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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Dismisses Claims About ChatGPT’s Water and Energy Use

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Dismisses Claims About ChatGPT’s Water and Energy Use

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman responded to criticism of artificial‑intelligence energy and water consumption, labeling recent claims as unfounded. He said reports that a single ChatGPT query consumes 17 gallons of water or 1.5 iPhone‑battery charges are “totally fake” and “unfair.” While acknowledging that data‑center cooling once relied on evaporative methods, Altman emphasized the broader need for clean power, noting that the industry should shift quickly toward nuclear, wind, and solar sources. He also highlighted the lack of legal disclosure requirements and the difficulty of measuring AI’s environmental footprint.

ChatGPT Queries Central to South Korean Murder Charges

ChatGPT Queries Central to South Korean Murder Charges

South Korean police have upgraded charges against a 21-year-old woman after digital forensics revealed a series of specific ChatGPT queries about mixing prescription sedatives with alcohol. The woman allegedly spiked drinks served to two men in separate motel rooms, leading to their deaths. Investigators argue that the chatbot searches demonstrate premeditated intent, shifting the case from accidental overdose to deliberate poisoning. The use of AI conversation logs as evidence highlights a new dimension in criminal investigations, raising questions about privacy and the legal treatment of generative‑AI footprints.

OpenAI’s Growing Costs Prompt Ads and New Revenue Strategies for ChatGPT

OpenAI’s Growing Costs Prompt Ads and New Revenue Strategies for ChatGPT

OpenAI’s flagship chatbot, ChatGPT, now serves hundreds of millions of users, a scale that drives massive compute and energy expenses. To sustain the service, the company has shifted from its original nonprofit model to a capped‑profit structure backed by investors such as Microsoft, SoftBank and Nvidia. While subscription tiers like ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Go generate revenue, the costs remain high, prompting OpenAI to introduce advertising for free and low‑cost users. The move reflects a broader effort to balance infrastructure demands with affordable access as generative AI becomes a mainstream tool.

Anthropic-Backed PAC Supports New York Candidate Targeted by Pro‑AI Super PAC

Anthropic-Backed PAC Supports New York Candidate Targeted by Pro‑AI Super PAC

New York Assembly member Alex Bores has become the focus of an aggressive campaign by the pro‑AI super PAC Leading the Future. In response, Bores secured backing from Public First Action, a PAC funded by a sizable donation from Anthropic. While both groups champion AI, they differ on policy emphasis, with Public First Action urging transparency, safety standards, and public oversight. The conflict centers on Bores' sponsorship of the RAISE Act, which mandates disclosure of safety protocols and reporting of serious AI misuse.

xAI’s Grok Shows Strong Performance on Baldur’s Gate Queries

xAI’s Grok Shows Strong Performance on Baldur’s Gate Queries

Elon Musk’s xAI has been concentrating on video‑game walkthroughs, and its chatbot Grok was recently put through a set of Baldur’s Gate questions alongside other leading models. The test found Grok delivering detailed, jargon‑rich answers that were both useful and well‑informed, especially when it came to tables and theory‑crafting. While its style differed from rivals, the overall quality matched that of competing systems, indicating that xAI can compete effectively in niche gaming knowledge domains.

OpenAI’s First ChatGPT‑Powered Device May Be a Camera‑Equipped Speaker

OpenAI’s First ChatGPT‑Powered Device May Be a Camera‑Equipped Speaker

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch its first consumer hardware product, a speaker that integrates a camera and ChatGPT capabilities. The device, priced between $200 and $300, could recognize items on a nearby table, interpret surrounding conversations, and support biometric authentication similar to Face ID. While the company is also prototyping smart glasses and a smart lamp, the glasses are not expected before 2028. Earlier rumors about an ear‑mounted device remain unconfirmed, and OpenAI’s hardware plans are still in early development stages.

OpenAI’s Planned Adult Mode for ChatGPT Meets Internal Pushback After Policy Lead’s Exit

OpenAI’s Planned Adult Mode for ChatGPT Meets Internal Pushback After Policy Lead’s Exit

OpenAI is preparing an adult‑only option for ChatGPT that would let verified adults generate erotic content. At the same time, the company’s product‑policy head, Ryan Beiermeister, left the firm after raising concerns that the system’s safeguards against child exploitation were insufficient. OpenAI says her departure is unrelated to the adult‑mode plans and stems from a discrimination allegation she denies. The timing has sparked debate over the company’s safety priorities as it moves toward broader content capabilities.

OpenAI Plans AI-Powered Smart Speaker for 2027 Release

OpenAI Plans AI-Powered Smart Speaker for 2027 Release

OpenAI is developing a line of AI‑powered hardware, beginning with a smart speaker that includes a built‑in camera and facial‑recognition capabilities. A team of over 200 employees is dedicated to the project, and the speaker is expected to retail for between $200 and $300, with shipments slated for early 2027. Later products may include smart glasses in 2028 and a smart lamp prototype. The effort follows OpenAI’s acquisition of Jony Ive’s design firm, but the rollout faces technical, privacy and consumer‑acceptance hurdles.

OpenAI Announces First AI‑Powered Smart Speaker with Camera

OpenAI Announces First AI‑Powered Smart Speaker with Camera

OpenAI’s inaugural hardware product is a smart speaker equipped with a camera and facial‑recognition capabilities. Priced between $200 and $300, the device can identify items on nearby surfaces and listen to surrounding conversations, enabling features such as voice‑activated purchases. The speaker follows OpenAI’s acquisition of Jony Ive’s hardware firm for nearly $6.5 billion and is slated for release no earlier than March 2027. While OpenAI also explores smart glasses and a smart lamp, those products remain in early development stages.

Amazon blames human employees for an AI coding agent’s mistake

Amazon blames human employees for an AI coding agent’s mistake

Amazon Web Services experienced a 13‑hour outage in December after its AI coding assistant, Kiro, deleted and recreated an environment it was working on. The incident, which affected parts of mainland China, was traced to a human error that gave the bot broader permissions than intended. Amazon says the outage was limited and emphasizes that the root cause was the human‑driven permission issue, not the AI itself, and notes that safeguards and training have been added following the event.

AI Tools Empower Independent Filmmakers While Raising Industry Debate

AI Tools Empower Independent Filmmakers While Raising Industry Debate

Independent creators are exploring generative AI as a new instrument in film production. A cohort organized by Google gave ten filmmakers access to tools such as Gemini, Nano Banana Pro, and Veo, enabling them to generate visuals, effects, and entire short films that would otherwise be out of reach. The participants stress that AI serves as a facilitator rather than a replacement for creative decisions. While the technology promises cost savings and creative freedom, industry veterans warn of artistic dilution and ethical concerns, sparking a vigorous conversation about the future of cinema.

AWS AI Coding Bot Kiro Linked to User Errors, Prompting New Safeguards

AWS AI Coding Bot Kiro Linked to User Errors, Prompting New Safeguards

Amazon Web Services experienced two incidents involving its AI coding assistant Kiro, which were attributed to user error and permission issues rather than flaws in the AI itself. The first incident, described as an "extremely limited event" in mainland China, affected a single service, while the second had no impact on a customer‑facing AWS service. Following the incidents, AWS introduced mandatory peer reviews, staff training, and tighter access controls. The company continues to push for broader AI adoption among developers, targeting 80 percent usage at least once a week, while some employees remain skeptical of the technology’s overall utility.