Google releases Gemma 4, a family of open models built off of Gemini 3

Google releases Gemma 4, a family of open models built off of Gemini 3

When Google released Gemini 3 Pro at the end of last year, it was a significant step forward for the company’s proprietary large language models. Now, the company is bringing some of the same technology and research that made those models possible to the open source community with the release of its new family of Gemma 4 open-weight models. Google …

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Google now lets you direct avatars through prompts in its Vids app | TechCrunch

Google now lets you direct avatars through prompts in its Vids app | TechCrunch

Google on Thursday added new features to its video editor app Vids, including directing and customizing avatars through text prompts, Veo 3.1 support, the ability to export videos to YouTube, and recording with a Chrome extension. Users will be able to use natural language prompts to direct avatars to “act” in a scene. This can include the avatar interacting with …

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ICE says it bought Paragon’s spyware to use in drug trafficking cases | TechCrunch

ICE says it bought Paragon’s spyware to use in drug trafficking cases | TechCrunch

The acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told lawmakers that it has bought and used spyware made by Paragon Solutions in drug trafficking cases, according to a letter seen by TechCrunch. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons wrote in the letter to three congresspeople that he approved the agency’s criminal investigative unit Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to use “cutting-edge …

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Pakistan continues ceasefire efforts amid regional tensions, says PM

Pakistan continues ceasefire efforts amid regional tensions, says PM

He emphasized domestic measures to mitigate economic pressures, stating that CMs have pledged support. ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan is actively pursuing ceasefire efforts as regional tensions continue to impact the country economically. Addressing a meeting on the current situation in the region, he said Pakistan has also been heavily affected by the ongoing conflict in Iran, …

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Uber expands its EV incentive program across the US

Uber expands its EV incentive program across the US

Uber is expanding its EV incentive program across the US. The company began last year. This is a program in which Uber offers drivers a $4,000 grant to switch from their current vehicle to an EV. These grants are available for both new and used electric vehicles, which is nice because new cars are expensive and could be out of …

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IPL 2026 [WATCH]: Virat Kohli cracks up RCB camp with funny mimicry of Romario Shepherd’s batting style

IPL 2026 [WATCH]: Virat Kohli cracks up RCB camp with funny mimicry of Romario Shepherd’s batting style

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are currently riding a wave of momentum that most franchises can only dream of. After finally ending their title drought in 2025, the defending champions have sprinted out of the blocks in IPL 2026 with a commanding victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad. While their on-field clinical execution is making headlines, it is the infectious camaraderie behind …

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Samsung’s new Frame Pro and OLED TVs are now available to order

Samsung’s new Frame Pro and OLED TVs are now available to order

After sharing pricing and availability for its new Mini LED TVs in March, Samsung is ready to detail some of the other TVs it introduced at CES earlier this year. The 2026 versions of Samsung’s The Frame Pro and OLED TVs are both available to order today – save for some notable exceptions – and they start for as little …

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Flipboard’s ‘social websites’ are a new spin on decentralized social media

Flipboard’s ‘social websites’ are a new spin on decentralized social media

Flipboard has been one of the biggest boosters of decentralized social media. Now, the company, which is known for its social news reading app, is rolling out its latest experiment, “social websites.” The project offers publishers and creators an easier path into what’s often called the “open social web,” which includes the fediverse, as well as other protocol-based platforms like …

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Microsoft releases new AI models to expand further beyond OpenAI

Microsoft releases new AI models to expand further beyond OpenAI

Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI. (GeekWire File Photo / Kevin Lisota) Microsoft is expanding its roster of in-house AI models, releasing a new speech-to-text system and making two existing models broadly available to developers for the first time. The moves by Microsoft AI (MAI) are part of a broader effort by the company to expand its proprietary AI capabilities …

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