Gabby Petito's AI-faked voice in new Netflix documentary sparks viewer backlash

The Netflix docuseries “American Murder: Gabby Petito” is facing backlash from some viewers who are questioning whether the filmmakers' decision to use artificial intelligence to recreate Petito’s voice is ethical.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/gabby-petito-netflix-docuseries-ai-recreatiion-backlash-rcna193185

How To Start Using AI Agents To Transform Your Business

By, Contributor. Aytekin Tank is the founder and CEO of Jotform. I’m calling it now—2025 is the year of the AI agent.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.forbes.com/sites/aytekintank/2025/02/20/how-to-start-using-ai-agents-to-transform-your-business-now/

46% Of Knowledge Workers Tell Their Bosses To Take A Hike When It Comes To GenAI

By, Contributor. John Sviokla covers GenAI/AI's impact on commerce and society. The firm Software AG just conducted a study of 6,000 employees that said 75% of knowledge workers are using GenAI and 46% would not stop using these tools even if the company forbade their use.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnsviokla/2025/02/20/46-of-knowledge-workers-tell-their-bosses-to-take-a-hike-when-it-comes-to-genai/

Like it or not, AI is learning how to influence you

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More When I was a kid there were four AI agents in my life. Their names were Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde and they tried their best to hunt me down.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://venturebeat.com/ai/like-it-or-not-ai-is-learning-how-to-influence-you/

The most underreported and important story in AI right now is that pure scaling has failed to produce AGI

BYGary Marcus, a professor emeritus at NYU, is a leading voice in artificial intelligence, well known for his challenges to contemporary AI. He is a scientist and best-selling author and was founder and CEO of Geometric.AI, a machine learning company acquired by Uber.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://fortune.com/2025/02/19/generative-ai-scaling-agi-deep-learning/

Why The Buzz On Agentic AI

This is Agentic AI in action: not just helping you make decisions but making them for you—autonomously, contextually, and with adaptability. The rise of Agentic AI represents a monumental leap forward. What is becoming really obvious is:

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sanjaysrivastava/2025/02/18/why-the-buzz-on-agentic-ai/

Rabbit shows off the AI agent it should have launched with

Watch Rabbit’s AI agent, but not the Rabbit R1, do things in Android apps. Watch Rabbit’s AI agent, but not the Rabbit R1, do things in Android apps.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.theverge.com/news/615990/rabbit-ai-agent-demonstration-lam-android-r1

I just tested AI deep research on Grok-3 vs Perplexity vs Gemini — here's the winner

The latest feature in popular chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity is the ability to search deeper. Today, xAI launched Grok-3 and boasts over ten times the computational power of its predecessor, Grok-2. The ‘DeepSearch’ tool was announced as a next generation search engine.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-just-tested-ai-deep-research-on-grok-3-vs-perplexity-vs-gemini-heres-the-winner

A New Study Says ChatGPT Is A Better Therapist Than Humans — Scientists Explain Why

If your relationship is on the rocks, your best bet to patch things up might not be to seek counseling from a therapist, but from AI — or so posits a new study exploring the potential of ChatGPT in couples therapy.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dimitarmixmihov/2025/02/17/a-new-study-says-chatgpt-is-a-better-therapist-than-humans---scientists-explain-why/

Microsoft says AI tools such as Copilot or ChatGPT are affecting critical thinking at work – staff using the technology encounter 'long-term reliance and diminished independent problem-solving'

Using generative AI at work may impact the critical thinking skills of employees — and that's according to Microsoft.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-tools-critical-thinking-reliance

I tested Gemini 2.0 vs Perplexity with 7 prompts created by DeepSeek — here's the winner

AI chatbots are evolving fast, but not all are built the same. Perplexity AI and Gemini 2.0 are two very advanced AI models available to users for free, and each has unique strengths. To find out which is best, I tested both AI models with seven prompts.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-tested-gemini-2-0-vs-perplexity-with-7-prompts-created-by-deepseek-heres-the-winner

The hottest AI models, what they do, and how to use them

AI models are being cranked out at a dizzying pace, by everyone from Big Tech companies like Google to startups like OpenAI and Anthropic. Keeping track of the latest ones can be overwhelming. Adding to the confusion is that AI models are often promoted based on industry benchmarks.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/17/the-hottest-ai-models-what-they-do-and-how-to-use-them/

How This A.I. Image Became the First to Snag Copyright Protection

Invoke, a generative artificial intelligence platform, has been granted the first copyright protections for an A.I. image since new guidelines were handed down by the U.S. Copyright Office last month that generally ruled art created with text prompts cannot be copyrighted.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/invoke-snags-first-ai-image-copyright-2608219

What the US’ first major AI copyright ruling might mean for IP law

Copyright claims against AI companies just got a potential boost. A U.S. federal judge last week handed down a summary judgment in a case brought by tech conglomerate Thomson Reuters against legal tech firm Ross Intelligence.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/17/what-the-us-first-major-ai-copyright-ruling-might-mean-for-ip-law/

If You Ask AI Who You're Married To, You May Spit Out Your Coffee

As the Wall Street Journal pointed out this week, there's a reliable way to make even the most advanced AI go completely off the rails: ask it who someone is married to.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://futurism.com/ai-chatbot-hallucinations-marriage

Tech layoffs 2025: How Donald Trump, DeepSeek, and AI could reshape the job landscape

Tech layoffs, which consistently declined in 2024, seem to have come back to haunt millions of professionals in 2025. The first month of 2025 has recorded considerably more job cuts than December 2024. Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft have announced layoffs and even begun their cost-cutting measures.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-layoffs-2025-donald-trump-deepseek-ai-jobs-landscape-9810137/

Generative AI, the American worker, and the future of work

Addressing some of generative AI’s emerging risks for which society’s response is far less developed, especially risks to livelihoods. 

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/generative-ai-the-american-worker-and-the-future-of-work/

Microsoft Study Finds AI Makes Human Cognition “Atrophied and Unprepared”

A new paper from researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University finds that as humans increasingly rely on generative AI in their work, they use less critical thinking, which can “result in the deterioration of cognitive faculties that ought to be preserved.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.404media.co/microsoft-study-finds-ai-makes-human-cognition-atrophied-and-unprepared-3/

Meta staff torrented nearly 82TB of pirated books for AI training — court records reveal copyright violations

Facebook parent-company Meta is currently fighting a class action lawsuit alleging copyright infringement and unfair competition, among others, with regards to how it trained LLaMA.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/meta-staff-torrented-nearly-82tb-of-pirated-books-for-ai-training-court-records-reveal-copyright-violations

ChatGPT's Deep Research just identified 20 jobs it will replace. Is yours on the list?

This week, OpenAI launched its Deep Research feature which can synthesize content from across the web into one detailed report in minutes leveraging a version of the company's latest model, o3.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.zdnet.com/article/chatgpts-deep-research-just-identified-20-jobs-it-will-replace-is-yours-on-the-list/

An OpenAI whistleblower was found dead in his apartment. Now his mother wants answers

BY and Leo Schwartz

ORIGINAL LINK: https://fortune.com/2025/02/08/openai-whistleblower-suchir-balaji-death-police-investigation-san-francisco-family-questions/

OpenAI says DeepSeek ‘inappropriately’ copied ChatGPT – but it’s facing copyright claims too

Until a few weeks ago, few people in the Western world had heard of a small Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company known as DeepSeek. But on January 20, it captured global attention when it released a new AI model called R1.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://theconversation.com/openai-says-deepseek-inappropriately-copied-chatgpt-but-its-facing-copyright-claims-too-248863

Significant Artificial Intelligence News and Developments (February 6, 2025)

Here is a detailed summary of the most important AI-related advancements, policy updates, and societal implications as of today:

1. Technology Advancements

• Criticism of Superhuman AI Aspirations:

  
  

  Leading AI researcher Michael Jordan from UC Berkeley criticized the pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI) as "nonsense," arguing that current AI systems are far from achieving human-like understanding. Speaking at a Paris conference ahead of next week's global AI summit, Jordan emphasized that today’s AI models excel at solving specific problems but lack the contextual awareness needed for general intelligence. He likened AI to a new engineering field, better suited for targeted applications like healthcare and transportation rather than solving all human problems1.

• AI in Scientific Research:

  
  

  Google released a new policy framework aimed at accelerating scientific discovery through AI. The framework highlights how AI can dramatically speed up research processes in fields like biology, climate science, and materials engineering. Tools like AlphaFold are already transforming protein research, with over 2.5 million scientists accessing its database globally11.

2. Policy Changes

• EU AI Act Implementation:

  The EU's landmark AI Act began enforcing its first set of rules on February 2, banning high-risk applications such as real-time biometric surveillance and social scoring. Companies deploying AI in Europe must now ensure compliance with transparency and employee training requirements. This regulatory framework represents one of the most comprehensive approaches to governing AI globally15.

• Trump Administration's Deregulatory Push:

  President Trump’s executive order continues to reshape U.S. AI policy by emphasizing innovation over regulation. The administration has directed federal agencies to revise or rescind prior policies that may hinder technological growth, aiming to solidify America’s global leadership in AI development49.

3. Business Impacts

• Palantir Soars Amid AI Demand:

  Palantir's stock surged by 24% following strong earnings driven by its AI-powered analytics platform. The company reported robust demand for its tools across government and enterprise sectors, underscoring the growing business value of applied AI solutions6.

• Meta’s $65 Billion Investment in AI:

  Meta announced plans to invest $65 billion into AI development throughout 2025, including building a major data center in Louisiana to support its Llama large language model. This move highlights the increasing competition among tech giants to dominate the generative AI space3.

4. Societal Implications

• AI's Role in Social Media Harms:

  Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released a report detailing how social media algorithms powered by AI exacerbate mental health issues among young people. The report calls for stricter oversight of platforms deploying recommendation systems that amplify harmful content10.

• Ethical Concerns Over AGI Hype:

  Michael Jordan’s remarks on AGI reflect broader concerns about the ethical implications of overhyping superhuman AI capabilities. Critics argue that such narratives distract from practical applications while fueling public fear and unrealistic expectations1.

5. Scientific Breakthroughs

• AI Accelerating Discovery:

  Google's new initiatives underscore how AI is transforming scientific research by enabling faster experimentation and broader participation across disciplines. For example, tools like AlphaFold are helping researchers solve complex biological problems at unprecedented speeds11.

6. Ethical Considerations

• Debate Over Responsible Innovation:

  As global leaders prepare for next week's Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, discussions are intensifying around balancing innovation with safeguards against misuse. Google's updated "Frontier Safety Framework" emphasizes the need for collaborative governance to ensure that advancements benefit society without exacerbating inequalities or risks115.

Conclusion

Today's developments highlight both the transformative potential and the challenges associated with artificial intelligence. From groundbreaking applications in science and business to heated debates over AGI aspirations and regulatory frameworks, the global community is grappling with how best to harness this technology responsibly while mitigating its risks. As policymakers, researchers, and businesses converge at upcoming summits, the focus will likely remain on aligning innovation with societal values for sustainable progress. 

SOURCE: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/provide-a-detailed-summary-of-7YoeiE1gTCWFOAjgyOCBjw#4

The meaning of DeepSeek, or: the power of constraints

I was playing around with DeepSeek last night… and asked it to write an issue of the Medium Newsletter. I gave it yesterday’s issue as an example. It talks in this weird hype-y voice that’s not really me. And it thinks today is Thursday. But: I tried. I’ll remain employed for now, I guess.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://blog.medium.com/the-meaning-of-deepseek-or-the-power-of-constraints-c81c055865fc

You Can Use an Uncensored Version of DeepSeek Through Perplexity

If you've considered trying DeepSeek—the hot new AI app from China—but been put off by concerns around privacy and censorship, you'll be interested to know there's now a tweaked version of the DeepSeek R1 model available inside Perplexity.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://lifehacker.com/tech/uncensored-deepseek-through-perplexity-ai

Significant Artificial Intelligence News and Developments (February 4, 2025)

Here is a detailed summary of today’s most notable AI advancements, policy updates, and societal implications:

1. Technology Advancements

Neuralink's Brain-Computer Interface Progress:

Neuralink demonstrated a robotic arm controlled by a brain implant, showcasing advancements in assistive robotics for individuals with disabilities. This marks a step forward in brain-machine interface technology, with potential applications in mobility and communication restoration8.

DeepSeek's Energy-Efficient Model:

DeepSeek's AI model continues to gain attention for its cost-effective and energy-efficient approach, using half the compute resources of GPT-4. Experts highlight its potential for more accessible AI applications without reliance on cloud infrastructure7.

2. Policy Changes

Trump's AI Executive Order:

President Trump issued an executive order emphasizing U.S. leadership in AI by removing regulatory barriers and prioritizing innovation over prior safety-focused policies. It mandates the development of an AI Action Plan within 180 days and reestablishes the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to guide AI governance13.

EU AI Act Enforcement:

The EU implemented its ban on "prohibited systems," such as social scoring and real-time biometric identification for law enforcement. New guidelines were also issued to prevent misuse of AI by employers and websites, including bans on emotion tracking and manipulative practices59.

3. Business Impacts

Google Updates AI Policies:

Google removed its commitment not to develop AI for weapons or surveillance, signaling a shift in its ethical stance to align with competitive pressures in defense and security applications11.

Microsoft Expands AI Models:

Microsoft is diversifying its enterprise AI offerings by integrating internal models like Phi-4 alongside OpenAI technologies, aiming to reduce costs while enhancing capabilities for tools like 365 Copilot5.

4. Societal Implications

AI Ethics Concerns:

The EU’s new guidelines address growing concerns about AI misuse in workplaces and online platforms, aiming to protect fundamental rights and prevent manipulative practices9. Meanwhile, Trump's deregulatory approach raises questions about balancing innovation with ethical oversight13.

Cybersecurity Risks from "Agentic" AI:

Emerging "agentic" AI systems could automate cyberattacks, including ransomware, posing new challenges for cybersecurity experts. These systems may increase the sophistication of threats while reducing the need for human intervention in malicious activities4.

5. Defense and Security

AI in Military Strategy:

The U.S. Marine Corps announced plans to integrate autonomous systems and AI-driven software into aviation strategies to enhance survivability in combat zones. This reflects the growing role of AI in defense modernization efforts8.

Conclusion

Today’s developments highlight the accelerating integration of AI into critical sectors like healthcare, defense, and business operations. While innovations like Neuralink's brain-computer interface demonstrate transformative potential, shifts in policy—such as Trump’s deregulatory approach and Google’s ethical pivot—underscore the need for robust global guidelines to manage risks associated with rapid adoption.

Source: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/provide-a-detailed-summary-of-7YoeiE1gTCWFOAjgyOCBjw#3

One million sensitive records exposed in mass DeepSeek data leak

DeepSeek's troubles continue to persist as the discredited AI app suffered a mass data leak, exposing the sensitive records of over one million users.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/online-security/one-million-sensitive-records-exposed-in-mass-deepseek-data-leak

I tested DeepSeek vs Qwen 2.5 with 7 prompts — here’s the winner

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup founded in 2023, has taken the internet by storm this week with its precision, speed, and mystery.

ORIGINAL LINK: https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-tested-deepseek-vs-qwen-2-5-with-7-prompts-heres-the-winner

Significant Artificial Intelligence News and Developments (February 3, 2025)

 Today's AI landscape is marked by major announcements, regulatory shifts, and ongoing global competition. Below is a comprehensive summary of the most significant developments across technology, policy, business, and societal impacts.

1. Technology Advancements

• OpenAI's New "Deep Research" Tool:
  OpenAI unveiled its "deep research" feature for ChatGPT, which automates complex research tasks by synthesizing thousands of sources into detailed reports within minutes. This tool is positioned to revolutionize workflows in industries like market analysis and academic research. It was showcased in Tokyo alongside plans for further AI integration in Japan through a partnership with SoftBank14.
• SoftBank's AI Integration:
  SoftBank introduced "Cristal," an AI service designed to enhance business operations such as marketing, planning, and software development. The company plans to invest $3 billion annually to integrate this technology across its subsidiaries, including Arm and PayPay416.
• Microsoft's AI Expansion:
  Microsoft announced that DeepSeek's R1 model will be integrated into its Azure platform, enabling edge computing capabilities that allow AI to operate locally without constant cloud access. This reflects Microsoft's strategy to make AI more efficient and accessible for enterprise use2.

2. Policy Changes

• EU AI Act Enforcement:
  The European Union began enforcing its landmark AI Act, banning high-risk applications like social scoring and real-time facial recognition while requiring companies to ensure employee AI literacy. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to €35 million or 7% of global annual revenue. This marks a significant step toward regulating AI technologies globally12.
• US-Japan Collaboration on AI Infrastructure:
  As part of the Stargate initiative supported by President Trump, OpenAI and SoftBank announced plans to develop AI infrastructure in Japan, including data centers and power plants. This aligns with broader US efforts to maintain global leadership in AI14.

3. Business Impacts

• Global Competition Intensifies:
  China's DeepSeek continues to disrupt the global AI market with its cost-effective R1 model, prompting concerns about intellectual property theft and increased competition for US companies like OpenAI and Microsoft. DeepSeek's rise has also sparked debates about the sustainability of current development models159.
• AI Adoption in Enterprises:
  Microsoft reported a $13 billion annual revenue run rate for its AI business, driven by enterprise-wide deployments of tools like Copilot Studio. Over 160,000 organizations have created custom AI agents in the past quarter alone2.

4. Societal Implications

• Ethical Challenges in AI Deployment:
  The UAE Ministry of Finance highlighted the need for ethical frameworks to address issues like bias, misinformation, and job displacement as AI becomes more integrated into everyday life. These concerns are echoed globally as automation threatens millions of jobs by 203039.
• AI for Equity:
  Nonprofit organizations are exploring ways to leverage AI for social good, focusing on equitable access and minimizing harm from automation-driven inequality14.

5. Scientific Breakthroughs

• AI in Research:
  OpenAI's "deep research" tool exemplifies how generative models are transforming scientific inquiry by accelerating data collection and analysis processes previously requiring human labor over extended periods14.

6. Ethical Considerations

• The enforcement of the EU AI Act underscores the growing emphasis on ethical considerations in technology deployment. By banning manipulative or discriminatory applications, regulators aim to balance innovation with societal safety12.
• Discussions around global governance frameworks continue as nations grapple with the dual-use nature of advanced AI technologies in areas like military applications and misinformation campaigns9.

Conclusion

Today’s developments highlight the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence as a transformative force across industries and societies. From OpenAI's cutting-edge tools to the EU's regulatory leadership and China's competitive advances, the global race for AI dominance is intensifying. These advancements bring both opportunities for innovation and critical challenges around ethics, equity, and governance that demand immediate attention from policymakers, businesses, and civil society alike.

Source: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/provide-a-detailed-summary-of-7YoeiE1gTCWFOAjgyOCBjw#2