Merlin Bise, Chief Technology Officer of Inbenta, has been named a finalist for the prestigious Tech Titans Emerging Company CIO/CTO Award. This recognition highlights technology leaders in North Texas demonstrating innovation, leadership, and significant impact. Bise’s efforts in advancing AI-powered technologies have been pivotal to Inbenta’s success, delivering scalable, high-performance solutions for enhanced customer engagement. This isn’t the first accolade for Bise, who has been acknowledged by Tech Titans in previous years. The winners will be announced during the 25th Annual Tech Titans Awards Gala on September 12, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Stonebriar in Frisco, Texas.

AI startup Perplexity has made headlines with a $34.5 billion all-cash bid for Google’s Chrome browser. Despite being valued at just $14 billion, the company seeks to gain access to Chrome’s three billion users and strengthen its position in the competitive AI-powered search industry. This audacious move comes as Google faces regulatory scrutiny, including a U.S. court’s ruling that called its monopoly in online search unlawful. Perplexity, which previously targeted TikTok US in January, has promised to keep Chrome’s code open source and invest $3 billion over two years. Analysts expect Google to strongly resist the offer, emphasizing Chrome’s importance to its AI strategy.

A groundbreaking AI system, MaVila, developed by California State University Northridge’s Autonomy Research Center for STEAHM, promises to reshape US manufacturing. Backed by the US National Science Foundation, MaVila combines image analysis with natural language processing, enabling it to detect production defects, suggest corrections, and issue real-time commands to machines. Unlike traditional AI models, it requires significantly less data, making it especially useful for small businesses. During testing, MaVila excelled at identifying flaws in 3D-printed parts and recommending quality-enhancing modifications. The model was built using high-performance NSF-funded computing resources, including the Nautilus network, to streamline validation. Researchers suggest MaVila could enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve global competitiveness, all while assisting workers with AI-driven insights.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that ChatGPT Plus subscribers will receive increased message limits for the new GPT-5 AI model after user frustration over its initial restrictions. Previously capped at 200 messages per day, the limit adjustment aims to address complaints from paid users, who contribute $20/£20 monthly for enhanced features. The update accompanies additional changes, including a new interface to indicate the model responding to prompts. This comes after GPT-5’s release sparked disappointment, with some perceiving it as a minor upgrade rather than a significant leap. OpenAI’s move reflects efforts to regain trust among its premium subscribers.

A recent survey by Amperity reveals a striking contrast in the US retail sector: 97% of retailers aim to maintain or increase AI investments by 2025, yet only 11% feel prepared for large-scale adoption. While AI is widely used in sales, marketing, and customer support, applications like personalization and chatbots remain underutilized. Key barriers include fragmented data, high costs, and limited technical expertise, with 32% of retailers offering no formal AI training. Retailers leveraging customer data platforms (CDPs) are notably ahead, boasting higher daily AI usage and adoption across business units. Despite obstacles, confidence in AI’s transformative potential remains high. The report highlights the urgent need for unified data systems and workforce training.