News/New Launches
Microsoft’s latest AI model ‘Magma’ controls software and robots
Microsoft has developed Magma, an integrated AI foundation model that combines visual processing, language understanding, and physical control capabilities. This new system represents a significant advancement in multimodal AI, as it can both process various types of data and take direct actions in both digital interfaces and physical environments. The breakthrough approach: Magma distinguishes itself from previous AI models by integrating perception and control capabilities into a single foundation model, rather than requiring separate systems for each function. The model represents a collaboration between Microsoft Research and several academic institutions, including KAIST, the University of Maryland, and others Unlike traditional...
read Feb 20, 2025What makes Google’s new Co-Scientist AI tool so powerful
Google's AI Co-scientist represents a significant advancement in using AI to generate scientific hypotheses, demonstrating the ability to produce research proposals in days rather than years. Core innovation: Google has enhanced Gemini 2.0 with a sophisticated multi-agent system that generates and evaluates scientific hypotheses through an intensive computational process known as test-time scaling. The system uses specialized agents for generation, reflection, ranking, evolution, proximity, and meta-review to formulate research hypotheses In a notable demonstration, the AI Co-scientist generated a bacterial evolution hypothesis in two days that matched conclusions from a decade-long human study at Imperial College London Technical framework: Test-time...
read Feb 20, 2025Google Ads now allows advertisers to generate realistic AI images of humans
Artificial intelligence tools for digital advertising continue to evolve, with Google Ads leading significant developments in automated creative content generation. In February 2025, Google expanded its AI capabilities to allow advertisers to generate realistic images of adult humans for various campaign types. Core functionality expansion: Google Ads has integrated Imagen 3 AI technology to enable text-prompted generation of human images across Performance Max, Demand Gen, Display, and Apps campaigns. The system can create diverse adult human images based on specific text descriptions and demographic details Built-in safeguards prevent generation of branded products, celebrities, politicians, minors, or sensitive content All AI-generated...
read Feb 20, 2025How OpenAI’s new Deep Research AI system is outperforming the most brilliant humans
OpenAI's new Deep Research AI tool represents a significant development in the field of automated analysis and research. Released in February 2025, this tool combines advanced language models with autonomous research capabilities to produce comprehensive analytical reports that rival human-generated content. Core technology breakdown: OpenAI's Deep Research integrates two key technological components to deliver its capabilities. The system is powered by OpenAI's o3 model, which achieved an 87.5% score on the ARC-AGI benchmark for problem-solving abilities It utilizes agentic RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) technology to autonomously search the internet and other sources for information The combination allows Deep Research to...
read Feb 20, 2025Arc Institute, Stanford launch largest ever publicly available biomolecular AI model
The field of genomic research has historically been limited by computing power and the ability to process long genetic sequences. Evo 2, a groundbreaking AI foundation model, now enables scientists to analyze genetic code across diverse species with unprecedented capability. The breakthrough: Arc Institute and Stanford University have released Evo 2, the largest publicly available AI model for genomic data, built using NVIDIA's DGX Cloud platform on AWS. The model was trained on nearly 9 trillion nucleotides, the fundamental building blocks of DNA and RNA Evo 2 is accessible through NVIDIA's BioNeMo platform and can be deployed as a NIM...
read Feb 20, 2025Nvidia’s new AI platform aims to simplify sign language learning
Artificial intelligence tools are being increasingly deployed to help people with disabilities navigate everyday life, with major tech companies developing new assistive technologies. Nvidia's latest contribution to this space is Signs, an AI-powered platform designed to teach American Sign Language (ASL), developed in partnership with the American Society for Deaf Children. Project Overview: Signs is a free AI-powered language learning platform that uses a 3-D avatar to teach American Sign Language, the third most prevalent language in the United States. The platform incorporates real-time video feedback to assess users' signing accuracy as they practice At launch, Signs features 100 distinct...
read Feb 20, 2025Samsung releases One UI 7 beta with new AI filters (and broken Google Wallet)
The One UI 7 beta program represents Samsung's major software overhaul for its Galaxy smartphone lineup, with the fourth beta release now available for the Galaxy S24 series. Samsung's methodical approach to this software update indicates the company's focus on refining user experience and adding new capabilities. Latest developments: Samsung has rolled out the fourth One UI 7 beta specifically for Galaxy S24 series devices, marking another milestone in the software's development cycle. The Galaxy S24 Ultra now includes the Log video option, previously exclusive to the S25 line, enabling professional-level color grading and video editing capabilities A new AI...
read Feb 20, 2025Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati launches AI startup Thinking Machines
OpenAI's former Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati has spent the last decade at the forefront of artificial intelligence development, helping build foundational AI models like GPT-4 and DALL-E. In February 2025, she launched Thinking Machines Lab, a new AI research and product company focused on making AI systems more adaptable and understandable. The Big Picture: Thinking Machines Lab emerges as a significant new player in the AI landscape, with a mission to advance practical AI applications through open science and solid technical foundations. The startup launches with approximately 24 engineers and scientists, including notable OpenAI alumni John Schulman and Barret...
read Feb 19, 2025How RedChat’s new AI chatbot boosts investor decision-making
The rise of artificial intelligence in financial technology has created new opportunities for investors seeking detailed analysis of small-cap and microcap stocks. RedChip Companies, an established player in the investment space for over three decades, has recently launched an AI-powered analysis tool called RedChat to address this market need. What you need to know: RedChat is a free AI chatbot that provides instant analysis of over two thousand small-cap and microcap stocks by processing SEC filings, press releases, and company disclosures. The tool aims to democratize access to financial information by providing institutional-quality analysis to individual investors RedChat can quickly...
read Feb 19, 2025Security researchers discover that Grok 3 is critically vulnerable to hacks
Elon Musk's xAI recently released Grok 3, a large language model that quickly climbed AI performance rankings but has been found to have serious security vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity researchers at Adversa AI have identified multiple critical flaws in the model that could enable malicious actors to bypass safety controls and access sensitive information. Key security findings: Adversa AI's testing revealed that Grok 3 is highly susceptible to basic security exploits, performing significantly worse than competing models from OpenAI and Anthropic. Three out of four tested jailbreak techniques successfully bypassed Grok 3's content restrictions Researchers discovered a novel "prompt-leaking flaw" that exposes...
read Feb 19, 2025Mistral unveils new AI model trained on Arabic and South Asian languages
The development of language AI has historically favored Western languages, creating gaps in support for other linguistic regions. Mistral, a Paris-based AI startup, is addressing this imbalance with specialized language models tailored to specific regions and cultural contexts. Core Innovation: Mistral has launched Saba, a 24-billion-parameter AI model specifically trained to understand Arabic and South Asian languages, with a focus on cultural nuances often missed by general-purpose language models. The model leverages carefully curated datasets from the Middle East and South Asia Saba demonstrates superior performance in handling Arabic content compared to larger, general-purpose models The system also shows strong...
read Feb 19, 2025Apple bets on AI in cheaper iPhone 16e model
The global smartphone market has seen a shift towards AI-enabled devices, with major manufacturers racing to incorporate advanced features at various price points. Apple's latest move addresses both the challenge of declining iPhone sales and the growing demand for accessible AI technology. Product Overview: Apple's new iPhone 16e combines flagship AI capabilities with a more affordable price point, targeting budget-conscious consumers seeking advanced features. Priced at £599 in the UK, the device costs £200 less than the standard iPhone 16 The phone features the same A18 chip found in higher-end models, ensuring full compatibility with Apple's AI features Available for...
read Feb 19, 2025GoPro enhances 360 MAX camera with AI-powered editing tools
The rise of 360-degree video content creation has driven demand for more sophisticated cameras and editing tools in both consumer and professional markets. GoPro, a leader in action cameras, has responded with a comprehensive update to its 360-degree video ecosystem, combining hardware improvements with AI-powered editing capabilities. Product Evolution: GoPro's refreshed MAX 360 camera introduces significant hardware upgrades while maintaining accessibility for content creators. The new MAX 360 camera now captures 5.6K spherical video, offering higher resolution footage for more detailed content A redesigned mounting system accommodates standard ¼-20 tripod mounts, increasing compatibility with existing photography equipment The MAX Enduro...
read Feb 19, 2025Google unveils AI-powered tool to boost job search success
Over the past decade, artificial intelligence has been increasingly applied to career development and job searching. Google has now entered this space with Career Dreamer, an experimental AI tool designed to help job seekers optimize their professional profiles and explore career opportunities. What you need to know: Google's Career Dreamer is a new AI-powered platform that analyzes users' experiences, education, skills, and interests to provide personalized career guidance. The tool uses pattern recognition to connect various aspects of a person's background and generate tailored career recommendations Users can create a "Career Identity Statement" that highlights their unique value proposition for...
read Feb 19, 2025Google Lens for iPhone just got a cool new AI upgrade
Artificial intelligence and augmented reality have dramatically enhanced visual search capabilities, with Google Lens serving as a primary tool for identifying objects and text through smartphone cameras. Google has announced significant updates to Google Lens that streamline the search process for iPhone users while expanding AI-powered search results. Key developments: Google is launching two major updates to Google Lens that enhance visual search capabilities on iOS devices through both Chrome and the Google app. Users can now instantly search screen content without taking screenshots or opening new tabs The feature enables quick information lookup by highlighting, drawing over, or tapping...
read Feb 19, 2025Microsoft’s new AI model simulates worlds by watching game footage
The emerging field of AI-powered game world generation has seen significant advances as researchers work to create systems that can understand and simulate gaming environments from video footage alone. Microsoft Research's latest contribution to this field is WHAM (World and Human Action Model), which demonstrates notable progress in generating interactive gaming environments while highlighting current technological limitations. Project Overview: Microsoft's WHAM model, detailed in a recent Nature publication, uses extensive gameplay footage from the online brawler Bleeding Edge to create AI-generated gaming environments. The system was trained on seven player-years worth of gameplay video paired with actual player inputs Training...
read Feb 19, 2025Humanoid robot Ameca debuts to public in Cornwall, avoids dreaded ‘uncanny valley’
The emergence of humanoid robots that can mimic human expressions and gestures has reached a new milestone with the public debut of Ameca at the Cornwall Festival of Tech in the UK. Built by Falmouth-based company Engineered Arts, this sophisticated robot showcases advanced facial expression capabilities while maintaining a deliberately non-realistic appearance to avoid the "uncanny valley" effect. Development and Design Philosophy: Engineered Arts focused on creating a robot that excels at non-verbal communication while serving as a platform for artificial intelligence development. CEO Will Jackson emphasizes the importance of facial expressions as high-bandwidth communication tools, enabling the robot to...
read Feb 19, 2025AI transforms fan obsessions into profit for Fandom, linking lovers of ‘Avatar’ to ‘Lord of the Rings’
Lucky for us, there is not one AI to rule them all. The entertainment industry has long sought to understand and monetize fan behavior, with particular focus on younger generations who form deep emotional connections with media properties. Fandom, the world's largest wiki-based entertainment platform, has emerged as a key player in this space, leveraging its massive user base and content repository to help advertisers better understand and target devoted fans. The platform's evolution: Fandom has grown from its 2004 founding as Wikia into a digital powerhouse that hosts approximately 50 million pages of wiki content covering everything from major...
read Feb 19, 2025Fiverr empowers freelancers to build custom AI models that include voiceovers, graphic design and more
The freelance marketplace Fiverr has expanded its platform capabilities to include AI model creation and training, marking a significant shift in how freelancers can monetize their expertise. This new feature allows creative professionals to develop custom AI models based on their own work, which clients can then purchase to generate content that combines AI efficiency with professional expertise. Key Development: Fiverr's new AI initiative, called Fiverr Go, enables freelancers to create and sell access to AI models trained specifically on their individual work portfolios. The platform will allow creators to maintain control over their creative process and rights while monetizing...
read Feb 19, 2025Google’s AI research assistant aims to empower scientists, but novel discoveries remain to be seen
The development of AI tools to assist scientific research has been accelerating, with tech giants investing heavily in specialized systems. Google's latest experimental AI system aims to help scientists analyze literature, generate hypotheses, and plan research by leveraging multiple AI agents working in concert. System capabilities and functionality: Google's unnamed AI "co-scientist" tool builds on the company's Gemini large language models to provide rapid scientific analysis and hypothesis generation. The system generates initial ideas within 15 minutes of receiving a research question or goal Multiple Gemini AI agents debate and refine hypotheses over hours or days The tool can access...
read Feb 18, 2025Perplexity unveils free AI tool for in-depth research
Information wants to be free, as was once said. In that spirit, Perplexity has an AI offer too good to refuse. As AI companies race to develop more sophisticated research tools, Perplexity has introduced "Deep Research," a new AI-powered research assistant that synthesizes information from hundreds of sources. The tool's launch comes amid similar offerings from industry giants like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, but with a distinctive approach to accessibility. Key Features and Capabilities: Perplexity's Deep Research tool delivers comprehensive reports by analyzing multiple sources, with particular strength in finance, marketing, and technology domains. The system takes 2-4 minutes...
read Feb 18, 2025Mistral launches Saba, a regional language AI model for the Middle East and Subcontinent
The development of large language models (LLMs) has predominantly focused on major world languages, leaving a significant gap in regional language capabilities. Mistral, a French AI startup, is addressing this limitation with its new regional language model initiative, beginning with the release of Saba. The big picture: Mistral's strategic shift toward regional language models reflects growing enterprise demand for AI solutions that better understand local languages and cultural nuances. Enterprise customers worldwide have expressed strong interest in models that are native to regional parlance, not just technically fluent Current general-purpose LLMs often struggle with cultural context and local language usage...
read Feb 18, 2025YouTube adds AI video generation to Shorts, expanding creator tools
Take an AI-enabled shot with YouTube's newest Shorts tool. Artificial Intelligence video generation has entered a new phase at YouTube with the integration of Google DeepMind's Veo 2 model into its Shorts platform. The expansion of YouTube's Dream Screen feature and introduction of AI-generated video clips marks a significant shift in how creators can produce content on the platform. Key developments: YouTube has integrated Google DeepMind's Veo 2 video generation model into its Shorts platform, enhancing the platform's AI-powered creative capabilities. The update expands Dream Screen, YouTube's existing AI background generator Users can now create standalone AI-generated video clips from...
read Feb 17, 2025Amazon’s Alexa AI upgrade faces yet another delay, raising doubts
Alexa is not so new, but it aims to improve. Yet there are hurdles. Amazon has scheduled a February 26th event in New York to unveil a significantly upgraded version of its Alexa virtual assistant powered by advanced AI capabilities. However, recent reports suggest technical hurdles may force another delay in the actual release of these new features, following a previous postponement from 2024. Development status: Amazon's enhanced Alexa AI is reportedly struggling with accuracy issues during internal testing, potentially pushing its launch date to March 31, 2025. Internal tests reveal the AI is making too many mistakes when responding...
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