Subvolts take AI news roundup covers ChatGPT ads, China's hardware, and ethical debates. Jan 28, 2026 - Developers
- Learn about new AI product integrations and policy developments impacting AI deployment.
- Business
- Understand evolving AI business models, infrastructure competition, and regulatory landscapes.
- Everyday users
- Stay informed about changes to AI tools like ChatGPT and ethical debates surrounding AI use.
This episode covers significant AI news including OpenAI's ad testing and new safety features, plus international AI developments.
#232 - ChatGPT Ads, Thinking Machines Drama, STEM
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
In this episode of Last Week in AI, hosts Andrey Kurenkov and Jeremie Harris discuss OpenAI testing ads in ChatGPT and adding child age prediction. They also cover China's AI hardware progress, departures from startup Thinking Machines, and new AI legislation like the US Senate's Defiance Act. Anthropic updated Claude's constitution, and artists are pushing back against AI-generated content.
AI is getting ads, like on ChatGPT, and new safety features are being tested. Companies are also building better AI on their own computer chips, while lawmakers and artists debate how AI should be used and controlled.
This episode offers insights into the evolving business models and safety considerations surrounding large AI models, particularly from OpenAI. It's for industry watchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in the practical integration of AI into consumer products and education. The discussions on AI hardware in China and organizational shifts in Silicon Valley connect to the broader competitive landscape and rapid development cycles at frontier labs like OpenAI and Anthropic.
- HostAndrey Kurenkov
- HostJeremie Harris
- Episode Title: #232 - ChatGPT Ads, Thinking Machines Drama, STEM
- Show: Last Week in AI
- Length: 101 minutes
- OpenAI Testing: Ads in ChatGPT and child age prediction
- China AI Progress: Jpu training advanced models on domestic hardware
- US Senate Act: Defiance Act addressing explicit content
Our 232st episode with a summary and discussion of last week's big AI news!
Recorded on 01/23/2026
Hosted by Andrey Kurenkov and Jeremie Harris
Feel free to email us your questions and feedback at contact@lastweekinai.com and/or hello@gladstone.ai
Read out our text newsletter and comment on the podcast at https://lastweekin.ai/
In this episode:
- OpenAI announces testing of ads in ChatGPT and introduces child age prediction to enhance safety features, amidst ongoing ethical debates and funding expansions in AI integration with educational tools and business models.
- China's AI landscape sees significant progress with AI firm Jpu training advanced models on domestic hardware, and strong competitive moves by data centers, highlighting the intense demand in AI manufacturing and infrastructure.
- Silicon Valley tensions rise as startup Thinking Machines experiences high-profile departures back to OpenAI, reflecting broader industry struggles and rapid shifts in organizational dynamics.
- AI legislation and safety measures advance with the US Senate's Defiance Act addressing explicit content, and Anthropic updating Claude's constitution to guide ethical AI interactions, while cultural pushbacks from artists signal ongoing debates in intellectual property and AI-generated content.
Timestamps:
- (00:00:10) Intro / Banter
- (00:02:08) News Preview
- (00:02:26) Response to listener comments
- Tools & Apps
- (00:11:55) OpenAI to test ads in ChatGPT as it burns through billions - Ars Technica
- (00:18:05) OpenAI is launching age prediction for ChatGPT accounts
- (00:23:37) Google now offers free SAT practice exams, powered by Gemini | TechCrunch
- (00:24:57) Baidu’s AI Assistant Reaches Milestone of 200 Million Monthly Active Users - WSJ
- Applications & Business
- (00:26:53) The Drama at Thinking Machines, a New A.I. Start-Up, Is Riveting Silicon Valley - The New York Times
- (00:31:44) Zhipu AI breaks US chip reliance with first major model trained on Huawei stack | South China Morning Post
- (00:36:31) Elon Musk’s xAI launches world’s first Gigawatt AI supercluster to rival OpenAI and Anthropic
- (00:41:25) Sequoia to invest in Anthropic, breaking VC taboo on backing rivals: FT
- (00:45:18) Jargon decoded
- multimodal
- Andrey Kurenkov
- AI that can understand and process different types of information, like text, images, and sound.
29 min
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55 min
1 h 06Questions people ask
- What is OpenAI testing in ChatGPT?
- OpenAI is testing ads within ChatGPT and has introduced child age prediction to improve safety features.
- What AI progress is happening in China?
- China's AI firm Jpu is training advanced models on domestic hardware, and data centers are making strong competitive moves.
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