Business Articles - The Batch

Chart showing AI system audit assurance levels ranging from limited to very high, with increasing access and more comprehensive assessments.

Machine Learning Research

Toward Consistent Auditing of AI: OpenAI alumni found Averi to set standards for AI model audits

AI is becoming ubiquitous, yet no standards exist for auditing its safety and security to make sure AI systems don’t assist, say, hackers or terrorists. A new organization aims to change that.

Lines connect multiple Wikipedia globe logos, symbolizing data exchange and partnerships.

Business

AI Giants Share Wikipedia’s Costs: Wikimedia Foundation strikes deals with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Mistral AI, and Perplexity

On its 25th anniversary, Wikipedia celebrated with high-profile deals to make its data easier for AI companies to train their models in exchange for financial support.

UCP diagram outlines processes, from product discovery to identity linking and order management.

Business

Shopping Protocols for AI Agents: Google’s open-source UCP (Univeral Commerce Protocol) standardizes AI transactions

Google introduced an open-source protocol designed to enable AI agents to help consumers make purchases online, from finding items to returning them if necessary.

Business

Apple’s Foundation Models Will Be Gemini: Apple announced a partnership with Google to power Siri and other AI features

Apple cut a multi-year deal with Google to use Gemini models as the basis of AI models that reside on Apple devices.

ChatGPT interface on a phone displays a conversation and a sponsored grocery ad at the bottom of the screen.

Business

ChatGPT Shows Ads: OpenAI tests advertisements for U.S. chatbot users in free and lower-cost tiers

AI has a new revenue stream, and it looks a lot like old web banner ads.

Business

Meta Moves to Buy Agent Tech: Meta strikes a deal to acquire Manus, a Singapore-based agentic AI startup with Chinese origins

A high-profile acquisition could enable Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to offer built-in agents that do users’ bidding.

A blue caduceus with AI logos, representing OpenAI and Anthropic's healthcare innovations.

Business

AI Giants Vie for Healthcare Dollars: OpenAI and Anthropic release new chatbots targeting medical and wellness markets

OpenAI and Anthropic staked claims in the lucrative healthcare market, each company playing to its strengths by targeting different audiences.

David Cox is pictured during a discussion in a glass-walled office, aligned with themes of open-source innovation and teamwork.

Machine Learning Research

Open Source Wins by David Cox: David Cox, VP for AI Models at IBM Research, on the need for open development in AI

My hope is that open AI continues to flourish and ultimately wins.

Mice on a laptop keyboard explore, with code on screen; background features festive lights, presents.

Machine Learning Research

Agents Write Code Faster, Cheaper: Software developers used more versatile AI-powered tools to write code

Coding apps moved beyond autofill-style code completion to agentic systems that manage a wide range of software development tasks.

Two snow-covered tree plantations divided by a large wall under a clear blue sky.

Business

China’s AI Chip Industry Takes Root: China banned GPUs and TPUs from U.S. manufacturers to promote domestic chips

The United States government’s effort to deprive China of AI computing power backfired as China turned the tables and banned U.S.-designed chips.

Snow-covered wood stacks surround a person with an axe, standing by a small fire in a forest setting.

Business

Data-Center Buildout Goes Big: AI’s growth spurred infrastructure investment worldwide

Top AI companies announced plans to build data centers that are projected to burn through trillions of dollars and gigawatts of electricity in the next few years.

A man in a snowy scene offers an apple to a surprised horse hitched to a sleigh with a woman inside.

AI Careers

Big AI Lures Talent With Huge Pay: Meta’s hiring spree raised compensation for top AI engineers and executives

Leading AI companies fought a ferocious war for talent, luring top talent from competitors with levels of compensation more commonly associated with pro sports.