X Enhances Grok AI with Image Editing Capabilities
X, Elon Musk’s social media platform, has upgraded its AI chatbot, Grok, with advanced image editing features powered by the Aurora model. This allows users to generate, modify, and refine images directly within the chat interface, positioning X as a competitor in the generative AI space. The update is rolling out in phases, with early access for premium users.
NASA Blocks China’s DeepSeek
NASA has blocked China’s AI company, DeepSeek, from its systems, following similar actions by other federal agencies. This decision is driven by concerns over national security and the potential risks of foreign AI models accessing sensitive U.S. government data.
OpenAI Valued at $340 Billion in New Investment Round
OpenAI is reportedly in discussions for a new investment round that could value the company at up to $340 billion, signaling investor confidence in the company’s continued dominance. The valuation reflects strong demand for AI models like ChatGPT. OpenAI may use the funds to improve AI efficiency, expand cloud infrastructure, and develop more advanced multimodal models.
Alibaba Releases AI Model Surpassing DeepSeek-V3
Alibaba has unveiled its latest AI model, claiming it outperforms DeepSeek-V3. This model aims to cater to enterprise applications, including AI-driven business analytics and automated customer support.
Meta Investing $65 Billion in AI and New Data Center
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to invest up to $65 billion in artificial intelligence throughout 2025, with a significant portion allocated to completing a major AI data center in Louisiana. This facility will support Meta’s AI initiatives, including the development of the Llama large language model.
OpenAI Introduces ‘Operator’ AI Assistant
OpenAI launched “Operator,” a new AI assistant capable of handling online tasks like ordering groceries and processing ticket purchases. Initially available to ChatGPT Pro users, the Operator functions as a semi-autonomous agent, requiring user input for specific actions.
OpenAI Launches ‘Deep Research’ AI Agent for ChatGPT
OpenAI has launched a new feature for ChatGPT called “deep research.” Utilizing an upcoming iteration of OpenAI’s reasoning model, o3, deep research acts as a personal research assistant. It’s tailored to support users in knowledge-based professions such as finance, science, policy, and engineering, capable of conducting multi-step research on the internet for intricate tasks and producing detailed reports. Pro users have access to 100 deep research tasks per month.
JetBrains Launches Junie, an AI Coding Agent
JetBrains launched Junie, a new AI coding agent designed to handle routine development tasks and understand the context of existing projects. Junie can solve 53.6% of tasks on a single run, according to the SWEBench Verified benchmark. It is available through an early access program for IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate and PyCharm Professional IDEs.
UAE and France Partner to Build a €50 Billion AI Data Center
The UAE and France have signed an agreement to develop a 1 GW AI data center, supported by sustainable energy and strategic partnerships, positioning Europe as a key player in the global AI race.
EU Announces AI Guidelines on Misuse and System Definitions for AI Act Compliance
The European Union has announced new guidelines to regulate AI misuse, banning emotional tracking by employers, manipulative practices by websites, and unverified criminal predictions by police.
Mistral AI Launches Le Chat on iOS and Android
Mistral has released its AI assistant Le Chat on iOS and Android, introducing a Pro tier and emphasizing open-source models and enterprise solutions.
Google Removes AI Weapons Ban
Google has revised its AI principles, removing a commitment to avoid using AI for weapons and surveillance.
Google Launches Free Gemini 2.0 Reasoning Models
Google has unveiled the Gemini 2.0 series, featuring Flash, Flash-Lite, and Pro Experimental models, aiming to advance AI capabilities in performance, reasoning, and affordability.
SoftBank and OpenAI Form SB OpenAI Japan to Develop AI Services
SoftBank and OpenAI have launched a joint venture, SB OpenAI Japan, with a $3 billion annual investment to integrate AI technologies into SoftBank’s subsidiaries and provide advanced AI services to major Japanese companies.
