Catch up on select AI news and developments from the past week or so (in no particular order):

OpenAI aims to turn ChatGPT into a life-integrated AI super assistant. A leaked OpenAI strategy document details plans to evolve ChatGPT into a "super assistant" capable of deeply personalized, multimodal, and agentic task support across life contexts. Described as a "T-shaped" entity, ChatGPT would manage tasks from planning vacations to writing emails, and it could soon be integrated into hardware. Infrastructure challenges, regulatory concerns, and competition from other AI players are also acknowledged. Importance for marketers: OpenAI's vision of ChatGPT as an ambient assistant suggests more personalized brand interactions and new consumer engagement channels on the horizon.

Meta targets full AI-driven ad creation and targeting by 2026. Meta plans to automate end-to-end ad creation and targeting by late 2026. Brands could simply provide product images and budgets, while AI systems generate text, video, and ad placements optimized for user location and context. The company also plans to deliver real-time personalized ad variants. Importance for marketers: Meta's goal to become a fully automated ad platform highlights the need for creative oversight and brand consistency in an AI-driven media landscape.

AI may be sparking a cognitive revolution—at the cost of originality. A researcher argues that generative AI tools, while enhancing average creative output, also narrow idea diversity and risk fostering algorithmic mediocrity. Studies show AI aids brainstorming but limits unconventional thinking. The article draws parallels to the Industrial Revolution, cautioning against conflating speed and efficiency with originality. The real challenge lies not in AI's capabilities but in society's overreliance on it, potentially stifling human creativity. Importance for marketers: Marketers relying heavily on generative AI must remain vigilant against homogeneity and ensure their work preserves differentiation and authentic creative insight.

Meta replaces most risk reviews with AI, raising safety concerns. Meta is shifting 90% of its product risk assessments—from privacy to misinformation—away from human reviewers to AI systems. While the move streamlines development, insiders warn it removes critical human judgment on high-impact changes. Sensitive areas like youth safety and integrity may also be automated. Importance for marketers: As Meta reduces oversight, the risk of public backlash over harmful or poorly moderated content increases, potentially affecting brand safety and campaign placement decisions.

Microsoft brings free Sora-powered video generation to Bing app. Microsoft has launched Bing Video Creator, a mobile app integration using OpenAI's Sora for AI video generation. Users can create 5-second vertical videos from text prompts, with both free and "fast" generation tiers. Quality is still mixed, with cartoonish results and visual artifacts. Importance for marketers: While early in development, free Sora access opens the door for quick content experiments and campaign assets—particularly for social media and mobile-first formats.

Google quietly releases app to run AI models locally on phones. Google's new AI Edge Gallery app lets Android users download and run AI models locally from Hugging Face. Tasks include code generation, Q&A, and image-based queries. The app supports offline use and customization via Prompt Lab. Importance for marketers: On-device AI could shift consumer expectations around privacy and speed, creating new opportunities for marketers to build localized, privacy-conscious tools and experiences.

Gmail now automatically shows Gemini summary cards for long threads. Google has introduced automatic Gemini summary cards in Gmail for long email threads. These AI-generated recaps refresh with new replies and reduce manual reading time. The rollout is part of May's Workspace feature updates. Importance for marketers: As email content gets summarized automatically, clear structuring and key message placement become more critical to ensure visibility in AI-generated summaries.

ChatGPT can now read files in Drive and Dropbox, plus record meetings. OpenAI's ChatGPT can now access and analyze user files from Google Drive, Dropbox, and other services. It also includes a recording feature to take live notes with timestamps and action items. These updates target enterprise clients. Importance for marketers: Enhanced data access and meeting capture may simplify marketing workflows, content research, and cross-functional collaboration, especially for distributed teams.

Gemini in Google Drive can now analyze video files for summaries. Google's Gemini will soon be able to analyze and summarize video content stored in Google Drive. This adds time-saving utility for meetings and long-form visual content. It builds on Gemini's existing text and doc summarization features. Importance for marketers: This capability enables quicker content repurposing and strategic insights from recorded webinars, presentations, and research videos.

Music labels in talks to license AI generators Suno and Udio. Universal, Warner, and Sony are reportedly negotiating licensing agreements with Suno and Udio, two controversial AI music generators previously sued for copyright infringement. Deals may involve license fees and equity. Importance for marketers: If resolved, these deals may normalize AI-generated music in commercial use, offering new legal avenues for soundtracking brand content without traditional licensing complexities.

Reddit sues Anthropic over unauthorized content scraping. Reddit has filed suit against Anthropic, alleging over 100,000 unauthorized content requests since July 2024 despite previous claims of blocked access. The suit claims Anthropic used Reddit data to train its Claude chatbot. Importance for marketers: Ongoing lawsuits highlight the unresolved tension between content creators and AI firms—affecting how marketers use or trust AI tools trained on third-party content.

OpenAI disrupts covert operations using ChatGPT, including from China. OpenAI blocked 10 covert influence operations that used its tools for propaganda, surveillance, and social engineering—four of which were linked to China. Tactics included creating fake comments and internal documents. Importance for marketers: Increased AI misuse in influence operations may accelerate regulatory oversight, shaping compliance rules for campaign messaging and audience targeting.

AMC Networks to use Runway AI for marketing visuals and previews. AMC Networks has partnered with Runway to use generative AI for marketing materials and pre-visualization of creative concepts. The company aims to reduce production costs and speed up content ideation. Importance for marketers: This reflects a broader shift in entertainment marketing workflows toward AI-enabled rapid content production, which may influence expectations across adjacent sectors.

DeepMind CEO wants AI to fix email—and sees AGI within a decade. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis is developing an AI-powered email assistant to handle inboxes autonomously. He believes AGI may arrive within 5-10 years and stresses the need for equitable distribution of its benefits. Importance for marketers: AI assistants that manage everyday digital tasks could disrupt communication channels and alter how brands reach consumers or handle support and CRM workflows.

Samsung may replace Gemini with Perplexity as default AI in S26. Samsung is reportedly considering switching its default AI from Google's Gemini to Perplexity for the upcoming Galaxy S26. The decision follows loosened exclusivity requirements under Google's antitrust scrutiny. Importance for marketers: The shift in default AI assistants on mobile could influence search behavior and app interactions, potentially affecting campaign performance and user discovery paths.

Pope Leo XIV calls for global AI ethics to protect dignity and labor. Newly elected Pope Leo XIV is focusing on the ethical risks of AI, warning against dehumanization and inequality. He aims to position the Vatican as a moral voice in the AI debate, especially for the Global South. Importance for marketers: As AI ethics gain global visibility, public expectations around responsible use of AI in communications, content, and personalization may shift dramatically.

Trump administration dismantles US AI Safety Institute. The AI Safety Institute has been restructured into a new Center for AI Standards and Innovation, ostensibly prioritizing innovation over regulation. The move may jeopardize existing research partnerships and long-term safety work. Importance for marketers: Regulatory shifts may impact how AI-powered tools are evaluated and governed, with implications for risk management in marketing tech stacks.

You can find the previous issue of AI Update here.

Editor's note: GPT-4o was used to help compile this week's AI Update.