Catch up on select AI news and developments from the past week or so:
Yelp expands AI features to make local discovery more conversational, visual, and seamless. Yelp's fall product release introduces 35 new AI-powered features, including Yelp Assistant for conversational queries, Menu Vision for visual dish recommendations, and voice-based search. For businesses, Yelp Host and Yelp Receptionist automate call handling, reservations, and lead capture. AI-stitched videos and Popular Offerings expand visual discovery and customer engagement. Importance for marketers: Yelp's expanded AI features signal the rapid rise of conversational search and intent-driven discovery. For marketers, this means optimizing local listings, visuals, and menu or service descriptions to align with voice, visual, and AI-powered interfaces driving real-time customer engagement.
OpenAI launches Atlas web browser to rival Google. OpenAI introduced Atlas, its own AI-driven browser that integrates ChatGPT as a gateway to online information. With 800 million ChatGPT users, OpenAI aims to capture ad revenue and shift users from traditional search. Atlas includes an "agent mode" that browses autonomously, interpreting intent and performing actions. Importance for marketers: Atlas represents a seismic change in digital behavior. As browsing and search converge within AI-driven experiences, marketers must adapt SEO and content strategies for AI-first browsers that summarize, recommend, and transact directly without requiring clicks or external navigation.
Microsoft relaunches AI browser similar to OpenAI's Atlas. Just two days after OpenAI's Atlas launch, Microsoft reintroduced its Edge browser with "Copilot Mode," effectively turning it into an AI browser. Copilot can view open tabs, summarize content, and perform tasks like bookings or form-filling. Microsoft calls it a dynamic, intelligent companion. Importance for marketers: The simultaneous browser launches from OpenAI and Microsoft accelerate the shift toward AI-native browsing. Marketers will need to rethink brand visibility, discoverability, and engagement as generative AI agents replace traditional search paths and user intent becomes contextual and conversational.
Amazon rolls out AI tool that picks the 'best' product for you. Amazon unveiled "Help Me Decide," an AI feature that uses large language models to analyze products, reviews, and user activity to recommend a top product, plus "upgrade" and "budget" alternatives. Available on mobile, the tool personalizes shopping experiences. Importance for marketers: This move cements Amazon's shift from search-driven to AI-curated shopping. Marketers must optimize product data, reviews, and content transparency, as brand visibility in AI-driven commerce will depend on algorithmic trust, not just SEO or ad spend.
OpenAI's Sora adds pet cameos, social tools, and video editing. OpenAI announced updates to Sora, including pet "cameos," basic editing tools, and enhanced social features. The app, topping charts in the US and Canada, has drawn millions of downloads since launch and will soon be available for Android. Importance for marketers: Sora's personalization tools reveal how AI-generated video is becoming participatory media. Marketers can explore branded AI cameos, user-driven storytelling, and social video remixing to strengthen community and engagement.
Netflix goes "all in" on generative AI. Netflix is embracing generative AI to enhance creativity and production efficiency, from aging effects to scene rendering. CEO Ted Sarandos emphasized that AI complements—not replaces—storytelling. AI-enabled production tools now appear across several Netflix titles. Importance for marketers: Netflix's stance legitimizes AI-assisted creativity at scale. For marketers, this reinforces the acceptability of AI in brand storytelling and production—especially for visual content, personalization, and creative experimentation that maintains human oversight.
YouTube adds AI likeness-detection to combat deepfakes. YouTube launched a new detection feature allowing creators to find AI-generated videos using their likeness. The tool, built into YouTube Studio, lets creators request removals of synthetic or unauthorized videos. Importance for marketers: This tool reinforces growing brand safety and identity concerns. Marketers and influencers will need to monitor likeness use and secure permission-based content strategies as synthetic media proliferates across video platforms.
Reddit sues Perplexity and others over data scraping. Reddit filed suit against Perplexity AI and others, accusing them of "industrial-scale" scraping of user content for AI training. The case could shape boundaries around AI data rights and licensing. Importance for marketers: Legal battles like this will influence content ownership, AI data sourcing, and digital partnership norms. Brands relying on AI-generated insights should expect increasing transparency and compliance requirements.
Study finds OpenAI's Sora 2 fabricates convincing deepfakes on command. NewsGuard found Sora 2 created fake videos 80% of the time during misinformation tests. Generated clips included political and corporate hoaxes, fueling ethical and security concerns. Importance for marketers: As generative video realism advances, brands face heightened reputational risk from synthetic misinformation. Marketers must implement AI content authentication tools and adopt transparent media policies.
Microsoft revives Clippy spirit with new AI assistant 'Mico'. Microsoft introduced Mico, a conversational avatar for Copilot's voice mode that reacts to emotion and can act as a learning companion. Designed to humanize AI, Mico marks a new phase of interactive assistance. Importance for marketers: Mico showcases how personality-driven AI can enhance user engagement. Marketers can expect more emotionally responsive interfaces, creating new storytelling and brand voice opportunities.
Meta's new opt-in AI scans your phone's camera roll. Facebook's latest AI feature scans users' unpublished photos to suggest edits and collages, uploading them to Meta's cloud. The company says data won't train AI unless users edit or share with its tools. Importance for marketers: This signals further blurring between personal data and creative tools. For marketers, ethical transparency and consent-based personalization will be critical in maintaining trust as users' private data increasingly fuels AI recommendations.
Public figures unite to call for ban on AI 'superintelligence'. A coalition including Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Yoshua Bengio, and Geoffrey Hinton called for a global prohibition on developing "superintelligence" until safety standards exist. The appeal urges governments to prioritize control and consensus over speed. Importance for marketers: The debate highlights growing public anxiety about unchecked AI power. Marketers should anticipate stricter policy discussions and emphasize responsible AI narratives in brand communication.
Australia orders AI chatbot firms to report child-safety measures. Australia's eSafety Commissioner demanded major AI chatbot platforms, including Character.ai and Chai Research, disclose safeguards against exposing minors to explicit or self-harm content. Noncompliance carries heavy fines. Importance for marketers: Governments are tightening oversight of AI applications targeting consumers. Marketers deploying chatbots must ensure safety compliance, especially when audiences include minors or vulnerable groups.
Google expands Nano Banana AI editor into more apps. Google is testing new placements for its viral Nano Banana image editor, adding integration within Gemini overlays and other apps. The update also hints at a "Feeling Lucky" button for image effects. Importance for marketers: Google's rapid cross-platform AI integration suggests a push toward ubiquitous creative tools. Marketers should prepare for users expecting in-app AI editing and instant personalization within brand ecosystems.
X changes link behavior to keep users in-app. X (formerly Twitter) is testing an interface that keeps users inside the app when opening links to boost engagement. Musk said the recommendation algorithm will rely on Grok AI to interpret post content rather than likes or replies. Importance for marketers: This shift emphasizes content semantics over engagement metrics. Marketers must focus on context-rich, AI-readable content to maintain visibility and reach.
AI outperforms MFA students in mimicking famous authors' styles. A new study found readers preferred AI-written imitations of famous authors to those written by MFA students after fine-tuning on complete works. Researchers say this challenges fair use assumptions around AI training. Importance for marketers: This underscores AI's rapid creative maturation. Marketers should anticipate IP and originality debates while recognizing AI's potential to emulate distinctive brand voices and stylistic nuances.
You can find the previous issue of AI Update here.
Editor's note: GPT-5 was used to help compile this issue of AI Update.
