The Latest on TikTok’s Ban and Google’s AI Tools

Dec 20

Emerging Tech Roundup — December 20

The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.

This week in tech: Google’s Whisk AI Generator Will ‘Remix’ the Pictures You Plug In, Google’s Enterprise-Focused Coding Assistant Gets Third-Party Tools, YouTube Says Will Be Able to Find AI Copies of Celebs and Creators, OpenAI Brings ChatGPT to WhatsApp, US Supreme Court Agrees to Hear TikTok’s Ban Appeal, Slack is Becoming an AI Workplace, and Instagram Teases AI Tools for Editing Appearances.

Google’s Whisk AI Generator Will ‘Remix’ the Pictures You Plug In

(The Verge, December 16)

Google has introduced Whisk, an AI tool that generates images using other images as prompts for subject, scene, and style, eliminating the need for detailed text descriptions. Users can combine multiple images, roll AI-suggested visuals, or add optional text prompts to refine results, making the tool flexible and intuitive. Whisk outputs both AI-generated images and corresponding text prompts, allowing users to favorite, download, or further refine creations through text adjustments.

Code Assist, Google’s Enterprise-Focused Coding Assistant, Gets Third-Party Tools

(Tech Crunch, December 17)

Google has introduced third-party tool support for Gemini Code Assist, its AI-powered code completion service, enhancing productivity by integrating external tools directly into popular developer environments like VS Code and JetBrains. This new feature, now in private preview, allows developers to access real-time data and external app information without switching contexts, minimizing distractions. Google positions the update as a way to streamline workflows, offering solutions beyond coding for observability, security, and databases to accelerate enterprise application development.

YouTube Says That Soon, its Tech Will Be Able to Find AI Copies of Celebs and Creators

(The Verge, December 17)

YouTube is partnering with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to help creators and celebrities detect AI-generated content using their likeness and submit removal requests, starting with a test for celebrities and athletes in early 2025. This builds on YouTube’s prior tools to manage AI-generated depictions, including new “synthetic-singing identification technology” for detecting AI-replicated singing voices and stricter content labeling requirements for creators. CAA’s involvement aligns with its CAAVault, a tool that scans and stores clients’ digital likenesses, strengthening efforts to protect talent from unauthorized AI replication.

OpenAI Brings ChatGPT to WhatsApp

(Engadget, December 18)

ChatGPT is now available on WhatsApp via the number 1 (800) CHAT-GPT (1-800-242-8478), allowing users to access the chatbot globally without needing an account. The WhatsApp version supports text-only input, leveraging the o1-mini model, while OpenAI is also launching a ChatGPT hotline in the US with 15 minutes of free usage for any phone. OpenAI plans to add account authentication to WhatsApp in the future, positioning its offering alongside Meta's own chatbot integrated into the platform.

US Supreme Court Agrees to Hear TikTok’s Ban Appeal

(Engadget, December 18)

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear ByteDance’s appeal against a law that could ban TikTok, with oral arguments set for January 10, just ahead of the law's January 19 enforcement date. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act mandates TikTok’s ban unless ByteDance sells the app to a U.S. company, citing national security concerns over potential Chinese government influence. ByteDance argues the law violates free speech rights, a stance backed by the ACLU, while the Justice Department continues to defend its necessity.

Slack is Becoming an AI Workplace: Here’s What that Means For Your Job

(Venture Beat, December 18)

Salesforce has announced a major evolution for Slack, transforming it into a "work operating system" where integrated AI agents can attend meetings, summarize conversations, create presentations, and even collaborate with other AI agents. These agents are seamlessly embedded into Slack workflows, requiring no technical expertise from users, and are already driving efficiency at companies like Accenture by handling administrative tasks like drafting proposals and preparing for meetings. By combining messaging, automation, and AI capabilities, Slack aims to streamline workplace productivity, making AI agents integral to daily operations

Instagram Teases AI Tools for Editing Appearances, Backgrounds in Videos Using Prompts

(Tech Crunch, December 19)

Instagram has teased new generative AI video editing tools powered by Meta’s Movie Gen AI model, set to launch next year. These tools will allow creators to modify videos using text prompts, enabling changes like altering outfits, backgrounds, or appearances seamlessly. While Meta initially kept Movie Gen private after its October unveiling, this move brings the model to Instagram, positioning Meta alongside competitors like OpenAI’s Sora and Adobe’s Firefly in the AI-powered video creation space.