AI This Week

Inbenta has announced significant achievements for the first half of 2025, reporting a 50% year-over-year rise in new customer acquisitions and expanded traction in European markets. The company saw a 21% increase in revenue from existing clients through enhanced platform usage, professional services, and added offerings. Use of its AI-powered solutions surged, with enterprise integrations scaling by 54%, showcasing the platform's adaptability for demanding environments. Additionally, Inbenta improved profitability while advancing innovation and preparing a major platform update slated for later this year. CEO Melissa Solis highlighted the team's dedication and the platform's growing impact on leading enterprises. With its AI applications delivering measurable results, Inbenta positions itself for further growth.

A groundbreaking AI model, Hierarchical Reasoning Model (HRM), developed by Sapient Intelligence, proves smaller can be smarter. With only 27 million parameters, HRM tackles reasoning puzzles that stump massive models like ChatGPT. Unlike traditional Chain-of-Thought methods, which falter with missteps, HRM mimics the brain with two modules: a strategic "planner" and a rapid "worker." This novel approach enables deep reasoning in a single forward pass. HRM has delivered stunning results. On the ARC-AGI benchmark, it outperformed larger models, and in extreme Sudoku and maze challenges, it excelled where others failed entirely. Its efficiency promises cheaper deployment, faster training, and innovative possibilities for local AI systems.

Replica Studios’ cutting-edge demonstration reveals how generative AI is transforming video games. Set inside a simulation inspired by "The Matrix," non-playable characters (NPCs) powered by AI grappled with existential dilemmas after discovering their world wasn’t real. Their unscripted, human-like responses — created using tools like ChatGPT — stunned onlookers, hinting at both the immersive potential and ethical concerns of AI integration.The technology’s ability to enhance gameplay with realistic dialogue raises questions about the future of the gaming industry. While it promises richer worlds, it also foreshadows potential upheaval for voice actors, writers, and creatives, whose roles may be supplanted by AI. This thought-provoking advancement leaves the industry at a crossroads.

NICE has announced its acquisition of Cognigy, a leading enterprise provider of conversational and agentic AI. Known for innovation in the AI industry, Cognigy supports major brands like Adidas, Nestlé, and Toyota with advanced virtual agent solutions. This strategic move bolsters NICE’s portfolio, pairing Cognigy’s cutting-edge AI offerings with NICE's CXone Mpower Orchestrator. The acquisition positions NICE to drive advancements in AI-first customer experiences while strengthening its footing in global markets. Industry experts believe the deal could trigger significant consolidation within the AI customer experience space. Cognigy’s extensive customer base and reputation for high satisfaction amplify the deal’s significance, with implications for end-to-end CX workflows.

The White House has released a new AI Action Plan, which aims to bolster US dominance in artificial intelligence. The plan, unveiled at an event co-hosted by tech investors, aims to cut environmental regulations to speed up AI supercomputer construction and promote U.S.-made AI technologies globally. It includes executive orders to fast-track AI projects, expand tech exports, and address perceived liberal bias in AI systems.

YouTube Shorts is launching several generative AI features for creators. Among the highlights is an image-to-video tool that transforms static photos into dynamic six-second videos. Users can animate landscape photos, group shots, or even everyday images using AI-powered suggestions. For example, the tool can breathe life into objects like pedestrian signals, creating engaging visuals. Additionally, creators can explore new AI effects to turn doodles into art or selfies into imaginative scenarios, such as swimming underwater. Powered by Google's Veo 2 video generation model, these tools come with clear labels and SynthID watermarks to mark AI-generated content. The features are currently rolling out to select regions.

Google DeepMind has unveiled Aeneas, an advanced AI model designed to help historians interpret and preserve ancient texts. Announced in Nature, this innovation examines and restores fragmented Latin inscriptions, offering profound insights into the past. Aeneas can identify textual parallels, process both text and image inputs, and fill gaps in damaged writings, setting a new benchmark in the field. While initially focused on Latin, the model’s capabilities can extend to other ancient languages, scripts, and artifacts, such as papyri and coins. Researchers, students, and educators can access an interactive version of Aeneas at predictingthepast.com, with its code and dataset made open source.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has signed an agreement with the UK government to use artificial intelligence in public services. The aims to boost productivity in areas such as education, defense, security, and the justice system. The deal may give OpenAI access to government data and involve developing safeguards to protect the public. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasized AI's role in driving economic growth. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated the plan would "deliver prosperity for all." The agreement also includes potential investment in AI infrastructure and expansion of OpenAI's London office.

Lovable, a Stockholm-based AI startup, has hit unicorn status just eight months after launching. The company, which simplifies website and app creation through natural language inputs, raised $200 million in a Series A funding round. This latest funding, led by Accel, values Lovable at $1.8 billion. The platform has attracted over 2.3 million active users, with 180,000 paying subscribers and $75 million in annual recurring revenue. Its rapid success comes with a lean team of just 45 employees and backing from notable investors, including the CEOs of Klarna, Remote, and Slack. With enterprise clients like Klarna and HubSpot already aboard, Lovable is expanding its vision to support full-scale business applications.

OpenAI has introduced a powerful new capability for its ChatGPT service—a cutting-edge AI agent designed to tackle complex tasks. This development places OpenAI ahead in the competitive AI landscape, backed by Microsoft's support. These sophisticated agents integrate functionalities like web interaction and advanced multi-step task execution. Users on Pro, Plus, and Team tiers can activate this feature to handle nuanced requests, such as selecting wedding attire by factoring in dress codes and weather. The agent is equipped with a virtual computer and tools to connect with applications like Gmail and GitHub, enabling personalized and efficient task handling. With technology giants like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Oracle heavily investing in AI agents, this innovation underscores their strategic importance.