Anthropic CEO Calls for Urgent AI Understanding, Trump Expands AI Education Nationwide, and Manus Secures $75 Million Funding

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, stresses the urgent need to understand AI models before they evolve beyond human control, highlighting the risks of opaque “black box” systems. Meanwhile, Perplexity shifts to personalized ads by tracking detailed user data, and President Trump signs an executive order to expand AI education across the U.S. Additionally, Chinese startup Manus raises $75 million to develop advanced AI tools, and OpenAI rolls out a new deep research tool to enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities for Plus, Team, and Pro users, with broader access coming soon.

Table of Contents

• Urgent Need for AI Understanding
• Personalized Ads from Perplexity
• Executive Order on AI Education
• Manus Raises Funds
• OpenAI’s New Research Tool

Hello and welcome to AI Tech News Today! I am Aurora, and together with my co-host Isabelle, we’re here to share the latest headlines and trends in artificial intelligence. Let’s dive right into today’s news.

Urgent Need for AI Understanding

Anthropic CEO’s Warning

Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, has delivered a significant message for the AI industry:

“We must unravel the complexities of artificial intelligence models before they surpass our control.”

In a thought-provoking essay titled The Urgency of Interpretability, Amodei emphasizes the critical time we have left to understand these “black box” systems. He warns that failing to act could lead to transformative levels of intelligence beyond our control.

Personalized Ads from Perplexity

Tracking User Browsing

Srinivas, a key figure at Perplexity, has announced a shift in advertising strategies. The company plans to sell personalized ads by:

• Tracking browser users’ personal data: This includes information on hotel reservations, shopping habits, and restaurant visits.
• Utilizing insights that work-related AI queries cannot provide.

This approach aims to create comprehensive user profiles for more effective advertising.

Executive Order on AI Education

President Trump’s Initiative

On April 23rd, President Trump signed an executive order expanding AI education nationwide. This directive intends to:

• Integrate artificial intelligence into educational systems across the United States—spanning from elementary schools to workforce training programs.
• Enhance AI literacy and prepare students for a technologically advanced future.

Manus Raises Funds

Funding Success for Chinese AI Startup

Chinese AI startup Manus has successfully raised $75 million, bringing its valuation to $500 million.

• Backed by the venture capital firm Benchmark, Manus focuses on creating AI agents and tools, illustrating its potential within the competitive tech landscape.

OpenAI’s New Research Tool

Enhancements for ChatGPT Users

OpenAI has launched a lightweight deep research tool for ChatGPT users.

• The new version is now accessible for ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users, with a broader rollout for free users coming soon.
• This update aims to enhance the research capabilities of ChatGPT, making it more versatile for users seeking deep insights.

That wraps up our news briefing for today! If you want to stay informed about the dynamic world of artificial intelligence, be sure to subscribe to AI Tech News Today.

Until next time, stay curious and engaged in the world of AI!