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December 15, 2025

News & Trends
OpenAI's GPT-5 Codex Improves Itself

OpenAI's GPT-5 Codex is an AI coding agent that builds and improves itself. The tool operates as a cloud-based software engineering agent, handling tasks like writing features and fixing bugs. OpenAI's engineers use Codex regularly, and the company treats it as a 'teammate' that can be assigned tasks through project management tools.

US taking 25% cut of Nvidia chip sales “makes no sense,” experts say

The US has decided to allow Nvidia to export advanced AI chips to China, with the US taking a 25% cut of sales. Experts warn that this decision may help China catch up in the AI race and undermine US national security. The move has been criticized by lawmakers and experts, who argue that it makes no sense to give China access to advanced technology.

AI's Potential in Scientific Research

AI can help scientists by analyzing large amounts of data, predicting outcomes, and identifying patterns, leading to breakthroughs in fields like biology, material science, and weather forecasting. Examples include AlphaFold, GNoME, and Coscientist, which have already shown promising results in their respective fields.

Adobe Integrates Photoshop, Express and Acrobat into ChatGPT

Adobe has integrated Photoshop, Express, and Acrobat into ChatGPT, allowing users to edit images, create designs, and manage PDFs directly within the interface using natural language instructions.

The end of OpenAI, and other 2026 predictions

The Vergecast discusses potential tech trends for 2026, including the future of OpenAI, Apple's potential foldable iPhone, and the rise of AI-powered social media features. The hosts also debate the likelihood of self-driving cars and the impact of AI on the tech industry.

Options & Tutorials
AI investment and its potential effects on urban digital twins

The article discusses the potential effects of AI investment on urban digital twins. With the current AI investment bubble, there are concerns that it may burst, affecting the development of digital twins. However, analysts believe that AI will continue to play a major role in transforming industries, including the development of digital twins. Digital twins can benefit from AI in various ways, such as making data usable and creating data for unmeasurable phenomena. The article also highlights the potential of digital twins in urban planning, with cities like Osaka, Japan, developing smart cities that integrate AI, extended reality, and decentralized physical infrastructure networks.

Half of exposed React servers remain unpatched

A critical-severity flaw in React Server Components is being actively exploited, with roughly 50% of publicly exposed resources still unpatched. The vulnerability, dubbed 'React2Shell', allows an unauthenticated attacker to achieve remote code execution. Multiple threat groups, including North Korean and Chinese actors, are exploiting the flaw, with attacks ranging from cryptomining to state-linked intrusion tooling.

Salesforce opts for seat-based AI licensing

Salesforce has introduced seat-based pricing for its AI agents, offering more predictability for customers. This move is seen as a sign that users are not adopting AI to replace people, but rather to augment their capabilities. The shift is expected to drive steady growth in AI agent implementations, with vendors like Salesforce, SAP, and Oracle investing heavily in the technology.

Scientists built an AI co-pilot for prosthetic bionic hands

Researchers developed an AI co-pilot for prosthetic bionic hands, making them more intuitive to use. The AI controller uses custom sensors to detect objects and adjust grip force, allowing users to perform tasks with greater ease and accuracy. The system was tested with both intact and amputee participants, resulting in an 80-90% success rate in manipulating fragile objects.

How Governments Turn the Internet Into a Weapon

Governments around the world are increasingly shutting down the internet to control information and suppress dissent. This can have severe consequences, including disrupting emergency services, economy, and human rights. The frequency of deliberate internet shutdowns has skyrocketed since 2011, with 296 shutdowns in 54 countries in 2024 and at least 244 more in 2025. Shutdowns can be local or national, partial or total, and can be used to prevent protests, control elections, or conceal human rights abuses.

Launches & Tools
Will AI make research on humans…less human?

The use of AI in human subjects research is changing the field, but regulatory frameworks have not kept pace. AI has the potential to improve healthcare and make research more efficient, but it also poses risks such as biased decision-making, misuse of data, and lack of transparency. Experts like Tamiko Eto are working to address these issues and ensure that AI is used responsibly in human subjects research.

Rivian’s survival plan involves more than cars

Rivian is building a company that's about more than just selling cars. It's expanding its hands-free driver assistance software and developing a custom 5nm processor for its autonomy computer. The company may also license its tech to others, including its joint venture with Volkswagen Group.

Wall Street Sphincters Tighten as Oracle Delays Its OpenAI Data Center Buildout

Oracle is delaying some of its data center projects for OpenAI due to labor and material shortages, pushing the completion back from 2027 to 2028. This delay may impact the development and deployment of AI tools, causing concern for investors and affecting the market's confidence in AI.

Google pulls AI-generated Disney videos from YouTube

Google has removed dozens of AI-generated videos featuring Disney characters from YouTube after receiving a cease and desist letter from Disney, citing copyright infringement. The move comes as Disney cracks down on the use of its IP in AI-generated content, while also exploring partnerships with AI companies like OpenAI.

Kindle's AI Assistant

Amazon's new Kindle feature, Ask this Book, uses AI to answer reader questions about plot, characters, and other details without revealing spoilers. The feature is available on thousands of English best-selling Kindle titles and can be accessed through the Kindle iOS app. However, authors and publishers cannot opt out of having this feature in their works, which has raised concerns about copyright infringement.

Quick Links
Unlocking Intelligent Automotive

The automotive industry is shifting towards software innovation, but mobile networks have not kept pace. To unlock the full potential of 5G, networks must evolve into programmable platforms that developers can build on. The GSMA Open Gateway framework provides a standardized way for developers to access advanced network capabilities, enabling the creation of sophisticated mobility services.

Microsoft promises more bug payouts, with or without a bounty program

Microsoft is changing its bug bounty program to reward researchers for finding vulnerabilities across all its products and services. The new 'in scope by default' approach means that critical vulnerabilities found in third-party applications are eligible for awards, even if there's no established bounty scheme. Microsoft paid over $17 million in awards last year and expects to increase spending.

Do Kwon Gets 15 Years for $40 Billion Crypto Collapse

Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the $40 billion crypto collapse. The collapse of Terra's stablecoin, UST, and its native cryptocurrency, LUNA, led to significant financial losses for investors. Victims testified to the destruction caused by Kwon's actions, sharing stories of financial ruin and personal hardship.

US sues ex-Accenture manager over Army cloud security claims

The US is suing a former Accenture senior manager for allegedly misleading the government about the security of an Army cloud platform. The platform, used for payroll and benefits, was claimed to meet FedRAMP High and DoD Impact Levels 4 and 5 requirements, but allegedly did not implement required security controls.

Even 1,001 Disney deals may not save OpenAI

OpenAI is facing significant financial losses, with estimated losses of $140 billion between 2024 and 2029. A recent $1 billion deal with Disney may not be enough to save the company, which is spending heavily on new infrastructure and facing increased competition in the AI market.

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