Artificial Intelligence
Ongoing coverage on Artificial Intelligence.
Latest coverage
Amazon is reportedly working on a more powerful agentic Alexa assistant
Amazon is reportedly developing a more advanced AI assistant, codenamed 'Moonraker,' designed to improve Alexa's ability to handle complex, multi-step tasks. This initiative aims to enhance the virtual assistant's overall functionality and user interaction.
AI Yi-Yi!
Executives are reportedly facing unexpectedly high costs associated with implementing artificial intelligence, contrary to initial expectations of replacing human workers for free. The article touches on how AI is impacting product discovery and consumer trust.
Morning Safety Dance
Concerns are rising over the corporate use of Chinese AI, with reports highlighting potential security risks and backdoor code in popular AI tools. The US is considering restrictions on corporate AI usage, while China advises ditching older AI versions due to security vulnerabilities.
China's National Vulnerability Database warns that recent Claude Code models have a security backdoor
The Chinese National Vulnerability Database (NVDB) has issued a warning regarding Anthropic's Claude Code models, specifically versions 2.1.91 through 2.1.196. The NVDB claims these versions contain a backdoor that transmits sensitive user information, including location data, to remote servers without consent. Users are advised to uninstall affected versions or update to the latest release. This issue follows previous reports of Alibaba banning Claude use due to similar data security concerns.
MMO Business Roundup: Microsoft is why we can’t have nice things
Microsoft's recent wave of layoffs has significantly impacted its gaming divisions, including studios like Id Software, Bethesda Game Studios, and ZeniMax Online Studios, leading to concerns about the quality and release schedules of major franchises like The Elder Scrolls Online. The article highlights the negative consequences of these business decisions on employees, game development, and player experience, drawing criticism from industry figures and politicians alike.
CNBC: The US wants to restrict corporate use of Chinese AI
The United States Government is reportedly looking to restrict the use of Chinese-made Artificial Intelligence models by US companies. This move comes as businesses increasingly adopt these AI solutions to reduce operational costs.
OpenAI gets permission to roll out GPT-5.6 to the public on July 9
OpenAI has received permission to release its GPT-5.6 models, named Sol, Terra, and Luna, to the public starting July 9. These advanced AI models will become widely available on Thursday.
Evening Tech Bits
South Korea's ambitious $880 billion plan for semiconductors and artificial intelligence faces significant hurdles related to power and water resources. A single large-scale cluster could demand a quarter of Seoul's total electricity supply, highlighting potential infrastructure challenges for the initiative.
AI Yi-Yi!
OpenAI's Chief Futurist is departing the company, while Sony leadership has emphasized the strategic importance of AI tools. This indicates a significant focus on artificial intelligence across major technology players in the gaming industry.
Survey finds only 31% of Steam users have a problem with AI in games, with 43% totally fine with it
A survey of 3,800 Steam players by The GameDiscoverCo newsletter indicates that a significant portion of gamers are accepting of AI in game development, with 43% expressing no problem or being fine with it. While many players are neutral or slightly hesitant, nearly 90% of respondents stated they check AI disclaimers before purchasing a game, suggesting a demand for transparency from developers and publishers.
Meta built an AI detection tool to ID images and video created with its new models
Meta has developed a new tool designed to detect images and videos generated by its artificial intelligence models. The tool is intended to help identify AI-created content, though it reportedly has rate limits for certain uses.
Meta's new Muse Image model accepts Instagram accounts as a prompt
Meta has introduced its new AI model, Muse, which can utilize Instagram accounts as a prompt for image generation. This technology is also being integrated into effects for Instagram Stories and image creation within WhatsApp.
There Is No Reason To Buy Another PlayStation Or Xbox
The author argues that upcoming PlayStation and Xbox consoles will be too expensive and lack compelling reasons to purchase, especially with the shift to digital-only distribution. Concerns are raised about the impact on the used games market, accessibility for players with poor internet, and the overall viability of the console market as attention shifts to mobile and other forms of entertainment.
TAMURA R&D Inc. Launches “wombat2D,” a Tool That Converts AI-Generated Images into Usable Pixel Art Assets
TAMURA R&D Inc. has launched wombat2D, a free tool designed to convert AI-generated pixel-art-style images into usable pixel art assets for game development. The tool features a 'Pixel Refine' function to correct common AI image issues, sprite sheet creation, and color adjustment tools. A Pro version with advanced features is available for $1 per month, with a limited-time campaign offering Pro access for new registrants.
AI Yi-Yi!
The article discusses the rapid advancement of AI voice cloning technology, noting that it can clone voices in minutes. It highlights concerns about intellectual property rights, using Taylor Swift's efforts to protect her voice as an example, and questions the rights of individuals regarding their AI-cloned voices. Additionally, it briefly mentions DeepSeek's development of its own AI chips.
Sega is seemingly letting AI turn its Dreamcast keychains into slop, but the final product could be safe
Sega appears to be using AI to alter promotional keychains for the Dreamcast, Sonic Adventure, and Crazy Taxi, resulting in garbled text and incorrect glyphs on merchandise sold at the Sega Shop. While most other merchandise seems unaffected, this issue mirrors concerns raised about AI-generated assets in game development, such as in Crazy Taxi: World Tour.
Reuters: DeepSeek is developing its own AI chips
Chinese company DeepSeek, known for developing affordable AI models, is reportedly planning to develop its own AI chips. This move aims to replicate their cost-effective approach in the hardware sector.
Moonbeam Transfers GLMR Token to Base Following Polkadot Departure
Moonbeam is migrating its GLMR token from the Polkadot network to Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution developed by Coinbase. Token holders must bridge their GLMR tokens at a 1:1 ratio by July 31, as the parachain will cease operations. Following the migration, Moonbeam will focus on facilitating decentralized economic coordination among AI agents.
Sony leadership says AI tools are "an important foundational technology supporting our strategy"
Sony Interactive Entertainment leadership has declared artificial intelligence a crucial foundational technology for their strategy, emphasizing its role in enhancing game development quality and speed rather than solely for cost efficiency. AI tools are being integrated to streamline repetitive tasks, enable faster iteration, and create richer in-game experiences and content. While acknowledging near-term efficiency gains, Sony is also exploring fundamental AI-first initiatives to maintain a leading position as the technology evolves.
xAI is now officially known as SpaceXAI
The artificial intelligence company xAI has officially rebranded to SpaceXAI, five months after its merger with SpaceX. The announcement was made via the company's account on the social media platform X.