NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

Brilliant? Terrifying? The Power and Peril of AI Videos

OpenAI’s new video tool, Sora, can turn just a few words into a hyper-realistic video. As The New York Times reporters Tiffany Hsu, Stuart A. Thompson, and Steven Lee Myers explain, the same technology that inspires awe also makes it far easier to spread disinformation. 😔

Type something like “a street protest in New York” or “a man robbing a store”, and within seconds, Sora can generate lifelike footage of events that never happened (see the fake accident video above).

In its first few days, users created fake videos of crimes, political rallies, and explosions that looked like real news broadcasts, complete with faces, voices, and backgrounds that don’t exist.

AI could supercharge disinformation, swaying elections, fueling conspiracy theories, or framing innocent people. Even experts say it is becoming nearly impossible to tell what is real and what is not.

Here’s the thing: I’m not into fear mongering. I like to show both sides of the AI story and sometimes, one side just isn’t very pretty.

But while the risks are real, Sora also opens new creative frontiers in filmmaking, education, accessibility, and design. It could make storytelling, visual learning, and content creation far more affordable. Independent creators can produce movie-quality scenes on small budgets, and educators can craft custom lessons in minutes.

Seeing may no longer guarantee believing, but with awareness and accountability, we can believe more wisely.

Trade Your Trainer for an AI Treadmill?

Peloton (the company that turned living rooms into spin studios during the pandemic) is back with a new workout plan. This time, it’s betting big on AI… and an even bigger price tag. 💸

The company unveiled a new “Cross Training Series” of AI-powered gear — including bikes, treadmills, and rowers equipped with Peloton IQ, its new computer-vision training system.

Using built-in cameras and motion tracking, the machines can analyze your form, count reps, suggest weights, and adjust workouts in real time, basically, a personal trainer built into the screen.

But it’s a pricey upgrade. The new Tread+ now costs $6,695, and monthly memberships are rising to $49.99. Peloton says it’s worth it, promising “unparalleled value” and insisting that AI will enhance, not replace, its human instructors.

ps. I love Peloton spin classes. No AI can replace Robin Arzon.

Meet Tejasvi Manoj, TIME’s Kid of the Year

In happier and more positive news, let’s celebrate this week’s Girl in Tech 🥳: Meet Tejasvi Manoj, named TIME’s 2025 Kid of the Year for building Shield Seniors, an AI platform that helps older adults detect scams, analyze suspicious messages, and safely report fraud.

Born in California to two software engineers, Tejasvi taught herself coding in middle school. After her grandfather was nearly tricked by scammers, she recognized how widespread digital fraud against seniors had become - and set out to design a simple, trustworthy tool to protect them.

Shield Seniors combines an AI assistant with senior-friendly guidance, clear explanations of cybersecurity concepts, and easy tools for uploading suspicious emails or texts. Beyond the platform, Tejasvi leads workshops at senior centers and trains young people to support elders in navigating the digital world.

Looking ahead, she plans to expand Shield Seniors into a mobile app, scale its reach through partnerships, and pursue computer science with a focus on AI and cybersecurity.

Outside her tech work, Tejasvi mentors Bhutanese refugee students and advocates for food security as part of the North Texas Food Bank Young Advocates Council.

AI Around The World:

In the US, President Donald Trump has allocated $50M to use AI in childhood cancer research, funding projects aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment. The program will use patient data to help doctors predict how children respond to cancer therapy and develop more effective care.

In the UK, AI firm Anthropic said it will triple its international workforce as demand for its Claude models surges. Nearly 80% of Claude’s users are now overseas, with strong growth in South Korea, Australia, and Singapore. Backed by Google and Amazon, Anthropic plans to open new offices in Tokyo, Dublin, London, and Zurich.

In Singapore, the Bank of Singapore introduced an AI tool that speeds up background checks on clients’ wealth - generating reports in 1 hour instead of 10 days. It automatically reviews and verifies financial documents, helping bankers confirm where clients’ money comes from while reducing errors and meeting compliance rules.