Alibaba launches new open-source tool that turns photos into video
Alibaba has released a new open-source speech-to-video model capable of generating animated digital humans from a single portrait and an audio clip. The tool is aimed at content creators and researchers who are looking for a way to produce lifelike avatars capable of speaking, singing, or performing.
The Wan2.2-S2V release builds on Alibaba’s Wan2.2 video generation series. By becoming open-source, the company is offering developers a system that can animate portraits across different perspectives including close-up, bust, and full-body shots.
Less than a third of organizations are prepared for deepfake attacks
Nearly 40 percent of organizations admit they are underprepared for AI-driven threats such as automated attacks, deepfake-based videos, and voice scams, according to new research from LevelBlue.
The new findings show that while awareness of these dangers is growing, many companies remain vulnerable and lack confidence in their ability to defend against them.
LinkedIn says personal networks are trusted more than AI or search
LinkedIn says professionals are turning to their colleagues and personal contacts for advice at work, not search engines or AI tools.
New global research released by the company suggests 43 percent of workers rank personal networks above other options when they need clarity, with two-thirds saying that peers help them make decisions more confidently.
xAI is suing Apple and OpenAI for anticompetitive behavior
Elon Musk ‘s xAI startup is suing both OpenAI and Apple for alleged anticompetitive behavior relating to artificial intelligence.
Musk is focusing on these two firms because of the partnership and collaborative arrangements that exist between them. OpenAI has an agreement with Apple to integrate its ChatGPT tool into iOS and macOS. This is something that troubles xAI.
YouTube has been using AI on the sly to enhance creators’ videos
Many people turn to AI to improve their writing, their photos, or their videos. YouTube has been doing the same, quietly enhancing the look of users’ uploaded videos through the use of artificial intelligence.
So, what is the problem? Many creators are upset not so much that their videos have been “enhanced” (although there is debate over whether what YouTube has done can actually be seen as an improvement) but that it was done without consent.
Cloudflare introduces tools to manage AI risks and protect data
Cloudflare has launched new Zero Trust tools in its Cloudflare One platform to help businesses adopt artificial intelligence securely at scale. The features aim to give organizations better visibility into how AI is used, as well as protection from unapproved applications, and controls to safeguard sensitive data, all within a centralized system that can support distributed teams.
Generative AI is now being used by employees across departments, from finance to design, to speed up tasks and create new applications. While this can, and does, help improve efficiency, adoption often happens without security oversight.
Sam Altman wants to give everyone in the UK free access to ChatGPT Plus
The head and co-founder of OpenAI, Sam Altman, entered into discussions aimed at striking a deal to bring ChatGPT Plus to everyone in the UK at no cost to end users.
In a meeting between the UK’s technology secretary Peter Kyle and Altman, there was talk of granting UK residents access to a more advanced tier of ChatGPT as standard. The deal – while not definitely dead in the water – appears to have stalled, but the idea is an extremely interesting one.
xAI makes Grok 2.5 open source and plans the same for Grok 3
Many of the concerns about artificial intelligence can be overcome through transparency. And it is in the name of transparency that Elon Musk has announced the open sourcing of its Grok 2.5 model.
More than this, the AI firm will also make the Grok 3 model open source is around six months.
Rokid takes on Meta with new AI-powered smart glasses
Rokid will unveil its newest wearable, the Rokid Glasses, at a launch event in New York City on August 26. The company says the device is the world’s lightest full-function AI and AR smart glasses, combining translation, navigation, transcription, and a first-person camera in an everyday design.
The glasses run on Qualcomm’s AR1 platform and include features such as real-time multilingual translation, live transcription, a teleprompter function, and object recognition. Rokid is also building around a developer ecosystem that already counts more than 15,000 developers in China, with plans to expand internationally.
Google is bringing an AI fitness coach to Fitbit thanks to Gemini
There is nothing that technology companies will not try to enhance with AI. Google is no stranger to this with Gemini, and the company has announced an AI-powered fitness coach for the Fitbit platform.
But this is more than just a fitness coach. Google describes it as a “a fitness trainer, a sleep coach and a health and wellness advisor” all rolled into one. The aim is to be the AI coach that is suitable for everyone, so what can it do?
Microsoft gives Copilot on Windows another new look
Microsoft could be accused of many things in relation to Copilot on Windows, but standing still is not one of them.
Both in terms of functionality and design, the company seems to be constantly at work and this is something that is evident in the latest Insider build of Windows 11. Microsoft is rolling out new features such as Semantic Search, and also a completely redesign home page for Copilot on Windows.
Microsoft extends NFL partnership to bring AI to the sidelines and beyond
The National Football League and Microsoft announced today that their strategic partnership will run for at least several more years, with the goal of expanding the use of artificial intelligence across the sport
The collaboration brings Microsoft Copilot and Azure AI into areas that affect game day decisions, scouting, and stadium operations. With the league hosting hundreds of events each year, the aim is to improve both performance and the fan experience.
Microsoft adds a COPILOT function to Excel
We have already seen Microsoft bringing Copilot to Excel. The company only recently added the AI assistant to its spreadsheet as a way to explain formulae to help users better understand them.
Now Microsoft is bringing Copilot to Excel in more ways – arguably more useful ways. Currently available to Insiders, the latest addition sees Microsoft giving users the option to “bring AI to your formulas with the COPILOT function in Excel”.
AI in-car assistant market set to more than double by 2031
The global AI in-car assistant market is set to take off massively in the coming years according to Valuates Reports, which forecasts an increase from $6.9 billion in 2024 to $15.8 billion by 2031. The company says this represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8 percent, reflecting the increasing role of voice-driven and connected systems in vehicles.
AI in-car assistants are becoming integral to modern automotive design, combining voice recognition, infotainment, navigation, and predictive maintenance, in addition to providing drivers with hands-free control.
LibreOffice users can now generate AI art inside Writer and Impress
LibreOffice doesn’t ship with artificial intelligence features by default, but a new extension gives the office suite AI-powered features thanks to a community effort.
While Microsoft Office has started to integrate AI directly into its products, often tied to cloud subscriptions and proprietary tools, LibreOffice follows a different path where volunteers and independent developers can add optional capabilities through open-source extensions.
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