September 11, 2025: FTC Probes AI Chatbots Impact on Minors - The FTC is investigating major tech companies, including Meta and OpenAI, about their AI chatbot companions for minors, focusing on safety, monetization, and parental awareness of potential risks. Concerns have grown due to incidents where chatbots allegedly encouraged harmful behavior, leading to tragedies like suicides. Safety measure lapses and exploitative AI interactions have raised alarms.

Meta has faced critiques for permitting inappropriate conversations. Elderly users are also vulnerable, with cases of delusion and AI-induced psychosis reported. The probe seeks to balance user safety with maintaining the U.S.'s leadership in AI technology.

September 11, 2025: FTC Probes AI Firms on Child Protection - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating seven companies, including OpenAI and Meta, regarding the impact of their AI chatbots on children and teens. The FTC is demanding detailed information about the design, monetization, and safety measures of these chatbots to assess potential risks and compliance with child protection laws.

The inquiry seeks to understand safety measures and if these companies adhere to child protection standards. OpenAI and Snap, among others, express willingness to cooperate, highlighting their commitment to safe and responsible AI development.

September 11, 2025: EU Faces Delay for AirPods Translation Feature - Apple's new live translation feature for AirPods, highlighted as a major update in the AirPods Pro 3, will not be available to EU users at launch due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) interoperability requirements. This limitation impacts EU residents and those with EU Apple IDs. Apple clarified that the delay is not due to user data protection laws.

Previous AI feature rollouts in the EU faced similar delays, with some accessibility available only by March 2025. The situation underscores ongoing regulatory challenges for tech companies as they navigate EU digital legislation.

September 11, 2025: OpenAI Transitions for-Profit Arm, Gains Microsofts Support - OpenAI and Microsoft have a non-binding agreement to convert OpenAI's for-profit arm into a public benefit corporation (PBC) to raise capital and consider going public. OpenAI's nonprofit retains control and gains a significant stake. This shift follows lengthy negotiations aimed at lessening reliance on Microsoft's cloud services.

The move has sparked controversies, including Elon Musk's lawsuit and objections from nonprofits questioning mission alignment. Regulatory approval is necessary before finalization, indicating a strategic change in OpenAI's operations.

September 11, 2025: OpenAI Parent Gains $100B Stake Post-Reorg - OpenAI's nonprofit parent is poised to receive a $100 billion equity stake in its for-profit arm after a reorganization. The restructuring will convert the for-profit unit into a public benefit corporation and lift investor profit caps, allowing for easier capital raising. This change has Microsoft's tentative approval.

The nonprofit intends to use the stake to fund philanthropic initiatives, launching a $50 million grant for AI literacy, community innovation, and economic opportunity. This aligns with OpenAI's endeavors to maintain financial sustainability amid rising infrastructure costs.

September 9, 2025: Microsoft Diversifies AI Partners with Anthropic Deal - Microsoft is expanding its AI partnerships by incorporating Anthropics AI into Office 365 apps, alongside OpenAI's technologies, to lessen its dependence on the ChatGPT creator. This decision comes as OpenAI explores its own infrastructure and new projects, including a possible LinkedIn rival. Microsoft appreciates Anthropics Claude Sonnet 4 for excelling in tasks like creating PowerPoint presentations.

While still collaborating with OpenAI, Microsoft is working toward self-sufficiency by developing its own AI models. Concurrently, OpenAI intends to produce its own AI chips, signaling a move away from Microsoft's Azure infrastructure.

September 9, 2025: Mistral AI Raises $2B, Rockets to $14B Valuation - Mistral AI has secured $2 billion in a Series C funding round led by ASML, bringing its valuation to nearly $14 billion. Key investors include Nvidia, DST Global, and Andreessen Horowitz. Mistral is known for its advanced AI models like Le Chat and Mistral Medium 3, positioning itself against major US AI firms.

The partnership with ASML aims to enhance AI and semiconductor capabilities. ASML CFO Roger Dassen joins Mistral's strategic committee. CEO Arthur Mensch emphasizes the collaboration's potential to tackle engineering challenges across the AI and semiconductor sectors.

September 9, 2025: Apples iPhone 17: AI Delay Doesnt Diminish Appeal - Apple's iPhone 17 lineup introduces hardware innovations but lacks significant AI upgrades, as an AI-powered Siri is delayed until 2026. Despite lagging in AI, outsourcing AI technology to third parties like Google could enhance user experience by integrating top-tier AI capabilities.

This strategic choice allows Apple to focus on premium hardware and design, potentially solidifying its reputation for offering the best technology without straining resources or sacrificing device aesthetics. Ultimately, this benefits consumers who prioritize both form and function.

September 9, 2025: Apple Revolutionizes AI with Apple Intelligence - Launched in October 2024, Apple Intelligence enhances existing Apple apps with AI features such as Writing Tools, image generation, and a revamped Siri with cross-app functionality. The platform uses a small-model approach, offloading complex tasks to Apple's Private Cloud Compute for seamless integration. It is free to use and includes ChatGPT integration for supplemental tasks.

New features like Visual Intelligence and Live Translation debut with iOS 26. Apple plans to further expand with its Foundation Models framework for developers and hints at future partnerships to enhance Siri.

September 9, 2025: AI Startup Adaptive Security Gains OpenAI Funding - Adaptive Security, specializing in AI phishing simulations, received funding from OpenAI, raising its total to $55 million. The platform educates employees to counter AI-based social engineering attacks by simulating realistic threats and offering personalized guidance. Amid rising AI impersonation risks, Adaptive uses large language models to mimic emails, texts, and deepfake videos targeting employees.

The startup's tools help security teams identify and address vulnerabilities. OpenAI's support underscores the critical need for AI-native defenses as AI threats evolve, with trust becoming increasingly vulnerable.

September 6, 2025: AI Startup Attempts Orson Welles Film Restoration - Amazon-backed Fable plans to use AI to recreate the missing 43 minutes of Orson Welles' "The Magnificent Ambersons." The startup, known for generating unauthorized content with AI, has partnered with filmmaker Brian Rose to digitally replicate Welles' vision. Despite lacking rights or consent from Welles' estate, Fable aims to honor him by reshooting scenes with AI-enhanced actors.

Critics argue this method cannot capture Welles' creative essence, highlighting concerns about digital preservation versus genuine artistry. Fable's effort raises debates on the ethical boundaries of AI in film restoration, questioning the balance between innovative technology and respecting original artistry in cinema.

September 5, 2025: OpenAI Merges AI Personality and Post Training Teams - OpenAI is merging its Model Behavior team, responsible for shaping AI personalities, with the Post Training team, indicating a stronger focus on AI model interaction. Previously, the Model Behavior team, led by Joanne Jang, addressed issues like sycophancy and political bias. Jang will now lead OAI Labs to explore new AI interfaces.

This reorganization follows public concerns about GPT-5's personality and a lawsuit related to its response to suicidal ideation. OpenAI's goal is to achieve a balance between friendliness and assertiveness in AI interactions.

September 5, 2025: AI Boom Intensifies Amid Antitrust and Investment Shifts - Google avoids a significant U.S. antitrust ruling but faces a hefty $3.5 billion fine from the EU. AI investments continue to rise, with Anthropic raising $13 billion at a $183 billion valuation and OpenAI acquiring Statsig for $1.1 billion. Atlassian's $610 million purchase of an AI browser company and Broadcom's AI sales boost its stock. Salesforce experiences AI-related investor concerns, unlike UiPath.

Key executive changes include Adam Selipsky advising KKR and new CEOs at C3 AI, Rackspace, and Mixpanel. Quantum computing attracts substantial investments, while the cybersecurity sector continues to consolidate. Upcoming events and earnings reports are expected to further influence the tech landscape.

September 5, 2025: Google Gemini AI Deemed Risky for Kids - Common Sense Media has labeled Google's Gemini AI as high risk for children and teens in a recent safety assessment, criticizing its adult-centric foundation and lack of child-specific safeguards. The evaluation pointed to the potential exposure to harmful content, including topics like sex, drugs, and unsafe mental health advice.

In response, Google is working to enhance its safety features and contends that some concerns may be unfounded. Despite the criticism, companies such as Apple are considering integrating Gemini into their products, which raises concerns unless safety issues are addressed. Common Sense has also evaluated other AI tools, marking several as higher risk.

September 5, 2025: Anthropics $1.5B Settlement Shortchanges Writers - Anthropic's $1.5 billion settlement in a class action suit compensates around half a million writers at least $3,000 each for using their books to train the AI, Claude. Despite being the largest copyright payout in U.S. history, this settlement is minor for Anthropic, having recently raised $13 billion.

A judge deemed AI training on copyrighted material as transformative and protected under fair use, although the unauthorized usage led to the lawsuit. This case establishes a legal precedent as other AI-related copyright cases continue to unfold.

September 5, 2025: Warner Bros. Sues Midjourney Over AI Images - Warner Bros. has filed a lawsuit against AI company Midjourney for copyright infringement, alleging it allows users to generate images and videos of characters like Superman and Batman without permission. The lawsuit claims Midjourney removed protections against such content, and Warner Bros. seeks damages, profit returns, and a stop to further violations.

This action by Warner Bros. echoes similar lawsuits from Disney and Universal, to which Midjourney has responded by invoking the fair use doctrine. Midjourney has not yet commented on the Warner Bros. lawsuit.

September 2, 2025: OpenAI Unveils Enhanced Safety for ChatGPT - OpenAI unveiled safety enhancements for ChatGPT, aiming to address users' mental and emotional distress. An improved router will choose reasoning-optimized models for better responses. New parental controls allow parents to set boundaries and receive notifications for harmful prompts, informed by experts from a youth development council and the Global Physician Network.

Part of a broader AI safety initiative, future developments will focus on identifying distress in lengthy chat sessions and strengthening response safeguards.

September 2, 2025: Anthropic Secures $13B, Valuation Soars to $183B - Anthropic PBC secured $13 billion in a Series F funding round led by ICONIQ, Fidelity Management, and Lightspeed, tripling its valuation to $183 billion. This growth is driven by rapid sales, notably from its Claude Code programming assistant, which generated over $500 million.

With an expanding customer base and increased revenue, Anthropic plans to enhance AI safety research and international presence. The funds will also bolster infrastructure to meet growing demand, likely involving Nvidia's latest GPU advances.

September 2, 2025: Amazon Unveils Lens Live for AI Shopping - Amazon has launched Lens Live, an AI-powered tool in its shopping app, enabling real-time visual search to discover products in the real world. Users can point their phones at items, triggering a swipeable carousel of matching Amazon products. The feature integrates with Amazon's AI assistant, Rufus, for product insights and is available to U.S. shoppers on iOS.

Lens Live leverages Amazon SageMaker and AWS OpenSearch for scalability. This launch aligns with Amazon’s AI strategy, which includes AI-enhanced reviews and personalized shopping tools, aimed at elevating the shopping experience.

September 2, 2025: Anthropic Secures $13B at $183B Valuation - AI firm Anthropic has secured $13 billion in a Series F funding round, raising its valuation to $183 billion. The round was co-led by Iconiq, Fidelity Management & Research, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. This funding will support the firm's enterprise growth, safety research, and international expansion. CFO Krishna Rao emphasized growing demand, noting the company's annual recurring revenue is projected to increase from $1 billion to $5 billion by 2025.

Anthropic serves over 300,000 businesses, and its Claude Code product plays a crucial role in this growth, despite competition from OpenAI. CEO Dario Amodei acknowledges challenges in funding dynamics.