OpenAI Launches Certification Courses for Workers and Teachers - OpenAI is launching its first certification courses — AI Foundations and ChatGPT Foundations for Teachers — aimed at helping both workers and educators build real-world AI skills. The programs offer hands-on training inside ChatGPT or via Coursera, culminating in a credential that signals job-ready AI competence to employers. With a target of certifying 10 million Americans by 2030, this initiative could reshape how skills, credentials, and hiring intersect in the AI-shaped workforce.

Amazon Ring Launches Facial Recognition for Doorbells, Raising Security and Privacy Questions - Consumer video-doorbells from Ring will soon ship with an optional facial recognition feature — Familiar Faces — that can alert users with personalized labels (e.g., “Mom at Front Door”) instead of generic “person detected” notices. While Amazon touts encryption and user control over stored data, privacy advocates and lawmakers warn that the move expands biometric surveillance into homes and neighborhoods, raising serious questions about consent, data security, and long-term privacy implications.

OpenAI appoints Denise Dresser as Chief Revenue Officer - OpenAI has appointed Denise Dresser, a longtime tech executive and former Slack leader, as its new Chief Revenue Officer. The hire reflects OpenAI’s increasing emphasis on enterprise adoption, partnerships, and building sustainable revenue as its AI tools are integrated into more business environments.

The Android Show: New features for Galaxy XR and a look at future devices - Google detailed new Android updates that lay the groundwork for its first AI-powered smart glasses, integrating Gemini-powered assistance, real-time translation, and hands-free contextual support. The company framed the development as part of its broader push to make AR and XR experiences more practical, ambient, and tightly woven into everyday mobile computing.

From Llamas to Avocados: Meta’s shifting AI strategy is causing internal confusion - Meta is reportedly reevaluating its AI strategy as internal challenges slow development of its next-generation “Avocado” model, prompting discussions about shifting away from fully open-source releases. According to reporting, the company is weighing more closed or selectively released models as it grapples with rising costs, performance tradeoffs, and competitive pressure from proprietary AI systems.

GigaTIME: Scaling tumor microenvironment modeling using virtual population generated by multimodal AI - Microsoft researchers introduced GigaTime, an AI-driven approach that uses multimodal models and virtual populations to simulate tumor microenvironments at unprecedented scale. The work aims to help researchers study cancer progression and treatment response more efficiently by modeling biological complexity that would be impractical to test in the real world.

Go to ChatGPT, open a new chat, click the '+' button to select Canvas, then prompt: "Write a 5-slide LinkedIn carousel on '(your topic)'. Slide 1: A hook. Slides 2-4: One tip each. Slide 5: A CTA. Keep each under 40 words"

Refine your content in Canvas, then activate Canva by prompting: "@canva, create a 5-slide LinkedIn carousel using this content [paste slides]. Use a (detailed style of your choice). Stick to the content copy exactly"

Preview the 4 design options ChatGPT generates, select your favorite, and click the Canva link to open your editable carousel

Review each slide in Canva, make any final tweaks, then click Download and select PDF for LinkedIn documents or PNG for individual slides

Descript: Descript is an all-in-one audio and video editing tool that lets you edit media as easily as a text document, with AI features for transcription, overdubbing, and streamlined content production. We’re excited to invite you to join Descript’s Creator Plan and enjoy 50% off your first 2 months. Be sure to use our link to activate the discount! (As an affiliate partner with Descript, AiNews may earn a small commission if you sign up using our link. There’s no extra cost to you — it simply helps support our independent reporting and the work we do.)

Surfface: Have a picture? Find & verify people fast. Stop catfishing, verify identities using public data, reconnect with old friends, find missing people, and discover your digital footprint.

Recall: Understand Anything, Remember Everything. Save, summarize, and chat with all your online content and personal notes in one self-organizing knowledge base.

Surmado: Meet Scout: Marketing Analyst. AI marketing analyst that delivers answers, not dashboards.

AI Santa Claus: Bring Christmas magic to your kids with AI Santa. Send a message to Santa today.

Official NORAD Tracks Santa: As part of the annual NORAD Tracks Santa program, OpenAI worked with NORAD to create three simple holiday tools within ChatGPT that parents and Christmas enthusiasts can use to bring extra joy into their homes. Elf Enrollment that turns a photo into an "official" Santa's helper. Santa's Toy Lab turns a child's toy idea into a printable coloring page. Christmas Story Creator uses a fill-in-the-blank style storytelling tool that lets families plug in names, places, and fun details to create a one-of-a-kind holiday tale to read aloud.

PiXmas: Transform photos into magical Christmas studio portraits instantly.