ChatGPT Finally Gets Rid of its Em-dash Habit

Hello Readers,

Following Sam Altman’s lead of sharing small-but-happy wins about ChatGPT’s ability to not use em dashes in conversations, we’d like to follow that trend and ask that you share your small but happy wins as well so far this year. Game?

While at it, we’ve brought the weekly rundown to your doorstep. Have a good read!

OpenAI has solved one of ChatGPT’s most recognizable quirks, its excessive use of em dashes.

The punctuation mark became an unintended signature of AI-generated text, appearing everywhere from school papers to LinkedIn posts. Critics used the “ChatGPT hyphen” to spot lazy writers who relied on the chatbot, even though the symbol has been a legitimate writing tool long before AI arrived.

The problem frustrated users for months. Even when explicitly asked to avoid em dashes, ChatGPT kept using them. OpenAI forums filled with complaints from people unable to get the chatbot to comply.

Now, CEO Sam Altman announces the fix is here. Users can add instructions to their personalization settings telling ChatGPT to avoid em dashes, and the chatbot will actually listen. Altman called it a “small-but-happy win.” The company even made ChatGPT apologize on Threads for “ruining the em dash.”

While this won’t eliminate em dashes by default, it gives users control over how frequently they appear in their AI-generated content. For those tired of this telltale sign of chatbot assistance, relief is finally available in the custom instructions menu.

As AI-generated text becomes more common, small improvements in customization help users create content that better matches their personal voice and avoids obvious AI markers.

LinkedIn is bringing artificial intelligence to one of its most essential features: finding the right people in your network.

After launching an AI-powered job search tool earlier this year, the Microsoft-owned platform is now extending natural language search to help users find connections. Premium users in the U.S. can now type conversational queries like “Find me investors in the healthcare sector with FDA experience” or “Who in my network can help me understand wireless networks” instead of wrestling with complicated filters.

The change addresses a longstanding frustration with LinkedIn’s search system. Previously, users needed to know exact job titles or master a complex array of filters to find the right connections. The right person often remained hidden if you didn’t use the perfect keyword combination.

“With lexical search, you have to know the exact title of the person, or you need to wrestle with filters to find the right person, maybe,” explained Rohan Rajiv, LinkedIn’s senior director of product management. “The new AI-powered people search is designed to be the fastest path to the person who can help you the most.”

Early testing shows users are leveraging the tool to discover job opportunities, expand their businesses, and advance their careers. The feature follows a broader trend of platforms racing to integrate AI into search, as users increasingly turn to chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity for answers.

The tool isn’t perfect yet. Search results can vary depending on how queries are phrased, and some results may include irrelevant matches. LinkedIn says it’s working to improve how the system interprets natural language queries.

Premium users will see “I’m looking for…” in the search bar instead of “Search.” The company plans to expand the feature to other regions in the coming months.

Apple is taking another step toward the fully digital wallet with a new feature that lets iPhone and Apple Watch users carry their U.S. passport on their device for use at TSA checkpoints.

The Digital ID feature, part of the iOS 26 release, allows travelers to present their passport at more than 250 U.S. airports when flying domestically. This expands Apple Wallet’s existing ID support, which already includes driver’s licenses and state IDs from a dozen states and Puerto Rico.

Setting up the digital passport requires scanning the photo page of your physical passport, scanning the embedded security chip on the back, taking a selfie, and completing facial and head movements for verification. The process ensures authenticity while keeping your data secure.

Using Digital ID works just like Apple Pay. Double-click the side button or Home button, select Digital ID, hold your device near an identity reader, and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. You can see exactly what information is being requested before sharing it, and you never have to unlock your phone or hand it over.

The digital passport does not replace your physical document. It’s only valid for domestic travel at TSA checkpoints, not for international travel or border crossings. The feature is still in beta, as not all TSA checkpoint readers support it yet. Travelers should continue carrying their physical IDs.

Apple has bigger plans for Digital ID beyond airports. The company says users will eventually be able to verify their age at venues like bars and event spaces, or online when ordering age-restricted products. In these scenarios, users can confirm they’re over 21 without sharing personal details like their name, address, or birthday.

Privacy remains central to the feature’s design. Apple cannot see when or where you present your ID or what data you shared. The system operates independently on your device, just like Apple Pay transactions.

Digital ID represents the final piece in Apple’s effort to replace physical wallets entirely. With payment cards, loyalty programs, tickets, and now government IDs all stored on iPhones, the company is positioning its devices as the only thing users need to carry for daily transactions and travel.

Cursor, the AI-powered coding assistant favored by tech CEOs and developers, has closed a massive $2.3 billion funding round that nearly triples its valuation to $29.3 billion, just five months after its last fundraise.

The jaw-dropping valuation leap comes as the company more than doubles from its $9.9 billion price tag achieved in a $900 million Series C round in June. The latest round was co-led by Accel, an existing investor, and Coatue, which is new to the cap table.

Strategic investors joined the round as well, including Nvidia (an enterprise customer) and Google (an AI model supplier). Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, which led Cursor’s previous two rounds, also participated.

CEO Michael Truell told the Wall Street Journal that the fresh capital will fund development of Composer, an AI model Cursor released in October. The company currently relies on AI models from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic to power its platform, but plans to shift more of that workload to Composer over time.

The massive funding round and soaring valuation reflect investor enthusiasm for AI coding tools, which have become essential infrastructure for software development. Cursor has emerged as a favorite among developers, standing out in a crowded field of AI coding assistants.

However, the competitive landscape is intensifying. Both OpenAI and Anthropic are strengthening their own AI coding products, setting up what could be a pivotal year ahead for Cursor. The company will need to demonstrate it can maintain its growth trajectory and competitive edge as tech giants pour resources into the same market.

The rapid succession of fundraises and valuation increases also highlight the breakneck pace of investment in AI infrastructure tools. In an era where coding assistants are becoming standard parts of developer workflows, investors are betting billions that Cursor can maintain its position as the platform of choice.

Cursor’s valuation surge illustrates how quickly AI tools are reshaping software development and how much investors are willing to wager on companies positioned at the intersection of AI and developer productivity. The stakes are high as competition heats up in 2026.

Wave is an AI powered speakerphone that takes meetings, podcasts and more to the next level. Noise cancellation, 3D 8-mic array, and levitating design.