Nexon launched an investigation after players spotted several suspicious adverts for The First Descendant on TikTok that appeared to have been generated by AI.
One advertisement allegedly used a content creator’s likeness without permission, sparking concerns about the misuse of digital identities.
The company issued a statement acknowledging ‘irregularities’ in its TikTok Creative Challenge, a campaign that lets creators voluntarily submit content for advertising.
While Nexon confirmed that all videos had been verified through TikTok’s system, it admitted that some submissions may have been produced in inappropriate circumstances.
Nexon apologised for the delay in informing players, saying the review took longer than expected. It confirmed that a joint investigation with TikTok is underway to determine what happened, and it was promised that updates would be provided once the process is complete.
The developer has not yet addressed the allegation from creator DanieltheDemon, who claims his likeness was used without consent.
The controversy has added to ongoing debates about AI’s role in advertising and protecting creators’ rights.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
OpenAI has updated GPT-5 to make its tone noticeably warmer and more engaging, without reverting to the overly flattering style some users criticised in GPT-4o. The change is rolling out, aiming to balance emotional resonance with substance.
CEO Sam Altman stated the adjustment directly responds to users finding GPT-5 too formal or robotic. The update is subtle yet visible, enhancing conversational warmth while avoiding sycophantic tendencies.
OpenAI also expands user control by offering three interaction modes, Auto, Fast, and Thinking, which adapt response style to user preference. These changes empower users to shape the tone and depth of their AI interactions.
Reacting to public frustration, OpenAI has reinstated GPT-4o (along with GPT-4.1, o3, and GPT-5 Thinking mini) for paid subscribers, while promising more customisation options in future updates.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The ads, circulating primarily on TikTok, combine unnatural expressions with awkward speech patterns, triggering community outrage.
Fans on Reddit slammed the ads as ’embarrassing’ and akin to ‘cheap, lazy marketing,’ arguing that Nexon had bypassed genuine collaborators for synthetic substitutes, even though those weren’t subtle attempts.
Critics warned that these deepfake-like promotions undermine the trust and credibility of creators and raise ethical questions over likeness rights and authenticity in AI usage.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
OpenAI recently unveiled GPT-5, a significant upgrade praised for its advances in accuracy, reasoning, writing, coding and multimodal capabilities. The model has also been designed to reduce hallucinations and excessive agreeableness.
Chief executive Sam Altman has admitted that OpenAI has even more powerful systems that cannot be released due to limited capacity.
Altman explained that the company must make difficult choices, as existing infrastructure cannot yet support the more advanced models. To address the issue, OpenAI plans to invest in new data centres, with spending potentially reaching trillions of dollars.
The shortage of computing power has already affected operations, including a cutback in image generation earlier in the year, following the viral Studio Ghibli-style trend.
Despite criticism of GPT-5 for offering shorter responses and lacking emotional depth, ChatGPT has grown significantly.
Altman said the platform is now the fifth most visited website worldwide and is on track to overtake Instagram and Facebook. However, he acknowledged that competing with Google will be far harder.
OpenAI intends to expand beyond ChatGPT with new standalone applications, potentially including an AI-driven social media service.
The company also backs Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface rival to Elon Musk’s Neuralink. It has partnered with former Apple designer Jony Ive to create a new AI device.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said employment for citizens will remain the government’s top priority as the nation confronts global trade tensions and the rapid advance of AI.
Speaking at the annual National Day Rally to mark Singapore’s 60th year, Wong pointed to the risks created by the US–China rivalry, renewed tariff policies under President Donald Trump, and the pressure technology places on workers.
In his first primary address since the May election, Wong emphasised the need to reinforce the trade-reliant economy, expand social safety nets and redevelop parts of the island.
He pledged to protect Singaporeans from external shocks by maintaining stability instead of pursuing risky shifts. ‘Ultimately, our economic strategy is about jobs, jobs and jobs. That’s our number one priority,’ he said.
The government has introduced new welfare measures, including the country’s first unemployment benefits and wider subsidies for food, utilities and education.
Wong also announced initiatives to help enterprises use AI more effectively, such as a job-matching platform and a government-backed traineeship programme for graduates.
Looking ahead, Wong said Singapore would draw up a new economic blueprint to secure its future in a world shaped by protectionism, climate challenges and changing energy needs.
After stronger-than-expected results in the first half of the year, the government recently raised its growth forecast for 2025 to between 1.5% and 2.5%.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The US government is reportedly considering acquiring a stake in Intel to support its domestic chip manufacturing plans. Talks began after Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan met with Trump administration officials on 11 August, following calls for his resignation over alleged China ties.
President Trump has pushed for greater control over the semiconductor sector and recently criticised Tan, prompting political pressure on Intel’s board.
While Intel declined to comment on a possible deal, it stated its commitment to supporting US technology and manufacturing leadership.
The proposed stake would aid Intel’s delayed Ohio chip factory project and expand its US production capacity.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton has warned that AI could one day wipe out humanity if its growth is unchecked.
Speaking at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas, the former Google executive estimated a 10 to 20 percent chance of such an outcome and criticised the approach taken by technology leaders.
He argued that efforts to keep humans ‘dominant’ over AI will fail once systems become more intelligent than their creators. According to Hinton, powerful AI will inevitably develop goals such as survival and control, making it increasingly difficult for people to restrain its influence.
In an interview with CNN, Hinton compared the potential future to a parent-child relationship, noting that AI systems may manipulate humans just as easily as an adult can bribe a child.
He suggested giving AI ‘maternal instincts’ to prevent disaster so that the technology genuinely cares about human well-being.
Hinton, often called the ‘Godfather of AI’ for his pioneering work in neural networks, cautioned that society risks creating beings that will ultimately outsmart and overpower us without embedding such safeguards.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The deal, still at an early stage, would push the company’s valuation to $500 billion, up from its current $300 billion.
SoftBank, Thrive and Dragoneer Investment Group are already among OpenAI’s backers, and their participation in the secondary share sale would further strengthen ties with the Microsoft-supported AI company.
Reports suggest the size of the sale could still change as discussions continue.
The planned deal follows SoftBank’s leadership role in OpenAI’s $40 billion primary funding round earlier this year. Employee share sales often reflect strong investor demand and highlight the rapid growth of companies in competitive markets.
OpenAI has seen user numbers and revenues soar in 2025, with weekly active ChatGPT users climbing to about 700 million, up from 400 million in February.
The company doubled its revenue in the first seven months of the year, hitting an annualised run rate of $12 billion, and is expected to reach $20 billion by the end of the year.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Elon Musk has accused Apple of favouring ChatGPT on its App Store and threatened legal action, sparking a clash with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Musk called Apple’s practices an antitrust violation and vowed to take immediate action through his AI company, xAI.
Critics on X noted rivals like DeepSeek AI and Perplexity AI have topped the App Store this year. Altman called Musk’s claim ‘remarkable’ and accused him of manipulating X. Musk called him a ‘liar’, prompting demands for proof he never altered X’s algorithm.
OpenAI and xAI launched new versions of ChatGPT and Grok, ranked first and fifth among free iPhone apps on Tuesday. Apple, which partnered with OpenAI in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT, did not comment on the matter. Rankings take into account engagement, reviews, and downloads.
The dispute reignites a feud between Musk and OpenAI, which he co-founded but left before the success of ChatGPT. In April, OpenAI accused Musk of attempting to harm the company and establish a rival. Musk launched xAI in 2023 to compete with major players in the AI space.
Chinese startup DeepSeek has disrupted the AI market with cost-efficient models. Since ChatGPT’s 2022 debut, major tech firms have invested billions in AI. OpenAI claims Musk’s actions are driven by ambition rather than a mission for humanity’s benefit.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
A federal judge has rejected Elon Musk’s bid to dismiss claims that he engaged in a ‘years-long harassment campaign’ against OpenAI.
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that the company’s counterclaims are sufficient to proceed as part of the lawsuit Musk filed against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, last year.
Musk, who helped found OpenAI in 2015, sued the AI firm in August 2024, alleging Altman misled him about the company’s commitment to AI safety before partnering with Microsoft and pursuing for-profit goals.
OpenAI responded with counterclaims in April, accusing Musk of persistent attacks in the press and on his platform X, demands for corporate records, and a ‘sham bid’ for the company’s assets.
The filing alleged that Musk sought to undermine OpenAI instead of supporting humanity-focused AI, intending to build a rival to take the technological lead.
The feud between Musk and Altman has continued, most recently with Musk threatening to sue Apple over App Store listings for X and his AI chatbot Grok. Altman dismissed the claim, criticising Musk for allegedly manipulating X to benefit his companies and harm competitors.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, OpenAI says it will remain focused on product development instead of engaging in public disputes.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
