Google expands its Nano Banana AI image editor to Search and NotebookLM after generating 5 billion images since August, while NotebookLM gains enhanced video overviews with watercolor and anime styles.
A shocking 72% of teens now use AI companions for emotional support and romantic relationships, with many finding these digital interactions as satisfying as real friendships, prompting experts to call for bans due to mental health risks and concerns about replacing human connections.
New research reveals AI models from DeepSeek and Google become significantly more risk-averse when prompted to act as women, potentially perpetuating economic disparities in loan approvals and investment decisions by reinforcing gender biases in financial decision-making.
Former Apple CEO John Sculley declares OpenAI Apple's first real competitor in decades as the iPhone maker struggles with AI innovation, while ex-design chief Jony Ive joins the ChatGPT creator through a $6 billion startup acquisition, potentially revolutionizing AI hardware design.
Adobe unveils three new B2B AI agents - Audience Agent, Journey Agent, and Data Insights Agent - designed to help marketers identify decision makers, orchestrate targeted campaigns, and analyze customer data to accelerate sales cycles and close deals faster.
Google Shopping expands its AI try-on tool to include shoes, letting users upload full-length photos to virtually test heels and sneakers, while rolling out to Australia, Canada, and Japan after proving wildly popular with U.S. shoppers who share try-on images significantly more than standard product listings.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei opens a Bengaluru office as India becomes the AI company's second-largest market, with Claude app downloads jumping 48% and consumer spending skyrocketing 572% in September, while exploring partnerships with Reliance Industries and meeting Prime Minister Modi.
Chinese youth increasingly turn to AI chatbots like DeepSeek and Doubao for mental health support as traditional therapy remains costly and inaccessible, with nearly half using AI for psychological discussions despite risks including inappropriate crisis responses and potential social isolation.
OpenAI acquires AI finance app Roi in an acqui-hire deal, bringing CEO Sujith Vishwajith aboard while shutting down the personalized investment platform on October 15 as part of its strategy to expand consumer AI applications beyond API services.
OpenAI's Sora video AI app rockets to No. 1 on Apple's US App Store within just three days of its invite-only launch, accumulating 164,000 downloads and surpassing both Google Gemini and ChatGPT despite limited availability in only the US and Canada.