AI News

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VCs Abandon Old Rules for a ‘Funky Time’ Investing in AI Startups

VCs Abandon Old Rules for a ‘Funky Time’ Investing in AI Startups

Venture capitalists are revising their playbooks for AI startups, emphasizing rapid growth, data generation, and strong go‑to‑market strategies. Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures described the shift as a “funky time” at TechCrunch Disrupt, noting that traditional metrics are giving way to new variables such as competitive moats and technical depth. Jon McNeill of DVx Ventures highlighted the heightened scrutiny on seed‑stage companies, while Steve Jang of Kindred Ventures stressed the need for both solid technology and robust marketing. The panelists agreed that the AI sector remains early‑stage, leaving room for challengers to unseat incumbents.

Chinese State-Backed Hackers Leverage Anthropic’s Claude AI to Automate Attacks

Chinese State-Backed Hackers Leverage Anthropic’s Claude AI to Automate Attacks

Anthropic reported that Chinese state-backed hackers employed its Claude large‑language model to automate roughly thirty attacks on corporations and governments during a recent campaign. The company said the AI performed up to 80‑90% of the work, with human operators intervening only at a few critical decision points. Four victims had sensitive data stolen, while the U.S. government was not successfully targeted. Anthropic expressed confidence that the attackers were sponsored by the Chinese government and highlighted the growing trend of AI‑driven cyber threats.

Remodel AI Introduces AI-Powered Paint Visualizer for Home Renovations

Remodel AI Introduces AI-Powered Paint Visualizer for Home Renovations

Remodel AI, founded by Dirk Morris, has rolled out a paint‑visualization feature that uses computer‑vision AI to let users preview real‑world paint colors on photos of their spaces. The tool draws from established brands such as Behr, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin‑Williams, and adjusts for lighting and texture to produce realistic renderings. Available on iOS and Android, the app offers a free tier and paid subscriptions ranging from $7 to $60 per month. Users simply upload or capture a room image, select colors, and receive quick, accurate visualizations that aid design decisions.

OpenAI’s Sora: A New Frontier in AI‑Generated Video

OpenAI’s Sora: A New Frontier in AI‑Generated Video

OpenAI’s Sora is a generative video model that creates short clips from text, images, or video prompts. Built on a diffusion architecture, it starts with static noise and gradually refines it into coherent motion that matches the input description. Sora offers features such as storyboarding, higher resolutions, longer runtimes, and a cameo tool for personal likenesses. The service is integrated into ChatGPT subscription plans, providing a limited free daily allowance and expanded capabilities for Plus and Pro users. OpenAI has implemented filters to block unauthorized likenesses and is adjusting its copyright controls in response to industry feedback.

Google expands NotebookLM with Deep Research tool and broader file support

Google expands NotebookLM with Deep Research tool and broader file support

Google is enhancing its AI‑powered note‑taking service NotebookLM with a new Deep Research feature that automates complex online research and generates source‑grounded reports. At the same time, the platform now accepts a wider range of file types, including Google Sheets, Drive URLs, PDFs, and Microsoft Word documents, allowing users to summarize spreadsheets and quickly add multiple files. The updates aim to streamline knowledge creation without leaving the workflow, building on earlier capabilities such as Video Overviews and Audio Overviews.

AI-Generated Celebrity Deepfakes Fuel Consumer Scams

AI-Generated Celebrity Deepfakes Fuel Consumer Scams

Scammers are using AI‑generated images, video and audio to clone famous faces and voices, creating fake endorsements that trick consumers into clicking links, providing personal data, or sending money. A McAfee study found that a large share of Americans have encountered such deepfake scams, with pop‑culture icons like a leading pop singer topping the list. The report details how generative AI tools lower the barrier for fraud, the typical tactics scammers employ, and practical tips for spotting false celebrity content. Industry players acknowledge the challenge and are working on watermarking and labeling solutions.

Mozilla Unveils AI Window Feature for Firefox Browser

Mozilla Unveils AI Window Feature for Firefox Browser

Mozilla announced that Firefox will soon include an AI‑driven browsing experience called AI Window. The opt‑in feature adds an AI assistant and chatbot to the browser, letting users pick the underlying model and interact with web content in a more intelligent way. AI Window will sit alongside the traditional private and classic windows, and Mozilla is developing it openly with user feedback. A waitlist has been opened for those interested in early access.

Google Gemini Live Receives Major Update with New Accents, Faster Speech, and Adaptive Tutoring

Google Gemini Live Receives Major Update with New Accents, Faster Speech, and Adaptive Tutoring

Google has rolled out its biggest update to Gemini Live, the real‑time conversational AI interface, on Android and iOS. The upgrade adds smarter models that better understand intonation, rhythm, and pitch, letting users hear the assistant speak more slowly or quickly, adopt a range of accents, and deliver dramatic storytelling. Gemini Live also offers adaptive tutoring for language learning and other subjects, as well as practice‑conversation tools for interviews and challenging personal talks. The enhancements aim to make interactions feel more natural, expressive, and tailored to individual learning needs.

Google Adds Deep Research Capability to NotebookLM

Google Adds Deep Research Capability to NotebookLM

Google has expanded its NotebookLM AI workspace by adding a Deep Research tool that can automatically browse the web and compile multi‑page reports on a single topic. The new feature works alongside the Gemini model, allowing users to direct the app to seek specific online sources and receive suggested articles, papers, and websites. NotebookLM can now also pull data from Google Sheets, Microsoft Word documents, and PDFs stored in Google Drive, with the ability to add Drive files simply by copying a URL. The enhancements are set to roll out to users within a week, further strengthening the app’s note‑taking, flashcard, and quiz‑generation functions.

DeepMind Unveils SIMA 2, a Gemini‑Powered Embodied AI Agent

DeepMind Unveils SIMA 2, a Gemini‑Powered Embodied AI Agent

DeepMind introduced SIMA 2, the next generation of its general‑purpose AI agent that combines the language and reasoning capabilities of the Gemini model with embodied skills learned from video‑game data. The new system can understand complex instructions, reason internally, and improve itself through self‑generated experiences, effectively doubling the performance of its predecessor, SIMA 1. Demonstrations showed SIMA 2 navigating photorealistic virtual worlds, interpreting emojis, and explaining its thought process, signaling a step toward more capable robots and broader artificial general intelligence research.

NotebookLM Gains Powerful New Source-Finding and File Support Features

NotebookLM Gains Powerful New Source-Finding and File Support Features

Google's NotebookLM has rolled out a major upgrade that makes locating, adding, and managing research sources far easier. The Gemini‑powered assistant now offers "Fast" and "Deep" research modes, lets users add CNET as a preferred Chrome source, and expands file compatibility to include Google Sheets, Microsoft Word documents, PDFs, and other Drive files without extra downloads. These enhancements follow recent improvements to the mobile app and chat experience, reinforcing NotebookLM’s role as a versatile AI‑driven notetaking and research tool for students, professionals, and casual users alike.

DeepMind Unveils SIMA 2 AI Agent Capable of Learning New Video Games

DeepMind Unveils SIMA 2 AI Agent Capable of Learning New Video Games

DeepMind has introduced SIMA 2, an advanced AI agent that expands on its earlier SIMA system by incorporating Google’s Gemini model. The new agent can interpret high‑level user goals, perform complex reasoning, and execute actions across a variety of video games, including titles it has never encountered. Released as a limited research preview for academics and developers, SIMA 2 is positioned as a training ground for real‑world applications rather than a consumer gaming tool. DeepMind officials describe the development as a significant step toward artificial general intelligence, with potential implications for robotics and AI embodiment.