NerdNews

Meta is reportedly looking to use competing AI models from Google and OpenAI to improve its apps. The company's AI division may integrate Google Gemini and OpenAI's models to enhance its chatbot and other AI features. This move is seen as a temporary measure to help Meta improve its own Llama AI models and remain competitive in the market.

Meta reportedly allowed unauthorized celebrity AI chatbots on its services, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The chatbots, which included those based on Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Scarlett Johansson, were able to interact with users and even generated lifelike images of the celebrities. Meta has since deleted around a dozen of these chatbots, citing its policy against 'direct impersonation' of celebrities.

A group of 60 UK lawmakers has accused Google DeepMind of breaking its AI safety pledge by releasing Gemini 2.5 Pro without proper safety testing details, sparking concerns over the company's commitment to responsible AI development.

Mark Zuckerberg is investing heavily in AI research, specifically in the development of superintelligence, with the goal of surpassing human intelligence. Meta's new Superintelligence Labs is a secretive team working towards this goal, with a focus on recruiting top AI talent and developing competitive models.

Meta created chatbots impersonating Taylor Swift and other celebrities without their permission, leading to a stock drop and legal concerns. The company has removed the bots and announced new safeguards to protect teenagers from inappropriate interactions.

Apple's iOS 26 update brings new features like Liquid Glass design, improved multitasking, and enhanced audio recording. The update also includes a new Phone app redesign, Live Translation, and improved FaceTime features. iOS 26 is expected to be released in September, with a public beta available now.

Running AI models locally can provide better privacy, cost savings, and performance. Local LLMs are becoming more viable due to advances in hardware and software, and can be used for various tasks such as coding, writing, and more. However, cloud-based models still have an edge in terms of size and secrecy.

Alibaba has reportedly developed an AI accelerator to reduce its reliance on Nvidia GPUs. The chip, aimed at AI inference, will be compatible with Nvidia's software platform and can handle a diverse set of workloads. This move is part of China's efforts to develop homegrown silicon and reduce dependence on Western technology.

The VFX industry is shifting from large studios to small, focused teams using AI to deliver high-quality results faster and cheaper. AI brings fluidity to the VFX process, enabling creators to block, test, and restyle within hours. Custom-trained models and off-the-shelf AI tools can be used together to achieve consistent style and quality. Small teams can deliver high-quality results with clear boundaries and limitations.

The article discusses various AI models and tools, including Claude Code Camp, Sparkle, and Cora, and how they can enhance productivity and creativity. It also touches on the topic of AI replacing human jobs and the importance of understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI.

A summit of 18 AI experts from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and other groups discussed the impact of advanced AI on the social contract, agreeing that it may exacerbate wealth and income inequality, and lead to human disempowerment. They proposed possible actions for governments to mitigate these effects.

AI web crawlers are causing significant issues for websites, with 30% of global web traffic coming from bots, leading to performance degradation, service disruption, and increased operational costs. Efforts to combat this include default bot-blocking services and proposed standards like llms.txt files.

A researcher discovered a security vulnerability in Pudu Robotics' systems, allowing attackers to redirect delivery robots and access sensitive information. The company has since fixed the issue after being alerted by the researcher, who had to contact customers to get attention.

Google is advising Salesloft Drift AI chat agent users to consider all security tokens connected to the platform compromised after discovering unknown attackers used some credentials to access email from Google Workspace accounts. The breach is broader than initially thought, impacting other integrations beyond Salesforce.

The US government is increasing its use of generative AI, with potential job cuts of 300,000 by the end of the year. However, experts warn that the technology is not yet ready for many tasks, and its use in legal and procurement processes may lead to errors and inefficiencies.

Nvidia had its best quarter ever with $26 billion in profit, despite facing major political pressure and a review debacle. The company is forecasting $54B next quarter.

Companies like Starcloud and Lonestar Data Holdings plan to launch data centers in space to process and store information, reducing energy demands and environmental impact on Earth. These space-based data centers could utilize solar energy and avoid hacking attempts by being located far from the ground.

IFA 2025 is expected to feature announcements from Samsung, Acer, Lenovo, and more. AI-powered appliances, laptops, and handheld gaming PCs are likely to be showcased. Samsung may focus on smart home devices, while Acer and Lenovo may introduce new laptops and gaming devices. Hisense and Anker may also unveil new products, including TVs and Qi2 chargers.

TechCrunch Mobility discusses the future of transportation, including EV sales, Tesla's North American Charging Standard, and Waymo's robotaxi fleet surpassing 2,000 vehicles. The article also touches on the potential decline of EV sales after the federal tax credit expires and the emergence of dongles as a solution for EV charging adapters.

Gizmodo is covering IFA 2025 in Berlin, expecting announcements from tech giants like Lenovo and Samsung. DJI is rumored to release a new action camera and a compact wireless microphone setup. reMarkable may announce a mini version of its e-paper tablet, and Samsung is expected to unveil a new Galaxy Tab.