AI in practice Archive

Apr 14, 2026

Google is rolling out "Skills," a new Chrome feature that lets users save frequently used AI prompts and reuse them with a single click. Previously, users had to manually re-enter the same prompt each time, for example, converting recipes to vegan alternatives, to cite one of Google's examples.

With Skills, prompts like these can be saved directly from the chat history and pulled up in Chrome by typing a slash ( / ) or plus sign ( + ) in Gemini. The feature works across multiple tabs. Google also offers a library of ready-made skills for things like product comparisons, meal planning, and gift selection. Users can customize these or build their own from scratch.

According to Google, Skills uses Chrome's existing security and privacy features and asks for permission before performing certain actions like sending emails. The feature is rolling out now on Mac, Windows, and ChromeOS for users with their Chrome language set to English-US.

Comment Source: Google

Matthias Bastian

Apr 14, 2026

AI in practice

Claude Mythos can autonomously compromise weakly defended enterprise networks end-to-end

The UK’s AI Safety Institute tested Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview for cyber capabilities. For the first time, an AI model autonomously completed a full attack simulation against a corporate network, but the results come with significant caveats.

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Jonathan Kemper

Apr 14, 2026

Short News

Anthropic has introduced "routines" for Claude Code - automated processes that can independently fix bugs, review pull requests, or respond to events without needing a user's local machine. Routines are configured once and then run on a schedule, via API call, or in response to GitHub events on Anthropic's web infrastructure. Typical use cases include nightly bug triage, automatic code reviews based on team-specific checklists, porting changes between languages, and checking deployments for errors.

Routines tap into existing repository connections and connectors. The feature is available as a research preview for Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans, with daily limits of 5 to 25 runs depending on the plan. Support for webhook sources beyond GitHub is planned.

Screenshot of the Claude Code interface for creating a new routine with fields for name and task description, model selection Opus 4.6, a linked repository, three trigger options (Schedule, GitHub event, API) and connectors for Slack and Asana. — Users assign a name, describe the task, select a trigger (schedule, GitHub event, or API), and connect external services like Slack or Asana.

Routines follow a series of recent desktop updates. Anthropic recently added features that let Claude Code start development servers, display web apps, and fix errors on its own, then shipped the /loop command for local, scheduled background tasks. With Routines, that same automation now moves to the cloud.

Comment Source: Anthropic

Maximilian Schreiner

Apr 14, 2026

AI in practice

Ukraine captures a Russian position using only drones and ground robots

President Zelenskyy announces a historic first: a Russian position taken entirely by unmanned systems. A CSIS report details how AI is already changing Ukraine’s battlefield and where the limits remain.

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Matthias Bastian

Apr 14, 2026

Short News

AI startup Hiro, which built a personal AI financial advisor, is shutting down. The team is joining OpenAI, though no acquisition price has been disclosed. Hiro's vision was a "personal AI CFO" (Chief Financial Officer).

Hiro let users input their salary, debts, and monthly expenses, then calculated financial scenarios and explained the results. The company says it helped customers manage more than one billion dollars in assets.

The deal has all the hallmarks of an acqui-hire, an acquisition aimed at the team, not the product. Hiro has stopped accepting new sign-ups and will shut down on April 20, 2026. Users can export their data until May 13, 2026, after which all personal information will be deleted. No user data will transfer to OpenAI.

OpenAI has been working on financial tools within ChatGPT for some time. With the Hiro team on board, the company could move significantly faster on those plans.

Comment Source: Hiro Finance

Matthias Bastian

Apr 13, 2026

AI in practice

OpenAI's leaked memo says new "Spud" model will make all its products "significantly better"

An internal OpenAI memo lays out five strategic priorities for the enterprise business – including a new model codenamed “Spud,” a platform play for AI agents, and the blunt accusation that Anthropic is overstating its revenue by 8 billion dollars.

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Matthias Bastian

Apr 13, 2026

Short News

Google is rolling out a new video generation option for Ultra subscribers that won't cost them any additional credits. The "Veo 3.1 - Lite [Lower Priority]" model sits alongside the existing "Veo 3.1 - Fast [Lower Priority]" option and runs at zero credits. Veo 3.1 Lite recently launched as the cheapest and fastest video model in Google's lineup: it costs less than half of what Veo 3.1 Fast charges, but Google says it generates videos just as quickly. It's not yet clear where the quality tradeoffs lie.

On May 10, Google will drop the current "Veo 3.1 Fast - Lower Priority" option and swap it out for the new "Lite - Lower Priority" version. The standard Veo 3.1 Fast model remains fully available at its current price. For Ultra subscribers already paying for their plan, the extra option lets them experiment with more ideas while keeping their credits intact.

If you set aside strong Chinese video models, Google has been running the western AI video space with barely any competition since OpenAI pulled the plug on Sora. Google's advantage over OpenAI is clear: far more resources, particularly on the compute side.

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Maximilian Schreiner

Apr 13, 2026

AI in practice

The AI industry is running out of compute, with outages, rationing, and rising GPU prices

Maximilian Schreiner

Apr 13, 2026

Short News

Softbank is uniting Japan's industrial elite to build the country's own AI foundation, trying to reduce dependence on American and Chinese models.

Eight Japanese corporations, including NEC, Honda, Sony, three major banks, Nippon Steel, and Kobe Steel, have invested in a new Softbank unit. The goal is to develop a foundation model with roughly one trillion parameters by the end of the decade. The project focuses on "Physical AI," meaning artificial intelligence that can autonomously control robots and machinery.

Even large Japanese companies increasingly rely on foundation models from OpenAI, Anthropic, or Alibaba. But as AI handles more sensitive data like the operational status of industrial facilities, concerns about training data flowing to foreign servers are growing, according to Nikkei. All data processing is set to take place on Japanese soil, including at a data center Softbank is building in a former Sharp LCD factory in Sakai, near Osaka.

Through the funding agency NEDO, roughly one trillion yen (about $6.7 billion) is expected to flow into national AI development over the next five years. Softbank's new unit is considered a leading candidate for these funds.

Comment Source: Nikkei

Maximilian Schreiner

Apr 13, 2026

Short News

According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple is developing smart glasses that skip the display entirely and instead function as an AI wearable. The glasses are part of a three-device strategy - glasses, AirPods, and a camera pendant - all designed to capture the user's surroundings through computer vision and feed that data to Siri and Apple Intelligence. The goal is to enable features like better navigation instructions and visual reminders.

The glasses, internally codenamed N50, are expected to be announced in late 2026 or early 2027 and go on sale the same year. A distinguishing design feature will be vertically oriented oval camera lenses. Unlike Meta, Google, and Samsung, which partner with established eyewear manufacturers, Apple plans to handle the design in-house. The glasses will rely on the new version of Siri shipping with iOS 27.

Apple's former AI chief John Giannandrea is leaving the company for good this week, according to Gurman. His role had already been scaled back in 2025 following the underwhelming rollout of Apple Intelligence.

Comment Source: Bloomberg