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18 Dec 2025

Universal Music Group and Splice partner to build AI tools that prioritize artist control

Universal Music Group and Splice announced a partnership to develop AI-powered music creation tools that prioritize artistic control and fair compensation. The collaboration brings together the world's largest music company with a leading music creation platform to build advanced commercial AI tools while respecting intellectual property rights.

2 Sources

Gemini now detects AI-generated videos, but only those made with Google AI

Google expanded Gemini's verification capabilities to identify AI-generated videos created with its own tools. The feature scans for an invisible SynthID watermark embedded in both audio and visuals, providing specific timestamps of AI-generated content. While helpful for transparency, the tool only works with Google AI models and cannot detect videos created with other platforms like OpenAI or Adobe Firefly.

12 Sources

Rivian rolls out Universal Hands-Free driving across 3.5 million miles of US and Canadian roads

Rivian launched software update 2025.46, introducing Universal Hands-Free driving for second-generation R1 vehicles across over 3.5 million miles of roads. The advanced driver-assistance feature expands hands-free capability from 135,000 miles of highways to virtually any clearly marked road, though continuous driver supervision remains mandatory.

3 Sources

Gemini now lets you draw edits directly on photos, challenging ChatGPT's image editing tools

Google has quietly rolled out image editing markup tools to Gemini, allowing users to draw or annotate directly on photos instead of typing complex prompts. The visual prompting capability enables precision editing by circling specific areas and describing changes, making AI image manipulation accessible to casual users without design skills.

2 Sources

Luma AI launches Ray3 Modify to generate video from start and end frames with character consistency

Luma AI unveiled Ray3 Modify, a new model that lets creators modify existing video footage using character reference images while preserving the original human performance. The tool can generate a video from a start and end frame, addressing control challenges in AI video generation for creative studios.

2 Sources

Trump Media announces $6 billion fusion energy merger to power AI data centers

Trump Media & Technology Group is merging with fusion energy company TAE Technologies in a $6 billion all-stock deal aimed at building the world's first utility-scale fusion power plant. The combined entity plans to begin construction in 2026 to supply electricity for large AI data centers as surging energy demand from artificial intelligence threatens existing power infrastructure.

5 Sources

Michigan approves 1.4 gigawatts for OpenAI's Stargate data center as residents protest fast-track

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved DTE Energy's request to deliver 1.4 gigawatts of power to OpenAI and Oracle's $7 billion Stargate data center in Saline Township. The 3-0 vote used an ex parte motion that bypassed public hearings, leaving residents furious about being shut out of the process despite concerns over electricity prices, environmental impact, and transparency.

5 Sources

Anthropic releases Agent Skills as open standard, challenging OpenAI in enterprise AI race

Anthropic announced major updates to its Skills feature, making Agent Skills an open standard to enable cross-platform compatibility. The move includes organization-wide management tools, a partner skills directory from companies like Atlassian and Figma, and adoption by Microsoft in VS Code and GitHub. The strategy positions Anthropic as potential AI infrastructure layer across the industry.

5 Sources

Nirvana Insurance raises $100M Series D, nearly doubles valuation to $1.5B in nine months

AI-native trucking insurance startup Nirvana Insurance has secured a $100 million Series D funding round at a $1.5 billion valuation, nearly doubling its worth in just nine months. The company uses real-time driving telematics and 30 billion miles of truck-driving data to build AI-powered insurance policies that offer up to 20% upfront discounts for safe fleets.

4 Sources

OpenAI secures early lead in higher education with 700,000 ChatGPT licenses sold to colleges

OpenAI has sold more than 700,000 ChatGPT licenses to approximately 35 US public universities, establishing a significant presence in higher education. Schools are paying just a few dollars per user monthly for bulk access, compared to the standard $20-per-month rate, as administrators shift from concerns about academic cheating to viewing AI literacy as an essential skill for the workforce.

2 Sources

Happy Returns Deploys AI to Combat $76.5 Billion Return Fraud Hitting U.S. Retailers

UPS-owned Happy Returns is testing its Return Vision AI tool to tackle return fraud, a $76.5 billion problem affecting U.S. retailers. The AI-powered fraud detection system flags suspicious packages and works with human auditors to verify fraudulent returns. Early tests with Everlane, Revolve, and Under Armour show the tool catches sophisticated fraud schemes that cost retailers hundreds of thousands annually.

2 Sources

Elon Musk tells xAI staff company could lead global AI race by 2026 if it survives critical window

Elon Musk delivered an optimistic message at xAI's San Francisco headquarters, telling staff the next two to three years will determine winners in the AI race. He suggested xAI might reach AGI as soon as 2026 with its Grok 5 model, backed by $20-30 billion in annual funding and plans to scale to one million GPUs. The company is leveraging synergies with Tesla and rapidly expanding its Colossus data center project.

2 Sources

DoorDash brings grocery shopping to ChatGPT in AI integration rivaling Instacart

DoorDash has launched a grocery shopping feature within ChatGPT through a partnership with OpenAI, arriving just one week after Instacart unveiled a similar tool. Users can now request meal and recipe suggestions from the AI assistant and add ingredients to a shopping list before completing purchases on the DoorDash app.

2 Sources

Ring doorbell now uses Alexa+ Greetings AI to talk to visitors and direct delivery drivers

Amazon has launched Alexa+ Greetings, a new AI assistant for Ring doorbells that can identify visitors and engage in context-aware conversations on your behalf. The feature uses generative AI to distinguish between delivery personnel, solicitors, and friends, then responds based on your custom instructions. Available now for Early Access customers in the US and Canada with Ring Premium Plan.

6 Sources

Ultrahuman Ring Air launches snoring detection to help tackle hidden cardiovascular risks

Ultrahuman Ring Air introduces respiratory health tracking through a partnership with Sleep Cycle. The new Respiratory Health PowerPlug combines AI sound analysis with biomarker tracking to detect snoring, coughing, and breathing disruptions. Studies show habitual snorers face 46% higher stroke risk, yet many remain unaware of their patterns.

2 Sources

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