AI race intensifies as Zoom, Cerence, and tech giants expand capabilities

Major AI players are aggressively expanding their capabilities, with Zoom embracing agentic AI, Cerence targeting in-car assistants, and tech giants forming powerful infrastructure partnerships. This flurry of activity demonstrates how AI development is accelerating across industries, from enhancing workplace productivity to transforming customer experiences in retail and automotive environments.

The big picture: Zoom is transforming its AI Companion into an agentic tool capable of autonomous task execution and decision support across its entire product portfolio.

• The updates were announced at Enterprise Connect in Orlando and will impact applications including Zoom Meetings, Team Chat, and Docs.
• According to Chief Product Officer Smita Hashim, this shift represents a “major leap forward in how AI can enhance productivity and collaboration at work.”

Automotive AI advances: Cerence has unveiled its xUI platform designed to power sophisticated in-car voice assistants that work across edge and cloud, incorporating large language model capabilities.

• The Massachusetts-based company claims the technology delivers seamless interaction even without connectivity, addressing growing demand from automakers.
• Several global automakers have already signed strategic agreements to use xUI as “the basis for their future in-cabin experiences.”

Partnership developments: The AI Infrastructure Partnership has strengthened its leadership with Elon Musk‘s xAI and Nvidia joining Microsoft and BlackRock in the coalition.

• Nvidia will continue serving as a technical advisor to the partnership.
• Energy companies GE Vernova and NextEra Energy plan to collaborate on scaling critical energy technologies for AI data centers and developing “innovative and high efficiency energy solutions.”

Real-world implementations: AI-driven service robots are moving from concept to practical deployment, with Richtech Robotics opening a One Kitchen restaurant in a Georgia Walmart.

• The restaurant features Scorpion, a robot using Nvidia AI technology to interact with customers and prepare beverages.
• The implementation demonstrates how AI is transforming retail customer service experiences.

Model advancements: Google has released Gemini 2.5, with an experimental version called Gemini 2.5 Pro designed for complex problem-solving with enhanced reasoning capabilities.

• The new model offers multimodal understanding, processing multiple data types simultaneously including text, images, video, audio, and code.
• This release represents Google’s most capable AI model to date, continuing the competitive development race among AI leaders.