Google has announced a significant improvement in energy efficiency for AI queries, reducing the energy cost by 33 times within a year. The company states that a text query now consumes the equivalent of just 9 seconds of TV energy consumption. This advancement highlights Google's commitment to sustainability and the ongoing efforts to make AI operations more environmentally friendly.

Meta has announced a partnership with Midjourney to license its technology for 'future models and products,' although financial details are scarce. This collaboration raises questions about Midjourney's previous plans for an enterprise API and how the partnership will impact its development.

Google Photos now allows users to make edit requests through voice or text commands with the new 'ask to edit' feature. This feature makes it easier for users to communicate their desired edits to the app, streamlining the editing process. The update aims to enhance user experience and simplify the editing workflow on the platform.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has unveiled a new open source Seed-OSS-36B model with a unique long-context feature allowing up to 512,000 tokens, surpassing OpenAI's GPT-5 family. This model is expected to enhance natural language processing capabilities and foster innovation in AI research and development.

Google has disclosed the energy consumption data of its Gemini apps for each query in a technical report. The median prompt's energy demand has been revealed, marking a significant step towards transparency in AI energy usage.

Meta has implemented a hiring freeze for its AI division following a recent spree of poaching talent from other companies. It is uncertain how long the pause will last as the company continues to navigate through its reorganization, which includes splitting the AI unit. The decision could impact Meta's AI development and innovation efforts in the short term.

Google has expanded its AI Mode to 180 new countries in English, introducing new agentic features as part of the global rollout. This move aims to enhance user experience and accessibility to AI technology worldwide.

Anthropic is close to securing up to $10 billion in a new funding round, surpassing initial expectations and becoming one of the largest megarounds in history. The deal is expected to significantly boost the company's resources for expansion and innovation in the tech industry.

Contrary to popular belief, a new MIT report shows that while 95% of corporate AI pilots may fail, 90% of workers are actually thriving with personal AI tools, leading to a significant productivity surge. This 'shadow AI economy' is quietly driving success amidst the perceived failure in the AI industry.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledges the possibility of an AI bubble bursting while aiming to raise funds at a whopping $500 billion valuation. Altman anticipates that someone will suffer significant financial losses amidst the current hype around AI technology, signaling a cautious approach to the market's volatility.