Gemini's new AI agent is about as good as Google's demo
The Verge AI23h agoNew ToolGoogle's new 24/7 AI agent, Gemini Spark, can take on tasks for users and continue working on them. After receiving access last week, The Verge's reviewer found that Spark can perform surprisingly well, roughly matching Google's demo. The remaining question is whether that capability justifies the financial cost and potential privacy tradeoffs.
I put Google’s 24/7 AI assistant Gemini Spark to work, and it’s useful
TechCrunch AI3d agoNew ToolTechCrunch tested Google’s 24/7 AI assistant Gemini Spark and found it genuinely useful for everyday automation. The article highlights tasks such as inbox summaries and local event planning, suggesting Google is pushing Gemini toward a more persistent assistant experience. Still, the author questions why Google chose to make Gemini Spark a separate product instead of folding it into existing Gemini or Google services.
Apple working to cram massive Gemini model into iPhone to power new Siri
Ars Technica AI5d agoBusinessArs Technica reports that Apple is working to compress Google’s massive Gemini model so it can run on iPhone and power a new Siri experience. The short summary emphasizes a key constraint: even with on-device ambitions, a cloud component is probably inevitable. Details remain limited, so the report is best read as a signal about Apple’s AI direction rather than a confirmed product launch.
OpenRouter more than doubles valuation to $1.3B in a year
TechCrunch AI7d agoBusinessOpenRouter, an AI gateway startup founded in 2023, raised a $113 million Series B led by CapitalG. The round reportedly values the company at about $1.3 billion post-money, more than doubling from its estimated $547 million valuation after its June 2025 Series A. The company says it now offers access to over 400 models, has 8 million global users, and processes 100 trillion tokens per month.
Some ideas for what comes next, May 2026
Interconnects (Nathan L.)7d agoCommentaryNathan Lambert argues that 2026 AI progress is becoming higher-stakes, with model capabilities, work patterns, economics, and real-world risks all escalating. He says open models still lack a true Claude Code and Opus 4.5-style agent moment, and Gemini has no clear competitor to Claude Code or Codex yet. The essay also tracks Mythos, American open-model momentum, frontier-lab competition, and mounting intervention from governments and other power structures.
Sundar Pichai on AI, the future of search, and what’s happening to the web★ 74
The Verge AI7d agoBusinessThe Verge interviews Sundar Pichai after Google I/O 2026 about Google’s shift around Gemini, AI infrastructure, Search, and agents. The discussion covers Gemini Spark, Antigravity, AI Mode, YouTube indexing, publisher traffic, and the “Google Zero” concern. Pichai argues Google still wants to connect users to the web, while acknowledging AI anxiety, copyright disputes, energy concerns, and AGI preparation.
Google AI Studio Sparks 250,000 Android Apps in One Week via No-Code Feature★ 78
INSIDE 硬塞 AI7d agoNew ToolGoogle AI Studio's newly launched native Android app development feature has enabled the creation of over 250,000 apps within its first week. According to product lead Logan Kilpatrick, over 99% of these creators had zero prior Android development experience. This milestone highlights the rapid democratization of software development through AI-driven, no-code tools.
Everyone is navigating AI security in real time — even Google★ 70
TechCrunch AI8d agoCommentaryAs AI adoption accelerates, organizations worldwide—including Google—are finding themselves in a transitional phase, forced to address AI security vulnerabilities in real time. Traditional cybersecurity frameworks are proving insufficient against novel threats like prompt injection and model poisoning. This shifting landscape requires continuous adaptation and a fundamental rethink of how AI systems are secured.