Today's AI and Tech News: GPT-5.6 Launches, Leadership Shifts, and Growing Concerns
This week's AI news highlights major developments from OpenAI alongside broader tech and policy stories shaping the industry.
OpenAI Releases GPT-5.6 and Launches ChatGPT Work
OpenAI has received government approval to roll out GPT-5.6 to the public, with CEO Sam Altman calling it the company's best model yet. The company also introduced ChatGPT Work, a new AI agent that brings Codex's capabilities to non-technical users.
Read more: OpenAI rolls out GPT-5.6 after government greenlight — and announces 'ChatGPT Work'
Fidji Simo Departs OpenAI COO Role
OpenAI's Chief Operating Officer Fidji Simo is leaving her full-time role after an extended medical leave, creating a leadership gap as the company navigates potential IPO preparations and intensifying competition with Anthropic in the enterprise market.
Read more: Fidji Simo steps down from OpenAI's no. 2 role
New York Times Alleges OpenAI Hid Evidence in Copyright Case
The New York Times has filed a motion for sanctions against OpenAI, claiming the company hid tools and datasets that could identify copyrighted journalism within ChatGPT outputs, escalating their ongoing copyright lawsuit.
Read more: New York Times says OpenAI hid evidence in ChatGPT copyright trial
Investigators Find DOGE Deleted Federal Records
Federal investigators have found that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) deleted certain records that could have shown whether the organization accessed sensitive government systems, according to a government report.
Read more: Federal Investigators Say Certain DOGE Records Were Deleted
Madison Square Garden Investigated Over Celebrity Database
Investigations reveal that Madison Square Garden maintained a detailed database tracking hundreds of celebrities, using labels such as 'LGBTQIA,' 'DO NOT HOST,' and risk ratings to categorize individuals.
Read more: Madison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities
AI Data Centers Raise Environmental Concerns in Texas
Texas is experiencing rapid growth in data center construction to support AI infrastructure, with thousands of new fossil-fuel power sources being activated through a regulatory loophole, raising significant environmental and public health concerns among local residents.
Read more: Data Centers Are Quietly Taking Over Texas. The Pollution Could Be Catastrophic