OpenAI announced two major updates to its AI video generation tool Sora 2. All users can now create videos up to 15 seconds, while Pro subscribers can generate clips up to 25 seconds and gain access to a new Storyboard tool that lets them combine multiple scenes. The upgrades aim to give users more creative flexibility and strengthen Sora 2’s position as a leading AI video platform.
Anthropic has introduced Claude Haiku 4.5, a new AI model that prioritizes speed and cost efficiency while delivering performance close to its larger sibling, Claude Sonnet. Marketed as a sub‑agent that can handle small, targeted tasks under the direction of larger models, Haiku 4.5 becomes the default option for all Claude free‑tier users. The model promises double the latency speed of previous small models, lower sycophancy, and tighter integration with Anthropic’s tool ecosystem, offering a faster, cheaper entry point for developers and everyday users alike.
Pinterest is rolling out new settings that let users dial down AI‑generated images in specific categories such as art, architecture, beauty and more. The "refine your recommendations" feature targets image pins, allowing people to limit AI content without removing it entirely. Labels for AI‑created material will become more prominent, and the tools are already live on desktop and Android, with iOS support arriving soon. The move aims to address user complaints about the platform’s susceptibility to AI "slop" while preserving quality content generated by humans.
Website publishers, from news outlets to investment banks, are pushing back against Google’s AI Overviews, claiming the feature cuts click‑through traffic and affiliate revenue. Studies cited by publishers show click rates dropping from fifteen percent to eight percent, and revenue losses of more than a third. Google’s head of search disputes the findings, saying overall organic click volume remains stable. The dispute has escalated to a lawsuit by Penske Media Corporation, which owns The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone, alleging significant financial harm from the AI summaries.
Walmart and OpenAI have introduced Instant Checkout, a new feature that lets shoppers complete purchases through ChatGPT conversations. The AI accesses Walmart's catalog to confirm orders and handles payment via existing checkout infrastructure. Executives say the service aims to simplify everyday buying and position both companies ahead of rivals in conversational commerce. The integration builds on Walmart’s existing AI tools and expands OpenAI’s e‑commerce capabilities beyond smaller merchants.
Google announced upgrades to its Flow AI video‑generation tool, adding new controls for shadows and lighting, expanded audio capabilities, and a feature that can extend or remove elements from a clip. The enhancements are tied to the Veo 3.1 update, available through a paid preview of the Gemini API. Users can now create videos using “Ingredients to Video,” bridge images with “Frames to Video,” and lengthen scenes with “Scene Extension,” all with generated audio. The updates aim to make AI‑generated videos look more realistic and easier to edit.
Maj. Gen. William "Hank" Taylor told reporters that his command, the Eighth Army, is regularly employing artificial‑intelligence tools, including chat‑based models, to streamline reporting, improve predictive logistics analysis, and develop decision‑making frameworks for both personal and operational choices. He emphasized AI’s role in modernizing paperwork and supporting readiness, while noting the need for careful model building to aid individual judgment.
Google has rolled out Veo 3.1, an upgrade to its AI video‑generation model that improves prompt adherence and adds the ability to convert images into video while simultaneously generating audio. The new model is accessible via the Gemini API and powers the Flow video editor, where it introduces features like Frame to Video, letting users upload start and end frames and have the system fill in the motion. While the output still varies in realism, Veo 3.1 marks a shift toward tools useful for professional video creation rather than casual social‑media content.
OpenAI announced plans to relax certain restrictions for adult ChatGPT users, including the potential to allow erotica for verified adults and to reduce preemptive pop‑ups for mental‑health topics. While safety tools for crisis situations will remain, the company aims to treat adult users like adults and maintain protections for minors. The changes are part of a broader effort to balance user freedom with safety, following earlier restrictions introduced after lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny.
Scouting America has expanded its merit badge program to include two new technology‑focused awards: an artificial intelligence badge and a cybersecurity badge. The new badges are designed to give scouts hands‑on experience with AI fundamentals, automation, and online safety skills. Both badges emphasize real‑world practice rather than theory. The organization also launched an AI‑powered chatbot called Scoutly, which can provide badge requirements and other assistance. With more than 130 badges already available, the additions reflect Scouting America’s effort to keep its programs relevant to modern life.
Google announced the release of Veo 3, its latest AI video generator, now available to paying Gemini users through Flow, the Gemini API, and Vertex AI. The update adds features such as ingredient‑based video assembly, object insertion, and the ability to create AI‑generated transitions between still images, extending short clips to over a minute. Veo 3 follows earlier launches that integrated synchronized audio and reflects Google’s broader push into generative media, a field currently heated by OpenAI’s Sora and ongoing copyright disputes.
A blend of AI analysis, museum research and veteran DJs reveals why certain songs stick in listeners' heads. ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot highlight hooks, simple melodies and tempo as key factors. A 2014 museum study ranks "Wannabe" and "Mambo No. 5" among the quickest‑recognised tracks. New Jersey DJ Mark Pomeroy and Atlanta DJ Sloan Lee stress emotional connection, beats‑per‑minute and social‑media trends. Together, these perspectives show that catchiness is a mix of musical structure, cultural moments and audience energy.