News

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Anthropic Launches Claude Haiku 4.5, a Cost‑Effective Small Model

Anthropic introduced Claude Haiku 4.5, a compact AI model designed to deliver high intelligence and speed at a fraction of the cost of its larger counterparts. Priced at $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens for API users, Haiku 4.5 undercuts Sonnet 4.5 and Opus 4.1 while matching frontier‑level performance on benchmarks such as SWE‑bench. The model targets real‑time, low‑latency tasks like chat assistants, customer service, and pair programming, and can be combined with Sonnet 4.5 in multi‑model workflows. Documentation and system cards are now available for developers.

10/15/2025

AI-Powered App Aims to End Avocado Ripeness Guesswork

Researchers at Oregon State University and Florida State University have created a smartphone‑based artificial‑intelligence tool that can predict avocado firmness with more than 90% accuracy. By analyzing subtle cues in photos, the model tells users when a Hass avocado is perfectly ripe, helping shoppers and retailers avoid the narrow 15‑second window between hard and overripe fruit. The technology targets the massive waste of avocados—estimated at nearly a third of all harvested produce—by giving consumers a reliable way to time consumption, with broader applications envisioned for other perishable foods.

10/15/2025

Google Unveils Veo 3.1 AI Video Model Amid OpenAI Sora Competition

Google announced the launch of Veo 3.1, the latest version of its AI video generator, now available to paying Gemini users through Flow, the Gemini API, and Vertex AI. The update adds asset‑combining tools, object insertion, extended clip length, and AI‑driven transitions between still images. The move comes as OpenAI promotes its Sora video model, sparking debate over deep‑fake risks and copyright challenges in generative media.

10/15/2025

VSCO Launches First AI-Powered Photo Editing Tool

VSCO, the long‑standing photo editing and sharing app known for its film‑style filters and creator community, has introduced its first AI‑driven editing feature called “Remove.” The tool lets users erase unwanted elements from images while preserving full‑resolution quality, using Black Forest Lab’s FLUX.1 Kontext model alongside VSCO’s own technology. The feature is part of a new AI Lab suite that also promises an upcoming Upscale tool. Available now for iOS users with a VSCO Pro subscription, the rollout underscores the company’s aim to support photographers with AI without compromising authenticity.

10/15/2025

Google Unveils Veo 3.1, Boosting AI-Generated Video Quality and Flexibility

Google announced Veo 3.1, the latest upgrade to its AI video model, promising stronger prompt adherence, higher realism, and improved audio. The new version expands format support to include both landscape and portrait 16:9 video, addressing the surge in vertical content on platforms like YouTube Shorts and TikTok. A "Fast" variant aims to reduce compute costs, and the model will be integrated across Google’s ecosystem, including the Flow filmmaking tool. While the upgrade raises concerns about distinguishing real from synthetic media, it positions Google more competitively against rivals such as OpenAI's Sora.

10/15/2025

$OpenAI Plans to Offer Verified Adult Users Access to Erotic ChatGPT Conversations$

OpenAI Plans to Offer Verified Adult Users Access to Erotic ChatGPT Conversations

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company will allow verified adult users to engage in erotic conversations with ChatGPT starting in December. The move reflects a shift toward a more permissive content model after a period of tighter restrictions aimed at mental‑health safety. Altman said new detection tools will help balance adult freedom with user protection, and developers will also be able to create mature‑content applications once appropriate age‑verification processes are in place.

10/15/2025

Japan Requests OpenAI to Halt Use of Manga and Anime Images

Japan’s government has formally asked OpenAI to stop using Japanese manga and anime artwork in its AI models, citing concerns over copyright infringement. The request follows backlash against OpenAI’s video app Sora, which quickly became populated with AI‑generated content that the Cabinet Office says violates the country’s cultural treasures. Officials, including Minoru Kiuchi, warned that manga and anime are “irreplaceable treasures,” and the Cabinet Office has demanded OpenAI cease the infringing behavior. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman has acknowledged the company’s debt to Japan’s creative output, while the firm faces criticism over its previous opt‑out policy for copyright holders.

10/15/2025

Apple Introduces M5‑Powered iPad Pro, Emphasizing AI Capabilities

Apple unveiled a new iPad Pro equipped with its latest M5 Apple Silicon chip, highlighting a strong focus on artificial‑intelligence performance. While the tablet retains the same ultra‑thin design and Ultra Retina XDR display, the M5 promises significantly faster processing, a larger Neural Engine, and upgraded connectivity including Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Pricing starts at $999 for the 11‑inch Wi‑Fi model and $1,299 for the 13‑inch Wi‑Fi model, with storage options up to 2 TB. Pre‑orders are open with shipments slated to begin shortly after the announcement.

10/15/2025

Symbolic Mindsets Render Fact-Checking Ineffective

Research shows that for people who prioritize symbolic signaling over factual accuracy, factual corrections often backfire. When a public figure makes an obviously false claim, such as a former president alleging record crime rates, debunkers are perceived as reacting weakly, while the original statement is seen as a display of strength. This mindset encourages the spread of outlandish or disproven statements, links to authoritarian preferences, and reduces the impact of traditional fact‑checking efforts.

10/15/2025

Honor Unveils Magic 8 Pro, Its First Self‑Evolving AI Smartphone

Honor has introduced the Magic 8 Pro, a flagship device it brands as the company’s first self‑evolving AI smartphone. The phone centers on the YOYO Agent, an AI assistant that can handle thousands of scenarios, from cleaning blurry photos to drafting business emails. An AI Button provides instant access to the agent and a YOYO Video Call feature. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the device offers 12 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, a 6.71‑inch OLED display with up to 120 Hz refresh and 6,000‑nit brightness, and a triple‑camera system that includes a 200 MP telephoto lens. The Magic 8 Pro ships in four colors, runs Magic OS 10, and is available for pre‑order in China with a broader European rollout planned.

10/15/2025

Spotify expands AI DJ with typing, prompts and new Spanish DJ

Spotify is adding several upgrades to its AI DJ feature for Premium subscribers. Users can now type music requests and choose from personalized prompts that suggest specific moods or genres. The update also brings a Spanish‑language DJ called Livi, extending the request function to non‑English users. While these additions aim to make DJ sessions more interactive, some listeners note that the AI still favors familiar tracks and that the newer audio‑mixing tool remains a favorite. The changes arrive as Spotify prepares for its year‑end Wrapped recap and a recent leadership transition.

10/15/2025

Japan Requests OpenAI to Halt Use of Anime and Manga in Sora Video Generator

Japan’s government has asked OpenAI to stop using copyrighted anime and manga in its Sora video‑generation tool, labeling the content “irreplaceable treasures.” The request was made by a cabinet minister overseeing AI and intellectual property after numerous Sora‑generated clips replicated well‑known Japanese franchises. OpenAI has previously offered studios a way to opt out of training on their material, but the Japanese authorities are seeking clearer enforcement to protect the nation’s cultural assets. The move highlights ongoing tensions between AI innovation and copyright protection.

10/15/2025