Google expands AI Mode's flight and event booking features

Andrew Ng, a prominent figure in AI at Google, emphasized the importance of learning to code during an interview at AI Dev 25 in New York. He discussed the future of developers, the significance of responsible AI, and expressed skepticism about the hype surrounding Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Ng's insights reflect a broader conversation about the evolving role of technology and the skills needed in the AI landscape.

Meta has successfully won an antitrust case that could have compelled the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp. A federal judge ruled in favor of Meta, rejecting the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) claims that the acquisitions of these platforms violated antitrust laws. This ruling is seen as a significant legal victory for Meta, allowing it to retain ownership of its popular social media services.

Elon Musk's AI startup xAI has launched Grok 4.1, a large language model designed to enhance user experience on Grok.com and the social network X. This new model features improvements such as faster reasoning, better emotional intelligence, and a significantly reduced hallucination rate. Currently, there is no API access available for developers. The launch comes as Google prepares to unveil its Gemini 3 model, which has been recognized as the most powerful large language model by independent evaluators.

The Epic Games Store has announced that it will soon allow users to gift games to others. This feature has been highly anticipated by the gaming community, as gifting has been a popular practice on other platforms. The introduction of this capability is expected to enhance user engagement and attract more customers to the store, which has been competing with other digital game distribution services.

Waymo is set to expand its autonomous vehicle services to five additional cities, enhancing its presence in the self-driving technology market. This expansion reflects Waymo's ongoing efforts to increase accessibility to its services and improve urban mobility solutions. The company aims to provide safer and more efficient transportation options as it continues to innovate in the autonomous driving space.

Teresa Ribera, the European Union’s competition chief, announced that regulators are reviewing a significant offer from Google aimed at addressing alleged antitrust violations related to its advertising technology business. This scrutiny follows a substantial fine of nearly €3 billion ($3.5 billion) imposed on Google for these violations.

Snapchat has introduced a new feature called 'Topic Chats' that allows users to engage in public discussions about their interests. This feature aims to enhance user interaction by making it easier to comment on various topics within the app. The rollout of Topic Chats is expected to encourage more dynamic conversations among users, fostering a sense of community and shared interests on the platform. This update reflects Snapchat's ongoing efforts to innovate and adapt to user preferences in the competitive social media landscape.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, has warned that no company will escape unscathed if the artificial intelligence (AI) bubble bursts, drawing parallels to the dotcom bubble of the early 2000s. Pichai's comments reflect growing concerns about the sustainability of AI investments and their potential impact on the tech industry. As AI technologies continue to proliferate, the risks associated with overvaluation and market volatility are becoming increasingly apparent.