Roblox Levels Up with Short-Form Videos, AI Creator Tools, and Enhanced Earnings
Roblox has unveiled “Roblox Moments,” a TikTok-style short-form video feed for sharing gameplay clips, currently in beta for users aged 13 and up. Players can capture, edit, and share 30-second clips with music and descriptions while enjoying a community feed to like and jump directly into games. The platform also promises new API capabilities for creators to build custom in-game discovery tools and leaderboards. Additionally, Roblox has raised the Developer Exchange (DevEx) rate, enabling creators to earn 8.5% more from converting Robux to cash, significantly benefiting top developers.
Beyond video sharing and monetization, Roblox is introducing innovative AI-powered tools for creators, including generating fully functional 3D objects like drivable vehicles from text prompts. Real-time voice chat translation in multiple languages and new Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Text APIs will help enhance immersive and interactive gameplay experiences. Technical upgrades include improved in-game physics with a “Server Authority” mode to reduce cheating and more realistic avatar motions. These features reflect Roblox’s commitment to fostering a safer, richer, and more creator-friendly platform amid growing user and regulatory scrutiny
OpenAI Accquires Talent Behind Popular Xcode AI Assistant Alex Codes
OpenAI has acqui-hired the team behind Alex Codes, an AI-powered coding assistant integrated with Apple’s Xcode development environment. Founded in 2024 and supported by Y Combinator, Alex Codes allowed developers to utilize AI models inside Xcode to boost productivity in building iOS and macOS apps. The team is now joining OpenAI’s Codex division, which focuses on advancing the company’s AI coding agent technology. While the app will no longer be available for download after October 1, existing users will still receive support for the foreseeable future.
This move continues OpenAI’s pattern of hiring startup teams rather than acquiring entire companies and follows their recent $1.1 billion acquisition of product testing startup Statsig. OpenAI has not disclosed whether all three team members from Alex Codes are joining or provided further operational details. This hiring aligns with OpenAI’s broader strategy to expand its AI development toolkit and enhance coding tools for developers.
OpenAI Takes on LinkedIn with New AI-Powered Hiring Platform
OpenAI is developing the OpenAI Jobs Platform, an AI-driven hiring service aimed at connecting businesses with ideal candidates, targeting a mid-2026 launch. The platform promises to use AI to intelligently match job seekers’ skills with employer needs, including a specialized track for small businesses and local governments to access top AI talent. This move positions OpenAI in direct competition with LinkedIn, which itself has been integrating AI to enhance its job matching capabilities.
In addition to the hiring platform, OpenAI is expanding its offerings with AI fluency certifications through its OpenAI Academy, aiming to certify 10 million Americans by 2030. The company is partnering with major employers like Walmart for this initiative as part of a broader commitment to AI literacy aligned with government efforts. OpenAI’s CEO highlighted the importance of helping workers adapt amid concerns about AI potentially disrupting many traditional jobs in the coming years.
Google Photos Enhances Memories with AI-Powered Veo 3 Video Generation
Google Photos is upgrading its image-to-video feature by integrating the new AI model Veo 3, available now in the U.S. on the mobile app’s Create tab. This enhanced functionality allows users to transform still images into high-quality, four-second video clips for free with limited daily generations, while subscribers to AI Pro and AI Ultra plans enjoy more frequent access. Unlike earlier versions, Veo 3 videos do not include audio but offer superior visual quality to bring photos to life, including older pictures.
The Create hub in Google Photos now offers a suite of AI-powered creative tools alongside Veo 3, such as remixing photo styles, creating collages and montages, cinematic 3D photos, and GIF creation. This rollout continues Google’s effort to bring advanced AI technology directly to its vast user base of over 1.5 billion monthly active users, enriching how people can relive and share their memories.
Apple’s Siri Upgrade May Leverage Google Gemini AI for Smarter Searches
Apple is reportedly planning to revamp Siri using AI technology powered by Google’s Gemini, following a formal agreement between the two tech giants. The long-anticipated Siri overhaul, delayed until 2026, aims to make the virtual assistant more competitive by integrating advanced AI capabilities for web search, summarization, and multimedia responses. This collaboration could extend Google’s AI into other iPhone features like Safari and Spotlight, enhancing how users interact with their devices through voice and personalized data.
The upgraded Siri is expected to combine text, images, videos, and local information in its answers, moving beyond traditional search results to offer a richer, AI-enhanced user experience. This strategic partnership addresses Apple’s struggle to match AI advancements from competitors like OpenAI and Google, signaling a significant shift in how Apple approaches AI assistant technology.