OpenAI's $1.4T plan for fully automated AI scientists

PLUS: UMG’s AI music playbook, Canva's new design model

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Gen AI Art
November 01, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

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OpenAI has revealed an ambitious plan to develop a fully autonomous AI researcher by 2028. The project, designed to create a system that can conduct original scientific research, is supported by a massive $1.4 trillion infrastructure commitment.

The initiative aims to create an 'intern-level' AI assistant by 2026 as a stepping stone. If successful, this moves AI from a powerful tool to an independent partner in discovery, but can the company truly scale its technology to achieve this level of autonomy?

Today in AI:

  • OpenAI's $1.4T plan for automated AI scientists

  • UMG’s new AI music playbook

  • Canva's new foundational design model

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What’s new? OpenAI unveiled its roadmap to create a fully autonomous AI researcher by 2028. This system is designed to conduct original scientific research from start to finish, far beyond the capabilities of today's models.

What matters?

  • The timeline sets a goal for an intern-level research assistant by September 2026, which will serve as a stepping stone toward the fully autonomous researcher two years later.

  • Achieving this depends on three key strategies: improving algorithms, scaling "test time compute" to let models "think" longer, and extending the time horizons for problem-solving.

  • The project is supported by a massive $1.4 trillion obligation for infrastructure and a new corporate structure that separates its non-profit and for-profit arms.

Why it matters?

If successful, this initiative moves AI from a powerful tool to an autonomous partner in discovery. The ability for AI to independently run experiments could dramatically accelerate breakthroughs in medicine, physics, and technology.

GUIDE

What’s new? In a significant industry shift, Universal Music Group settled its lawsuit with AI music generator Udio, announcing a landmark partnership to launch a licensed music creation platform.

What matters?

  • The future platform will allow users to remix UMG's catalog, and artists who opt in will receive compensation for both model training and the use of their work.

  • As part of the deal, Udio immediately disabled song downloads, sparking significant backlash from creators who lost access to their work overnight.

  • UMG is also hedging its bets, forming a separate strategic alliance with Stability AI to co-develop tools focused on responsibly trained models.

Why it matters?

This move from litigation to partnership could create a new blueprint for how major labels work with AI music companies. However, Udio’s abrupt pivot highlights the growing friction between corporate deal-making and the open creative communities that help these tools grow.

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What’s new? Canva is challenging design titans by launching its own foundational design model and a new Creative Operating System to generate and edit complex, multi-element designs with AI.

What matters?

  • The new Canva Design Model understands design principles like structure and hierarchy to produce fully editable designs rather than static images.

  • Its Creative Operating System expands beyond images, introducing tools for streamlined video editing, email design, and even a 3D generator.

  • Canva is also integrating its professional design acquisition, Affinity, which is relaunching as a free app to compete directly with incumbent creative suites.

Why it matters?

With AI design tools advancing rapidly, Canva's move to create its own model solidifies its position as a key innovator. This strategy aims to make the platform an all-in-one hub, reducing the need for users to switch between casual and professional creative tools.

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Everything else in AI

Adobe explained in a new podcast how its AI strategy centers on creating an “assistant” to eliminate creative “grunt work,” like renaming Photoshop layers, rather than replacing artists.

Clutch published a survey of small business leaders showing that while 72% are concerned about AI crawlers, 60% also report increased revenue as a result of AI-driven search.

Google showcased in a new tutorial how its NotebookLM tool can be used to prepare for job interviews by automatically researching companies and generating personalized practice questions..

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