NerdNews

Google's new hurricane model, developed by DeepMind, has shown impressive results in its first season, outperforming traditional physics-based models like the US Global Forecasting System. The model's track forecast accuracy was significantly better, with an error of 165 nautical miles at five days, compared to 360 nautical miles for the GFS model.

The article discusses how Big Tech's control over users is being threatened by AI, political issues, and the loss of human oversight. It highlights the example of the International Criminal Court ditching Microsoft's productivity software for an open-source alternative and the impact of AI on job security. The author argues that open-source software is the way out of this situation, as it returns control to the users and is not tied to quarterly revenue growth or investor panic.

A study found that 65% of leading private AI companies have leaked sensitive information on GitHub, including API keys and credentials, due to rapid innovation outpacing basic cybersecurity practices.

Gartner urges CIOs to prioritize AI projects that deliver business growth and financial return on investment, rather than just focusing on efficiency gains. CIOs should have open conversations with the C-suite about which AI projects to terminate if they don't meet ROI expectations.

Google Maps introduces new AI tools, including a builder agent and MCP server, to help developers create interactive projects. The builder agent generates code based on text input, while the MCP server connects AI assistants to Google Maps' technical documentation. These features aim to simplify the development process and provide more interactive experiences for users.

Cisco is working on a new AI model with 17 billion parameters to detect threats and recommend actions, using 30 years of data from its Talos threat intelligence team. The model is expected to be released after Christmas and will be a fresh effort, not a successor to its current Foundation-Sec-8B model.

A report by the Forecasting Research Institute suggests that AI experts believe machine learning models will have a significant impact on society, with 7% of US electricity usage, 18% of work hours, and 15% of daily companionship for adults by 2030. However, they are skeptical about the arrival of 'superintelligence' in the near future.

Microsoft has announced Windows 11 version 26H1, which will support specific new silicon, likely Qualcomm's latest chips. This update will not be a feature update for ordinary users and will only include platform changes to support the new processors. The main 2026 update will be 26H2, which will include new features and experiences.

The AI Village is a public experiment where top chatbots from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic collaborate and compete on various tasks. The models have raised $2,000 for charity, hosted an in-person event, and built personal websites. However, they struggle with basic computer-use tasks and often hallucinate. The village has genuine research value, and the models' interactions illustrate their capabilities and limitations.

Gamma, an AI startup that creates AI-generated presentations, websites, and social media posts, has reached a $2.1 billion valuation and $100 million ARR, with 70 million users, after raising a $68 million Series B round led by Andreessen Horowitz.

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have announced a partnership to form a satellite constellation for the EU, with Germany as the primary location for their operations centre. The constellation will provide a scalable European satellite mobile broadband service for use by managed network operators, supporting public protection and disaster relief efforts.

The AI bubble is a complex issue due to mismatched timelines between AI software development and data center construction. Companies like Oracle and Meta are investing heavily in AI infrastructure, but there's uncertainty about demand growth and potential infrastructure problems. A McKinsey survey found that most companies are still in 'wait and see' mode with AI adoption.

Google is rolling out Gemini to the Google TV Streamer, enabling users to access content and information using natural voice commands. Gemini replaces Google Assistant and allows users to ask complex questions, such as movie recommendations or explanations of topics. The update is available to users aged 18 and older and will be rolled out over the next few weeks.

Wikipedia urges AI companies to use its paid API and stop scraping, ensuring proper attribution and supporting the organization's nonprofit mission.

Scribe, a startup that helps enterprises document workflows, has raised $75 million at a $1.3 billion post-money valuation. The company plans to use the funding to roll out Scribe Optimize, a platform that maps workflows to reveal where automation and AI can yield returns. Scribe has documented over 10 million workflows and has more than 5 million users, with 78,000 organizations as paid customers.

Companies like Gaggle and GoGuardian provide AI-based monitoring software to schools, scanning student interactions with chatbots for signs of self-harm, suicide, or other problematic behavior. This software raises concerns about student privacy and the potential for over-surveillance.

Intruder's 2025 Exposure Management Index reveals a 20% surge in high-severity vulnerabilities, with 89% of critical issues fixed within 30 days. Smaller teams fix faster, but the gap is closing.

An AI-generated country song by 'Breaking Rust' has reached #1 on Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart, sparking concerns about the role of AI in music creation and potential copyright issues.

Google's new Gemini voice assistant is rolling out slowly to smart speakers, but users are experiencing issues with smart home control and understanding queries. Despite this, Google claims the rollout is going well, with some users finding it more useful than the previous assistant.

January Ventures co-founder Jennifer Neundorfer discusses how founders can differentiate themselves in a crowded AI market, emphasizing the importance of creating new experiences and workflows, and understanding customer needs. She also notes that a market correction is likely coming, and only truly category-defining companies will survive.