Google releases its annual list of top trending searches, revealing insights into what the world is curious about. The results show interest in Donald Trump surpassed Kamala Harris, and people searched for Dubai chocolate bars.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

Hackers are exploiting a vulnerability (CVE-2024-50623) in Cleo's file transfer software (LexiCom, VLTransfer, and Harmony) to launch attacks. Despite a patch released by Cleo, security researchers warn it is ineffective.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

Spotify has discontinued its Car Thing in-car streaming device due to low demand and supply chain issues, disabling all units and offering refunds until January 14, 2025.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

Alexis Conneau, creator of ChatGPT's voice, aims to build a more advanced voice technology, inspired by the movie 'Her', to avoid dystopian scenarios.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

Reddit, a popular online forum site, has started testing a new conversational AI feature called Reddit Answers. This feature provides users with curated summaries of relevant responses and threads across the platform when they ask questions. The move aims to help Reddit compete with AI providers like ChatGPT and Perplexity and potentially challenge Google in providing quick and concise answers to users' queries.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

A test for artificial general intelligence (AGI) called ARC-AGI has seen improved performance, but its creator believes this is due to flaws in the test's design rather than a true breakthrough in AI.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

Bluesky, a social media startup, is developing a paid subscription service called Bluesky+. Mockups suggest potential features like higher quality video uploads.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

Amazon is establishing a new R&D lab in San Francisco, the Amazon AGI SF Lab, to focus on building AI agents that can take actions in digital and physical worlds and handle complex workflows.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

The OpenAI Startup Fund, associated with OpenAI but not funded by it, has raised $44 million in its largest Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to date. Originally controlled by OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman, legal control was transferred to general partner Ian Hathaway earlier this year. The Fund has received backing from Microsoft and other OpenAI partners, but the specific use of these funds remains undisclosed.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/

OpenAI's Sora video generator will not be available in the EU and UK at launch due to a lack of supported regions on their website.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/tag/ai/