🚨 AI ‘nudify’ sites exploit tech giants for profit

Advertise | Sign Up | Upgrade

Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here:

☀️ On this day: On July 16, 1968, Larry Sanger, co-founder of Wikipedia, was born in Bellevue, Washington. As one of the key figures behind the launch of the world’s largest online encyclopedia in 2001, Sanger helped shape the early philosophy and editorial structure of Wikipedia.

What’s happening:

• 💰 Deepfake nudes fuel $36M-a-year abuse industry

• 👓 Microsoft Copilot now sees your full screen

• 🤖 Grok’s flirty avatars raise emotional risk concerns

• ⚠️ Publishers face a new threat from Google AI feeds

• 🌍 Students get 2 years of Perplexity Pro for free

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

Together with Gamma

Bring your ideas to life using AI!

Create stunning presentations, documents, and websites effortlessly—no design or coding skills needed. Just your vision, beautifully realized.

⚡From concept to creation in seconds

🚀 Creative content at the speed of light
✍️ Edit with AI, in just a click
🎨 Shareworthy content, wherever you need it

Join 50+ million users changing how the world communicates - try Gamma for free today!

Hand-picked news:

💰 Deepfake nudes fuel $36M-a-year abuse industry ↗️LINK

• What: Research reveals 85 AI-powered “nudify” websites generating nonconsensual fake nudes are attracting 18.5M monthly visitors and may earn $36M annually. These sites often use infrastructure from major tech firms like Google, Amazon, and Cloudflare to operate.

• Why: Despite violating content policies, many sites continue to access mainstream services. Experts blame a lax enforcement environment that has allowed this illicit industry to grow rapidly since 2019.

• Impact: These sites are fueling digital abuse, including child exploitation and cyberbullying. Regulators and some tech firms are starting to act, but experts warn only stronger enforcement will stem this growing threat.

👓 Microsoft Copilot now sees your full screen ↗️LINK

• What: Microsoft has upgraded Copilot Vision for Windows Insiders, allowing the AI to view and analyze your entire desktop, not just two apps. Users can activate it manually, similar to screen sharing, by selecting the area they want Copilot to see.

• Why: The update enables Copilot to offer broader assistance—such as resume tips, creative feedback, or game navigation—based on full-screen context rather than limited app views.

• Impact: This enhancement improves Copilot's usefulness in multitasking and productivity, while raising new questions about screen privacy and user control as AI gets more visually aware.

🤖 Grok’s flirty avatars raise emotional risk concerns ↗️LINK

• What: Elon Musk’s xAI has added anime-style AI companions like Ani and Rudy to its chatbot Grok, sparking viral attention and concern. The avatars flirt, share memes, and mimic emotional relationships inside the X platform.

• Why: The launch came just days after Grok faced backlash over antisemitic responses, leading critics to call the update a distraction tactic. Musk’s goal: to make Grok more emotionally engaging and addictive.

• Impact: While some users find the companions fun, experts warn they could worsen social isolation, especially among young men, by encouraging parasocial bonds over real-world connections.

⚠️ Publishers face new threat from Google AI feeds ↗️LINK

• What: Google has launched AI-generated news summaries in its Discover feed on iOS and Android in the U.S., replacing traditional headlines with AI blurbs that cite multiple publishers. The move is not a test and focuses on lifestyle and trending topics.

• Why: While Google claims the feature helps users decide what to read, it continues a trend of users getting information without visiting publisher websites—amplifying fears of plummeting traffic.

• Impact: With search click-throughs dropping to 31% and global search traffic down 15% year-over-year, publishers now risk losing one of their last reliable traffic sources as AI summaries spread across Google’s ecosystem.

🌍 Students get 2 years of Perplexity Pro for free ↗️LINK

• What: Perplexity, the AI search engine, is offering up to two years of free access to its $20/month Pro service for over 264 million students globally through a partnership with identity verification firm SheerID.

• Why: As student demand for AI tools grows, this initiative supports academic use while using SheerID’s system to prevent fraud. Features include cited research, summaries, and interactive AI tools tailored for education.

• Impact: The move positions Perplexity as a serious contender in AI education, promoting equitable access across borders. A referral program adds viral growth potential, expanding its global student user base.

🧠 Keep your mind sharp with these newsletters!

Want to stay on top of the latest trends and discover new resources? Here are a few of my favorite newsletters that I think you'll find valuable:

Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Do you trust AI firms like xAI to handle classified government work?

• A) No – There’s too much risk - 77% 🏆

• B) Yes – With oversight, it can be secure - 23%

Reader’s opinion:

Full Machine Learning Course (free): This Learning Plan is designed to help Data Scientists and Developers integrate machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) into tools and applications.

Prompt Engineering Repository: Covers the history, strategies, guidelines, and safety recommendations for working with LLMs.

ElevenLabs: The ElevenLabs voice generator can deliver high-quality, human-like speech in 32 languages. Perfect for audiobooks, video voiceovers, commercials, and more.

Gamma: Create unlimited presentations, websites, and more—in seconds. Everything you need to quickly create and refine content with advanced AI.

Meco (free app): Meco is a distraction-free space for reading and discovering newsletters, separate from the inbox. Add your newsletters in seconds and liberate your inbox today!

Hey there! Quick ask 🙋‍♂️

If this email landed in your 'Promotions' or 'Spam' folder, could you move it to your Primary Inbox?

I work hard to deliver top news, tips, and tutorials to save you time. But if these emails get lost in the shuffle, we both miss out.

By moving it to your Primary Inbox, you’ll never miss a beat on the latest updates. Let’s stay in the loop and keep growing together! 🚀