TECH

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OpenAI on Thursday announced GPT-5.5, its newest artificial intelligence model, as the company continues a rapid cadence of releases aimed at expanding what AI systems can accomplish with minimal human direction.

The update arrives just weeks after its previous iteration, signaling how quickly capabilities in the sector are evolving. Company executives described the model as a step toward more intuitive computing, where systems can interpret ambiguous tasks and independently determine next actions.

"What stands out is the model's ability to reason through unclear problems," OpenAI President Greg Brockman said during a media briefing. He added that such improvements hint at a broader shift in how users may interact with software in the future.

OpenAI said GPT-5.5 shows stronger performance in analyzing data, writing and debugging code, conducting online research, and generating documents. The company also emphasized improvements in efficiency, noting the model can deliver higher-quality outputs while using fewer computational resources.

The release comes amid heightened competition across the AI industry, particularly from companies developing models with specialized strengths, including cybersecurity and advanced reasoning. OpenAI acknowledged those developments while stressing its own focus on balancing capability with safety.

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In 1968, as the crew of Apollo 8 orbited the Moon, they witnessed something no human had ever seen before. Commander Frank Borman described the lunar surface as lifeless and colourless, a stark mix of grey black and white shaped by craters and volcanic remains. Then, during their fourth orbit, everything changed. Rising above the barren horizon was Earth, glowing with colour against the darkness of space. Astronaut Bill Anders captured the moment in what became known as the Earthrise photograph, an image that would go on to shape how humanity sees its home.

The Earthrise image quickly became one of the most reproduced photographs in history. It showed Earth not as an endless expanse beneath our feet but as a small fragile sphere suspended in space. That shift in perspective helped spark the environmental movement and contributed to the creation of Earth Day in 1970. For many, it was the first time they truly understood the planet’s vulnerability.

Nearly six decades later, astronauts on the Artemis II mission have captured a new image called Earthset. Taken during a flyby of the Moon in April 2026, the photograph shows Earth dipping below the lunar horizon. While similar in composition to Earthrise, the meaning behind Earthset is shaped by everything that has happened in the years between the two images.

Unlike the accidental nature of the original photograph, this time the moment was anticipated. Nasa had made clear that they intended to capture a modern version of Earthrise, aware of the emotional and historical weight such an image carries. The Artemis crew succeeded, producing a photograph that again invites people to reflect on the planet from a distance.

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Vast Data announced Wednesday that it has raised $1 billion in a new funding round, tripling its valuation to $30 billion as investor appetite for artificial intelligence infrastructure accelerates.

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Rockstar Games, the developer of Grand Theft Auto, has been targeted by hackers for the second time in three years. Cybersecurity news outlets reported the data breach on Saturday after a hacking group claimed responsibility. The criminals stated they accessed Rockstar’s servers via a third-party cloud provider and threatened to publish stolen material online unless a ransom was paid.

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI, issuing subpoenas on Tuesday morning. The probe focuses on the company’s protocols for handling user threats of harm to themselves or others. This newly announced criminal case will proceed alongside an ongoing civil investigation into the artificial intelligence firm, marking a significant escalation in the state's legal scrutiny of the company.

On April 9, Uthmeier announced he would launch an investigation into OpenAI and its ChatGPT tool over national security and safety concerns. Among other concerns, he is investigating whether ChatGPT provided any planning assistance to the alleged gunman in the Florida State University mass shooting that left two people dead in April last year.

“We have been looking into the recent FSU shooting, and that shooter’s communications with ChatGPT,” Uthmeier said in a press conference Tuesday morning. “Our review of that communication has revealed that a criminal investigation is necessary.”

“ChatGPT offered significant advice to the shooter before he committed such heinous crimes,” Uthmeier said, adding “that the chatbot advised the shooter on what type of gun to use, on which ammo went with which gun, on whether or not a gun would be useful in short range.”

“If this were a person on the other side of the screen, we would be charging them with murder,” Uthmeier said. “We cannot have AI bots that are advising others on how to kill others.”

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Elon Musk's SpaceX has taken a decisive step toward going public after submitting a confidential filing with U.S. regulators, according to people familiar with the matter. The move positions the rocket maker for what could become the largest stock market debut in history.

The company, founded in 2002, has evolved from a bold startup into a dominant force in commercial spaceflight, routinely launching satellites, supporting NASA missions and expanding its Starlink internet network. Its recent merger with artificial intelligence venture xAI has further boosted its perceived value, with estimates now ranging up to $1.75 trillion.

If achieved, that figure would surpass previous IPO records, including Alibaba's landmark debut. It would also place Musk, already the driving force behind Tesla, in an unprecedented position as the leader of multiple trillion-dollar public companies.

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A year ago, they struggled to keep pace. On Sunday, one machine left humanity behind.

A humanoid robot built by Honor surged past thousands of runners to complete a half-marathon in a time no human has ever reached, signaling a dramatic leap in robotics performance and ambition.

Nicknamed "Lightning," the bright-red android covered the 21-kilometer course in just 50 minutes and 26 seconds, comfortably beating the human world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds set by Jacob Kiplimo. With smooth, rhythmic strides and compact arm swings for balance, the 169-centimeter-tall robot showed no visible fatigue as it crossed the finish line.

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Intel said on Wednesday it will spend $14.2 billion to repurchase the 49% stake in its Ireland fabrication facility previously sold to Apollo Global Management, restoring complete ownership of the site as demand for artificial intelligence computing accelerates.