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Snapchat and LinkedIn have announced new measures to reduce the spread of low-quality artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, commonly known as “AI slop,” as major technology companies work to improve the quality of online content and strengthen user confidence in their platforms. The latest initiatives highlight the growing efforts by social media companies to encourage authentic content while limiting the visibility of mass-produced AI material that often offers little value to users. Snapchat has introduced a major update to its Spotlight recommendation system, changing how AI-generated videos are promoted. Under the new policy, videos created entirely using artificial intelligence will no longer be eligible for recommendations in Spotlight. While users can still upload AI-generated content, Snapchat said its recommendation algorithm will now give priority to videos created primarily by real people. The company added that content enhanced using Snapchat’s own advanced AI tools can still qualify for recommendations, provided creators clearly disclose the use of AI through appropriate labels. By requiring transparency, Snapchat aims to ensure users can easily identify AI-assisted content while continuing to reward originality and creativity. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said the changes are designed to keep Spotlight focused on genuine creativity rather than automated content. According to the company, the number of unique Spotlight contributors has increased by 120% over the past year, reflecting growing participation from creators producing original videos. Snapchat believes the latest update will further encourage authentic storytelling and meaningful engagement across the platform. Meanwhile, professional networking platform LinkedIn has introduced a new reporting option that allows users to flag posts they believe resemble “AI slop.” The feature enables members to report low-quality AI-generated posts directly, helping the platform identify content that may not meet its quality standards. LinkedIn said posts reported under this category will automatically be removed from the reporting user’s feed. The reports will also help train the platform’s detection systems to better identify repetitive, spam-like AI content in the future. In addition, posts that receive repeated reports from multiple users may experience reduced visibility beyond the creator’s immediate professional network, limiting their overall reach. The Microsoft-owned platform has also decided to retire its AI-powered “Enhance Your Post” writing tool. In its place, LinkedIn is introducing a proofreading feature designed to help users correct grammar and improve clarity without significantly altering their personal writing style. The company said the change reflects its commitment to supporting authentic communication rather than encouraging AI-written posts. These updates are part of a wider movement across the technology industry to address concerns surrounding the rapid growth of AI-generated content. Several major platforms, including YouTube and Substack, have recently introduced stricter moderation policies and AI-detection tools to reduce the spread of repetitive, misleading, or low-quality material. The latest actions come as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into digital platforms and everyday online experiences. While millions of people now rely on AI tools for writing, creativity, and productivity, concerns continue to grow about the overwhelming amount of AI-generated content appearing across the internet. By introducing stricter content policies and new moderation tools, Snapchat and LinkedIn hope to strike a balance between embracing AI innovation and protecting the authenticity, quality, and trust that users expect from their platforms.

  Although companies around the world—particularly in China—are making rapid progress in developing humanoid robots capable of walking, moving, and interacting like humans, creating robotic faces that display truly lifelike expressions has remained one of the biggest challenges in robotics. Engineers have long struggled to replicate the subtle emotions and facial movements that make human communication so natural. A Chinese startup is now attempting to bridge that gap by introducing a highly realistic robotic head that closely resembles a human face in both appearance and expression. The innovation represents a significant step toward narrowing the divide between humans and machines. The company behind the project, AgiBot Farm, was founded in 2024 by Yuhang Hu, an engineer from Columbia University. Its latest creation, the Origin M1, is an advanced robotic head designed to reproduce a wide range of human facial expressions with remarkable precision. Unlike conventional robots that often appear stiff or expressionless, the Origin M1 can imitate subtle facial movements that are essential to human interaction. These include raising or furrowing the eyebrows, producing a gentle smile, moving the eyes naturally, and displaying other delicate expressions that convey emotions. Such realistic facial behavior makes conversations with the robot feel more natural and engaging. Beneath its lifelike silicone skin lies an intricate mechanical system powered by 25 to 42 ultra-quiet micro motors, depending on the model. These miniature motors function similarly to human facial muscles, expanding and contracting in coordinated patterns to create highly accurate facial movements. This sophisticated design allows the robot to produce smooth and realistic expressions instead of the rigid movements commonly associated with traditional robots. The robot’s eyes are equally advanced. Hidden within its pupils are tiny cameras that enable it to observe and analyze its surroundings. These cameras help the robot detect objects, monitor movement, and better understand the environment, allowing it to respond more intelligently during interactions. To further enhance communication, the Origin M1 is equipped with built-in microphones and speakers. These components allow the robot to hear human voices, process spoken language, and engage in conversations. This combination of vision, hearing, and expressive facial movements brings the robot much closer to human-like communication than previous generations of humanoid technology. However, such cutting-edge innovation comes at a premium price. The most advanced version of the Origin M1 is currently available for approximately US$150,000, making it suitable primarily for research institutions, technology companies, and specialized industrial applications rather than everyday consumers. Looking ahead, AgiBot Farm plans to make the robot even more intelligent by integrating lip-sync technology and large language models (LLMs). These upgrades will enable the robot not only to understand spoken language more effectively but also to generate facial expressions that match the tone, emotion, and context of a conversation. As a result, future versions of the Origin M1 could communicate in a way that feels increasingly natural, empathetic, and human. The development of robots like the Origin M1 highlights the rapid pace of artificial intelligence and robotics. As these technologies continue to evolve, experts believe that highly expressive humanoid robots could eventually play important roles in healthcare, education, customer service, research, and companionship, bringing humans and machines closer together than ever before.

Jeff Bezos has placed his bet on CuspAI, an artificial intelligence startup working to discover and design advanced materials for the next generation of computer chips. The investment aims squarely at the material shortage behind the ongoing chip crisis that has rattled the tech industry over the past several months. This is not  CuspAI’s first big funding win. Back in July, the company closed a $450 million Series B round, pushing its valuation to $2.6 billion. That round pulled in heavyweight backers, including Bezos Expeditions, AMD Ventures, Nvidia, and Meta. CuspAI was founded in 2024 with a much narrower focus. Originally, the company built AI tools to identify and test materials for water purification and carbon capture projects. Since then, its mission has grown considerably. By expanding into AI infrastructure and chip materials, the startup now positions itself as a possible fix during a period of serious supply chain strain. One of CuspAI’s key advantages lies in finding substitutes. The company’s AI can search for alternative materials that mimic the properties of scarce elements like tantalum, gallium, and iridium. These elements are becoming harder to source as demand climbs, particularly with the explosion of AI infrastructure worldwide. The International Energy Agency has already flagged concerns that data centre demand for gallium could outpace supply within the next few years. Adding to the pressure, rising geopolitical tension between the US and China over rare earth minerals continues to complicate global supply chains. Analysts have pointed to this rift as a growing risk factor for tech manufacturers everywhere. Beyond securing fresh funding, CuspAI has also launched something bigger: the AI Materials Foundry. This initiative brings together more than 45 major industry players under one coalition, including tech giants like Nvidia, Samsung, Meta, and Hyundai Motor Group. The goal is to pool resources and expertise as the industry races to solve its materials bottleneck. With Bezos now backing the effort directly, CuspAI’s profile in the AI and semiconductor space is only expected to grow. As chip shortages continue to challenge manufacturers worldwide, the company’s approach of using AI to hunt for alternative materials could prove critical in keeping production on track.

SpaceX has released its first earnings report since becoming a publicly traded company. Revenue nearly doubled over the past year, even as artificial intelligence spending surged sharply. Despite beating analyst forecasts on both revenue and earnings, the company’s stock slipped in after-hours trading. Investors appeared more focused on rising costs than on the strong topline numbers. The company reported $7.8 billion in revenue for the second quarter. That marked a 92% jump compared to the same period last year. Net losses narrowed significantly to $541 million, down from $1 billion a year earlier. SpaceX began trading on the US stock market back in June. Starlink, the company’s satellite internet division, remained the only profitable business unit. It generated $1.6 billion in revenue during the quarter. Elon Musk told analysts on the earnings call that people were underestimating the company. He pointed directly to Starlink’s rapid growth as proof. Musk suggested Starlink could eventually power a large share of global internet access. Meanwhile, the company’s AI computing division posted a $1.2 billion loss on $2.5 billion in sales. The core space business also posted a loss, at $542 million on $962 million in sales. Musk said SpaceX currently runs 1.4 gigawatts of AI computing capacity. He added that this figure is expected to hit 10 gigawatts within the next year. Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnson said capital spending would stay steady for the rest of the year. Industry voices offered mixed reactions to the results. Carré Partners CEO Wendy Souvannarath noted that heavy AI investment has become the norm across tech firms. Analyst Brady Wang praised Starlink’s strong subscriber growth as a genuine bright spot. However, IG analyst Fabien Yip pushed back on Musk’s framing. He said it was a stretch to call the company underestimated while its AI division kept losing money.