The Imagination Age Weekly AI Roundup: April 6-13, 2025
Start your week right! A curated roundup of the top AI news shaping the industry.
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Imagination Age, where we explore the tools, trends, and tech fueling the future of creativity.
This week, the internet had a little fun, and so did I. A viral trend swept across LinkedIn and TikTok: AI-generated action figure avatars. People are reimagining themselves as fully packaged, collectible toys complete with accessories, neon branding, and cinematic backdrops. Naturally, I had to try it. Using ChatGPT and Pika, I created my own “stylized action figure of a creative futurist in a silver jumpsuit set against a cinematic sci-fi backdrop. She’s not saving the world with lasers, she’s doing it with ideas. 😆 The packaging glows, branded as ‘The Imagination Age.’”
From playful avatars to billion-dollar startups and breakthroughs in AI gaming, here’s what happened in AI this week.
Let’s dive in!
🧸 Viral Trend: AI-Generated Action Figure Avatars
A new social media trend involves users creating AI-generated images of themselves as action figures, complete with personalized accessories and packaging. Utilizing ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities, individuals craft toy-like representations reflecting their professions or personalities. The trend, popularized on LinkedIn, has spread to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, showcasing the playful side of AI-generated content. (Verge)
💰 Mira Murati’s AI Startup Aims for Record-Breaking $2B Seed Round
Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati has doubled the fundraising target for her new venture, Thinking Machines Lab, to over $2 billion, potentially marking the largest seed round in history. The startup has attracted key talent from OpenAI, including Bob McGrew, Alec Radford, and John Schulman. Despite not having a product yet, the company aims to develop AI systems that are more accessible, customizable, and capable. (Business Insider)
🛒 Amazon CEO: Generative AI Will Reinvent Every Customer Experience
In his annual letter to shareholders, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy emphasized that generative AI will transform virtually every customer interaction, from shopping and entertainment to healthcare and smart home devices. He noted that over 1,000 generative AI applications are currently in development at Amazon. Jassy also highlighted the company’s focus on innovation and agility, likening Amazon to “the world’s largest startup.” (WSJ)
🎮 Microsoft Showcases AI-Generated Quake II Demo
Microsoft unveiled WHAMM (World and Human Action MaskGIT Model), a new generative AI model designed for real-time gaming. Demonstrated through a browser-based version of Quake II, WHAMM can generate visuals and gameplay mechanics in real time. While the demo is limited to a single level with some performance issues, it represents a significant step forward in AI-assisted gaming experiences. (Tom’s Hardware)
🧠 Qualcomm Acquires VinAI to Expand Generative AI Offerings
Qualcomm announced the acquisition of VinAI, a move aimed at bolstering its generative AI capabilities across smartphones, PCs, and software-defined vehicles. The deal is expected to support the next wave of AI innovation in various consumer and enterprise applications. (AI Business)
📰 Irish Regulator Investigates Elon Musk’s X Over AI Data Use
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X regarding its use of personal data to train the Grok AI chatbot. The probe focuses on whether X’s data practices comply with privacy regulations. (AP)
🎬 YouTube Demonetizes AI-Generated Movie Trailer Channels
YouTube has removed monetization from two prominent channels, Screen Culture and KH Studio, known for creating AI-generated fake movie trailers. These channels combined AI-generated content with existing footage, leading to billions of views. While studios like Warner Bros. and Sony claimed ad revenue from these videos, YouTube cited violations of its policies against misleading and non-original content. (Deadline)
🧠 How People Are Actually Using GenAI in 2025
A new HBR piece breaks down real-world GenAI usage and it’s not all corporate efficiency. The findings show that people are using generative AI almost equally for personal and professional purposes, with a surprising amount of crossover between the two. Whether it’s writing emails, planning meals, creating presentations, or generating content for side hustles, GenAI has become a daily co-pilot for a wide range of tasks. The takeaway? AI isn’t just a tool for work, it’s becoming a lifestyle layer. (HBR)
🎨 Canva Launches Visual Suite 2.0 at Canva Create 2025
At its annual Canva Create event in LA, Canva unveiled Visual Suite 2.0, with over 45 new features, many powered by generative AI. The spotlight was on Magic Studio at Scale, Canva’s AI-first design system that lets users auto-generate entire brand kits, charts, presentations, and creative assets in seconds. Features like Magic Charts, Canva AI, and upgraded Photo Editor tools make it clear: Canva isn’t just a drag-and-drop platform anymore—it’s evolving into a fully AI-enhanced creative engine. (Canva)