AI News

News

Page 239
Microsoft Brings Local AI to Notepad on Copilot+ PCs and Updates Core Apps

Microsoft Brings Local AI to Notepad on Copilot+ PCs and Updates Core Apps

Microsoft announced that Notepad’s AI writing tools will soon run locally on Copilot+ PCs, eliminating the need for a subscription for those features. The change lets users choose between on‑device and cloud generation. At the same time, Paint receives project‑saving capabilities and an opacity slider, while Snipping Tool adds a quick markup option. All updates are rolling out to Windows Insider Canary and Dev channels, giving early testers access to the new functionality.

Notion Unveils First AI Agent for Data Analysis and Automation

Notion Unveils First AI Agent for Data Analysis and Automation

At its Make with Notion event, Notion announced the launch of its first AI agent, a tool that taps into a user’s Notion pages and databases to automatically generate notes, analyses, and updates. The agent can create and modify pages, pull data from external sources like Slack, email and Google Drive, and operate on multi‑step tasks that run for up to 20 minutes across hundreds of pages. Users can customize its behavior through a profile page, and Notion plans to add scheduling, trigger‑based automation and a template library in future releases.

Meta Unveils Ray‑Ban Display Smart Glasses Aiming to Shift Away from Smartphones

Meta Unveils Ray‑Ban Display Smart Glasses Aiming to Shift Away from Smartphones

Meta introduced its new Ray‑Ban Display smart glasses, positioning them as a replacement for smartphones. CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that the glasses preserve human presence lost to phone screens. The device combines cameras, speakers, microphones and an on‑board AI assistant, while an accompanying Neural Band uses surface electromyography (sEMG) to let users write messages without speaking. Zuckerberg demonstrated a texting speed of about 30 words per minute. The launch highlights Reality Labs' ongoing investment in sEMG research and underscores Meta’s ambition to compete with Apple and Google in the wearable market.

Google Enables Sharing of Custom Gemini AI Assistants (Gems)

Google Enables Sharing of Custom Gemini AI Assistants (Gems)

Google announced that users can now share their custom Gemini AI assistants, known as Gems, directly from the Gemini platform. The sharing feature works like Google Drive, letting creators control who can view or edit each Gem. Initially launched as part of the Gemini Advanced subscription and offered to Business and Enterprise customers, the capability is now available to all users and supports file uploads. Pre‑made Gems include a learning coach, brainstorming assistant, career guide, writing editor, and coding partner, expanding the reach of personalized AI tools across personal and professional contexts.

House Oversight Committee Calls CEOs of Discord, Twitch, Reddit, and Steam to Testify on Online Radicalization

House Oversight Committee Calls CEOs of Discord, Twitch, Reddit, and Steam to Testify on Online Radicalization

The House Oversight Committee has asked the chief executives of Discord, Twitch, Reddit and Steam to appear before the panel to discuss their platforms' role in online radicalization and political violence. Chairman Rep. James Comer cited the recent murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a reason for congressional oversight. Discord and Reddit have responded, saying they welcome dialogue and are investigating any links to the incident, while emphasizing existing policies against hateful and violent content.

Microsoft Rolls Out AI Copilot Agents Across Teams, SharePoint and Viva Engage

Microsoft Rolls Out AI Copilot Agents Across Teams, SharePoint and Viva Engage

Microsoft announced a suite of AI Copilot agents that will operate inside Teams, SharePoint and Viva Engage. The new agents include facilitator agents for meetings, channel agents for project discussions, community agents for Viva Engage and knowledge agents that organize SharePoint content. All agents are available to Microsoft 365 Copilot users, with many features in public preview, and are accompanied by a redesigned Workflows tool and an audio recap generator for meetings.

Meta Announces Wearable Device Access Toolkit for Smart Glasses Developers

Meta Announces Wearable Device Access Toolkit for Smart Glasses Developers

Meta has unveiled a Wearable Device Access Toolkit that will let developers tap the vision and audio capabilities of its upcoming AI‑powered smart glasses. The toolkit, currently in preview, offers access to on‑device sensors and open‑ear audio, enabling new hands‑free experiences. Meta is opening a waitlist for early access, with a limited preview slated for later this year and broader publishing expected by 2026. Early partners such as Twitch and Disney’s Imagineering R&D team have already explored use cases, ranging from livestreaming to park‑visitor assistance.

Oakley Meta Vanguard AI Smart Glasses Offer Action‑Ready Features

Oakley Meta Vanguard AI Smart Glasses Offer Action‑Ready Features

The Oakley Meta Vanguard AI glasses, unveiled by Meta, are designed for extreme‑sport enthusiasts. They feature a removable prismatic visor, a 12‑megapixel ultra‑wide camera capable of 3K video, IP67 water‑resistance, louder open‑ear speakers, and a customizable action button. Integrated Meta AI works with Garmin watches to display heart‑rate and fitness data without a voice trigger. Battery life reaches nine hours, and the price is listed at $499 with a launch date of October 21. Early testing on a treadmill showed stable video capture and clear audio, positioning the glasses as a rugged alternative to Meta’s Ray‑Ban lineup.

Samsung Set to Unveil Galaxy Z TriFold and New Mixed‑Reality Gear in South Korea

Samsung Set to Unveil Galaxy Z TriFold and New Mixed‑Reality Gear in South Korea

Samsung is preparing to launch its Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone, along with the Project Moohan mixed‑reality headset and AI smart glasses, at a South Korean event on Sept. 29. The tri‑screen device follows Huawei’s Mate XT as the second triple‑screen phone and may later be considered for markets outside Korea. Industry observers note the launch comes weeks after Apple’s iPhone 17 rollout and could signal Samsung’s continued push in the premium foldable space.

AI Tools Help Students Manage Their Time

AI Tools Help Students Manage Their Time

Students frequently struggle with meeting deadlines, balancing coursework with jobs, and coping with the stress of missed assignments. Recent observations highlight how AI assistants such as Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini can provide practical support. Copilot can review reading material and estimate the time needed to complete tasks, while Gemini can sync reminders and calendar entries across Google apps. An additional AI chatbot offers a sounding board for emotional concerns. Together, these tools aim to reduce time‑management friction and improve academic outcomes for learners.

YouTube Live Receives Major Overhaul with Playables, Dual-Format Streaming, and New Monetization Tools

YouTube Live Receives Major Overhaul with Playables, Dual-Format Streaming, and New Monetization Tools

At its Made on YouTube event, the platform unveiled the most significant update to its livestream service to date. Creators can now embed Playables—free mini‑games such as Angry Birds Showdown and Cut the Rope—directly into live streams, offering an interactive experience for viewers. A new dual‑format capability lets streams broadcast simultaneously in horizontal and vertical orientations, while a shared chat keeps audiences unified. AI‑powered highlights automatically generate Shorts from the best moments, and a practice mode lets creators rehearse without going live. Monetization also evolves with side‑by‑side ads that run beside content and a streamlined option for members‑only streams.

YouTube Unveils New Generative AI Tools for Shorts Creators

YouTube Unveils New Generative AI Tools for Shorts Creators

At the Made on YouTube live event, YouTube announced a suite of generative AI features aimed at Shorts creators. The rollout includes a custom, low‑latency version of Google’s Veo 3 model called Veo 3 Fast, new motion‑transfer and style‑transfer capabilities, a speech‑to‑song remixing tool powered by Lyria 2, and an “Edit with AI” assistant that drafts short videos from raw footage. The initial launch covers the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with plans to expand to additional regions.