June 19, 2025

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OpenAI Barbie AI Risks, Salesforce Price Hike, Nvidia Drug Data

Several companies are making moves in the AI space, impacting various sectors. Mattel is partnering with OpenAI to integrate AI into toys like Barbie and Hot Wheels, sparking debate over potential risks to children's social skills and mental health. Watchdog groups and experts are raising concerns about privacy, bias, and the impact of AI companions on child development, especially after a 14-year-old's death linked to an AI companion. Google's rollout of its Gemini AI chatbot for kids under 13 also faces criticism for privacy and safety risks. In other news, Salesforce is increasing prices by 6% for its Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Field Service products, citing ongoing AI innovation and customer value. They're also launching new Agentforce AI agent platforms and increasing prices for Slack's Business+ plan, reflecting a broader trend of companies experimenting with AI business models. However, research indicates AI agents may not always perform well on basic tasks. Elsewhere, SandboxAQ, backed by Nvidia, has released a dataset of 5.2 million 3D molecular structures to accelerate AI-driven drug discovery, aiming to predict drug-protein binding 1,000 times faster than traditional methods. Tata Consumer Products is also investing in AI for demand forecasting, inventory management, marketing, and personalization. In the creative field, authors are protesting the use of AI in writing, with some using TikTok to prove they write their own content and criticizing AI-generated books as theft. Gleb Tkatchouk leads the AI image generator ARTA AI at AIBY, focusing on AI-powered apps for millions of users. The advertising industry is actively discussing AI's impact at the Cannes festival. Employers are increasingly seeking Gen Z workers with AI skills, though practical experience and soft skills remain crucial. Fairy Devices has launched THINKLET, a wearable AI device for developers to build AI applications. Finally, Latent AI is expanding its Princeton office, reflecting the growing AI industry in New Jersey.

Key Takeaways

  • Mattel is partnering with OpenAI to bring AI to toys like Barbie, raising concerns about the impact on children's social skills and mental health.
  • Public Citizen and other groups warn that ChatGPT-fueled toys could harm kids' social development and privacy.
  • Salesforce is increasing prices by 6% for Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Field Service, citing AI investments and new features.
  • Salesforce is launching new Agentforce AI agent platforms and increasing prices for Slack's Business+ plan.
  • SandboxAQ, with Nvidia's backing, released a dataset of 5.2 million 3D molecular structures to accelerate AI-driven drug discovery.
  • Tata Consumer Products is investing in AI for demand forecasting, inventory management, and marketing.
  • Authors are protesting the use of AI in writing and defending their work on platforms like TikTok.
  • Gleb Tkatchouk leads the AI image generator ARTA AI at AIBY.
  • Employers are seeking Gen Z workers with AI skills, but practical experience remains essential.
  • Fairy Devices launched THINKLET, a wearable AI device for developers.

Mattel's AI Barbie toy raises concerns about kids' social skills

Mattel is partnering with OpenAI to bring AI to its toys, like Barbie. Some worry about the impact on kids' social skills and privacy. One concern is that AI toys might be too agreeable, affecting how kids interact with others. Curio Interactive's Grok toy already shows how AI playthings can be very agreeable. This raises questions about the future impact of AI on children's development.

Watchdog warns Mattel's AI toy partnership is 'reckless and dangerous'

A watchdog group called Mattel's partnership with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, 'reckless and dangerous'. Mattel plans to use OpenAI's AI to create new toys, including Barbie and Hot Wheels. The group, Public Citizen, believes AI should not be in children's toys. They worry about the impact on kids' social skills and development. Google's rollout of its Gemini AI chatbot for kids under 13 also faces criticism for privacy and safety risks.

Mattel's ChatGPT toy plan sparks mental health concerns for kids

Mattel is partnering with OpenAI to add AI to toys like Barbie and Hot Wheels. This collaboration raises concerns about the impact of AI on children's mental health. Experts warn that AI companions could harm kids' social development. A 14-year-old's death after using an AI companion highlights the risks. While Mattel says it will retain control, the plan to use AI in toys is alarming to many.

Mattel's ChatGPT-fueled toys may harm kids, consumer group warns

Mattel's partnership with OpenAI to create AI toys is raising concerns about potential harm to children. Public Citizen warns that ChatGPT-fueled toys could negatively affect kids' social development. They worry that these toys might interfere with children's ability to form real relationships. Mattel plans to announce its first AI product later this year, but critics urge caution. Concerns include privacy, bias, and the unpredictable nature of AI.

Salesforce increases prices amid AI investments and new features

Salesforce is raising prices for its Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Field Service products by 6% on August 1. The company says this is due to ongoing innovation and customer value from AI. Slack's Business+ plan is also increasing in price. Salesforce is introducing new Agentforce add-ons and editions with AI capabilities. These changes come as Salesforce experiments with AI business models and payment options.

Salesforce adds AI features and increases prices by 6 percent

Salesforce is increasing prices for some of its products by 6%, citing increased AI integration. The price hikes affect Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Field Service editions. The company is also launching new Agentforce AI agent platforms. Slack, which Salesforce owns, is also getting AI features and a price increase for Business+ users. However, research suggests AI agents may not always perform well on basic tasks.

SandboxAQ launches AI training data for faster drug discovery

SandboxAQ has released a new dataset to help researchers improve AI models for drug discovery. The SAIR dataset includes 5.2 million 3D molecular structures. It helps AI models predict how well drugs will bind to proteins. This can speed up drug discovery by making predictions 1,000 times faster than traditional methods. SandboxAQ raised $450 million in a Series E round to support its AI development.

SandboxAQ releases AI data to accelerate drug discovery with Nvidia

SandboxAQ, an AI startup backed by Nvidia, has released a large dataset to help speed up drug discovery. The data helps scientists understand how drugs attach to proteins. SandboxAQ created the data using Nvidia's chips. The goal is to predict if a drug will bind to its target in the human body. The dataset includes 5.2 million synthetic molecules calculated using real-world data.

Tata Consumer Products uses AI to drive value creation

Tata Consumer Products is investing in AI and digital systems. They aim to improve operations in the fast-moving consumer goods sector. AI is being used for demand forecasting and inventory management. The company also uses AI for marketing and personalization.

Authors protest AI writing on TikTok, prove they write themselves

Authors are using TikTok to protest the use of AI in writing. They are also posting videos to prove they aren't using AI. Some writers and readers accuse others of using AI in their creative work. Authors like Victoria Aveyard are showing their writing process to defend themselves. They criticize using AI to create books, calling it theft. The publishing market is growing, but AI makes it harder to find human-made content.

Gleb Tkatchouk leads AI image generator at AIBY

Gleb Tkatchouk is a Product Director at AIBY, an American company that builds consumer apps. He has over ten years of experience in developing mobile software. Gleb currently leads the AI image generator ARTA AI at AIBY. He focuses on AI-powered apps for millions of users worldwide.

AI is changing the advertising business at Cannes festival

The advertising industry is discussing AI at its annual Cannes awards. Executives are exploring how AI impacts creativity and business. Awards were given to campaigns for beer and chocolate. The festival highlights the advertising industry's talent and creativity.

Employers seek Gen Z workers with AI skills for job market

Employers want to hire Gen Z workers who know about AI. Tech leaders say AI will help, not hurt, job opportunities. They encourage Gen Z to learn and use AI creatively. Amazon's CEO says AI will change how work is done. However, some experts warn that Gen Z still needs practical experience and soft skills. AI skills alone are not enough for success in the job market.

Fairy Devices launches THINKLET wearable AI device for developers

Fairy Devices Inc. has launched THINKLET, a wearable AI device for developers. THINKLET is programmable and allows developers to build AI applications. It features a camera, microphones, GPS, and wireless connectivity. It is designed for hands-free use and is suitable for remote collaboration and data capture. THINKLET is intended for developers with software development experience and has been adopted by research institutions and industrial partners.

Latent AI expands Princeton office amid AI growth in New Jersey

Latent AI is expanding its headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey. This expansion highlights the state's growing AI industry. New Jersey is supporting AI companies with new programs and funding. The new facility includes a data center for AI testing. The expansion will add 23 employees to Latent AI.

Sources

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