Apple unveils Playlist Playground while Microsoft builds content marketplaces

Key Takeaways

• Apple's iOS 26.4 beta introduces "Playlist Playground" for Apple Music, using AI to create playlists from text or 10 songs.
• Donald Trump's energy agenda aims to lower prices, weaken Russia's influence, and power AI growth.
• The University of South Florida, under President Moez Limayem, plans a new College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.
• Experts like Parmy Olson argue that panic over AI's impact on jobs is overblown, with a Harvard Business Review survey showing only 2% of executives cut jobs due to actual AI use.
• Veracode research indicates AI coding models select secure code only 55% of the time, prioritizing accuracy over safety and raising security concerns.
• Brad Anderson of Qualtrics stresses that building trust, not just efficiency, is crucial for successful AI adoption, as lack of trust leads to customer disengagement.
• OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent, acts as a "wrapper" for existing models like ChatGPT and Claude, offering automation but not new scientific ground.
• An AI-generated video of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise fighting by Seedance (ByteDance) sparked Hollywood backlash, leading to cease and desist letters from Disney and the Motion Picture Association.
• Microsoft and Amazon are supporting new AI content marketplaces that allow publishers to monetize their journalism for AI training, offering sustainable revenue.
• The tech industry is entering "AI's Second Wave," focusing on creating new products and services, exemplified by companies like Particle and Luvu, rather than just cost-cutting.

Apple Music gets AI playlists and new look in iOS 26.4 beta

Apple's iOS 26.4 beta update brings exciting new features to Apple Music. It includes a new AI playlist tool called "Playlist Playground" which uses Apple Intelligence to create playlists from text or 10 different songs. The update also gives albums and playlists a fresh look with colorful backgrounds. Users will also see upcoming concerts near them, similar to the Shazam app. This update will be released to the public this spring and also adds encrypted RCS messages and video episodes to Apple Podcasts.

Apple Music adds AI Playlist Playground in iOS 26.4 beta

Apple's iOS 26.4 beta update introduces a new AI feature for Apple Music called "Playlist Playground." This tool lets users create playlists by typing in descriptions or using suggested ideas. Users can find it by tapping a new icon in the Library section of the Apple Music app. Once a playlist is made, users can add it to their library, change songs, and refine it with more prompts. The public beta for iOS 26.4 is expected in the next few weeks.

Trump's energy plan aims to lower prices and boost AI

President Donald Trump's energy dominance agenda focuses on several key goals. It aims to lower energy prices for consumers. The plan also seeks to weaken Russia's influence. Additionally, it intends to support and power the growth of artificial intelligence. David Bahnsen, managing partner at Bahnsen Group, discussed these points on 'Kudlow.'

Moez Limayem begins as USF president with big plans

Moez Limayem officially started as the ninth president of the University of South Florida, bringing optimism and ambition. His vision includes taking USF to higher levels, building on its current strength. Key projects include creating a new College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, and moving forward with a new on-campus football stadium. Limayem, who previously led the University of North Florida and served as dean at USF, aims to make USF a national and global model for research and innovation. He also plans to focus on civil discourse and prepare students for future success.

AI panic overblown experts say focus on facts

Parmy Olson, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, argues that the current panic about AI's impact on jobs is overblown and lacks real data. A viral post by Matt Shumer, "Something Big Is Happening," caused market turmoil but offered only anecdotes, not hard evidence. A Harvard Business Review survey found only 2% of executives cut jobs due to actual AI use, while many anticipated cuts. Olson compares this to the dot-com crash, where the internet was transformative but took longer than expected to play out. She advises focusing on evidence like productivity and hiring rates instead of dramatic stories, as AI's impact will be gradual and unpredictable.

AI coding tools struggle with security experts warn

Research from Veracode shows that AI models used for coding, like large language models, only choose secure code about 55% of the time. This raises serious security concerns because these models often prioritize accuracy over safety, leaving subtle vulnerabilities in the code. Experts like John Smith from Veracode explain that LLMs cannot fully understand which data is dangerous or why, leading to issues like prompt injections. Since LLMs learn from vast amounts of internet data, including insecure examples, they do not differentiate between safe and unsafe coding patterns. Developers must treat all AI-generated code as untrusted and use secure tools and training to ensure safety, as human judgment remains crucial for security.

Build trust for AI success not just efficiency

Brad Anderson, president at Qualtrics, argues that focusing on trust, not just efficiency, is key for successful AI adoption. He explains that if customers and employees do not trust how companies use AI, they will disengage or leave. While AI can improve customer understanding, using it only to cut costs often leads to frustrating experiences and lost revenue. Research shows many consumers find AI customer service unhelpful and worry about not reaching a human. Companies that succeed use AI to deepen customer connections and act on feedback, leading to higher satisfaction and significant returns, rather than falling into an "efficiency trap" that creates impersonal services.

OpenClaw AI agent gets mixed reviews from experts

Despite much hype, some AI experts are not overly impressed with OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent. Initially, there were viral stories about AI agents on a platform called Moltbook, but researchers found these were likely human-created or guided. Experts like John Hammond note that OpenClaw acts as a "wrapper" for existing AI models like ChatGPT or Claude, combining their capabilities for greater automation. While it offers unprecedented access and productivity, allowing users to automate tasks through "skills" from ClawHub, some, like Chris Symons and Artem Sorokin, say it does not break new scientific ground. The main concern remains that AI agents, despite their power, cannot truly think.

AI video of Brad Pitt Tom Cruise fight sparks Hollywood anger

An AI-generated video showing Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise fighting has caused major backlash in Hollywood. The video, created by the AI tool Seedance from ByteDance, went viral on February 10. Disney sent a cease and desist letter to ByteDance, claiming intellectual property infringement. The Motion Picture Association also demanded that Seedance stop its activities. SAG-AFTRA, the actors' guild, condemned the unauthorized use of actors' voices and likenesses, stating it harms human talent. ByteDance has since paused the ability to upload images of real people and is working to strengthen safeguards against unauthorized use.

AI content marketplaces reshape news industry revenue

A new business model is emerging where AI companies and publishers are creating content marketplaces. These platforms aim to formalize and monetize how journalism is used to train and power AI tools. Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon are helping build these marketplaces to simplify pricing and payments for content. While major publishers already have big licensing deals, these marketplaces offer smaller outlets a chance to set their own terms for content. Companies like Factiva, Cloudflare, and Tollbit are also acting as gatekeepers, licensing content and blocking unauthorized AI access. This trend offers publishers a path to sustainable revenue and a clearer value for journalism in the AI era.

AI's Second Wave brings new products to market

The tech industry is entering AI's "Second Wave," moving beyond just cutting costs to creating entirely new products and services. Kylan Gibbs, CEO of Inworld, launched an accelerator to support startups building these innovative consumer experiences. Companies like Particle are redefining news by embedding relevant podcast clips directly into stories using AI. Luvu, an AI-powered fitness app, uses generative AI to offer personalized coaching to its 250,000 users. These startups aim to expand the economic pie by developing products that consumers will pay for, rather than just making existing things cheaper.

Sources

• iOS 26.4 beta code teases 'AI playlists' for Apple Music
• iOS 26.4 beta adds new 'Playlist Playground' AI feature for Apple Music
• Trump's energy dominance agenda: Lowering prices, crippling Russia, fueling AI
• USF's new president faces challenges including new football stadium, artificial intelligence
• The AI Panic Ignores Something Important
• AI models can’t fully understand security – and they never will
• For success in AI, avoid the 'efficiency trap'— and focus on trust instead
• After all the hype, some AI experts don't think OpenClaw is all that exciting
• AI-Generated Video of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise Fighting Sparks Backlash in Hollywood
• Inside the AI content marketplace boom
• AI's 'Second Wave' redefines startups with new products