Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

Alexa is moving into Amazon․com

Amazon is bringing Alexa Plus to Amazon.com, integrating its LLM-powered AI assistant directly into the company’s shopping experience. Alexa is moving into Amazon․com The company is giving its AI-powered assistant special shopping skills on its website and app. The company is giving its AI-powered assistant special shopping skills on its website and app. Beginning today, when you type a query into Amazon, you’ll be talking to Alexa for Shopping, the company’s new shopping assistant, powered by Alexa Plus. So, while a search for “toilet paper” will still return the expected list of brands, typing “What’s a good skincare routine for men” or “When did I last order AA batteries” will now trigger an answer from Alexa. Alexa for Shopping is replacing Amazon’s Rufus AI shopping assistant and, unlike Rufus, it will be front and center in the Amazon app and…

Microsoft doesn’t want any of this

Maybe I’m just punch-drunk in my third week attending Musk v. Altman, but I have become very, very fond of Microsoft during the course of this trial. They don’t want to be here any more than I do. Microsoft doesn’t want any of this At Musk v. Altman, the software giant is trying to stay above the fray and out of ‘amateur city.’ At Musk v. Altman, the software giant is trying to stay above the fray and out of ‘amateur city.’ Their opening statement was honestly one of the most Microsoft things I’ve ever seen. More than anything else, it was an ad for Microsoft that listed their products in some detail. The general implication, from that statement, was that this trial was absurd, their involvement was absurd, but you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, might still enjoy…

Mark Zuckerberg announces ‘completely private’ encrypted Meta AI chat

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says its new Incognito Chat is “the first major AI product where there is no log of your conversations stored on servers.” Messages in Incognito Chat aren’t saved or stored in users’ chat history, similar to incognito modes on other AI chatbots, but Meta says its version is different because it also uses end-to-end encryption, which Meta recently removed from Instagram DMs: Mark Zuckerberg announces ‘completely private’ encrypted Meta AI chat Incognito Chat AI messages disappear after users leave their chat session, which Meta says makes it different from other bots. Incognito Chat AI messages disappear after users leave their chat session, which Meta says makes it different from other bots. “Other apps have introduced incognito-style modes, but they can still see the questions coming in and the answers going out. Incognito Chat with Meta AI…

Data centers are coming for rural America

At its peak, the Androscoggin paper mill in Jay, Maine, a rural town about 67 miles northwest of Portland, employed about 1,500 people — until a pulp digester exploded in 2020, forcing the mill to close permanently. Data centers are coming for rural America And the jobs they promise don’t really exist. Data centers are coming for rural America And the jobs they promise don’t really exist. In 2023, the 1.4 million-square-foot facility was purchased through a joint venture by JGT2 Redevelopment and a number of other holding and capital companies. The project is led by developer Tony McDonald. Over the next three years, McDonald and his team broke down the mill’s machinery and shipped it to Pakistan, and worked to clean up the industrial site for resale. That resale agreement was finalized earlier this year, according to McDonald —…

Sam Altman takes the stand in trial against Elon Musk

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has begun his testimony against Elon Musk in a high-profile jury trial in a California federal courtroom. Sam Altman takes the stand in trial against Elon Musk Altman follows on the heels of OpenAI’s president, Microsoft’s CEO, and others. Altman follows on the heels of OpenAI’s president, Microsoft’s CEO, and others. Altman, alongside OpenAI president Greg Brockman, is a primary defendant in the trial brought by Musk. Altman, Brockman, and Musk were all part of the initial founding team at OpenAI, with Musk investing up to $38 million in the ChatGPT-maker’s early days. But the relationship between Musk and other OpenAI founders eventually soured, and Musk stepped away from the company, later going on to found his own direct competitor, xAI. In recent years, Musk and Altman have traded barbs and made a slew of allegations…

Sam Altman says Elon Musk’s mind games were damaging OpenAI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Elon Musk did “huge damage” to the culture of the AI startup. During testimony as part of Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, Altman said Musk required OpenAI president Greg Brockman and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever to rank researchers by their accomplishments and “take a chainsaw through a bunch.” Sam Altman says Elon Musk’s mind games were damaging OpenAI Musk’s departure from OpenAI was a ‘morale boost,’ according to Altman. Musk’s departure from OpenAI was a ‘morale boost,’ according to Altman. Altman conceded that this was the management style the Tesla CEO was known for, but that it was incompatible with his startup. “I don’t think Mr. Musk understood how to run a good research lab,” Altman testified when his lawyer, William Savitt, asked about the impact of Musk’s departure from OpenAI on morale. “For a…

The 9 biggest new features in Android 17

Would it shock you to hear that Android 17 is filled with new AI-enabled features, like improved dictation and vibe-coded widgets? Fortunately, that’s not all. The platform is getting non-AI updates too, from an emoji overhaul to a new screentime tool that helps you avoid distracting apps. The 9 biggest new features in Android 17 New emoji, AI widgets, and AirDrop for (almost) everyone. New emoji, AI widgets, and AirDrop for (almost) everyone. Google has just revealed the biggest changes coming in its next OS update as part of its dedicated Android Show, ahead of next week’s big I/O developer conference. The Android software updates came alongside a tease of upcoming Android-powered Googlebook laptops and a host of Android Auto updates. Here are all the new updates that matter and when you can expect them to arrive on your phone.…

Gemini’s latest updates are all about controlling your phone

It is, once again, Gemini season. Google is announcing a host of new Gemini features during its pre-I/O Android showcase, many of which aim to help use your phone for you. You’ll find Gemini in more places, like Chrome on Android, in your autofill suggestions, and all up in your apps — if you want. Gemini’s latest updates are all about controlling your phone We’re one step closer to our phones just using themselves. We’re one step closer to our phones just using themselves. Google also has a new name for us to remember, because it just can’t help itself: Gemini Intelligence. It “brings the very best of Gemini to our most advanced Android devices,” according to Google’s director of Android experiences, Ben Greenwood. Google is bundling some existing and new Gemini features under this name, and seems to be…

Parents say ChatGPT got their son killed with bad advice on party drugs

The family of a 19-year-old college student is suing OpenAI over claims that his conversations with ChatGPT led to an accidental overdose. In the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Sam Nelson’s parents allege ChatGPT “encouraged” the teen to “consume a combination of substances that any licensed medical professional would have recognized as deadly,” resulting in his death. Parents say ChatGPT got their son killed with bad advice on party drugs ChatGPT allegedly encouraged 19-year-old Sam Nelson to take a deadly combination of drugs. ChatGPT allegedly encouraged 19-year-old Sam Nelson to take a deadly combination of drugs. Though ChatGPT initially “shut down” conversations about drug and alcohol use, the launch of GPT-4o in April 2024 changed the chatbot’s behavior, according to the lawsuit. Following the update, ChatGPT “began to engage and advise Sam on safe drug use, even providing specific dosage information…

George Clooney, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep back new ‘Human Consent Standard’ for AI licensing

Hollywood actors and producers are standing behind a new AI licensing standard that will tell AI systems whether they’ll need to pay to use a person’s likeness, creative work, characters, and designs. With the Human Consent Standard, people can set terms for the use of their work or likeness, including giving AI systems full permission to use their content, allowing access with certain requirements, or restricting access entirely. George Clooney, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep back new ‘Human Consent Standard’ for AI licensing This new standard will allow people to set terms for how AI systems can use their likenesses and creative works. This new standard will allow people to set terms for how AI systems can use their likenesses and creative works. The Human Consent Standard builds upon the Really Simple Licensing (RSL) Standard, which launched last year as…

Rivian’s AI-powered voice assistant is ready to roll

Rivian’s AI-powered voice assistant is rolling out today to the company’s vehicle fleet. The assistant will be available through a software update to all compatible Rivian Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicle owners who subscribe to the company’s Connect Plus cellular service, which costs $15 a month or $150 a year, or are in an active trial. Rivian’s AI-powered voice assistant is ready to roll The Rivian Assistant can answer questions about the vehicle itself, or interact with and modify the driver’s personal apps, like Google Calendar. The Rivian Assistant can answer questions about the vehicle itself, or interact with and modify the driver’s personal apps, like Google Calendar. First announced at last year’s AI and Autonomy Day, the Rivian Assistant is powered by the company’s Rivian Unified Intelligence, “a shared, multi-modal AI foundation” that is “interwoven” throughout the entire…

Sam Altman was winning on the stand, but it might not be enough

After two weeks of hearing from assorted witnesses that he was a lying snake, the jury finally heard from the lying snake himself: Sam Altman. At the end of the testimony, his lawyer William Savitt asked him how it felt to be accused of stealing a charity. Sam Altman was winning on the stand, but it might not be enough Elon Musk may have done more long-term reputational damage to the OpenAI CEO. Sam Altman was winning on the stand, but it might not be enough Elon Musk may have done more long-term reputational damage to the OpenAI CEO. “We created, through a ton of hard work, this extremely large charity, and I agree you can’t steal it,” Altman said. “Mr. Musk did try to kill it, I guess. Twice.” Altman was fully in “nice kid from St. Louis” mode,…

Meta won’t let you block its AI account on Threads

Meta announced on Tuesday that it’s testing a Threads feature that lets users tag a Meta AI account to get answers to questions or context about a conversation on the platform. If you’ve spent any time looking at replies on X as of late, this new feature sounds a lot like Meta’s take on people tagging xAI’s Grok. But, as reported by Engadget, Threads users quickly discovered that you can’t block the new Meta AI account, and they aren’t happy about it. Meta won’t let you block its AI account on Threads Users can tag Meta AI to get answers to questions, but a lot of people don’t want to see it. Users can tag Meta AI to get answers to questions, but a lot of people don’t want to see it. Meta has invested heavily in AI as it…

Here’s what Mira Murati’s AI company is up to

Thinking Machines, the AI company founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, announced Monday that it’s working on something called “interaction models.” The idea behind interaction models, according to Thinking Machines, is that they will let people “collaborate with AI the way we naturally collaborate with each other — they continuously take in audio, video, and text, and think, respond, and act in real time.” Here’s what Mira Murati’s AI company is up to Thinking Machines is demonstrating AI ‘interaction models’ that respond to users in real time. Thinking Machines is demonstrating AI ‘interaction models’ that respond to users in real time. As explained by Thinking Machines: Today’s models experience reality in a single thread. Until the user finishes typing or speaking, the model waits with no perception of what the user is doing or how the user is doing…

OpenAI just released its answer to Claude Mythos

OpenAI is launching Daybreak, an AI initiative focused on detecting and patching vulnerabilities before attackers find them. Daybreak uses the Codex Security AI agent that launched in March to create a threat model based on an organization’s code and focus on possible attack paths, validate likely vulnerabilities, and then automate the detection of the higher risk ones. OpenAI just released its answer to Claude Mythos OpenAI’s Daybreak combines GPT-5.5-Cyber and Codex Security. OpenAI’s Daybreak combines GPT-5.5-Cyber and Codex Security. Its launch comes just over a month after rival Anthropic announced Claude Mythos, a security-focused AI model it claimed was too dangerous to publicly release and only shared privately as a part of its own initiative, dubbed Project Glasswing. Still, that didn’t stop at least a few unauthorized parties from getting access. However, OpenAI has so far lacked a similar security…

Joanna Stern is not a robot, but she lived with them

My guest today is longtime friend of the show Joanna Stern. You all know Joanna: she is the former senior personal technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, a former Decoder guest host, one of my cofounders here at The Verge, and also just one of my very closest friends. Joanna Stern is not a robot, but she lived with them The journalist and author of I Am Not a Robot on her year living with AI and starting a new media company. I mention that because Joanna just left that lofty perch at The Journal to start her own media company called New Things. She’s starting with her new book about AI, called I Am Not a Robot, which is out this week on May 12th. You’ll hear us reference the fact that she and I have been talking…

Google stopped a zero-day hack that it says was developed with AI

For the first time, Google says it has spotted and stopped a zero-day exploit developed with AI. According to a report from Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG), “prominent cyber crime threat actors” were planning to use the vulnerability for a “mass exploitation event” that would have allowed them to bypass two-factor authentication on an unnamed “open-source, web-based system administration tool.” Google stopped a zero-day hack that it says was developed with AI Google researchers found evidence in the exploit’s code that it may have been created using AI, like a ‘hallucinated’ CVSS score. Google researchers found evidence in the exploit’s code that it may have been created using AI, like a ‘hallucinated’ CVSS score. Google’s researchers found hints in the Python script used for the exploit that indicated help from AI, like a “hallucinated CVSS score” and “structured, textbook” formatting…

Everybody wants to rule the AI world

Sometimes, companies pick CEOs based on carefully laid succession plans designed to maximize investor confidence and future performance. Other times, apparently, companies pick CEOs based on a bunch of video calls while the current CEO is texting the former CEO about who the new CEO even is. Such was the story of The Blip, the days in 2024 when Sam Altman was ousted from OpenAI. We knew that situation was chaotic; the ongoing Musk v. Altman trial is showing just how chaotic it really was. Everybody wants to rule the AI world On The Vergecast: Altman, Musk, Murati, Rando Twitch Guy… and the ChatGPT Phone. On The Vergecast: Altman, Musk, Murati, Rando Twitch Guy… and the ChatGPT Phone. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Vergecast wherever you get your podcasts. Head here. Not a subscriber? You…

PlayStation sees AI as a ‘powerful tool’ to help make games

As part of an earnings presentation on Friday, Sony shared how it’s thinking about AI at the company, including many details about how it’s evaluating AI as part of making PlayStation games. Generative AI has recently been showing up in bigger games — though many indie developers still reject it — and while Sony calls AI a “powerful tool,” it says that the “vision, the design, and the emotional impact of our games will always come from the talent of our studios and performers.” and that “AI is meant to augment their capabilities, not to replace them.” PlayStation sees AI as a ‘powerful tool’ to help make games Studios like Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio have already adopted an AI-powered animation tool. Studios like Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio have already adopted an AI-powered animation tool. At its…

Nanoleaf bets its future on robots, red light therapy, and AI

Smart lighting company Nanoleaf has been unusually quiet recently. While competitors such as Govee and Philips Hue have been pumping out new products and innovative features at an impressive pace, Nanoleaf has launched just a handful of smart lighting products in the last two years. There’s a reason for this lull — the company has been going through a “brand evolution” focused on wellness, robotics, and, of course, AI. Nanoleaf bets its future on robots, red light therapy, and AI CEO Gimmy Chu says the commoditization of smart lighting is behind Nanoleaf’s pivot. Nanoleaf bets its future on robots, red light therapy, and AI CEO Gimmy Chu says the commoditization of smart lighting is behind Nanoleaf’s pivot. “The smart home is getting kind of boring,” says the ever-candid Gimmy Chu, CEO and cofounder of Nanoleaf, which he now doesn’t want…

Microsoft was worried OpenAI would run off to Amazon and ‘shit-talk’ Azure

When OpenAI was busy experimenting with AI-powered gaming bots, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were in the early days of forming an AI partnership. Court documents from the ongoing Musk v. Altman trial have provided a rare look at the communications between Microsoft’s top executives about investing in OpenAI and fears the AI startup could “storm off to Amazon” and “shit-talk” Microsoft. Microsoft was worried OpenAI would run off to Amazon and ‘shit-talk’ Azure The early days of Microsoft’s OpenAI partnership have been revealed in detail in court documents this week. The early days of Microsoft’s OpenAI partnership have been revealed in detail in court documents this week. Just days after OpenAI showed a bot beating a Dota 2 professional in the summer of 2017, Altman responded to Nadella’s congratulations email with a proposal for a…

Google’s taking a big swing at AI health with the Fitbit Air

It’s a Whoop dupe. That was my first thought when I saw the new $99 Google Fitbit Air. You can hardly blame me. The band is screenless with a metallic fabric clasp. My eyes flickered between the Fitbit Air and my wrist, where I’m wearing a Whoop MG. Was I not seeing double? Google’s taking a big swing at AI health with the Fitbit Air Google kicks off a new era with its first Fitbit tracker in four years, an app rebrand, and its AI coach leaving beta. Google kicks off a new era with its first Fitbit tracker in four years, an app rebrand, and its AI coach leaving beta. But as my press briefing went on, my opinion started changing. The Air is sort of like the OG Fitbits that Whoop then duped once Fitbit went all in…

OpenClaw and Claude can put your AI-generated podcasts in Spotify

Save to Spotify is a new command-line tool designed specifically for AI agents like OpenClaw, Claude Code, or OpenAI Codex. If you’re the kind of person who collects research on a topic, then feeds it through their AI of choice to create audio summaries and personal podcasts, this lets you save them right alongside the latest episode of The Vergecast and Welcome to Night Vale on Spotify. OpenClaw and Claude can put your AI-generated podcasts in Spotify A new command-line tool lets AI agents save audio alongside your other podcasts. A new command-line tool lets AI agents save audio alongside your other podcasts. To set it up, you need to download and install the Save to Spotify CLI from GitHub. Then you just prompt your AI agent as normal, but tack on “and save to Spotify,” and it should show…

ChatGPT’s ‘Trusted Contact’ will alert loved ones of safety concerns

OpenAI is launching an optional safety feature for ChatGPT that allows adult users to assign an emergency contact for mental health and safety concerns. Friends, family members, or caregivers designated as a “Trusted Contact” will be notified if OpenAI detects that a person may have discussed topics like self-harm or suicide with the chatbot. ChatGPT’s ‘Trusted Contact’ will alert loved ones of safety concerns The feature expands existing teenage safety options to anyone over 18. The feature expands existing teenage safety options to anyone over 18. “Trusted Contact is designed around a simple, expert-validated premise: when someone may be in crisis, connecting with someone they know and trust can make a meaningful difference,” OpenAI said in its announcement. “It offers another layer of support alongside the localized helplines already available in ChatGPT.” The Trusted Contact feature is opt-in. Any adult…

SpaceX has a $55 billion plan to build AI chips in Texas

Elon Musk’s plans to get into the AI chip manufacturing business are going to be costly. As the New York Times and CNBC report, SpaceX is planning to invest at least $55 billion into its “Terafab” chip plant in Austin, Texas. That’s according to the details of a public hearing notice filed in Grimes County, Texas, for a meeting to request tax breaks for the project. SpaceX has a $55 billion plan to build AI chips in Texas The “Terafab” plant could cost SpaceX up to $119 billion total, according to a court filing. The “Terafab” plant could cost SpaceX up to $119 billion total, according to a court filing. The company says that if additional phases are constructed, its investment could someday balloon to $119 billion total. When Musk initially announced the project in March, he shared ambitious plans…

Apple’s AirPods with cameras for AI are apparently close to production

Apple’s rumored AirPods with cameras are nearing a stage where the company will test early mass production, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. Currently, Apple testers are “actively using” prototypes that are in the design validation test stage, which is one step before the production validation test stage. Apple’s AirPods with cameras for AI are apparently close to production Testers at Apple are ‘actively using’ prototypes, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Testers at Apple are ‘actively using’ prototypes, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The AirPods’ cameras “aren’t designed” to snap photos or video but instead can take in “visual information in low resolution” that users can query Siri about, like asking the AI assistant what they should cook with the ingredients they have in front of them, according to Gurman. They may also use the cameras to help with things like turn-by-turn…

Mira Murati’s deposition pulled back the curtain on Sam Altman’s ouster

The week leading up to Thanksgiving 2023 was the AI industry’s biggest soap opera moment. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was abruptly ousted from his role at the ChatGPT maker. The explanation? That Altman was “not consistently candid in his communications with the board.” Now, via witness testimony and trial exhibits in Musk v. Altman, the public is getting a concrete look behind the scenes of that dramatic weekend for the first time, much of it centered on former CTO Mira Murati. Mira Murati’s deposition pulled back the curtain on Sam Altman’s ouster The former OpenAI CTO had receipts. But they mostly confuse her own story. Mira Murati’s deposition pulled back the curtain on Sam Altman’s ouster The former OpenAI CTO had receipts. But they mostly confuse her own story. It was a unique situation in that the roller coaster of…

Chrome’s AI features may be hogging 4GB of your computer storage

Google Chrome may be taking up more of your storage than expected thanks to a large on-device AI model file that, in some cases, is being automatically downloaded to the browser’s system folders. Users who have noticed unexplained drops in their available desktop device storage are now discovering that Chrome is installing a 4GB weights.bin file inside their browser directory when certain AI features are enabled. Chrome’s AI features may be hogging 4GB of your computer storage Here’s how you can find out, and get that storage back if you need it. Here’s how you can find out, and get that storage back if you need it. The weights.bin file in question is connected to Google’s Gemini Nano AI model, which powers Chrome AI tools like scam detection, writing assistance, autofill, and suggestion features. As the Gemini Nano model is…

Mira Murati tells the court that she couldn’t trust Sam Altman’s words

Mira Murati, OpenAI’s former CTO, has testified under oath that CEO Sam Altman lied to her about the safety standards for a new AI model. In a video deposition shown during the ongoing Musk v. Altman trial on Wednesday, Murati said Altman falsely stated that OpenAI’s legal department determined a new AI model did not need to go through the company’s deployment safety board. “As you understand it, was Mr. Altman telling the truth when he made that statement to you?” Murati was asked in the deposition. “No,” Murati said. Mira Murati tells the court that she couldn’t trust Sam Altman’s words OpenAI’s former CEO testified under oath that Altman lied to her. OpenAI’s former CEO testified under oath that Altman lied to her. Murat said that during her tenure at OpenAI, Altman made her work more difficult. Her criticism…

Google’s AI search summaries will now quote Reddit

Google is updating its AI Search features to make it easier for users to find information from sources they know and trust. One of the more notable changes introduces “a preview of perspectives” from firsthand sources like social media, Reddit, and other web forums, effectively linking your search queries with online conversations around similar topics. Google’s AI search summaries will now quote Reddit The new AI Mode and AI Overviews updates bring in perspectives from firsthand sources like social media and web forums. The new AI Mode and AI Overviews updates bring in perspectives from firsthand sources like social media and web forums. Google says this update aims to address that “people are increasingly seeking out advice from others” when searching for information online. This will be relatable for anyone who’s added “Reddit” to the end of Google Search terms…

Microsoft’s Office and LinkedIn chief now runs Teams in latest reshuffle

Microsoft’s LinkedIn chief, Ryan Roslansky, took on an expanded role at the company as head of Office last year, and he’s now getting more responsibilities as part of the latest leadership reshuffle inside Microsoft. Sources tell me that the Microsoft Teams organization is moving to report to Roslansky, who will now lead a new Work Experiences Group at Microsoft. Microsoft’s Office and LinkedIn chief now runs Teams in latest reshuffle The departure of veteran executive Rajesh Jha has triggered big organizational changes inside Microsoft. The departure of veteran executive Rajesh Jha has triggered big organizational changes inside Microsoft. The changes, which come a week after Roslansky named a new CEO of LinkedIn, are part of a broader reshuffle triggered by Rajesh Jha, executive vice president of Microsoft’s experiences and devices group, retiring from Microsoft after more than 35 years. Jha…

Musk’s biggest loyalist became his biggest liability

I sat down in the Musk v. Altman trial courtroom today, painfully aware that no one was going to ask Shivon Zilis the question on everyone’s minds: Girl, what the fuck are you doing? Musk’s biggest loyalist became his biggest liability Shivon Zilis’ notes might be the most important evidence we’ve seen so far. Shivon Zilis’ notes might be the most important evidence we’ve seen so far. Zilis, who testified under oath that she is the mother of four of Musk’s children, was… What’s the best way to characterize this? A Musk adviser? She denies she was a “chief of staff” but says she worked for Musk’s “entire AI portfolio: Tesla, Neuralink, and OpenAI” starting in 2017. The two met through OpenAI, and they had what she referred to as a “one off” before becoming “friends and colleagues.” The “one…

Google shuts down Project Mariner

Google has pulled the plug on Project Mariner, an experimental feature designed to perform tasks for you across the web, as reported earlier by Wired’s Maxwell Zeff. The Project Mariner landing page now contains a message that says: “Thank you for using Project Mariner. It was shut down on May 4th, 2026 and its technology voyaged to other Google products.” Google shuts down Project Mariner The Project Mariner experiment lives on in Gemini Agent and AI Mode. The Project Mariner experiment lives on in Gemini Agent and AI Mode. Google first revealed Project Mariner in December 2024 and later announced an update allowing it to perform up to 10 tasks at a time. Over the past year, Google has integrated features powered by Project Mariner into its other AI tools, including Gemini Agent, which can do things like archive emails…

How David Sacks crashed and burned in the White House

Hello and welcome to Regulator, a newsletter exclusively for Verge subscribers about tech, politics, and Washington intrigue. (It’s basically House of Cards, but for nerds.) Not a subscriber yet? You really should become one, and to save you a Google search, here is the direct link to do so! And do you think I should know something? Send it to tina.nguyen+tips@theverge.com. How David Sacks crashed and burned in the White House The Trump administration pulled a 180 on AI oversight, inducing Sacks’ worst nightmare: more government regulation on technology. The Trump administration pulled a 180 on AI oversight, inducing Sacks’ worst nightmare: more government regulation on technology. On Monday, The New York Times reported that the White House was considering having the government review AI models before release. To the casual Verge reader, it appeared to be a total reversal…

Google, Microsoft, and xAI will allow the US government to review their new AI models

Google DeepMind, Microsoft, and Elon Musk’s xAI have agreed to allow the US government to review new AI models before they’re released to the public. In an announcement on Tuesday, the Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) says it will work with the AI companies to perform “pre-deployment evaluations and targeted research to better assess frontier AI capabilities.” Google, Microsoft, and xAI will allow the US government to review their new AI models The Center for AI Standards and Innovation will evaluate new models before they’re released publicly. The Center for AI Standards and Innovation will evaluate new models before they’re released publicly. CAISI, which started evaluating models from OpenAI and Anthropic in 2024, says it has performed 40 reviews so far. Both companies “have renegotiated their existing partnerships with the center to better align with priorities…

OpenAI is reportedly launching a phone for ChatGPT

OpenAI’s first hardware product might be a phone instead of a mysterious Jony Ive gadget. As reported by MacRumors, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared details about the rumored phone, claiming OpenAI is “fast-tracking” it and aiming to start mass production in early 2027. OpenAI is reportedly launching a phone for ChatGPT The phone is being ‘fast-tracked’ for mass production starting early next year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The phone is being ‘fast-tracked’ for mass production starting early next year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to Kuo, the phone will run on a “customized version of the [MediaTek] Dimensity 9600,” which is expected to launch this fall and follow up the Dimensity 9500 currently powering phones like the Vivo X300 Pro and the Oppo Find X9 Pro. The custom chip’s “headline spec” will be its image signal processor…

Book publishers sue Meta over AI’s ‘word-for-word’ copying

Meta is facing a class action lawsuit filed by five major book publishers and one author over claims the company “engaged in one of the most massive infringements of copyrighted materials in history” when training its Llama AI models, as reported earlier by The New York Times. In their suit, Macmillan, McGraw Hill, Elsevier, Hachette, Cengage, and author Scott Turow allege that Meta “repeatedly copied” their books and journal articles without permission. Book publishers sue Meta over AI’s ‘word-for-word’ copying Macmillan, McGraw Hill, Cengage, and others claim Meta carried out ‘one of the most massive infringements of copyrighted materials in history.’ Macmillan, McGraw Hill, Cengage, and others claim Meta carried out ‘one of the most massive infringements of copyrighted materials in history.’ The lawsuit accuses Meta of knowingly ripping copyrighted work from “notorious pirate sites,” such as LibGen, Anna’s Archive,…

OpenAI claims ChatGPT’s new default model hallucinates way less

OpenAI’s newest default model for ChatGPT might not make stuff up as much. Hallucinations have been an ongoing problem for AI models, but OpenAI says its new GPT-5.5 Instant model has “significant improvements in factuality across the board.” OpenAI claims ChatGPT’s new default model hallucinates way less The new model, GPT-5.5 Instant, will also use fewer ‘gratuitous’ emoji. The new model, GPT-5.5 Instant, will also use fewer ‘gratuitous’ emoji. The company claims that, based on “internal evaluations,” GPT-5.5 Instant produced “52.5% fewer hallucinated claims” than its Instant model for GPT-5.3 “on high-stakes prompts covering areas like medicine, law, and finance.” GPT-5.5 Instant also “reduced inaccurate claims by 37.3% on especially challenging conversations users had flagged for factual errors.” (OpenAI has some information about how it evaluated the model in its GPT-5.5 Instant system card.) OpenAI also claims that GPT-5.5 Instant…

Apple could let you pick a favorite AI model in iOS 27

The next update to Apple’s operating systems could allow users to choose their preferred AI model for running Apple Intelligence. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to allow third-party chatbots to power its AI features system-wide in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, all expected for this fall. In addition to running Siri, compatible third-party AI models, called “Extensions,” will also now be able to run other Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Image Playground. Apple could let you pick a favorite AI model in iOS 27 AI ‘extensions’ could let users run Apple Intelligence with third-party AI models — and not just ChatGPT. AI ‘extensions’ could let users run Apple Intelligence with third-party AI models — and not just ChatGPT. According to Gurman, Apple will also allow users to choose different Siri voices for different…

Microsoft gives up on Xbox Copilot AI

Xbox is “winding down Copilot on mobile” and “will stop development of Copilot on console,” new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced on Tuesday. The move follows Sharma’s reorganization of the Xbox platform team earlier on Tuesday, which added executives from Microsoft’s CoreAI team — where Sharma worked before taking over Xbox — to the Xbox side of the company. Microsoft gives up on Xbox Copilot AI New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma continues to make her mark. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma continues to make her mark. Xbox needs to move faster, deepen our connection with the community, and address friction for both players and developers. Today, we promoted leaders who helped build Xbox, while also bringing in new voices to help push us forward. This balance is important as we get the business back on track. As part of this…

Apple agrees to pay iPhone owners $250 million for not delivering AI Siri

Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused it of misleading customers about the availability of its Apple Intelligence features. The proposed settlement would apply to people in the US who purchased all models of the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15 Pro between June 10th, 2024 and March 29th, 2025. Apple agrees to pay iPhone owners $250 million for not delivering AI Siri The proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit will get some cash back to people who bought the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro. The proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit will get some cash back to people who bought the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro. People who submit qualifying claims can receive $25 for each eligible device, “which may decrease or increase…

Google Home’s Gemini AI can handle more complicated requests

Google Home users can now ask Gemini to complete more complex, multi-step tasks and combine multiple tasks in a single command. Google has updated Gemini for Home to Gemini 3.1, which it says will improve the smart home assistant’s ability to interpret and act on requests. The upgrade will also make Gemini for Home better at handling recurring and all-day events and allow users to “move around” upcoming events. Google Home’s Gemini AI can handle more complicated requests An upgrade to Gemini 3.1 lets Google’s smart home assistant handle multiple requests in the same voice command. An upgrade to Gemini 3.1 lets Google’s smart home assistant handle multiple requests in the same voice command. Last month, Google also updated Gemini for Home with improvements for understanding natural language and identifying devices correctly. The upgrades follow reports of bugs in Google’s…

AI music is flooding streaming services — but who wants it?

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on how AI is changing music and the music industry, follow Terrence O’Brien. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. AI music is flooding streaming services — but who wants it? They won’t ban it. They won’t embrace it either. AI music is flooding streaming services — but who wants it? They won’t ban it. They won’t embrace it either. How it started The use of generative AI in pop music started almost as a gimmick. There was a sense of experimentalism to 2018’s I AM AI by Taryn Southern and 2019’s Proto by Holly Herndon, albums that were created with significant assistance from AI. Others got in on the action too, exploring…

How the internet’s favorite squirrel dad made the hottest camera app of 2026

It’s not hyperbole to call DualShot Recorder an overnight sensation. How the internet’s favorite squirrel dad made the hottest camera app of 2026 Viral wildlife creator Derrick Downey Jr. vibe-coded his way to a hit app in DualShot Recorder. How the internet’s favorite squirrel dad made the hottest camera app of 2026 Viral wildlife creator Derrick Downey Jr. vibe-coded his way to a hit app in DualShot Recorder. It took only 12 hours from the time it was released to hit number one on the App Store’s list of top paid apps. It was a surprise success — but what’s even more surprising is the app’s origin story: it all started with a cadre of friendly neighborhood squirrels and their favorite caretaker. Derrick Downey Jr. built a career on short-form videos documenting his interactions with the squirrels that visit his…

Microsoft wants lawyers to trust its new AI agent in Word documents

Microsoft is launching a new AI agent inside Word that’s specifically designed for legal teams. Legal Agent handles document edits, negotiation history, and complex documents to help legal teams handle tasks like reviewing contracts. Microsoft wants lawyers to trust its new AI agent in Word documents Microsoft’s Legal Agent comes from the work of former Robin AI engineers. Microsoft’s Legal Agent comes from the work of former Robin AI engineers. “Instead of relying on general AI models to interpret commands, the agent follows structured workflows shaped by real legal practice, managing clearly defined, repeatable tasks like reviewing contracts clause by clause against a playbook,” explains Sumit Chauhan, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Office Product Group. The Legal Agent can work with existing documents that have tracked changes, and analyze agreements and contracts to “spot risks and obligations.” Microsoft is releasing…

Christian content creators are outsourcing AI slop to gig workers on Fiverr

In the beginning, platforms like Fiverr were places where people could hire freelancers to do specialized creative labor using skills that took years to develop. In the age of generative AI, though, many of these gig workers have embraced the technology in order to meet clients’ demands. These workers’ profiles emphasize that they can quickly (and cheaply) whip up images and videos of just about anything. But often, what their clients are looking for are dramatic animations inspired by the Christian Bible. Christian content creators are outsourcing AI slop to gig workers on Fiverr Demand for AI-generated Bible content is high. Christian content creators are outsourcing AI slop to gig workers on Fiverr Demand for AI-generated Bible content is high. On TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook it is very easy to stumble across AI-generated clips that retell stories from the…

Elon Musk had a bad week in court

Elon Musk is the one who wanted this trial. He has spent months claiming OpenAI “stole a nonprofit,” and saying he was the actual driving force behind one of the most important companies currently in tech. All indications are that he won’t win his case against the company, but he’s fighting it anyway. So you’d think he’d have done better when it was his time to take the stand. Elon Musk had a bad week in court On The Vergecast: Musk v. OpenAI, Steam Controllers, and Jimmy Kimmel part two. On The Vergecast: Musk v. OpenAI, Steam Controllers, and Jimmy Kimmel part two. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Vergecast wherever you get your podcasts. Head here. Not a subscriber? You can sign up here. Instead, Musk spent much of the week arguing with lawyers (including…

Pentagon strikes classified AI deals with OpenAI, Google, and Nvidia — but not Anthropic

The Pentagon has struck deals with OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Elon Musk’s xAI, and the startup Reflection, allowing the agency to use their AI tools in classified settings, according to an announcement on Friday. At the same time, the Defense Department has left out Anthropic — which it previously used for classified information — after declaring it a supply-chain risk. Pentagon strikes classified AI deals with OpenAI, Google, and Nvidia — but not Anthropic The flurry of deals leaves out Anthropic, which the department previously used for handling classified information. The flurry of deals leaves out Anthropic, which the department previously used for handling classified information. This builds upon deals with OpenAI and xAI, which have already reached agreements with the Pentagon for the “lawful” use of their AI systems. A report from The Information suggests Google has struck…

Gemini is rolling out to cars with Google built-in

Google is preparing to update vehicles that have Google built-in with its Gemini AI assistant. This will be an upgrade from the current Google Assistant according to Google’s announcement, and promises to provide an improved experience for natural conversations, fetching vehicle-specific information, settings adjustments, and more. Gemini is rolling out to cars with Google built-in The current Google Assistant is being replaced with a smarter, more conversational upgrade. The current Google Assistant is being replaced with a smarter, more conversational upgrade. “When cars with Google built-in first hit the road in 2020, we made a commitment that your car will get better over time,” Google senior product manager Alankar Agnihotri said in the announcement. “That means that Gemini is coming not only to new cars, but also to existing ones through a software update.” The announcement isn’t a total surprise,…

Meta is running get-rich-quick ads for its AI tools

Manus, an AI company Meta acquired for $2 billion last year is running ads promising quick, easy money with AI: Find local businesses without websites or with bad websites, have AI build them one, then call them up and sell it to them. Meta is running get-rich-quick ads for its AI tools Manus, integrated into Meta, paid creators to tell you not to get a part-time job. Manus, integrated into Meta, paid creators to tell you not to get a part-time job. As part of the campaign, Manus was paying content creators to build out Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok accounts that promote its AI product as an easy, lucrative gig. (The creators’ TikTok accounts were taken down after The Verge inquired about them.) Some of these videos would also appear as official ads for Manus, but the posts on the…

Elon Musk confirms xAI used OpenAI’s models to train Grok

In a federal courtroom in California on Thursday, Elon Musk testified that his own AI startup, xAI, has used OpenAI’s models to improve its own. Elon Musk confirms xAI used OpenAI’s models to train Grok He said it was “partly” true that the company had used model distillation to improve xAI’s models. He said it was “partly” true that the company had used model distillation to improve xAI’s models. The matter at question is model distillation, a common industry practice by which one larger AI model acts as a “teacher” of sorts to pass on knowledge to a smaller AI model, the “student.” Although it’s often used legitimately within companies using one of their own AI models to train another, it’s also a practice that’s sometimes used by smaller AI labs to try to get their models to mimic the…

The craziest part of Musk v. Altman happened while the jury was out of the room

Okay, I am not a lawyer so I only understood about half of what just happened. But I am fairly sure, given the context, that Elon Musk’s lawyers may have just fucked up big. The craziest part of Musk v. Altman happened while the jury was out of the room Jared Birchall, Musk’s money manager, answered a question he wasn’t supposed to. It’s unclear what the consequences will be. The craziest part of Musk v. Altman happened while the jury was out of the room Jared Birchall, Musk’s money manager, answered a question he wasn’t supposed to. It’s unclear what the consequences will be. Jared “James Brickhouse” Birchall, Musk’s finance guy and all-around fixer, took the stand after Musk today. Most of his testimony was dull and seemed to exist primarily to get some documents read into the record, which…

Taylor Swift deepfakes are pushing scams on TikTok

Scammers are using AI-generated videos of celebrities including Taylor Swift and Rihanna to promote shady services on TikTok, according to authentication company Copyleaks. Taylor Swift deepfakes are pushing scams on TikTok Copyleaks says scammers are using AI to impersonate celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna to collect personal data. Copyleaks says scammers are using AI to impersonate celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna to collect personal data. The ads typically show celebrities in interview settings, such as red carpets, podcasts, or talk shows, and often manipulate real footage with AI, the company said. Many promote rewards programs claiming users can earn money by watching TikTok content and giving feedback. TikTok’s official branding appears in some of the ads, though users are redirected to third-party services that ask for personal information. In one ad, a realistic AI avatar of Swift urges…

Google Search queries hit an ‘all time high’ last quarter

Google Search queries hit an “all time high” in the first quarter of 2026, according to a statement from CEO Sundar Pichai published as part of Alphabet’s earnings on Wednesday. Google Search queries hit an ‘all time high’ last quarter CEO Sundar Pichai also says that Google had its ‘strongest quarter ever’ for its consumer AI subscriptions. CEO Sundar Pichai also says that Google had its ‘strongest quarter ever’ for its consumer AI subscriptions. “Our AI investments and full stack approach are lighting up every part of the business,” Pichai says. “Search had a strong quarter with AI experiences driving usage, queries at an all time high, and 19% revenue growth.” He also notes that Q1 was “our strongest quarter ever for our consumer AI plans, driven by the Gemini App” and that the company now has more than 350…

All the evidence unveiled so far in Musk v. Altman

The Musk v. Altman trial is underway, and that means exhibits, or the evidence to be presented in court, are being revealed piece by piece. So far, email exchanges, photos, and corporate documents are circulating from the earliest days of OpenAI — and from before the AI lab even had a name. Some high-level takeaways: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang gave OpenAI an in-demand supercomputer, Musk largely drafted OpenAI’s mission and heavily influenced its early structure, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appeared to want to lean heavily on Y Combinator for early support for OpenAI, OpenAI president Greg Brockman and Ilya Sutskever worried about Musk’s level of control over the company, and Musk highlighted the importance of a nonprofit with a mission of broadly beneficial AI. All the evidence unveiled so far in Musk v. Altman Emails going as far back as…

Ubuntu’s AI plans have Linux users looking for a ‘kill switch’

Canonical’s plan to add AI features to Ubuntu has some users asking for “a version of Ubuntu that does not include these features,” while others say they’ll stick with older versions of the Linux distro or even switch to a different one. After Canonical’s announcement earlier this week that it’s bringing AI features to Ubuntu, replies included requests for an AI “kill switch” or a way to disable the upcoming features, and comparisons to Microsoft’s addition of AI features into Windows 11. Canonical’s VP of engineering, Jon Seager, responded on Tuesday, stating that Canonical isn’t planning to add a “global AI kill switch,” but users will be able to remove any AI features they don’t want. Ubuntu’s AI plans have Linux users looking for a ‘kill switch’ Canonical is adding AI features to Ubuntu soon, but says users can remove…

Google Photos launches an AI try-on feature for clothes you already have

Google Photos is launching a new AI-powered feature you can use to virtually try on clothes you already have. Using the photos in your gallery, Google will create a virtual “wardrobe,” allowing you to mix and match outfits, save the looks you like, and share them with friends. Google Photos launches an AI try-on feature for clothes you already have You’ll get to browse through the clothing you were captured wearing and create new outfits. You’ll get to browse through the clothing you were captured wearing and create new outfits. A video shared by Google shows how Photos organizes your outfits and individual pieces of clothing into a virtual “wardrobe.” You can browse through the outfits you were captured wearing, as well as create new ones by choosing from tops, bottoms, skirts, dresses, and shoes to put together a new…

Tumbler Ridge families are suing OpenAI

Seven families of victims injured or killed in the Tumbler Ridge school shooting in Canada have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company and its leadership of negligence after they failed to alert police to the suspected shooter’s ChatGPT activity. The families allege OpenAI stayed silent after its systems flagged activity by shooting suspect Jesse Van Rootselaar in order to protect the company’s reputation and upcoming initial public offering (IPO). Tumbler Ridge families are suing OpenAI OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, are being accused of negligence and launching GPT-4o with a ‘defective’ design. OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, are being accused of negligence and launching GPT-4o with a ‘defective’ design. The Wall Street Journal reports that OpenAI “considered” flagging the 18-year-old’s activity to police, which reportedly involved conversations about gun violence, but ultimately decided…

ChatGPT downloads are slowing — and may cause problems for OpenAI’s IPO

ChatGPT is struggling to keep up its once-explosive growth as users uninstall the app or opt for rival chatbots instead. According to data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, ChatGPT experienced a 132 percent increase in uninstalls year over year in April. Its uninstall rate was even higher last month, up 413 percent year-over-year, following OpenAI’s deal with the Pentagon in February. ChatGPT downloads are slowing — and may cause problems for OpenAI’s IPO ChatGPT is still growing its user base, but that growth is slowing down, especially compared to rival Claude. ChatGPT is still growing its user base, but that growth is slowing down, especially compared to rival Claude. While ChatGPT is still growing its user base, Sensor Tower says that growth is slowing down — ChatGPT increased its monthly active users by 168 percent in January, but only…

Larry’s risky business

If you want to know whether the AI bubble is bursting, there’s only one publicly traded company that will tell you: Oracle. Larry’s risky business Oracle’s betting everything on OpenAI. Will it pay off or pop the bubble? If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. That’s right, the database company. Oracle has burned its boats and pivoted to AI, but not in any kind of usual way. It is not a foundation model builder like OpenAI or Anthropic, obviously. It’s not quite a neocloud, though it has entered the same bare-metal business as CoreWeave. It is a software-as-a-service company that has made an audacious bet on a very specific future version of AI as Oracle’s traditional business has gracefully declined. It is significantly older than any of its AI…

China freezes new robotaxi licenses after Baidu chaos

China has suspended new licenses for autonomous vehicles, Bloomberg reports, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. The move comes after dozens of robotaxis operated by Chinese tech giant Baidu ground to a halt in traffic last month in Wuhan, creating chaos. China freezes new robotaxi licenses after Baidu chaos Dozens of Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis froze in traffic last month, sparking alarm in Beijing, Bloomberg reports. Dozens of Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis froze in traffic last month, sparking alarm in Beijing, Bloomberg reports. The restrictions will prevent companies from adding new driverless cars to their fleets, expanding into new cities, or starting new test projects. It is unclear when officials will start issuing new licenses again. Bloomberg said the Wuhan incident alarmed authorities in Beijing, prompting regulators to urge local governments to review the sector to prevent similar episodes.…

GitHub rushed to fix a critical vulnerability in less than six hours

GitHub employees fixed a critical remote code execution vulnerability in less than six hours last month. Wiz Research used AI models to uncover a vulnerability in GitHub’s internal git infrastructure that could have allowed attackers to access millions of public and private code repositories. GitHub rushed to fix a critical vulnerability in less than six hours A critical remote code execution vulnerability was discovered using an AI model and patched within hours. A critical remote code execution vulnerability was discovered using an AI model and patched within hours. “Our security team immediately began validating the bug bounty report. Within 40 minutes, we had reproduced the vulnerability internally and confirmed the severity,” explains Alexis Wales, GitHub chief information security officer. “This was a critical issue that required immediate action.” GitHub’s engineering team developed a fix and deployed it just over an…

Google and Pentagon reportedly agree on deal for ‘any lawful’ use of AI

Google has signed a classified deal that allows the US Department of Defense to use its AI models for “any lawful government purpose,” The Information reports. The agreement was reported less than a day after Google employees demanded CEO Sundar Pichai block the Pentagon from using its AI amid concerns that it would be used in “inhumane or extremely harmful ways.” Google and Pentagon reportedly agree on deal for ‘any lawful’ use of AI The classified deal apparently doesn’t allow Google to veto how the government will use its AI models. The classified deal apparently doesn’t allow Google to veto how the government will use its AI models. If the agreement is confirmed, it would place Google alongside OpenAI and xAI, which have also made classified AI deals with the US government. Anthropic was also among that list until it…

Elon Musk appeared more petty than prepared

Today the first witness was sworn in in Musk v. Altman: Elon Musk. I was surprised by how flat he seemed. Elon Musk appeared more petty than prepared In his opening testimony against Sam Altman, Musk was unfocused and uncharming. Elon Musk appeared more petty than prepared In his opening testimony against Sam Altman, Musk was unfocused and uncharming. This is not the first time I’ve seen Musk in court. During his defamation suit, he turned on the charm and the jury responded by finding him not guilty. Today he looked adrift and unprepared. The only times he showed real animation were when he was bragging about how much he’d done for OpenAI. The direct examination is a way of telling a story through questions; it’s important to make the narrative clear. For a suit that accuses Sam Altman of…

Elon Musk tells the jury that all he wants to do is save humanity

On the stand, Elon Musk is positioning himself as a savior. Elon Musk tells the jury that all he wants to do is save humanity His testimony attempted set him up as a magnanimous hero, in contrast to the defendant, Sam Altman. His testimony attempted set him up as a magnanimous hero, in contrast to the defendant, Sam Altman. In the high-profile trial between him and his fellow OpenAI co-founder, now CEO, Sam Altman, Musk opened by going through his background. He went as far back as being raised in South Africa and arriving in Canada for college with “2,500 in Canadian travelers’ checks and a bag of clothes and books,” then spent an unusually long time talking about his past, from Zip2 to PayPal to the current, more familiar slate of companies he now runs. Why is Musk giving…

Taylor Swift is stepping up the legal war on AI copycats

Taylor Swift has been at the center of AI imitation controversies for years, and now, she’s become the latest celebrity who’s escalating attempts to protect herself from AI copycats. As usual, however, the legal system intersects with technology in complicated ways — and Swift’s efforts may be a long shot. Taylor Swift is stepping up the legal war on AI copycats Trademark applications filed by Taylor Swift could serve as another legal tool to combat AI fakes. Trademark applications filed by Taylor Swift could serve as another legal tool to combat AI fakes. In trademark applications filed last week, Swift’s team asked for protection for two phrases spoken by the singer: Hey, it’s Taylor Swift and Hey, it’s Taylor. The trademark applications, filed by TAS Rights Management on behalf of Swift, include audio clips of Swift saying the two phrases…

Elon Musk takes the stand in high-profile trial against OpenAI

Elon Musk officially began his testimony in the trial he has brought against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and company president Greg Brockman. Elon Musk takes the stand in high-profile trial against OpenAI The first witness in Musk v. Altman, is Elon Musk himself. The first witness in Musk v. Altman, is Elon Musk himself. The three were on the initial founding team of OpenAI, with Musk investing up to $38 million early on before the co-founders’ relationship soured over disagreements over company structure and mission, including whether or not OpenAI should be folded into Musk-owned Tesla. Musk walked away and, years later, founded xAI — his own direct competitor to OpenAI, which is now owned by Musk’s SpaceX. In recent years, Musk has filed no less than four different lawsuits against OpenAI, many of which have since been dropped or…

Claude can now plug directly into Photoshop, Blender, and Ableton

Anthropic has launched a set of connectors for Claude that allow the AI chatbot to tap into popular creative software, including Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps, Affinity, Blender, Ableton, Autodesk, and more. Claude can now plug directly into Photoshop, Blender, and Ableton Anthropic is also giving the Blender Foundation a load of cash to help the software stay free and open-source. Anthropic is also giving the Blender Foundation a load of cash to help the software stay free and open-source. This marks the company’s latest efforts to break into the creative industry following its launch of Claude Design earlier this month. The new connectors — which enable Claude to access apps, retrieve data, and take actions within connected services — are “designed to make it easier to use Claude for creative work,” according to Anthropic, and can be used for specific…

Musk and Altman go to court

The trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI is officially upon us. And it is going to be a mess. As the two sides fight over the early days of AI, who deserves credit and cash for what, and more, we’re likely to spend the next few weeks hearing a lot of important people’s secrets made extremely public. Which may be exactly what Musk is going for. Musk and Altman go to court On The Vergecast: Musk v. OpenAI, Framework’s new gear, and fast chips for small laptops. On The Vergecast: Musk v. OpenAI, Framework’s new gear, and fast chips for small laptops. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Vergecast wherever you get your podcasts. Head here. Not a subscriber? You can sign up here. On this episode of The Vergecast, The Verge’s Liz Lopatto joins the…

Attack of the killer script kiddies

Last August, some of the best cybersecurity teams in the business gathered in Las Vegas to demonstrate the strength of their AI bug-finding systems at DARPA’s Artificial Intelligence Cyber Challenge (AIxCC). The tools had scanned 54 million lines of actual software code that DARPA had injected with artificial flaws. The teams were capable enough to identify most of the artificial bugs, but their automated tools went beyond that — they found more than a dozen bugs that DARPA hadn’t inserted at all. Attack of the killer script kiddies In the aftermath of Mythos, AI-assisted amateur hackers are waiting to strike. Even before the security earthquake that Anthropic delivered this month with Claude Mythos — the new AI model that seems to find vulnerabilities in every piece of software it’s pointed at — automated systems were growing increasingly capable of finding…

Jury selection in Musk v. Altman: ‘People don’t like him’

On Monday, the courtroom battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman over alleged broken promises at OpenAI started, as usual, with jury selection. The only tricky part? A lot of the prospective jurors already have an opinion about Elon Musk, and it’s not a good one. Jury selection in Musk v. Altman: ‘People don’t like him’ Elon Musk’s public persona is an issue. Elon Musk’s public persona is an issue. The Verge reporter Elizabeth Lopatto, who was there at the courthouse, quoted statements from some of the juror questionnaires: “Elon Musk is a greedy, racist, homophobic piece of garbage.” “Elon Musk is a world-class jerk.” “I very much dislike Tesla. As a woman of color, I am very aware of the damaging statements and actions Elon Musk has enacted and been a part of.” Musk’s lawyers took issue with some…

The AI-designed car is taking shape

The auto design world is full of advanced 3D visualization tools and VR sculpting platforms, but your average new car still enters the world as a sketch. The AI-designed car is taking shape Amidst a global maelstrom of trade wars and uncertain demand, automakers are leaning on AI to slash development times. Amidst a global maelstrom of trade wars and uncertain demand, automakers are leaning on AI to slash development times. Those sketches traditionally see endless iteration and refinement from all angles before being turned into 3D models by hand, some dying in the digital world, others sculpted into clay to better visualize lines and profiles. That’s just the beginning of a design and development process that often takes a half-decade or more. That means many new cars hitting dealerships this summer were first sketched in 2020 or 2021, initiatives…

Canva apologizes after its AI tool replaces ‘Palestine’ in designs

One of Canva’s new AI features has been caught replacing the word “Palestine” in designs. The Magic Layers feature — which is designed to break flat images out into separate editable components — isn’t supposed to make visible alterations to user designs, but it was found by X user @ros_ie9 to automatically switch the phrase “cats for Palestine” to “cats for Ukraine.” Canva apologizes after its AI tool replaces ‘Palestine’ in designs The Magic Layers feature is off to a good start. The Magic Layers feature is off to a good start. The issue was seemingly limited specifically to the word “Palestine,” as @ros_ie9 noted that related words like “Gaza” were unaffected by the feature. Canva says it has now resolved the issue and is taking steps to prevent it from happening again. “We became aware of an issue with…

Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s court battle over the future of OpenAI

Sam Altman and Elon Musk are set to face off in a high-stakes trial that could alter the future of tech’s leading AI startup, OpenAI. The trial begins with jury selection on April 27th, as Musk pushes forward his 2024 lawsuit that accuses OpenAI of abandoning its founding mission of developing AI to benefit humanity and shifting focus to boosting profits instead. Musk was a cofounder of OpenAI and claims that Altman and cofounder Greg Brockman tricked him into giving the company money, only to turn their backs on their original goal. However, OpenAI says that “This lawsuit has always been a baseless and jealous bid to derail a competitor” in a bid to boost Musk’s own SpaceX / xAI / X companies that have launched Grok as a competitor to ChatGPT. In his lawsuit, Musk is asking for the…

Microsoft and OpenAI’s famed AGI agreement is dead

OpenAI and Microsoft’s partnership-turned-situationship just got even less committed. And a clause about artificial general intelligence, which has for years dictated the future of their deal, has officially been dropped. Microsoft and OpenAI’s famed AGI agreement is dead The two companies’ oft-renegotiated deal has become even less exclusive. The two companies’ oft-renegotiated deal has become even less exclusive. On Monday morning, Microsoft announced a handful of big changes to its long-standing OpenAI deal. Microsoft will remain OpenAI’s “primary cloud partner, and OpenAI products will ship first on Azure, unless Microsoft cannot and chooses not to support the necessary capabilities.” But OpenAI can “now serve all its products to customers across any cloud provider.” That lets OpenAI pursue its goals of courting enterprise customers as it reportedly prepares to go public — opening the door to working with Amazon or Google,…

Google employees ask Sundar Pichai to say no to classified military AI use

Over 600 Google employees signed a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai demanding that Google block the Pentagon from using its AI models for classified purposes, reports the The Washington Post. Its organizers claim many of the signers work in Google’s DeepMind AI lab, and include more than 20 principals, directors, and vice presidents. Google employees ask Sundar Pichai to say no to classified military AI use After a report that Google is in talks with the Pentagon, hundreds of employees signed a letter against the idea. After a report that Google is in talks with the Pentagon, hundreds of employees signed a letter against the idea. According to the Post, the letter says that “The only way to guarantee that Google does not become associated with such harms is to reject any classified workloads. Otherwise, such uses may occur without…

Canonical lays out a plan for AI in Ubuntu Linux

One of the most popular Linux distributions is about to get an influx of AI features. As reported by Phoronix, Jon Seager, VP of engineering at Ubuntu developer Canonical, shared a blog post on Monday detailing plans to add AI features to the Linux distro over the next year. As the post states, the AI features “will come in two forms: first as a means of enhancing existing OS functionality with AI models in the background, and latterly in the form of ‘AI native’ features and workflows for those who want them.” Canonical lays out a plan for AI in Ubuntu Linux Canonical plans to add AI features “throughout 2026” but says “Ubuntu is not becoming an AI product.” Canonical plans to add AI features “throughout 2026” but says “Ubuntu is not becoming an AI product.” These features will range…

AirPods, Touch Bars, and the rest of Tim Cook’s legacy

We knew at some point Tim Cook would step down from his position as Apple’s CEO. Over the last year, it has become increasingly obvious that John Ternus was his likely successor. The news this week was still a surprise, though — and this year’s succession could lead to some important changes at the most influential company in tech. AirPods, Touch Bars, and the rest of Tim Cook’s legacy On The Vergecast: What’s next for Apple, the Xbox is back, and the Mythos mythology. On The Vergecast: What’s next for Apple, the Xbox is back, and the Mythos mythology. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Vergecast wherever you get your podcasts. Head here. Not a subscriber? You can sign up here. On this episode of The Vergecast, David and Nilay are joined by Daring Fireball’s John…

Musk vs. Altman is here, and it’s going to get messy

Elon Musk cofounded OpenAI, and then flounced off in a huff when he wasn’t anointed CEO, leaving Sam Altman as the last power-hungry man standing. Now, Musk is back with a lawsuit, and a trial is scheduled to start in Oakland, California, on April 27th. Theoretically, it’s a legal case about whether OpenAI defrauded Musk. But that’s not really what we’re all doing here. This is about mess. Musk vs. Altman is here, and it’s going to get messy It’s all about the court of public opinion. Musk vs. Altman is here, and it’s going to get messy It’s all about the court of public opinion. Over the past couple of years, Musk’s legal theories for punishing OpenAI have run the gamut from breach of contract to unfair business practices to false advertising. Now, he and Altman will be getting…

China’s DeepSeek previews new AI model a year after jolting US rivals

Chinese AI company DeepSeek released a preview of its hotly anticipated next-generation AI model V4 on Friday, saying that the open-source model can compete with leading closed-source systems from US rivals including Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI. China’s DeepSeek previews new AI model a year after jolting US rivals DeepSeek says the V4 model can compete toe-to-toe with leading American systems from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic. DeepSeek says the V4 model can compete toe-to-toe with leading American systems from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic. DeepSeek says V4 marks a major improvement over prior models, especially in coding, a capability that has become central to AI agents and helped drive the success of tools like ChatGPT Codex and Claude Code. The release is also a milestone for China’s chip industry, with DeepSeek explicitly highlighting compatibility with domestic Huawei technology. The release comes a…

Prestigious photo contest answers ‘what is a photo?’

We love to muse over how “real” photography is defined here at The Verge now that generative AI is so prolific, and the World Press Photo competition might have the answer. The prestigious award celebrates the best of photojournalism, where capturing reality is paramount. Prestigious photo contest answers ‘what is a photo?’ ‘A photograph captures light on a sensor or film. It is a record of a physical moment.’ ‘A photograph captures light on a sensor or film. It is a record of a physical moment.’ The winning entry for 2026 — “Separated by ICE,” captured by photojournalist Carol Guzy — was announced yesterday. The harrowing photograph shows children clinging to their father after an immigration hearing. The photo had to abide by specific rules around the use of AI tools to be eligible for the competition, with the independent,…

How Project Maven taught the military to love AI

In the first 24 hours of the assault on Iran, the US military struck more than 1,000 targets, nearly double the scale of the “shock and awe” attack on Iraq over two decades ago. This acceleration was made possible by AI systems that speed up the targeting process. Chief among them is the Maven Smart System. How Project Maven taught the military to love AI A new book shows how the controversial Silicon Valley partnership has accelerated the pace of war How Project Maven taught the military to love AI A new book shows how the controversial Silicon Valley partnership has accelerated the pace of war In her new book, Project Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare, journalist Katrina Manson investigates the development of Maven from its inception in 2017 as an experiment in…

Anthropic’s Mythos breach was humiliating

Anthropic’s tightly controlled rollout of Claude Mythos has taken an awkward turn. After spending weeks insisting the AI model is so capable at cybersecurity that it is too dangerous to release publicly, it appears the model fell into the wrong hands anyway. Anthropic’s Mythos breach was humiliating There’s no good excuse for letting hackers into an AI model too dangerous for public release. There’s no good excuse for letting hackers into an AI model too dangerous for public release. According to Bloomberg, a “small group of unauthorized users” has had access to Mythos — whose existence was first revealed in a leak — since the day Anthropic announced plans to offer it to a select group of companies for testing. Anthropic says it is investigating. That’s a rough look for a company that has built its brand on taking AI…

Meta is laying off 10 percent of its staff

Meta is planning to layoff around 10 percent of employees in May, according to a memo from the company’s chief people officer, Janelle Gale, published by Bloomberg. That means approximately 8,000 people will see their jobs cut. Meta will also be closing around 6,000 open roles, according to Gale. Meta is laying off 10 percent of its staff Meta is making the cuts to help ‘offset the other investments we’re making.’ Meta is making the cuts to help ‘offset the other investments we’re making.’ The cuts follow Meta’s significant investments in AI, including spending huge sums to hire top talent and build data centers. The company forecast in January that it will spend $115 billion to $135 billion in capital expenditures in 2026 — a significant increase from its $72.22 billion in capital expenditures for 2025. The increase is to…

Claude is connecting directly to your personal apps like Spotify, Uber Eats, and TurboTax

Claude users can access more apps with Anthropic’s AI now thanks to new connectors for everything from hiking to grocery shopping. Anthropic already supported connecting numerous work-related apps to Claude, like Microsoft apps, but this expansion focuses on personal apps like Audible, Spotify, Uber, AllTrails, TripAdvisor, Instacart, TurboTax, and others. Claude is connecting directly to your personal apps like Spotify, Uber Eats, and TurboTax Anthropic says the new app connectors are available to all Claude users, ‘with mobile in beta.’ Anthropic says the new app connectors are available to all Claude users, ‘with mobile in beta.’ Some of these apps, such as Spotify, already have similar connectors in OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Once an app is connected, Claude will suggest relevant connected apps directly in your conversations, like using AllTrails for hike recommendations. Anthropic notes in its blog post announcing the new…

OpenAI says its new GPT-5.5 model is more efficient and better at coding

OpenAI just announced its new GPT-5.5 model, which the company calls its “smartest and most intuitive to use model yet, and the next step toward a new way of getting work done on a computer.” OpenAI just released GPT-5.4 last month, but says that the new GPT-5.5 “excels” at tasks like writing and debugging code, doing research online, making spreadsheets and documents, and doing that work across different tools. OpenAI says its new GPT-5.5 model is more efficient and better at coding The new model ‘excels’ at tasks like writing and debugging code and doing work across different tools. The new model ‘excels’ at tasks like writing and debugging code and doing work across different tools. “Instead of carefully managing every step, you can give GPT-5.5 a messy, multi-part task and trust it to plan, use tools, check its work,…

THE PEOPLE DO NOT YEARN FOR AUTOMATION

Today on Decoder, I want to lay out an idea that’s been banging around my head for weeks now as we’ve been reporting on AI and having conversations here on this show. I’ve been calling it software brain, and it’s a particular way of seeing the world that fits everything into algorithms, databases and loops — software. THE PEOPLE DO NOT YEARN FOR AUTOMATION Software brain is changing the world, but most people still aren’t buying. Software brain is powerful stuff. It’s a way of thinking that basically created our modern world. Marc Andreessen, the literal embodiment of software brain, called it in 2011 when he wrote the piece “Why software is eating the world” as an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. But software thinking has been turbocharged by AI in a way that I think helps explain the…

All the latest updates on AI data centers

Massive new data centers are the physical foundation for tech companies’ hopes and dreams for AI. But the rush to expand warehouses full of energy-hungry servers has also kicked up fights across the world over their impact on power grids, utility bills, nearby communities, and the environment. From audacious plans to launch data centers into space to the latest legal battles over pollution, The Verge has the biggest news and reporting surrounding data centers. - 43 percent of Americans blame data centers as a major reason for rising power bills. That’s according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Similar numbers of both Republicans and Democrats also cite data centers, which are quickly becoming a bipartisan issue, as a major reason for higher costs. Many Americans hold utility companies responsible for their rising home energy bills[Pew Research Center] - A…