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Free ChatGPT users get ads picked from whatever they just asked about

OpenAI will serve ads to ChatGPT Free and Go users based on conversation topics, location and device, with personalized targeting behind opt-in.

OpenAI will begin showing ads in ChatGPT for Free and Go plan users, selected from the current conversation topic plus general location and device type. Personalized ad targeting using in-product activity and conversation context will only start after an explicit opt-in, with a setting to manage the choice afterward. Plus, Pro, Enterprise, Business and Education subscribers remain ad-free, and OpenAI states that chats, chat history, memories and personal details are not shared with advertisers. A privacy policy update will document the ad labels, controls and performance reporting.

Help Net Security · 17d agoAI industry

Elevenlabs makes Music v2.5 available via app and API with free and pro tier options

ElevenLabs releases Music v2.5 via app and API, claiming fuller, more natural songs preferred over v2 in blind listening tests.

ElevenLabs launched Music v2.5 for ElevenMusic, reporting that listeners preferred it in a blind test across 47,885 comparison pairs, especially for R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, Rock, and orchestral tracks. The free tier offers five lossless downloads per day and Pro includes 400 per month, with attribution required on free and commercial use restricted by industry. Tracks based on other artists' songs are blocked, and v2 remains available alongside the API. ElevenLabs says existing Music models were trained on 'licensed stems and music,' distinguishing it from competitor Suno, which faces lawsuits for training on copyrighted content; a Universal Music Group licensing deal covers only future separate products.

The Decoder · 3d agoAI industry

Gradium Launches Voice Design: Write a Prompt, Get a Brand New Synthetic Voice in Seconds

Gradium, a Kyutai spinout, launched Voice Design, generating custom synthetic voices from text descriptions in seconds across five languages.

Gradium, a Paris-based voice AI company spun out of Kyutai, launched Voice Design, which generates new synthetic voices from 1-500 character text descriptions in seconds without needing reference audio or speaker consent. The feature is live in the Gradium API and Studio, free on every plan including the free tier, and kept voices run on the standard streaming TTS endpoint at the same latency as catalog voices. Vendor-run blind pairwise listening tests across 7,627 comparisons report a 72.6% win rate, 13.6 points ahead of ElevenLabs at 59.0%, placing first in all five tested languages, with the largest margins on regional accents such as Quebecois French (97%).

MarkTechPost · 8d agoAI industry1

Tell HN: OpenAI brings back 5 hour limit for plus and business standard users

OpenAI reinstated a 5-hour usage limit for Plus and Business Standard subscribers, sparking Hacker News debate about subsidized inference pricing and subscription value.

A Hacker News discussion reports that OpenAI has brought back a 5-hour usage limit for Plus and Business Standard users. Commenters debated whether cheap tokens are a subsidized customer acquisition strategy, whether AI companies have sustainable margins on inference, and how switching costs between providers affect dependency. The thread reflects community sentiment on pricing and usage caps rather than an official policy announcement.

Hacker News · security · 9d agoAI industryHN 126↑ · 142 comments

Microsoft’s Project Zenith is a ‘distraction-free Windows experience’ for developers

Microsoft branded its developer-optimized Windows setup Project Zenith, with 64GB+ memory devices from AMD that run 30B+ parameter AI models locally.

Microsoft named its developer-focused Windows configuration Project Zenith, targeting new hardware with 64GB or more of unified memory. AMD unveiled the first Project Zenith device at IFA, a miniature PC powered by Ryzen AI Halo chips, with more devices expected in the coming months. The setup ships with a preconfigured Windows install and preinstalled developer tools including Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot, PowerToys, WinAppCLI, and Windows Dev Skills. Microsoft says it lets developers run 30B+ parameter models locally and unmetered, reducing reliance on metered cloud tokens.

The Verge · AI · 12d agoAI industry1

Askeal, the AI cybersecurity assistant that gives verifiable, expert-backed answers

AI security startup Askeal launches with $1.1 million pre-seed, pairing generative AI with 270+ vetted cybersecurity experts for verifiable answers.

Askeal, cofounded in August 2025 by Roxane Suau, launched an AI cybersecurity assistant that combines generative AI with a vetted community of more than 270 expert contributors and 178 public sources, backed by a $1.1 million pre-seed round. The tool answers natural-language security questions with evidence-backed, verifiable assessments, supporting CVE remediation guidance, URL, domain and hash lookups, and log analysis with IOC extraction. Its beta opened in February 2026, reaching 500 testers across 69 countries in two and a half months; the product is currently free, with paid plans and contributor revenue share planned. Its neuro-symbolic technology was developed with the Montpellier Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics, and Microelectronics.

Help Net Security · 16d agoAI industry

Product showcase: AI Paper Trail shows the privacy cost of talking to AI

Proton launched AI Paper Trail, a free tool that analyzes ChatGPT or Claude exports and reports what personal data can be inferred from AI conversations.

Proton released AI Paper Trail, a free web tool that analyzes the 200 most recent prompts from exported ChatGPT or Claude conversation histories and generates a privacy report with an AI Exposure Score, inferred personal data categories, and an estimated advertising value. In a hands-on test it identified 47 data points, returned a 58/100 exposure score, estimated $185 in advertising value, and flagged five red flags spanning location, interests, finances, and relationships. Proton states that uploaded data is deleted after analysis and is not stored on its Lumo servers.

Help Net Security · 24d agoAI industry

Helping older adults use AI in everyday life

OpenAI and AARP's OATS launch the Older Adults AI Skills Jam, a free program teaching seniors to use ChatGPT and spot scams.

OpenAI Academy, with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP, is hosting in-person AI Skills Jam events in 10 US communities as part of a multi-year Senior Planet program. OpenAI says the share of US ChatGPT messages from people 55+ grew from 6% to nearly 10% in a year. The workshops include scam-awareness training, teaching warning signs like urgent language and suspicious links, and note that users ask ChatGPT tens of millions of times weekly to evaluate suspicious messages.

OpenAI News · 17h agoAI industry

Amazon launches Alexa+ in India with Hindi support

Amazon launched its generative AI Alexa+ assistant in India with Hindi support in Early Access, free for Prime customers after testing.

Amazon announced that Alexa+, its generative AI-powered conversational assistant, is now available in India in Early Access with Hindi and English support, including mid-sentence language switching and long-form context retention. The assistant handles multi-step tasks such as ordering groceries via Amazon Now and controlling smart home devices, with integrations including Swiggy, District, MakeMyTrip, EazyDiner, Amazon Music, and JioSaavn. It will be free for Prime members after the testing period and cost about $20.85 per month for non-Prime customers. Amazon is targeting India's 600 million-plus Hindi speakers, and says smart device adoption grew 20% year over year.

TechCrunch · AI · 22h agoAI industry

Building AI to accelerate science and improve lives

Google highlights AI-for-science advances: AlphaGenome Atlas mapping 9 billion genetic variants, WeatherNext 3 weather model, and global health AI tools.

Google detailed AI advances across science and health, including AlphaGenome Atlas, which mapped all 9 billion possible single-letter genetic changes in the human genome and was made openly available. WeatherNext 3 delivers 50% more accurate precipitation forecasts a day or more ahead and is already in products. AlphaFold is used by 4 million researchers in 190 countries, TB chest X-ray screening has processed 25,000+ scans across six nations, and the diabetic retinopathy model has supported 1.15 million screenings. Google also released its AI & Economy ATLAS global usage insights.

Google · AI · 1d agoAI industry

Introducing Meta One: A Subscription Service With More Features and AI to Create, Connect, and Stand Out

Meta launches global Meta One subscriptions bundling Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp Plus with expanded Meta AI and Muse media generation, priced $2.99-$499 monthly.

Meta introduced Meta One, a global subscription service with plans for individuals, creators, and businesses, launching with more than 50 features across Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Meta AI. Individual bundles Core ($7.99/month) and Premium ($19.99/month) combine the single-product Plus plans with expanded use of compute-intensive AI capabilities, including image/video generation powered by Muse models and Instagram's Restyle. Business tiers range from Essential ($14.99/month) to Expert ($149/month) and Max ($499/month), with expansion planned to Edits, AI glasses, and more.

Meta Newsroom · 1d agoAI industry

The latest AI news we announced in August 2026

Google's August 2026 AI recap includes launches of Gemini 3.7 Flash, Gemini 3.5 Transcribe, and the Pixel 11 series, plus 1 billion Gemini users.

Google's monthly recap covers the Gemini 3.7 Flash workhorse model for coding and agents, released three weeks after 3.6 Flash at half its per-million-token cost, and the Gemini app surpassing 1 billion monthly users. The Pixel 11 series launched with the Tensor G6 chip running Gemini Nano, alongside Gemini 3.5 Transcribe for real-time speech-to-text and Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash for studio-quality video generation. Other announcements include a free year of Google AI for college students, Gemma's 1 billion downloads, and AI weather forecasts for aviation contrail reduction.

Google · AI · 15d agoAI industry

A milestone in expanding access to AI

OpenAI announced ChatGPT Ads reached a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate and expanded availability globally to fund free and affordable AI access.

OpenAI stated that ChatGPT Ads, its advertising product, has reached $1 billion in annualized revenue run rate. The company framed this as a milestone that expands global availability of the ads product and supports broader access to AI through free and lower-cost options. No technical, model, or security details were included in the announcement.

OpenAI News · 17d agoAI industry

Replit expands access to software creation with GPT-5.6 Luna

Replit launches Free Mode powered by GPT-5.6 Luna, letting users build software without token costs.

Replit introduced Free Mode, powered by OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Luna model, expanding access to software creation. The offering lets anyone turn ideas into working software without worrying about token costs. The announcement came from OpenAI's news page, indicating a partnership between the two companies.

OpenAI News · 29d agoAI industry1

We Tracked a Shipment of Rare Books. It Ended at an Amazon AI Training Facility

Investigation reveals Amazon buys and destroys massive quantities of printed books, cutting bindings to scan them for AI training data at a Las Vegas warehouse.

A 404 Media investigation tracked a rare book with a GPS device to Amazon's VGT3 warehouse in Las Vegas, revealing an unreported operation buying large volumes of printed books for AI training data. Employees there report cutting bindings off shipments to scan the books quickly, destroying the printed copies in the process. The finding offers rare visibility into how major AI companies acquire print material for training corpora.

404 Media · Aug 17, 2026AI industry

Behind the Blog: Endless Scam Parade

404 Media's behind-the-blog discusses Spotify tagging AI-generated artists as a tipping point in platforms algorithmically rejecting AI slop.

404 Media's weekly behind-the-blog post discusses Spotify's decision to tag artists as AI-generated and stop promoting them, arguing it signals a tipping point where platforms and users begin algorithmically rejecting AI slop. It also mentions the mainstreaming of Flock and media appearances. The post is partially paywalled for paid members.

404 Media · Aug 14, 2026AI industry

Meta Patents AI Glasses to Use Facial Recognition to Identify People, Make Highlight Reels of Your Dinner Party

Meta filed a patent for AI glasses that identify people via facial recognition and auto-generate highlight reels of events like dinner parties.

A newly published Meta patent describes smartglasses that use facial recognition to detect people in frame, capture video clips of their actions, and compile highlight reels. The filing signals Meta's continued, controversial push to combine facial recognition with its AI glasses line. The patent was published Thursday and offers granular detail on Meta's product plans, though it does not confirm a shipping feature.

404 Media · Aug 14, 2026AI industry

Twitch is Mining Peoples' Streams to Train Amazon's AI

Twitch will train Amazon's AI models on streamers' content by default, requiring users to manually opt out in security settings.

Twitch announced a setting that lets streamers opt out of having their channel content train Amazon's generative AI models, confirming about a week of rumors. The toggle, labeled 'Allow your channel content to train generative AI content models at Amazon,' is opt-out rather than opt-in and sits at the bottom of the security settings page. Critics note many streamers may never learn of the change or find the buried setting, sweeping their content into Amazon's training data by default.

404 Media · Aug 13, 2026AI industry

Anthropic merges Claude Chat, Cowork, and more into a single product

Anthropic merged Claude Chat and Cowork into one product and launched Claude Docs and Slides for creating and exporting documents and presentations.

Anthropic is folding Claude Chat and Cowork into a single product where Claude automatically determines what a task needs, eliminating tab switching. It also introduced Claude Docs and Claude Slides for creating, editing, and exporting documents and presentations as PowerPoint or PDF, with Claude Design now integrated into conversations. The rollout starts with Pro and Max plans, followed by Team and Free tiers; enterprise admins receive at least 30 days' notice.

The Decoderupdated · 15h agofirst · 16h agoAI industry 5 sources1

The AI graveyard: a running list of projects and startups that didn’t make it

TechCrunch compiles a running list of failed AI products and startups, including Relay, OpenAI's Sora, Humane AI Pin, Notion Mail, and Microsoft's Recall.

TechCrunch's 'AI graveyard' tracks notable AI products and startups that shut down or underperformed, citing S&P Global data that about 42% of AI initiatives are abandoned. Examples include the Relay automation startup, OpenAI's Sora video platform (shut March 2026), ChatGPT Atlas browser (discontinued August 9), Notion Mail (shutting September 22), and Apple's delayed Siri AI that contributed to a $250 million settlement. Hardware failures include the Humane AI Pin ($230 million raised, assets sold to HP for $116 million) and the Rabbit R1, which sold 100,000 units but received poor reviews. Microsoft's Recall feature remains controversial after a researcher demonstrated a tool extracting its captured data.

TechCrunch · AI · 1d agoAI industry1

How to opt out of AI chatbot training

Malwarebytes guides users through disabling AI training use of chats in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude after OpenAI's human review program emerged.

404 Media reported that OpenAI's 'Project Lily' hires hundreds of contractors to review ChatGPT prompts, with a 'Privacy Filter' removing personal data and usernames hidden, though user memories summaries can still reveal identifying details. The article provides opt-out steps: ChatGPT Settings > Data Controls > 'Improve the model for everyone' (on by default), Perplexity Settings > Preferences > AI data retention, and Claude Settings > Privacy > 'Help Improve our AI Models'. Opting out does not prevent all human access, which remains allowed for abuse investigation, support, troubleshooting, and legal matters.

Malwarebytes Labs · 1d agoAI industry

New insights from Google’s AI & Economy ATLAS

Google launches an interactive AI & Economy ATLAS experience; new research shows nearly half of surveyed scientists use AI daily.

Google introduced new interactive, open-access data visualizations for its AI & Economy ATLAS project tracking global AI adoption patterns. Research from Google, Google DeepMind, and MIT FutureTech analyzed 2,600 specialized AI models and surveyed over 600 U.S. and U.K. scientists, finding nearly half use AI daily and report saving almost seven hours per week. The study also found validation bottlenecks and a growing backlog of untested hypotheses limiting research productivity gains.

Google · AI · 1d agoAI industry

What must happen for AI’s trillion-dollar gamble to pay off

Hyperscalers need 2.7x productivity gains by 2030 to justify nearly $1.1 trillion in AI data center spending, or risk bankruptcy and capital misallocation.

Wharton finance professor Jessica Wachter estimates hyperscaler AI expenditure will reach nearly $1.1 trillion through 2027 and that a 2.7x productivity increase is needed to break even by 2030. AI revenues of roughly $150-200 billion this year fall far short of about $750 billion in annual spending, with total investment from Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle potentially exceeding $5 trillion over four years. Alphabet reported its first free cash flow deficit (about $5.9 billion) since its 2004 IPO due to AI infrastructure costs. Researchers warn that failed demand could make the buildout the largest capital misallocation in history, with depreciating GPU chips risking stranded assets.

MIT Technology Review · AI · 1d agoAI industry

Y Combinator’s Garry Tan wants U.S. open-weight AI labs to ‘distill’ frontier models, too

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan urges US open-weight labs to distill frontier models and regulators to stay out, countering Anthropic's crackdown calls.

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan told CNBC he would "do nothing" about Chinese labs distilling frontier models and floated an "American distillation regime" letting US open-weight labs do the same to American frontier labs. Anthropic this week released its second report alleging Chinese labs conduct "illicit distillation attacks" using hidden identities, fraud, and stolen credentials, and CEO Dario Amodei has called for US regulators to crack down. Tan argued closed labs cannot dictate what customers do with API outputs, noting frontier labs trained on copyrighted material without permission, and called a single monolithic proprietary provider the true AI doomer scenario.

TechCrunch · AI · 5d agoAI industry