Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google on Wednesday, alleging that the tech giant has infringed on its copyrights, Variety reports. Disney is accusing the tech giant of copyright infringement on a “massive scale,” claiming it has used AI models and services to commercially distribute unauthorized images and videos, according to the letter seen by Variety. “Google operates as a …
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Google’s AI try-on feature for clothes now works with just a selfie | TechCrunch
Google is updating its AI try-on feature to let you virtually try on clothes using just a selfie, the company announced on Thursday. In the past, users had to upload a full-body picture of themselves to virtually try on a piece of clothing. Now, they can use a selfie and Nano Banana, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model, to generate a …
Read More »OpenAI fires back at Google with GPT-5.2 after ‘code red’ memo | TechCrunch
OpenAI launched its latest frontier model, GPT-5.2, on Thursday amid increasing competition from Google, pitching it as its most advanced model yet and one designed for developers and everyday professional use. OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 is coming to ChatGPT paid users and developers via the API in three flavors: Instant, a speed-optimized model for routine queries like information-seeking, writing, and translation; Thinking, …
Read More »Google debuts ‘Disco,’ a Gemini-powered tool for making web apps from browser tabs | TechCrunch
Google on Thursday introduced a new AI experiment for the web browser: the Gemini-powered product Disco, which helps to turn your open tabs into custom applications. With Disco, you can create what Google is calling “GenTabs,” a tool that proactively suggests interactive web apps that can help you complete tasks related to what you’re browsing and allows you to build …
Read More »Rivian’s AI assistant is coming to its EVs in early 2026 | TechCrunch
Rivian’s two-year effort to build its own AI assistant will launch in early 2026. And when it does, the AI assistant will roll out to every existing EV in its lineup, not just the next-generation versions of its R1T truck and R1S SUV. Drivers and passengers will be able to use the AI assistant to operate climate controls and handle other tasks …
Read More »Rivian goes big on autonomy, with custom silicon, lidar, and a hint at robotaxis | TechCrunch
Rivian detailed Thursday how it plans to make its electric vehicles increasingly autonomous — an ambitious effort that includes new hardware, including lidar and custom silicon, and eventually, a potential entry into the self-driving ride-hail market, according to CEO RJ Scaringe. The announcements at the company’s first “Autonomy & AI Day” event in Palo Alto, California shed fresh light on …
Read More »Runway releases its first world model, adds native audio to latest video model | TechCrunch
The race to release world models is on as AI image and video generation company Runway joins an increasing number of startups and Big Tech companies by launching its first one. Dubbed GWM-1, the model works through frame-by-frame prediction, creating a simulation with an understanding of physics and how the world actually behaves over time, the company said. A world …
Read More »Ford and SK On are ending their U.S. battery joint venture | TechCrunch
Four years ago, Ford and South Korean battery maker SK On struck a deal to form a joint venture and spend $11.4 billion to build factories in Tennessee and Kentucky that would produce batteries for the next generation of electric F-Series trucks. The factories live on; the joint venture will not. SK On, a subsidiary of SK Innovation, said Thursday …
Read More »Disney signs deal with OpenAI to allow Sora to generate AI videos featuring its characters | TechCrunch
The Walt Disney Company announced on Thursday that it has signed a three-year partnership with OpenAI that will bring its iconic characters to the company’s Sora AI video generator. Disney is also making a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI. Launched in September, Sora allows users to create short videos using simple prompts. With this new agreement, users will be …
Read More »On Me raises $6M to shake up the gift card industry | TechCrunch
On Me, a digital gift card startup founded by former Google employees, is aiming to redefine the gift card industry with its mobile-first gifting platform that lets users purchase digital gift cards categorized by interests rather than being restricted to specific retailers. The company on Thursday said it had raised $6 million in a seed funding round, which it will …
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