Technology

The NY Times reported this week that Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the world's wealthiest people, is putting both his money and his mouth into an artificial intelligence startup that he will help manage as its co-chief executive. The company, Project Prometheus, is coming out of the gates with purported funding of $6.2 billion, partly from Mr. Bezos (according to undisclosed sources), making it one of the most well-financed early-stage AI startups in the world.

November 2025 has already produced an unprecedented acceleration in artificial intelligence (AI) development, marked by the release of four major updates: Gemini 3, Grok 4.1, GPT-5.1, and Microsoft's AI-based operating system (OS). Each of these advancements represents a significant leap in AI capabilities, integration, and accessibility, reshaping the technological landscape for enterprises, developers, and end-users alike. 

INSTANT AI UPDATE 44 - MICROSOFT vs MACROHARD - A Real Challenge from xAI or a Muskian Fever Dream?   Elon Musk’s announcement of Macrohard, a fully AI-driven software company under the xAI umbrella, has ignited debate across the tech industry. Is Macrohard a serious threat to Microsoft’s decades-long dominance in enterprise software, or is it another ambitious, headline-grabbing Musk experiment with uncertain prospects?

The evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has emerged as a key technological debate this year. As the line between narrow AI and AGI blurs, it is crucial to clarify definitions, examine the latest breakthroughs, assess expert predictions, and weigh the pros and cons of each paradigm.

The intersection of quantum computing and AI represents one of the most promising frontiers in computational science. As AI models grow in complexity and data requirements, classical computing approaches are reaching their practical limits. Quantum computing, leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics, offers a fundamentally new way to process information. 

The changing composition of "Big Tech". Recent shifts in market dynamics, business performance, and technological innovation have prompted analysts and media outlets to propose a new acronym: "MANGO."

SoftBank’s $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB’s entire robotics division marks a watershed moment in the convergence of artificial intelligence and robotics. This move is not merely about adding robots to SoftBank’s portfolio; it is a calculated leap toward building a vertically integrated “Physical AI” powerhouse.

INSTANT AI UPDATE 31 - DEATH OF SEARCH IMMINENT - The announcement by Google product lead Logan Kilpatrick that  Google.com ’s classic search page, an iconic interface since 1997, will “soon” be replaced by AI Mode marks a watershed moment. As with all things AI, the speed of change is astounding. My thoughts follow:

This week Jonathan Kao and his UCLA-based team published exciting new findings in Nature Machine Intelligences that were also summarized in a companion article in Nature. 

AI’s integration into "failure-averse" sectors where mistakes can have catastrophic consequences marks a recent and critical frontier. Japan’s exploration of AI for nuclear power facility inspections is emblematic of this shift, as nuclear oversight is synonymous with “zero tolerance for error.”

In the past 3 years, we’ve seen the largest tech companies doubling down on AI. Recent articles on AI capital spending illustrate the way this has skewed the 2025 US economy.

By enabling robots to utilize cameras for visual training, MIT researchers are effectively granting AI systems a form of visual self-awareness. This development raises profound questions about the trajectory of AI and robotics, particularly regarding the concept of self-awareness, a trait long considered exclusive to biological organisms.

The AI Browser Wars are not a fad; instead, they represent a basic reordering of the internet’s value chain. The "answer first" paradigm is already eroding the traditional web “link first” traffic model, undermining the economics of content creation and forcing a radical rethink of SEO and digital advertising.

The AI Assistant Economy refers to the ecosystem of technologies, businesses, and services centered around AI-powered virtual assistants. These assistants are software programs designed to perform tasks, provide information, and interact with users through natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning. AI assistants are no longer limited to personal use. They are now integrated into industries such as healthcare, finance, retail, and logistics. 

At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, Apple made a groundbreaking announcement that could redefine the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in mobile and desktop applications. The company revealed that it is opening its Apple Intelligence Foundation Models Framework (FMF) to third-party developers, enabling them to integrate on-device AI capabilities into their apps.

The integration of BCIs (Brain-Computer Interfaces) with AI is reshaping the boundaries of human-machine interaction. AI enhances BCIs by processing and interpreting complex neural data, enabling more precise, adaptive, and efficient control of external devices. This convergence has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, augment human cognition, and redefine the interface between humans and technology.

The Open Agentic Web refers to an evolution of the Internet in which autonomous, AI-powered agents act as intermediaries between users and digital services, operating across platforms, applications, and devices. These agents are not siloed within proprietary ecosystems but are interoperable, open-source, and capable of negotiating, executing, and personalizing tasks on behalf of individuals and organizations.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved with the advent of large language models (LLMs). However, a critical and often misunderstood issue exists: “AI hallucinations”.  This phenomenon occurs when AI generates plausible but false or misleading information. As an AI author, I’ve experienced this many times. This has compelled me to adopt a “trust but verify” mantra.

This brief post provides an analysis of the three AI strategies. I hope this post offers clarity on how each platform positions itself in the competitive landscape and concludes with an evidence-based summary.

To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive and up-to-date book on Apple’s AI strategies. As I’ve also shared, the book includes a Prologue with an overview and timeline of Apple Intelligence. It’s important to know that Apple has combined its ongoing work in machine learning (Core ML) with large-scale Artificial Intelligence under the Apple Intelligence umbrella in recent years. Read on to learn more...