AI This Week

Experts at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI forecast a dramatic shift for artificial intelligence in 2026, predicting the year will mark a turn from creative hype to sober measurement. This new era will subject systems to exacting tests for accuracy, risk, and value. Computer scientists anticipate a surge in AI sovereignty, with nations building their own models and data centers. They also project new interfaces will move beyond today’s chatbots. Meanwhile, legal scholars expect domain-specific benchmarks will hold AI accountable, and healthcare leaders predict hospitals will demand strict return-on-investment frameworks for new tools.

Texas startup Last Energy has raised $100 million to build and deploy mini nuclear reactors for AI data centers. The company plans modular units that deliver steady, carbon-free power near compute clusters. The funding backs factory production, site development, and customer agreements aimed at round-the-clock reliability as data center demand surges. Power-hungry AI training strains grids, and companies seek cleaner supply. Last Energy pitches shorter build times, standardized components, and predictable costs compared with large nuclear plants. The company targets private power deals that bypass grid bottlenecks and match data center load. Contracts would supply dedicated, on-site power to new global server farms. Investors are betting that next-generation nuclear can anchor the next wave of AI growth across markets

Nvidia is moving beyond selling AI chips by releasing Nemotron 3, a family of open models plus the training data and tools to customize them. The lineup includes Nano (30B parameters), Super (100B), and Ultra (500B). Nvidia says benchmark scores place the models among the best downloadable options. The company also shipped a hybrid latent mixture‑of‑experts design for agent building and libraries for reinforcement learning. The push arrives as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic develop their own chips and as US firms share less about research, while Chinese companies release powerful open models more frequently. OpenRouter data shows open models handled about a third of tokens in 2025.

Google is turning any pair of headphones into a live translation device. Using its Gemini AI, the company’s Translate app now delivers real-time, speech-to-speech translation directly to your ears. This is not a recording; it’s a conversation. The new beta function supports more than 70 languages and works to preserve the tone and cadence of the original speaker, resulting in more natural dialogue. Beyond live audio, the update also improves text translation by better interpreting context from idioms and slang. Google is also adding new tools for language learners. The initial beta is available for Android users in the US, Mexico, and India, with a wider release expected in 2026.

Adobe is embedding its creative software directly into ChatGPT. You can now use conversational commands to edit photos, manage PDFs, and generate designs without leaving the chatbot. New, free apps for Photoshop, Acrobat, and Adobe Express activate just by typing the app’s name with an instruction, like blurring an image background or converting a file. While the tools do not offer the complete functionality of the desktop software, they manage many common creative tasks. This move intensifies competition with Google’s Gemini AI and is part of Adobe’s plan to make its software more accessible through conversational commands