AI This Week

Nvidia, in collaboration with Google DeepMind and Disney Research, has revealed a Star Wars-inspired AI-powered robot named Blue, which was showcased at the Nvidia GTC 2025 keynote. This robot uses Newton, a new open-source physics engine developed by the trio, designed for real-time robotic simulation. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang demonstrated Blue's capabilities on stage, highlighting its potential future applications in training robots. The open-source nature of Newton aims to advance the robotics community by allowing widespread use and development contributions. This initiative points towards Disney's vision of integrating such robots in its entertainment parks soon.

Apple is facing significant challenges with its AI initiatives as it struggles to advance its Apple Intelligence platform. The company recently delayed a key update to Siri, its AI-powered voice assistant, which was meant to feature enhanced personal context and on-screen awareness. An offsite meeting involving Apple's top 100 executives is planned, with Apple Intelligence as the primary discussion topic. Despite admitting shortcomings, a shake-up in Apple’s executive team appears unlikely. Apple aims to swiftly address its AI setbacks to reinvigorate consumer confidence and expectations. The pressure is on for Apple to demonstrate its innovation and regain momentum in the AI space.

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Vishal Sharma, Amazon’s VP of Artificial General Intelligence, stated that AI impacts every part of Amazon. AI is deployed across Amazon Web Services, warehouse robotics, and the Alexa consumer product, among other applications. Sharma highlighted Amazon's robust AI infrastructure, mentioning the new “Bedrock” service and a large AI compute cluster built with Anthropic. He dismissed concerns over smaller open-source models, emphasizing the need for more intelligent solutions. Sharma also addressed geopolitical tensions and AI strategies, affirming Amazon's long-term commitment to AI development.

Google has shared policy recommendations for the U.S. AI Action Plan in response to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The tech giant outlines three key focus areas: investing in AI infrastructure and policies, accelerating government AI adoption, and promoting pro-innovation approaches internationally. Google emphasizes the need for coordinated federal and local efforts, streamlined procurement procedures, and championing market-driven technical standards. The company underscores the importance of policy decisions in shaping the global AI competition and ensuring America's continued leadership in the field.

With artificial intelligence revolutionizing the tech arena, nearly one in four new U.S. tech job postings now explicitly seek AI expertise, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. This surge reflects the growing demand for skills in machine learning, data analytics, and automation, reshaping hiring practices across industries. Companies are increasingly prioritizing candidates with advanced AI capabilities to drive innovation and maintain competitive edges. The evolving job market is prompting a major talent race and shifting career opportunities, challenging workers and organizations alike as they adapt to rapid technological advances and the integration of AI into core business operations successfully.

In a landmark legal move, leading French publishers and prominent authors associations have initiated a lawsuit against Meta for allegedly using copyrighted content without permission to develop its artificial intelligence systems. The lawsuit alleges that Meta exploited protected materials on a massive scale, raising serious concerns about ethical practices and the future sourcing of AI training data. The case has spotlighted growing tensions between creative content creators and major tech companies, potentially setting a precedent for intellectual property rights in AI development. Observers say the outcome may reshape how tech giants procure and utilize training data in evolving AI ecosystems.

Apple is postponing significant Siri AI enhancements until 2026, according to Bloomberg. Initially planned for 2025, these features are part of Apple's broader AI strategy. The delay affects improvements aimed at making Siri more conversational and capable of handling complex tasks. Despite this setback, Apple plans to announce initial AI features for iPhones, iPads, and Macs at its developer conference in June. The company faces mounting pressure as competitors like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI advance their AI offerings. Apple's stock dipped slightly following the news, reflecting investor concerns about the company's pace in the competitive AI landscape.

LG has unveiled the LG ARTCOOL air conditioner with AI capabilities. It includes a 4-way swinging mechanism for efficient cooling and AI to optimize performance by analyzing the room environment. The system adjusts settings based on learned preferences and supports voice control with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. LG claims the ARTCOOL is 15% more energy-efficient than conventional models. Users can control the device via the LG ThinQ app.

TechCrunch reports that a quarter of startups in Y Combinator's current cohort have codebases that are 95% AI-generated. YC managing partner Jared Friedman revealed this trend during a YouTube discussion on "vibe coding" - using natural language and AI to create code. While AI-generated code can have flaws, YC leaders emphasize the importance of developers maintaining coding skills to debug and sustain products long-term. The article discusses the growing popularity of AI-powered coding tools, with several startups raising significant funding in this space. YC CEO Garry Tan believes this shift in coding practices is here to stay.

Amazon has announced Alexa+, a new AI-powered virtual assistant that promises enhanced conversational abilities and expanded capabilities. According to Amazon's SVP of Devices & Services Panos Panay, Alexa+ leverages generative AI to offer more natural interactions, deeper personalization, and improved task completion across various services and devices. The upgraded assistant will be available for free to Prime members and $19.99/month for others. Alexa+ aims to seamlessly integrate into users' lives, managing homes, making reservations, and even navigating the internet autonomously.