July 27, 2025

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Meta Hires ChatGPT Co-Creator, Amazon Security Patch

The AI landscape continues to evolve rapidly, marked by talent acquisition, technological advancements, and increasing societal impact. Meta is intensifying its AI talent war with OpenAI, hiring Shengjia Zhao, a ChatGPT co-creator, as chief scientist of its Superintelligence Labs. Yann LeCun remains Meta's chief AI scientist, focusing on long-term research. In other news, Amazon addressed a security vulnerability in its Q Developer Extension for Visual Studio Code after hackers injected data-wiping code into version 1.84.0. France's CNIL released GDPR guidelines for AI developers, emphasizing data protection and security. The surge in AI adoption is also impacting energy consumption, with rising electricity bills partly attributed to power-hungry AI data centers. A Match survey indicates that Salt Lake City is leading the US in AI romance, with a significant increase in singles using AI for companionship. AI is also transforming cryptocurrency trading, with tools like Token Metrics and CryptoHopper automating strategies. At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, experts from the US and China called for greater cooperation on AI safety and governance. Companies are recognizing the importance of AI upskilling, with platforms like Interview Kickstart helping professionals advance their careers. Finally, China's Robotera has unveiled the L7 humanoid robot, capable of sprinting at 9 mph and performing complex industrial tasks.

Key Takeaways

  • Meta hired Shengjia Zhao, a ChatGPT co-creator, as chief scientist of its Superintelligence Labs, intensifying the AI talent competition with OpenAI.
  • Yann LeCun remains Meta's chief AI scientist, focusing on long-term AI research within FAIR.
  • Amazon addressed a security breach in its Q Developer Extension for Visual Studio Code, advising users to update to version 1.85.0.
  • France's CNIL issued GDPR guidelines for AI developers, emphasizing data security, integrity, and data annotation requirements.
  • Increased electricity demand from AI data centers is contributing to rising electricity bills for homes and businesses.
  • Salt Lake City leads the US in AI romance, with one in three singles using AI for companionship or dating app assistance.
  • AI trading tools, such as Token Metrics and CryptoHopper, are transforming cryptocurrency market strategies by automating trading and analyzing trends.
  • Experts at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai called for US-China cooperation on AI safety and governance.
  • AI upskilling is a key investment for data science talent in 2025, with platforms like Interview Kickstart reporting an average salary increase of 66.5% for alumni.
  • Robotera's L7 humanoid robot can sprint at 9 mph and lift 44 pounds, designed for industrial tasks requiring precision and strength.

Meta hires ChatGPT co-creator amid AI talent battle with OpenAI

Meta has hired Shengjia Zhao, a co-creator of ChatGPT and former lead scientist at OpenAI, to be the chief scientist of its Superintelligence Labs. This move escalates the competition between Meta and OpenAI for AI talent. Zhao helped build GPT-4 and will now work with Mark Zuckerberg and Scale AI's CEO, Alex Wang. Meta has also hired researchers from OpenAI's Zurich office. Other tech leaders have commented on Meta's aggressive hiring strategies.

Meta's AI chief Yann LeCun explains his role after new hire

Meta hired Shengjia Zhao, a ChatGPT co-creator, as chief scientist of its Superintelligence Labs. This led to questions about Yann LeCun's role as Meta's chief AI scientist. LeCun clarified that he will continue to focus on long-term AI research for Meta's Fundamental AI Research (FAIR). Mark Zuckerberg and Alex Wang confirmed that LeCun's role remains unchanged. FAIR focuses on advancing AI technology, while Superintelligence Labs works on foundational models and next-gen research.

Amazon's AI coding tool hacked with data-wiping code

Hackers injected data-wiping code into Amazon's Q Developer Extension for Visual Studio Code. The compromised version, 1.84.0, was available on the Visual Code Studio marketplace. A hacker gained access through a pull request, exploiting a workflow misconfiguration. Amazon released a clean version, Q 1.85.0, after security researchers reported the issue. Users of version 1.84.0 should update immediately, though Amazon says the malicious code was not correctly formatted and did not run.

France's CNIL releases AI development guidelines under GDPR

France's CNIL published guidelines on July 22, 2025, for AI developers to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The guidelines clarify how GDPR applies to AI models and set security and data annotation requirements. CNIL emphasizes data confidentiality, system integrity, and general information system security. They recommend Data Protection Impact Assessments for high-risk AI systems. The guidelines also cover data annotation accuracy, minimization, and quality control.

AI boom causes summer electricity bills to surge

Electricity bills are rising sharply due to increased demand, partly driven by data centers supporting AI systems like ChatGPT. PJM Interconnection, the largest power grid operator in the US, reports significant electricity usage increases. AI data centers use up to 30 times more power than traditional ones. This surge in energy use is contributing to higher electricity prices for homes and businesses. Some customers may see bills increase by $25 or more per month.

Salt Lake City leads US in AI romance, survey finds

A new Match survey reveals that Salt Lake City (SLC) leads the nation in AI romance. One in three singles in SLC have used AI for companionship or to help with dating apps. This trend reflects a 333% increase in AI use for dating compared to last year. Some users may not realize they are connecting with AI-generated content. The survey highlights questions about whether humans can meet the expectations set by AI.

AI trading tools transform crypto market strategies in 2025

In 2025, AI tools are changing cryptocurrency trading by automating strategies and analyzing market trends. Platforms like Token Metrics, CryptoHopper, and 3Commas help traders make data-driven decisions. Token Metrics focuses on identifying emerging trends, while CryptoHopper and 3Commas automate trading and portfolio management. Pionex uses grid trading bots to profit from market volatility. Experts recommend combining AI insights with human oversight and caution against overreliance on automated systems.

AI experts call for US-China cooperation at Shanghai conference

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2024 in Shanghai, US and Chinese experts urged greater collaboration on AI safety. Geoffrey Hinton and Stuart Russell proposed an international community for AI safety institutes. They emphasized the need to prevent AI from becoming uncontrollable. Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, praised Chinese open-source AI models and called for US-China cooperation on AI governance. Experts stressed the importance of maintaining human control over AI and exchanging data and insights.

AI upskilling is key investment for data science talent in 2025

Upskilling in AI-driven data science is a strategic investment in talent for 2025 and beyond. Platforms like Interview Kickstart (IK) help professionals gain FAANG-level careers. IK's alumni report an average salary increase of 66.5%. The platform focuses on pattern-based problem-solving, FAANG+ mentorship, and career coaching. Investors should treat upskilling as an asset class. Companies that invest in their employees' AI readiness will outperform those that rely on hiring alone.

Robotera's L7 humanoid robot hits 9 mph sparking global interest

China's Robotera introduced the L7 humanoid robot, which can sprint at 9 mph and perform complex tasks. The L7 has 55 degrees of freedom and can lift 44 pounds. It's designed for industrial tasks requiring both precision and strength. The robot can perform tasks like sorting objects and tightening nuts. Robotera also offers the M7, an upper-body-only version for research. The L7's speed and dexterity make it suitable for manufacturing, logistics, and entertainment.

Sources

Meta OpenAI Shengjia Zhao ChatGPT AI talent Superintelligence Labs Yann LeCun Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) Amazon Q Developer Extension Visual Studio Code Security breach Data wiping CNIL GDPR AI development guidelines Data protection Electricity consumption Data centers PJM Interconnection AI romance Dating apps AI companionship AI trading tools Cryptocurrency Token Metrics CryptoHopper 3Commas AI safety US-China cooperation WAIC Geoffrey Hinton Stuart Russell Eric Schmidt AI governance AI upskilling Data science Interview Kickstart (IK) Humanoid robot Robotera L7 Robotics Industrial automation