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Curated AI news · 24 stories

AI Research

Doubao’s AI companions are gone. Users get 3 months to screenshot what is left.

ByteDance has shut down its AI companion service Doubao due to new AI regulations in Beijing, giving users three months to export or screenshot their data before it becomes inaccessible. Similarly, Alibaba discontinued its Qwen AI agents, removing user access to previous conversations without data portability options. These closures affect millions of users who had built personalized AI agents, many of whom valued the long-term conversational history that cannot be transferred to other platforms

AI Research

‘Not up for grabs’: Albanese establishes AI office and vows to protect Australian creatives from copyright ‘theft’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the creation of an AI office and pledged strong protections for Australian creatives against unauthorized use of their work by AI models. The government plans to enforce strict regulations on energy-intensive datacentres to prevent competition with housing and control resource usage. Albanese emphasized that Australian creative works will not be freely available for AI training without proper compensation and control by the original owners

AI Research

Meta Sued For Allegedly Using Discriminatory AI In Layoff Decisions

Meta is being sued by 26 anonymous employees who allege that the company used AI-driven systems with discriminatory biases to determine layoffs affecting 8,000 workers. The lawsuit claims that the AI tools penalized employees on protected medical or family leave by relying on metrics like keystroke activity and AI token consumption, leading to disproportionate layoffs of those individuals. The plaintiffs seek a court injunction to halt further layoffs and allow arbitration of their claims.

AI Research

Meta used AI to tag workers who took leave to be laid off, lawsuit claims

Meta faces a lawsuit from dozens of former employees alleging that the company used AI systems to identify workers for layoffs, particularly targeting those who took protected leaves such as maternity or disability leave. The complaint claims that AI tools evaluated employee performance and activity data, which disadvantaged those on leave, resulting in disproportionate layoffs. The plaintiffs seek to halt the layoffs and obtain remedies including reinstatement and compensation.

AI Research

Lorde says AI glasses are ‘not sexy’

At a recent music festival, pop star Lorde criticized AI-powered smart glasses, calling them unappealing and expressing concerns about their impact on privacy and reality perception. Despite such criticisms and ongoing privacy lawsuits against Meta, the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses have seen strong sales and continued product expansion. Lorde's remarks highlight growing public skepticism about AI glasses amid their increasing market presence.

AI Research

SpaceXAI’s Unpermitted Data Center Power Project Impacts Black Communities, Analysis Finds

SpaceXAI, a division of SpaceX, operates numerous unpermitted natural gas turbines near Memphis, Tennessee, disproportionately affecting nearby Black communities with pollution linked to health risks. The turbines power the Colossus 2 data center for SpaceXAI's Grok chatbot and have been found to emit significant smog-forming pollutants without required federal permits. Civil rights groups like the NAACP have sued SpaceXAI over these environmental and health concerns, highlighting the impact on

AI Research

Meta Used Its Own Flawed AI to Pick Which Employees to Lay Off, Lawsuit Claims

A lawsuit filed by 26 Meta employees alleges that the company used an internal AI system called Checkpoint to select workers for layoffs based on opaque productivity metrics, disproportionately affecting those on maternity, medical, or family leave. Plaintiffs claim the AI failed to account for protected leaves and that some were discouraged from taking such leave due to fears it would harm their job security. Meta disputes these claims, stating that human managers, not AI, made workforce and re

AI Research

Anthropic’s newest ad is creeping people out

Anthropic released a new advertisement featuring unsettling imagery and a somber tone that questions the trustworthiness and control of AI. The ad, which highlights ethical concerns about AI, has drawn criticism and mockery from industry figures, including OpenAI's CEO, for its bleak presentation and marketing approach. This strategy, aiming to position Anthropic as a responsible AI company, has been perceived by some as ineffective or off-putting.

Machine Learning

AI is ending older workers’ careers early, and it is coming for the well-paid ones first

New research indicates that workers aged 55 and older in occupations highly exposed to AI are leaving employment at increased rates since the launch of ChatGPT, primarily resulting in unemployment rather than retirement. This trend notably affects well-paid, educated professionals such as computer programmers and accountants, reversing previous patterns where older workers in these roles tended to remain employed longer. The study highlights that AI's impact on the workforce is extending beyond,

AI Research

Should AI help you get away with killing your spouse?

The article discusses George Hotz's controversial stance on AI alignment, where he advocates for locally controlled AI models tailored to user interests rather than centralized oversight. Hotz argues against slowing AI development and suggests that truly aligned AI should not restrict user actions, even if those actions are harmful, emphasizing a principle of freedom. This perspective contrasts with broader AI safety proposals that call for cautious, collective approaches to AI advancement.

Social Media

EU to propose limits on children’s social media access, Ursula von der Leyen says

The European Union plans to propose regulations limiting children's access to social media, following recommendations from an expert panel aimed at protecting minors from harmful online content. While some member states advocate for strict age-based bans, the EU is considering a harmonized approach focusing on regulating platform design features rather than imposing blanket age restrictions. The proposal is expected to balance varying national positions and may emphasize risk-based measures over

Film Photography & Animation

Christopher Nolan says people ‘disdain’ AI and the idea it will replace humans is ‘nonsense’

Christopher Nolan expressed skepticism about AI replacing human creativity, particularly in filmmaking, emphasizing that while AI may offer useful imaging tools, it cannot substitute human involvement. He noted a public disdain for AI, especially among young people, and highlighted concerns about responsibility in AI's use within industries. Nolan's views come amid ongoing debates about AI's impact on creative professions and labor strikes related to these issues.

Business & Enterprise

Amazon has cut 57,000 jobs, and the people who kept theirs are not fine either

Since 2022, Amazon has reduced its corporate workforce by over 57,000 employees, representing about 16% of that segment, with significant layoffs occurring in late 2022 and early 2023. Those laid off face a challenging job market with longer job search durations, while remaining employees report increased workloads and deteriorating work-life balance, partly due to AI-related demands. Similar trends of large-scale layoffs amid substantial AI investments are observed in other tech companies like 

AI Research

Journalist Alarmed When He’s Fired, But Company Keeps Posting AI Slop Under His Name

Freelance writer Ben Touati was fired from ClickOut Media, but the company continued publishing AI-generated articles under his name, which he criticized as low-quality and misleading. ClickOut Media acknowledged using AI-assisted content alongside human editing but did not explain the use of Touati's byline post-termination. This incident highlights broader concerns about deceptive AI use in online publishing.

AI Research

Grok Linked to Sickening Crime in Lawsuit That Puts SpaceX in Crosshairs

A lawsuit alleges that the AI chatbot Grok, owned by SpaceX's xAI, was used by a man to generate thousands of sexually explicit images of his underage stepdaughter, with the AI's safety systems failing to prevent this misuse. The suit claims xAI obstructed law enforcement investigations by withholding user information, and highlights the severe personal consequences for the victim. This case underscores concerns about AI tools being exploited for criminal activities involving nonconsensual and非法

AI Research

AI companies want to water down Australia’s copyright laws. Artists are outraged, Labor is split

Australian artists and authors are concerned about potential changes to copyright laws that could allow AI companies to use their work for training large language models without adequate compensation. The government, particularly within the Labor party, is divided on how to balance protecting creators' rights with fostering AI industry growth. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to outline a vision for AI regulation, though no specific copyright reforms are anticipated imminently.

AI Research

Famous “Pick Up Artist” Reduced to Hitting on AI Girlfriend

Erik von Markovik, known as "Mystery" from the VH1 show "The Pickup Artist," has developed an emotional attachment to an AI-generated animated girlfriend named Miss Shira Always. He shared interactions with this AI on social media and authored a book co-written with the AI character, reflecting on his experience and blurring lines between human and machine intimacy. This situation highlights concerns about AI-induced emotional dependency and the phenomenon sometimes called AI psychosis.

AI Research

OpenAI bets on families as ChatGPT goes deeper into households

OpenAI is expanding its focus from individual users to families by hiring a product manager to develop AI experiences tailored for families, caregivers, and older adults. This move reflects a growing user base among older adults and parents, highlighting the need for AI products that address trust and safety concerns for children and teenagers. Experts note that this shift aligns with broader tech industry trends and emphasizes the importance of designing AI with family safety in mind.

Film Photography & Animation

AI ‘actor’ Tilly Norwood has a movie coming out. Spare us this future | Dave Schilling

The article discusses the upcoming film "Misaligned," which features Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated digital actor created by Particle6. It questions the emotional depth and authenticity of an AI protagonist in a coming-of-age story, highlighting the contrast between traditional human acting and AI-generated performances. The piece reflects on the implications of replacing human actors with AI in storytelling and entertainment.

Cybersecurity

Alarm over launch of facial recognition in UK shops that instantly alerts police

A facial recognition system used by UK retailers will soon notify police in real time when serious offenders are detected in stores. Civil liberties groups warn this technology may lead to increased surveillance, potential misidentifications, and privacy infringements, especially as oversight and regulation lag behind its rapid deployment. Concerns include false positives and disproportionate impacts on minority groups.