Meta appears to have soft-launched a new app called Pocket that's aimed at getting people to vibe-code their own minigames. Mobile developer and reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi spotted Pocket and posted about it to X today, but reporting platform AppFigures told TechCrunch that the app has been available on both iOS and Android since June 29. Though the app is listed publicly, it's not available in the US on any of the half dozen phone models associated with our Google accounts, and a help page on Meta's site says the Pocket app is not yet available everywhere. The company has not made any public announcement yet about the launch or where the app is being trialed. We've reached out for comment and will update this post if we receive a response.

Sam Altman is in talks with the US government in a bid to clear political hurdles, says the Financial Times. OpenAI's Sam Altman has reportedly been in talks with the US government to ensure his company's path towards achieving its goals remains free of political hurdles. According to the Financial Times, Altman has suggested giving the government a five percent stake in the company, in order to share the spoils of the AI boom with the public. But his idea doesn't only involve OpenAI: Under his proposal, other top AI companies like Google, Anthropic, xAI and Meta would have to agree to give the government a similar stake in their businesses. AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI have recently encountered roadblocks from the US government when it came to releasing their latest AI models.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been in talks about public ownership with Donald Trump, according to the report. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been in talks about public ownership with Donald Trump, according to the report. OpenAI'in early talks to give 5% stake to US government' OpenAI is reportedly in early stage talks to give a 5% stake in the ChatGPT developer to the US government as artificial intelligence companies attempt to smooth relations with Donald Trump's administration. The OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, has argued that giving the US public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the benefits of AI, according to the Financial Times, which cited two unnamed people familiar with the discussions. The proposal would also involve other US AI companies giving a similar stake to the government, the FT reported, although it is not clear yet whether companies such as Anthropic, Google and Meta would agree to the plan.

Paul Meade will start OpenAI's hardware division, 'Bloomberg' says. Paul Meade, an Apple VP who heads the Vision Products Group, is reportedly leaving the company next week for OpenAI. According to Bloomberg, the top executive in charge of the Vision Pro headset and Apple's smart glasses projects will be starting up the AI company's hardware unit. OpenAI has been developing AI-powered devices with Jony Ive's startup since 2025. While Ive's io merged with OpenAI in a $6.5 billion deal, it remains independent.

OpenAI launches a limited preview of GPT-5.6 for a'small group of trusted partners' OpenAI launches a limited preview of GPT-5.6 for a'small group of trusted partners' The model's three variants will be available more broadly in the coming weeks. OpenAI has started previewing its GPT 5.6 series, which will be available in three versions, to a limited number of trusted partners. The company says the variant Sol is its strongest model yet, while Terra is for everyday use and has a similar performance to GPT 5.5 despite being twice as cheap. Luna, the last variant, is the company's lowest cost model. OpenAI plans to give them a broad release sometime in the coming weeks.

OpenAI has released its most powerful GPT-5.6 models (Sol, Terra, and Luna) but only to trusted partners and organizations following a U.S. government request for limited rollout. PCWorld reports that the flagship Sol model directly competes with Anthropic's restricted Fable and Mythos models, featuring enhanced layered safeguards against misuse. A wider public release remains uncertain due to regulatory concerns about the models' advanced capabilities and potential security implications. The U.S. government ban on Anthropic's powerful Fable and Mythos models has everybody spooked. That's why it's a little surprising that OpenAI, Anthropic's biggest rival, is slowly rolling out its latest and most powerful GPT models.

OpenAI Has New AI Models. The White House asked OpenAI to delay the rollout of its GPT-5.6 AI models, two weeks after Anthropic had to take its most advanced AI models offline. OpenAI is delaying the public release of its next generation of AI models, GPT-5.6, at the request of Trump's White House, the company confirmed on Friday. OpenAI said it would first share the models with a small set of customers, which will be preapproved by the US government. It will then work with the administration to slowly expand access.

OpenAI updated its GPT-5.5 Instant model with enhanced intent understanding and better ability to follow complex instructions and user clarifications. PCWorld reports the update includes improved location data usage for more effective local business and product searches. This minor release focuses on making AI interactions more intuitive, though its real-world impact requires further observation. Earlier this week, OpenAI announced via release notes that it has updated its most widely used AI model: GPT-5.5 Instant. According to the company, GPT-5.5 Instant should now be better at understanding the underlying intent of a question and keeping track of context across multiple messages.

OpenAI had been working with the US government over a preview of the GPT 5.6 model. OpenAI had been working with the US government over a preview of the GPT 5.6 model. Sam Altman announces limited preview of GPT 5.6 in move that echoes launch of Anthropic's Mythos OpenAI is staggering the release of its latest AI model after a request from the US government, in a move echoing the launch of Anthropic's Mythos product. Sam Altman, the chief executive of the company behind ChatGPT, told staff this week that GPT 5.6 would be released in a limited preview to a small group of partners, according to the tech publication The Information. Altman said the federal government had asked for a staggered release.

Plus: The Trump administration has asked OpenAI to limit its next model release. Scientists are trying to figure out why. It's been hot in London this week. A dangerous heat wave has hit Western Europe. On Wednesday, the UK recorded its highest ever June temperature at 36.1 C (about 97 F). But as the weather app on my phone confirmed, it 39 C. Much of Western Europe is suffering, bringing awful consequences for agriculture, infrastructure, and the health system.