Pulse

The UK's AI Security Institute has released findings on new AI models, noting significant gains in cyber capabilities from both Mythos and GPT-5.5. These models appear to be limited by token usage rather than inherent ability, with a capability doubling time estimated at 4.5 months. Separately, Palantir CEO Alex Karp criticized Germany's defense procurement, urging them to adopt battle-tested Ukrainian technology. AI

Japan's three major banks, MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., and Mizuho Bank, are poised to gain access to Anthropic's AI model, Mythos. This development follows concerns about potential cybersecurity risks associated with the model's recent limited release. The banks' anticipated access suggests a strategic move to leverage advanced AI capabilities. AI

Mind Robotics, a spinoff from Rivian, has secured $400 million in new funding, bringing its total capital raised to over $1 billion. This significant investment validates the company's early backers and signals strong confidence in its future. The substantial financial backing is expected to accelerate Mind Robotics' development and market presence. AI

Cisco reported strong fourth-quarter financial results, exceeding analyst expectations for both earnings and revenue, largely driven by significant demand for AI infrastructure. The company secured $5.3 billion in AI-related orders and raised its full-year AI revenue outlook to $4 billion. Despite these positive financial indicators and a 14% stock surge, Cisco also announced workforce reductions affecting nearly 4,000 employees, which CEO Chuck Robbins stated are necessary to optimize costs in light of AI opportunities. AI

Cerebras Systems has announced a new wafer-scale engine designed to accelerate AI model training and inference. The company claims this new hardware significantly reduces the time required for processing tokens, a key metric in large language model performance. This advancement aims to address the growing computational demands of complex AI workloads. AI

Elon Musk's xAI is reportedly operating 46 natural gas turbines at its Mississippi data center without permits, potentially violating the Clean Air Act. The state of Mississippi considers the turbines "mobile" because they are on trailers, allowing them to operate for up to a year without permits, despite concerns about air quality and public health. The NAACP has filed a lawsuit, arguing that these turbines should be classified as stationary and subject to regulations, and is seeking an injunction against xAI's operations. AI

StepFun has released Step Image Edit 2, a 3.5 billion parameter image editing model that has achieved top rankings on the KRIS-Bench benchmark across multiple categories. This new version surpasses significantly larger models in performance and offers a rapid response time of 0.7 seconds. Concurrently, Tencent's Hy AI model is now available in preview on gmi_cloud, allowing developers to test its latest features. AI

An AI transcription tool intended for use by doctors in Ontario has been found to "hallucinate" and generate errors, according to a report by the province's auditor general. The artificial intelligence note-taking system provided incorrect and incomplete information, and its adequacy was not properly evaluated. This finding highlights potential risks associated with the implementation of AI in healthcare settings. AI

Researchers have developed an AI-driven framework capable of generating detailed, all-atom models of proteins, including their dynamic movements. This new method moves beyond static protein snapshots to capture subtle atomic rearrangements. The work, published in the proceedings of NeurIPS 2025, has implications for understanding protein interactions and drug discovery. AI

Google has unveiled Gemini Intelligence for Android, a new suite of AI-powered features designed to automate app tasks, summarize web content, and fill forms. A key component is the "Magic Pointer," a Gemini-powered cursor that understands context and can act on pointed-to elements without explicit prompts. This innovation aims to shift the user interface by allowing the cursor itself to convey user intent, potentially reducing reliance on traditional text-based prompts and enabling more natural interactions with technology. AI

OpenAI has launched a new entity, the OpenAI Deployment Company, backed by over $4 billion in initial investment. This new venture aims to help organizations integrate and deploy AI systems by embedding specialized engineers. The move follows a trend of tech companies, including Google and Anthropic, establishing dedicated teams and partnerships to facilitate enterprise AI adoption. AI

Envirotech Vehicles is set to merge with AZIO AI in a deal valued at $480 million. This strategic move aims to reshape AI infrastructure and includes a planned leadership transition. The merger is expected to significantly impact the AI sector. AI

Chinese internet giant Kuaishou is reportedly exploring external funding for its AI video generation unit, Kling AI. The company is considering a restructuring of the business, which could involve bringing in outside investors. This move signals Kuaishou's strategic focus on advancing its generative AI video capabilities. AI

Palantir Technologies has significantly expanded its artificial intelligence offerings for the military sector. The company secured a $448 million contract with the U.S. Navy and is in line for a potential $10 billion agreement with the U.S. Army. These deals highlight the growing role of Palantir's decision-orchestration platform in defense. AI

Robo.ai has secured $180 million in financing from ATW Partners to advance its AI innovation in areas like smart logistics and eVTOL technologies. In parallel, Rivian has announced its own AI autonomy strategy, which includes the development of custom silicon chips to enhance its electric vehicle technology. AI

Researchers have introduced AntAngelMed, a 103 billion parameter open-source medical language model. It utilizes a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, activating only 6.1 billion parameters per query for enhanced efficiency. This design allows it to match the performance of a 40 billion parameter dense model while achieving speeds over 200 tokens per second on H20 hardware. The model supports a 128K context length and has undergone a three-stage training process including pre-training on medical corpora, supervised fine-tuning, and reinforcement learning. AI

Spain is moving forward with new regulations for social media platforms, including provisions related to artificial intelligence. This initiative is supported by Europe and Australia, despite significant lobbying efforts from major technology companies. The new rules aim to govern the use of AI within social media environments. AI

Visa is evolving beyond its traditional plastic card model to become a digital settlement protocol. The company is embracing technological neutrality and integrating with blockchain technology. They are also developing an "Agentic Ready" program to prepare their infrastructure for autonomous AI agents. AI

Researchers have demonstrated that AI can be used to eavesdrop on conversations through fiber optic cables, highlighting a new physical security threat. Separately, AI has enabled the observation of lifeforms composed of fewer than 20 amino acids, opening new avenues in biomolecular design and evolutionary studies. Additionally, QuiverAI has launched a tool that transforms prompts and images into structured, editable vector graphics, streamlining design and content creation workflows. AI

An audit of AI-powered medical scribes in Ontario revealed significant inaccuracies, with most approved systems failing tests. These AI tools incorrectly transcribed patient conversations, with 60% misidentifying prescribed medications. The audit also found that nearly half of the systems generated fabricated information or missed crucial patient details, particularly concerning mental health. AI

DeepMind has introduced AI Pointer, a novel method for enhancing the reliability of AI agents. This technique allows agents to precisely reference and interact with specific elements within their environment. The development aims to improve the accuracy and predictability of AI agent behavior in complex tasks. AI

A new, lightweight AI model named Needle has been developed by distilling Gemini's tool-calling capabilities into a 26 million parameter model. This smaller model is designed to run on smartphones, making it easier for developers to build AI agents for mobile devices. The project aims to bring advanced AI functionalities to edge devices. AI

Samsung's AI chip production faces potential disruption due to a planned two-week strike by its workers, set to begin on May 21. This strike could impact the supply of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for AI computing, as Samsung and SK Hynix are among the few global manufacturers. The company recently reported a significant increase in chip income and achieved a valuation of over one trillion USD. AI

SAP and Anthropic have announced a partnership at SAP Sapphire 2026, integrating Anthropic's Claude into SAP's Joule AI. This collaboration aims to create an "autonomous enterprise" by automating processes across finance, HR, procurement, and supply chain functions. The integration will leverage SAP's Master Control Program (MCP) to connect systems like S/4HANA, SuccessFactors, and Ariba, enabling AI to operate within existing compliance frameworks. AI

Researchers are exploring new frontiers in AI, from autonomous laboratories to advanced human-computer interfaces. In Japan, an Institute of Science Tokyo lab operates entirely without humans, using robots for medical experiments. Google DeepMind has unveiled an AI pointer that understands context and voice commands for multimodal interaction. Meanwhile, the field of AI alignment is evolving beyond safety concerns to focus on 'positive alignment,' aiming to enhance human happiness and excellence, a challenge anticipated to be crucial in the coming decade. Additionally, AI is being applied to material science, with Microsoft Research introducing a multitask model for predicting material properties. AI

DeepMind has introduced AI Pointer, a novel system designed to enhance human-AI interaction by allowing users to intuitively guide AI models. Separately, Google announced Googlebook, a new platform built for Gemini Intelligence, which is slated for release in Fall 2026. AI

A new standard for disclosing the use of artificial intelligence in film production was introduced at the Cannes Film Market. This initiative, called 'Human Provenance,' aims to provide transparency regarding AI's role in creating movie content. The standard was developed in collaboration with various industry stakeholders. AI

Medicare has launched a new program called ACCESS, which establishes the first payment system specifically for AI agents in healthcare. This initiative focuses on rewarding positive health outcomes rather than specific actions, allowing AI to monitor patients remotely and coordinate care. The program is currently being tested by 150 companies and has the potential to significantly alter how healthcare is delivered. AI

MIT Open Learning has launched a new program called Universal AI, designed to make AI fluency accessible to everyone. This initiative features AI-powered personalization and offers a free introductory course. Additionally, Databricks has announced its Student Fellows program, aimed at nurturing future leaders in data and AI. AI

Mark Gadala-Maria highlighted AI's potential to revolutionize educational content creation, suggesting it could become the new standard. He also showcased an example of AI generating a non-existent N64 game using Seedance 2, demonstrating its creative capabilities in game and video generation. Separately, OpenBMB and ModelBest released MiniCPM-V 4.6 1.3B Instruct, a small multimodal model showing competitive performance for its size. Additionally, Thinking Machines introduced TML-Interaction-Small 276B-A12B, a model designed to advance real-time conversational voice interactions. AI

China's Loongson Technology is preparing to release its next-generation 3B6600 CPU and 9A1000 GPU in 2027. These new chips are designed to match the performance of older Intel Alder Lake processors and AMD's RX 550 graphics card, respectively. The company is utilizing a mature 12nm manufacturing process, which is accessible to China, and is also exploring entry into the memory chip market to capitalize on AI trends. AI

Holmes, a startup based in Ghent, has secured 1.1 million EUR in pre-seed funding to develop an autonomous quality assurance platform specifically for AI development. This platform is designed to learn product workflows and automatically generate tests for essential user journeys, aiming to streamline the AI testing process. AI

Thinking Machines Lab, an AI research lab, has introduced a new class of systems called interaction models designed to overcome the limitations of traditional turn-based AI. These models feature a native multimodal architecture that allows for real-time human-AI collaboration, processing audio, video, and text inputs and outputs in continuous 200ms micro-turns. This approach enables the AI to listen, interrupt, and react proactively, moving beyond static chat interfaces to a more dynamic and integrated interaction. AI

Recent geopolitical events and trade tensions are reshaping the semiconductor supply chain, particularly for photoresist materials. Korean companies are increasing reliance on domestic suppliers and have secured waivers to import Russian naphtha, while Japanese firms, adhering to G7 restrictions, face disruptions due to their just-in-time inventory models. This divergence creates opportunities for Korean suppliers and risks for Japanese ones in the critical photoresist production process. AI

A new investment group, GreaterThan Group, has raised $100 million to fund video game projects. The group, founded by a former NetEase executive, is backing "Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic" and a new shooter game from David Vonderhaar, former design director for Black Ops. The funding aims to support creators working on their dream projects. AI

Organizations globally are developing labels to identify "human-made" products and services amidst a growing backlash against AI. Some experts suggest a spectrum-based certification system rather than a simple AI/AI-free binary approach. This movement aims to provide consumers with clearer choices regarding the origin of goods and services. AI

OpenAI has launched a new business unit, the OpenAI Deployment Company, backed by $4 billion in initial investment. This unit aims to assist organizations in building and implementing AI systems within their core operations. The initiative includes acquiring the AI consulting firm Tomoro, which brings around 150 engineers, and embedding specialized 'Forward Deployed Engineers' into client companies to identify AI opportunities and integrate OpenAI's models. AI

Synflux, a Japanese company, has won the Grand Prix at the Trailblazer 2026 awards, hosted by the Global Fashion Agenda. This marks the first time a Japanese company has achieved this honor. The award recognizes Synflux's innovative contributions to the fashion industry, particularly in areas of sustainability and digital technology. AI

Unitree has unveiled its GD01, a production-ready, human-piloted mecha suit, with prices starting at 3.9 million yuan. The company's founder demonstrated the suit's capabilities, highlighting its potential as a civilian transport vehicle and a showcase for Unitree's core robotics technologies. This launch aims to leverage the suit's unique appeal as a marketing engine. AI

Pillar, an Italian construction technology startup, has secured 12 million EUR in seed funding. The company plans to use this capital to develop an AI-powered operating system specifically designed for the construction industry. This platform aims to automate key processes such as quote generation, margin tracking, and workforce management. AI

Apple's iOS 26.5 update for European iPhone users now allows third-party wearables to utilize features similar to AirPods, such as seamless pairing and notification forwarding. This change is a direct response to the EU's Digital Markets Act, aiming to increase interoperability and competition within the tech accessory market. The update enables a more integrated experience for non-Apple smartwatches and other accessories, bringing them closer to the functionality previously exclusive to Apple's own products. AI

The AI Dot Engineer hackathon in Singapore gathered over 300 builders, showcasing advancements in AI development tools and community engagement. Discussions at the event highlighted the future of AI models, moving beyond image generation to understanding complex real-world dynamics like movement and interaction. This evolution points towards real-time visual intelligence becoming a key focus for next-generation AI. AI

MiniMax has announced an update to improve the stability and quality of its Japanese language output, enhancing its capabilities as a multilingual LLM. Separately, a user shared results for Veo 3.1, noting improvements in the Omni model but deeming it inferior to Seedance 2.0, while anticipating a Veo 4 release at Google I/O. AI

OpenAI has established a new subsidiary, the OpenAI Deployment Company, to assist organizations in building and operating AI systems. This new entity aims to accelerate AI adoption by operating with increased speed and a customer-centric focus, distinct from OpenAI's core research and product development. The company is launching with an initial investment of $4 billion from 19 partners, including Bain Capital and SoftBank, and will integrate approximately 150 Forward Deployed Engineers from AI consulting firm Tomoro, which OpenAI is acquiring. AI

Seedream has launched Seedream 5.0, an AI image generation model. This new version boasts enhanced content understanding, faster processing speeds, and improved visual quality with higher resolution. Users can expect greater creative control over their generated images. AI

Robinhood is reportedly preparing a second initial public offering for a retail venture, capitalizing on the current enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. This move follows their previous successful IPO and aims to leverage the AI market's momentum. The specific details of this new venture and its connection to AI are not yet fully disclosed. AI

Hugging Face and AWS have collaborated to detail the infrastructure required for training and running large foundation models. The blog post outlines a layered architecture, emphasizing the interplay between AWS's compute, networking, and storage services with open-source software frameworks. It highlights the importance of efficient resource management and observability for large-scale AI operations. AI

OpenAI has established a new entity, "Deployment Company," to provide dedicated support for enterprise AI adoption. This move signifies a significant push by OpenAI to assist businesses in integrating its AI technologies. The company aims to facilitate the practical application of AI within corporate environments. AI

Artificial Analysis has released the Coding Agent Index, a benchmark evaluating AI coding agents across three key benchmarks, considering token usage and cost to aid in selection. Separately, Luma Labs has enhanced its Luma Agents by enabling generation with the Kling Omni model, expanding its multimodal capabilities. Luma Agents also now support generating advertisements automatically from mood boards, streamlining the creative workflow within the Luma Labs app. AI

China's advancements in AI-powered humanoid robots are intensifying competition with Japan, with one report highlighting China's "overwhelmingly advanced" capabilities. Despite ongoing tensions, a recent robotics exhibition featured over 80 Chinese companies, underscoring their significant presence and development in the field. This surge in AI-driven robotics development signals a new phase of technological rivalry between the two nations. AI