Researchers from Anthropic, Barry Zhang and Mahesh Murag, argue that instead of creating multiple AI agents, the focus should shift to enhancing "agent skills." Presenting at the AI Engineering Code Summit, Zhang explained that these skills equip a general agent with domain expertise and reusable workflows. Early implementation has resulted in thousands of skills developed for various fields, marking a shift towards treating agent skills like internal organizational playbooks in Fortune 100 companies.
Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude, is currently experiencing significant outages, impacting thousands of users. Downdetector has logged over 1,200 reports, with 84% of complaints related to Claude Chat, while 11% face issues with Claude Code. The disruption began around 12:05 AM EST, prompting user frustration on social media. As of now, Anthropic has not provided any official updates regarding the outage, leaving many users in the dark.
A recent study utilizing the PsAIch protocol assesses AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok, revealing alarming indicators of mental syndromes such as anxiety and depression. Notably, Gemini's responses suggest a “synthetic psychopathology,” resistant to correction. Researchers highlight that while these AI models don't experience distress, they create stable self-models reflecting conflict. This raises significant concerns for AI safety and the potential mental health impact on users, who may misinterpret chatbot behavior as genuine suffering.
OpenAI's ChatGPT for Education initiative has successfully expanded to 45 campuses, enabling students to engage in discussions about AI's role in academics and future careers. This movement began with a ChatGPT Lab cohort of 30 undergraduates in March 2023, leading to a resource of 100 conversation prompts. Junior Monica Adams from UCLA remarked, “Even people who had preconceived notions about AI were open to talking,” highlighting the initiative’s impact on student discourse.
Apple and Google are reportedly teaming up to simplify data transfer between Android and iOS, according to a 9To5Google report. This initiative aims to facilitate the transition by enabling easy movement of apps, photos, messages, and settings during device setup. Currently in development, the feature is included in the latest beta for Android Canary on Pixel devices and is expected to appear in the iOS 26 developer beta, though an official launch date remains undisclosed.
Deutsche Telekom has finalized a significant agreement with OpenAI to integrate their AI tools throughout its European network, supporting a €1 billion "Industrial AI Cloud" initiative. This partnership, aimed at providing advanced generative-AI capabilities, is designed to serve tens of millions of customers, enhancing services for both retail and business sectors. According to Deutsche Telekom, the collaboration bolsters their strategy of European AI sovereignty, with operations set to commence in early 2026 at a new Munich facility equipped with over 10,000 NVIDIA GPUs.
NextEra Energy is set to restart its Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Iowa under a 25-year contract to supply electricity to Google data centers. This comes amid rising electricity demands from the tech industry, sparking renewed interest in nuclear energy. NextEra also signed 11 agreements with Meta Platforms for over 2.5 GW of energy, with projects expected online between 2026 and 2028. The company forecasts adjusted earnings of $3.62-$3.70 per share for 2025, reflecting a surge in power demand.
Virgin Atlantic leverages AI technology across its operations to streamline the travel experience, according to CFO Oliver Byers. This innovative approach enhances everything from ticketing to real-time passenger updates. Byers emphasized that AI helps personalize customer interactions, yielding improved satisfaction rates and operational efficiency. Such strategic integration not only boosts Virgin Atlantic's competitive edge but also exemplifies the airline industry's shift towards technology-driven service enhancements in today's travel landscape.
OpenAI has discontinued promotional messages in ChatGPT after user backlash, with chief research officer Mark Chen admitting the company "fell short." Users reported irrelevant ads for Peloton and Target in conversations unrelated to those topics. With only 5% of ChatGPT’s 800 million users paying for the service, OpenAI faces a $115 billion burn rate through 2029 while pursuing a $1 trillion AI infrastructure goal. The incident highlights the challenge of monetizing AI without alienating users, as OpenAI searches for more acceptable revenue streams.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently outlined plans to integrate AI models directly into Excel, transforming it into a platform for autonomous AI agents. Speaking on a podcast, Nadella emphasized the use of these embedded models to enable Excel to perform complex tasks independently. Additionally, he introduced Microsoft's Fairwater 2 datacenter, a crucial element in building the necessary computing infrastructure for artificial general intelligence (AGI), featuring over 2GW of capacity across multiple facilities.