OpenAI has launched an advanced AI agent, Operator, designed to automate repetitive online tasks such as ordering groceries or booking restaurants. Operator uses its own browser to interact with buttons, menus, and text fields, removing the need for custom API integrations.
The tool operates independently once enabled, but it is designed to seek user approval for actions involving sensitive information like logins or payments. Its functionality relies on OpenAI’s GPT-4o vision model and advanced reasoning capabilities, allowing it to self-correct mistakes or transfer control back to users when needed.
Operator is currently in a research preview phase, available exclusively to US-based ChatGPT Pro subscribers. Feedback from early adopters will shape its future development before it becomes accessible to more users.
OpenAI is collaborating with companies including DoorDash, Uber, and StubHub to align Operator with real-world needs and industry norms, ensuring practicality and reliability for diverse applications.
Stargate, a new joint venture formed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, aims to build data centres across the US to support the growing demands of AI. According to a report by the Financial Times on Thursday, these data centres will be dedicated solely to OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT. The collaboration between these tech giants underscores the increasing importance of robust infrastructure to power the next wave of AI innovation.
The exclusive focus on OpenAI’s needs comes when AI technologies rapidly expand, with the demand for high-performance computing capabilities soaring. The partnership will allow OpenAI to scale its operations and provide the necessary computing power for its cutting-edge AI models. As companies worldwide race to develop more advanced AI tools, the infrastructure provided by Stargate is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the next generation of AI services.
Oracle and SoftBank’s involvement brings significant expertise in cloud infrastructure and global telecom, making the venture a powerful alliance in the competitive AI landscape. The project highlights the growing intersection of cloud computing, data storage, and AI as companies like OpenAI push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.
Meta Platforms has joined a $10 billion investment round for Databricks, a data analytics firm specialising in AI applications. The funding, which closed on Wednesday, values the San Francisco-based company at $62 billion. This round also included a $5.25 billion credit facility led by major financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, aimed at boosting Databricks’ expansion and product development efforts.
Founded in 2013, Databricks provides tools to help businesses process, analyse, and apply artificial intelligence to complex datasets. The firm has benefited from the increasing corporate demand for AI technology, catalysed by the rapid adoption of platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Meta’s investment strengthens an existing partnership between the two, particularly in leveraging Meta’s Llama, a family of open-source large language models.
With over 10,000 organisations, including Shell and Comcast, already utilising its platform, Databricks is at the forefront of enterprise AI applications. According to CEO Ali Ghodsi, this deepened collaboration with Meta will help Databricks better serve enterprise clients using Llama, further solidifying its position in the AI race.
US President Donald Trump recently unveiled the $500 billion Stargate project, a groundbreaking AI infrastructure initiative that has captured market attention. Collaborating with OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, the project is based in the US and has already secured $100 billion in initial funding. Industry experts suggest this move could significantly influence the AI and cryptocurrency markets.
Dr Max Li, CEO of decentralised cloud platform OORT, highlighted the impact Stargate could have on AI tokens. He noted the strong connection between AI advancements and digital assets, predicting a surge in AI projects and token launches. Li warned that while many projects may emerge, only those with genuine utility and business value would endure.
The announcement triggered immediate market reactions, with AI tokens such as ai16z and Worldcoin seeing notable price increases. The rising interest in the convergence of artificial intelligence and decentralised finance (DeFi) suggests that the Stargate initiative could accelerate innovation in both sectors.
As AI continues to intersect with blockchain, the Stargate project positions the US at the forefront of these technological advancements, paving the way for further growth in AI-driven digital assets.
OpenAI has told an Indian court that removing training data used for its ChatGPT service would conflict with its legal obligations in the United States. The company, backed by Microsoft, is defending a copyright lawsuit filed by Indian news agency ANI, which accuses OpenAI of using its content without permission and demands the deletion of ANI’s data from ChatGPT’s memory.
In a January 10 filing, OpenAI argued that Indian courts lack jurisdiction as the company has no physical presence or data servers in India. It also emphasised its legal obligation in the US to preserve training data while litigation is ongoing. OpenAI denied wrongdoing, asserting its systems make fair use of publicly available data, a stance it has maintained in similar copyright disputes globally.
ANI insists the Delhi court has the authority to rule on the case, citing concerns over unfair competition and alleging that ChatGPT reproduces its content verbatim. OpenAI, however, countered that ANI manipulated prompts to elicit such responses. The court is set to hear the case on January 28, marking a key moment in India’s scrutiny of AI and copyright law.
Google is making a significant new investment in AI by committing more than $1 billion to Anthropic, according to a report by the Financial Times. Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI, focuses on developing advanced AI models and tools, positioning itself as a major player in the growing AI sector.
The investment underscores Google’s ongoing commitment to bolstering its AI capabilities in a highly competitive market. As the race to dominate AI innovation intensifies, tech giants like Google are increasingly supporting smaller firms that specialise in cutting-edge developments to stay ahead.
Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives, has quickly gained recognition in the AI community. The company aims to create more reliable and interpretable AI systems. Google’s backing is expected to strengthen Anthropic’s research and development efforts, further establishing it as a prominent force in the AI landscape.
Oracle shares soared by nearly 9% in Frankfurt on Wednesday following an announcement from former US President Donald Trump about a groundbreaking AI initiative. Oracle, in collaboration with OpenAI and SoftBank, is set to establish a joint venture called Stargate, aiming to revolutionise AI infrastructure.
The ambitious project will see a staggering $500 billion investment, as revealed during Trump’s remarks at the White House the day before. The collaboration highlights the growing significance of AI and signals major players pooling resources to drive technological advancements in this domain.
Investor excitement around Stargate boosted Oracle’s stock performance significantly. After regular trading closed on Tuesday with a 7% rise, the company’s shares climbed an additional 3% in after-hours trading, reflecting strong market optimism.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son’s decision to partner with OpenAI and Oracle on a $500 billion AI venture, Stargate, showcases his bold, headline-grabbing approach to dealing with the Trump administration. The project, announced at the White House alongside President Donald Trump, promises to build AI infrastructure in the US and marks a significant part of Son’s earlier $100 billion investment pledge. SoftBank shares surged 11% following the news, reflecting investor confidence in the group’s aggressive strategy.
However, analysts argue that Son’s methods, rooted in rapid decision-making and high-risk bets, are difficult for traditional Japanese corporations to replicate. Japan Inc’s emphasis on long-term planning contrasts sharply with Son’s willingness to embrace Trump’s pro-investment stance to navigate potential tariffs and trade pressures. The reluctance of other Japanese executives to engage directly with Trump highlights a broader struggle to adapt in a politically charged environment.
Son’s flashy investments draw comparisons to his previous $50 billion pledge during Trump’s first term and underscore his vision for AI as a transformative technology. While his moves are reestablishing SoftBank as a global player after setbacks like WeWork’s collapse, questions remain about how the Stargate project will be funded and whether traditional Japanese companies can adapt their strategies to find similar success in Trump’s America.
Microsoft announced changes to its longstanding agreement with OpenAI following the AI leader’s new partnership with Oracle and SoftBank on a $500 billion AI data centre project, Stargate. The joint venture, unveiled by President Donald Trump at the White House, aims to solidify US leadership in AI, leveraging Nvidia chips and other cutting-edge technologies.
While Microsoft retains exclusive rights to OpenAI’s APIs, the amendments now allow OpenAI to build additional capacity outside of Microsoft’s infrastructure. This paves the way for Oracle’s involvement in Stargate, which will operate as a separate entity with governance rights shared among founding members and external investors like UAE’s MGX. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son will chair the venture’s board.
Despite this shift, Microsoft remains a central technology partner, continuing to benefit from revenue-sharing agreements with OpenAI and maintaining exclusivity over key offerings through its Azure cloud service. “The key elements of our partnership remain intact through 2030,” Microsoft said, reaffirming its commitment to OpenAI’s long-term growth.
Oracle and OpenAI have not commented on Microsoft’s statements, but the partnership underscores the strategic realignments shaping the future of AI infrastructure in the US.
OpenAI plans to introduce AI ‘super-agents’ designed to handle complex tasks at an expert level, according to a report by Axios. These advanced systems aim to perform intricate, goal-oriented tasks, far surpassing current AI chatbot capabilities. The announcement is expected within weeks, sparking widespread interest and scepticism alike.
twitter hype is out of control again.
we are not gonna deploy AGI next month, nor have we built it.
we have some very cool stuff for you but pls chill and cut your expectations 100x!
CEO Sam Altman’s recent engagements in Washington DC, including a scheduled closed-door meeting with US officials, have intensified speculation. Social media rumours suggested a breakthrough in artificial general intelligence (AGI), prompting Altman to clarify that OpenAI has not developed AGI nor plans to deploy it soon. Despite this, the proposed super-agents are projected to be transformative, with potential applications ranging from software creation to business operations.
Critics argue the claims may be overhyped. Notable figures like computer scientist Gary Marcus dismissed the feasibility of achieving such advancements in the near term. Concerns about reliability and persistent issues like information hallucination remain significant barriers to broader adoption.
Controversy also surrounds OpenAI’s flagship AI model, o3, and its reliance on a benchmark test developed by Epoch AI, a group funded by OpenAI. The FrontierMath test, intended to measure mathematical prowess, has faced scrutiny over its role in showcasing the model’s capabilities.
