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Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder conducted the first user experience study on AI ghosts, finding that all 16 participants preferred AI simulations that spoke as their deceased loved ones rather than about them. While everyone found the experience meaningful enough to repeat, nearly all expressed concern about potential emotional dependency on grief technology.
Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image showing a massive golden eagle mounted on the White House Truman Balcony, claiming it as a gift for the building's 250th birthday. Google's SynthID detector identified digital watermarks confirming the image was created using AI tools, while photographers verified no such eagle exists on the balcony.
Netflix partnered with ElevenLabs to recreate Gene Wilder's voice for its upcoming reality competition Wonka's The Golden Ticket. Despite approval from Wilder's estate, the move has ignited fierce debate about AI recreation of deceased performers' voices. Critics label it 'digital necromancy' while questioning whether estate consent can truly substitute for the performer's own approval.
Google released Nano Banana 2 Lite, an AI image generator that creates images in just 4 seconds at $0.034 per 1,000 images. Part of the Gemini 3.1 family, the model prioritizes speed and cost efficiency over quality, targeting developers who need high-volume image generation. Google also expanded Gemini Omni Flash for video creation, positioning both tools as a pipeline for rapid multimedia workflows.
A new Gallup and Stop Scams Alliance survey reveals that 12% of successful scams in 2025 involved AI or deepfakes, affecting roughly 15 million U.S. adults. Americans lost an estimated $68 billion to fraud last year—equivalent to Delta Airlines' annual revenue. The survey highlights how AI-powered scams are becoming harder to detect and causing severe financial and emotional distress.
Adobe unveiled GenStudio for Commerce Media Networks, enabling global retailers to help brands advertise across their platforms. The AI-powered platform automatically creates advertiser profiles and creative assets from existing business content, supporting both new and experienced commerce media advertisers with direct activation within retailers' advertising networks.
Google announced that Gemini's personalized AI image generation is now free for all eligible US users, removing a barrier that previously limited the feature to Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers. The feature uses the Nano Banana image model combined with Personal Intelligence to create context-aware images based on data from Google Photos, Gmail, and other connected services. Users can now generate images reflecting their interests without detailed prompts.
Researchers at Australian National University developed a training method that nearly doubled people's ability to detect AI-generated faces, with some participants achieving near-perfect accuracy. Instead of looking for visual glitches, the approach teaches people to recognize broader patterns like symmetry and memorability—qualities where AI faces drift toward statistical averages while real human faces embrace distinctive imperfections.
Music streaming service TIDAL introduced a policy that demonetizes fully AI-generated music, preventing these tracks from earning royalties or direct-to-fan sales revenue. Starting July 15, the platform will label 100% AI-generated content with an AI badge and remove tracks that impersonate artists, joining competitors like Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music in addressing the flood of synthetic content.
The Vancouver Police Department triggered public outrage after posting images of a drug bust marked "made with AI" on social media. The AI-edited photo showed currency mislabeled and raised concerns about fabricating evidence. Despite replacing the images and claiming AI was only used to remove names, skepticism persists about police using AI to manipulate official communications.
Wall Street Journal tech columnist Joanna Stern exposed a persistent problem with AI-generated knockoffs on Apple Books that mimic her work. Despite Apple removing fraudulent listings, new copies continue to surface in a digital whack-a-mole scenario. The issue highlights how generative AI has made it effortless for bad actors to flood digital marketplaces with copyright-infringing content.
DuckDuckGo's AI chatbot falsely reported that President Donald Trump died of rabies, fed by a coordinated Reddit campaign from r/poisonai. The 45,000-member subreddit deliberately posts absurd misinformation to expose AI reliability concerns. The incident reveals how AI data poisoning can manipulate search engines that rely on third-party AI models and user-generated content.
University of Washington researchers created PaperTok, an AI tool that converts dense academic papers into 45-second videos for platforms like TikTok. The platform uses Google Gemini to generate scripts while keeping scientists in control at every step. The goal is to combat AI-generated misinformation by enabling researchers to communicate their own findings through accessible scientific research.
Hasbro is under fire for reportedly asking child voice actors on Peppa Pig to sign contracts allowing AI recreations of their voices. The Agents of Young Performers Association has launched an open letter signed by over 1,000 industry professionals, arguing children cannot provide informed consent for minors and demanding full exemption from AI usage in contracts involving young performers.
CD Projekt Red joint CEO Michał Nowakowski says fully AI-generated games are on the horizon, with AI studios claiming they can launch games in just three weeks. But he doubts flooding the market with AI-driven content will succeed, as concerns grow about platform saturation and quality games getting buried under what players call 'AI slop.'
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