Retter Reboot #40

ChatGPT Ushers in Era of AI-Powered Shopping Agents

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has officially entered the world of autonomous shopping, enabling chatbots to browse, recommend, and even purchase products on behalf of users. This shift marks a major transformation in online retail, where conversational AI takes over tasks traditionally handled by consumers. The development signals a new era of AI-driven commerce, with major implications for e-commerce platforms, retailers, and payment providers.

Source: ZDNET

OpenAI Finalizes $6.6B Share Sale at $500B Valuation

OpenAI has completed a $6.6 billion share sale, reaching a record valuation of $500 billion. The deal marks one of the highest valuations ever for an AI company, underlining investor confidence in OpenAI’s dominance in the sector.

Source: WinBuzzer

OpenAI Launches Sora 2 & a Social App for AI Video Creation

OpenAI has released the Sora 2 video model and a social app focused on AI-powered video creation and sharing. The platform lets users generate, edit, and post short-form videos directly with AI tools, aiming to blend creative expression with community-driven engagement. The launch shows OpenAI’s push into AI entertainment and social platforms, positioning Sora 2 as a rival to TikTok and Instagram Reels but powered by generative AI.

Source: Hypebeast

Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab Launches Tinker API

Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati has launched the Tinker API through her new venture, Thinking Machines Lab. The API is designed to let developers customize AI models more easily, directly challenging OpenAI’s dominance in the space. By focusing on flexibility and developer control, Tinker API positions itself as an alternative for companies seeking tailored AI solutions rather than relying solely on closed, one-size-fits-all models.

Source: WinBuzzer

Amazon’s Model Factory Trains Next-Gen AI on Its Own Business

Amazon has unveiled its Model Factory, a system for training the next generation of AI models using data from its vast business operations. The initiative leverages Amazon’s retail, logistics, and cloud insights to build models optimized for real-world applications. This approach gives Amazon a unique edge, positioning its AI as deeply integrated with commerce and infrastructure while strengthening its competitiveness against OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.

Source: GeekWire

Google Revamps Smart Home with Gemini AI, New App, and Cameras

Google has launched a major Gemini-powered smart home revamp, introducing a redesigned app and new AI-enabled cameras. The update enhances automation, security, and personalization, allowing users to manage devices more intuitively through Google’s AI assistant. This move underscores Google’s strategy to embed Gemini AI deeper into everyday life, strengthening its position in the connected home market against Amazon Alexa and Apple Home.

Source: Ars Technica

Meta Plans to Sell Ads Based on AI Chat Data

Meta is reportedly preparing to sell targeted ads using insights drawn from users’ AI chat interactions. The company aims to monetize its AI products by analyzing conversational data to deliver more personalized advertising across its platforms. The plan raises questions about privacy and user consent, as Meta seeks new revenue streams from its heavy investment in AI assistants and generative tools.

Source: TechCrunch

Anthropic Releases Claude Sonnet 4.5

Anthropic has released Claude Sonnet 4.5, a new AI model focused on efficiency and reasoning. Early benchmarks suggest improvements in speed and accuracy, particularly for tasks like coding, analysis, and structured problem-solving. The update reflects Anthropic’s strategy of delivering incremental but steady upgrades to strengthen Claude’s position against rivals like OpenAI’s GPT-5 and Google’s Gemini.

Source: Simon Willison

Microsoft Bringing Vibe Working to Office Apps

Microsoft is adding Vibe Working, an AI-driven collaboration feature, to its Office apps. The tool is designed to improve group productivity by summarizing discussions, suggesting next steps, and streamlining workflows in real time. This integration shows Microsoft’s push to make Copilot more collaborative and context-aware, strengthening its competitive edge in enterprise productivity against Google Workspace and Notion AI.

Source: Thurrott

DeepSeek Unveils Sparse Attention Model for Faster, Cheaper AI

DeepSeek has introduced a breakthrough Sparse Attention model, designed to process long-context tasks more efficiently and at lower cost. The approach reduces computational load while maintaining accuracy, enabling faster performance in applications like coding, research, and document analysis.

Source: TechStartups

DoorDash Launches Creator Program and New App Features

DoorDash has introduced a creator program for short-form videos, encouraging users and influencers to share food content on its platform. Alongside this, the company added new app features and dine-in rewards, aiming to boost engagement both online and in restaurants. The update highlights DoorDash’s strategy to merge social content with food delivery, creating a more interactive and loyalty-driven experience for customers.

Source: TechCrunch