Microsoft-owned business and employment-focused social platform LinkedIn plans to add games and a vertical-scroll feed of short videos. But the career-centric platform will still be all work, even as it adds play. The intent is to have the TikTok-like video feed filled with professionally themed content, and the games will be geared toward relationship building, while also potentially getting people to spend more time using LinkedIn. The video feed is in the test phase, while code hinting at the direction of the gaming feature has been discovered by some astute app watchers. Read more

The White House is implementing a new AI policy across the federal government that will be implemented by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vice President Kamala Harris announced the new rules, which require that all federal agencies have a senior leader overseeing AI systems use, in an effort to ensure that AI deployed in public service remains safe and unbiased. The move was positioned as making good on “a core component” of President Biden’s AI Executive Order (EO), issued in October. Federal agencies reported completing the 150-day actions tasked by the EO. Read more

Google.org, the charitable arm of the Alphabet giant, has launched a program to help fund non-profits working on technology to support “high-impact applications of generative AI.” The Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI is a six-month program that kicks off with more than $20 million in grants for 21 non-profit firms. Among them, student writing aid group Quill.org, job seeker for low- to middle-income countries Tabiya, and Benefits Data Trust, which helps low-income applicants access and enroll in public benefits. In addition to funds, the new unit provides mentorship, technical training and pro bono support from “a dedicated AI coach.” Read more

Oregon has signed into law one of the strongest right to repair bills in the United States. With the new law, it will become the first state to ban “parts pairing,” which is when replacement parts are prevented from working unless the manufacturer’s software approves them. The pairing protections also forbid companies from limiting functionality for off-brand parts. Apple — which endorsed California’s right to repair law, passed in October — pushed back against the pairing provision. Only devices made after January 1, 2025, when the Oregon law goes into effect, are prevented from parts pairing. Read more

Adobe’s upcoming GenStudio for marketers and an expanded agreement with Microsoft to integrate the Adobe Experience Cloud’s customer insights and generative AI from Firefly directly into Copilot were the big buzz at Adobe Summit 2024, which wrapped Thursday after four days in Las Vegas. Currently in beta, GenStudio will allow advertisers and brands to quickly plan campaigns and create ads, then activate, manage and measure the results with native integrations across Adobe Experience Cloud and Creative Cloud. General release is expected later this year, with pricing to be announced. Read more