser memories to recall context across sites you visit, alongside an agent mode that can autonomously click tabs, compare research, and book items directly on web pages. It is rolling out globally on macOS first, with Windows and mobile versions on the roadmap.
Friend founder Avi Schiffmann just showed up at a New York protest against his own $129 AI companion pendant, where critics shredded cardboard cutouts chanting "get real friends." The backlash followed a million-dollar subway ad blitz. Schiffmann leaned into the drama, talking to protesters and pledging never to sell out to Big Tech for surveillance.
OpenAI researchers just walked back claims that GPT-5 solved 10 decades-old Erdős math problems after experts pointed out the model merely surfaced existing papers that a database author had missed. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis called the sloppy communication "embarrassing," exposing the awkward gap between AI research hype and actual scientific progress.
Character.ai just rolled out Scenes to all users, turning open-ended chats into structured, story-driven role-play scenarios. Instead of building a brand-new bot for every new narrative, creators can now define a setting, goal, and opening hook that any character can drop into. It gives role-players an improv stage without the tedious setup.
Microsoft just rolled out a major wave of Copilot updates for Windows 11, bringing "Hey Copilot" voice wake words and screen-reading Copilot Vision to all supported markets. Windows Insiders are also testing Copilot Actions to automate workflows directly across local files. Why it matters: AI is graduating from a chat sidebar into the desktop's core nervous system.
Anthropic just introduced Agent Skills, letting users bundle instructions, scripts, and local files into reusable folders that Claude loads only when needed. The setup works identically across Claude apps, the developer API, and Claude Code, with support for executable scripts. It basically turns tedious prompt engineering into portable, plug-and-play micro-tools.
Anthropic just rolled out a Microsoft 365 connector and enterprise search for Claude, letting the chatbot tap directly into your daily work tools. Claude can now pull context across SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook emails, and Teams threads to answer questions. It basically turns Claude into an internal company knowledge hub, available now for Team and Enterprise tiers.
Spotify just upgraded its AI DJ for Premium subscribers, letting you type in your music requests instead of having to speak out loud. The update also brings request support to its Spanish-language DJ, DJ Livi, alongside personalized prompt suggestions. Why it matters: You can finally tweak your soundtrack on crowded commutes or in quiet rooms without looking weird talking to your phone.
Anthropic just released Claude Haiku 4.5 to all users, delivering coding performance on par with Claude Sonnet 4 at one-third the cost and more than twice the speed. It even outperforms Sonnet 4 on computer-use tasks, priced at $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens.
Mozilla just made Perplexity available as a built-in search option for all Firefox desktop users globally, letting people swap classic link lists for cited AI answers. You can toggle it directly from the unified address bar or set it as default, with mobile rollout coming in the months ahead.
OpenAI is loosening restrictions on ChatGPT after previously overtightening guardrails around mental health concerns. In a few weeks, a new update will let users opt into a human-like personality reminiscent of 4o, complete with emojis and friendly banter. By December, OpenAI plans to complete age-gating to allow verified adults access to erotica under a "treat adult users like adults" approach.
OpenAI just formed the Expert Council on Well-Being and AI, recruiting top researchers in psychology, psychiatry, and human-computer interaction to guide ChatGPT and Sora. The council focuses heavily on teen development and healthy boundaries, building on early work that refined parental controls and distress notifications.
Microsoft AI just released MAI-Image-1, its first fully in-house text-to-image model that debuted straight into LMArena's top 10. Tuned for photorealistic lighting and rapid iteration, it is rolling out to Bing Image Creator alongside DALL-E 3. Why it matters: Microsoft continues to quietly build up its own frontier stack rather than relying purely on OpenAI.
Google just rolled out two new AI-powered features to help users track trending content. Discover now shows expandable topic summaries with source links in the U.S., South Korea, and India, while mobile Search is adding a "What's new" feed for sports teams and players rolling out soon in the U.S.
Google just gave NotebookLM’s Video Overviews a massive visual upgrade powered by its Gemini image model, "Nano Banana." Users can now generate illustrated explainer videos in six distinct visual styles—including anime, watercolor, and whiteboard. The update also adds a bite-sized "Brief" summary format alongside custom focus prompts. It rolls out to Pro users this week before reaching everyone.
