Listen to today’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-nqwUyvLDEvs7bV985k-gQ
AI Daily Podcast 12/14/2025
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
動画生成AIにディズニーキャラ解禁。ディズニーとOpenAIが提携
By: James Whitbrook – Gizmodo US（翻訳：高橋真紀） | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Gizmodo Japan
Disney struck a three-year licensing deal with OpenAI, investing $1B and allowing Sora and ChatGPT-generated content to use 200+ Disney IP elements (excluding actor likenesses and voices) starting in early 2026. Select user-generated videos may even stream on Disney+. The move signals a pivot from litigation to licensing—and could define how legacy studios engage with generative AI at scale.
AI finds a surprising monkeypox weak spot that could rewrite vaccines
By: University of Texas at Austin | Date: Dec 12, 2025 | Source: ScienceDaily
Using AlphaFold 3, researchers identified OPG153 as a potent mpox antigen; mice vaccinated with the protein produced strong neutralizing antibodies. The work accelerates “reverse vaccinology” approaches and could inform next-generation mpox and smallpox vaccines and antibody therapies. UT Austin and partners have filed related patent applications as they advance toward human testing.
BlackRock’s head of talent acquisition reveals how AI has changed what he looks for in applicants
By: Alice Tecotzky | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Business Insider
AI fluency is now table stakes for candidates at BlackRock, but interviewees are warned not to rely on AI tools during interviews. Beyond prompt literacy, recruiters prioritize curiosity, a questioning mindset, and strong relationship skills, while using AI mainly for scheduling. The firm is refining how it assesses real-world AI use without intimidating non-technical applicants.
British Airways fears a future where AI agents pick flights and brands get ghosted
By: Carly Page | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: The Register
BA CEO Sean Doyle warns that agentic AI will soon mediate bookings and customer interactions, forcing airlines to make their brands legible and trusted by machines—not just people. BA is modernizing its platforms, rolling out Copilot to 5,000 employees, and focusing on measurable impact over flashy AI pilots. The goal: hyper-personalization for customers and automation that lets staff focus on high-value service.
Tesla is offering a barrage of deals as it races to avoid another annual sales decline
By: Tom Carter | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Business Insider
Tesla rolled out 0% APR, no-money-down leases, free supercharging miles, and complimentary upgrades to stave off a second straight annual sales drop. The automaker faces headwinds from lost US EV tax credits, European backlash, and intense Chinese competition, and must sell an unprecedented 555,000 vehicles in Q4 to match last year. Musk continues to spotlight AI and robotics as Tesla’s long-term growth drivers.
I asked Rivian execs why an adventure-brand EV needs AI and self-driving. To them, they’re logical next steps.
By: Lloyd Lee | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Business Insider
Rivian unveiled an in-car AI assistant, full autonomy ambitions, and its own silicon, arguing cars are a “killer app” for AI and autonomy is a key purchase driver. Executives say the push aligns with Rivian’s adventurous brand and tech identity, while also positioning its platform for software licensing (including a VW joint venture). The bet mirrors an industry consensus: every OEM will need to deliver higher levels of automated driving.
A University of Cambridge analysis reveals how cheap SMS text message verification to create online accounts fuels global influence and manipulation campaigns
By: Clive Cookson | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Financial Times
The Cambridge Online Trust and Safety Index shows SMS verifications can cost mere cents in some countries, enabling fake accounts at scale. Researchers call for greater transparency and accountability from platforms as they track real-time verification costs across 500+ services. The low barrier risks fueling bot armies and influence campaigns globally.
The AI boom is delaying US municipal projects, as ~$4T in AI infra spending through 2030 shifts skilled construction workers to AI data centers
By: Brooke Sutherland | Date: Dec 12, 2025 | Source: Bloomberg
Massive data center construction is siphoning labor and resources from roads, bridges, and other public works. With nearly $4T in AI-related infrastructure forecast by 2030, municipalities face mounting delays and opportunity costs. The reshuffling underscores how AI’s physical footprint is reshaping broader construction priorities.
Blowback over posts about the death of Charlie Kirk has prompted companies to be more aggressive about monitoring employees’ social media activity
By: Taylor Telford | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: The Washington Post
Companies are tightening oversight of employee social media amid reputational risks highlighted by recent online reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death. Employers are revisiting policies to ensure public posts align with corporate values while balancing free expression. Expect clearer guidelines—and more proactive enforcement—around online conduct.
Seagate and Western Digital, with stocks each up 200%+ in 2025, will join Nasdaq 100 before the December 22 market open; GlobalFoundries will leave the index
By: Isabelle Lee | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Bloomberg
Seagate and Western Digital are entering the Nasdaq 100 after outsized 2025 gains, reflecting investor enthusiasm for storage plays in the AI era. GlobalFoundries exits in the annual reshuffle. The move spotlights how AI demand is lifting broader hardware ecosystems beyond GPUs.
A look at Netflix House in Philadelphia, a new 100K sq. ft. location for in-person experiences, which resembles a Disneyland attraction and a Dave & Buster’s
By: Sarah Holder | Date: Dec 12, 2025 | Source: Bloomberg
Netflix opened a 100,000 sq. ft. “Netflix House” in Philadelphia, blending theme-park-style attractions with arcade-like entertainment. The immersive venue extends streaming IP into real-world experiences, deepening fan engagement. It’s another step in turning digital fandom into offline revenue.
How Oracle’s massive Stargate deal with OpenAI has pushed Oracle to the center of the AI boom, turning its market cap into a barometer on AI sentiment
By: Not listed | Date: Dec 12, 2025 | Source: Bloomberg
Oracle’s mega-deal with OpenAI has made its valuation a proxy for broader AI optimism—and anxiety. While the partnership cements Oracle’s role in AI infrastructure, it raises questions about spending, execution risk, and data center buildouts. Investors are watching its capex and delivery timelines as a bellwether for the AI cycle.
Cisco’s stock touched a new record high of $80.25 on December 10, surpassing its previous split-adjusted high of $80.06 on March 27, 2000; CSCO is up 31.64% YTD
By: Robin Wigglesworth | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Financial Times
Cisco finally eclipsed its dot-com peak after 25+ years, buoyed by AI-driven network demand. The milestone underscores how the current AI buildout is reviving old-guard infrastructure leaders. It’s a symbolic passing of the torch from one tech wave to the next.
Sources: private capital giant Apollo Global has shorted loans and rapidly cut exposure to the enterprise software sector in 2025 amid concerns over AI threat
By: Not listed | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Financial Times
Apollo has slashed its software exposure and shorted loans, reflecting investor unease about AI’s disruption of traditional software economics. Concentration in software within private credit funds has nearly halved this year. The repositioning highlights shifting risk assessments as AI-native models pressure incumbents.
Sources: The Trump administration is drafting a new cyber strategy that would enlist private companies to mount offensive cyberattacks on foreign adversaries
By: Jamie Tarabay | Date: Dec 12, 2025 | Source: Bloomberg
A draft US cyber strategy would fund offensive cyber operations and deputize private firms to target foreign adversaries. Proponents argue it boosts agility; critics warn about oversight, accountability, and public–private boundary risks. A proposed $1B budget signals a more aggressive posture in cyberspace.
A profile of Nex, which makes the $249 Nex Playground motion-based gaming system targeted toward kids and projects more than $150M of sales this year
By: Ben Cohen | Date: Dec 12, 2025 | Source: The Wall Street Journal
Nex’s $249 motion-based console for kids is on track for $150M+ in 2025 sales after multiple pivots and a near cash crunch. Its active-play niche appears to be resonating with families, reportedly outshining some traditional consoles this holiday season. The story underscores how differentiated experiences can break through a crowded market.
OpenAI quietly adopted Anthropic’s “skills” mechanism in ChatGPT and Codex; ChatGPT’s skills include creating and modifying spreadsheets, docx files, and PDFs
By: Simon Willison | Date: Dec 12, 2025 | Source: simonwillison.net
OpenAI has introduced a skills-like framework in ChatGPT and Codex, enabling modular capabilities such as creating and editing spreadsheets, DOCX files, and PDFs. The move nudges ChatGPT toward extensible, agentic workflows without a big launch. It also points to convergence across AI platforms around pluggable, task-specific skills.
OpenAI hopes the Disney deal boosts Sora, which has high costs and limited traction; Sensor Tower: users average 13 minutes per day on Sora vs. 90 on TikTok
By: Not listed | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: Financial Times
OpenAI is betting that Disney’s IP will lift engagement on Sora, which currently lags with just 13 minutes of average daily use versus 90 on TikTok. High operating costs and a crowded video landscape have hampered traction despite bootleg content. Exclusive Disney content could be a catalyst for mainstream adoption.
Indian IT giant TCS agrees to acquire Coastal Cloud, a Florida-based Salesforce consulting partner, for $700M, in a bid to boost its AI and US customer business
By: Mark Haranas | Date: Dec 13, 2025 | Source: CRN
TCS is buying Coastal Cloud for $700M to expand its US footprint and accelerate AI-enabled Salesforce services. It’s TCS’s largest acquisition since its IPO and vaults the firm up the Salesforce partner ranks. The deal reflects IT service providers’ race to bundle AI with core enterprise platforms.
Broadcom’s shares fell 11% on December 12, their biggest single-day drop since January, after the company’s AI sales outlook fell short of investor expectations
By: Dina Bass | Date: Dec 11, 2025 | Source: Bloomberg
Broadcom’s guidance spooked investors, triggering an 11% single-day drop despite solid quarterly results. The selloff shows how sensitive chipmakers are to AI growth expectations and capacity timelines. It adds a note of caution to an otherwise red-hot AI infrastructure trade.
