Encyclopedia Britannica, along with Merriam-Webster, has initiated a legal action against OpenAI. The lawsuit claims OpenAI used copyrighted material from both publishers to train its AI, resulting in outputs that closely resemble the original content. Britannica alleges that GPT-4 has effectively 'memorized' large portions of its content and reproduces it without authorization. This case highlights ongoing concerns about AI training methods and intellectual property rights.
In 2020 and 2021, the social media landscape was rapidly evolving. TikTok surged in popularity with its engaging vertical videos, capturing global attention. Meanwhile, Clubhouse, an innovative audio-based social app, gained momentum within tech circles, promising a new way to connect through live voice chats. Initially hailed as the next big innovation in social media, Clubhouse's rapid ascent captured imaginations — but its momentum didn't last. This episode of Version History explores how Clubhouse transformed audio group chats into a mainstream entertainment format before experiencing a steep decline.
If you excel at creative expression and can convincingly convey emotion while maintaining a character’s integrity, a unique opportunity awaits. Instead of performing live, these skills will be used to help train AI systems for a major AI developer. Handshake, a company supplying training data to OpenAI and similar labs, is seeking such talent to improve the emotional depth of AI through specialized training data.
Reports indicate that Meta may reduce its workforce by up to 20 percent, potentially cutting around 15,800 jobs. This move aims to balance the company's hefty investments in artificial intelligence and data centers. This downsizing would mark the largest since Meta laid off 22,000 employees between late 2022 and early 2023. The potential layoffs follow Meta's strategic pivot away from virtual reality and the Metaverse, accompanied by budget cuts and studio closures. Instead, Meta is focusing its resources on attracting AI specialists and expanding its data center capabilities.
Google and Samsung recently introduced an exciting update with Gemini’s task automation on their latest devices. This feature allows Gemini to interact with certain apps like food delivery and rideshare services autonomously, handling tasks such as ordering meals or booking rides based on simple voice prompts. While this AI functionality was initially unavailable on the S26 Ultra, it has just entered beta with the latest update. Watching your phone operate its own apps feels like stepping into the future of AI assistants.
Facebook Marketplace is rolling out new AI-powered features designed to streamline the selling process. One key update enables sellers to activate an automatic reply system that uses Meta AI to respond to common inquiries like "Is this still available?" The AI drafts a customizable reply, such as "Yes, it's still available. Do you have any questions?" Additionally, Meta AI is enhancing listing efficiency by analyzing photos to help speed up item listings. These tools aim to make buying and selling on Facebook Marketplace quicker and more convenient.
OpenAI is reportedly preparing to add its Sora video generation tool directly into ChatGPT, according to information from The Information. Currently, Sora is accessible only via its own website or as a standalone app, which hasn't seen the same user traction as ChatGPT. This integration would bring video creation capabilities straight into the chatbot interface, similar to how image generation was added last year. While this feature could draw more users to ChatGPT, it also raises concerns about increased deepfake content emerging from OpenAI's technology. Since its launch less than a year ago, Sora has enabled users to produce videos with highly realistic visuals.
An investigation by Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten reveals that Meta's AI-powered smart glasses may be transmitting sensitive recordings to human reviewers in Nairobi, Kenya. The footage reportedly includes private moments such as bathroom visits and intimate encounters. Following the report, a class action lawsuit has been filed accusing Meta of false advertising and privacy breaches, challenging the firm’s claims about the glasses' privacy features. For more details, visit The Verge.
OpenAI has introduced GPT-5.4, the newest iteration of its AI technology, boasting enhanced capabilities in logical reasoning, coding, and handling professional tasks like managing spreadsheets, documents, and presentations. Uniquely, this model can natively control a computer, performing tasks across various software autonomously. This launch marks a significant move towards AI-driven autonomous agents that work behind the scenes to handle complex workflows online and in applications. Alongside GPT-5.4, OpenAI also revealed the ChatGPT Agent and other tools designed to push the boundaries of agentic AI systems.
Google has extended access to Canvas, an AI-driven workspace, to all users across the US within its AI Mode in Search. This new feature integrates a dedicated panel in the AI-powered search tool, utilizing the latest Search information to help users organize projects, build tools, and draft documents alongside chat interactions. Originally launched in the Gemini app for real-time document and code creation, Canvas was initially tested in AI Mode solely for visualizing travel itineraries. The recent expansion broadens its capabilities to support creative writing and coding tasks, featuring an AI-generated dashboard that presents organized information efficiently.
