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OpenAI backs Adaptive Security in the battle against AI threats

AI-driven cyber threats are on the rise, making it easier than ever for hackers to deceive employees through deepfake scams and phishing attacks.

OpenAI, a leader in generative AI, has recognised the growing risk and made its first cybersecurity investment in New York-based startup Adaptive Security. The company has secured $43 million in Series A funding, co-led by OpenAI’s startup fund and Andreessen Horowitz.

Adaptive Security helps companies prepare for AI-driven cyberattacks by simulating deepfake calls, texts, and emails. Employees may receive a phone call that sounds like their CTO, asking for sensitive information, but in reality, it is an AI-generated test.

The platform identifies weak points in a company’s security and trains staff to recognise potential threats. Social engineering scams, which trick employees into revealing sensitive data, have already led to massive financial losses, such as the $600 million Axie Infinity hack in 2022.

CEO Brian Long, a seasoned entrepreneur, says the funding will go towards hiring engineers and improving the platform to keep pace with evolving AI threats.

The investment comes amid a surge in cybersecurity funding, with companies like Cyberhaven, Snyk, and GetReal also securing major investments.

As cyber risks become more advanced, Long advises employees to take simple precautions, including deleting voicemails to prevent hackers from cloning their voices.

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OpenAI’s Deep Research feature to expand to free users

OpenAI is preparing to make its Deep Research feature available to free-tier users, following its initial rollout to Plus and Enterprise customers.

The tool, designed to conduct in-depth online research, allows ChatGPT to analyse vast amounts of information, synthesise key findings, and generate detailed reports. Isa Fulford, a member of OpenAI’s technical staff, recently confirmed the planned expansion in a post on X.

Deep Research is powered by an optimised version of the o3 model, which enhances web browsing and data analysis capabilities.

Users can request reports on various topics, such as global smartphone adoption trends, and receive summaries with citations, graphs, and insights. The tool can also process text, images, and PDFs from online sources to provide more comprehensive responses.

No official timeline has been announced for when free users will gain access to the feature, but OpenAI’s move signals an effort to expand the accessibility of advanced AI-driven research.

The functionality may also allow users to upload their own files for more personalised analysis, further enhancing the potential of ChatGPT as a research assistant.

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OpenAI CEO says India leads in AI creativity

Sam Altman sparked interest among Indian users on X after praising the country’s rapid AI adoption and sharing an AI-generated image of himself playing cricket. In his 2 April post, the OpenAI CEO called India’s AI creativity an ‘explosion,’ claiming the country was outpacing the world in adoption rates.

Users questioned why Altman singled out India, with some turning to AI chatbots like Perplexity and Grok for verification. His comments followed a February visit to India, where he met IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and highlighted India as OpenAI’s second-largest market.

Altman’s remarks also came shortly after OpenAI’s GPT-4o update, which enhanced AI-generated images and illustrations. To showcase this, he shared an anime-style image of himself as a cricket player, sporting a Team India jersey.

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OpenAI is now valued at $300 billion after new funding

OpenAI has secured a $40 billion funding deal from SoftBank, pushing its valuation to $300 billion instead of staying below that mark, making it the third most valuable private company in the world.

It now ranks behind Elon Musk’s SpaceX, valued at around $350 billion, instead of taking the top spot, and TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, which stands at approximately $315 billion.

The valuation surpasses major firms like Chevron, Salesforce, McDonald’s, Pepsico, and Samsung instead of lagging behind them.

Funding is structured in two phases, beginning with an initial $10 billion investment. The remaining $30 billion is expected to be provided by the end of 2025, as reported by the New York Times.

OpenAI stated that this capital will allow the company to advance AI research instead of stagnating and expand its infrastructure with more powerful tools.

Founded in 2015 as a non-profit, OpenAI later shifted to a capped-profit model to attract investment instead of relying solely on donations while continuing its work in AI development.

Despite facing operational challenges and legal disputes, including a high-profile lawsuit from Musk opposing its transition to a profit-driven model, OpenAI has continued to grow.

Its ChatGPT platform now boasts 500 million weekly users instead of seeing a decline. In February, investors, including Musk, sought control of the firm, but CEO Sam Altman firmly rejected the proposal, reaffirming that ‘OpenAI is not for sale’ instead of giving in to external pressure.

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ChatGPT adds one million users per hour with AI image tool

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is experiencing unprecedented growth following the release of its new AI image generation feature. According to CEO Sam Altman, the AI tool has been attracting one million new users per hour, spurred by what he described as ‘biblical demand.’

The GPT-4o model, now available to free users, has quickly become a sensation, drawing comparisons to the app’s initial launch 26 months ago.

The latest update allows users to generate highly detailed visuals, including logos, diagrams, and imagery with precise meaning. OpenAI has touted GPT-4o’s ability to accurately render text, follow prompts closely, and draw from its extensive knowledge base to produce tailored visuals.

Popular uses include crafting images in the style of Studio Ghibli, which has led to a flood of creative outputs shared across social media platforms.

However, the overwhelming popularity has strained OpenAI’s resources. Sam Altman acknowledged the situation by noting that their GPUs were ‘melting’ under the pressure.

To manage the surge, OpenAI implemented temporary rate limits to enhance efficiency and maintain service quality.

The company’s success has also attracted significant investment, with OpenAI securing $40 billion in funding, bringing its valuation to $300 billion.

Since launching in November 2022, ChatGPT has amassed 500 million users, solidifying its position as one of the most influential AI platforms globally.

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OpenAI expands image generator access to all users

OpenAI has made its image generator, powered by the GPT-4o model, accessible to all users, CEO Sam Altman announced on X. Previously, this feature was available only to paying ChatGPT subscribers.

While there is no clear indication of how many images free-tier users can create, Altman previously mentioned a possible limit of three per day.

The tool has seen massive demand since its launch, with Altman joking that OpenAI’s GPUs were ‘melting’ under the pressure. However, it has also sparked controversy, particularly after users began generating images in the style of Studio Ghibli, raising copyright concerns.

Others have used the generator to create fake receipts, such as restaurant bills. OpenAI has responded by stating that all AI-generated images contain metadata identifying them and that the company takes action when violations occur.

In a major financial development, OpenAI has secured $40 billion in funding from SoftBank, valuing the company at $300 billion. The company also revealed that ChatGPT now boasts 500 million weekly active users and 700 million monthly active users, marking a significant milestone in its growth.

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OpenAI’s Ghibli-style tool raises privacy and data issues

OpenAI’s Ghibli-style AI image generator has taken social media by storm, with users eagerly transforming their photos into artwork reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki’s signature style.

However, digital privacy activists are raising concerns that OpenAI might use this viral trend to collect thousands of personal images for AI training, potentially bypassing legal restrictions on web-scraped data.

Critics warn that while users enjoy the feature, they could unknowingly be handing over fresh facial data instead of protecting their privacy, raising ethical questions about AI and data collection.

Beyond privacy concerns, the trend has also reignited debates about AI’s impact on creative industries. Miyazaki, known for his hand-drawn approach, has previously expressed scepticism about artificial intelligence in animation.

Additionally, under GDPR regulations, OpenAI must justify data collection under “legitimate interest,” but experts argue that users voluntarily uploading images could give the company more freedom to use them instead of requiring further legal justification.

OpenAI has yet to issue an official statement regarding data safety, but ChatGPT itself warns users against uploading personal photos to any AI tool unless they are certain about its privacy policies.

Cybersecurity experts advise people to think twice before sharing high-resolution images online, use passwords instead of facial recognition for device security, and limit app access to their cameras.

As AI-generated image trends continue to gain popularity, the debate over privacy and data ownership is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

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Studio Ghibli AI trend overwhelms OpenAI

A wave of Studio Ghibli-style image generation has taken social media by storm, thanks to OpenAI’s new tool that lets users create art in the beloved animation style. The viral craze began in late March and quickly flooded platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Initially amused, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman even joined in by updating his profile picture to a Ghibli-inspired version of himself. However, the trend’s popularity soon spiralled out of control, straining the company’s servers and pushing staff to their limits.

Altman has now urged users to ease off, describing the demand as ‘biblical’ and joking that his team needs sleep.

OpenAI plans to introduce temporary usage limits while it works to make the system more efficient. Fans, however, continue to flood Altman’s replies with memes and even more Ghibli art.

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OpenAI secures $40 billion in funding deal with SoftBank

OpenAI is preparing for one of the largest fundraising rounds in tech history, aiming to raise up to $40 billion at a staggering $300 billion valuation. The decision, confirmed on Monday, marks a major leap in the company’s ambition to lead the global AI race.

Japanese investment giant SoftBank will spearhead the funding effort, pledging an initial $10 billion in April, followed by another $30 billion by year’s end—on the condition that OpenAI transitions to a for-profit model.

SoftBank plans to offload a quarter of its contribution to other unnamed co-investors, while other backers in the round are expected to include tech heavyweights like Microsoft, Coatue Management, Altimeter Capital, and Thrive Capital.

If OpenAI does not complete its restructuring as planned, SoftBank’s commitment could be halved to $20 billion, according to company statements and sources familiar with the deal.

Capital injection aims to advance AI research, scale OpenAI’s infrastructure, and develop more powerful tools for the company’s widely used products like ChatGPT, which currently serves over 500 million users weekly.

The momentum reflects the explosive growth and competition within the AI sector, with tech firms and investors chasing transformative breakthroughs and scalable business models.

Since raising $6.6 billion in October at a valuation of $157 billion, OpenAI has nearly doubled its worth in just six months. The new valuation puts the San Francisco-based startup in the same league as global tech titans such as SpaceX, ByteDance, and Stripe.

Analyst Gil Luria from D.A. Davidson and Co. noted that OpenAI’s ‘ambitious plans on many fronts’ require substantial capital and pointed out that the pool of investors with the appetite—and capacity—to back such an undertaking has shrunk significantly.

Part of the raised funds will support the colossal Stargate project, a $500 billion initiative led by OpenAI in partnership with SoftBank and Oracle to build a nationwide network of AI-focused data centres across the United States. These centres are envisioned to support the increasing computational demands of future AI systems.

OpenAI also announced an important structural change. The company will establish a public benefit corporation to attract funding better while ensuring its long-term mission balances profitability with social impact. The US law firm Morrison Foerster provided legal advice for SoftBank in this transaction.

The funding round positions OpenAI as a central player in the AI world and raises critical questions about the balance between innovation, ethics, and the consolidation of AI power among a few dominant entities. The outcome of this transition, especially its success in becoming a for-profit powerhouse, could redefine the landscape of AI for years to come.

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OpenAI faces copyright debate over Ghibli-style images

Studio Ghibli-style artwork has gone viral on social media, with users flocking to ChatGPT’s feature to create or transform images into Japanese anime-inspired versions. Celebrities have also joined the trend, posting Ghibli-style photos of themselves.

However, what began as a fun trend has sparked concerns over copyright infringement and the ethics of AI recreating the work of established artists instead of respecting their intellectual property.

While OpenAI has allowed premium users to create Ghibli-style images, users without subscriptions can still make up to three images for free.

The rise of this feature has led to debates over whether these AI-generated images violate copyright laws, particularly as the style is closely associated with renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki.

Intellectual property lawyer Even Brown clarified that the style itself isn’t explicitly protected, but he raised concerns that OpenAI’s AI may have been trained on Ghibli’s previous works instead of using independent sources, which could present potential copyright issues.

OpenAI has responded by taking a more conservative approach with its tools, introducing a refusal feature when users attempt to generate images in the style of living artists instead of allowing such images.

Despite this, the controversy continues, as artists like Karla Ortiz are suing other AI generators for copyright infringement. Ortiz has criticised OpenAI for not valuing the work and livelihoods of artists, calling the Ghibli trend a clear example of such disregard.

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