Asha Sharma takes the helm as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, succeeding Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. Sharma emphasizes a commitment to "great games" with "deep emotional resonance" and "unforgettable characters," while firmly rejecting "bad AI," "soulless AI slop," or "endless AI slop" in Xbox titles. She stresses that games are human-crafted art, even as she plans to double down on Xbox console development and expand to mobile and cloud gaming. Her background leading Microsoft's CoreAI suggests a strategic approach to integrating AI thoughtfully into gaming.
In other AI developments, Anthropic's AI coding tool, Claude Code, has achieved significant success, generating $2.5 billion in revenue. This tool, initially a side project, helps software developers write and debug code, positioning Anthropic as a leader in AI coding and prompting rivals like OpenAI to accelerate their own efforts. Anthropic also launched Claude Code Security, a new feature that scans software codebases for vulnerabilities and suggests fixes, reasoning through code like a human researcher with a human-in-the-loop verification process.
AI's impact extends across various sectors. MHP Sales Manager, a service for mobile home park owners, demonstrates rapid growth, expanding from 12 to 38 parks in under three months by using AI for lead handling, advertising, and managing showings. This performance-based model covers advertising costs and charges a success fee only after a home is sold. Looking ahead to 2026, AI product photography is set to transform visual marketing, enabling faster, more scalable, and personalized content creation for e-commerce, democratizing high-quality visuals for businesses of all sizes.
However, the integration of AI also brings challenges and diverse reactions. Mark Zuckerberg's team faced contempt of court threats for wearing Meta AI glasses capable of recording in a Los Angeles courtroom during his testimony in a trial concerning addictive social media platforms. Meanwhile, the Gur Hasidic dynasty has issued a strict ban on all AI use for its followers, declaring it "the evil inclination of our generation" and prohibiting dialogue with AI systems, citing spiritual dangers. The US also faces a significant challenge in preparing students for the 2029 PISA test on AI literacy, with many educators lacking training and unequal access to AI education, potentially impacting the nation's competitiveness. Chinese tech firms like ByteDance, Baidu, and Alibaba Cloud are actively recruiting AI and semiconductor talent in the US to strengthen their workforce, with Baidu specifically seeking roles for hardware self-reliance in AI chips. Musician Margo Price also discussed AI as part of a broader conversation about her music and influences.
Key Takeaways
- Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, commits to "great games" and rejects "bad AI" or "soulless AI slop" in Xbox titles, while also planning to expand to mobile and cloud gaming.
- Anthropic's AI coding tool, Claude Code, has generated $2.5 billion in revenue, establishing the company as a leader in AI coding and prompting rivals like OpenAI to accelerate their own developments.
- Anthropic also launched Claude Code Security, an AI tool that scans software codebases for vulnerabilities and suggests fixes, using a human-in-the-loop verification process.
- MHP Sales Manager, an AI-powered service for mobile home parks, expanded from 12 to 38 parks in under three months by covering advertising costs and charging a success fee only after a sale.
- The Gur Hasidic dynasty has banned all AI use for its followers, deeming it "the evil inclination of our generation" and prohibiting dialogue with AI systems due to spiritual concerns.
- Mark Zuckerberg's team faced contempt of court threats for wearing Meta AI glasses capable of recording in a Los Angeles courtroom during his testimony.
- The US faces challenges in preparing students for the 2029 PISA test on AI literacy, with concerns about educator training and equitable access to AI education.
- Chinese tech companies, including ByteDance, Baidu, and Alibaba Cloud, are actively recruiting AI and semiconductor talent in the US to bolster their advanced technology capabilities.
- AI product photography is expected to revolutionize visual marketing by 2026, enabling faster, more scalable, and personalized content creation for e-commerce.
- Musician Margo Price discussed artificial intelligence as part of a broader conversation about her music and influences, including meeting Joan Baez.
New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma prioritizes great games and no bad AI
Asha Sharma is the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, taking over from Phil Spencer. She aims to bring back Xbox and focus on creating 'great games' with 'deep emotional resonance.' Sharma also stated she has 'no tolerance for bad AI,' emphasizing that while AI can be a growth engine, great stories are made by humans. She respects Spencer's legacy and plans to listen to the gaming community. Sharma's background is in platform building, and she aims to earn trust through consistency. Microsoft Gaming is preparing for its 25th anniversary and upcoming events like the GDC Festival of Gaming and the Xbox Games Showcase.
New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma commits to consoles and avoids AI 'slop'
Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has pledged a strong commitment to the Xbox console. She aims to bring back the Xbox brand by focusing on games that take risks and exploring new markets. Sharma also promised to avoid 'soulless AI slop' in Xbox games, stating that games are art crafted by humans. While committed to the console, she also plans to expand Xbox to other platforms like mobile and cloud gaming. Sharma's strategy involves doubling down on Xbox console development and Xbox Game Studios.
Xbox's new leader vows no 'soulless AI slop' on the platform
Asha Sharma, the new head of Microsoft Gaming, promised 'the return of Xbox' and stated she will not flood the platform with 'soulless AI slop.' She believes games are art created by humans using innovative technology. Sharma is committed to making great games with unforgettable characters and innovative gameplay. She also reaffirmed Xbox's commitment to consoles while acknowledging the brand's expansion to mobile and cloud gaming. Sharma aims to balance reassuring core gamers about AI with signaling AI's future role across platforms.
Microsoft's new gaming CEO rejects 'endless AI slop' for Xbox
Asha Sharma is the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, replacing Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. Sharma, who previously led Microsoft's CoreAI, vowed not to flood the Xbox ecosystem with 'endless AI slop.' She emphasized that games are art crafted by humans using advanced technology. Sharma's key commitments include building great games, prioritizing Xbox, and focusing on the future of play. Her appointment suggests Microsoft may be increasing its focus on integrating AI into gaming.
AI helps MHP Sales Manager boost mobile home sales rapidly
MHP Sales Manager, a service for mobile home park owners, is seeing rapid growth due to its AI-powered sales solutions. In under three months, they expanded from 12 to 38 parks, with more onboarding. Unlike traditional services, MHP Sales Manager covers advertising costs and only charges a success fee after a home is sold. Their platform uses AI for lead handling, online advertising, and managing showings. This performance-based model, which eliminates upfront risk for owners, is proving highly popular and shows a trend towards AI-driven, risk-free leasing solutions in the industry.
Gur Hasidim community bans all use of artificial intelligence
The Gur Hasidic dynasty has issued a strict ban on all artificial intelligence use for its followers. Senior rabbis declared AI 'the evil inclination of our generation' and prohibited any form of dialogue with AI systems, even for professional reasons. The decree warns that AI poses a greater spiritual danger than the open internet. Limited use of AI tools that only generate outputs, like image creation, is permitted under strict supervision. This ban aims to prevent addiction to shallow interactions with non-living AI entities.
Meta entourage faces contempt for wearing recording AI glasses in court
Mark Zuckerberg's team faced contempt of court threats for wearing Meta AI glasses that can record into a Los Angeles courtroom. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl warned them to delete any recordings or face consequences. The incident occurred during Zuckerberg's testimony in a trial where Meta Platforms Inc. is accused of designing addictive social media platforms. The plaintiff alleges mental health issues due to social media addiction. Zuckerberg testified about Meta's efforts to keep underage users off platforms and denied intentionally designing addictive features.
Anthropic's Claude Code AI tool becomes a billion-dollar success
Anthropic's AI coding tool, Claude Code, has become a major success, generating $2.5 billion in revenue. Initially a side project, it quickly gained popularity among software developers for its ability to write and debug code autonomously. This success has positioned Anthropic as a leader in AI coding products, prompting rivals like OpenAI to accelerate their own developments. Claude Code's adoption extends from startups to Fortune 500 companies, demonstrating AI's potential to significantly change how work is done. Anthropic is now expanding its AI offerings to healthcare, finance, and legal services.
US students unprepared for 2029 AI literacy test
The US faces a challenge in preparing students for the 2029 PISA test on AI literacy, the first of its kind globally. Many educators lack training, and access to AI education is unequal. A poor performance could impact US competitiveness in the AI field. The test will assess understanding of AI concepts, responsible use, and critical thinking. Experts urge increased investment in teacher training, standardized curricula, and equitable access to AI education to ensure students are ready for an AI-driven future.
Anthropic launches Claude Code Security for AI vulnerability scanning
AI company Anthropic has released Claude Code Security, a new feature that scans software codebases for vulnerabilities and suggests fixes. This tool uses AI to identify security issues that traditional methods might miss, reasoning through code like a human researcher. It helps teams find and fix vulnerabilities faster, countering threats where attackers also use AI. Claude Code Security includes a multi-stage verification process and assigns severity ratings to findings. Developers always have the final say, approving suggested patches through a human-in-the-loop approach.
China's tech firms recruit AI talent in the US
Major Chinese tech companies like ByteDance, Baidu, and Alibaba Cloud are actively recruiting AI and semiconductor talent in the United States. This move aims to strengthen their skilled workforce amidst intense competition in their home market. Baidu is specifically hiring for semiconductor design roles, seeking hardware self-reliance for AI chips. Other firms are focused on recruiting US talent to enhance their AI systems and services. This recruitment drive highlights China's growing ambitions in advanced technology sectors.
Margo Price discusses AI, music, and meeting Joan Baez
Musician Margo Price discussed various topics including artificial intelligence, her music, and meeting folk icon Joan Baez. Price, known for her 'outlaw country' style, draws inspiration from artists like Baez and Bob Dylan. She shared an anecdote about Baez giving her advice during times of political unrest and mentioned attending a unique circus performance with her. Price also touched on the challenges of navigating the music industry and her role as a board member for Farm Aid. The interview covered her influences, career, and perspectives on current issues.
AI product photography revolutionizes visual marketing in 2026
In 2026, AI product photography is transforming visual marketing by enabling faster, more scalable, and personalized content creation. Traditional photography struggles to meet the demands of e-commerce, leading brands to adopt AI solutions. These tools generate studio-quality images quickly and cost-effectively, often without physical shoots. AI allows for rapid updates, A/B testing, and localization of visuals, providing a competitive edge. This technology democratizes high-quality visual marketing, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes and enabling hyper-personalization at scale.
Sources
- New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma on What Makes a ‘Great Game,’ Having ‘No Tolerance for Bad AI’ and Replacing Phil Spencer
- Microsoft isn't giving up on Xbox as a console even if others have, claims new CEO
- Xbox's New Boss Promises Not To Flood It With 'Soulless AI Slop'
- Microsoft’s new gaming CEO vows not to flood the ecosystem with ‘endless AI slop’
- MHP Sales Manager Proves AI-powered Mobile Home Sales Solutions Are in High Demand
- Gur Hasidim prohibit use of artificial intelligence
- Mark Zuckerberg's entourage threatened with contempt for wearing Meta AI glasses into a no-recording courtroom
- The Surprise Hit That Made Anthropic Into an AI Juggernaut
- Opinion: America Is About to Be Graded on AI Literacy. We Are Not Prepared.
- Anthropic Launches Claude Code Security for AI-Powered Vulnerability Scanning
- China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry
- Margo Price talks AI, bro-country and meeting Joan Baez at the circus
- How AI Product Photography Is Redefining Visual Marketing in 2026
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