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AI Image and Video Models Develop Distinct “Personalities,” Shaping Creator Workflows

AI Image and Video Models Develop Distinct “Personalities,” Shaping Creator Workflows

Creators are increasingly describing generative AI image and video models as having distinct “personalities,” referring to each model’s unique style, strengths, and preferred tasks. This emerging view helps artists select the right tool for specific projects, much like choosing a camera lens. By combining multiple models—such as Google’s Veo 3, Adobe’s Firefly, and Runway—creators achieve greater creative range and precision. The concept of model personalities is fluid, evolving with updates that improve performance and reduce errors. Overall, the shift underscores a growing reliance on AI tools while emphasizing the human creative vision that guides them.

ChatGPT Goes Free on WhatsApp Until Early 2026

ChatGPT Goes Free on WhatsApp Until Early 2026

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is now available as a free AI contact inside Meta’s WhatsApp messaging app. Users can add the number 1‑800‑242‑8478 to start chatting with the bot, link their ChatGPT account for sync, and enjoy features such as question answering, summarization, translation, coding help, and image generation. The free offering will end on January 15, 2026 due to a change in Meta’s policy, after which users can still access the service through paid plans. The integration also lets users send photos for analysis and manage conversation settings directly within WhatsApp.

Google Photos Launches AI-Powered Personal Photo Editor Using Gemini’s Nano Banana Model

Google Photos Launches AI-Powered Personal Photo Editor Using Gemini’s Nano Banana Model

Google Photos has introduced a new AI-driven editor that leverages Gemini’s Nano Banana model to make personalized adjustments to faces in users’ images. By tapping into private face groups, the tool can open closed eyes, add smiles, remove sunglasses and more, all through simple natural‑language prompts. The update also adds AI‑generated style templates tailored to each user’s gallery and a Gemini‑powered Ask button that answers questions about photos. While the feature offers powerful, user‑friendly editing, Google emphasizes that the AI operates on data already stored in the account, keeping the process private.

AI Application Layer Race Heats Up Across the Atlantic

AI Application Layer Race Heats Up Across the Atlantic

A new Accel report finds the United States still leads in large AI models, but Europe is rapidly catching up in the application layer. Emerging firms such as Lovable and Synthesia are highlighted as category leaders, while European and Israeli startups have raised 66 cents for every dollar raised by U.S. peers. The report notes unprecedented growth speed, with AI‑native applications reaching $100 million in annual recurring revenue in just a few years and delivering the highest revenue‑per‑headcount in software history. Venture capitalists see defensibility in product‑centric offerings and believe proprietary data remains undervalued.

Coda Music Introduces AI Identification Tools and Artist Support Features

Coda Music Introduces AI Identification Tools and Artist Support Features

Coda Music, a newer entrant in the streaming market, has launched a suite of tools to identify and label AI‑generated songs. The platform now reviews every new artist for AI origins, flags profiles suspected of AI creation, and offers a user‑controlled toggle to hide AI artists entirely. Alongside these safeguards, Coda promotes higher per‑stream payouts, a $1 contribution to independent or qualifying artists from each subscription, and a social‑focused feed that encourages sharing and direct artist interaction. The features are live on iOS and Android, with a web interface slated for the future.

World Labs Launches Marble, First Commercial AI-Powered 3D World Model

World Labs Launches Marble, First Commercial AI-Powered 3D World Model

World Labs, the AI startup founded by Fei-Fei Li, has introduced Marble, its first commercial world‑model product. Marble lets users transform text prompts, images, videos, 3D layouts or panoramas into editable, downloadable 3D environments through a freemium tier and three paid subscriptions. Featuring AI‑native editing tools, a hybrid 3D editor called Chisel, and capabilities such as world expansion and composer mode, the platform targets creators in gaming, visual effects, virtual reality and robotics. The launch positions World Labs ahead of competitors still in research or limited‑beta phases.

Google May Add Customizable Styles to NotebookLM Video Overviews

Google May Add Customizable Styles to NotebookLM Video Overviews

Google's AI‑powered research assistant NotebookLM recently expanded its Video Overview feature with new visual styles powered by the Nano Banana image model. While seven preset styles are now available, the company is reportedly exploring a custom‑style option that would let users shape the look of videos through prompts. This potential upgrade follows recent enhancements that let users direct the AI host's focus and tone, such as delivering content in an Edgar Allan Poe‑style narrative. Google has not commented on when or if the custom feature will launch.

Disney Partners with Animaj to Accelerate Animation Using AI

Disney Partners with Animaj to Accelerate Animation Using AI

Disney is exploring artificial‑intelligence tools to speed up the creation of animated content. At a recent showcase, startup Animaj demonstrated its AI‑driven “motion in‑betweening” system, which lets artists sketch key frames while the AI fills in the intermediate poses. Disney selected Animaj for its 2025 Accelerator program, noting that the technology cut production time for a five‑minute episode from months to weeks. Executives say the partnership could soon expand across Disney Branded Television and Disney Television Studios, offering faster, data‑informed storytelling while keeping human artists in control.

Google's November Pixel Update Adds AI Photo Remixing, Scam Protection and New Themes

Google's November Pixel Update Adds AI Photo Remixing, Scam Protection and New Themes

Google’s latest Pixel software refresh, rolling out to all supported Pixel phones, introduces AI‑powered photo remixing in Google Messages, enhanced scam detection for texts and calls, notification summaries, VIP contact prioritization, new "Wicked" theme packs, and upgrades to Photos, Maps and Call notes. The update leverages the Gemini image model and Private AI Compute for faster, privacy‑focused suggestions, and expands scam‑call detection to additional countries. Features arrive on Pixel 9 and newer devices, with some enhancements also reaching other Android phones.

Google Launches Private AI Compute to Blend Cloud Power with On‑Device Privacy

Google Launches Private AI Compute to Blend Cloud Power with On‑Device Privacy

Google is unveiling a new cloud‑based platform called Private AI Compute that lets users access more advanced artificial‑intelligence features while keeping their data private. The service mirrors Apple’s Private Cloud Compute by keeping sensitive information visible only to the user, even from Google, and by moving heavy computational tasks to a secure, fortified cloud space. Early implementations will appear on Pixel 10 phones, enhancing tools such as Magic Cue and expanding language support for Recorder transcriptions. Google says the approach will enable richer, more personalized AI experiences without compromising privacy.

Google expands AI photo editing to Messages and rolls out power‑saving, scam detection upgrades in Pixel Drop

Google expands AI photo editing to Messages and rolls out power‑saving, scam detection upgrades in Pixel Drop

Google’s latest Pixel Drop brings a suite of new features to Android devices, most notably Remix in Google Messages, which lets users edit photos with Gemini‑powered AI directly within chats. The update also adds a Power Saving Mode to Google Maps, extends Scam Detection to messages, introduces Notification Summaries, prioritizes Pixel VIP contacts, and launches a new seasonal theme pack. These enhancements aim to broaden AI capabilities beyond Pixel phones and improve user safety and battery life across the Android ecosystem.

Eternos Rebrands as Uare.ai to Offer Personal AI Replicas

Eternos Rebrands as Uare.ai to Offer Personal AI Replicas

After decades leading LivePerson, Robert LoCascio founded Eternos, a legacy service that records voices and stories for loved ones. Following client interest beyond memorial use, the company pivoted to create personal AI models that capture an individual's expertise and personality. Renamed Uare.ai, it introduced the Human Life Model, raised $10.3 million in seed funding led by Mayfield and Boldstart Ventures, and plans to launch a platform where users can train their AI replicas with text, voice, and video. The move positions Uare.ai as a tool for creators and professionals seeking AI-driven content creation and interaction.