The CMA had been investigating whether Microsoft’s growing involvement with OpenAI amounted to a takeover, which could have raised competition concerns. However, after extensive analysis, the regulator announced on Wednesday that Microsoft holds “material influence” over OpenAI but does not have “de facto control.”

No change in control, says CMA

The investigation was triggered by OpenAI’s leadership shake-up in November 2023, when CEO Sam Altman was briefly ousted and later reinstated. This raised concerns about Microsoft’s influence, given its financial backing and deep integration with OpenAI’s AI models in its products.

After reviewing extensive documentation and consulting both companies, the CMA concluded that while Microsoft plays a significant role in OpenAI’s operations — especially in terms of funding, technology, and cloud computing power — it does not outright dictate the company’s policies or direction.

“Looking at the evidence in the round (including the recent changes), we have found that there has not been a change of control by Microsoft from material influence to de facto control over OpenAI,” said Joel Bamford, executive director of mergers at the CMA. “Because this change of control has not happened, the partnership in its current form does not qualify for review under the UK’s merger control regime.”

A win for Microsoft, but not a ‘clean bill of health’

Despite the CMA’s ruling, the regulator was quick to clarify that the decision does not mean Microsoft’s AI dealings are free from competition concerns. Instead, the agency emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance in monitoring the fast developing AI sector.

Bamford wrote, “The CMA’s findings on jurisdiction should not be read as the partnership being given a clean bill of health on potential competition concerns; but the UK merger control regime must of course operate within the remit set down by Parliament.”

The U.K. authority acknowledged that the prolonged nature of the review — stretching over 14 months — was due to the complex and evolving nature of the Microsoft-OpenAI relationship. As recently as January 2025, Microsoft adjusted its contractual agreements to lessen OpenAI’s reliance on its computing infrastructure, a move that likely played a role in securing the CMA’s approval.

The CMA’s clearance marks a regulatory win for Microsoft, which has been facing increasing scrutiny over its AI ambitions. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has raised concerns that Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI could reinforce its dominance in cloud computing and give it an unfair edge in the AI race.

Regulators still watching AI deals closely

The CMA’s ruling reflects the broader regulatory debate around big tech’s growing influence in AI. The watchdog has been keeping a close eye on major AI investments, recently clearing Google’s and Amazon’s partnerships with AI startup Anthropic.

Despite the clearance, regulators worldwide remain cautious about how tech giants are shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

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AI agents are designed to automatically complete tasks without users having to prompt them. Basically, agentic AI can execute actions without a user having to perform a specific triggering event first. Agentic AIs are a particular subtype of AI tools that focus on automating routine tasks.

New AWS group for agentic AI

According to the email, the new group for agentic artificial intelligence will be led by executive Swami Sivasubramanian, whose title on LinkedIn is VP of AWS Agentic AI. Sivasubramanian will report directly to AWS CEO Matt Garman, who wrote the internal email sent to AWS staff.

“Agentic AI has the potential to be the next multi-billion business for AWS,” Garman allegedly wrote in the email. He went on to say that, “We have the opportunity to help our customers innovate even faster and unlock more possibilities, and I firmly believe that AI agents are core to this next wave of innovation.”

Amazon’s recent push for agentic AI includes Alexa+

This new AWS group isn’t Amazon’s first foray into the world of agentic AI. Last week, the company announced that new agentic AI capabilities would soon be coming to Alexa, the company’s voice assistant AI tool.

The newly upgraded version will be called Alexa+, to distinguish it from the earlier versions. Alexa+ will reportedly be able to perform certain actions on its own even if users don’t issue a specific voice command or ask a question.

The Alexa+ service is free for Prime members but will cost $19.99 per month for non-members. Alexa+ will become available to U.S. households soon, starting with certain models of the HD smart display Echo Show devices. The first Echo Show models to get access to the agentic AI Alexa are 8, 10, 15, and 21.

More AWS reorganization in the works

The creation of the agentic AI group won’t be the only change at AWS. In another internal email sent on Tuesday, AWS senior vice president Peter DeSantis revealed several additional reorganizations are in the works. Three groups – hardware engineering, the Bedrock AI group, and the SageMaker AI group – will be moved underneath the compute organization. A new group will also be formed by combining customer experience and commerce.

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Despite the ruling, Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI will proceed, with both parties agreeing to an expedited trial scheduled for this fall.

Musk vs. OpenAI

Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with Sam Altman and others, initially as a nonprofit organization aimed at developing AI for the benefit of humanity. OpenAI quickly gained recognition as one of the most innovative AI startups at the time. Musk then contributed tens of millions of dollars to the cause before stepping down from the board in 2018, citing his commitments as Tesla’s CEO.

As TechnologyAdvice staff writer Megan Crouse wrote on eWeek in February 2025, “OpenAI’s corporate structure is unusual. Two for-profit entities, OpenAI GP LLC and OpenAI Global LLC, are owned by OpenAI, Inc, the nonprofit dedicated to ‘ensuring that safe artificial intelligence is developed and benefits all of humanity.” In September 2024, OpenAI announced it would restructure so the nonprofit has a minority stake in the for-profit companies.”

OpenAI eventually secured billions in funding; it has also gained the reputation as one of the top AI companies globally. Musk claimed this shift breached the company’s founding principles, prompting him to file a lawsuit in February 2024. The legal challenge argues that OpenAI’s leadership violated their original commitments and misused funding intended for nonprofit AI research.

OpenAI’s defense

In February 2025, a group led by Musk reportedly offered $97.4 billion to purchase OpenAI outright — a bid that Altman and the company rejected.

According to OpenAI, its embrace of a for-profit model is needed in order to secure the necessary capital for future AI development. Their team argued that Musk’s lawsuit is just a ploy meant to slow the ongoing development of the OpenAI platform, which is a major competitor to Musk’s xAI brand and its large language models (LLMs) – including the Grok AI platform.

Preparing for the legal battle ahead

Both Musk and Altman face a contentious legal fight that could reshape AI governance and corporate ethics. Musk’s legal team welcomed the decision to fast-track the trial, but the denied injunction hands OpenAI an early victory.

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Accelerating AI research innovations

NextGenAI is set to transform research across diverse fields. Institutions like Caltech, Duke University, Harvard, MIT, and Oxford are among the pioneering partners. These esteemed organizations are using AI to tackle complex challenges in digital health, advanced therapeutics, energy, mobility, agriculture, and beyond.

By integrating cutting-edge AI models into research pipelines, the initiative promises to accelerate discoveries and provide vital insights into pressing scientific problems. OpenAI’s investment in NextGenAI reflects its commitment to fostering collaborations that bridge academia and industry, ensuring that innovations benefit society at large.

Empowering education and AI literacy

Beyond its research ambitions, NextGenAI is dedicated to advancing education. Leading academic institutions are incorporating AI tools into their curricula, offering students hands-on experiences that cultivate critical skills in AI literacy.

Programs such as the Generative AI Literacy Initiative at Texas A&M, along with enhanced training opportunities at MIT and Howard University, are equipping future leaders with the knowledge needed to responsibly harness AI’s potential. This focus on education ensures that the next generation is well-prepared to navigate and shape a future where artificial intelligence plays a central role in every industry.

Enhancing collaboration and accessibility

NextGenAI is also redefining how academic communities interact with historical resources. Projects at institutions like the Boston Public Library and Oxford’s Bodleian Library are utilizing AI to digitize and transcribe rare manuscripts, making centuries-old texts accessible to scholars worldwide. This innovative application of AI not only preserves cultural heritage but also democratizes access to information, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative research environment that bridges past and future.

With robust funding, strategic partnerships, and a dual focus on research and education, NextGenAI is poised to drive transformative change across multiple sectors. As collaborations deepen and AI continues to evolve, this initiative could serve as a blueprint for future endeavors in technology and academia. Looking ahead, the initiative is expected to inspire further investments in both academic research and practical applications, creating a ripple effect that will redefine global standards for innovation, collaboration, and technological advancement.

Explore our list of top AI companies dominating the AI landscape and stay up to date with the latest advancements in the field.

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What is this AI phone?

Deutsche Telekom’s upcoming AI Phone is still a bit of a mystery; the development team has yet to release technical specifications to the public. It appears that the initial concept renderings featured an Android operating system. Several generative AI tools, including Perplexity Assistant, will come pre-installed and fully integrated into the device. The AI Phone will reportedly carry a price tag of less than $1,000, though the exact price hasn’t been announced.

“The trusted AI companion, our AI Phone, will help you in many situations: find reliable answers with reference to the source. Conveniently book a restaurant or taxi. Let an AI assistant do your shopping. All without having to switch between apps. Intuitively and preferably by voice. This is the future of AI innovation for consumers,” said Claudia Nemat, member of Deutsche Telekom’s Board of Management for Technology and Innovation department, in the press release.

But wait, there’s more to come

Smartphone users who don’t want to purchase a new device can download Perplexity and other types of AI models from the MeinMagenta app later this year. The app is compatible with Android and iOS hardware.

Even more features, upgrades, and updates will be coming to the MeinMagenta app with Magenta AI – some have already been slated for release this summer.

• Google Cloud AI: Snap photos or record video on your phone and use Google Cloud AI to provide more context.
• ElevenLabs: Create AI-generated podcasts based on short prompts, URLs, or documents.
• Picsart: Use AI to transform your images with various styles and themes.

But the tools mentioned above are just the beginning. We’ll likely see more additions from Deutsche Telekom and its partners, including some of the top AI companies, in the near future.

Pushing the boundaries of AI technology

The developers and engineers driving AI innovation are constantly pushing the boundaries of what their technology can do. While most consumer usage of AI revolves around simple text, image, video, or audio generation, the new AI Phone takes it one step further with seamless, AI-assisted restaurant bookings, online shopping, real-time language translation, and much more.

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The product lead for OpenAI’s video generator tool Sora said last Friday the company plans to incorporate the app into ChatGPT eventually. Rohan Sahai, the Sora product lead, shared this information during an “office hours” session on the Discord chat app, as reported by TechCrunch. Currently, Sora is only accessible through a standalone web app and is only available for paid ChatGPT users that have a Plus or Pro subscription.

No specific timeline for integrating Sora into ChatGPT

While Sahai said that OpenAI is actively working on integrating Sora into ChatGPT, he declined to offer a specific timeline as to when the video generator tool might become available on ChatGPT. However, he did indicate that the ChatGPT version of Sora may not provide the same kind of control and customization that is available through the standalone web app.

Previously, OpenAI mostly marketed the Sora AI model to artists, animators, videographers, and other creators that rely on the visual medium of film. The AI company’s announcement that Sora will be incorporated into ChatGPT signals that OpenAI is likely trying to broaden the appeal of the AI video generator and incentivize more users to subscribe to the paid plans.

What is the Sora AI video generator?

Sora is the video AI generator tool that was launched by OpenAI in early December 2024. The company first announced that Sora was in the works back in February 2024, but the product wasn’t ready to be released until the end of the year.

Currently, Sora is available to paid users who subscribe to ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) or ChatGPT Pro ($200/month). Plus users get videos of up to 5 seconds duration and 720p resolution, while Pro users get videos of up to 20 seconds duration and 1080p resolution. There is no free version of Sora available the same way there is a free version of ChatGPT.

On February 28, OpenAI announced on X that Sora is now available to Plus and Pro users in the EU, the U.K., Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland.

How does the Sora AI video generator work?

Sora videos can be generated by typing in a text prompt or by uploading an existing image or video. After submitting the initial artificial intelligence prompt, users can select the aspect ratio, resolution, duration, and the number of variations they wish to generate.

After the first AI video is generated, Sora users can edit the video in several ways. If they aren’t satisfied with the first version, they can remix it by describing changes and generating a new version. They can also recut the video to either trim or extend it as necessary. In addition, users can blend elements from two videos together or create an endless loop from a specific section of the video.

The post OpenAI Will Give ChatGPT Sora AI Video Gen, But When? appeared first on eWEEK.

Unlike most AI voices that sound flat or mechanical, Sesame’s assistant, available in two voices — Maya and Miles — feels expressive, responsive, and emotionally aware. The company is focused on what it calls “voice presence,” a mix of emotional intelligence, natural timing, and context awareness that makes conversations feel personal.

Maya, for instance, can recognize and adjust her tone based on the situation, adding pauses, adjusting volume, and even altering her rhythm to create a more natural, engaging conversation.

After testing Sesame AI, I’m impressed

I tested the tool, and I was genuinely impressed by how responsive it was. Sesame AI doesn’t just execute commands — it listens and engages. During my testing, it responded appropriately to questions and even picked up on my mood. When I sounded tired or unenthusiastic, it asked if everything was okay and even tried to cheer me up with a joke.

Most voice assistants feel like robots — they follow commands, answer questions, and sometimes crack a joke, but there’s always something missing: real personality. That’s what Sesame AI is trying to change. With human-like voices and a knack for conversation, it’s not just answering your questions — it’s engaging with you, sometimes in ways that feel too real.

What’s next for Sesame?

The technology is still in its early stages, and Sesame says more advancements are on the way.

“Building a digital companion with voice presence is not easy, but we are making steady progress on multiple fronts, including personality, memory, expressivity and appropriateness,” the company said in a statement.

Sesame is also developing AI-powered glasses designed to be worn all day. These glasses aim to provide all-day access to the assistant, enabling it to “see” the world alongside you.

The startup has already secured funding from major investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Spark Capital, and Matrix Partners — all early backers of Oculus VR. Sesame also plans to open source its AI models and expand to more than 20 languages in the coming months.

The post Sesame AI’s New Voice Assistant: ‘Almost Human’ appeared first on eWEEK.

With backing from renowned investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and a notable endorsement from Amazon, Anthropic is set to accelerate the development of its next-generation AI systems. The latest round comes on the heels of recent product launches that highlight the company’s dedication to advancing AI capabilities while upholding rigorous safety and alignment standards.

Expanding AI horizons with Claude innovations

This new capital injection coincides with the rollout of Anthropic’s groundbreaking updates to its flagship AI models. The introduction of Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Claude Code has pushed the boundaries of what AI can achieve, particularly in coding and collaborative problem-solving. Early reports indicate that these innovations are already transforming workflows for diverse clients ranging from nimble startups to global corporations such as Zoom, Snowflake, and Pfizer.

Integration efforts have seen platforms like Replit harnessing Claude’s natural language processing to convert text into executable code, thereby streamlining software development and operational efficiency. With the funds raised, Anthropic plans to deepen research into mechanistic interpretability and AI alignment, ensuring that its solutions not only perform exceptionally but also operate with a high degree of reliability and ethical oversight.

Global ambitions and strategic expansion

The Series E round is expected to power Anthropic’s ambitious plans for global expansion. The additional resources will enable the company to scale its computing capacity and extend its market reach into new international territories.

Industry giants and emerging enterprises seek robust AI partnerships, and Anthropic’s strategic focus is on developing collaborative and secure AI models, which positions it favorably in the digital landscape. Investors remain optimistic that these advancements will catalyze further breakthroughs in AI technology, fostering innovation that can address complex challenges across sectors.

As Anthropic continues to push the frontiers of AI research and product development, its commitment to ethical and effective innovation is poised to redefine industry standards and drive transformative change worldwide.

Explore our list of top AI companies dominating the AI landscape and stay up to date with the latest advancements in the field.

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Live Video: AI that sees what you see

The Live Video feature enables users to engage in real-time video conversations with Gemini, using their phone’s camera to ask questions or seek advice based on what the AI “sees.” In a demonstration video, a user showcased their pottery collection to Gemini and requested color suggestions to enhance their existing vases. The AI evaluated the ceramics and recommended an appropriate glaze color, demonstrating its capability to process visual input and deliver contextual, real-time recommendations.

Screen Sharing: AI that understands your screen

The Screen Sharing feature takes Gemini’s abilities a step further, letting users share their phone screen during a conversation. Whether navigating a website, shopping online, or troubleshooting a task, Gemini can now offer on-screen guidance. During a demo, a user asked for fashion advice on a pair of jeans they were considering purchasing, and Gemini helped them select the perfect outfit by analyzing the details on the screen in real time.

While the AI struggled to interpret the style without a verbal description, it successfully adapted to follow-up questions, proving its potential for real-time assistance.

When can you try these new Gemini features?

The new capabilities will roll out later this month for users subscribed to the Google One AI Premium Plan, available on Android devices. Apple users aren’t left out either — Google updated its Gemini app for iPhones, adding lock screen widgets for faster access to AI-powered assistance.

If you’re at MWC 2025, you can try these features firsthand at Google’s Android Avenue exhibit between Halls 2 and 3.

Meanwhile, Lenovo is turning heads at MWC 2025 with its lineup of cutting-edge innovations. The company is showcasing AI-enhanced business laptops, a foldable ThinkBook concept with an expandable screen, and even a solar-powered laptop prototype.

The post Google Demos Gemini AI Vision Features at MWC 2025: Here’s When You Can Get Them appeared first on eWEEK.

Built on technology from Nuance—acquired by Microsoft in 2021—the new AI tool integrates natural language processing and automation to streamline clinical documentation, retrieve information, and handle routine tasks.

“At Microsoft, we have long believed that AI has the incredible potential to free clinicians from much of the administrative burden in healthcare and enable them to refocus on taking care of patients,” Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Health and Life Sciences Solutions and Platforms Joe Petro said in a statement.

Read more: Gen AI in healthcare

What Does AI-Powered Healthcare Look Like?

More than just a dictation tool, Dragon Copilot combines the capabilities of Nuance’s Dragon Medical One and DAX Copilot for a range of AI in healthcare use cases. According to Microsoft, the AI assistant can:

• Generate clinical notes in real-time
• Process conversational orders
• Draft referral letters or after-visit summaries.

It also offers access to trusted medical resources, allowing clinicians to quickly retrieve relevant information without breaking their workflows.

The AI’s potential impact extends beyond convenience. Reducing the time spent on manual data entry allows physicians to dedicate more attention to patients, leading to improved quality of care and job satisfaction. Early adopters of similar AI-driven tools have seen reduced documentation time, leading to lower stress levels among healthcare workers.

Doctor/Patient… and Dragon Confidentiality?

Dragon Copilot also has the potential to change how doctors and patients interact. The AI can passively capture key details during consultations, creating a structured record while freeing the doctor up to engage in the conversation. This could lead to more natural discussions between clinicians and patients as well as shorter wait times and more personalized care.

However, questions around data security, reliability, and potential biases remain. Microsoft emphasizes that Dragon Copilot is built on a secure, HIPAA-compliant framework, and that it continuously learns from user interactions to refine its accuracy. Still, widespread adoption will depend on trust from both medical professionals and patients.

Dragon Copilot will be available in the U.S. and Canada starting in May, with plans to expand to Europe later in the year.

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