NerdNews

Amazon is testing a new AI shopping agent called 'Buy for Me' that can purchase products from third-party websites. The agent, powered by Amazon Nova AI models and Anthropic's Claude, can fill out user information and complete purchases without users leaving the Amazon app. This feature aims to capture more e-commerce business for Amazon, but raises concerns about security and control over the shopping experience.

Google releases Gemini 2.5 Pro, a new AI model with improved benchmarks and 'vibes'. The model is part of Google's efforts to catch up with OpenAI's ChatGPT. Gemini 2.5 Pro features Dynamic Thinking, allowing it to modulate the amount of reasoning in its outputs. Google plans to expand the model's capabilities and release more technical details in the future.

Microsoft is expanding its Copilot Vision feature to Windows and mobile devices, allowing the AI assistant to analyze real-time video and provide guidance on various tasks, such as using Adobe Photoshop or decorating a home. The feature will be available on Windows Insiders next week and will roll out more broadly after testing is complete.

Meta has introduced Llama 4, a multimodal AI suite, with two models available now: Llama 4 Scout and Llama 4 Maverick. Two more models, Llama 4 Behemoth and Llama 4 Reasoning, are upcoming. The models excel in image and text understanding, multi-document summarization, and reasoning over vast codebases.

Meta's new AI model, Maverick, ranks second on LM Arena, but the version deployed differs from the publicly available one, making it challenging for developers to predict performance

Physicist and novelist Alan Lightman discusses the intersection of science and spirituality, the mystery of consciousness, and the potential future of human-machine integration. He explores how AI can appear to be conscious but may not truly be, and how humans may evolve to become 'homo techno' with enhanced brains and new forms of communication.

The STABLE Act and GENIUS Act aim to regulate stablecoins, but critics warn that the bills could allow Big Tech companies like Meta, X, and Amazon to create their own privatized forms of money, consolidating corporate power and potentially undermining the banking system. The legislation has sparked concerns about systemic risks, conflict of interest, and the concentration of financial power in the hands of a few large tech platforms.

Stablecoins are growing in popularity with a total market cap of $235 billion. The US government is considering legislation to regulate stablecoins, with bills passed in the House and Senate. Proponents argue that stablecoins help preserve the dollar's global importance and provide financial inclusion, while critics raise concerns about systemic risks and corporate power.

Vimeo Streaming allows content creators to run their own subscription service without coding experience, providing tools for a 'Netflix-style' experience, monetization options, and support for live-streaming and AI-powered subtitle translations.

A recent supply chain attack on GitHub's tj-actions/changed-files repository has been traced back to the theft of a single token from a spotbugs workflow. The attack, which exposed sensitive secrets for 218 repositories, was initially thought to have compromised 23,000 repositories. The attack was aimed at Coinbase's open-source projects, but the company's swift response mitigated the damage. The incident highlights the importance of securing GitHub tokens and workflows to prevent similar attacks.

OpenAI is testing a new watermark for the Image Generation model in ChatGPT 4o, which can generate realistic visuals like Studio Ghibli artwork. The watermark is currently being tested for free users, while ChatGPT Plus subscribers will be able to save images without the watermark.

Microsoft's Muse AI model can generate gameplay and is being tested with a Quake II demo. The model can learn old games and make them portable to any platform, potentially aiding in game preservation. The demo is available through Copilot and runs at a playable frame rate, but is still a limited experience.

Nvidia's neural rendering integrates neural networks into the rendering process, offering improved performance, image quality, and interactivity. It uses AI to compress complex shader code and textures, enabling cinema-quality visuals at game-ready frame rates. The technology is showcased in the Zorah tech demo, which demonstrates the power of neural rendering on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs.

A Microsoft employee disrupted the company's 50th anniversary event by protesting the sale of AI products to the Israeli military, citing concerns over the use of AI in genocide and human rights abuses. The employee, Ibtihal Aboussad, alleged that Microsoft's AI technology is being used to spy on and murder civilians in Gaza.

Rapidus, a Japanese semiconductor startup, is in discussions with Apple to supply advanced 2-nanometer chips for its AI servers. The company aims to start mass production by 2027 and has partnered with IBM and ASML to develop its manufacturing processes. This move could help Apple reduce its dependence on Taiwan's TSMC and provide a more stable supply chain.

Engineers at Northwestern University have developed the world's smallest pacemaker, which is injectable and powered by light. The device is one millimeter in thickness and can deliver as much stimulation as a full-sized unit. It safely dissolves into the bloodstream after a time and is designed for short-term use, such as for newborn babies with congenital defects.

The Verge reviews the best wireless earbuds from Apple, Bose, Samsung, Sony, and more, considering factors like sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort. Top picks include the Sony WF-1000XM5, Nothing Ear (a), Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, and Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen).

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, 2025, for $450. It features a 7.9-inch 1080p display, up to 120fps, and improved Joy-Con controllers. New games include Mario Kart World, Elden Ring, and Donkey Kong Bananza. The console has 256GB of storage, Wi-Fi 6, and a new GameChat feature with voice and video chat.

Nintendo has delayed US pre-orders for the Switch 2 due to new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. The console's launch date remains June 5, but pre-orders will not start on April 9 as previously planned. The tariffs, which target countries including Japan, China, and Vietnam, may impact the pricing and availability of the Switch 2 in the US.

Apple is planning to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone with a significant redesign, potentially including a foldable version and a bold new Pro model with more extensive use of glass. The redesign is expected to be unveiled in 2027.