OpenAI shuts down for a week

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OPENAI SHUTS DOWN FOR A WEEK 😎

Time for AI to take a vacation! 🏖️

What’s up? OpenAI is requiring employees to take a week-long vacation in an effort to curb staff defections to Meta.

Why? After Meta poached at least eight researchers from OpenAI to join its new “superintelligence” team, OpenAI leadership is scrambling to keep staff from jumping ship. Leaked internal messages show executives urging employees to stay loyal, even as some are reportedly working up to 80 hours a week under intense pressure. Chief research officer Mark Chen described the poaching as feeling like “someone has broken into our home and stolen something,” and leadership is working “around the clock” to improve compensation and morale.

Why is this significant? This clash highlights how brutal the race to build powerful AI systems has become—not just technologically, but psychologically. As companies push toward human-level intelligence, they're pushing their workers hard too. And in a field where brainpower is the most valuable asset, long hours and high stress may be as dangerous as the competition itself.

AI-POWERED DEVICE GIVES TATTOOS 😳

I hate tattoos. They always get under my skin. 😆

What’s new? A cutting-edge tattoo machine powered by AI is now in use at Bang Bang’s iconic New York studio.

How does it work? Created by Austin-based startup Blackdot, the A.E.R.O. device—short for Artist Enabled Robotic Operator—uses lasers, tiny cameras, and AI to map a client’s skin and guide a robotic needle with extreme precision. The machine turns digital designs into detailed guide points, then gently inks them, reportedly causing less pain by avoiding deeper nerve layers. Since April, it has completed around 30 tattoos, mainly on volunteers, and is gearing up for its first official customer session.

What’s the significance? A.E.R.O. could make tattoos more accessible and comfortable for newcomers, especially those intimidated by traditional parlors. Blackdot isn’t trying to replace artists—it’s offering a new high-tech option that emphasizes accuracy, cleanliness, and less discomfort.

XBOX EXECUTIVE SAYS LAID OFF WORKERS SHOULD USE AI TO FIND ANOTHER JOB 👔

There’s nothing like getting advice from your ex-girlfriend on how to find another girlfriend. 🙃

What’s up? Following massive layoffs at Microsoft—many impacting Xbox game studios—one executive suggested using AI tools to help navigate job loss.

What did he say? In a now-deleted LinkedIn post, Xbox Game Studios’ Matt Turnbull encouraged laid-off workers to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Copilot for resume writing, career planning, and emotional support. He acknowledged the tools aren’t a replacement for personal experience but said they can reduce the stress of next steps by helping people get “unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity.” His post included prompt suggestions for job hunting, networking, and reframing self-doubt after layoffs.

Why is this significant? This struck a nerve because many of the people losing their jobs were let go, at least in part, because of AI—and now they’re being told to rely on it to find new work. This highlights a growing tension in tech: the same tools driving layoffs are being pitched as solutions. For many, that’s not helpful advice—it’s salt in the wound.

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