One of the new “companions,” or AI characters for users to interact with, is a sexualized blonde anime bot called “Ani."

The American public is deeply skeptical of artificial intelligence (AI). Any vehicle that is marketed with AI at the front of the conversation has a steep hurdle to clear to prove itself as more than just a smartphone on wheels. The new Mercedes-Benz CLA sedan does just that.

If you’re a funder or high-net-worth individual looking for leverage—this is it. AI-native nonprofits don’t just need money; they need smart capital that accelerates experimentation, funds infrastructure, and backs the teams already proving what’s possible. The next big leap in social impact will most probably come from funding the impact builders.

Scale AI is cutting 14% of the company just weeks after Meta invested $14.3 billion in the startup and hired away its CEO.

Nearly three-quarters of teens have used AI companions, and half use them regularly, new research finds. Moreover, one-third turn to chatbots for social interactions.

At a Pittsburgh summit, the Trump administration, energy executives, and tech barons joined as one to promote AI as the future of fossil fuels.

Amazon’s greenhouse gas emissions rose by 6% last year, due mostly to pollution generated by the company’s delivery fleet and increased data center construction.

Across the board, the AI users exhibited markedly lower neural activity in parts of the brain associated with creative functions and attention. Students who wrote with the chatbot’s help also found it much harder to provide an accurate quote from the paper that they had just produced.

Not exactly a new sheriff in town, but this consortium of standards bodies seeks a different approach to controlling AI.

Earlier this week, xAI added what can only be described as an AI anime girlfriend named Ani to its Grok chatbot. Which is how I ended up on a virtual starry beach as an AI waifu avatar tried to give me a “spicy” kiss.

Stripe's CEO, Patrick Collison, says AI is "terrific" for facts — but when it comes to writing, he'd rather stick to his own style.

At the Beijing Expo, Jensen Huang also announced plans for a new chip for Chinese clients that is designed for robotics and smart factories.