Google launches new AI models and brings ‘thinking’ to Gemini
Google launched its much-anticipated new flagship AI model, Gemini 2.0 Pro Experimental, on Wednesday. The announcement was part of a series of other AI model releases. The company is also making its “reasoning’ model, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, available in the Gemini app.
Notably, Google is releasing these AI models as the tech world remains fixated on cheaper AI reasoning models offered by the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek.
Google and DeepSeek both released AI reasoning models in December, but DeepSeek’s R1 got a lot more attention. Now, Google may be trying to put its Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model in front of more eyes through its popular Gemini app.
Read more here.
Instagram will use its new ‘Edits’ app for testing features
With Instagram looking to launch its CapCut-style ‘Edits’ app next month, it’s also working to add in a range of features that’ll make its dedicated creation and editing platform a valuable addition to the Instagram ecosystem.
Last week, Instagram previewed some coming generative elements that it’s looking to add into the app, including AI-generated background editing and the capacity to animate still images.
If CapCut gets cut off from U.S. users, as part of the TikTok sell-off bill, then ‘Edits’ could become the most used creative app, especially for short-form content.
Read more here.
Snapchat+ adds new features, including generative AI elements
Snapchat has announced its latest feature update for Snapchat+ subscribers, including new generative artificial intelligence (AI) elements, Bitmoji clothing and some new options to spark engagement.
Snapchat’s adding two new generative AI features, in custom stickers, which are generated based on your message text, and movie poster simulations.
Custom stickers will be based on whatever you type. So if you write “let’s grab lunch,” the tool will generate an AI image that matches that message.
Snapchat is also adding a gen AI movie poster option, which will enable you to imagine yourself in a range of generic movie styles.
Read more here.
YouTube partners with Repurpose.io to enable reposting from TikTok
In order to get more content into YouTube Shorts, YouTube is partnering with Repurpose.io to offer automated re-posting of TikTok and/or Instagram Reels content to YouTube Shorts.
YouTube is offering 3 months of free usage of Repurpose.io to enable creators in other apps to migrate to YouTube Shorts. Which, given the uncertainty around TikTok in America, will no doubt see a lot of take-up.
Repurpose.io enables you to set up an automated production flow, for existing or future content, which will post content from your TikTok or Instagram Reels library direct to Shorts, without you having to do anything.
You can transfer up to five videos per day, and schedule them to go live at your preferred posting times, making it easy to expand your content to YouTube’s system.
Read more here.
Elon Musk offers $97bn to buy ChatGPT-maker OpenAI
Musk, alongside a consortium of investment firms and his own AI start-up xAI, have said they want to buy the tech company in a bid to revert it back to its “charitable mission” as a non-profit research lab.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman quickly rejected the deal on Mr Musk’s social media platform X, saying “no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want”.
Mr Musk and OpenAI lawyers faced off in a California federal court last week as a judge weighed up Mr Musk’s request for a court order that would block the ChatGPT-maker from converting itself to a for-profit company.
OpenAI was valued at $157bn in its last round of funding – meaning any bid from Musk would have to be substantially higher than the one currently on the table.
Read more here.