Generative AI
How AI 'deepfakes' became Elon Musk's latest scandal
A poster featuring an image of billionaire Elon Musk, calling for users of his X social media platform to delete their accounts due to the artificial intelligence chatbot Grok's image-creation feature, is seen at a bus stop in London on Tuesday. PARIS - Elon Musk's company xAI has faced global backlash in recent days over sexualized "deepfake" images of women and children created by its Grok chatbot. Here are the essential facts about the scandal, how governments have responded and the company's attempts to cool the controversy. Grok -- Musk's version of the chatbots also offered by OpenAI and other generative AI companies -- has its own account on the X social media network allowing users to interact with it. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
The Morning After: Apple will use Gemini to power Siri AI
Apple and Google have confirmed that Gemini's models power the new version of Siri and other generative AI features. Here's part of it: "Apple determined that Google's Al technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple's industry-leading privacy standards." In June, it was reported that Apple was considering partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic for Siri (the voice assistant can currently tap ChatGPT for certain queries as part of Apple Intelligence). Two months later, Google emerged as a contender. Another report suggested Apple might build the new Siri using a custom version of Gemini -- and that it would pay Google around $1 billion a year for the privilege.
Apple's Siri AI will be powered by Gemini
Apple's Siri AI will be powered by Gemini Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, Apple said in a statement obtained by CNBC. Apple has confirmed reports that it will use Google Gemini's models to help it power the new version of Siri and other generative AI features. "After careful evaluation, we determined that Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users," Apple said in a statement obtained by . In March 2025, the company said it was delaying a major Siri update until this year, but it appears that Apple is not quite ready to publicly release a more capable version of the voice assistant. In June, it was reported that Apple was considering partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic for Siri (the voice assistant can currently tap ChatGPT for certain queries as part of Apple Intelligence).
'Dangerous and alarming': Google removes some of its AI summaries after users' health put at risk
Google has said AI Overviews, which use generative AI to provide snapshots of information on a topic or question, are'helpful and reliable'. Google has said AI Overviews, which use generative AI to provide snapshots of information on a topic or question, are'helpful and reliable'. 'Dangerous and alarming': Google removes some of its AI summaries after users' health put at risk Google has removed some of its artificial intelligence health summaries after a Guardian investigation found people were being put at risk of harm by false and misleading information. The company has said its AI Overviews, which use generative AI to provide snapshots of essential information about a topic or question, are " helpful " and " reliable ". But some of the summaries, which appear at the top of search results, served up inaccurate health information, putting users at risk of harm.
OpenAI Is Asking Contractors to Upload Work From Past Jobs to Evaluate the Performance of AI Agents
To prepare AI agents for office work, the company is asking contractors to upload projects from past jobs, leaving it to them to strip out confidential and personally identifiable information. OpenAI is asking third-party contractors to upload real assignments and tasks from their current or previous workplaces so that it can use the data to evaluate the performance of its next-generation AI models, according to records from OpenAI and the training data company Handshake AI obtained by WIRED. The project appears to be part of OpenAI's efforts to establish a human baseline for different tasks that can then be compared with AI models. In September, the company launched a new evaluation process to measure the performance of its AI models against human professionals across a variety of industries. OpenAI says this is a key indicator of its progress towards achieving AGI, or an AI system that outperforms humans at most economically valuable tasks. "We've hired folks across occupations to help collect real-world tasks modeled off those you've done in your full-time jobs, so we can measure how well AI models perform on those tasks," reads one confidential document from OpenAI.
Why a Chinese Robot Vacuum Company Spun Off Not One but 2 EV Brands
The pivot doesn't look out of place at CES, where Chinese electronics companies are increasingly applying their manufacturing prowess to new industries. If you've never been to Shenzhen, China's electronics capital, the annual CES trade show in Las Vegas is the next best thing. I'm reporting this week from the sprawling event, surrounded by fancy, strange, and often unnecessary gadgets, and despite my sore legs, I've barely scratched the surface. There are at least 900 Chinese tech companies attending CES this year, almost a quarter of the total exhibitors, according to an analysis of the conference's exhibitor directory. I even saw two Chinese humanoid robots at different booths dancing to the same viral Chinese rap song five minutes apart.
AI Devices Are Coming. Will Your Favorite Apps Be Along for the Ride?
Will Your Favorite Apps Be Along for the Ride? Tech companies are calling AI the next platform. But some developers are reluctant to let AI agents stand between them and their users. Silicon Valley giants like Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI are racing to develop "operating systems" for AI-powered devices--and 2026 is likely the year these efforts will start to take off. The devices are largely built around a future where AI agents can take actions on a user's behalf, without requiring them to visit an app or website.
Google Is Adding an 'AI Inbox' to Gmail That Summarizes Emails
Google Is Adding an'AI Inbox' to Gmail That Summarizes Emails New Gmail features, powered by the Gemini model, are part of Google's continued push for users to incorporate AI into their daily life and conversations. Google is putting even more generative AI tools into Gmail as part of its goal to further personalize user inboxes and streamline searches. On Thursday, the company announced a new "AI Inbox" tab, currently in a beta testing phase, that reads every message in a user's Gmail and suggests a list of to-dos and key topics, based on what it summarizes . In Google's example of what this AI Inbox could look like in Gmail, the new tab takes context from a user's messages and suggests they reschedule their dentist appointment, reply to a request from their child's sports coach, and pay an upcoming fee before the deadline. Also under the AI Inbox tab is a list of important topics worth browsing, nestled beneath the action items at the top.
Musk lawsuit over OpenAI for-profit conversion can go to trial, US judge says
Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, is suing the ChatGPT developer and its CEO, Sam Altman, left, over claims its leaders violated founding nonprofit mission. Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, is suing the ChatGPT developer and its CEO, Sam Altman, left, over claims its leaders violated founding nonprofit mission. Judge says there is plenty of evidence to suggest OpenAI's leaders made assurances nonprofit structure would be kept Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI is to go to trial after a US judge said there is plenty of evidence to support the billionaire's case. The world's richest man, who co-founded OpenAI, is suing the ChatGPT developer and its chief executive, Sam Altman, over claims its leaders violated the organisation's founding mission by shifting to a for-profit model. The US district judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, told a hearing there was plenty of evidence that suggested OpenAI's leaders made assurances that its original nonprofit structure was going to be maintained.