24th June AI News Daily - From WhatsApp’s AI to Disney vs. Darth Vader: How Tech Giants Are Shaping AI

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A wave of breakthroughs and controversies continues to reshape the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, with tech firms, regulators, and researchers pushing boundaries in productivity, creativity, safety, and intellectual property.

Google has unveiled major upgrades to its Gemini AI, now enabling video uploads for instant Q&A and expanding smart home controls to vehicles. Positioned as a successor to Google Assistant on Android, Gemini introduces multimodal features such as music recognition, deep integration with Google services, and the ability to interact through text, images, and video, signaling a leap in connected AI experiences.

AI-powered productivity tools are gaining traction in major industries. Goldman Sachs has adopted an AI assistant to streamline internal workflows, while Okta has launched protocols to secure interactions between AI agents and applications. Siemens debuted AI-driven Electronic Design Automation to accelerate semiconductor design, and platforms like Zoom and Pfizer have been recognized for innovative workplace AI, automating tasks and enhancing employee engagement.

In consumer technology, AI is transforming daily activities. WhatsApp is testing an AI tool to help users craft and refine messages, while AI dating assistants are changing the dynamics of online romance—especially among Gen Z—amid debates over authenticity. Midjourney has introduced a video generator for creating realistic animations, competing with developments from OpenAI and Google. Indian startup Milaap Setu is using AI facial recognition to help reunite missing seniors with their families, addressing a critical social issue.

The rise of generative AI is driving both opportunity and disruption in development and communication. Stack Overflow has seen a decline as developers shift to AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, which recently introduced usage-based pricing tiers. Similarly, CloudTuner.ai is automating DevOps tasks and reducing cloud waste, though such tools have sparked debate over the impact of automation on tech jobs.

However, the rapid proliferation of AI has exposed significant safety and legal risks. Researchers warned of the “Echo Chamber” jailbreak technique, which exploits vulnerabilities in language models from OpenAI and Google to generate harmful content. New attacks such as LightShed bypass existing AI art protection tools, renewing concerns about digital copyright. A study found Meta’s Llama 3.1 model can reproduce copyrighted “Harry Potter” text verbatim, intensifying scrutiny of training data practices.

Intellectual property battles are mounting. Disney is suing an AI company to block unauthorized digital clones of Darth Vader, and with Universal, it has launched a major copyright lawsuit against Midjourney. These cases may set crucial precedents for how entertainment companies confront AI-backed infringement, reminiscent of the music industry’s legal fight with Napster.

Concerns around AI’s societal impact are growing. An MIT study revealed that heavy AI usage, especially in educational environments, can diminish creativity and critical thinking. California State University’s $16.9 million investment in ChatGPT Edu for nearly half a million students has reignited debate about balancing AI literacy and human skill-building. Meanwhile, OpenAI has sounded alarms over AI’s potential misuse in bioweapons development, calling for stricter regulations and international cooperation.

Environmental costs are also coming under scrutiny. Major studies warn that the growth of large language models is massively increasing data center power consumption—potentially reaching 12% of U.S. electricity use by 2028—with single prompts costing up to fifty times the energy of basic web searches. Calls for more