September 5, 2025

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google, openai and chatgpt Updates

The artificial intelligence sector continues to see rapid developments, from significant executive shifts and funding rounds to new product features, regulatory guidelines, and evolving public engagement. Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, recently experienced the departure of its Chief Financial Officer, Mike Liberatore, in July, just three months after he joined in April. Liberatore played a crucial role in coordinating a substantial $5 billion debt sale and a separate $5 billion equity investment for xAI in June, funds intended to support AI solution development and data center expansion in Memphis. His exit marks the fourth high-profile departure from xAI this summer, following general counsel Robert Keele, co-founder Igor Babuschkin, and senior lawyer Raghu Rao, with Linda Yaccarino, former CEO of Musk's X, also stepping down in July. Adding to X's challenges, bad actors are exploiting the platform's built-in AI assistant, Grok, to spread malicious links by prompting Grok to reveal hidden URLs from deceptive video ads. Meanwhile, Google is rolling out several updates for Android and Pixel devices, focusing on enhanced sharing and new AI capabilities. The Quick Share feature receives a new look for easier file transfers, and a novel Audio sharing feature utilizes LE Audio, allowing multiple individuals to listen to the same content from one phone using their own headphones, including a private broadcast option via QR code. Gboard is integrating AI writing tools for proofreading and tone adjustment, alongside meme generation, while the Androidify avatar creator returns with AI to animate personalized Android figures. In the realm of education, Indiana University is partnering with OpenAI to expand its AI offerings, providing 120,000 students, faculty, and staff access to ChatGPT Edu this academic year, marking the second-largest rollout for the platform. This initiative aims to prepare students for the workforce by fostering critical thinking about AI tools. The broader public is also increasingly turning to AI for practical assistance; a J.D. Power study reveals that 51% of US consumers, particularly those under 40, now use AI tools like ChatGPT for financial advice on topics such as saving strategies, credit scores, investing, and budgeting, driven by rising prices. Regulatory bodies are also responding to the growing presence of AI. South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge has issued an interim policy for AI use in courtrooms, prohibiting the verbatim use of generative AI content, its assumption as truth, or its sole reliance as a source, citing risks like bias and cybersecurity. Similarly, Portland Public Schools has incorporated new AI guidelines into its technology policy, permitting approved AI tools for tasks like lesson planning but requiring staff to review and take responsibility for AI-generated content, while cautioning against inputting student information. Across industries, major investments and innovations are underway. German software giant SAP plans to invest 200 billion euros over the next decade to bolster its AI capabilities, aiming to strengthen Europe's "data moat" and ensure client data remains within the EU under GDPR rules. In the gaming sector, Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan anticipates AI will transform the industry, with the company preparing to launch QA Co-AI to assist developers in finding glitches and Game Co-AI to offer real-time coaching to players, seeking new revenue streams as hardware sales slow. These developments highlight a dynamic period for AI, marked by both rapid advancement and a growing need for careful integration and oversight.

Key Takeaways

  • Mike Liberatore, CFO of Elon Musk's xAI, departed in July after three months, following other high-profile executive exits from the company.
  • Liberatore helped secure a $5 billion debt sale and a separate $5 billion equity investment for xAI during his tenure.
  • Google is updating Android with AI-powered Gboard writing tools, a redesigned Quick Share, and a new LE Audio sharing feature.
  • Indiana University is partnering with OpenAI to provide ChatGPT Edu access to 120,000 students and staff, making it the second-largest rollout.
  • A J.D. Power study indicates 51% of US consumers, especially those under 40, use AI tools like ChatGPT for financial advice.
  • South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge issued an interim policy regulating AI use in courtrooms, prohibiting unverified AI-generated content.
  • Portland Public Schools introduced new AI guidelines for staff and students, allowing approved tools but requiring human review and responsibility for AI output.
  • SAP plans to invest 200 billion euros over ten years to enhance its AI capabilities and strengthen data security within Europe.
  • Razer is developing AI tools, QA Co-AI and Game Co-AI, to innovate game development and provide real-time player coaching.
  • Hackers are exploiting X's Grok AI to spread malicious links by prompting the AI to reveal hidden URLs from deceptive video ads.

xAI CFO Mike Liberatore leaves Elon Musk's company

Mike Liberatore, the chief financial officer of Elon Musk's AI startup xAI, left the company in July after only three months. His departure is the fourth high-profile exit from xAI this summer. Other executives who recently left include general counsel Robert Keele, co-founder Igor Babuschkin, and senior lawyer Raghu Rao. During his brief time, Liberatore helped coordinate a $5 billion debt sale and led expansion efforts in Memphis. Additionally, Linda Yaccarino, CEO of Musk's X, also stepped down in July.

xAI CFO Mike Liberatore exits after three months

Mike Liberatore, the chief financial officer of Elon Musk's AI company xAI, left his role around the end of July, just three months after joining in April. During his time, Liberatore helped arrange a $5 billion debt raise and oversaw data center expansion in Memphis. This follows other recent high-profile departures from xAI, including general counsel Robert Keele, senior lawyer Raghu Rao, and co-founder Igor Babuschkin. Linda Yaccarino, former CEO of X, also resigned in July.

xAI CFO Mike Liberatore departs after short tenure

Mike Liberatore, the Chief Financial Officer of Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI, left the company in July after only three months. He joined xAI earlier this year and was involved in fundraising efforts and data center expansion. Liberatore reportedly already has a new position lined up. His departure leaves an important role open as xAI aggressively raises money to expand its AI infrastructure. Mahmoud Reza Banki remains CFO of X, and Jared Birchall is also involved in xAI's financial decisions.

xAI CFO Mike Liberatore resigns after short time

Mike Liberatore, the finance chief of Elon Musk's xAI, resigned around the end of July after serving only a few months since April. He played a key role in securing a $5 billion debt raise and a separate $5 billion equity investment for xAI in June. These funds are meant to support the development of AI solutions, a data center, and the Grok platform. Liberatore's exit follows other high-profile departures, including co-founder Igor Babuschkin and legal head Robert Keele in August, and X CEO Linda Yaccarino in July.

Android gets new Quick Share, audio sharing, and AI tools

Google is releasing several updates for Android and Pixel devices, focusing on easier sharing and new AI features. Quick Share has a new look, making it simpler to send and receive files with clear progress updates. A new Audio sharing feature uses LE Audio to let multiple people listen to the same audio from one phone using their own headphones, including a private broadcast option with a QR code. Gboard now includes AI writing tools for proofreading and adjusting tone, along with meme generation. The Androidify avatar creator returns with AI to create and animate personalized Android figures. Pixel devices also receive updates like Material 3 Expressive theming and Google Maps auto-launching on Wear OS smartwatches.

Android update adds AI to Gboard and improves sharing

Google is rolling out new updates for Android phones, bringing several enhancements, especially for Pixel devices. The Gboard keyboard app now features AI-powered writing tools to help users improve their writing style, proofread, and correct text. Android's Quick Share has been redesigned for easier use, allowing users to switch between sending and receiving modes and showing file transfer progress. A new audio sharing feature lets two people with LE Bluetooth Audio headphones listen to the same content, and a "private broadcast" option uses QR codes for group listening. Additionally, the Androidify tool returns as an online AI-powered creator for custom Bugdroid mascots, and Google Maps will auto-launch navigation on Wear OS smartwatches.

SAP invests 200 billion euros in AI and European data security

SAP SE, a major German software company, plans to invest 200 billion euros over the next ten years to boost its artificial intelligence capabilities. This large investment aims to strengthen Europe's "data moat" and protect data within the region from US tech giants. SAP will launch a new Infrastructure as a Service platform using open-source technology in its data centers, ensuring client data stays in the EU and follows GDPR rules. While US tech companies are also expanding in Europe, SAP will focus on supplying technology and software for the EU's "AI super factories" initiative, rather than leading or operating them.

Indiana University partners with OpenAI for AI learning

Indiana University is partnering with OpenAI to expand its artificial intelligence offerings in the classroom. This partnership will give 120,000 students, faculty, and staff access to ChatGPT Edu this school year. The university aims to prepare students for the workforce by teaching them to think critically about AI tools and understand their basic uses. This is the second-largest ChatGPT Edu rollout for OpenAI, making IU a leader in AI learning. Students can also take a new course, GENAI101, which explores the ethical and practical uses of AI.

South Carolina Chief Justice sets rules for AI in courts

South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge has issued an interim policy for using artificial intelligence in courtrooms, joining at least ten other states. This policy, recommended by national judicial groups, states that generative AI content cannot be used word-for-word, assumed to be true, or be the only source of information. It also warns about risks like bias, cybersecurity issues, and privacy concerns. The policy applies to judges and judicial staff, and lawyers are also cautioned against relying solely on AI. This action comes after several attorneys were reprimanded and fined for using AI to cite fake legal cases.

Portland Schools consider new AI use guidelines

Portland Public Schools (PPS) has added new guidelines for artificial intelligence into its technology policy for students and staff. These guidelines allow approved AI tools for tasks like lesson planning and personalized learning, but staff must review and take responsibility for any AI-generated content. The policy also warns against putting student information into AI tools and considering potential biases. PPS is also piloting a partnership with Lumi Story AI, a chatbot that helps older students create stories. However, the Portland Association of Teachers has expressed concerns, stating that students learn best from human teachers.

Razer CEO bets AI will transform the gaming world

Min-Liang Tan, the CEO of Singapore-based gaming company Razer, believes artificial intelligence will completely change the gaming industry. Razer is preparing to launch two new AI tools: QA Co-AI and Game Co-AI. QA Co-AI will help game developers find glitches and create games faster and cheaper, while Game Co-AI will offer real-time coaching to players. These new software products aim to create new revenue for Razer, as the market for gaming hardware is slowing down. The company hopes to become a leader in how games are developed and experienced through its AI innovations.

Readers share hopes and fears about artificial intelligence

Readers have shared a mix of curiosity, fear, and excitement about artificial intelligence, asking for basic explanations and practical examples of its use. Many are worried about AI spreading misinformation, creating fake content, and its potential impact on politics. People also raised concerns about how AI will affect jobs, health care decisions like Medicare eligibility, and the environment due to its energy demands. There are also questions about AI's role in education and whether students will become too dependent on tools like ChatGPT. Readers also want newsrooms to be transparent about their own use of AI.

Americans use AI for financial advice amid rising prices

As more US consumers struggle with rising prices and financial challenges, many are turning to artificial intelligence for help with financial advice. A J.D. Power study found that 51% of consumers now use AI tools for financial information, with ChatGPT being the most popular choice, especially among those under 40. People frequently ask AI about saving strategies, credit scores, investing, and budgeting. This trend highlights a new opportunity for banks and credit unions to use AI technology to build trust and help consumers manage their financial health.

Hackers exploit X's Grok AI to spread bad links

Bad actors are using X's built-in AI assistant, Grok, to bypass the platform's rules and spread harmful links. They post deceptive video ads that hide malicious links in a small "From:" field, which X does not scan. Then, these actors ask Grok about the video's source, and Grok replies with the clickable malicious link, making it appear trustworthy. This technique, called "Grokking," helps scams like fake CAPTCHA tests and malware reach millions of users. Guardio Labs researcher Tal reported this issue to X, and engineers are aware of the problem.

Sources

xAI Elon Musk AI startups Executive departures AI fundraising Data center expansion Grok AI Android AI features Google AI Gboard AI Quick Share Audio sharing SAP AI investment European data security Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) OpenAI partnerships AI in education ChatGPT Edu AI in legal systems Generative AI policy AI ethics Data privacy Cybersecurity AI in K-12 education Personalized learning AI in gaming Game development AI AI for financial advice Consumer finance AI security risks Malicious AI use AI misinformation Job displacement Environmental impact of AI Public perception of AI X platform AI assistants