News reporting focused on AI and machine learning, covering the companies behind these technologies, their real-world applications, and the ethical concerns they raise. This includes areas like generative AI (large language models, text-to-image and video), speech tech, and predictive analytics.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a "Rental Ripoff Report" that recommends requiring landlords and realtors to disclose when they use AI-generated or AI-edited images in property listings. The report follows hearings where thousands of tenants reported deceptive practices, including misleading photos.
Apple has sued OpenAI, accusing the company of stealing hardware secrets through former employees, including chief hardware officer Tang Tan. Meanwhile, New York became the first state to impose a moratorium on large-scale data centers, drawing criticism from Donald Trump. The episode also covers OpenAI employees funding a rival super PAC for AI guardrails, DOGE's use of AI at HUD facing FOIA stonewalling, and a cyclosporiasis outbreak spreading across over 30 states.
Anthropic, the AI startup valued at nearly $1 trillion, is urging states to adopt stricter AI regulations beyond the transparency laws it supported in California and New York last year. The company's head of state government relations says self-reporting is no longer sufficient for the most powerful AI systems. Critics accuse Anthropic of regulatory capture, but the company denies the claim.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that her team used artificial intelligence to analyze every rule, regulation, and policy in the state, identifying outdated legislation. The AI review, completed in a couple of months, would have taken five years manually. Hochul plans to eliminate antiquated laws, such as a $25 fee for hunting with a dog.
Runway's CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela discussed the evolution from AI video generation to world models on TechCrunch's Equity podcast. The New York company, valued at $5.3 billion after raising nearly $860 million, competes with Google and OpenAI. Topics included filmmaking constraints, unique approaches to world models, nonlinear media, and views on AI companions.
Elon Musk promoted a New Yorker investigation into Sam Altman's conduct on X just as his lawsuit against OpenAI began a jury trial. The post from Ronan Farrow highlighted alleged deceptive actions, and Musk called Altman 'Scam' Altman in agreement. The federal court case in Oakland involves claims OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit roots.
Antioch, a New York startup developing simulation tools for robot developers, announced an $8.5 million seed funding round at a $60 million valuation. The company aims to narrow the sim-to-real gap, allowing robots trained in virtual environments to perform reliably in physical settings. Backed by investors like A* and Category Ventures, Antioch draws from founders' experience at firms such as Google DeepMind and Chainalysis.