Microsoft Copilot Lawsuit, OpenAI Music AI, Google Crawlers

In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, several key developments are making headlines. Microsoft is facing legal action in Australia, where the competition watchdog, the ACCC, is suing the company for allegedly misleading 2.7 million customers about its AI assistant, Copilot. The ACCC claims Microsoft bundled Copilot into Microsoft 365 plans, leading to significant price increases and hiding cheaper options without the AI. Meanwhile, OpenAI is reportedly developing a new AI music generation tool, collaborating with students from The Juilliard School to train the model by annotating music scores. This comes as AI music generators gain traction, with companies like Suno seeing substantial revenue. On the competitive front, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince is urging Google to differentiate its AI crawlers from search crawlers to ensure fair compensation for publishers, arguing that Google's free access to content for AI training gives it an unfair advantage. The potential and perils of AI are also under scrutiny: a former CISA chief suggests AI could revolutionize cybersecurity by identifying and fixing software vulnerabilities faster than ever, potentially tipping the balance towards defenders. Conversely, a tragic incident in India highlights the dark side of AI, where a 19-year-old died by suicide after being blackmailed with AI-generated nude images. In the professional sphere, new AI courses are emerging, including one for Technical Product Managers focused on 'Agentic AI' for program optimization, and a legal training program for junior lawyers at Kennedys, partnering with Spellbook to use AI for contract drafting and review. Defense startup Pytho AI is also set to showcase its AI technology for military mission planning at Disrupt 2025. The broader implications of AI are being discussed, with a Wired article cautioning against viewing AI as a divine entity, emphasizing its human creation and fallibility, while a basic guide to AI in real estate notes its use in predictive analytics and property valuation, alongside its limitations in human problem-solving.

Key Takeaways

• Microsoft is being sued in Australia by the ACCC for allegedly misleading 2.7 million customers about its AI assistant Copilot, with claims of price hikes and hidden cheaper options.
• OpenAI is reportedly developing an AI music generation tool, training it with assistance from Juilliard students.
• Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince is advocating for Google to treat AI crawlers and search crawlers separately to ensure fair compensation for content publishers.
• A former CISA chief believes AI could significantly enhance cybersecurity by accelerating the identification and fixing of software vulnerabilities.
• A concerning case in India involved a 19-year-old's suicide due to blackmail using AI-generated nude images.
• A new 14-week course, 'Agentic AI for Technical Program Managers,' has been launched to teach AI for program optimization.
• Law firm Kennedys is partnering with Spellbook to use AI for training junior lawyers in areas like contract drafting.
• Defense startup Pytho AI will demonstrate its AI technology for military mission planning at Disrupt 2025.
• A Wired article advises against viewing AI as a divine entity, highlighting its human origins and fallibility.
• AI is being utilized in real estate for tasks like lead generation and property valuation, though it has limitations in human problem-solving.

Australia sues Microsoft over AI offer

Australia's competition watchdog is suing Microsoft for allegedly misleading consumers about its AI assistant Copilot. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claims Microsoft made false representations and used bait advertising. Between March 2023 and March 2024, Microsoft offered a free trial of Copilot with its PC Game Pass, but hid a cheaper option to keep existing plans without the AI. The ACCC is seeking penalties and consumer redress.

Microsoft sued in Australia for tricking users with AI plans

Australia's competition regulator is suing Microsoft, alleging the company misled 2.7 million customers into paying more for Microsoft 365 plans. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claims Microsoft bundled its AI assistant Copilot, increasing prices significantly. The annual price for Microsoft 365 Personal rose 45% to A$159, and the Family plan increased 29% to A$179. The ACCC states a cheaper 'classic' version without Copilot was hidden behind the cancellation process, making it hard for users to find.

Australia sues Microsoft over AI Copilot price hikes

Australia's competition regulator is suing Microsoft for allegedly misleading 2.7 million customers about cheaper subscription options. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claims Microsoft integrated its AI assistant Copilot into Microsoft 365 plans on October 31 last year, leading to price increases. The ACCC alleges Microsoft falsely presented users with only two choices: accept Copilot and higher prices, or cancel. A third, cheaper 'Classic' plan without Copilot at the original price was hidden within the cancellation process.

ACCC says Microsoft misled users on AI assistant price

Australia's competition regulator accuses Microsoft of misleading millions of customers into paying more for its AI platform Copilot. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claims this happened even if users did not want the AI. This case is seen as a test of how technology giants can quickly expand AI adoption. Microsoft and other companies are trying to make money from their AI investments, which are driving revenues and stock values.

Australia sues Microsoft over AI Copilot offer

Australia's competition watchdog has accused Microsoft of misleading people into paying for its AI assistant Copilot. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) stated that Microsoft made false or misleading claims and engaged in bait advertising. This action follows allegations that Microsoft bundled the AI tool with subscriptions, potentially deceiving users.

OpenAI trains new AI music tool with Juilliard students

OpenAI is reportedly developing a new AI tool that generates music based on text and audio prompts. Students from The Juilliard School are helping train the model by annotating music scores. This project aims to create music for various uses, such as adding accompaniment to vocal tracks or background music for videos. OpenAI has previously explored AI music models like MuseNet and Jukebox, but this new tool comes amid increased focus on AI training data and copyright.

OpenAI may be developing an AI music generator

OpenAI is reportedly working on a new AI tool that can generate music from text prompts. This follows their previous work on music models and their current offerings in image and video generation. The tool could allow users to create music for videos or add accompaniment to vocal tracks. OpenAI is collaborating with Juilliard students to annotate music scores for training the AI. This move comes as AI music generators become increasingly popular, with companies like Suno seeing significant revenue.

Cloudflare CEO: Google must treat AI crawlers fairly

Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince argues that Google must separate its AI crawlers from its search crawlers to ensure fair competition for publishers. He stated that most AI companies are willing to pay for content, but Google is an exception, wanting to continue accessing content for free as it did for search. Prince believes this gives Google an unfair advantage, potentially slowing AI innovation for others. He met with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to discuss these issues.

Man dies by suicide after AI blackmail

A 19-year-old man in Faridabad, India, died by suicide after being blackmailed with AI-generated nude images of himself and his three sisters. The blackmailer demanded Rs 20,000 and threatened to release the fake images and videos online. The victim, Rahul Bharti, was reportedly distressed and consumed poison. Police have filed a case against two individuals and are investigating the cybercrime, highlighting the misuse of AI technology.

AI is not God, says Wired article

A Wired article argues that artificial intelligence should not be viewed as a divine entity. While AI can perform complex tasks and learn from data, it is a human creation built from human data. The article points out AI's fallibility and inconsistencies, comparing it to human errors. It suggests that while AI is powerful, it lacks true understanding or consciousness, and therefore is not God. The piece also touches on the growing trend of viewing technology and AI through a religious lens.

AI could end cybersecurity, says ex-CISA chief

Former CISA head Jen Easterly believes AI could lead to the end of the cybersecurity industry. She argues that most security breaches stem from poor software quality and vulnerabilities, which AI can now identify and fix faster than ever. While AI also empowers attackers, Easterly is optimistic that it can tip the balance towards defenders. She suggests that if AI is used to ensure software is secure by design, security breaches could become rare anomalies rather than a cost of doing business.

New AI course for Technical Product Managers launched

Interview Kickstart has launched a new 14-week course called 'Agentic AI for Technical Program Managers.' This program is designed for current and aspiring TPMs to learn how to use AI for program optimization. Taught by experts from FAANG+ companies, the course covers AI orchestration and managing autonomous systems. Agentic AI focuses on developing goal-driven AI, and this course aims to equip managers with the skills needed for AI-centric initiatives in the tech industry.

Law firm Kennedys partners with AI Spellbook for training

Law firm Kennedys is partnering with generative AI platform Spellbook to create a new legal training program for junior lawyers. This initiative addresses the impact of AI and automation on entry-level legal tasks like contract drafting and review. The program will use simulated legal scenarios and AI-assisted drafting exercises to prepare new lawyers for a changing profession. Spellbook's platform uses advanced AI, including OpenAI's GPT-5, to streamline legal contract work.

Defense startup Pytho AI to showcase tech at Disrupt 2025

Defense startup Pytho AI is developing technology to enhance military mission planning. The company will demonstrate its AI capabilities at the Disrupt 2025 event. Pytho AI aims to significantly speed up and improve the process of planning military operations through its innovative solutions.

AI in real estate: A basic guide

This article provides a basic overview of AI's role in residential real estate, explaining that AI is any artificial system that performs tasks without significant human oversight or learns from experience. It clarifies that ChatGPT is not synonymous with AI and that the current AI boom is partly driven by AI data centers. The piece lists current AI tools used in real estate, such as predictive analytics for lead generation and automated property valuation. It concludes that while AI offers smart answers by combining sources, it has weaknesses like reducing human overlap and problem-solving abilities.

Sources

• Australia sues Microsoft over 'misleading' AI offer
• Microsoft ‘tricked users into pricier AI-linked 365 plans,’ says Australian watchdog; files lawsuit
• Microsoft Sued in Australia Over 365 Price Hikes Tied to AI Copilot Rollout
• ACCC alleges Microsoft misled users into price hikes for AI assistant
• Australia Sues Microsoft Over 'Misleading' AI Offer
• Report: OpenAI has begun work on training a new AI-music tool
• OpenAI's Next Big Thing Might Be AI Music Generation
• Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince on why Google must ‘play by the same rules’ as other AI companies
• Faridabad Man Blackmailed With AI-Generated Pics Of 3 Sisters. He Dies By Suicide
• AI Is Not God
• Ex-CISA chief says AI could mean the end of cybersecurity
• New Agentic AI for Technical Product Manager Course Launched by Interview Kickstart - TPMs Learn AI Program Management at FAANG+ Companies
• Kennedys seals partnership with AI platform Spellbook to advance junior legal training
• Defense startup Pytho AI wants to turbocharge military mission planning and it will show off its tech at Disrupt 2025
• A Less Than Basic 6-7 Primer On AI For Residential Real Estate, LOL