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17 Dec 2025

Sam Altman's AI-Generated Firefighter Image Goes Viral, Exposes OpenAI's Struggle in AI Race

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared an AI-generated image of himself as a shirtless firefighter to showcase the new GPT-Image-1.5 model. The post garnered over 4 million views but quickly became a target of mockery after users spotted a glaring calendar error. The incident highlights OpenAI's rushed response to Google's dominance in AI image generation and raises questions about the company's strategic direction.

3 Sources

Amazon appoints Peter DeSantis to lead unified AI group as Rohit Prasad departs

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced a major AI reorganization, naming 27-year AWS veteran Peter DeSantis to lead a new division combining AI models, silicon development, and quantum computing. The leadership change at Amazon sees Rohit Prasad, head of Artificial General Intelligence, leaving after overseeing Nova's launch. The move signals Amazon's strategic bet on vertical integration to compete with Microsoft and Google.

14 Sources

Google launches Gemini 3 Flash as default AI model, delivering speed with Pro-grade reasoning

Google has released Gemini 3 Flash, making it the default in the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search globally. The new AI model combines the powerful reasoning capabilities of Gemini 3 Pro with faster performance and lower operational costs. Early benchmarks show significant improvements over its predecessor, with companies like JetBrains, Figma, and Cursor already deploying the model.

37 Sources

China builds secret EUV prototype to rival the West in AI chips, targeting 2030 production

Chinese scientists have completed a prototype EUV lithography machine in a high-security Shenzhen laboratory, built by former ASML engineers through reverse engineering. The machine generates extreme ultraviolet light but hasn't produced working chips yet. China targets 2028 for functional chip production, though 2030 is more realistic—years ahead of Western estimates.

4 Sources

Microsoft clarifies Windows 11 AI agents need explicit permission before accessing your files

Microsoft updated its support document to confirm that Windows 11 AI agents will not have default access to user files. Even with experimental agentic features enabled, AI agents must request permission each time they need access to six personal folders. Users can choose to allow always, ask every time, or never allow access, though settings apply collectively rather than per folder.

2 Sources

Visa and Akamai team up to secure AI shopping as bot traffic surges 300% in agentic commerce

Visa and Akamai Technologies are collaborating to address security vulnerabilities in AI-led shopping transactions. The partnership integrates Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol with Akamai's cybersecurity protections to help merchants distinguish trusted AI agents from malicious bots. With AI-powered bot traffic surging 300% over the past year, the collaboration aims to create safer agent-based commerce experiences across Visa's 175 million merchant locations.

8 Sources

Google Opal integrates with Gemini to let anyone build AI mini-apps using natural language

Google has integrated Opal, its vibe-coding tool, directly into the Gemini web app. Users can now build custom AI-powered mini-apps by describing what they want in plain language, without writing any code. The tool features a visual editor that shows workflow steps, making app development accessible to creators, analysts, and students.

3 Sources

Model Context Protocol emerges as the missing layer connecting Agentic AI to real-world systems

Anthropic's open-source Model Context Protocol is solving a fundamental problem in AI: connecting large language models to external tools, databases, and systems. Like USB-C for AI applications, MCP provides a standardized interface that eliminates custom integrations, enabling seamless AI workflow automation and multi-agent coordination across platforms.

3 Sources

YouTube launches Playables Builder for creators to make AI-generated games without coding

YouTube Gaming has opened beta testing for Playables Builder, a prototype web app powered by Gemini 3 that lets select creators generate simple games using text, image, or video prompts. Six AI-generated games are already live on the platform, though reception has been mixed. Critics question whether AI can produce engaging gameplay experiences, while others see it as an attempt to boost interest in YouTube's struggling Playables feature.

3 Sources

Bernie Sanders demands moratorium on AI data centers to protect workers and democracy

Senator Bernie Sanders is calling for a halt on AI data center construction to address concerns about job displacement, environmental impact, and wealth inequality. The move puts Democrats in direct opposition to the Trump administration's push for rapid AI infrastructure expansion. Elizabeth Warren and other senators are investigating how tech companies' energy-guzzling facilities affect residential utility costs.

10 Sources

MetaX soars 700% as Chinese AI chips challenge Nvidia's dominance amid U.S. export restrictions

Chinese chipmaker MetaX Integrated Circuits jumped 700% in its Shanghai market debut, raising $600 million. The surge follows Moore Threads' 400% IPO pop two weeks earlier, as China accelerates efforts to build self-sufficient semiconductor capabilities and reduce reliance on Nvidia amid escalating U.S. tech restrictions.

4 Sources

Demis Hassabis warns AI hype masks real potential as startups raise tens of billions

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis cautions that AI startups securing tens of billions in valuations before launch face unsustainable futures. Speaking on Google DeepMind: The Podcast, he distinguished between speculative early-stage AI companies and Big Tech investments backed by real business. Despite short-term AI hype, Hassabis believes the technology remains underappreciated for its long-term potential in science and world models.

3 Sources

Rapidus unveils glass interposer tech to challenge TSMC's dominance in AI chips production

Japan's state-backed chipmaker Rapidus has developed a prototype glass interposer that could cut AI chip production costs significantly. The company plans mass production by 2028, using 600mm glass substrates that yield 10 times more interposers than traditional silicon wafers. This breakthrough positions Rapidus to compete directly with TSMC as Japan invests heavily to rebuild its semiconductor industry.

3 Sources

Hut 8 Stock Soars 15% After Landing $7 Billion Google-Backed AI Data Center Deal

Bitcoin miner Hut 8 shares surged after announcing a 15-year, $7 billion lease agreement with Fluidstack to deliver 245 megawatts of AI data center capacity at its River Bend campus in Louisiana. Google is providing a financial backstop covering all lease payments, while J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs are handling deal financing. The agreement marks a strategic pivot from cryptocurrency mining to AI infrastructure.

10 Sources

OpenAI pursues $100B funding round at $830B valuation as Amazon investment talks intensify

OpenAI is negotiating to raise up to $100 billion in a funding round that could value the ChatGPT maker at $830 billion by Q1 2026. Separately, Amazon is in early discussions to invest $10 billion in OpenAI while supplying its Trainium AI chips and cloud computing services, marking another circular deal in the AI industry as compute costs continue to escalate.

26 Sources

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