Author HubMaximilian Schreiner
Barclays estimates that data centers for AI giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Amazon could need as much as 46 gigawatts of electricity. That's about the same amount of power used by 44 million US households, or roughly a third of all homes in the country. Building out these projects could cost $2.5 trillion.
This massive expansion is already putting pressure on the power grid. Nvidia, Microsoft, and OpenAI are warning about possible grid instability caused by rapid swings in electricity demand. Some plans call for energy sources like solar plants and gas storage to be integrated directly into the data centers. OpenAI has even asked the US government to add 100 gigawatts of new power generation each year. It's still unclear how many of these projects will actually get built. According to Barclays, it's hard to draw the line between projects that are real and those that are still just speculation.
Coca-Cola is using generative AI for its “Holidays Are Coming” Christmas ads again this year. After facing backlash for last year's AI-driven campaign, Coca-Cola once again partnered with Silverside AI and Secret Level studios to create videos with fewer noticeable AI-related errors.
According to Chief Marketing Officer Manolo Arroyo, production and editing ran significantly faster and cheaper than with traditional shoots - about a month instead of a full year. The AI generated over 70,000 video clips, which artists then refined and polished. Coca-Cola says it plans to expand its use of AI in future projects.
Udio, an AI music startup, recently reached a settlement with Universal Music Group. While the agreement ends an ongoing copyright lawsuit, it also brought sweeping new restrictions that have angered many users. Songs generated with Udio can no longer be downloaded, streamed, or used in personal projects.
On platforms like Reddit and Discord, frustrated users have voiced their anger and announced plans to leave Udio altogether. During an online meeting, Udio CEO Andrew Sanchez offered free credits as compensation but stopped short of promising any policy changes. Looking ahead, Udio and Universal plan to launch a paid music service next year that will feature fully licensed material.
OpenAI has rolled out new features for its Sora video generator. Users can now add custom characters - like pets, drawings, or fantasy figures - as “cameos” in their videos and give them names. These characters can be saved, reused in new projects, and optionally shared with others.
Introducing character cameos, now available in the Sora app. pic.twitter.com/k1R4FdCRPV
- OpenAI (@OpenAI) October 29, 2025
To mark the launch, Sora includes a Halloween pack featuring five preset characters: Dracula, Frankenstein, a ghost, a witch, and a pumpkin head. Another upgrade, lets users connect multiple clips to create longer, continuous stories. A new leaderboard in the search section also highlights the most used and edited cameos across the platform.