Pollo AI has launched a revolutionary AI avatar generator that allows users to create custom, lifelike AI speaking avatars from scratch in minutes. The platform's team leader, Janet Smith, says the new feature eliminates the need for pre-training or pre-recorded footage, making it easier and faster to produce high-quality AI avatar videos. With Pollo AI, users can create personalized videos with near-perfect lip synchronization, emotionally expressive facial expressions, and lifelike hand gestures, exceeding the capabilities of other AI avatar tools. The platform offers a library of realistic pre-made avatars and voiceover options, allowing users to customize speech and avatar performance for various purposes such as ads, content marketing, product promotion, and more.
PwC is expanding its AI research and data science team in Singapore, aiming to increase the team size to 20 employees by the end of the fiscal year. The hub will also include product managers, solution architects, business analysts, and domain experts in areas such as tax, legal, and sustainability. This expansion is supported by the Economic Development Board.
The Head of ChatGPT has shared that one skill needed to survive at the company is adaptability. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, mentioned this in an interview. He stated that being able to learn and adapt quickly is crucial for success in the rapidly changing tech industry. This is evident from his own journey, as he transitioned from a young entrepreneur to leading a global AI company.
Tech companies like Google and Amazon are investing heavily in talent as they develop advanced AI and other products, but some leaders are cautious about hiring candidates who support anti-Israel politician Nusrat Jamil Mamdani due to concerns over his remarks. The Partnership for New York City hosted a summit with Mamdani, describing it as "lively and productive," while others, like Borthwick, have expressed concern over his approach to AI, which they believe threatens the white-collar workforce.
The UK's plan to reach clean power by 2030 may not ease energy constraints for AI development, as leading US tech firms warn that existing grid connections will be prioritized until then. A meeting between Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and US tech executives in June highlighted the potential delay, with attendees suggesting reforms and investments won't alleviate constraints significantly before 2030.
VCI Global Limited is launching QuantGold Data, a military-grade encryption platform, at the Asean AI Summit Malaysia 2025. The platform aims to strengthen data sovereignty across the region by enabling full local deployment with complete jurisdiction control. Jane Teh, VCI's Chief AI Security Officer, will highlight the importance of secure data control as "data becomes the new currency" in the digital economy. QuantGold is designed to address cloud dependency and reduce vulnerabilities against external and insider threats, allowing governments and organisations to monetise encrypted datasets without revealing raw information.
AI's Grok 4 is now accessible to all users, but its advanced image and video tools remain restricted behind a paywall. The move appears to be part of xAI's strategy to broaden user exposure while maintaining premium capabilities for paying customers.
A new investment platform is allowing users to generate stable daily returns by leveraging a cloud-based, AI-driven trading model that utilizes machine learning algorithms to analyze market trends and make trades on behalf of its clients, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ripple (XRP), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Ethereum (ETH).
Bellevue is considering incorporating AI tools into its standard procedures after pilot phases. The city's forward-thinking approach aims to boost staff capacity and elevate customer service, with the help of Govstream.ai, a company led by CEO Safouen Rabah.