Meta WhatsApp AI Ban, OpenAI Sora Concerns, Finster AI $15M

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence continues to reshape various sectors, prompting both innovation and caution. Meta is tightening its platform rules, with WhatsApp set to ban general AI chatbots by January 15, 2026, allowing only Meta AI and business-specific customer service bots. Meanwhile, OpenAI's new text-to-video generator, Sora, is sparking concerns about the proliferation of realistic fake content and its potential to undermine truth, despite built-in watermarking. In the financial sector, Finster AI has secured $15 million to develop AI tools for investment banks, focusing on speed and data control. Ambiq Micro is pushing forward with ultra-low power chips designed for AI, IoT, and edge computing, emphasizing energy efficiency. On the training front, DATAMARK is partnering with Zenarate for AI-powered employee development, and Synthesia is introducing 'video agents'—AI avatars for interactive enterprise training. However, the increasing sophistication of AI-driven cyber threats is outpacing traditional security measures, making cyber resilience a critical focus for organizations. Blackstone President Jonathan Gray warns that the business world, particularly rules-based industries like legal and accounting, is underestimating AI's disruptive potential, drawing parallels to the dot-com era but stressing AI's broader transformative impact. Amidst these developments, the FTC has removed several AI-related blog posts published during Lina Khan's tenure, raising questions about record preservation.

Key Takeaways

• WhatsApp will ban general AI chatbots from its platform starting January 15, 2026, with Meta AI being the sole exception alongside business-specific customer service bots.
• OpenAI's Sora video generator raises concerns about the creation of realistic fake content and the potential erosion of truth, despite efforts to watermark AI-generated videos.
• Finster AI has raised $15 million to develop AI tools for investment banks and asset managers, focusing on accelerating research and deal preparation with strict data controls.
• Ambiq Micro is concentrating on developing ultra-low power chip solutions for AI, IoT, and edge computing devices, prioritizing energy efficiency.
• DATAMARK and Zenarate are partnering to offer AI-powered employee training solutions utilizing simulation, analytics, and coaching.
• Synthesia has launched 'video agents,' AI-driven avatars designed to transform enterprise training by simulating scenarios and providing feedback.
• The increasing volume and sophistication of AI-powered cyber threats necessitate a shift towards cyber resilience, as traditional security measures are becoming insufficient.
• Blackstone President Jonathan Gray warns that businesses, particularly in sectors like legal and accounting, are underestimating the profound disruptive potential of AI.
• The FTC has removed several AI-related blog posts from Lina Khan's tenure, prompting concerns about the preservation of government records.

WhatsApp bans general AI chatbots from its platform starting 2026

WhatsApp is changing its rules to stop general-purpose AI chatbots from using its platform. Starting January 15, 2026, AI providers cannot offer their assistants on WhatsApp. This rule does not affect businesses using AI for customer service. Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, stated that the WhatsApp Business API is meant for businesses to help customers, not for distributing chatbots. The company found that general chatbots were using too many system resources. Meta AI will be the only AI assistant available on the app.

OpenAI's Sora video generator raises concerns about truth and fakes

OpenAI's new text-to-video generator, Sora, is raising serious concerns about its potential to blur the lines between reality and fiction. The tool can create realistic videos from simple text prompts, leading to disturbing and uncanny results, including fake footage of historical figures. While Sora includes labels and hidden watermarks to identify AI-generated content, users are already finding ways to bypass these protections. The author argues that Sora, like other AI tools, contributes to an "avalanche of fakes" that could erode objective truth and be used for misinformation. The article questions society's preparedness to handle such advanced AI-generated content.

Ambiq Micro focuses on AI hardware with low-power chips

Ambiq Micro Inc. is strengthening its focus on AI hardware by developing ultra-low power chip solutions. These chips are designed for AI, IoT, and edge computing devices, prioritizing energy efficiency and intelligent performance. The company is a leader in semiconductor technology within the edge computing industry. Their core technology enables energy-efficient artificial intelligence applications.

FTC removes blog posts about AI published during Lina Khan's term

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has removed several blog posts about AI that were published during Lina Khan's tenure as chair. These posts discussed topics like open-weight models and consumer concerns about AI. The removal comes as the Trump administration has been deleting hundreds of FTC blog posts and guidance documents from Khan's time. An FTC spokesperson did not comment on why the posts were removed. Experts suggest this action raises concerns about compliance with the Federal Records Act, which requires government agencies to preserve records.

Finster raises $15 million for AI tools in investment banks

Finster AI, a company that creates tools for investment banks and asset managers, has successfully raised $15 million since December. The company's CEO, Sid Jayakumar, announced the funding. Finster focuses on developing AI solutions that adhere to strict data controls, aiming to speed up research and deal preparation processes within financial institutions. This funding will help expand their offerings for the investment banking sector.

DATAMARK partners with Zenarate for AI-powered employee training

DATAMARK has formed a partnership with Zenarate to offer advanced AI training solutions. Zenarate's platform uses AI simulation, analytics, and coaching to improve employee performance and customer experience. This collaboration will equip DATAMARK's workforce with tools for confident performance and faster adaptation. The partnership aims to optimize operations and create a more future-ready workforce. Zenarate is a leading AI platform for frontline team performance, supporting many large enterprises.

AI threats outpace security, making cyber resilience crucial

The growing complexity and volume of cyber threats, fueled by AI and automation, are overwhelming traditional security measures. This situation requires organizations to shift from solely focusing on prevention to adopting cyber resilience. Cyber resilience aims to minimize the impact of incidents and improve adaptability. Key factors driving this shift include the industrialization of cybercrime using AI and a significant gap in corporate preparedness. Implementing cyber resilience involves technical and operational frameworks, redefining the human role, and fostering public-private collaboration.

Blackstone President warns of major AI disruption in business

Blackstone President Jonathan Gray believes Wall Street is underestimating the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). He warns that AI could render entire industries obsolete, making it crucial for investors to understand these risks. Gray advises his teams to address AI in investment memos, comparing current enthusiasm to the dot-com bubble but emphasizing AI's broader disruptive potential. He highlights that rules-based industries like legal and accounting will face profound changes. This perspective aligns with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's view that AI is a real, transformative trend despite potential market speculation.

Synthesia's video agents to transform enterprise training

Synthesia has introduced 'video agents,' on-screen avatars that use AI to respond to user prompts, transforming enterprise training possibilities. These agents can simulate scenarios like sales practice sessions, providing feedback to trainees. This development brings multi-modal AI into mainstream business applications, offering a more interactive way to engage with AI beyond text. While the technology is evolving, its widespread adoption may depend on integration into existing workflows and the declining costs of computing power.

Sources

• WhatsApp changes its terms to bar general purpose chatbots from its platform
• Opinion | What Is OpenAI’s Sora Slop App For, Exactly?
• Ambiq Micro (NYSE:AMBQ) Strengthens AI Hardware Focus
• The FTC Is Disappearing Blog Posts About AI Published During Lina Khan’s Tenure
• Finster's $15M brings verifiable AI to i-bank teams
• DATAMARK Forms Partnership with Zenarate for Advanced AI Training Solutions
• Cyber Resilience Becomes Key as AI Threats Outpace Security
• Blackstone President Foresees 'Profound' AI Disruption in Business
• How AI Video Agents Will Transform Enterprise Training