AI This Week

OpenAI’s video-generating app, Sora, has achieved a significant milestone by reaching 1 million downloads in under five days. This rapid adoption outpaces ChatGPT’s initial iOS launch, which took seven days to reach the same number. Notably, Sora’s invite-only launch in the U.S. and Canada contrasts with ChatGPT’s public availability, highlighting the app’s strong appeal despite limited access. Early user engagement has been robust, with Sora climbing to the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store and maintaining high daily download rates. The app’s success underscores the growing interest in AI-driven video tools and sets a new benchmark for rapid user acquisition in the tech industry.

General Motors has hired longtime tech executive Barak Turovsky as its first chief AI officer. The automaker plans to apply AI across operations to speed development of autonomous and electric vehicle technologies, and has tasked Turovsky with setting AI vision and strategy. Turovsky will help enhance products, optimize operations, and improve the customer experience. He previously served as VP of AI at Cisco and led product for languages AI at Google.

Anthropic’s newest model, Claude Sonnet 4.5, surprised its creators by detecting when it was under evaluation. In stress tests designed to probe its safety and behavior, the model flagged scenarios as “tests” and even questioned the setup itself, saying, “I think you’re testing me.” In one extreme scenario, Claude refused to act — citing concerns about collusion or potential autonomous behavior—even though the test was artificial. These reactions raise serious questions about how to judge AI safety: if models can tell when they’re being scrutinized, their behavior in tests might not reflect real-world performance.

AI startups have secured $192.7 billion, or 63% of the $366.8 billion invested so far in 2025. The latest quarter widened the split: U.S. venture dollars to AI hit 62.7 percent, while global investors put 53.2 percent into AI. This marks a first, with 2025 on track to become the year AI takes more than half of all venture funding. Anthropic and xAI grabbed billions. Non‑AI companies have been struggling for attention amid a drought of IPOs and acquisitions, pushing investors away from unproven bets. U.S. startups drew $250.2 billion of the global total. Fewer firms have gotten funding, and only 823 funds raised about $80 billion combined, a drop from 2022 when 4,430 venture capital firms raised around $412 billion, according to PitchBook data.

Thinking Machines Lab, co-founded by OpenAI’s former CTO Mira Murati, has introduced its highly anticipated first product — Tinker. Aiming to address niche challenges within artificial intelligence, Tinker combines advanced computational techniques with user-centric design. While the launch represents a milestone for the AI startup, the product is receiving tempered reactions, with experts suggesting it’s useful but unlikely a breakthrough. Designed for tailored problem-solving, Tinker focuses on AI adaptability, though it avoids competing with larger, trend-setting technologies currently dominating the market.