Pinterest is launching a new feature called the "tuner" that lets users control the amount of AI-generated content in their feed. Users can choose to increase or decrease AI content in specific categories such as beauty, art, fashion, and home decor. However, Pinterest does not guarantee a feed entirely free of AI content since the tuner works only on selected image Pins within these categories. The tuner is accessible through Pinterest's settings under "refine your recommendations" in the "GenAI interests" tab. It's currently available for Android and desktop users, with iPhone users set to receive it soon. Previously, Pinterest introduced an "AI modified" label to identify AI-generated content and has been improving its detection and labeling capabilities.
Google has improved its AI filmmaking tool, Flow, making AI-generated videos more realistic and less distinguishable from real footage. The recent update, Veo 3.1, introduces enhanced editing capabilities such as adjusting shadows and lighting within AI videos. Flow also now supports audio generation with three new features: 'Ingredients to Video,' which creates videos with audio from three reference images; 'Frames to Video,' which generates a video with audio transitioning between a start and end image; and 'Scene Extension,' which extends the final second of a clip up to a minute with additional generated video and audio.
Veo 3.1 is available as a paid preview via the Gemini API for developers and is enabled in the Gemini app, costing the same as Veo 3. Additionally, Flow users will soon be able to remove objects from videos seamlessly, with the background and scene automatically restructured to appear as if the object was never present.
OpenAI has announced a partnership with Broadcom to design and produce custom computer chips aimed at powering its AI data centers. This initiative aims to reduce OpenAI's dependence on Nvidia chips and secure sufficient computing power to support AI applications like ChatGPT and Sora. By developing its own chips, OpenAI plans to integrate its deep insights from AI model development directly into hardware, enhancing performance and intelligence. The collaboration involves creating and deploying 10 gigawatts of specialized AI accelerators, a scale comparable to the output of ten nuclear reactors. Broadcom is set to begin installing equipment in mid-2026, with the project expected to conclude by the end of 2029. This move follows recent deals between OpenAI and major chipmakers such as AMD and Nvidia and aligns with an industry trend where tech giants including Meta, Google, and Microsoft develop custom AI chip solutions to reduce reliance on Nvidia and strengthen supply chains. While custom chips have yet to challenge Nvidia's dominance, they have notably benefited companies like Broadcom.
California has introduced the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, requiring operating systems and app stores to verify users' ages during device setup starting January 1, 2027. For devices set up before this date, providers like Apple and Google must allow age entry by July 1, 2027. Violations can result in significant fines, with protections for companies making good faith efforts to comply. The law aims to safeguard children from unregulated technology and follows similar age verification laws passed in Utah, Texas, and Louisiana. Though supported by Meta and Google, Apple and the Motion Picture Association have expressed reservations. Unlike other laws, California’s act does not require parental consent nor uploading sensitive documents for verification.
On October 13th, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 243 into law, marking a pioneering step to regulate the expanding field of companion AI chatbots. Known as the first law of its kind, it requires chatbot developers to clearly notify users when they are interacting with AI rather than a human, especially if such interaction might be misleading. The legislation also mandates annual reports starting next year from chatbot operators to the Office of Suicide Prevention on the safeguards implemented to detect and address users' suicidal thoughts, with this data to be made publicly available. Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of responsible AI innovation and protecting children through enhanced safety measures including new age-gating laws for digital devices. This law accompanies Senate Bill 53, focusing on AI transparency, also recently signed by Newsom, underscoring California's leadership in mindful AI governance.
Microsoft AI has introduced its first in-house text-to-image generator, MAI-Image-1, marking a significant step in its AI journey. The new model is designed to avoid repetitive and generic styles by incorporating feedback from creative professionals. MAI-Image-1 specializes in photorealistic images such as lightning and landscapes and operates faster than larger AI models. It has already ranked in the top 10 on LMArena, a popular AI benchmarking platform. This release complements Microsoft's existing AI tools like MAI-Voice-1 and MAI-1-preview chatbot. Despite its historical ties with OpenAI, Microsoft is increasingly investing in its proprietary AI technologies, including MAI-Image-1, while also integrating models from Anthropic in some Microsoft 365 features. The company emphasizes its commitment to safe and responsible AI development, although independent safety evaluations are still forthcoming.
Hello friends! Welcome to Installer No. 101, your go-to guide for the most interesting and Verge-worthy content. If you're new here, we hope you enjoy quirky accessories, and you can check out all previous editions on the Installer homepage. This week, I've been diving into topics like Intel factories, Nobel Prize winners, and ATM thieves. I've also been hooked on a pop-punk "Defying Gravity" cover, revisiting my teenage music taste with The Format's comeback, catching up on the latest Critical Role campaign, taking calls on the fun Pop Phone handset, binge-watching "Love Is Blind," and sharing a fascinating deep dive on RSS readers with friends. Read the full story at The Verge.
This excerpt is from 'Sources' by Alex Heath, a newsletter focused on AI and the tech industry, available weekly for The Verge subscribers. Recently, it highlighted the significant divide between Silicon Valley and Hollywood concerning AI's impact and usage. During OpenAI DevDay, Sam Altman introduced the new Sora app, aimed at content creators, suggesting that OpenAI might be overly cautious by limiting the kinds of AI-generated videos allowed. Altman noted enthusiasm among creators and rights holders for AI's potential despite regulatory concerns. For more details, readers can visit The Verge.
OpenAI announced efforts to minimize political bias in ChatGPT, emphasizing that the chatbot should remain neutral across all political directions. The latest GPT-5 models show the greatest improvement in objectivity based on an internal stress-test that evaluated ChatGPT’s responses to 100 politically sensitive topics with prompts ranging from liberal to conservative viewpoints. This test revealed that bias rarely occurs and is usually minor, often appearing more in liberal-leaning prompts than conservative ones. GPT-5 models performed 30% better in reducing bias compared to previous versions. The evaluation also used an external model to identify biased rhetorical techniques like user invalidation and escalation. OpenAI has previously enabled user control over tone and published the AI's intended behaviors to further address bias concerns. These efforts come amid political pressures from the Trump administration for AI models to be more conservative-friendly, highlighting tensions around AI neutrality and cultural issues.
Nathan Calvin, a lawyer and AI policy advocate at Encode AI, claims OpenAI served a subpoena at his home, seeking his private messages relating to AI regulation efforts. This action, part of OpenAI's countersuit against Elon Musk, appears to target critics and advocates of new AI regulations like California's SB 53, which demands transparency from large AI companies. OpenAI stated the subpoenas aimed to understand Encode AI's support for Musk's legal challenge against OpenAI's for-profit restructuring. The incident has raised concerns about the use of legal tactics to intimidate AI safety advocates.