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Artificial Intelligence

GPT-5: OpenAI's New Era of Unified AI Redefines Capabilities and Accessibility

OpenAI has launched GPT-5, a unified AI model that combines reasoning and fast responses, marking a new era for ChatGPT.

GPT-5 can complete tasks such as generating software, managing calendars, and creating research briefs, with simpler user experience.

CEO Sam Altman claims GPT-5 is the best model in the world, representing a significant step toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), and is now available to all free ChatGPT users.

GPT-5 excels in coding, scoring 74.9% on SWE-bench Verified, slightly outperforming Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.1. It also shows improvements in answering health-related questions with lower hallucination rates.

ChatGPT receives user experience upgrades, including new personalities and higher usage limits for subscribers, while developers gain access to GPT-5 via the API with varying sizes and verbosity controls.

Technology & Business

Duolingo's AI-First Strategy Defies Backlash, Driving Revenue Growth

Duolingo's shift to an 'AI-first' approach, despite facing user backlash, has resulted in the company exceeding quarterly revenue estimates and a nearly 30% stock increase. CEO Luis von Ahn's decision to prioritize AI led to the introduction of 148 new language courses and a reduction in reliance on contract workers. While some users have criticized the AI features, Duolingo anticipates surpassing $1 billion in revenue this year, with daily active users growing by 40% year-over-year. The company addressed negative social media sentiment by adjusting its content strategy, focusing on positive messaging. Despite ongoing criticism on platforms like TikTok, Duolingo's financial performance remains strong.

Crime & Politics

Teens Charged in Attack on Ex-DOGE Official

Two 15-year-olds have been charged with unarmed carjacking after allegedly attacking Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, a former Neuralink intern and prominent figure in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. Sunday in Washington’s Logan Circle. A group of teens approached Coristine's car and made comments about taking it. Coristine confronted the group and was subsequently attacked.

President Trump shared an image of Coristine on Truth Social, calling for prosecuting teens as young as 14 as adults and for federalizing Washington.

Technology

X to Integrate Ads into Grok Responses to Monetize AI

Elon Musk announced that X plans to introduce advertisements within Grok's responses to generate revenue.

This initiative aims to monetize the AI chatbot and offset the costs of the GPUs powering it.

Advertisers can pay to have their solutions suggested to users seeking problem-solving assistance from Grok.

Musk also intends to leverage technology from xAI to enhance ad targeting on the X platform.

Data Security

Bouygues Telecom Hit by Cyberattack, Millions of Customers Affected

Bouygues Telecom, France's third-largest phone carrier, has confirmed a cyberattack and data breach impacting 6.4 million customer accounts. The breach, detected on August 4, compromised personal information including contact details, contractual data, civil status, and IBANs.

The company has reported the incident to France’s data protection agency, CNIL. A hidden "noindex" tag was found on the webpage detailing the attack, potentially hindering search engine visibility.

This cyberattack follows a similar incident at Orange, another major French telecom, which experienced disruptions in late July.

Software and Apps

Dia Browser Introduces Pro Subscription with AI Features

The Browser Company has launched a Pro subscription for its Dia browser, priced at $20 per month, offering unlimited access to AI-powered chat and skills. Free users will now have limited access to these AI features.

The company plans to introduce multiple subscription tiers, with the current plan being one of several options based on different feature sets. The Pro plan was initially spotted online before being officially launched.

The Browser Company has raised $128 million from investors and faces growing competition in the AI-enhanced browser market from companies like Perplexity, Opera, Google, and Microsoft.

Crime & Politics

Teens Charged in Attack on Former DOGE Official: A Summary of Events

Two 15-year-olds have been charged with unarmed carjacking after allegedly attacking Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, a former Neuralink intern and figure in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. Sunday in Washington’s Logan Circle, where a group of teens approached Coristine and his girlfriend, making comments about taking their car. Coristine reportedly pushed his girlfriend into the car for her safety before confronting the group, who then attacked him until police arrived.

Following the attack, Musk praised Coristine's bravery on X, and President Trump shared a graphic image of a battered Coristine on Truth Social, advocating for prosecuting teens as young as 14 as adults.

Technology News

Google's Stance on AI's Impact on Website Traffic: A Defense Amidst Declining Search Referrals

Google is disputing claims that AI search features are significantly reducing traffic to publishers' websites. The company asserts that overall organic click volume to websites has remained stable year-over-year, with average click quality slightly increasing.
While acknowledging that user trends are shifting traffic patterns, Google maintains that AI Overviews provide more opportunities for websites to surface. However, external reports suggest a different reality, indicating a rise in zero-click searches for news websites.
Google's response comes as concerns grow over the impact of AI on search referrals, with the company also launching initiatives to help publishers monetize traffic through alternative means. Despite Google's claims, the evidence suggests search traffic is under pressure due to changing user behavior and the rise of AI-driven search features.

Autonomous Vehicles

Zoox Cleared to Test Robotaxis After NHTSA Exemption

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted Zoox an exemption to demonstrate its custom-built robotaxis on public roads. This decision resolves a debate over whether Zoox's autonomous vehicles complied with federal safety standards, which typically require features like steering wheels and pedals.

NHTSA had opened an investigation into Zoox's self-certification process in March 2023 but has now closed it. Zoox has been testing its robotaxis in Foster City, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. While not yet operating commercially, Zoox has been providing rides to employees, family, friends and early public riders.

The exemption is connected to NHTSA’s new national framework, AV STEP, which aims to facilitate the deployment of autonomous vehicles without traditional manual driving controls. Zoox is working closely with NHTSA on obtaining both demonstration and commercial exemptions. As part of the agreement, Zoox will remove statements claiming compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Technology

Alexa+ Initial Tests: Promising AI Assistant Still Needs Refinement

Alexa+ First Impressions: A Beta Product with Potential

The author tests Amazon's new AI-powered digital assistant, Alexa+, focusing on its setup, calendar management, email handling, and price tracking capabilities. Alexa+ aims to leverage generative AI to better understand user needs and automate tasks.

Setup and Initial Use

Setting up Alexa+ on an Echo Spot was straightforward. The app, however, suffers from a cluttered and unintuitive user interface. Connecting services like Spotify was more convoluted than expected, and some previously linked services resulted in errors.

Calendar Management

Alexa+ can access and summarize calendar events, though it occasionally interrupts when adding new appointments. While natural in conversation, there is a slight lag in responses. The voice chat history is also difficult to locate within the app.

Remembering Information

The feature to store information like frequent flier numbers had issues. Alexa+ struggled to save and accurately recall the number, reading it out as a long numeral instead of individual digits.

Email Handling

Alexa+ can summarize emails, but it may miss important details. In one test, it only identified three out of twelve important dates from a school email, highlighting the need for users to still read emails themselves.

Price Tracking

The price tracking feature for Amazon products was unreliable. Alexa+ successfully set up trackers but failed to provide current prices or acknowledge product availability. There were instances of silence and incorrect information regarding product stock.

Conclusion

Alexa+ shows promise but feels like a beta product, prone to errors and inconsistencies. Its ability to handle more complex tasks and navigate the web remains to be seen. Further testing is planned to explore its agentic AI features.