Here is the top trending news from the world of technology & AI. News that every tech enthusiast should keep a tab on.
1)
Google launches Gemini Live – its response to OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode
At its highly anticipated Made By Google event on Tuesday, Google officially unveiled Gemini Live, its advanced voice assistant that will power Pixel 9 phones. However, this feature will only be available to Gemini Advanced subscribers. Users can choose from 10 customized voices to speak with Gemini Live, with each voice supposedly sounding as real and human as possible. You can converse at your own pace, speak slowly or interrupt the response midyway to clarify the question or ask a follow up question – just like you converse with a normal human being. You can even pause or resume the conversation whenever you want.
2)
Pixel 9 and much more unveiled at Made by Google event
Google unveiled all its Pixel 9 phones at its annual Made by Google event, including Pixel 9 Pro, larger Pixel 9 Pro XL and the new foldable model Pixel 9 Pro Fold. To add up to the information, Pixel 9 comes with an ample camera bump while Pixel 9 Pro Fold is indeed thick, thick by almost 0.4 inches. However, the big breaking and a rather sad news is that Pixel 9 won’t be launched with Android 15 and will work on Android 14. In another news, Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 were also launched while Gemini – Google’s AI powered chatbot – will become a default assistant in all Pixel 9 phones.
3)
Opera’s AI powered browser ‘One’ is now available on IOS
Opera One, the new browser from Opera that comes packed with many generative AI features, is now available for iPhone and iPad users. Until now it was available to desktop users and Android users. Opera One for IOS will have many unique features like customizable navigation, where IOS users get to choose from standard navigation or bottom search. It also comes full screen browsing experience, which will enhance the browsing experience of IOS device owners. But more importantly, it comes with Aria AI Assistant, which can prove pretty handy in fulfilling many of your tasks; like procuring information on various topics, code generation and even generating images.
4)
Twitch launches ‘Video Stories’ to compete with Instagram
Twitch is following up with photo and text stories that were launched last year by launching video stories. Streamers can upload a film up to 60 second long on Twitch mobile app. The video stories will be displayed on streamer profiles and can be accessed by followers as well as non-followers. They can also include polls, quizzes and question stickers to engage with the audiences. Similar to Instagram stories, Twitch stories will also disappear after 24 hours. This new feature will help the Twitch streamers to connect with the audience in a new way.
5)
OpenAI quietly updates ChatGPT with new GPT-4o model
Without much fanfare and any big announcement, OpenAI has updated ChatGPT with a new GPT-4o model. This update was launched last week. OpenAI made this announcement through a post on ChatGPT’s official ‘X’ handle and later confirmed it through a blog post. However, OpenAI refused shed more light on how this update will improve ChatGPT. Some ChatGPT users claimed that since last week they are finding ChatGPT’s responses to be more detailed and comprehensive. But right now it is too early to claim how effective or ineffective the updated GPT-4o model is.