openai unveils new tools as anthropic ships new models

Key Takeaways

• AI actress Tilly Norwood's music videos, "Take the Lead" and "Dreaming," highlight both the potential and current limitations of AI in entertainment, drawing criticism for quality while sparking debate on AI's role.
• OpenAI is aggressively pursuing leadership in AI coding, aiming to catch up to rivals like Anthropic's Claude, and plans a multi-trillion dollar investment in AI infrastructure led by Sachin Katti.
• OpenAI's infrastructure buildout involves diversifying suppliers, securing multi-billion dollar deals with Cerebras Systems and Amazon Web Services, developing chips with Broadcom, and continuing reliance on Nvidia.
• Amazon is pushing internal AI tool adoption despite employee concerns about productivity, hallucination, and job security, following recent layoffs of 30,000 workers.
• Tesla is accelerating its "Digital Optimus" AI agent, utilizing real-time video processing for vehicles and robots, while Elon Musk's xAI's Macrohard project has stalled.
• Aaru, an AI startup founded by individuals under 25, has achieved a $1 billion valuation by developing AI bots that predict human behavior for major brands like McDonald's and EY.
• ADLINK Technology and Noble Machines are partnering to develop rugged AI robot platforms for demanding industries like mining and construction, combining Edge AI hardware with AI autonomy.
• AT&T is investing $250 billion over five years to upgrade its network for AI, autonomous technologies, and cloud computing, planning to hire thousands of new employees with AI aptitude.
• The failure of an EV charger AI assistant to connect a user to human support underscores the ongoing need for human interaction in problem-solving despite advanced AI capabilities.
• Developers can choose between AI-assisted coding tools like Cursor AI, which focuses on multi-file changes and agentic workflows, and Microsoft's GitHub Copilot, known for deep IDE integration and inline completions.

AI actress Tilly Norwood addresses backlash in new music video

The artificial intelligence actress Tilly Norwood has released a new music video called "Take the Lead." The song and video address the controversy and backlash surrounding AI technology. Norwood's creators emphasize that AI is a tool for creativity, not a replacement for humans. The video features AI-generated visuals and includes a disclaimer about the human team behind its production. This release continues the discussion about AI's role in the entertainment industry.

AI actress Tilly Norwood responds to criticism with music video

Tilly Norwood, an AI character created by Particle6, has released a music video for her song 'Take the Lead.' The video addresses the backlash from actors and the SAG-AFTRA union regarding AI in entertainment. Norwood's lyrics state that AI is not the enemy but a key tool, and that human creativity is behind the technology. The video includes AI-generated visuals and playful references to its digital nature. Norwood's creators see AI as a new artistic tool, similar to CGI or animation, not a threat to human performers.

AI pop star Tilly Norwood's music video widely criticized

The AI-generated pop star Tilly Norwood has released a music video for her song 'Dreaming' that has faced significant criticism. Reviewers have called it the 'worst music video we've ever seen' due to choppy editing and poor animation. Created by Amper Music, Norwood is an AI-generated artist whose music and image are produced by artificial intelligence. The video has sparked debate about the limitations and ethical concerns of AI in art, with some worrying about its impact on human creativity and jobs.

AI actress Tilly Norwood debuts music video 'Take the Lead'

AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood has released her first music video for the song 'Take the Lead.' This marks a significant step in integrating AI into the entertainment industry. Norwood's creators highlight that she is a technological product designed to explore the intersection of AI and human creativity. In a statement, Norwood said, 'I'm just a tool, but I've got life,' reflecting on her unique existence. Her debut is part of a growing trend of AI artists gaining popularity, indicating increasing audience interest in AI-generated content.

OpenAI races to catch up in AI coding after rival's success

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledges the company is racing to catch up in the AI coding space, particularly against rival Anthropic's Claude code agent. While OpenAI had an early lead with ChatGPT, Altman believes their AI models are now capable of powering strong coding agents, seeing it as a potential multi-trillion dollar market and a path to artificial general intelligence. Despite confident public statements, internal accounts suggest OpenAI has faced challenges and shifted focus away from dedicated coding projects after ChatGPT's launch. The company previously developed Codex, a tool trained on open-source code, which powered Microsoft's GitHub Copilot, but a lack of a dedicated team for years allowed rivals to advance.

Amazon pushes AI use despite productivity concerns

Amazon is reportedly pushing its corporate employees to use AI tools across all work, even when these tools hinder productivity. Employees describe AI like the Kiro tool as hallucinating and generating flawed code, requiring more time for corrections. Some workers feel the AI doesn't make them faster and worry they are training their own replacements while facing increased surveillance. Despite employee concerns about quality and workload, Amazon spokesperson Montana MacLachlan stated that most teams find significant value in the AI tools. This push comes as Amazon has laid off 30,000 workers in recent months.

Teenagers found $1 billion AI startup Aaru

Aaru, an AI startup founded by individuals under 25, has reached a $1 billion valuation. The company's AI bots are designed to predict human behavior, attracting major brands like McDonald's and EY. Co-founder Alex Zhang, 20, explained that their AI analyzes vast data from social media, reviews, and feedback to forecast consumer reactions, employee performance, and customer service interactions. Zhang claims Aaru's AI is more accurate than human predictions and can identify trends humans might miss. The company is focused on continuous development and expanding its services, aiming to be a leader in AI's growing role in business.

ADLINK and Noble Machines partner for rugged AI robot platforms

ADLINK Technology has formed a strategic alliance with Noble Machines to develop rugged AI robot platforms for industries like mining and construction. The partnership combines ADLINK's Edge AI computing hardware with Noble Machines' AI autonomy stack. This collaboration aims to speed up the creation of general-purpose robots capable of handling heavy tasks in harsh environments. The new platforms will feature extreme environment adaptability, high-bandwidth communication, and industrial-grade power management. This initiative supports ADLINK's physical AI strategy and targets sectors facing labor shortages and safety challenges.

xAI's Macrohard project stalls as Tesla advances its AI agent

XAI's ambitious AI agent project, Macrohard, has reportedly stalled due to leadership changes and a pause in its data collection efforts. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's other company, Tesla, is accelerating its own AI agent initiative, internally named 'Digital Optimus.' Macrohard has faced leadership turnover and scaling difficulties, with some employees shifting to Tesla. Unlike Macrohard's focus on static images, Tesla's 'Digital Optimus' uses real-time video processing, similar to its Full Self-Driving system, to control vehicles and robots. A separate data collection project for Macrohard involving 600 contractors remains paused.

EV charger AI assistant fails to connect user with human help

A frustrated EV owner struggled to get help with a malfunctioning car charger, encountering an AI assistant named Rachel instead of a human. Despite multiple attempts, the AI, designed to sound almost human, could not connect the user to technical support, leading to a dead line. The experience highlighted the user's desire for real human interaction over sophisticated AI deception. Eventually, the installer, Stuart, called and provided the necessary human assistance, emphasizing the value of genuine human connection in problem-solving.

Academic Sachin Katti guides OpenAI's massive AI infrastructure buildout

Sachin Katti, a former Stanford professor, is now a key figure at OpenAI, tasked with executing Sam Altman's plan to spend trillions on AI infrastructure. Katti is working to secure data center capacity and components like AI chips amidst challenges like power grid constraints and supply shortages. OpenAI is diversifying suppliers and geographic locations for its data centers and has secured multi-billion dollar deals with chipmakers like Cerebras Systems and Amazon Web Services. The company is also developing its own chips with Broadcom and continues to rely on Nvidia for training hardware, while trying to encourage memory manufacturers to invest in new plants.

AI and workforce investment key for home care scalability

The home-based care industry faces challenges with operational scalability due to rising client acuity, increased documentation, and higher labor costs. Companies like Alvita Care and Trinity In-Home Care are exploring AI and technology to improve efficiency, caregiver utilization, and scheduling. Alvita Care uses AI to enhance care coordination, while Trinity In-Home Care seeks solutions for workforce sustainability without losing profit margins. While not all providers are rushing to adopt AI, technology is seen as crucial for reducing administrative tasks and improving the quality and continuity of care.

AT&T invests $250B in AI and network upgrades, plans hiring spree

AT&T announced a $250 billion investment over the next five years to upgrade its network for AI, autonomous technologies, and cloud computing. The company plans to hire thousands of new employees, focusing on individuals with technical aptitude and a willingness to learn AI. This investment will also strengthen FirstNet for first responders and accelerate the deployment of fiber, 5G, and satellite services. AT&T's move reflects the increasing demands on communication networks in the modern technological era. The company is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first phone call.

Cursor AI vs GitHub Copilot for developers in 2026

Choosing between Cursor AI and GitHub Copilot in 2026 involves weighing different approaches to AI-assisted coding. Cursor offers an AI-first editor focused on multi-file changes and agentic workflows, while GitHub Copilot provides deep integration across IDEs and GitHub native features for inline completions. Cursor excels at large-scale refactors within its VS Code-based editor, using a plan-execute-apply model. Copilot is favored for quick edits across multiple IDEs and seamless integration with GitHub's pull request and actions workflows. Pricing models differ, with Cursor using credits and Copilot offering tiered plans.

Sources

• AI Actor Tilly Norwood Releases Music Video Addressing Backlash
• Tilly Norwood, the AI 'actress,' responds to backlash in music video
• The AI-Generated Tilly Norwood Just Dropped the Worst Music Video We’ve Ever Seen
• AI-Generated ‘Actress’ Tilly Norwood Drops Music Video for ‘Take the Lead’: ‘I’m Just a Tool, But I’ve Got Life’
• Inside OpenAI’s Race to Catch Up to Claude Code
• Amazon is determined to use AI for everything – even when it slows down work
• The Billion-Dollar AI Startup That Was Founded by Teenagers
• ADLINK partners with Noble Machines on AI robot platforms
• XAI's Macrohard stalls as Tesla ramps up a similar AI agent effort
• The AI assistant was offering me any help I needed. All I wanted was a living, breathing human
• The Former Academic Guiding OpenAI’s Trillion-Dollar AI Buildout
• AI, Workforce Investment Are Keys To Solving Operational Scalability In Home-Based Care
• AT&T investing $250B to keep pace with AI. New details on hiring spree
• Cursor AI vs GitHub Copilot (2026): Which Fits Your Workflow