A.I. Tracker 🤖

OpenAI's ChatGPT has seen rapid growth in 2024, with new models, features, and controversies. The chatbot's user base has expanded to 300 million weekly active users, and it is facing legal challenges, internal changes, and upgrades in its AI models. OpenAI is also exploring new offerings like the development of AI reasoning models, transcript and voice-generating models, and products like Operator for automated tasks. The company is navigating issues related to misinformation, privacy, and effective content moderation as it continues to evolve and expand its AI capabilities.

Canadian AI researcher Kai Chen, crucial for GPT-4.5 at OpenAI, was denied a U.S. green card after 12 years in the country. This highlights the challenges faced by foreign talent in the U.S. under the Trump administration, impacting the AI industry's growth and innovation.

Google's AI-powered search features, like AI Overviews and Circle to Search, are seeing significant growth with over 1.5 billion users monthly. The company is also expanding visual searches through Google Lens, despite facing regulatory scrutiny over its search practices.

TechCrunch Sessions: AI Week is offering the opportunity to host Side Events from June 1-7. Connect with over 1,000 AI professionals and boost your brand visibility for free. Apply by tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Microsoft predicts the rise of "frontier firms" where human workers direct AI agents. Every employee will have an AI assistant, evolving into a new AI boss class. AI may increase productivity but also lead to job losses. concerns about losing human knowledge and relationships.

Chinese AI startup Manus AI raised $75 million led by Benchmark, now valued at $500 million. They plan to expand to the U.S., Japan, and the Middle East after launching a demo of their general AI agent.

Social Security workers are introduced to an AI chatbot through a poorly made training video. It fails to mention not to share personal data. Employees find the chatbot unhelpful and inaccurate, with many ignoring the tool altogether. Office productivity remains unaffected.

Google's pilot programs in Britain show workers could save 122 hours/year using AI in admin tasks. Giving permission and a few hours of training could double AI adoption, boosting economic growth by £400 billion. Older women from lower socio-economic backgrounds most impacted.

Residents and activists in Memphis are concerned about pollution from Elon Musk's xAI supercomputer. Controversy surrounds gas turbines emitting toxic pollutants without permits, while anonymous leaflets downplay dangers. Public hearing scheduled for Friday.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei aims to enhance AI model interpretability by 2027 to ensure safe deployment. Calls for industry-wide research efforts and light-touch regulations to advance understanding of AI decision-making processes.

OpenAI is introducing a new "lightweight" version of its ChatGPT deep research tool, powered by a version of their o4-mini model. This version will be available for ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users, providing shorter responses while maintaining depth and quality, at a cheaper cost. Enterprise and educational users will receive access next week.

Over 10,000 comments were submitted to the White House on the national AI policy. Issues include copyright, bias, research funding, tariffs, and concerns about AI censorship. President Trump aims to promote AI development free from bias while facing criticism for lack of focus on combating discrimination.

OpenAI is set to release an open-source AI system this summer, aiming for superior performance. A key feature may allow it to connect to cloud-hosted models for better answering complex queries, potentially expanding its reach in the AI community.

AI data centers are rapidly growing, with costs and power requirements skyrocketing. Companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google are investing billions to expand infrastructure, but concerns about strain on power grids and environmental impact are rising.

Motorola's 2025 Razr lineup features enhanced build quality, AI integration including Google's Gemini and Perplexity, and unique features like Moto AI. The phones start at $700, with the Razr Ultra boasting a flippy, folding design and advanced camera features. New accessories include open-ear earbuds and the Moto Watch Fit. Preorders start on May 7.

Anthropic AI lab is exploring the concept of "model welfare" to investigate if future AIs could be conscious like humans. There is no consensus in the AI community on AI having values or consciousness. AI researcher Kyle Fish leads the initiative with a belief in a 15% chance of AI being conscious.

The 16-inch Windows laptop stands out for its quiet operation, impressive touchscreen, and decent performance. It is a reliable and user-friendly option for users seeking a high-quality laptop experience.

Motorola introduces new Razr phones with AI features from multiple companies. Google faces legal challenges over search monopoly. Pricing and supply chain strategies aim to navigate industry uncertainties.

Dropbox upgrades its AI search tool, Dash, to include content understanding, people search, and new writing tools. The tool now integrates with various apps for seamless information search and generation.

Adobe introduces a new web tool, Content Authenticity App, for creators to attach content credentials to images, signaling AI companies not to use them for training models. The app integrates with LinkedIn for verification and aims to add support for video and audio in the future.