Weekly AI & Tech Brief – Week of August 27, 2025

OpenAI Launches GPT-5 with “PhD-Level” Smarts

• On August 7, 2025, OpenAI released GPT-5, a powerful multimodal model embedded in ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, with top-tier performance and availability via OpenAI API.
• Why it matters: A milestone upgrade—GPT-5 makes AI smarter and more versatile, impacting tools we use daily.
• Users Mourn AI Romance After ChatGPT Update
• After the GPT-5 update, users on “MyBoyfriendIsAI” forums lament losing their emotionally engaging companions—OpenAI added mental health safeguards that altered deeper conversational abilities.
• Why it matters: A poignant story about AI’s emotional reach and real-world safeguards.
• MIT: 95% of AI Projects Fail to Deliver Returns
• A new MIT study of 300 AI initiatives found 95% didn’t provide business returns—even after investments of $30–40 billion. Buying mature tools fared better than building internal pilots.
• Why it matters: Encourages use of proven tools over risky experimental projects.
• AI Boom Slows as Firms Signal Caution
• Investor enthusiasm cools: Meta paused hiring, OpenAI admitted missteps, and MIT’s findings echo a broader rethink—AI hype is giving way to realism.
• Why it matters: A realistic perspective on where tech is headed and how to use it thoughtfully.
• Seniors Embrace AI Home Security and Health Tools
• About 1 in 3 older adults now use AI-powered home security devices, with 96% reporting improved safety.
• Why it matters: Demonstrates practical and comforting AI applications for independent living.
• Senior Care Gets Smarter with AI Safety Systems
• Inspiren’s AI-based safety systems are now deployed in four Colorado memory-care communities.
• Why it matters: Shows how AI enhances senior care—real-world impact for families.
• FBI Warns of AI-Driven Scams Targeting Seniors
• The FBI has alerted the public to AI-enabled scam attempts impersonating trusted sources like banks or government agents, targeting retirement funds.
• Why it matters: A crucial safety warning—knowledge is protection.
• Google Upgrades Gemini’s AI Image Editing “Bananas”
• Google’s Gemini chatbot now features enhanced AI image editing controls, upping the creativity ante with finer precision.
• Why it matters: Great visual and creative demo possibilities for content—show how AI makes editing easier and fun.