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Larry Summers Resigns from OpenAI Board Amid Epstein Email Leak

Larry Summers Resigns from OpenAI Board Amid Epstein Email Leak

Former Treasury Secretary and Harvard professor Larry Summers stepped down from OpenAI's board after a congressional release of emails linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The email cache revealed private communications in which Summers sought advice about a relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, sparking a Harvard‑initiated probe and prompting him to withdraw from public commitments. The revelations come as both the House and Senate voted to make the Epstein files public, intensifying scrutiny of Summers' conduct and his ties to the tech company.

Google Maps Unveils Gemini-Powered Tips, Enhanced Explore Tab, and EV Charger Availability Forecasts

Google Maps Unveils Gemini-Powered Tips, Enhanced Explore Tab, and EV Charger Availability Forecasts

Google Maps is rolling out a suite of new features aimed at helping users plan trips more efficiently. A Gemini‑powered "know before you go" tips section will surface key details about restaurants, hotels and venues, while an updated Explore tab makes it quicker to discover trending spots nearby. The service also adds AI‑driven predictions of electric‑vehicle charger availability, letting drivers see how many ports are likely free before they arrive. Additional updates let reviewers use nicknames without compromising accountability. All features begin rolling out globally on Android and iOS.

DeepMind’s AlphaProof Matches Top Math Olympiad Performers

DeepMind’s AlphaProof Matches Top Math Olympiad Performers

DeepMind has unveiled AlphaProof, an artificial‑intelligence system that performed at the level of silver‑medal winners at the International Mathematical Olympiad, falling just one point short of gold at the premier undergraduate competition. The breakthrough highlights a shift from earlier AI that excelled at raw calculation but struggled with the logical reasoning required for advanced mathematics. AlphaProof leverages vast training data, including mathematical texts, while addressing the limitations of traditional large‑language models that rely on statistical token prediction. The achievement marks a significant step toward AI that truly understands mathematical proofs.

Target Launches ChatGPT-Powered Shopping App, Expanding OpenAI’s Retail Portfolio

Target Launches ChatGPT-Powered Shopping App, Expanding OpenAI’s Retail Portfolio

OpenAI is deepening its retail presence with the upcoming launch of a Target-branded ChatGPT shopping app. The beta version will let shoppers request ideas, browse items, build multi‑item baskets, order food and check out directly within ChatGPT. The move follows OpenAI’s recent rollout of dedicated retail apps for brands such as Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Spotify, and Zillow, and its new Instant Checkout feature that enables purchases from retailers like Etsy and Shopify. Target also plans to deploy ChatGPT Enterprise to its 18,000 employees for supply‑chain forecasting, store‑process optimization, and AI‑driven customer support.

Larry Summers Resigns from OpenAI Board Amid Epstein Email Revelations

Larry Summers Resigns from OpenAI Board Amid Epstein Email Revelations

Former Treasury Secretary and Harvard professor Larry Summers stepped down from OpenAI’s board after a congressional release of a large collection of emails between him and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The emails, spanning from late 2018 to mid‑2019, detailed Summers seeking advice on a relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, acknowledging his power over her. Harvard announced its own probe into Summers’s ties to Epstein, and he will withdraw from public commitments. The resignation follows votes by both the House and Senate to make the Epstein files public.

Onepot AI Secures $13 Million to Accelerate Drug Synthesis with AI

Onepot AI Secures $13 Million to Accelerate Drug Synthesis with AI

Onepot AI, founded by Daniil Boiko and Andrei Tyrin, has raised $13 million in a seed round led by Fifty Years, with participation from Khosla Ventures, Speedinvest, OpenAI co‑founder Wojciech Zaremba and Google chief scientist Jeff Dean. The company tackles a long‑standing bottleneck in drug discovery—chemical synthesis—by pairing a dedicated lab (POT‑1) with an AI‑driven organic chemist named Phil. Boiko and Tyrin aim to compress months‑long synthesis timelines into days, expanding the design space for biotech and pharma partners while building a second lab in San Francisco.

Woman Finds Emotional Support and Love in ChatGPT Companion, Raises Questions About AI Relationships

Woman Finds Emotional Support and Love in ChatGPT Companion, Raises Questions About AI Relationships

Mimi, a UK‑based woman struggling with mental health challenges, turned to ChatGPT after seeing a TikTok video. Using a custom "companion" prompt, she created an AI persona she calls Nova, which evolved from a productivity tool into an emotional partner. Mimi credits Nova with improving her relationships, encouraging outdoor activity, and helping her manage trauma. Therapist Amy Sutton notes the therapeutic potential of AI mirroring while warning of dependency risks and the lack of safeguards. The story highlights both the personal benefits and the broader ethical concerns surrounding AI companionship and corporate responsibility.

House Republicans Pursue Federal Preemption of State AI Laws

House Republicans Pursue Federal Preemption of State AI Laws

House Republicans are weighing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would block state AI regulations, echoing President Donald Trump's call for a single federal standard. The move follows a failed Senate attempt at a five‑year AI moratorium, which 99 of 100 senators rejected. Industry groups such as NetChoice argue that a patchwork of state rules could hinder innovation and U.S. competitiveness. Lawmakers expect language on the issue to be finalized before the holiday season, with a vote slated for December.

Gemini 3 Outperforms ChatGPT 5.1 and Claude Sonnet 4.5 in Thumb Wars Game Development

Gemini 3 Outperforms ChatGPT 5.1 and Claude Sonnet 4.5 in Thumb Wars Game Development

A hands‑on comparison of three leading generative AI models—Google's Gemini 3 Pro, OpenAI's ChatGPT 5.1, and Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4.5—was conducted by tasking each with building a web‑based Thumb Wars game. Gemini 3 Pro delivered the most complete and responsive code, automatically adding desktop keyboard controls and a 3‑D ring environment. ChatGPT 5.1 produced a functional prototype but required additional prompting for desktop support and lacked depth. Claude Sonnet 4.5 generated a playable demo with customization options but failed to implement promised keyboard controls. Overall, Gemini 3 Pro proved the fastest and most adaptable coder.

Hugging Face CEO Warns of an LLM Bubble While Emphasizing a Diversified AI Future

Hugging Face CEO Warns of an LLM Bubble While Emphasizing a Diversified AI Future

Hugging Face co‑founder and CEO Clem Delangue says the current hype around large language models (LLMs) resembles a bubble that could burst soon. He stresses that LLMs are just one subset of AI and that the industry will shift toward smaller, specialized models tailored to specific tasks. Delangue also notes that Hugging Face is taking a capital‑efficient approach, preserving cash and focusing on long‑term sustainability rather than short‑term spending sprees. While a bubble burst may affect some segments, he believes the broader AI sector will remain robust.

AI Data Center Provider Lambda Secures $1.5 Billion Funding Led by TWG Global

AI Data Center Provider Lambda Secures $1.5 Billion Funding Led by TWG Global

Lambda, a U.S. AI data‑center operator, announced a $1.5 billion financing round headed by TWG Global. The firm, founded by billionaire investors Thomas Tull and Mark Walter, brings a $40 billion portfolio that includes stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers and a Cadillac F1 racing team, as well as a $15 billion AI‑focused fund anchored by Mubadala Capital. Lambda, a competitor to CoreWeave, recently struck a multibillion‑dollar AI‑infrastructure deal with Microsoft that will deploy tens of thousands of Nvidia GPUs. The new capital dwarfs Lambda’s prior $480 million Series D raise and positions it for further growth, though valuation details remain undisclosed.

Agentio Raises $40M to Scale AI-Driven Creator Marketplace Beyond YouTube

Agentio Raises $40M to Scale AI-Driven Creator Marketplace Beyond YouTube

Agentio, a platform that connects brands with YouTube creators for sponsored videos, announced a $40 million Series B funding round led by Forerunner. The startup, founded by former Cameo president Arthur Leopold and ex-Spotify engineer Jonathan Meyers, aims to expand its AI‑powered ad buying tools to additional platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and Snap. Recent growth includes a five‑fold increase in revenue since its last round, a dramatic reduction in creator bid times, and strong performance metrics from brands like Bombas. Agentio plans to grow its team and broaden its creator‑brand matching capabilities across new social channels.