Ai-Tech

Google Home’s Gemini AI assistant has been upgraded to handle more complex, multi-step requests. This update significantly improves smart home control capabilities. Users can now execute more complex scene setups via voice commands, such as “When I leave home, turn off all lights, lower the temperature, and activate security mode.” Gemini’s new capabilities allow it to understand context and perform multiple operations in sequence. This upgrade is an important step for Google in competing with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit in the smart home space. Gemini’s language understanding capabilities give it an advantage in complex command processing. ...

Google’s May 2026 system update for Pixel 10 devices now prevents users from installing older Android versions. The change is driven by security concerns — older systems may contain unpatched vulnerabilities. But for users who enjoy customization and flashing, the restriction has sparked debate about user control. Google has been gradually tightening control over Android devices, including requiring apps to pass Play Protect verification. This update further limits users’ ability to fully control their devices. ...

[Flash] Cloudflare’s Chief Strategy Officer noted that more than half of internet traffic is now non-human, with the x402 Foundation building infrastructure rails for AI agent-to-agent payments as traditional web economics face pressure from automated traffic.

[Flash] Microsoft has abandoned its Xbox Copilot AI integration, The Verge reported. The move comes as Xbox CEO overhauls leadership amid sinking sales, with the executive stating “we need to evolve how we work.” This signals a reevaluation of AI strategy within Microsoft’s gaming platform.

Apple has agreed to a $250 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging the company misled consumers about its artificial intelligence capabilities, The New York Times reported. The Case The lawsuit centered on Apple’s marketing claims regarding its AI features, which plaintiffs argued overstated the actual capabilities delivered to users. The settlement reflects growing regulatory and legal scrutiny of “AI washing” — the practice of exaggerating AI capabilities in product marketing. ...

The US Commerce Department has reached new agreements with Google, Microsoft, and xAI to safety test their latest AI models, BBC reported. The new pacts build on voluntary safety commitments established during the Biden administration. Background This development comes as several top AI companies have simultaneously signed classified AI deals with the Pentagon, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. Anthropic, however, was excluded from the Pentagon program due to issues with its “Mythos” AI model. ...

Cloudflare proposes the x402 protocol to establish micropayment mechanisms between AI agents and content creators as AI-driven web scraping threatens traditional web economics.

Three tech giants reach deal with White House to provide early model versions for security review before public release, marking a new phase in US AI oversight

Sierra, the AI customer service platform co-founded by former Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor, has completed a $950 million Series E round at a valuation exceeding $15 billion, aiming to become the global standard for AI-powered customer experiences.

AI chip manufacturer Cerebras Systems has filed for an IPO seeking to raise up to $3.5 billion at a valuation of $26.6 billion, emerging as one of Nvidia’s most formidable competitors in the AI chip space.