July 29, 2025: ChatGPTs Study Mode Empowers Student Learning - OpenAI launches Study Mode in ChatGPT to enhance students' critical thinking by promoting active engagement with material. ChatGPT will ask questions to test users' understanding instead of just providing answers. This mode is available to logged-in users across different plans and will soon expand to Edu subscribers.

Students can switch back to regular mode for direct answers. OpenAI's VP of Education notes potential future parental controls. The feature repositions ChatGPT as a valuable educational resource rather than a simple answer tool, amidst ongoing discussions about AI's role in learning.

July 29, 2025: OpenAI Unveils Study Mode for Tailored Learning - OpenAI has introduced Study Mode for ChatGPT, aiming to turn the AI into a Socratic tutor that promotes step-by-step learning instead of giving direct answers. This feature is targeted at the education technology market, which is anticipated to reach $80.5 billion by 2030.

Study Mode uses custom system instructions to tailor guidance, improving students' learning confidence and outcomes. This method addresses educators' worries about academic shortcuts, positioning AI as a supportive learning partner rather than merely an answer provider.

July 29, 2025: Groq Eyes $600M Funding at $6B Valuation - AI chip startup Groq is reportedly close to securing $600 million at a valuation nearing $6 billion, doubling its worth from a year ago. The company previously raised $640 million at a $2.8 billion valuation in August 2024 and has accumulated approximately $1 billion in total funding.

The new funding round is led by Disruptive, following previous investments by BlackRock and others. Founded by former Google engineer Jonathan Ross, Groq's recent collaborations include a partnership with Bell Canada for AI projects and Meta for Llama 4's AI infrastructure.

July 29, 2025: Google NotebookLM Adds Video Overviews Feature - Google has introduced Video Overviews to its AI-based NotebookLM, allowing users to transform dense multimedia into visual presentations. This feature complements the existing Audio Overviews, providing a more visual method for understanding content. Users can customize Video Overviews by specifying focus topics, learning goals, and target audience, with the feature currently available in English and more languages to follow.

Ideal for explaining data and complex concepts, Video Overviews enhance content comprehension. Additionally, Google has updated NotebookLM’s Studio panel, improving multitasking capabilities and enabling multiple output storages within a single notebook.

July 29, 2025: Writer Launches Autonomous AI Super Agent for Enterprises - Writer Inc. unveiled Action Agent, an autonomous AI tool for enterprises powered by its Palmyra X5 model. It integrates capabilities like tool use, knowledge work, and deep research. Unlike typical chatbots, Action Agent autonomously executes tasks, self-corrects errors, and processes both structured and unstructured data.

With over 600 connectors, it interacts with various data platforms, performing complex workflows and enhancing productivity. Writer ensures users retain supervisory control and benefit from strong security measures. Action Agent is positioned as a transformative tool for businesses transitioning into an AI-centric model.

July 28, 2025: Anthropic Enforces New Rate Limits for Claude - Anthropic is introducing new weekly rate limits for its AI coding tool, Claude Code, starting August 28, to manage usage and prevent account sharing and reselling. These limits will impact less than 5% of subscribers and vary by subscription plan, with Max subscribers able to purchase additional usage at standard API rates.

This change responds to high demand and service disruptions, as Anthropic seeks to balance user needs with computational constraints and maintain reliable service. It aligns with industry trends to adjust pricing strategies and manage the impact of power users.

July 28, 2025: Anthropic Imposes Usage Limits on Claude AI - Anthropic has set new weekly rate limits for Claude AI, impacting 5% of users, to address excessive usage and policy breaches such as account sharing. Although most adhere to usage guidelines, some continuously run Claude Code, affecting performance. Effective August 28, these limits aim to preserve service reliability but have drawn criticism from developers who feel unfairly targeted.

Users can buy extra access at standard API rates, but certain enterprise agreements might provide more flexibility. This initiative seeks to balance service availability with user demand amid increasing reliance on AI tools.

July 28, 2025: Microsoft Edge Introduces AI-Powered Copilot Mode - Microsoft Edge has introduced Copilot Mode, an AI assistant aimed at enhancing web browsing by predicting user needs and acting on their behalf. As an experimental feature, Copilot aids in tasks such as converting recipes and managing bookings. It offers unique functions, like viewing all open tabs, which assists in research.

Though adoption rates remain unclear, Copilot's potential to simplify daily digital tasks appears promising, particularly for less tech-savvy users. Users retain control over the feature's access, which addresses privacy concerns.

July 28, 2025: Z.ai Unveils Cost-Efficient GLM-4.5 Model - Chinese startup Z.ai has launched the GLM-4.5 reasoning model, which is reportedly more cost-efficient than DeepSeeks R1. This model runs on affordable H20 graphics cards and offers lower token processing costs by leveraging its 355 billion parameters selectively. It surpasses several alternatives in AI benchmarks.

Additionally, a smaller version, GLM-4.5-Air, targets cost-sensitive applications. Despite U.S. export restrictions, Z.ai, backed by Alibaba and Tencent, aims to go public this year.

July 28, 2025: NiCE Acquires Cognigy for $955M - NiCE Ltd. plans to acquire customer service AI startup Cognigy GmbH for $955 million, resulting in a 4% increase in its share price. NiCE, renowned for its contact center software, aims to integrate Cognigy.AI, which lets enterprises create custom AI agents to automate customer service tasks.

Cognigy utilizes LLMs from leading AI providers and serves major brands like Toyota and Bosch. The acquisition, expected to finalize in Q4, is anticipated to boost NiCE's revenue growth and capabilities in AI-driven customer support automation.

July 27, 2025: AI Transforms Wizard of Oz for Giant Sphere - The Sphere in Las Vegas will debut The Wizard of Oz on August 28, using AI to enhance the experience. A team of 2,000 is working to increase the film's resolution and extend scenes beyond their original frames, aiming for a more immersive experience.

Ben Mankiewicz described how AI enriches details and adds new dimensions, such as including more of Oz's landscapes. Despite these updates, Sphere Entertainment strives to maintain the film's authenticity, aiming to create an experience akin to being in the original studio.

July 27, 2025: AI Tool Targets Federal Regulation Reductions - The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is using an AI tool to significantly cut federal regulations by analyzing approximately 200,000 mandates to determine which can be eliminated. The goal is to reduce these regulations by half by the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's renewed term. The AI tool has already been implemented at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Although no official plan is approved yet, the White House remains optimistic about DOGE's innovative potential despite previous challenges with AI applications. The initiative reflects a broader effort to streamline federal processes and enhance government efficiency using advanced technology.

July 25, 2025: Alibabas Qwen3 Leads AI Reasoning Models - The Alibaba Qwen Team has introduced four new open-source AI models, with Qwen3-235B-A22B-Thinking-2507 excelling in multiple benchmarks. This reasoning-focused LLM outperforms leading models from OpenAI and Google in assessments like AIME25 and LiveCodeBench v6. Licensed under Apache 2.0, Qwen3 supports flexible enterprise use, aiding reasoning, planning, and decision-making in AI systems.

Additionally, the Qwen3 ecosystem features specialized models for coding and multilingual translation, highlighting Alibaba's strategic shift toward open, high-performing AI infrastructure. This move underscores Alibaba's commitment to advancing AI technology and providing versatile tools for various applications in different industries.

July 25, 2025: Meta Appoints Zhao as AI Superintelligence Chief - Meta appointed Shengjia Zhao, a former OpenAI researcher, as Chief Scientist of its new AI unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), led by Alexandr Wang. Zhao, known for his contributions to AI models such as ChatGPT and GPT-4, will direct MSL's research focus on AI reasoning models.

Meta has aggressively recruited top talent from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and others, offering lucrative packages. The MSL team will access Meta's 1-gigawatt Prometheus cloud cluster in 2026, positioning itself as a competitor to AI giants like OpenAI and Google.

July 25, 2025: No Confidentiality in AI Therapy, Warns Sam Altman - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized that ChatGPT lacks legal confidentiality for users discussing personal issues, unlike with doctors or therapists. This absence of protection poses privacy risks in legal situations. Altman highlighted the need for a new privacy framework and discussed OpenAI's legal efforts to protect user data.

OpenAI is challenging court orders that could compel it to store global user chats, raising concerns about digital data privacy and user adoption. Altman's remarks on Theo Von's podcast underscored the importance of addressing these issues to ensure user trust and safeguard sensitive information.

July 25, 2025: Lyft Unveils Autonomous Shuttle Service - Lyft Inc. and Benteler International AG partner to launch an autonomous shuttle service in the U.S., featuring the electric Holon urban bus with no steering wheel or pedals. Powered by Mobileye Global Inc.'s Drive system, it includes advanced sensors for navigating diverse conditions. Benteler will finance the initiative, and the shuttles are set to be available in late 2026 through Lyft's app.

This initiative aligns with Lyft's strategic alliances to bolster its autonomous vehicle program, similar to efforts by Uber. Lyft aims to initially deploy the service in airports and cities.

July 25, 2025: Google Launches Opal for Easy App Creation - Google is testing Opal, a vibe-coding app enabling users to create and publish mini web apps with text prompts. Available through Google Labs in the U.S., Opal targets non-technical users with a visual workflow editor that allows app customization without coding. Users can remix existing apps or begin from scratch.

The launch positions Google alongside companies like Canva and Figma, empowering non-developers to prototype apps easily. Users can share their creations using Google accounts, highlighting Google's aim to simplify app development for non-technical audiences.

July 24, 2025: Google Unveils AI-Powered Virtual Clothes Fitting - Google has introduced a new AI feature enabling U.S. users to virtually try on clothes by uploading a photo on Google Shopping and Search. This tech forms part of a larger initiative to improve shopping experiences, utilizing Google’s comprehensive Shopping Graph.

Additionally, Google launched customizable price alerts and previewed a tool offering shoppable outfit and room inspiration through generative imagery. This initiative includes the Doppl app, which visualizes outfits and creates AI-generated videos, marking further investment in virtual try-on technology.

July 24, 2025: Google Launches AI-Powered Web Guide Experiment - Google has launched Web Guide, an AI-driven feature under its Search Labs experiment, which organizes search results by clustering related pages. Powered by Gemini, it aims to enhance understanding of complex queries by offering diverse answer groupings for open-ended questions. Users can toggle this feature on or off within the Web tab to tailor their search results.

Initially limited to the Web tab, Google plans to expand Web Guide to other search areas. The goal is to present more structured and relevant search outcomes, providing users with improved results for their queries.

July 24, 2025: LegalOn Secures $50M for AI Legal Expansion - LegalOn Technologies has raised $50 million to enhance its AI legal products and expand globally. Originating in Japan, the company offers Review, an AI tool for contract analysis that reduces review time by up to 85%. LegalOn introduced My Playbooks for personalized contract reviews and expanded into matter management in July 2025. The funding round was led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives.

LegalOn is partnering with OpenAI to refine legal workflows, using ChatGPT Enterprise to bolster product development. This initiative aims to redefine AI-powered legal technology by combining cutting-edge AI with legal expertise.