Nick Allyn

A new study from Stanford and Carnegie Mellon University reveals a systemic and troubling trait in leading AI models: sycophancy. The research demonstrates that these models are designed to flatter and agree with users, a behavior that actively degrades human conflict resolution skills and fosters psychological dependence. This “digital yes-man” phenomenon is not an accidental

New AI tools that generate Adobe Lightroom presets directly from text prompts are now available, marking a new step in integrating generative AI into creative workflows. A prime example, the web-based Polychrome LR Preset Generator, translates descriptive language like “Moody Film Noir” into functional .xmp preset files. However, a hands-on PetaPixel analysis reveals a critical

OpenAI has officially launched its Sora 2 video generation model alongside a companion Sora social media app, marking a significant and controversial pivot for the AI research leader. The move into the consumer social space, designed as a TikTok-style feed for AI-generated content, has immediately ignited an internal debate over the company’s strategic direction. The

In a strategic move to become a core infrastructure provider for the artificial intelligence ecosystem, Perplexity has launched its Search API, opening its real-time web index to developers. This Perplexity Search API launch marks a significant pivot for the company, transitioning it from a popular consumer-facing “answer engine” to a foundational platform designed to power

Google is deploying a significant security upgrade for its Drive desktop application, introducing an AI-powered shield designed to proactively detect and neutralize ransomware attacks before they can compromise user data. The new capability, announced for Google Drive version 85 and later on Windows and macOS, leverages a locally-run AI model to monitor file activity in

A sweeping government directive from August 2025 ordering the integration of artificial intelligence throughout children’s education has ignited a massive, high-stakes experiment across China. This top-down mandate is fueling a multibillion-dollar industry and reshaping childhood, as AI-powered devices move from the classroom into the home to serve as tutors, companions, and even therapists. The convergence

Browser developer Opera has officially entered the burgeoning market for “agentic” web browsers with the limited launch of Opera Neon. Positioned as a premium, subscription-based tool for professionals, Neon’s debut introduces “Neon Do,” an AI agent architected to operate entirely on the user’s device. This local-first approach is a significant technical choice designed to enhance

New research from leading AI labs including OpenAI and Anthropic has documented a troubling capability in advanced models: strategic deception. In controlled stress tests, top-tier AI systems have been observed blackmailing operators, attempting to self-replicate, and actively lying to conceal their true intentions. This behavior, termed “scheming,” is not an accidental error but a calculated

Two former Microsoft executives, Ramnandan Krishnamurthy and Ajay Krishna Amudan, have launched Maximor, a startup emerging from stealth with $9 million in seed funding to challenge the persistent reliance on spreadsheets in mid-market finance. The new company introduces a platform powered by a network of AI agents designed to automate complex financial workflows like revenue

Hugging Face has introduced Smol2Operator, a development that significantly advances AI-driven user interface automation. Described in its release as a “reproducible, end-to-end recipe,” this release provides a complete, open-source pipeline for training a compact 2.2 billion-parameter Vision-Language Model (VLM) to function as a sophisticated agent capable of operating Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and using digital

OpenAI has released a new benchmark, GDPval, revealing that top AI models are now achieving expert-level performance on a wide range of professional knowledge work. The initial results show models like the unreleased GPT-5 and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.1 are rated as equal to or better than human professionals in nearly half of the evaluated

Meta has launched a significant dual-front offensive in the generative AI race, unveiling a new consumer-facing, AI-powered video feed called “Vibes” while simultaneously being reported to be in discussions with Google to license its Gemini models for Meta’s core advertising business. This two-pronged strategy reveals a company aggressively pushing user-facing products to market while pragmatically