OpenAI is cracking down on users trying to peek inside its new o1 reasoning models, sending warning emails and threatening account bans. While ChatGPT only shows a filtered summary of the model's chain of thought, researchers and red-teamers attempting to extract the raw traces—sometimes just by using the phrase "reasoning trace"—are being flagged for violating safety policies.
OpenAI just turned its Safety and Security Committee into an independent board oversight group chaired by CMU's Zico Kolter. Crucially, the independent panel now holds the formal authority to delay major model releases until safety concerns are addressed. It marks a significant structural shift to install an external brake on model deployments.
OpenAI is reportedly planning to ditch its complex non-profit control structure next year, transitioning into a traditional for-profit business. CEO Sam Altman told employees the company has outgrown its founding setup, as investors push to remove profit caps amid talks for a potential $150 billion valuation. An OpenAI spokesperson maintains the non-profit arm will still exist.
OpenAI just revealed that ChatGPT reached 200 million weekly active users, doubling its user base from last fall. The surge was driven by new models like GPT-4o and bringing Plus features to free users, while 92% of Fortune 500 companies now use OpenAI's tools.
Plaud just launched the NotePin, a wearable AI device built for a single task: taking notes. Unlike ambitious gadgets like the Humane Ai Pin, it can be worn as a necklace, wristband, or clip to capture meetings and dictate memos, transcribing them with OpenAI's GPT-4o. Why it matters: scaling back from replacing smartphones to nailing note-taking might actually make wearable AI practical.
OpenAI and Anthropic just agreed to give the US AI Safety Institute early access to their major new models before and after public release. The agency will evaluate risks and collaborate with its UK counterpart on feedback. It marks a key step as lawmakers weigh innovation against safety guardrails.
Oprah Winfrey is hosting an ABC primetime special tackling artificial intelligence and its real-world impact on everyday lives, airing September 12. The event brings together OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and creator Marques Brownlee to explain the tech in plain English and discuss its impact on jobs and health. Why it matters: Bringing frontier AI discussions into mainstream primetime television helps bridge the gap between AI executives and everyday viewers.
Apple is reportedly in negotiations to invest in OpenAI as part of a new funding round valuing the startup at over $100 billion. Thrive Capital is set to lead with roughly $1 billion, and Microsoft may chip in more as well. Why it matters: After partnering to bring ChatGPT into iOS 18 later this year, putting real money on the table would seriously lock in Apple’s alliance with the top AI player.
California lawmakers just passed SB 1047, sending the contentious AI safety bill to the governor's desk for signature. The legislation mandates that creators of massive AI models build and document safeguards against catastrophic harms. While Elon Musk surprisingly backed the bill, OpenAI remains firmly opposed.
OpenAI is reportedly developing a reasoning-focused AI codenamed Strawberry, which tackles unseen math and coding problems and has already been shown to U.S. national security officials. While a distilled version could arrive in ChatGPT as early as this fall, OpenAI is actively using Strawberry to generate synthetic training data for Orion, its true GPT-4 successor.
Elon Musk just endorsed California’s controversial SB 1047 bill, which requires developers of massive AI models to implement strict safety guardrails. Calling it a “tough call” that will upset people, Musk sided with regulation even though it would legally bind his own startup, xAI. The move puts him squarely at odds with rival OpenAI, which recently came out against the legislation.
Hobbyists just figured out how to inject custom typography directly into AI-generated images using the new Flux model. By training custom LoRA adapters, users can now render specific typefaces onto objects like chalkboards or business cards with surprising precision. While text in AI art used to be pure gibberish, Flux is turning in-scene lettering into a controllable design tool.
OpenAI, Adobe, and Microsoft just threw their support behind California's AB 3211 bill, which requires invisible watermarks in AI-generated media and visible labels on platforms like Instagram and X. Why it matters: Big Tech previously lobbied against the measure as overly burdensome, but recent amendments have brought the industry's heaviest hitters on board ahead of the final vote.
Arizona State University is aggressively expanding ChatGPT Edu across campus, activating over 200 projects from more than 400 faculty and student proposals. Applications range from simulated patient conversations for healthcare students to scholarly writing assistants, showcasing how universities are moving from banning AI to safely embracing enterprise-grade tools.
OpenAI just sent a letter to California lawmakers opposing the controversial SB 1047 bill, arguing it would stifle innovation and drive top tech talent out of the state. The company is pushing for federal regulations instead of a state patchwork, while the bill's author quickly fired back that the critique makes no sense.
OpenAI just partnered with Condé Nast to bring content from Vogue, The New Yorker, and Wired into ChatGPT and the SearchGPT prototype. Users will see direct attribution links to original stories, expanding OpenAI's media licensing lineup as it builds out its search product.
OpenAI just launched fine-tuning for GPT-4o across all paid developer tiers, giving teams a way to tailor its flagship model with as few as a dozen custom examples. Training costs $25 per million tokens, but organizations get 1M free training tokens daily through September 23.
A Wyoming mayoral candidate is running for office on the promise that a custom ChatGPT bot will make 100% of his governing decisions. Victor Miller pledged that the AI, named Vic, would handle policy while he merely signs the paperwork. State officials banned the bot from the ballot and OpenAI even shut down his account, but Miller is pushing forward anyway.
OpenAI just banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts linked to an Iranian covert influence operation dubbed Storm-2035. The campaign used AI to generate political articles and social media comments targeting the U.S. presidential election, though OpenAI found zero evidence the content gained any real traction with human audiences.
OpenAI just rolled out an updated version of GPT-4o across ChatGPT and the API, immediately reclaiming the top spot on Chatbot Arena. But the company admitted it cannot clearly explain the exact behavioral improvements, simply pointing to continuous data cleanup and user preference. Maximum output is now expanded to 16,384 tokens.
