Facing fierce competition and losses, Chinese EV maker Xpeng is rebranding as a “physical AI” company. It plans robotaxi trials and to mass-produce humanoid robots by late 2026, betting that software and robotics will be its salvation.
Elon Musk’s xAI is burning through cash at a staggering rate, with losses widening as it invests heavily in data centers and talent. The company’s goal is to develop AI that will eventually power humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus, but profitability remains a distant target.
Microsoft is testing a new Copilot Checkout feature for US users, allowing purchases directly within its AI chat. The test involves major brands like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, and is powered by the open Agentic Commerce Protocol from OpenAI and Stripe.
Databricks just dropped research showing a 70% improvement over traditional RAG for complex enterprise questions. The secret? Teaching the retriever to actually understand instructions and metadata. This could be a game-changer for anyone using AI on messy, real-world data.
Microsoft is launching Copilot Checkout, an AI agent that can purchase items directly within a chat. Starting with partners like Etsy, PayPal, and Shopify, it aims to make shopping seamless. But it also makes Microsoft’s AI assistant more inescapable than ever.
The Allen Institute for AI’s CEO, Ali Farhadi, has been named to Business Insider’s list of the 25 most influential people in AI. The recognition specifically credits Ai2’s mission to make AI research “open and accessible.” This comes as the debate between open and closed AI models intensifies.
Google announced a suite of new AI features for Gmail, powered by Gemini. This includes summarizing long threads, drafting emails, and a new “AI Inbox” that acts as a proactive assistant. The basic features are free and rolling out now, with more advanced tools for paid subscribers.
The relentless demand for AI infrastructure is creating a severe memory shortage, and PC makers are feeling the heat. Prices for RAM and SSDs are surging, leading to immediate price hikes and potentially derailing the long-awaited business PC refresh cycle.
A new report gathers predictions from top OT security executives on how AI will reshape industrial cybersecurity next year. The consensus? Unchecked deployment is setting the stage for major breaches, legal battles, and a scramble for governance. The wild west phase is ending.
Google is introducing new AI-powered features to Gmail, aiming to help users manage their inboxes. However, the most advanced capabilities, like asking questions about your emails, are reserved for paying subscribers.
