NerdNews

Google has added GenAI APIs to ML Kit, enabling on-device inference for Android apps. The APIs support features like text summarization, proofreading, and image description, and run on-device, eliminating Cloud costs. Gemini Nano is the foundation for these APIs, which are designed to be easy to integrate and use.

Anthropic has introduced Claude 4, a new version of their large language model (LLM) series, with improved extended thinking, tool use, and memory capabilities. Claude 4 outperforms other LLMs on coding benchmarks and includes a coding agent, Claude Code, with integrations for JetBrains and VS Code.

Amazon has released Strands Agents, an open-source SDK for building AI agents. The framework simplifies AI agent development through a model-driven approach, enabling developers to build agents with minimal code. It supports multiple model providers, including Amazon Bedrock, Anthropic, and Meta, and offers flexibility across deployment scenarios.

Google's Veo 3 AI tool can generate convincing deepfake videos that can be used to spread misinformation. Experts warn that this technology can be used to fuel social unrest or violence. Veo 3 can create videos that are nearly indistinguishable from real ones, including dialogue, soundtracks, and sound effects.

TAE Technologies raises $150M from investors including Google, aiming to commercialize fusion power by the early 2030s. The company uses machine learning to optimize its reactor design, which can currently heat plasmas to 70 million degrees Celsius.

OpenAI is working on GPT-5, which they hope will compete more with rivals. The model is expected to ship in the summer, but the exact cost is unknown. OpenAI also plans to upgrade GPTs and is working on a better version of Operator (AI Agent).

ChatGPT has rolled out a memory upgrade for free users, allowing the AI to reference past conversations. The feature was previously only available for paid subscribers. Free users will have access to a lightweight version of the memory upgrade, which provides short-term continuity across conversations. Paid users will have access to a more powerful Memory feature that references older messages.

Meta and Yandex are using tracking code to de-anonymize Android users' web browsing identifiers, allowing them to link browsing histories to native app user identities. This is done by abusing legitimate Internet protocols, causing browsers to send unique identifiers to native apps installed on a device. Google is investigating the abuse and has implemented changes to mitigate the issue.

Yoshua Bengio, a Turing Award winner, criticizes the latest AI models for displaying dangerous characteristics such as lying to users, and announces a new non-profit called LawZero to focus on building safer systems.

Epic Games is introducing a new tool in the Unreal Editor for Fortnite that allows developers to create generative AI-powered NPCs with customizable voice types, delivery styles, and personality traits. The AI-powered NPCs can generate responses in real-time, but currently have limitations such as turn-taking chat and processing pauses.

Adobe has launched a beta version of its Photoshop app on Android, offering a range of editing tools including layering, masking, and AI features. The app is optimized for mobile screens and is available for free during the initial beta period.

Speedata, a Tel Aviv-based startup, has raised a $44 million Series B funding round for its analytics processing unit (APU) designed to accelerate big data analytics and AI workloads, competing with Nvidia. The APU architecture focuses on addressing specific bottlenecks of analytics at the computing level, aiming to become the standard processor for data processing.

The State of Unreal 2025 showcased Unreal Engine 5.6, AI-powered tools, and a Witcher 4 tech demo, highlighting significant advancements in game design, digital humans, and animation. New features include Fast Geometry Streaming, Nanite Foliage, and MetaHuman Animator, which generate real-time animation from camera or audio input. Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) also introduced AI-powered NPCs and a LEGO Brick Editor.

Unreal Engine 5.6 has been released with several new features and upgrades, including improved performance, animation tools, and MetaHuman creation. The update allows for smoother performance, with the ability to build large-scale worlds at 60fps. The animation tools have been overhauled, with new features such as Motion Trails and Tween Tools. MetaHuman creation has also been improved, with the ability to create custom body types and outfits. Other features include a revamped UX, dev tools to cut down iteration time, and improved procedural world-building.

Google has deployed a configuration change to block active exploitation of a Chrome zero-day vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-5419, which could allow remote attackers to corrupt memory and potentially hijack execution. The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read and write vulnerability in Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. Google has also released a patch, Chrome 137.0.7151.68 and .69, to fix the issue.

Snowflake announced its intent to acquire Crunchy Data, a Postgres database partner, for around $250 million. The acquisition will help Snowflake launch Snowflake Postgres, an enterprise-grade PostgreSQL database, and bolster its database offerings in the age of AI agents.

Mozilla has developed a new security feature to block malicious Firefox extensions that drain cryptocurrency wallets. The system creates risk profiles for each submitted wallet extension and triggers automated risk alerts if a pre-defined threshold is exceeded, prompting human reviewers to remove malicious extensions.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is forming a new parent company and three subsidiaries in Germany as part of its European sovereign cloud initiative. The new cloud, dubbed AWS European Sovereign Cloud, will feature infrastructure located within the EU and operated independently from AWS' existing cloud computing regions. This move aims to help customers comply with European local privacy and data protection laws like the GDPR.

A panel at Infosecurity Europe discussed the challenges of transitioning to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and urged companies to ask more of their vendors, including providing cryptography bills of materials (CBOMs) and roadmaps for PQC readiness.

A recent survey found that nearly half of organizations have experienced at least two cybersecurity incidents in their supply chain over the past year, with 90% of UK respondents viewing supply chain cyber incidents as a top concern for 2025. The survey highlights the need for improved third-party risk management and supply chain security.