Microsoft lied to everyone...

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Holiday mode: Activated. We’ll keep the AI hot while you keep it cozy. 🎄

MICROSOFT’S HOLIDAY COMMERCIAL IS FULL OF LIES 🤫

What’s up? Microsoft released a new holiday-themed Copilot ad (above) that shows the AI confidently helping with festive tasks, even though several of the features it demonstrates don’t actually exist or work as shown.

Want the details? The 30-second commercial features people asking Copilot for help with things like syncing holiday lights to music or managing smart home decorations through voice commands. On screen, Copilot appears to smoothly guide users through websites and tools, including a smart-lighting service called “Relecloud.” The problem is that Relecloud isn’t a real company, and the seamless interactions shown in the ad don’t reflect what Copilot can currently do in real life. This continues a pattern seen in earlier Copilot ads, where Microsoft presents polished, idealized scenarios that gloss over technical limitations and rough edges in the actual product.

Why does this matter? These ads shape public expectations about AI. When marketing promises capabilities that aren’t real, users can feel misled and lose trust. As AI tools become more common in daily life, honesty about what they can and can’t do matters just as much as innovation itself.

Why AI Isn’t Replacing Affiliate Marketing After All

“AI will make affiliate marketing irrelevant.”

Our research shows the opposite.

Shoppers use AI to explore options, but they trust creators, communities, and reviews before buying. With less than 10 percent clicking AI links, affiliate content now shapes both conversions and AI recommendations.

Download the full report

INDIE GAME OF THE YEAR GETS STRIPPED OF TITLE FOR AI USE 🎮

What’s up? The Indie Game Awards have disqualified Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and stripped it of its Game of the Year and Debut Game awards after confirming the game used generative AI.

Want the details? The awards ceremony took place on December 18, where Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 initially won top honors. After voting had concluded and the show was recorded, organizers Six One Indie discovered that the game included generative AI, despite prior assurances from developer Sandfall Interactive that no such tools were used. The Indie Game Awards maintain a strict policy against generative AI use during nomination and judging. Once Sandfall Interactive confirmed the AI usage on the day of the show’s premiere, the organizers determined the game no longer met eligibility requirements and formally disqualified it.

Why does this matter? This decision highlights how seriously parts of the indie gaming community view transparency and creative integrity. As AI tools become more common, developers and award bodies are being forced to define clear boundaries, making this case a precedent for how future game development may be disclosed and judged.

GROK ROLLS OUT TO 5,000 SCHOOLS IN EL SALVADOR 📚

What’s new? xAI’s Grok chatbot will be rolled out to more than 5,000 schools in El Salvador by 2027 as part of a new AI-powered education initiative.

How does it work? The program aims to integrate Grok into classrooms as a learning and support tool, following a broader trend of AI entering education worldwide. El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, praised the partnership as a bold investment in the future, saying, “El Salvador doesn't just wait for the future to happen; we build it.”

Why does this matter? AI is finding its way into education worldwide. Just like how the internet changed the way people learn, AI is poised to reshape the classroom.

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