AI Innovations This Week: Major Announcements from Tech Giants
- 1881 Software
- Mar 10
- 3 min read
This week, Amazon and Google took center stage with major developments in the field of artificial intelligence. Let's dive into the most notable AI advancements of the week.
Amazon's Reasoning Model is on the Way
Starting with Amazon, the company is working on a new AI model with advanced "reasoning" capabilities. Scheduled for release in June under the Nova brand—first announced last year—this model is expected to feature a hybrid architecture that enables both rapid responses and extended, in-depth reasoning.
Additionally, Amazon is forming a new team within AWS focused on AI agents. Last week, we saw the introduction of AI-powered Alexa+, which now boasts agent-like abilities such as placing grocery orders via voice commands and sending event invitations.
Furthermore, Amazon has begun testing AI-powered dubbing for its Prime Video platform. Initially launching in English and Latin American Spanish, this system will be applied to 12 licensed movies and TV series.
Google's AI Mode and New Gemini Features
Google is rolling out a new “AI Mode” in Search, available to Google One AI Premium subscribers starting this week. This experimental feature allows users to explore topics in-depth by asking complex, multi-part, and follow-up questions directly in Google Search. Access to AI Mode is available via Search Labs.
Meanwhile, Gemini can now respond to questions using screen sharing and video input. Users can show content on their phones or record videos to ask questions. This enhancement aligns with Gemini 2.0’s Stream Realtime, which was also recently tested.
Google has also introduced AI-powered fashion design and virtual makeup trials. With the "Vision Match" feature, users can describe desired clothing styles in Google Search, click on "Create Your Own," and choose from AI-generated images and similar products. Additionally, Google has enhanced its AR-powered virtual makeup tool, allowing users to try not just individual products but also celebrity and influencer makeup looks. Lastly, Google made headlines with SpeciesNet, an AI model designed to identify wildlife species.
Latest in the Elon Musk vs. OpenAI Lawsuit
The ongoing feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman is heading to court. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected Musk's request for an injunction to halt OpenAI's transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity. However, the judge approved an expedited trial later this year, stating that Musk did not provide sufficient evidence to block OpenAI’s restructuring.
Meanwhile, AI experts criticized the Trump administration's recent cuts to scientific grants. These budget reductions, reportedly supported by the DOGE organization co-chaired by Musk, have drawn significant backlash. Geoffrey Hinton, a leading AI researcher, even suggested that Musk should be expelled from the British Royal Society due to his "severe damage to U.S. scientific institutions."
Cohere For AI Introduces Multimodal Open AI Model: Aya Vision
Cohere For AI launched Aya Vision, a new multimodal AI model capable of generating image captions, answering visual-related questions, translating text, and summarizing in 23 languages. Available for free on WhatsApp, Cohere claims Aya Vision is the best in its class. The model is available in two versions—Aya Vision 32B and Aya Vision 8B. The company asserts that Aya Vision 32B outperforms similarly sized models by 2x in certain visual comprehension benchmarks, including Meta’s Llama-3.2 90B Vision. Likewise, Aya Vision 8B has reportedly scored higher than models 10 times its size in some evaluations.
Anthropic's New Investment and Console Updates
Anthropic secured a massive $3.5 billion investment this week, raising its valuation to $61.5 billion. Alongside this, the company introduced updates to its developer platform, Anthropic Console. Users can now build, test, and iterate AI deployment in collaboration with Claude and their teams.
That’s a wrap on this week’s AI news! Stay tuned for more updates.that propels you toward your goals.
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