AI News Weekly Roundup: June 15–21, 2025

Welcome to this week's AI News Roundup, where we bring together the most important developments in artificial intelligence from around the world. From billion-dollar acquisitions to global policy debates and futuristic AI use cases, here’s what you need to know from the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

---

Key Developments

Meta Acquires Scale AI for $14 Billion

Meta has acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI for $14 billion, underscoring the critical importance of high-quality training data in its $65 billion AI budget for 2025. The move disrupted Google's previous collaboration with Scale, which had been expected to bring in over $200 million this year.

Apple Reportedly Eyes Perplexity AI

Apple has held internal talks to acquire Perplexity AI, the fast-growing AI-powered search engine, in a potential bid to reduce its reliance on Google for default search on Safari. The acquisition, if pursued, could reshape the AI search ecosystem.

Accenture Restructures Around AI

In a major strategic overhaul, Accenture has created a "Reinvention Services" unit, consolidating consulting, technology, and operations. The move reflects Accenture’s aggressive AI-first strategy, which includes training 500,000 employees and already generating over $1.5 billion in Q3 AI-related fees.

---

Tools & Innovation

Google Gemini Adds Video Upload Analysis

Google introduced a video upload feature for Gemini AI on both iOS and Android, enabling frame-by-frame analysis from user prompts. No subscription is required—just an app update—making this a powerful tool for content creators and educators alike.

Midjourney’s Video Model Impresses Creators

Midjourney’s V1 Video Model launched to great acclaim. It transforms images into smooth 2D animations, offering extended video length and motion controls. Priced at $10/month, it's quickly becoming a go-to tool for animators and filmmakers.

DeepMind Unveils AlphaEvolve

DeepMind released AlphaEvolve, a coding agent that uses evolutionary algorithms and LLMs to discover and refine algorithms. It has already outperformed hand-crafted solutions in several tests, highlighting AI’s growing role in foundational computer science.

---

Cybersecurity & Risk

AI Cybersecurity Paradox in Manufacturing

According to Rockwell Automation’s 2025 report, while AI enhances predictive maintenance and efficiency in manufacturing, it also expands the attack surface by merging IT and OT systems. Over a third of manufacturing leaders now prioritize cybersecurity infrastructure upgrades over the next five years.

Academic Warning on Autonomous AI Cyberweapons

A new academic paper warns of autonomous AI cyberagents capable of launching attacks on critical infrastructure. It calls for urgent international cooperation and policy to prevent misuse of these emerging tools.

---

AI Policy & Governance

US Federal Preemption Bill Sparks Backlash

The “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed by House Republicans, would override state-level AI regulations for 10 years. Tech giants including Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta support the move, but bipartisan critics warn it could undermine consumer protections, especially in AI-forward states like Montana.

EU Opens High-Risk AI Consultation

The European Commission’s AI Office launched a public consultation on “high-risk” AI systems, part of the next phase of the EU AI Act rollout. Businesses and researchers are invited to contribute until July 2025.

UAE Appoints World’s First Cabinet-Level AI Minister

The United Arab Emirates announced it will appoint a federal “Minister of AI” to lead a National AI System starting January 2026. This makes it the first country to institutionalize AI governance at the highest level of government.

---

AI and Culture

Deezer Cracks Down on Fraudulent AI Music

Streaming platform Deezer is labeling and blocking AI-generated music used in spam and fraud schemes. Although 18% of new uploads are AI-generated, they make up only 0.5% of actual streams. The new system aims to protect artists and listeners.

---

Frontier Deployments

Foxconn and Nvidia: Humanoids in Manufacturing

Foxconn is collaborating with Nvidia to deploy humanoid robots at its new Houston factory for assembling Nvidia AI servers. This marks a leap in real-world humanoid deployment in industrial settings.

Saudi Arabia Launches National AI Entity “Humain”

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund launched “Humain,” a national AI company focused on building Arabic-language LLMs and AI infrastructure. Strategic partnerships include Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, and AWS.

---

AI Talent & Workforce

The AI Salary Wars Escalate

Sam Altman revealed that Meta offered $100 million+ compensation packages to lure top OpenAI engineers. This highlights the extreme value of elite AI talent in a market where layoffs coexist with skyrocketing salaries in the ML sector.

---

Looking Ahead

AI is no longer a “future technology”—it’s here, defining global strategies, job markets, creative industries, and even national governance. Next week, we anticipate updates from the EU AI consultation, new developments in autonomous agents, and more generative tools entering the mainstream.

Stay ahead—stay informed.

---

Latest AI News Articles