Ever stop to wonder what really goes into the tech we use every day?

Most of us don’t. We’re too busy enjoying the convenience — unlocking phones with our faces, letting AI finish our sentences — to think about what’s happening behind the curtain.

But with AI, that curtain’s been slipping, and what’s peeking through is getting real weird, real fast.

According to a recent report from Business Insider, over 200 xAI employees found themselves starring in what felt like a low-budget reality show — all for the sake of training AI.

The internal project, code-named “Skippy,” had staff recording themselves chatting, reacting, and making facial expressions.

Some employees played the host—deliberately stiff and robotic. Others took on the role of the “user,” moving freely and acting casual.

The goal? To help Grok learn how real people talk, react, and express emotion — even in less-than-ideal conditions like background noise, poor lighting, or awkward camera angles.

Then came the plot twist. before stepping in front of the camera, employees had to sign a consent form giving xAI perpetual rights to their likeness — not just for training, but also for use in commercial products and promotions.

Let that sink in: Perpetual. Likeness. Commercial use. Instant deepfake energy, right?

Well, some employees bailed. Others stuck around but started asking the obvious questions.

xAI tried to reassure everyone, insisting the videos were “only to teach Grok what a face looks like — not to create digital replicas.”

But then… the avatars dropped.

Just last week, xAI unveiled Ani and Rudi — two hyper-realistic, lip-syncing, head-tilting avatars. Ani, the female one, was quickly caught in user-posted videos engaging in NSFW conversations.

Rudi, a red panda with a disturbing range, was prompted to threaten to bomb banks and target billionaires. Naturally, people started connecting the dots: Was “Skippy” the data behind these avatars?

xAI hasn’t confirmed — but they haven’t denied it either.

Now, to be fair — what xAI did isn’t entirely new. The only real difference? They actually got consent.

Though, whether employees freely signed that form is still up for debate. However, most companies would’ve scraped the internet and hoped nobody would sue.

So, here’s the real question:

Did xAI find the ethical loophole — or just a more polite way to cross the line?

Would you sign away your face forever, even if they pinky-promised it wouldn’t be misused?

Might wanna read the full report before answering that one.

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Microsoft’s new AI features for Windows 11 are rolling out, and honestly, they’re about to make your life a whole lot easier.

If you’re a Windows user, this is the update you don’t want to miss.

Here’s the lowdown:

For all the creatives and photo enthusiasts out there, Paint is stepping up its game with an AI-powered sticker generator and an object selection tool to level up your image editing skills!

Oh, and there’s a sleek new lighting option in Photos to give your pics that chef’s kiss look, along with a perfect screenshot tool that uses AI to precisely capture content on your screen.

Now, not all of these updates are AI-powered, but they’re just as useful. Everyone’s getting a color picker in the Snipping Tool (finally!) and an auto-fix for those annoying, random restart issues.

So, when can you expect all of this?

Some features are already available via the Windows non-security preview update and the Microsoft Store, but the full rollout will happen over the next month. So, keep an eye on your device!

For more details, click here.

If you're trying to market or improve a product, there's one secret weapon that often gets overlooked: the questions your customers are already asking.

By uncovering the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about your product, you can eliminate confusion, address objections before they arise, and build trust through transparency. These questions often reveal what people really care about—and what might be holding them back from buying, using, or recommending your product.

Whether you're building a help center, crafting landing page copy, or training your chatbot—this prompt will give you the insights you need to meet your audience where they are.

Here’s How to Use This Prompt Effectively

Here’s the prompt:

Heads-up, AI Workout fam!

We’re hitting pause on workout videos this week to bring you something even better —live coverage of the AI-focused Leadership DOJO retreat in Armenia!

Think of it as a different kind of workout for your brain. 🧠—with daily talks, panels, and insights from some of the brightest minds in AI.

We’ll be back with your regular sessions next week. Until then, tune in and enjoy the summit!