AI News Archive: August 11, 2026 — Part 11
Sourced from 500+ daily AI sources, scored by relevance.
- Spotify Will Label A.I. Artists and Avoid Promoting Them
The new label, which will begin to be applied next month, is an effort by the streaming service to be more transparent about A.I.-generated music on its app.
- Spotify to slap 'AI Persona' badges on AI-generated artist profiles
Spotify to slap 'AI Persona' badges on AI-generated artist profiles Reuters
- Spotify will label ‘AI Persona’ profiles and exclude their music from recommendations
Spotify is introducing “AI Persona” labels for artist profiles that represent AI-generated identities and will exclude their music from editorial, algorithmic, and personalized recommendations by default.
- Google’s Gemini AI app passes 1 billion monthly active users
Google LLC’s Gemini artificial intelligence app has passed 1 billion monthly active users, making it the 14th product in the company’s history to reach that mark. The company announced the milestone today in a blog post from Josh Woodward, vice president of Google Labs, Gemini and AI Studio. Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said in a […] The post Google’s Gemini AI app passes 1 billion monthly active users appeared first on SiliconANGLE .
- Google’s Gemini App Hits 1 Billion Monthly Users
Google’s Gemini App Hits 1 Billion Monthly Users theinformation.com
- Spotify AI Persona labels will alert listeners if an artist isn't real
The streaming service has faced an onslaught of AI-generated music.
- Gemini Becomes Google’s Fastest-Growing Product Ever After Hitting 1 Billion Monthly Users
Google said in a Tuesday blog post 63% of users directly talk to Gemini, including more “voice only” users.
- Google’s Gemini app surges to 1 billion users
Google also shared numbers of how people are actually using the chatbot, with 63% of Gemini users talking directly to the assistant using the voice feature. Plus, Gemini now generates more than 150 million images every day, according to Google.
- More than 1 billion people are using the Gemini app every month.
The Gemini app has officially surpassed 1 billion monthly users, making it the fastest-growing product in Google’s history. Here’s some data about how people are using G…
- Spotify says it won’t recommend music from ‘AI Personas’
Spotify will apply an ‘AI Persona’ badge to profiles that do ‘not represent a real person.’
- Zugrow
Away you grow!
- NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 Lightning Delivers Fast, Accurate Specialized Task Execution for Long-Running Agents
Long-running AI agents spend most of their time on high-volume execution: tool calls, result validation, and subagent delegation. Using a frontier reasoning...
- Target appoints its first chief AI officer as retailers scale up AI spending
Target has named Lowe’s executive Chandhu Nair as its first chief AI officer, starting August 24. IBM research puts the share of organisations with a chief AI officer at 76% this year, up from 26% in 2025. Target has appointed its first chief AI officer. Chandhu Nair joins from Lowe’s on August 24 as senior […] This story continues at The Next Web
- Target appoints its first chief AI officer as big retailers bet on AI
Target announced its first-ever chief artificial intelligence officer on Tuesday as retailers race to take advantage of the AI boom.
- Target names its first chief AI officer in a bid to remake the shopping experience (exclusive)
Target has appointed Chandhu Nair as its first chief AI officer as the retailer doubles down on the technology and its potential benefits for customers. Nair comes to Target after more than six years with Lowe’s, where he was most recently senior vice president of stores, data, AI, and innovation. He previously served nine years at Staples, and cofounded a data analytics software company and a business strategy consulting startup. “What excites me most is the opportunity to make AI real for the people who experience Target every day,” Chanhu said in a Q&A provided by the company. “The most meaningful AI stories won’t be about what happens in a lab. They’ll be about what happens on the front line—how we make shopping easier for a guest, give a team member a better tool, make a business decision with more confidence , or bring a new idea to market faster.” Target is also promoting Purvi Shah, the current vice president of user experience design, to a senior VP role. The retailer is hoping the speed of AI, when paired with human-centered design, will elevate the shopping experience for customers. The company’s AI efforts will impact both employee- and customer-facing systems. Shah has spent the past four years working on Target’s user experience systems, including assisting in the launch of a conversational shopping experience in ChatGPT eight months ago. “Our role is to shape not only what people see, but the systems and decisions behind it to ensure each experience is as easy, inspiring, and valuable as it can be,” Shah said in the Q&A. Purvi Shah [Photo: Target] A fast-growing title Target is one of many companies that are appointing a CAIO these days. Meta, Google, and IBM have all created the role, a logical step given the importance of AI to tech firms. But companies in other industries have also appointed a chief AI officer, including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Accenture, and PwC. Retailers have been a bit slower to create the role. Levi Strauss had one, but has not filled the position since she departed in 2023. Ralph Lauren’s CAIO has been in the job for 11 months. And Dollar General promoted from within to create the role in June. Target rival Walmart does not have a CAIO, but does have an executive vice president of artificial intelligence, product, and design. The CAIO position has exploded alongside the broader AI boom. Just two years ago, the CAIO role barely existed. Last year, 26% of organizations had one. Today that number stands at 76% . It’s worth noting that growth isn’t a sure thing. In 2022, dozens of major companies , especially luxury brands, boasted a “chief metaverse officer” (or a similar title), including Creative Artists Agency, Gucci , L’oréal, and Disney. Today that role is a rarity. While Target will use AI to enhance employee tools, the real test for the company will be any public-facing steps it takes. That’s why Chandhu and Shah will work together closely—and they’re not in a hurry to make major changes to the shopping experience. “My first responsibility will be to listen and learn: spending time with our teams and seeing the business through the eyes of the guests, team members, and partners,” Chandhu said. “From there, we can focus on the places where AI can make a real difference. . . . The measure of success won’t be how much AI we deploy. It will be the difference it makes for Target’s growth, the guest experience, and our team’s ability to do their best work. “ Initial changes could be on duties like managing inventories or simplifying work for employees, empowering them to give better-informed service. It could also mean streamlining online operations to accommodate both human and agent-driven shoppers, as bots now outnumber humans on the web. “Intelligence may make a system more capable, but human-centered design helps make that capability understandable, useful, and trustworthy,” Shah said. “It helps us point the technology toward the opportunities that matter most and shape how a system should behave.”
- Another OpenAI executive takes off
Brad Lightcap, OpenAI's special projects lead and the company's former COO, announced his departure after an eight-year stint at the AI lab. In an internal memo he later posted to X, Lightcap told colleagues he'd be starting "something new." "Over the last few months, I've been focused on the next horizon and what would stand […]
- More OpenAI executives exit
Longtime OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap announced his exit Tuesday, continuing a months-long leadership exodus from the company.
- OpenAI Special Projects Lead, Former COO Brad Lightcap To Depart
OpenAI Special Projects Lead, Former COO Brad Lightcap To Depart theinformation.com
- Longtime OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap leaves as shake-up at AI lab continues
Longtime OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap announced his departure on Tuesday, the latest in a series of recent leadership shake-ups at the company.
- Senior OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap to leave for new venture
Senior OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap to leave for new venture Reuters
- Brad Lightcap, a Top OpenAI Executive, Steps Down
Brad Lightcap, a longtime leader, said he was starting a new venture. His exit from the artificial intelligence company is the latest in a series there.
- Singapore Says AI-related Demand Lifting Economy
Singapore Says AI-related Demand Lifting Economy Barron's
- S’pore upgrades key exports forecast for 2026 after AI-powered 27.4% jump in Q2
S’pore upgrades key exports forecast for 2026 after AI-powered 27.4% jump in Q2 The Straits Times
- Singapore upgrades 2026 GDP growth forecast to 4.5%-5.5% on stronger AI boom
Singapore upgrades 2026 GDP growth forecast to 4.5%-5.5% on stronger AI boom The Straits Times
- The rise of AI weather forecasting as China emerges as a leader in race to improve predictions
Researchers say AI can generate forecasts much faster than conventional systems while matching or surpassing them on some measures of accuracy
- China bets on AI weather forecasting as extreme weather intensifies
China bets on AI weather forecasting as extreme weather intensifies The Straits Times
- French newspapers target Google over AI summaries
A federation of nearly 300 French newspapers said Tuesday that it filed a complaint with the country's competition authority over Google's new AI-generated search-result summaries, fearing the feature will erode traffic to their websites.
- French Newspapers Target Google Over AI Summaries
French Newspapers Target Google Over AI Summaries Barron's
- French media asks French anti-trust watchdog to act on Google's AI
The media have called on the regulator to make a decision similar to the one in July that ordered Meta to put forward a payment plan and resume talks with traditional media that are seeking fees for the use of their content by platforms' AI tools.
- French press body asks competition watchdog to take action over Google AI
French press body asks competition watchdog to take action over Google AI Reuters
- AI startup Manus to go independent again as deal with Meta unwinds
AI startup Manus to go independent again as deal with Meta unwinds Nikkei Asia
- AI startup Manus to resume independent operations as deal with Meta unwinds
AI startup Manus to resume independent operations as deal with Meta unwinds Reuters
- Ryanair signs five-year Google Cloud deal, expands use of AI in airline operations
Ryanair signs five-year Google Cloud deal, expands use of AI in airline operations
- Singapore raises 2026 growth forecast on AI boom after robust Q2 GDP
Singapore raises 2026 growth forecast on AI boom after robust Q2 GDP Reuters
- Nvidia signs raft of MoUs with financial firms to fund AI infrastructure expansion
Nvidia signs raft of MoUs with financial firms to fund AI infrastructure expansion verdict.co.uk
- Nvidia turns to Wall Street giants to raise $500bn for AI infrastructure
Nvidia turns to Wall Street giants to raise $500bn for AI infrastructure thenationalnews.com
- Top OpenAI Executive Leaves as AI Musical Chairs Continues
Top OpenAI Executive Leaves as AI Musical Chairs Continues Barron's
- Singapore Raises 2026 Growth Forecast as AI Exports Surge
Singapore raised its 2026 growth forecast to 4.5%–5.5% as surging AI demand boosts electronics exports and manufacturing. The post Singapore Raises 2026 Growth Forecast as AI Exports Surge appeared first on TechRepublic .
- $500 bn AI boom: Nvidia, Wall Street giants join hands for chip, data centre push
Nvidia has joined forces with six prominent financial institutions to enhance AI infrastructure funding. The collaboration will see these firms create platforms aimed at financing companies that purchase Nvidia hardware. The goal is to harness over $500 billion in external capital, positioning AI chips as a fresh asset class that encourages the growth of AI technology and data centers.
- Wall Street just endorsed Jensen Huang's 'big concept' for AI. What now?
The first three-plus years of the AI build-out have been funded by record amounts of equity and debt issued by leading tech companies. Nvidia has a new idea.
- Why Jensen Huang’s $500 billion AI financing plan faces a big risk from China
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is pitching GPUs as long-term collateral to unlock $500 billion in funding. The question is how fast will his chips depreciate?
- OpenAI loses another top executive, as Brad Lightcap leaves 'to start something new'
OpenAI loses another top executive, as Brad Lightcap leaves 'to start something new' Business Insider
- Breakingviews - Jensen Huang takes wheel of $500 bln AI bandwagon
Breakingviews - Jensen Huang takes wheel of $500 bln AI bandwagon Reuters
- $500 billion for AI: Nvidia's biggest bet yet
$500 billion for AI: Nvidia's biggest bet yet thenationalnews.com
- CoreWeave’s Revenue Doubles But So Does Cash Burn
CoreWeave’s Revenue Doubles But So Does Cash Burn theinformation.com
- CoreWeave Shares Surge After Booming AI Demand Bolsters Outlook
CoreWeave Inc., a provider of computing that powers artificial intelligence systems, soared in late trading after the AI spending frenzy spurred faster sales growth than anticipated.
- Grok Bot is an all-new iPhone and Mac app from SpaceXAI and Cursor
SpaceXAI and Cursor are in the process of becoming a single company , but first, the two firms are releasing an all-new iPhone and Mac app called Grok Bot.
- Grok Bot wants to take work off your plate, not just answer your queries
Grok Bot, SpaceXAI and Cursor's new AI agent app, signs into your existing tools to complete real tasks on its own, only checking in when approval is needed.
- SpaceXAI Announces AI Agents Product ‘Grok Bot’
SpaceXAI Announces AI Agents Product ‘Grok Bot’ theinformation.com
- AI could help unlock more oil — and emissions
Move over, data centers. AI's climate impact may extend well beyond the electricity it consumes. Why it matters: A new peer-reviewed study finds AI could help produce more oil and natural gas — and produce a climate impact the authors argue could far outweigh the technology's benefits for renewable energy. Driving the news: The research, just published in a Nature journal, concludes AI's role in boosting oil and gas production would outweigh its climate benefits from accelerating renewable energy, leading to a net increase in emissions under a range of scenarios. The study is among the first to estimate how AI-driven gains in fossil fuel production could affect global emissions. "Most assessments of AI's climate impact are framed as a tradeoff between data center energy use and the emissions AI might help avoid through renewables and efficiency gains," said Holly Alpine, co-author of the paper. "What's missing from that calculation entirely is the other side of the same ledger: the emissions enabled from using AI to make fossil fuel production cheaper and more profitable," Alpine said. Holly Alpine and Will Alpine , former Microsoft employees who founded the nonprofit initiative Enabled Emissions Campaign in 2024, co-led the study with researchers from Purdue University and an independent researcher. How it works : AI can help oil companies find new resources and recover more from existing fields. It can also help renewable energy by improving forecasting and operations. The new study argues the fossil-fuel gains are likely to dominate. By the numbers : The researchers estimate AI could add emissions equal to roughly 1% to 5% of the global energy sector's 2024 emissions under the scenarios they modeled. The study estimates those emissions would be roughly three to 13 times the International Energy Agency's estimate of current data-center emissions. The other side : A spokesperson for the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry's main trade group, disputed the idea that more energy and lower emissions are in conflict. "The U.S. oil and natural gas industry is continuing to produce more energy while reducing emissions by investing in better technology, implementing stronger operational practices and supporting science-based policy," API spokesperson Andrea Woods said in a statement. State of play: The oil industry's embrace of AI has accelerated over the past two years. Producers like Chevron, ExxonMobil, ADNOC and Aramco say AI is helping identify promising drilling prospects and improve recovery from existing fields. Oilfield-service giants SLB, Halliburton and Baker Hughes are deploying AI to guide drilling and optimize well placement. Analysts and consultancies, from Goldman Sachs to Wood Mackenzie, argue AI could lower production costs and increase economically recoverable reserves. The big picture : AI is a general-purpose technology that can boost productivity in both fossil fuels and clean energy. Some experts argue the more important question is which applications society chooses to prioritize. What they're saying : "I think cleantech is going to win anyway, so let's just focus on how we unlock clean energy resources with AI," said Brian Janous, who previously worked with Holly Alpine at Microsoft and now runs data center developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure. "I'm glad Will and Holly are doing what they're doing. I'm not sure what it's going to change, but at least it puts pressure on," he said. Zoom in : The researchers used a computer model of the global economy that estimates how AI-driven productivity gains ripple through energy markets. Across the study's 64 modeled scenarios, emissions declined only when fossil-fuel productivity gains from AI were zero, Holly Alpine said. The finding suggests that supporting renewable energy alone "will not get us" to lower emissions. Yes, but: The model doesn't attempt to estimate AI's potential to accelerate cleantech breakthroughs such as fusion or long-duration storage. "There is a lot of AI dreaming out there," said Michael Lazarus, senior scientist emeritus at the climate research group Stockholm Environment Institute who advised the authors on the study. "I don't know how one would anticipate that and model it." What we're watching: The study's authors are making a call that echoes that of many others working at the intersection of AI and environmental issues: more transparency. "If we can start with transparency about the effects, then we can start to think about how to govern it," said Will Alpine.