Blog

  • OpenAI’s TikTok of AI slop hit one million downloads faster than ChatGPT

    OpenAI’s TikTok of AI slop hit one million downloads faster than ChatGPT

    Sora, OpenAI’s app and social network for AI-generated videos, has been downloaded over one million times, according to Sora head Bill Peebles. The app reached one million downloads in less than five days, Peebles says, “even faster than ChatGPT did.” That’s despite OpenAI only making the app available in North America, and its decision to require users to have an invite to actually use it.

    Like TikTok, Sora offers an endless vertical feed of videos, only Sora’s videos are AI-generated rather than uploaded by users. Creating a 10-second video of your own is as simple as writing a prompt to OpenAI’s Sora 2 model in the app. And through the Sora’s Cameo feature, you can even create videos of yourself and anyone else who’s agreed to share their likeness to the service.

    The limited guardrails OpenAI has put on Sora has already led to a rash of videos featuring OpenAI’s Sam Altman and content that clearly infringes on copyright. The fact that Sora can so readily create videos of recognizable characters like Pikachu raises questions about what OpenAI’s model was trained on, and has unsurprisingly prompted pushback from the larger entertainment industry.

    In response, the company has updated Sora to give users more control over what videos their likeness can appear in. OpenAI plans to offer similar controls to rights holders, giving them “the ability to specify how their characters can be used (including not at all),” according to Altman. It’s not clear why these controls weren’t available when Sora launched, but both seem like good changes.

    Because of Sora’s invite system, it’s difficult to say if the over one million downloads the app has received translates to as many users. It’s not unusual for someone to download an app and never use it. Whatever the case, OpenAI’s bet on AI-generated videos seems like it might be a winning one, provided the company finds a way to actually make more money than it looses generating videos for Sora.

    Continue Reading

  • ‘Minecraft 2’ Movie In Works With Release Set For Summer 2027

    ‘Minecraft 2’ Movie In Works With Release Set For Summer 2027

    Here’s some good news to go along with Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy’s reup as Warner Bros Motion Picture chairs: A Minecraft Movie 2 is in the works at the studio with Jared Hess returning to direct the follow-up to the near $1…

    Continue Reading

  • Sabalenka's Wuhan winning streak reaches 19 matches. Swiatek and Gauff also advance – The Washington Post

    1. Sabalenka’s Wuhan winning streak reaches 19 matches. Swiatek and Gauff also advance  The Washington Post
    2. Sabalenka battles to keep Wuhan record alive, Pegula survives marathon  Dawn
    3. Tennis Tracker: Rybakina and Rune in action after Sabalenka and…

    Continue Reading

  • Most runs in Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025

    Most runs in Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025

    England’s Enid Bakewell, on the other hand, finished as the leading scorer in the inaugural edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup in 1973 when she made 264 in six matches.

    Former New Zealand batter Debbie Hockley holds the record for most runs…

    Continue Reading

  • Just a moment…

    Just a moment…

    Continue Reading

  • Naked mole rats live for decades — genetic tweaks reveal insights into ageing

    Naked mole rats live for decades — genetic tweaks reveal insights into ageing

    Naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) can live for around 30 years. Credit: Getty

    Four subtle tweaks to an enzyme could help explain why naked mole rats’ can live for nearly 30 years, an unusually long lifespan for a creature its size.

    The

    Continue Reading

  • Errors in EPG5 gene implicated in rare infant condition and adult neurodegenerative diseases

    Errors in EPG5 gene implicated in rare infant condition and adult neurodegenerative diseases

    Errors in a gene known to cause a serious neurodevelopmental condition in infants are also linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease in adolescence and adulthood, according to new research.

    The study, published in the Annals…

    Continue Reading

  • Naked mole rats reveal genetic secret to long life

    Naked mole rats reveal genetic secret to long life

    Victoria GillScience correspondent, BBC News

    Washington Post via Getty Images The image is a close-up of a naked mole rat. It is a small, pink, bald rodent that is being held by a person's hand. The rodent has large, protruding front teeth, tiny eyes, whiskers on its face and small, clawed feet.Washington Post via Getty Images

    Naked mole rats live for up to 40 years, compared to about three years for a mouse

    They are weird, bald, subterranean rodents that look like sausages with teeth, and they…

    Continue Reading

  • Developing a Path Forward in Cancer Cachexia

    Developing a Path Forward in Cancer Cachexia

    Across disciplines, therapeutic areas, and even continents, Pfizer scientists have been working to advance understanding of – and potential treatments for – cachexia, a complex metabolic condition associated with certain chronic conditions,…

    Continue Reading

  • CPP Investments Increases Stake in Global Environmental Services Provider FCC Enviro

    CPP Investments Increases Stake in Global Environmental Services Provider FCC Enviro

    MADRID, SPAIN (October 9, 2025) – Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), has signed an agreement to acquire an additional 25% interest in FCC Servicios Medio Ambiente Holding, S.A.U. (“FCC Enviro”), the environmental services division of FCC Group (“FCC”). Following completion of this transaction, CPP Investments will hold a 49.99% stake in FCC Enviro, alongside FCC which retains 50.01%. The agreed purchase price for the additional stake is €1.0 billion (C$1.6 billion).

    FCC Enviro is one of the largest vertically integrated environmental services companies globally, operating across the waste value chain – from collections and treatment to recycling, recovery and disposal – and providing essential services to more than 78 million people across 12 countries.

    “Increasing our stake in FCC Enviro deepens our commitment to a proven platform that plays a unique role in advancing the global circular economy. FCC Enviro’s differentiated scale and proven track record provide a compelling foundation for continued growth,” said James Bryce, Managing Director, Head of Infrastructure, CPP Investments. “This transaction is aligned with our strategy to invest behind key thematic trends, such as the circular economy, to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for the CPP’s 22 million contributors and beneficiaries in Canada.”

    Since CPP Investments’ initial investment in 2023 FCC Enviro has demonstrated strong performance, building on its deep market presence in established geographies and completing four strategic acquisitions – including a first investment in France and expansion into the US energy-from-waste (EfW) sector.

    Closing of the transaction is subject to receipt of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

    About CPP Investments

    Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments™) is a professional investment management organization that manages the Canada Pension Plan Fund in the best interest of the more than 22 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build diversified portfolios of assets, we make investments around the world in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure, fixed income and alternative strategies including in partnership with funds. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York City, San Francisco, São Paulo and Sydney, CPP Investments is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm’s length from governments. At June 30, 2025, the Fund totalled C$731.7 billion. For more information, please visit www.cppinvestments.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or on X @CPPInvestments.

    MADRID, SPAIN (October 9, 2025) – Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), has signed an agreement to acquire an additional 25% interest in FCC Servicios Medio Ambiente Holding, S.A.U. (“FCC Enviro”), the environmental services division of FCC Group (“FCC”). Following completion of this transaction, CPP Investments will hold a 49.99% stake in FCC Enviro, alongside FCC which retains 50.01%. The agreed purchase price for the additional stake is €1.0 billion (C$1.6 billion). FCC Enviro is one of the largest vertically integrated environmental services companies globally, operating across the waste value chain – from collections and treatment to recycling, recovery and disposal – and providing essential services to more than 78 million people across 12 countries. “Increasing our stake in FCC Enviro deepens our commitment to a proven platform that plays a unique role in advancing the global circular economy. FCC Enviro’s differentiated scale and proven track record provide a compelling foundation for continued growth,” said James Bryce, Managing Director, Head of Infrastructure, CPP Investments. “This transaction is aligned with our strategy to invest behind key thematic trends, such as the circular economy, to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for the CPP’s 22 million contributors and beneficiaries in Canada.” Since CPP Investments’ initial investment in 2023 FCC Enviro has demonstrated strong performance, building on its deep market presence in established geographies and completing four strategic acquisitions – including a first investment in France and expansion into the US energy-from-waste (EfW) sector. Closing of the transaction is subject to receipt of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. About CPP Investments Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments™) is a professional investment management organization that manages the Canada Pension Plan Fund in the best interest of the more than 22 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build diversified portfolios of assets, we make investments around the world in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure, fixed income and alternative strategies including in partnership with funds. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York City, San Francisco, São Paulo and Sydney, CPP Investments is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm’s length from governments. At June 30, 2025, the Fund totalled C$731.7 billion. For more information, please visit www.cppinvestments.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or on X @CPPInvestments.


    Continue Reading