News

• OpenAI figures claim ChatGPT now has 500 million users globally
• Younger workers use it more, but the youngest aren't the biggest users
• OpenAI wants to democratize artificial intelligence and support workers

OpenAI has released new research claiming its AI tools technology is providing major productivity benefits - whilst also recognizing it could majorly disrupt some areas negatively.

This year, ChatGPT has been used by 28% of US adults for work purposes, up from 8% in 2023, suggesting more and more are getting to grips with its productivity and efficiency benefits.

Among its most popular use cases are learning and upskilling (20%), writing and communication (18%), programming, data science and maths (7%), creative ideation, business analytics and even translation.

Interestingly, while we usually see younger generations adopting emerging technologies more quickly, OpenAI revealed that more 25-34-year-old use ChatGPT (32%) compared with 18-24-year-olds (24%), suggesting that generative AI could be more beneficial to slightly more senior positions than entry-level roles.

Lawyers, customer support agents, consultants, government workers and teachers have all reported considerable time savings when using AI.

OpenAI's 'Unlocking Economic Opportunity' paper also claimed AI helps to lower the barrier to entry for entrepreneurship and small businesses, with Y Combinator's 2025 cohort growing at around 10% weekly due to the growing number of AI-first startups.

However, even OpenAI acknowledges AI can bring disruption despite its significant productivity promises.

Claiming it now supports more than 2.5 billion messages per day from 500 million users globally, the company noted it has a responsibility to guide the change – not halt it – by democratizing access, supporting workers and building inclusive systems.

"We’re off to a strong start, creating freely available intelligence being used by more than 500 million people around the world, including 3 million developers," the company wrote.

"OpenAI looks forward to working with policymakers, workers, educators and the public to better understand how AI is changing the economy and ensure that the economic gains that AI brings result in widespread growth and expanded opportunity."

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• Russian Parliament passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content
• The law also adds new penalties for VPN users, making its usage to access extremist content a crime as an aggravating factor
• WhatsApp is the latest app set to be banned in Russia

People in Russia are set to face new fines for "searching for or accessing knowingly extremist materials," including through VPN services.

Russian Parliament, the State Duma, passed the new law on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, with 306 votes in favor, 67 against, and 22 abstaining – as reported by Russian Independent news outlet Meduza.

The law has so far attracted strong criticism, even among pro-government figures, according to Reuters. Digital rights experts are also raising the alarm.

The Kremlin's fight against VPN usage certainly isn't new. As more people in Russia have turned to the best VPN apps to bypass ever-stricter internet censorship, authorities have been doing their best to prevent this.

From deploying sophisticated VPN blocking techniques in March 2024, the government introduced for the first time a law to criminalize the spread of information about ways to circumvent internet restrictions.

That's likely the basis that led the Kremlin's infamous censorship body regulator Roskomnadzor, to issue VPN removal demands against the Big Tech giant. Apple was the most complainant of the lot, killing at least 60 VPN apps, including the popular Russian service Amnezia VPN, from July 2024 onwards alone.

Now, the new law introduces additional penalties for violating rules on VPN usage. This means that advertising VPN services can now cost individuals between 50,000–80,000 rubles ($640–$1,020). This rises to 80,000–150,000 rubles ($1,020–$1,900) for officials, and 200,000–500,000 rubles ($2,550–$6,380) for legal entities.

As Meduza reported, lawmakers also adopted a provision that makes using a VPN to access extremist content "a crime as an aggravating factor."

According to the Kremlin, banning the online search of so-called extremist content comes as an alternative to completely blocking foreign platforms.

"In our understanding, this [the adoption of the bill] allows us to strike a balance: on the one hand, to prevent the further dissemination of extremist materials, [and] on the other hand, to refrain from blocking major Western platforms for now," said Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev – Interfax reported.

Crucially, Shadayev also assures that "ordinary users will not be affected," despite failing to explain how.

This assurance isn't, however, convincing digital rights experts who now fear stronger repercussions against dissidents.

Talking to The Moscow Times, co-founder of Russian digital advocacy group Roskomsvoboda, Sarkis Darbinyan said: "If you have a VPN on your phone, that alone might be enough to trigger a deeper check. Eventually, we could see criminal charges for VPN use after just one or two warnings – like with the law on foreign agents."

It's also worth mentioning that the highly popular WhatsApp app is now likely to be restricted in Russia.

• Russia demands over 200 VPNs are removed from the Play Store – but Google is resisting
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• Russia disconnects several regions to test its sovereign net

• Wednesday has been renewed for season 3
• This news comes ahead of the season 2 premier on August 6
• The creators have teased they "want to continue digging deeper into characters while expanding the world of Nevermore"

Wednesday season 3 is officially happening, with Netflix confirming the news ahead of the upcoming Wednesday season 2 premier on August 6.

The news was confirmed on Wednesday (of course), July 23, when Netflix shared a new poster featuring the iconic disembodied hand, aka Thing, holding a crystal ball with the number 3 on it.

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The tagline reads "bad things come in threes", focusing on the Addams Family's tendency to focus on the macabre and thankfully not the quality of the series. It's one of our best Netflix shows for a reason after all.

Speaking about the renewal, co-creator and co-showrunner Alfred Gough said in a press release: “Our goal for season 3 is the same as it is for every season: to make it the best season of Wednesday we possibly can. We want to continue digging deeper into our characters while expanding the world of Nevermore and Wednesday.”

Right now it feels like the world is Wednesday's oyster, as Wednesday season 2 is shaping up to be bigger and better than the first installment. I enjoyed the first season immensely and can't wait to see the new one.

Season 2 will focus on the wider family, much to Wednesday's horror, with creator Tim Burton teasing to Tudum: "This year, we bring the family to Nevermore. Your family at school is the worst thing possible, isn’t it?”

We should expect to see an expansion of the lore focusing on both Nevermore Academy, the school for outcasts which Wednesday attends, as well as meeting some more members of the morbid family.

Following Gwendoline Christie's departure in season 1, legendary actor Steve Buscemi steps into the role of Nevermore's principal, while British icon Joanna Lumley plays Wednesday's grandmother. So there's an expansion of the already brilliant cast this season, as seen in this sneak peek which teases bucketloads of Addams Family lore.

As for season 3, we'll have to wait and see where the story goes but I'm confident it'll keep going from strength to strength. With plenty of dark and comical Addams Family lore to dive into, I could quite happily watch many more seasons of this.

The new season is split into two parts this time, mirroring popular shows like Stranger Things season 5. The second part of Wednesday season 2 releases on September 3, so there's not too much of a wait.

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• Booster Gold is said to be moving ahead on HBO Max
• The DC Universe TV show has reportedly had its pilot episode greenlit
• Our Flag Means Death's showrunner is apparently on board to helm it

It's been two and a half years since James Gunn announced the original line-up for Chapter One of the new-look DC Universe (DCU) – and, finally, one of its most unexpected projects appears to be moving forward.

According to Deadline, Booster Gold, a TV series we've heard nothing about since Gunn confirmed it was part of his and Peter Safran's DCU Chapter One plans, has had its pilot episode greenlit by HBO Max.

The series has also seemingly found its creator. David Jenkins, who's best known for his work on Our Flag Means Death, aka one of the best HBO Max shows that was unceremoniously canceled after two seasons last January, is believed to have signed on to helm its first entry.

If HBO executives like what they see, Deadline's sources have indicated it'll order a whole series, with Jenkins in line to be installed as its showrunner.

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If true, Booster Gold will be the second DCU project that's received a development, well, boost in recent days.

On July 21, Gunn confirmed the lead writer for the DCU's Wonder Woman movie. Meanwhile, Clayface, one of two DC comic book films set for release in 2026 alongside Supergirl, may have found its lead actress in Star Wars alumna Naomi Ackie, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, published yesterday, July 22, 2025.

But back to Booster Gold. There's only one way we'll know if Jenkins is involved and whether the show's pilot has been approved, and that's by hearing from Gunn.

At the time of publication, the DC Studios co-chief hadn't taken to social media to confirm or deny Deadline's report. I'll update this article if he does and/or if I hear back from HBO, whom I've reached out to about the forthcoming TV project.

Created by Dan Jurgens, Booster Gold – real name Michael Jon 'Booster' Carter – is a US footballer-turned-superhero who actually hails from the future. In DC literature, he wasn't born until the 25th century, but like Batman, he calls Gotham City his home.

Or, he used to. You see, Carter was a rising football star for Gotham University. However, after his deadbeat father re-entered his life and convinced him to deliberately lose games for gambling reasons, it wasn't long until Carter was exposed for his crimes and expelled from studying at the prestigious institution.

Carter's days of breaking the law weren't over, though. After taking a job as a nightwatchman at the Metropolis Space Museum, he learned all about the 20th century's most famous heroes via the superpowered artifacts on display.

Long story short: with the aid of his robot sidekick Skeets, Carter steals some of the aforementioned tech, travels back in time to the 20th century, and uses his newly-acquired gadgets to remodel himself as Booster Gold, a showboating metahuman who can fly, create energy blasts, gains the usual superhuman abilities via his power-suit and, of course, time travel.

Despite making his debut in 'Booster Gold' #1 in February 1986 and being a member of popular DC superteam The Justice League, Carter hasn't gone on to achieve the level of fame in the real world that Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have. If anyone can breathe new life into this C-list superhero and turn him into a household name, though, it's Gunn – with more than a little help from Jenkins, of course.

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