SoftBank Group has completed a $41 billion investment in OpenAI, marking one of the largest private funding rounds on record. The deal gives the Japanese conglomerate an estimated 11 percent stake in the ChatGPT developer.
The investment reflects SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son’s renewed focus on AI and supporting infrastructure. The company is seeking to capitalise on rising demand for the computing capacity that underpins advanced AI models.
SoftBank said the latest funding includes an additional $22.5 billion investment, following an earlier $7.5 billion injection in April. OpenAI also secured a further $11 billion through an expanded syndicated co-investment from other backers.
The funding values OpenAI at roughly $300 billion on a post-money basis, though secondary market transactions later placed the company’s valuation closer to $500 billion. The investment follows SoftBank’s recent agreement to acquire DigitalBridge Group, a digital infrastructure investor.
OpenAI remains a central beneficiary of the global surge in AI spending. The company is also involved in Stargate, a large-scale data centre project backed by SoftBank and other partners to support next-generation AI systems.
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Protecting AI agents from manipulation has become a top priority for OpenAI after rolling out a major security upgrade to ChatGPT Atlas.
The browser-based agent now includes stronger safeguards against prompt injection attacks, where hidden instructions inside emails, documents or webpages attempt to redirect the agent’s behaviour instead of following the user’s commands.
Prompt injection poses a unique risk because Atlas can carry out actions that a person would normally perform inside a browser. A malicious email or webpage could attempt to trigger data exposure, unauthorised transactions or file deletion.
Criminals exploit the fact that agents process large volumes of content across an almost unlimited online surface.
OpenAI has developed an automated red-team framework that uses reinforcement learning to simulate sophisticated attackers.
When fresh attack patterns are discovered, the models behind Atlas are retrained so that resistance is built into the agent rather than added afterwards. Monitoring and safety controls are also updated using real attack traces.
These new protections are already live for all Atlas users. OpenAI advises people to limit logged-in access where possible, check confirmation prompts carefully and give agents well-scoped tasks instead of broad instructions.
The company argues that proactive defence is essential as agentic AI becomes more capable and widely deployed.
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OpenAI has launched GPT-5.2, highlighting improved safety performance in conversations involving mental health. The company said the update strengthens how its models respond to signs of suicide, self-harm, emotional distress, and reliance on the chatbot.
The release follows criticism and legal challenges accusing ChatGPT of contributing to psychosis, paranoia, and delusional thinking in some users. Several cases have highlighted the risks of prolonged emotional engagement with AI systems.
In response to a wrongful death lawsuit involving a US teenager, OpenAI denied responsibility while stating that ChatGPT encouraged the user to seek help. The company also committed to improving responses when users display warning signs of mental health crises.
OpenAI said GPT-5.2 produces fewer undesirable responses in sensitive situations than earlier versions. According to the company, the model scores higher on internal safety tests related to self-harm, emotional reliance, and mental health.
The update builds on OpenAI’s use of a training approach known as safe completion, which aims to balance helpfulness and safety. Detailed performance information has been published in the GPT-5.2 system card.
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OpenAI has introduced new Personalisation settings in ChatGPT that allow users to fine-tune warmth, enthusiasm and emoji use. The changes are designed to make conversations feel more natural, instead of relying on a single default tone.
ChatGPT users can set each element to More, Less or Default, alongside existing tone styles such as Professional, Candid and Quirky. The update follows previous adjustments, where OpenAI first dialled back perceived agreeableness, then later increased warmth after users said the system felt overly cold.
Experts have raised concerns that highly agreeable AI could encourage emotional dependence, even as users welcome a more flexible conversational style.
Some commentators describe the feature as empowering, while others question whether customising a chatbot’s personality risks blurring emotional boundaries.
The new tone controls continue broader industry debates about how human-like AI should become. OpenAI hopes that added transparency and user choice will balance personal preference with responsible design, instead of encouraging reliance on a single conversational style.
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OpenAI is said to be testing a new feature for ChatGPT that would mark a shift from Custom GPTs toward a more modular system of Skills.
Reports suggest the project, internally codenamed Hazelnut, will allow users and developers to teach the AI model standalone abilities, workflows and domain knowledge instead of relying only on role-based configurations.
The Skills framework is designed to allow multiple abilities to be combined automatically when a task requires them. The system aims to increase portability across the web version, desktop client and API, while loading instructions only when needed instead of consuming the entire context window.
Support for running executable code is also expected, providing the model with stronger reliability for logic-driven work, rather than relying entirely on generated text.
Industry observers note similarities to Anthropic’s Claude, which already benefits from a skill-like structure. Further features are expected to include slash-command interactions, a dedicated Skill editor and one-click conversion from existing GPTs.
Market expectations point to an early 2026 launch, signalling a move toward ChatGPT operating as an intelligent platform rather than a traditional chatbot.
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ChatGPT Atlas has introduced an agent mode that allows an AI browser agent to view webpages and perform actions directly. The feature supports everyday workflows using the same context as a human user. Expanded capability also increases security exposure.
Prompt injection has emerged as a key threat to browser-based agents, targeting AI behaviour rather than software flaws. Malicious instructions embedded in content can redirect an agent from the user’s intended action. Successful attacks may trigger unauthorised actions.
To address the risk, OpenAI has deployed a security update to Atlas. The update includes an adversarially trained model and strengthened safeguards. It followed internal automated red teaming.
Automated red teaming uses reinforcement learning to train AI attackers that search for complex exploits. Simulations test how agents respond to injected prompts. Findings are used to harden models and system-level defences.
Prompt injection is expected to remain a long-term security challenge for AI agents. Continued investment in testing, training, and rapid mitigation aims to reduce real-world risk. The goal is to achieve reliable and secure AI assistance.
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OpenAI has confirmed that Voice interactions will stop working in the ChatGPT macOS app as of 15 January 2026, affecting users who rely on spoken conversations instead of typing.
The company states that the change is part of a broader effort to streamline voice experiences across its platforms.
Currently, the Mac app allows hands-free, real-time conversations with ChatGPT. After the deadline, voice functionality will remain accessible through chatgpt.com, as well as on iOS, Android, and the Windows app. OpenAI stresses that no other macOS features will be removed.
According to OpenAI, recent updates have already brought Voice mode closer to standard chat interactions on mobile and the web, allowing users to review earlier messages and engage with visual content while speaking.
The company has suggested that the existing macOS Voice feature may not support its next-generation approach.
Mac users will be able to continue using Voice mode until mid-January 2026. After this date, voice-based interactions will require switching to other supported platforms until a potential macOS update is introduced.
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Amazon is reportedly considering a $10 billion investment in OpenAI, highlighting its growing focus on the generative AI market. The investment follows OpenAI’s October restructuring, giving it more flexibility to raise funds and form new tech partnerships.
OpenAI has recently secured major infrastructure agreements, including a $38 billion cloud computing deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Deals with Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom boost OpenAI’s access to computing power for its AI development.
Amazon has invested $8 billion in Anthropic and continues developing AI hardware through AWS’s Inferentia and Trainium chips. The move into OpenAI reflects Amazon’s strategy to expand its influence across the AI sector.
OpenAI’s prior $13 billion Microsoft exclusivity has ended, enabling it to pursue new partnerships. The combination of fresh funding, cloud capacity, and hardware support positions OpenAI for continued growth in the AI industry.
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The US tech company, OpenAI, has begun rolling out a pinned chats feature in ChatGPT across web, Android and iOS, allowing users to keep selected conversations fixed at the top of their chat history for faster access.
The function mirrors familiar behaviour from messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram instead of requiring repeated scrolling through past chats.
Users can pin a conversation by selecting the three-dot menu on the web or by long-pressing on mobile devices, ensuring that essential discussions remain visible regardless of how many new chats are created.
An update that follows earlier interface changes aimed at helping users explore conversation paths without losing the original discussion thread.
Alongside pinned chats, OpenAI is moving ChatGPT toward a more app-driven experience through an internal directory that allows users to connect third-party services directly within conversations.
The company says these integrations support tasks such as bookings, file handling and document creation without switching applications.
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OpenAI has opened submissions for third-party apps inside ChatGPT, allowing developers to publish tools that extend conversations with real-world actions. Approved apps will appear in a new in-product directory, enabling users to move directly from discussion to execution.
The initiative builds on OpenAI’s earlier DevDay announcement, where it outlined how apps could add specialised context to conversations. Developers can now submit apps for review, provided they meet the company’s requirements on safety, privacy, and user experience.
ChatGPT apps are designed to support practical workflows such as ordering groceries, creating slide decks, or searching for apartments. Apps can be activated during conversations via the tools menu, by mentioning them directly, or through automated recommendations based on context and usage signals.
To support adoption, OpenAI has released developer resources including best-practice guides, open-source example apps, and a chat-native UI library. An Apps SDK, currently in beta, allows developers to build experiences that integrate directly into conversational flows.
During the initial rollout, OpenAI’s monetisation is limited to external links directing users to developers’ own platforms. said it plans to explore additional revenue models over time as the app ecosystem matures.
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