NerdNews

Apple's Siri is getting a major overhaul with iOS 27, transforming it into a chatbot-like assistant with capabilities like taking actions across apps, easier back-and-forth interactions, and AI-powered search. The new Siri will be able to pull information from the open web and provide more detailed answers, making it a more efficient and helpful tool for users.

Google announced new Gemini Intelligence-branded AI features at its Android Show, including the ability for AI to complete tasks across apps, browse the web, and fill out forms. Additionally, users can now vibe-code their own Android widgets using natural language.

Google unveils Googlebook, a new line of AI-native laptops built around Gemini, Google's flagship AI models. The laptops will feature 'Magic Pointer', an AI-powered cursor, and be compatible with Android phones. Googlebook will replace Chromebook and marks a transition towards an Android-based operating system with AI built-in.

Vapi, an AI voice startup, has reached a $500M valuation after Amazon Ring chose its platform over 40 rivals. Vapi's platform handles 100% of Ring's inbound calls and has improved customer satisfaction scores. The startup provides tools for companies to build, deploy, and manage voice agents across various applications.

Google unveiled new features at The Android Show, including Googlebooks, Gemini Intelligence, Android 17 updates, Instagram editing tools, and enhanced security measures. Gemini Intelligence brings AI-powered automation to Android devices, while Googlebooks is a new lineup of laptops built for Gemini Intelligence. Android 17 updates include 3D emoji, a speech-to-text feature, and a feature to help users use their phones more intentionally.

Google has announced Gemini Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features that will integrate into the Android mobile operating system. The features include automation of tasks, speech-to-text conversion, and autofill capabilities. Gemini Intelligence will be available on the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer and will roll out to other Android devices later this year.

OpenAI has announced Daybreak, a project that aims to accelerate cyber defense and continuously secure software. Daybreak uses OpenAI's advanced models, including Codex Security, to identify vulnerabilities and patch them. The project is seen as a response to Anthropic's Project Glasswing, but with a more public-facing and less ominous approach.

Nokia has unveiled agentic AI capabilities for its fixed network product lines, aiming to drive productivity and operational intelligence across broadband networks. The AI-enabled fixed networks portfolio is designed to boost user experience, increase operational efficiency, and accelerate fibre roll-out. The technology is expected to help operators tackle fibre and Wi-Fi challenges, resolve problems proactively, and reduce costs.

Android 17 introduces several new features, including revamped emoji, AI-powered widgets, improved AirDrop functionality, and enhanced security measures. Other notable updates include Pause Point, a digital well-being tool, and Screen Reactions, a feature for creating reaction videos. Additionally, Android 17 brings Gemini Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features, including Rambler, a smart transcription tool, and Create My Widget, a custom widget builder.

This article explores the fundamentals of time-series storage design, including normalization, high cardinality, schema evolution, columnar storage, and partitioning. It provides practical guidance on optimizing storage footprint, query performance, and cost, and discusses the trade-offs between different design choices.

Google has introduced a new opt-in feature called 'Intrusion Logging' in Android to help security researchers investigate spyware attacks. The feature creates a new type of log that records errors and collects evidence when something goes wrong with the software, providing visibility into suspected spyware attacks. This feature is part of Android's Advanced Protection Mode and is designed to counter government spyware attacks and police forensic devices.

Google's 'Create My Widget' feature allows users to create custom widgets using natural language. The feature will first launch on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer, and will enable users to create personalized dashboards with information from the web and Google apps.

Exaforce, an AI startup, has raised $125 million in Series B funding to develop AI-powered cybersecurity tools that detect and stop attacks in real-time. The company's AI agents, called 'Exabots,' use deep data analysis to automate security operations, reducing manual tasks by up to 90%. Exaforce plans to use the funding to expand its customer base and develop new features, such as 'vibe hunting,' which allows security teams to query its AI platform with natural language to investigate potential attacks.

A startup called SPAN plans to deploy thousands of mini data centers, called XFRA nodes, in homes across the US. These nodes will contain liquid-cooled Nvidia GPUs and will be used for AI compute workloads, such as cloud gaming and AI inference. Homeowners will be compensated with subsidized electricity and internet access, and will have access to a backup battery in case of power outages.

OpenAI's Daybreak initiative uses large language models and AI-coding assistant Codex to help developers build secure software from the ground up, tackling vulnerabilities from the start of the software development lifecycle.

6G networks will offer unprecedented capabilities, but businesses must avoid expensive lock-ins by auditing current vendors, insisting on open interfaces, and building architectural resilience. They should focus on hybrid connectivity and network-agnostic systems, rather than relying on single vendors or closed architectures.

Samsara's Ground Intelligence uses AI-powered cameras on trucks to detect potholes and other municipal problems, providing cities with proactive warnings and anonymized footage to confirm citizen reports.

Waymo has issued a software update to its fleet of nearly 4,000 vehicles to help them avoid flooded roads. The recall, announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aims to address the issue of Waymo's robotaxis slowing but not stopping when encountering flooded roads.

The Mini Shai-Hulud campaign has compromised dozens of TanStack npm packages, affecting developer ecosystems. The attack involved hijacking legitimate release pipelines to publish hundreds of malicious package versions. At least 84 npm package artifacts were modified with suspected credential-stealing malware.

Several Google Cloud customers have reported having their API keys compromised, leading to unexpected bills for tens of thousands of dollars. The issue is attributed to bad actors using the compromised keys to run expensive video and picture models. Google claims this is an industry-wide problem, but affected users are struggling to get refunds, citing the company's own security guidelines as part of the issue.