Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Mandates GitHub Copilot Adoption or Face Dismissal ↗
CEO Brian Armstrong ordered every engineer to onboard GitHub Copilot or Cursor within a week — or face a Saturday review. A few who missed the deadline without a valid excuse were promptly let go. Armstrong’s hard line sends a clear message: AI adoption at Coinbase is mandatory. The company now hosts monthly sessions where teams share creative AI coding tips, though some question long-term codebase maintainability.
Meta partners with Midjourney to license aesthetic AI across its apps ↗
Meta’s new AI chief Alexandr Wang announced a collaboration with Midjourney to license its aesthetic technology for use across Meta’s AI models and products. While terms remain undisclosed, the deal will involve joint research between both companies. Meta plans to integrate Midjourney’s capabilities into its Meta AI app, Facebook posts, WhatsApp and Instagram image generators. Midjourney insists it remains an independent, community-funded research lab, and both firms will reveal more details soon.
Ex-Instacart CEO Fidji Simo Joins OpenAI to Spearhead IPO Drive and ChatGPT Ads ↗
Ex-Instacart CEO Fidji Simo started at OpenAI, taking charge of its 3,000 employees. Investors hope her growth-stage experience at Facebook and public offering know-how will help transform the startup into a disciplined, profitable public company — especially as OpenAI eyes advertising revenue via ChatGPT.
Apple’s September Enterprise Update Brings AI Configuration, Faster Wipes, and Mac Login Enhancements ↗
This September, Apple will let businesses fine-tune enterprise AI access by configuring ChatGPT Enterprise (or any external AI provider) and choosing on-device or cloud processing. IT teams gain an Apple Business Manager API, seamless device migrations for M&A, a faster Return to Service wipe (including Vision Pro), and shared Mac enhancements like identity-provider Guest Mode and NFC-tap login, all for more secure, flexible AI deployments.
Apple Negotiates with Google to Power Siri with Gemini AI ↗
As Siri lags behind rival AI assistants, Apple is reportedly in discussions with Google to integrate its Gemini model into Siri. The move follows earlier talks with OpenAI and Anthropic and could see Google training a version of Gemini for Apple’s servers. A final decision is expected in the coming weeks.
Nvidia Pauses H20 AI Chip Production After China Flags Security Risks ↗
Nvidia has instructed suppliers to pause production of its H20 AI chips after Beijing warned Chinese firms they pose security risks and pushed domestic alternatives. This move comes just weeks after regulators briefly green-lit Nvidia’s chip sales in China. Nvidia denies any hidden backdoors, assuring customers the H20 remains safe to use.
Generative AI Drives Calls for Oral Assessments and AI-Proofing in A-Level and GCSE Exams ↗
Experts warn generative AI is reshaping A-level and GCSE exams, with students using AI as 24/7 tutors. Calls for oral assessments, tighter security against hidden devices and AI-proof testing are growing, alongside trials to speed up marking via AI transcription. Regulators fear unchecked AI use could undermine coursework, while educators stress the need for new exam formats that test true understanding rather than just AI-aided writing.
Cohere Launches Command A Reasoning, Enterprise AI for Complex Tasks ↗
Cohere has launched Command A Reasoning, its new enterprise-grade AI model built for complex reasoning tasks. Outperforming rivals like gpt-oss and DeepSeek R1 on key benchmarks, it runs securely on a single H100/A100 GPU with up to 128K context (scaling to 256K across GPUs). The model powers Cohere’s North agentic platform, enabling firms to deploy on-prem AI agents, manage compute costs via token budgets, and tackle document-heavy, multi-step workflows with high accuracy and safety assurances. It’s available now on Cohere’s platform and Hugging Face.
Google Workspace Adds One-Click Drive-to-Vids Video Editing ↗
Google Workspace users can now open Drive videos directly in Google Vids from the preview screen. Just hit the new “Open” button to trim clips, add text or music, and more—no manual uploads needed. The default enabled shortcut began rolling out August 21st (admins can disable it) and joins last year’s revamped video player and May’s Gemini AI video summaries.
TikTok to Axe Hundreds of UK Moderator Roles in AI Reorg Despite New Safety Rules ↗
TikTok is putting several hundred UK content moderator roles at risk, shifting work to other European offices and third-party providers as part of a global reorganisation that leans on AI. Despite new UK online safety rules demanding age checks and robust moderation, more than 85% of harmful content is already removed by automation. The Communication Workers Union warns that replacing humans with immature AI could jeopardise user safety. Meanwhile, TikTok’s UK and Europe revenues jumped 38% to $6.3bn in 2024, and its operating loss narrowed to $485m.