Weekly News Roundup: Mar 16-22, 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 news roundup, where we break down the biggest stories in generative AI shaping creativity, culture, and commerce.

This week’s headlines spotlight a growing tension between AI innovation and creator rights: publishers accuse Google and OpenAI of trying to “license the right to steal,” UK comic makers rally against copyright loopholes, and Amazon faces backlash over new privacy changes tied to Alexa’s AI upgrade.

Meanwhile, brands and builders are doubling down. CoreWeave eyes a $32B IPO to power the AI infrastructure boom, xAI enters the generative video race, and Adobe unveils its vision to make generative AI touch 100% of its revenue.

Plus, new research from ShopTalk 2025 reveals that while everyone’s talking about AI, only 1% of vendors are actually using it to its full potential.

Let’s dive in!

Google & OpenAI Accused of “Licensing Theft” in AI Copyright Battle

📰 Major news publishers say Big Tech’s AI licensing proposals amount to theft. (MSN)

In a sharply worded editorial, the News Media Alliance—which represents over 2,200 publishers—accused Google and OpenAI of trying to “license the right to steal” by offering deals that would let them train AI models on news content. The group argues these deals are exploitative, undervalue journalism, and bypass copyright laws under the guise of partnership.

🔍 Why it matters: As generative AI systems rely on massive datasets, the line between “fair use” and “unauthorized exploitation” is becoming a legal and ethical minefield—especially for creators and publishers.

💡 Big question: Will lawmakers step in before AI companies rewrite the rules of content ownership?

ShopTalk 2025: Only 1% of Vendors Fully Leverage Generative AI

🛒 Despite the hype, a mere 1% of vendors at ShopTalk 2025 are maximizing generative AI’s potential. (Forbes)

An analysis of 700 vendors at ShopTalk 2025 reveals that while generative AI is touted as a game-changer for e-commerce, only a small fraction are fully utilizing its capabilities. This suggests a gap between the technology’s potential and its current application in the industry.

🔍 Why it matters: The slow adoption rate highlights challenges in integrating advanced AI into existing business models, possibly due to technical, financial, or strategic hurdles.

💡 Big question: What barriers are preventing wider adoption of generative AI in e-commerce, and how can they be overcome?

Elon Musk’s xAI Acquires Hotshot to Enter Generative Video Race

🎞️ xAI snaps up AI video startup Hotshot to compete with OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo. (MSN)

Elon Musk’s xAI has acquired Hotshot, a generative video startup known for its suite of AI models—Hotshot-XL, Act One, and the original Hotshot—which turn text into high-quality, dynamic video content. The move signals xAI’s ambition to enter the rapidly intensifying race for AI video dominance.

🔍 Why it matters: With OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo already making headlines, xAI’s entrance adds another heavyweight to the generative video battleground. Musk’s focus on “truth-seeking” AI now has a visual layer.

💡 Big question: Will xAI’s video play be visionary—or just another entrant in a crowded field?

Apple Delays Major Siri AI Upgrade Amid Performance Concerns

🍏 Apple’s “Apple Intelligence” rollout is facing setbacks as Siri’s AI features fall short of expectations. (The Guardian)

Apple’s flagship AI update for Siri, announced at WWDC 2024, promised more natural, context-aware interactions—but key features are still nonfunctional. Internal reports suggest that Apple underestimated the technical hurdles and has quietly delayed enhancements.

🔍 Why it matters: Apple’s lag in AI voice assistants raises questions about its role in the AI race, especially as competitors like OpenAI and Google surge ahead.

💡 Big question: Can Apple regain AI momentum? Or is Siri falling permanently behind?

Amazon Axes Privacy Feature Ahead of Alexa AI Upgrade

🗣️ Alexa’s “do not send voice recordings” option is being shut down as Amazon preps Alexa+. (The Sun)

Amazon will begin processing all Alexa audio recordings on its cloud servers, removing the option for local-only processing. The change, effective March 28, is part of a broader move to power Alexa with generative AI.

🔍 Why it matters: The shift signals Amazon’s AI ambitions—but may provoke backlash over user data and trust.

💡 Big question: Will Alexa’s new AI powers outweigh rising privacy concerns?

UK Comic Industry Mobilizes Against AI Copyright Loopholes

📚 Top British publishers band together to defend comic creators from AI exploitation. (FT)

Rebellion Entertainment, DC Thomson, and others have formed Comic Book UK, a new industry group to combat potential copyright relaxations that would let AI models train on comic art without permission or payment.

🔍 Why it matters: As generative AI tools increasingly mimic artistic styles, industries rooted in visual IP are pushing back.

💡 Big question: Can legislation evolve fast enough to protect creators in the AI era?

CoreWeave Eyes $32B Valuation After Massive OpenAI Deal

💸 Nvidia-backed cloud startup plans one of the largest AI IPOs of the year. (Reuters)

CoreWeave is set to go public, targeting up to a $32 billion valuation after inking a $11.9B infrastructure contract with OpenAI. The IPO would mark a major milestone for the GPU cloud provider fueling the generative AI boom.

🔍 Why it matters: Cloud infrastructure is the quiet backbone of AI—CoreWeave’s rise shows how hot this sector has become.

💡 Big question: Will specialized AI infrastructure players challenge Big Tech’s cloud dominance?

Nvidia Unveils Blackwell Ultra and “Groot” Robotics AI

🤖 GTC 2025 delivers major AI updates, from ultra chips to humanoid robotics. (Tom’s Guide)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang launched the Blackwell Ultra chip architecture and introduced Groot N1, an AI model designed for robots. Partnerships with DeepMind and Disney hint at wide-ranging applications—from warehouse bots to creative studios.

🔍 Why it matters: Nvidia continues to lead the hardware+software convergence powering the next wave of AI innovation.

💡 Big question: Are AI robots getting ready to scale?

Adobe Wants 100% of Its Revenue Touched by Generative AI

🎨 Adobe doubles down on AI at Summit 2025 with new product suite. (Barron’s)

With tools like Experience Platform Agent Orchestrator, Adobe is embedding AI agents across its ecosystem. CFO Dan Durn said the goal is for “100% of Adobe revenue to be touched by generative AI.”

🔍 Why it matters: Adobe is redefining what it means to be a creative suite in the AI age—and signaling full-stack transformation.

💡 Big question: Can Adobe preserve creative integrity as it scales automation?