Industry
Apple and Google reportedly still offer dozens of AI 'nudify' apps
Apple could unveil Gemini-powered Siri in Feb. Apple and Google reportedly still offer dozens of AI'nudify' apps Both platforms also still host the Grok app, which has been known to create nonconsensual images. A recent investigation by an online advocacy organization called the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) found that the Apple App Store and Google Play Store . These are AI applications that create nonconsensual and sexualized images, which is a clear violation of both companies' store policies. All told, the investigation found 55 of this type of app in the Google Play Store and 47 in the Apple App Store.
Amazon Alexa Is Now Available to Everyone. Here's How to Turn It Off (2026)
Alexa+ has been rolling out to everyone with a Prime membership, even if you didn't ask for it. Here's how to change it back. If Alexa's in your home, you might've been one of many users this month who were suddenly moved from the original Alexa to the new AI-powered Alexa+ voice assistant . Amazon announced in early January during CES that it'd be rolling out the new assistant to all Alexa+ Early Access customers, and that turns out to also include all Prime members, even if you weren't on the Early Access list. Alexa+ is still in Early Access, as it has been since it launched in spring last year, meaning that the assistant isn't fully complete, nor is it requiring you to pay the $20 monthly fee if you don't have Prime.
A Reckoning for the Tech Right
Silicon Valley's top CEOs have been noticeably silent after the Minneapolis shooting. Hours after Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy showed up for a movie night at the White House. Along with other business executives and several prominent Donald Trump supporters, they attended a private screening of, a new documentary about the president's wife. The moviegoers were treated to buckets of popcorn and sugar cookies frosted with the first lady's name. Silicon Valley's top executives have seemingly taken every opportunity to cozy up to Trump.
The State-Led Crackdown on Grok and xAI Has Begun
At least 37 attorneys general for US states and territories are taking action against xAI after Grok generated a flood of nonconsensual sexual images of women and minors. At least 37 attorneys general for US states and territories are taking action against xAI after people used its chatbot, Grok, to generate a flood of sexualized images earlier this year. On Friday, a bipartisan group of 35 attorneys general published an open letter to xAI demanding it "immediately take all available additional steps to protect the public and users of your platforms, especially the women and girls who are the overwhelming target of [non-consensual intimate images]." The letter comes amid an international wave of regulator attention on Grok users creating intimate deepfake images of people without their consent, as well as sexualized images of children. A recent report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate estimates that during an 11-day period starting on December 29, Grok's account on X generated around 3 million photorealistic sexualized images, including around 23,000 sexualized images of children.
New Data Shows Robotaxis Competing on Price--and Speed
Research from the ride-hail aggregator Obi finds Waymo is starting to edge up on Uber and Lyft in San Francisco. Tesla, which operates a ride-hail service with human drivers, is winning the price wars. In San Francisco, people wanting to get from point A to point B have a few fairly unique options. Then, starting last fall, Bay Area denizens also got access to electric automaker Tesla's ride-hail service, which operates as a "robotaxi" in Texas but as a more traditional service, with drivers behind the wheel, in California. For months, the new and futuristic "robotaxi" services felt like a novelty .
Google AI Plus is now available in the US for 8 a month
Apple could unveil Gemini-powered Siri in Feb. The plan is now out everywhere Google sells its AI services. Google AI Plus, the company's most affordable AI subscription plan, is now rolling out in the US. It will cost you $8 a month for its features, though you can get it for $4 a month for the first two months for a limited time only. AI Plus gives you access to 200GB of storage, as well as access to the Gemini 3 Pro model, Deep Research and Nano Banana Pro inside the Gemini app.
OpenAI releases Prism, a Claude Code-like app for scientific research
Apple could unveil Gemini-powered Siri in Feb. Prism can edit and format LaTeX. OpenAI is releasing a new app called Prism today, and it hopes it does for science what coding agents like Claude Code and its own Codex platform have done for programming. Prism builds on Crixet, a cloud-based LaTeX platform the company is announcing it acquired today. For the uninitiated, LaTeX is a typesetting system for formatting scientific documents and journals. Nearly the entire scientific community relies on LaTeX, but it can make some tasks, such as drawing diagrams through TikZ commands, time-consuming to do.
ChatGPT has a new hidden Temporary Chats setting
PCWorld reports that OpenAI is testing an updated Temporary Chat feature for ChatGPT that retains personal customizations without saving conversations. This hidden setting functions like Incognito Mode, allowing private chats while maintaining user personalization preferences across sessions. AI engineer Tibor Blaho discovered the optional feature, though OpenAI may still store chat copies for up to 30 days for security purposes. OpenAI is testing an update to ChatGPT's "Temporary Chat" feature . Temporary Chat allows you to "have a conversation with a blank slate" where "ChatGPT won't be aware of previous conversations or access memories." It's a lot like Incognito Mode in Chrome, which you can use to "privately" browse the web--except here, it's chatting. The update to Temporary Chat will sort of tweak this, allowing ChatGPT to retain your personal customizations without the conversation itself being saved or affecting your overall account. Temporary chat in ChatGPT has a new, currently hidden option that lets you still use personalization (memory, chat history, style and tone preferences) even though the chat is only temporary ChatGPT web app now also mentions new ChatGPT FinServ plans (Enterprise-like), shopping pic.twitter.com/CaMaeYlCmP
80% of Americans may opt for cremation by 2045
Rising costs, shifting beliefs, and environmental concerns are accelerating the decline of casket burials. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. The casket industry may soon require life support in the United States. According to analysis from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), cremation is by far the more popular option compared to the traditional burial method. The NFDA estimates around 63 percent of all funerary requests were for cremation in 2025, compared to about 31 percent for casket burials.
Yahoo is adding generative AI to its search engine
Apple could unveil Gemini-powered Siri in Feb. Yahoo Scout will be powered by Claude and is integrated across the company's products. Yahoo has a new AI-powered answer engine, dubbed Yahoo Scout. The new tool is available now in beta and is powered by Anthropic's . The company says Scout synthesizes info from the web, as well as Yahoo's own data and content when constructing responses to user's natural-language search queries. Yahoo says the interface will include interactive digital media, structured lists and tables and visible source links aimed at making answers easier to verify.