Author: alex

Daily AI roundup — key moves from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral and more Here are the top AI stories from the past 48 hours, summarised for busy readers. The landscape is active: incumbents are refocusing, startups are shipping major models, and strategic acquisitions and partnerships are reshaping developer tooling and enterprise deployments. Top headlines OpenAI declares a “code red” to prioritize ChatGPT quality (GPT‑5.1) OpenAI has refocused teams to improve speed, reliability and instruction following in ChatGPT, rolling out incremental model updates (GPT‑5.1) and pausing some non‑core initiatives temporarily. The move reflects competitive pressure from Google, Anthropic and other model vendors and aims to stabilise the flagship chat experience. Anthropic acquires Bun to accelerate Claude Code and developer tooling Anthropic purchased Bun — a fast JavaScript runtime and toolchain —…

OpenAI clarifies: screenshots of ads in ChatGPT aren’t live tests, suggestions paused OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT, Nick Turley, has debunked circulating screenshots that appeared to show ads inside the ChatGPT app, saying there are "no live tests for ads" and that the images are either not genuine or not advertisements. The company clarified that some app integrations — like shopping links — may look ad‑like, but they are distinct from a formal ad program. OpenAI engineers have temporarily turned off the type of suggestion that produced the contested screenshots while they work on improving the model’s precision. Chief research officer Mark Chen acknowledged the company "fell short" and said anything that feels like an ad "needs to be handled with care." OpenAI also said it is exploring better controls so…

X cuts European Commission ad account after DSA fine — what's next? In a dramatic escalation following a roughly $140 million fine under the EU’s Digital Services Act, X has disabled the European Commission’s advertising account after accusing the Commission of exploiting a flaw in X’s Ad Composer to artificially boost reach. X says the exploit has been patched and revoked the Commission’s ability to buy and track ads on the platform. The European Commission, which levied the fine as part of enforcement under the DSA, must still submit specific remedial measures and an action plan. X’s product lead alleged the Commission “logged into [their] dormant ad account to take advantage of an exploit” and posted a link that mimicked a video to inflate engagement. Timeline and key actions Regulatory…

Apple’s Johny Srouji may leave: what his potential departure means for Apple Silicon Bloomberg reports that Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies and the executive who led Apple’s move to in‑house silicon, has told CEO Tim Cook he is "seriously considering" leaving the company. Srouji joined Apple in 2008 and later oversaw the development of the M‑series chips that now power Macs and iPads. If Srouji departs, it would follow a series of high‑profile exits at Apple, including John Giannandrea (machine learning), Alan Dye (interface design), Kate Adams (general counsel) and Lisa Jackson (environment & policy). The departures have raised questions about leadership continuity and succession planning at the tech giant. Why Srouji matters Architect of Apple Silicon: Srouji led development of Apple’s A‑series and M‑series chips,…

Meta delays Phoenix mixed‑reality glasses to H1 2027 as it prioritizes polish Meta has postponed the debut of its next mixed‑reality headset codenamed "Phoenix" to the first half of 2027 to allow more time to deliver a "polished and reliable experience," according to internal memos reported by Business Insider. Executives said the extra runway will give Reality Labs more breathing room to refine hardware and software before launch. The Phoenix project is rumored to use a goggle‑style form factor with an external battery pack — a design direction similar to other high‑end MR headsets. Meta is also said to be developing a limited‑edition wearable codenamed "Malibu 2," and recently acquired AI wearable startup Limitless, which makes the clip‑on "Pendant" audio recorder and Rewind productivity tools. Those moves suggest Meta may…

Indie roundup: Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Routine, Sleep Awake and more This week brought a packed slate of indie releases across PC and consoles — from a high‑profile Marvel beat‑’em‑up to long‑awaited survival horror and several smaller, surprising titles. Whether you like retro beat‑'em‑ups, liminal-space terror, or bizarre cozy‑horror hybrids, there’s likely something new to try. Headliner: Marvel Cosmic Invasion (Tribute Games / Dotemu) launched on Steam, Switch, Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S for $30 and is also on Game Pass. It’s a throwback side‑scrolling beat‑’em‑up with a roster of Marvel characters and tag‑style swaps — fun for co‑op and fans of 90s animated aesthetics. Notable new releases Routine — A long‑teased survival horror out on Steam and Xbox (including Game Pass). It delivers liminal, retro‑futurist moon‑base dread with…

Original 1977 cut of Star Wars (A New Hope) returns to theaters on Feb 19, 2027 Lucasfilm will re-release a newly restored version of the original 1977 theatrical cut of Star Wars: A New Hope on February 19, 2027. This presentation restores the film as audiences first saw it, before the 1997 Special Edition changes that added digital effects and altered some scenes. The restoration preserves the original practical effects, edits and performances — including the classic Han/Greedo canteen moment where Han shoots first. The reissue is timed for the film’s 50th anniversary and offers fans a rare chance to experience the movie in its original theatrical form on the big screen. What to expect Newly restored theatrical presentation (not the Special Edition). Original practical effects and editing intact; no…

The original 1977 cut of Star Wars (A New Hope) returns to theaters on Feb 19, 2027 Lucasfilm is reissuing a newly restored version of the original 1977 theatrical cut of Star Wars: A New Hope. The re‑release is scheduled for February 19, 2027, as part of the film’s 50th‑anniversary season and restores the movie as audiences first experienced it — before the 1997 Special Edition CGI changes. This means the restored print will preserve the original practical effects, editing and the famous Han/Greedo canteen scene where Han fires first. Fans who preferred the theatrical textures and pacing should find this a rare chance to see the film in its original form on a big screen. What to expect from the re‑release Newly restored theatrical presentation (not the Special Edition).…

The original 1977 cut of Star Wars (A New Hope) returns to theaters on Feb 19, 2027 Good news for purists: Lucasfilm is re‑releasing a newly restored version of the original 1977 theatrical cut of Star Wars: A New Hope in theaters on February 19, 2027. This screening restores the movie as audiences first saw it, before George Lucas’ later Special Edition changes in the 1990s (including updated CGI and the controversial Greedo/Han edit). The announcement frames the reissue as part of the film’s 50th‑anniversary commemoration. While details about how wide the release will be and whether other original cuts (like those of The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi) will follow have not been confirmed, this is a rare opportunity to see the original theatrical presentation on…

Daily AI Brief: Anthropic’s big week — Bun acquisition, Claude Opus 4.5, $1B Claude Code run‑rate and Snowflake tie‑up Yesterday and today brought a flurry of Anthropic announcements that position Claude at the center of recent AI momentum. Highlights include Anthropic’s acquisition of Bun, the launch of Claude Opus 4.5, Claude Code reaching an approximately $1 billion annualized run‑rate, and a $200 million partnership with Snowflake to integrate agentic AI into enterprise data platforms. Separate research using Claude agents also identified substantial smart‑contract vulnerabilities — reported but not exploited — underscoring both capability and risk. Key items (Dec 1–3, 2025): Anthropic acquires Bun (Dec 3) — Anthropic purchased Bun (a fast JavaScript runtime and tooling project) to accelerate Claude Code infrastructure work. Bun remains open source under the MIT license.…