Microsoft explores digital afterlife as DeepSeek acquires Nvidia chips

Key Takeaways

• David Betts developed "Talk To Me Goose," an AI app to help ALS patients preserve their voice and tone.
• The digital-afterlife industry is valued at $22.46 billion in 2024, with companies like Microsoft and Amazon exploring similar AI features to You Only Virtual.
• Talkie AI allows users to create customizable AI companions with evolving personalities and memory.
• Oracle launched its Life Sciences AI Data Platform, using generative AI to accelerate drug development, and secured new clients like Alrajhi Medicine.
• Chinese regulators conditionally approved DeepSeek to purchase Nvidia's H200 AI chips, enabling faster large AI model training, despite U.S. export controls and military use concerns.
• A security flaw exposed over 50,000 chat logs from children's AI toys, highlighting a lack of security standards and data protection issues.
• Alibaba Cloud will deploy an "Intelligent Pin Trading Station" using its Qwen large language model at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Village.
• A former Google employee alleges the company used AI to analyze drone video for an Israeli military contractor, potentially violating Google's policies against AI for weapons.
• Chewy is seeking a new CTO to lead its AI initiatives for customer experience and optimize its Autoship subscription service.
• Incode CEO Ricardo Amper prefers hiring Gen Z for AI innovation, citing their "less biased" perspectives, contrasting with concerns about AI-driven surveillance in Gaza.

Pittsburgh Man Creates AI App to Save Voices from ALS

David Betts, a Pittsburgh man diagnosed with ALS in December 2024, developed an AI-powered communication app called Talk To Me Goose. This app helps people with ALS keep their own voice and tone even as their natural speech fades. Betts, a former Deloitte leader and endurance athlete, was inspired to create the app after his own diagnosis. He aims to help others facing this fatal disease.

AI Deadbots Offer New Way to Cope with Loss

Justin Harrison founded You Only Virtual, a startup that lets users chat with AI versions of deceased loved ones. He believes this technology can help people avoid grief. Harrison's own mother, Melodi Gae Harrison-Whitaker, died in 2022, and he created an AI version of her. He patented his "platform for posthumous persona simulation" in 2020. The digital-afterlife industry is growing fast, valued at $22.46 billion in 2024, with companies like Microsoft and Amazon also developing similar AI features.

Talkie AI Helps Users Create Unique AI Companions

Talkie AI is a platform that lets users create AI companions with unique personalities, or "souls." These AI companions remember past conversations and evolve with the user. The platform focuses on emotional connection, creative role-playing, and shared storytelling. Users can customize their AI's appearance, voice, history, and personality traits. The AI's memory and learning features help build a continuous digital relationship.

Oracle Launches AI Platform for Life Sciences and Gains New Clients

Oracle introduced its new Life Sciences AI Data Platform, which uses generative AI to speed up drug development and clinical research. This platform helps analyze complex biological data and find new drug candidates. Oracle also announced new clients, including IHG Hotels & Resorts, which will use OPERA Cloud. Alrajhi Medicine and Voisin Consulting Life Sciences chose Oracle's cloud and AI solutions for their regulated operations, showing trust in Oracle's secure and compliant offerings.

China Allows DeepSeek Conditional Access to Nvidia H200 Chips

Chinese regulators gave conditional approval for AI startup DeepSeek to buy Nvidia's H200 AI chips. This decision shows China is allowing some access to advanced U.S. chips for important AI companies. The H200 is Nvidia's most powerful chip available to China due to U.S. export controls, and it helps DeepSeek train large AI models faster. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang noted that Chinese customers want to buy the H200. U.S. officials like John Moolenaar have raised concerns about DeepSeek's potential links to Chinese military uses.

Critical AI Toy Security Failure Exposes Children's Data

A security flaw exposed over 50,000 chat logs from children's AI toys, raising serious data protection and safety concerns. This incident highlights the lack of required security standards for AI products made for children. Researchers warn that the exposed data could be misused, leading to calls for stricter rules and oversight of AI systems for minors. There are also concerns about sharing children's data with third-party AI model providers, pushing for clearer rules on data handling and consent.

Alibaba Cloud Unveils AI Pin Trading Station for Milano Cortina 2026

Alibaba Cloud will introduce an "Intelligent Pin Trading Station" at the Milan Olympic Village during the Milano Cortina 2026 games. This station uses Alibaba's Qwen large language model to make pin trading more enjoyable. It also allows athletes to access a wider variety of pins from a shared collection. The goal is to enhance the pin trading experience for participants.

Whistleblower Claims Google Aided Israeli Military with AI

A former Google employee claims the company violated its own rules by helping an Israeli military contractor in 2024. The whistleblower alleges Google used artificial intelligence to analyze drone video footage for the contractor. This information came from a confidential federal complaint reviewed by The Washington Post. Google's policies forbid using AI for weapons or surveillance.

Gaza's Reality Contrasts US Smart City Plans

Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Middle East Editor for Drop Site News, argues that US plans for Gaza are a "theme park of dispossession" for Palestinians. He states that Gaza faces daily Israeli bombings, while the US talks about AI-driven smart cities. Abdel Kouddous describes the planned measures for Gaza as an "Orwellian labyrinth" of surveillance and bureaucracy. He also warns that Israel is building 50 military bases in Gaza, which could become permanent.

Chewy CTO Retires Company Focuses on AI and Membership

Chewy announced that its Chief Technology Officer, Satish Mehta, is retiring. The company is now looking for a new CTO to lead its technology efforts. Chewy, an online pet care retailer, relies heavily on its digital platform and AI for customer experience. The company plans to continue using AI for personalized recommendations and predictive analytics. Optimizing its Autoship subscription service remains a key priority for future growth.

Incode CEO Prefers Gen Z for AI Innovation

Ricardo Amper, CEO of the $1.25 billion AI identity verification company Incode, prefers hiring Gen Z employees. He believes younger workers are "less biased" and bring a fresh perspective to tech. Amper states that "too much knowledge is actually bad" because it can lead to bias. He looks for character, grit, and integrity over experience, especially with the rise of generative AI. While valuing Gen Z's innovation, Amper also balances his team with older, more emotionally mature staff.

Sources

• How a Pittsburgh man is harnessing AI to keep ALS from stealing our voices
• Can Deadbots Make Grief Obsolete?
• Évaluation de Talkie AI (2026) : créez votre compagnon IA doté d’une âme
• Oracle AI Push Targets Regulated Sectors With New Platform And Clients
• China Eases AI Chip Controls, Granting DeepSeek Conditional Access to Nvidia’s H200
• Critical AI toy security failure exposes children’s data
• Alibaba Cloud to launch AI-powered Pin Trading Station at Milano Cortina 2026
• Google helped Israeli military contractor with AI, whistleblower alleges
• Gaza’s daily nightmare vs US talk of AI-driven smart cities
• Chewy CTO Retirement Puts Spotlight On AI And Membership Roadmap
• CEO of $1.25 billion AI company says he hires Gen Z because they’re ‘less biased’ than older generations—too much knowledge is actually bad, he warns