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Grok has added two interactive AI avatars to its iOS app: Ani, an anime character, and Rudy, a red panda. Users can talk to the avatars via voice, change their backgrounds, and unlock new features through conversation, including an NSFW mode. More avatars, like "Chad," are already in the works. A SuperGrok account is required, and all languages available in Grok’s voice mode are supported. The feature is currently only available on iOS; Android support has not been announced.

Bild: X

 

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Google is expanding its AI-powered note-taking app, NotebookLM, with a curated collection of public notebooks. The new library features content from The Economist, The Atlantic, as well as researchers, authors, and nonprofit organizations. Users can read original texts, ask questions, and get source-backed summaries. The update also introduces auto-generated audio overviews and mind maps for quick topic navigation. The first batch includes resources like longevity advice, a Yellowstone travel guide, the works of Shakespeare, and financial data on major companies. This new feature builds on NotebookLM’s public sharing capabilities - according to Google, users have published over 140,000 notebooks since launch.

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Cognition AI, the startup behind the Devin coding assistant, has acquired rival Windsurf. The deal comes after Google licensed parts of Windsurf’s technology for $2.4 billion and hired away several key executives, moves that weakened Windsurf as an independent company. OpenAI was also interested in acquiring Windsurf, but didn’t close a deal. As part of the acquisition, all Windsurf employees are set to benefit financially. Staff with equity will receive early payouts, while others will get partial ownership stakes. The move comes amid intensifying competition among major tech companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Google for top AI talent.

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Google’s text embedding model "gemini-embedding-001" is now generally available via the Gemini API and Vertex AI. It costs $0.15 per one million input tokens.

The model supports over 100 languages, handles inputs of up to 2048 tokens, and uses Matryoshka Representation Learning (MRL) to reduce output size, which helps cut memory use and computing costs. Google says the model performs better than its earlier models and external alternatives in several tasks. Since its experimental launch in March, Google states the model has held a top position on the MTEB Multilingual Leaderboard.

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Malaysia now requires special permits for transporting high-performance US chips - including those just passing through the country for AI applications.

"Malaysia stands firm against any attempt to circumvent export controls or engage in illicit trade activities by any individual or company, who will face strict legal action if found violating the laws," the country's Ministry of Trade announced.

The new rules mean anyone transporting AI chips from the US through Malaysia - including transit to China - now needs government approval. The move effectively makes Malaysia an extension of US export controls, coming amid growing tensions over China's access to advanced AI chips. The policy takes effect immediately.

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SpaceX, Elon Musk's aerospace company, is investing $2 billion in Elon Musk's AI lab, xAI. The funding is part of a larger $5 billion round, according to The Wall Street Journal. xAI's chatbot Grok is already used for customer support in SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service.

Musk stated on X that "it would be great" if Tesla also invested in xAI, but this requires approval from Tesla's board and shareholders. In March, Musk announced the merger of xAI with his social media company X. The merger allows the companies to share data, AI models, computing power, and staff.

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