October 15, 2025

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meta, openai and google Updates

Artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries from music and fashion to cybersecurity and government services. Universal Music Group (UMG) is navigating the AI landscape by forming partnerships with platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok, while firmly stating they will not permit AI models to use artists' voices or songs without consent. This stance aims to protect artists and ensure compensation, while also combating AI-generated music 'slop.' In the tech sector, OpenAI is reportedly making a substantial investment in AI hardware, partnering with Broadcom for custom AI accelerator chips to power its advanced models. Meanwhile, Google is investing $5 million in a program with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to offer free AI training to 40,000 small businesses, focusing on practical implementation and data security. The fashion industry is also seeing significant AI adoption, with 18 AI-powered startups collectively raising over $400 million to enhance design, operations, and customer experiences. On the cybersecurity front, AI is accelerating reconnaissance and information gathering, making cyberattacks more efficient by identifying vulnerabilities and prioritizing targets. In government, Abu Dhabi is advancing its AI-native government goals through a partnership between Oracle and NVIDIA, combining AI computing with cloud infrastructure for citizen services. Kenyan President William Ruto has enrolled in a Masters in Artificial Intelligence program, underscoring support for digital learning. Musician will.i.am is set to co-teach an AI course at Arizona State University, focusing on preparing students for the future workforce. In Germany, a survey indicates that most employees have little fear of AI impacting their jobs, though AI training in workplaces remains limited. Even construction is seeing AI integration, with a luxury residence in Tampa utilizing AI for a more efficient building process.

Key Takeaways

  • Universal Music Group (UMG) is partnering with AI developers like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok but will not license AI models that use artist voices or songs without consent.
  • OpenAI is reportedly partnering with Broadcom to develop custom AI accelerator hardware, securing 10 gigawatts of chips.
  • Google is investing $5 million in a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to provide free AI training to 40,000 small businesses.
  • Eighteen AI-powered fashion startups have collectively raised over $400 million in the past five years to innovate in design, operations, and shopping.
  • AI is significantly accelerating the reconnaissance and information-gathering stages of cyberattacks.
  • Abu Dhabi is leveraging a partnership between Oracle and NVIDIA to advance sovereign AI and government digital transformation.
  • Kenyan President William Ruto has enrolled in a Masters program in Artificial Intelligence at the Open University of Kenya.
  • Musician will.i.am will co-teach an AI course at Arizona State University focused on AI's potential and preventing job displacement.
  • A survey in Germany found that only about 5% of employees fear AI will threaten their jobs in the next five years.
  • AI technology is being used to make the construction process more efficient, as seen in a luxury residence project in Tampa.

UMG CEO Grainge details AI strategy protecting artists

Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge sent a memo to employees about the company's AI strategy. UMG is working with AI developers like YouTube, TikTok, and Meta to explore AI's potential for new revenue and fan engagement. Grainge stressed that UMG will not license AI models that use an artist's voice or songs without permission. The company is also working to combat AI generated music 'slop' on streaming services and ensure artists are compensated.

UMG boss Lucian Grainge shares full memo on AI strategy

Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge shared an internal memo detailing the company's approach to artificial intelligence. UMG is partnering with various AI developers and platforms like YouTube and TikTok to explore new revenue streams and fan connections. Grainge emphasized that UMG will not allow AI models to use artists' voices or songs without consent. The memo also addresses efforts to ensure responsible AI development and combat unauthorized use of copyrighted material.

UMG CEO: No AI models using artist voices without consent

Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge outlined the company's AI policy in a memo, stating they will not license AI models that use an artist's voice or existing songs without consent. UMG is actively forming partnerships with AI developers and platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Meta to explore new opportunities. The company is also committed to responsible AI training and is fighting against proposals that would allow AI training on copyrighted material without owner consent or compensation.

AI expert Sahaj Gandhi on building adaptable AI systems

Sahaj Gandhi, Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Perspectus AI, discusses building AI systems that can handle unpredictable situations, drawing parallels between autonomous vehicles and cybersecurity. He highlights the importance of data quality over model complexity and explains how multi-modal AI can connect different data sources for better threat detection. Gandhi also shares insights on the challenges of early-stage AI startups and the gap between investor expectations and AI capabilities.

AI accelerates web application attacks and reconnaissance

Artificial intelligence is significantly speeding up the initial stages of cyberattacks, particularly reconnaissance and information gathering. AI helps attackers analyze vast amounts of data from web applications, identify potential vulnerabilities, and prioritize targets more effectively. While AI is not yet launching fully autonomous attacks, it enhances human-led efforts by improving credential stuffing, interpreting application behavior, and generating more relevant attack payloads. This shift means even seemingly minor details in web applications can become exploitable.

OpenAI and Broadcom partner for custom AI hardware

OpenAI has partnered with Broadcom to develop custom AI accelerator hardware. The agreement involves Broadcom supplying 10 gigawatts worth of AI accelerator racks for OpenAI's data centers starting in 2026. This collaboration aims to embed OpenAI's learnings from developing advanced AI models directly into the hardware, potentially unlocking new capabilities. This deal follows recent reports of OpenAI securing significant hardware partnerships with other major tech companies.

OpenAI partners with Broadcom for AI hardware

OpenAI is reportedly making a significant deal with Broadcom to acquire a large amount of AI accelerator hardware. The agreement involves purchasing 10 gigawatts of chips from Broadcom to support OpenAI's AI model development and deployment. This partnership highlights the intense competition and investment in AI hardware needed to power advanced artificial intelligence systems.

German workers show little fear of AI job threats

A recent survey in Germany found that only about 5% of employees fear artificial intelligence will threaten their jobs in the next five years. Most workers expressed no concern about AI's impact on job security. The survey also revealed a general lack of knowledge about AI, with less than 40% of employees in companies using AI receiving training. Despite this, AI is already present in many workplaces, and discussions about its introduction are ongoing.

Fashion startups leverage AI, raising over $400 million

Eighteen AI-powered startups are transforming the fashion industry by offering services in design, operations, and shopping. These companies have collectively raised over $400 million in the past five years, aiming to help brands reduce costs and innovate faster. Startups like Bing, Spangle, and Daydream specialize in areas such as AI-generated imagery and personalized product pages. While competing with tech giants, these startups benefit from agility and focus on current industry needs.

President Ruto enrolls in Masters in Artificial Intelligence

Kenyan President William Ruto has enrolled in a Masters program in Artificial Intelligence at the Open University of Kenya. This move signifies his support for the country's digital learning initiatives. The Open University of Kenya aims to enroll 100,000 students by 2026, offering affordable and accessible technology-driven education. The university currently serves over 15,000 students from 70 countries.

Will.i.am to teach AI course at ASU

Musician will.i.am, known for the Black Eyed Peas, will co-teach a new course at Arizona State University (ASU) called 'The Agentic Self.' The course focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) and aims to prepare students for the future workforce by teaching them about AI's potential and how to prevent it from displacing human jobs. The hybrid course will cover general AI knowledge and involve students designing an AI companion.

Oracle and NVIDIA boost Abu Dhabi's AI government transformation

Oracle and NVIDIA are strengthening their partnership to advance sovereign AI and accelerate government digital transformation, particularly in Abu Dhabi. By combining NVIDIA's AI computing platforms with Oracle's cloud infrastructure, they are enabling Abu Dhabi's Department of Government Enablement (DGE) to build secure, AI-first systems for citizen services. This initiative supports Abu Dhabi's goal of becoming an AI-native government by 2027 and can serve as a global model for AI adoption in the public sector.

Google invests $5 million in AI training for small businesses

Google is investing $5 million in a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to provide free AI training for 40,000 small businesses. The program, called Small Business B(AI)sics, aims to educate business owners on practical AI implementation, data security, and integrating AI into existing systems. This initiative addresses the growing adoption of AI among small businesses, many of whom seek guidance on beneficial AI tools.

AI used in luxury residence construction in Tampa

A luxury residence is being built on the Tampa Riverwalk using artificial intelligence. The construction company reports that the AI technology is making the building process more efficient. Further details on the specific AI applications are not provided in the brief report.

Sources

AI strategy artist rights AI developers revenue streams fan engagement AI models unauthorized use copyright AI systems autonomous vehicles cybersecurity data quality multi-modal AI threat detection AI startups investor expectations web application attacks cyber reconnaissance vulnerability identification credential stuffing attack payloads AI hardware AI accelerators OpenAI Broadcom data centers job threats employee concerns AI training workplace AI fashion industry design innovation operations AI-generated imagery personalized products Masters in AI digital learning AI course ASU future workforce AI companion sovereign AI government transformation cloud infrastructure citizen services AI-native government public sector AI AI training for small businesses Google U.S. Chamber of Commerce small business AI data security AI implementation luxury residence construction Tampa construction efficiency