This week in AI and technology saw major developments across product innovation, funding, and policy. Apple is trialing a more capable Siri with multi-app voice control ahead of a 2026 overhaul, while OpenAI addressed GPT-5 launch issues and YouTube rolled out AI age checks for U.S. teens. Nvidia unveiled new robotics tools and quantum researchers achieved notable gains in robotic arm control, as U.S. export policy prompted Nvidia and AMD to share AI chip revenues with the government.
In startups, Sam Altman is eyeing a brain–computer interface venture, Cohere secured $500 million with a top AI hire, and Chai Discovery, Alaan, and August Health all announced sizable funding rounds. Perplexity made headlines with a $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome, underscoring the week’s mix of strategic plays, emerging technologies, and competition.
Industry & Enterprise
Apple Tests AI-Powered Siri Capable of Executing Multi-App Voice Commands
Apple is testing an upgraded Siri that can execute complex, multi-app tasks entirely through voice commands, using an enhanced App Intents framework. The feature, expected in a 2026 Siri overhaul, is being trialed with major apps and signals Apple’s deeper AI integration across its ecosystem. (AI Insider)
OpenAI Addresses GPT-5 Launch Glitches and User Feedback in Reddit AMA
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and members of the GPT-5 team addressed user concerns in a Reddit AMA, admitting a launch-day technical issue made GPT-5 seem weaker than GPT-4o and promising fixes, including doubled Plus user rate limits. Altman also discussed potentially restoring GPT-4o access, acknowledged the “chart crime” error, and pledged ongoing improvements based on feedback. (AI Insider)
YouTube Rolls Out AI Age-Verification Protections to US-Based Teens
YouTube introduced an AI-driven age-estimation system in the U.S. on Aug. 13 to identify under-18 users and apply enhanced teen protections, regardless of self-reported birthdate. The move may slightly affect creators’ audiences and ad revenue, as content from under-18 accounts will default to private with restricted monetization. (AI Insider)
Sam Altman Reportedly Co-Founding $850 Million Brain–Computer Interface Startup Merge Labs
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is in early talks to co-found Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface startup that could be valued at $850 million and may receive partial funding from OpenAI Ventures, according to the Financial Times. The venture, linked to Alex Blania of Tools for Humanity, would compete with Elon Musk’s Neuralink and advance Altman’s vision of integrating human and machine intelligence. (AI Insider)
Nvidia Announces New Omniverse Libraries, Cosmos Physical AI Models and AI Computing Infrastructure for Advanced Robotics
Nvidia announced new simulation libraries, AI models, and computing infrastructure at SIGGRAPH to speed advanced robotics development, including the launch of NuRec for precise 3D reconstruction and open-sourced updates to Isaac Sim and Isaac Lab. The company also debuted Cosmos Reason, a vision-language model for robot reasoning, alongside new RTX PRO Blackwell Servers, DGX Cloud on Azure, and an OpenUSD certification program to drive adoption in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and manufacturing. (AI Insider)
Research & Innovation
Quantum Circuits Could Speed Up Robotic Arm Calculations, Especially For Complex Movements
A Japanese team developed a hybrid quantum–classical method using entangled qubits to improve robotic arm inverse kinematics, achieving faster, more accurate positioning than classical approaches in simulations and real quantum hardware tests. The technique, published in Scientific Reports, cut positional errors by 43% on a 64-qubit system but currently works only for rotational joints and is limited by hardware noise.(AI Insider)
Policy & Governance
AMD and NVIDIA to Share 15% of China AI Chip Revenues with U.S. Government Under New Licensing Deal
Nvidia and AMD will pay the U.S. government 15% of revenue from sales of certain high-end AI chips to China in exchange for licenses to sell them, covering Nvidia’s H20 and AMD’s MI308 models. The deal reflects shifting U.S. export controls and highlights the geopolitical tensions surrounding AI technology and global trade. (AI Insider)
Startups & Capital
Cohere Secures $500 Million Funding, Appoints Joelle Pineau as Chief AI Officer
Cohere has raised $500 million at a $6.8 billion valuation and appointed Joelle Pineau, former VP of AI Research at Meta, as its first Chief AI Officer to strengthen research, innovation, and talent acquisition. Pineau’s hire underscores Cohere’s focus on its privacy-first enterprise AI platform, North, as it competes with major AI players in delivering secure, high-performance solutions. (AI Insider)
Chai Discovery Announces $70 Million Series A To Transform Molecular Design
Chai Discovery raised $70 million in Series A funding led by Menlo Ventures to advance its AI platform for predicting and reprogramming biochemical interactions, achieving breakthroughs in de novo antibody design. The funding will accelerate platform growth, target hard-to-treat diseases, and expand partnerships, with former Pfizer CSO Mikael Dolsten joining the board. (AI Insider)
Alaan Secures $48 Million Series A to Drive AI-Powered Finance Automation Across MENA
Dubai-based fintech Alaan raised $48 million in a major Series A round led by Peak XV Partners to expand its AI-driven spend management platform across the MENA region. The company, which automates finance workflows for major clients like Careem and Lulu Group, plans to grow its team and deepen investment in AI-powered finance automation. (AI Insider)
August Health Announces $29 Million in Funding to Advance Its Vision for AI-Enabled Caregiving
August Health raised $29 million in Series B funding led by Base10 Partners to grow its senior living EHR platform and launch August Intelligence, an AI tool aimed at improving care and operations. The funding will drive product development, AI integration, and market expansion to help senior living operators meet growing demand from an aging population. (AI Insider)
Perplexity Offers $34.5B Cash for Google Chrome as DOJ Antitrust Case Continues
Reuters reported Perplexity confirmed a $34.5 billion cash bid to acquire Google Chrome, pledging to keep its Chromium engine open source, invest $3 billion in development, and retain Google as the default search provider for current users. The offer comes amid a DOJ push for Google to divest Chrome following an antitrust ruling, potentially giving Perplexity control over 68% of the browser market. (AI Insider)
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