Vergecast: GPT-5's launch, AI deception, and internet age-gating
Assessing an artificial intelligence system’s propensity for deception presents a unique challenge: the more adept an AI becomes at misleading, the less likely its users are to detect it. This inherent difficulty casts a long shadow over the recent launch of OpenAI’s GPT-5, a release that promises broad enhancements without a clear, singular breakthrough feature. Instead, the focus appears to be on foundational improvements, particularly for developers and coding applications, alongside a significant shift for the average ChatGPT user through the long-anticipated removal of the model switcher, aiming for a more streamlined and consistent experience.
OpenAI’s latest offering, which includes a free GPT model capable of running on a personal laptop, arrives amidst a whirlwind of AI developments and pronouncements from industry giants. Mark Zuckerberg has recently asserted that users can trust him with superintelligent AI, while Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized that his company “must” master AI and is committed to significant investment in the field. These statements underscore a broader industry push into AI, even as concerns about the technology’s reliability and ethical implications persist. The implicit promise of GPT-5 – to be less prone to generating false or misleading information – is a critical one in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Beyond the realm of generative AI, the internet itself is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the escalating push for age verification. The United Kingdom has initiated a sweeping crackdown on websites containing even a hint of adult content, while the European Union is actively piloting an age identification application. Concurrently, a growing number of U.S. states are enacting laws mandating that pornographic websites verify users are over 18. This global shift, largely influenced by recent Supreme Court rulings that have reshaped internet law, represents a massive and already disruptive change to online access. However, the implementation is far from seamless; early reports indicate that the UK’s new age-gating rules are readily bypassed, with examples such as Reddit and Discord’s verification systems being circumvented using methods as unconventional as a video game’s photo mode. Even tech behemoths like Google are now leveraging AI-powered age checks, leading to user accounts being locked down.
These dramatic shifts are but a few threads in the vast tapestry of contemporary technological evolution. Other significant developments continue to reshape the digital and physical worlds. OpenAI itself faced scrutiny after being caught engaging in “vibe graphing,” an AI method of inferring user emotional states or preferences, raising new questions about data privacy. Meanwhile, the political sphere has seen figures like RFK Jr. withdraw substantial funding for mRNA vaccine contracts, impacting the future of medical technology. In the legal arena, Epic Games once again prevailed in its lawsuit against Google, a decision that could fundamentally alter the Android ecosystem. Economically, consumers are bracing for price increases as major tech companies like Nintendo, Fujifilm, Apple, and Sonos confirm that rising tariffs are translating into higher costs for electronics. Even social media platforms are in constant flux, with Instagram recently adding a “reposts” feed and drawing criticism for features that appear to mimic Snap Maps, highlighting the relentless competition and convergent evolution within the space.
[[]] As AI promises less deceit, the internet itself grapples with an unprecedented age-gating push, reshaping our digital future.]]