Microsoft has expanded its Copilot Vision AI to analyze any file, app, or window on a user's PC screen, not limited to Microsoft Edge. With this new feature, available on Windows 10 and 11, users can ask questions and receive real-time analyses about the content displayed. "Copilot Vision acts as your second set of eyes," Microsoft stated. This innovation enhances productivity, providing guidance on various applications and simplifying workflows significantly.
AI and data major Databricks is investing $100 million in global AI and data education. The company aims to nurture next-generation AI talent and to bridge current skill gaps. Concurrently, Databricks has announced a free edition of its platform and the upcoming preview of its Lakeflow Designer - a new no-code Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) tool designed to help data analysts build reliable data conduits without coding.
Microsoft-supported AI company, Mistral, has announced the launch of a European AI cloud to contend key players like Amazon's AWS and Microsoft's Azure. Alongside, Mistral introduced its Magistral reasoning models capable of logical thinking in user's native language. Early testing of these models shows promising speed of response. The platform, Mistral Compute, driven by Nvidia's new Grace Blackwell chips, aims to address crucial concerns around ecological impact and data sovereignty, marking a significant stride in regional AI development.
Meta Platforms has developed V-JEPA 2, an AI model designed to help robots understand and predict physical world responses. This model is core to Meta's progression towards creating advanced machine intelligence. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is concurrently recruiting experts to further Meta's ambitions in Artificial General Intelligence, a domain aimed at enabling machines to perform human-level tasks.
Micron Technology has earmarked $200 billion to boost US semiconductor production, with $150 billion for memory manufacturing and $50 billion for research and development. Funds will primarily go to facilities in Idaho, New York, and Virginia, significantly bolstering domestic chip supply. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra says the initiative will reinforce American tech leadership and create thousands of jobs. The investment includes $6.4 billion from the CHIPS and Science Act, underlining government support for advanced manufacturing.
Walmart has expanded its drone delivery service across five US states, making it the first retailer to scale the service across these states. The service now allows millions of customers in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa to receive their orders within minutes.
Amazon has requested the Luxembourg-based General Court to remove its designation as a very large online platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA), arguing that it does not pose systematic risks to its users. Amazon's lawyer, Robert Spano, argued that the VLOP rules do not rationally assist in preventing the dissemination of illegal or counterfeit goods and that any risks are limited to individual customers.
Google has fixed a transient global service disruption that impacted several platforms, including Spotify and Snapchat. Google's platforms such as Google Chat, Meet, Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Cloud Search, Tasks, and Voice encountered issues but were subsequently rectified. At its peak, there were 46,000 outage reports on Spotify and 10,992 on Discord. Google is set to release a detailed analysis following internal investigation.
Shopify officially integrates USDC, enhancing crypto payment options for millions of merchants. This milestone signifies a significant step toward mainstream cryptocurrency adoption, enabling retailers to transact seamlessly in stablecoins. Kurt Robson notes that this move could radically transform e-commerce dynamics by appealing to a growing customer base interested in digital currencies. Shopify's initiative underscores its commitment to innovation, potentially positioning it as a leader in modern transaction methods.
The Browser Company has launched Dia, an AI-powered web browser designed to enhance user experience with a minimalist interface. Integrating AI tools directly into the browsing process, Dia facilitates tasks like online searches and document summarization without requiring third-party platforms. Employing Google’s Chromium framework, Dia offers a blend of speed and advanced functionality. Currently in beta for Arc users on Mac, it aims to redefine browsing by prioritizing seamless collaboration and context-aware assistance.