Google unleashes wave of AI updates: As part of a package of news items, Google dropped Gemini 2.0, which it claims will help push agentic AI apps ahead, a ‘Flash’ version of Gemini 2.0 that is better than Gemini 1.5 flagship and cheaper, an AI assistant for coding called ‘Jules,’ and a new AI chip that is faster and consumes less power. Phew. Got all that? We’re still reading through all the releases, but Google’s AI just planted a new flag in the #Artificial Intelligence  race to close out the year. So much for OpenAI enjoying clear air for its current drops.

https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/google-gemini-ai-update-december-2024/#ceo-message

Introducing Gemini 2.0: our new AI model for the agentic era

Artificial Intelligence

Google unleashes wave of AI updates: As part of a package of news items, Google dropped Gemini 2.0, which it claims will help push agentic AI apps ahead, a ‘Flash’ version of Gemini 2.0 that is better than Gemini 1.5 flagship and cheaper, an AI assistant for coding called ‘Jules,’ and a new AI chip that is faster and consumes less power. Phew. Got all that? We’re still reading through all the releases, but Google’s AI just planted a new flag in the #Artificial Intelligence  race to close out the year. So much for OpenAI enjoying clear air for its current drops.  https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/google-gemini-ai-update-december-2024/#ceo-message

Bobby

A key Google researcher for the Gemini #Artificial Intelligence models has joined TikTok owner ByteDance to help lead the Chinese company’s #🇨🇳 ChinA.I. 🤖🧠🦾🤖  development.

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/veteran-google-researcher-joins-bytedance-as-ai-rivalry-intensifies?offer=exp-ann-25&utm_campaign=Expansion%3A+Google+re&utm_content=7147&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio&utm_term=4886&rc=gzsl71

 #The Information

🇨🇳 ChinA.I. 🤖🧠🦾🤖

The Information

A key Google researcher for the Gemini #Artificial Intelligence models has joined TikTok owner ByteDance to help lead the Chinese company’s #🇨🇳 ChinA.I. 🤖🧠🦾🤖  development.  https://www.theinformation.com/articles/veteran-google-researcher-joins-bytedance-as-ai-rivalry-intensifies?offer=exp-ann-25&utm_campaign=Expansion%3A+Google+re&utm_content=7147&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio&utm_term=4886&rc=gzsl71   #The Information

A longtime Google researcher has joined TikTok owner ByteDance to help lead the Chinese company’s artificial intelligence research and development, in one of the Chinese tech giant’s most significant external hires of AI talent to date, according to two ByteDance employees with knowledge of the ...

Veteran Google Researcher Joins ByteDance as AI Rivalry Intensifies

Cyril

While I neither strongly agree or nor disagree with this take, the one thing I will say is many people are beginning to count OpenAi out based on ChatGPT traffic numbers. However, ChatGPT is only part of the picture. And honestly, only small part of the OpenAI picture based on their revenue. I think many people forget that it is the GPT API thats pushing it forward. GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 are interwoven into a lot of other AI applications that are flooding the market, not Bard--though that could change with Google's Gemini model. Not to say that Google can't take the top spot, but I definitely think a lot of people and media outlets are calling the downfall (for lack of a better word) of OpenAI based on the drop of ChatGPT traffic. I'm sure there is a drop in traffic as the newness has wore off, but quite a bit of it is most likely due to people no longer needing to access it directly as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 are being integrated into so many other apps (for example, Poe and Perplexity both use GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, as do a bunch of other services/apps).

https://entreprenal.com/the-chatgpt-hype-is-over-now-watch-how-google-will-kill-chatgpt-426d5e3f7d05

https://medium.com/@Vugar_Ibrahimov/google-just-dethroned-chatgpt-with-gemini-2-0-7cd9584f2b24

Here’s why it’s blowing everyone’s mind

Google just dethroned ChatGPT with Gemini 2.0

Sam Mendoza

While I neither strongly agree or nor disagree with this take, the one thing I will say is many people are beginning to count OpenAi out based on ChatGPT traffic numbers. However, ChatGPT is only part of the picture. And honestly, only small part of the OpenAI picture based on their revenue. I think many people forget that it is the GPT API thats pushing it forward. GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 are interwoven into a lot of other AI applications that are flooding the market, not Bard--though that could change with Google's Gemini model. Not to say that Google can't take the top spot, but I definitely think a lot of people and media outlets are calling the downfall (for lack of a better word) of OpenAI based on the drop of ChatGPT traffic. I'm sure there is a drop in traffic as the newness has wore off, but quite a bit of it is most likely due to people no longer needing to access it directly as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 are being integrated into so many other apps (for example, Poe and Perplexity both use GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, as do a bunch of other services/apps).  https://entreprenal.com/the-chatgpt-hype-is-over-now-watch-how-google-will-kill-chatgpt-426d5e3f7d05

It never happens instantly. The business game is longer than you know.

The ChatGPT Hype Is Over — Now Watch How Google Will Kill ChatGPT.

Tasia

Beware companies bearing gifts: They tend to want something. Google’s announcement on Wednesday that it would now include its artificial intelligence tools in its business products such as corporate Gmail, whether customers want the tools or not, was cast as a do-gooder move aiming to bring the power of AI to everyone. The reality is more likely that Google is desperate to get more businesses to use its Gemini-branded AI tools because not enough are buying them on an à la carte basis.

Hence, Google is resorting to giving those tools—which include AI enhancements for Gmail, Google Docs and Google Sheets—to everyone on its Workspace plans while simultaneously raising the price for those plans by $2 a month. That’s a much lower number than the $20 a month Google was charging for Gemini as an add-on feature. But Google will get those extra $2 from all its customers, presumably coming out ahead. It’s reminiscent of the cable TV business model, where every viewer paid for a package of channels, regardless of what they watched, ensuring that all the channels in the package did well.

Google’s move contrasted with pricing changes Microsoft unveiled for certain AI services on Wednesday. Microsoft will start charging businesses for some AI agent features in its Copilot service based on how often they use the service, rather than using a flat monthly fee (Microsoft is still charging the flat fee for customers who want its full suite of AI features in its popular Office software). 

https://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/empowering-businesses-with-ai?utm_campaign=article_email&utm_content=article-14309&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sg

Beware companies bearing gifts: They tend to want something. Google’s announcement on Wednesday that it would now include its artificial intelligence tools in its business products such as corporate Gmail, whether customers want the tools or not, was cast as a do-gooder move aiming to bring the power of AI to everyone. The reality is more likely that Google is desperate to get more businesses to use its Gemini-branded AI tools because not enough are buying them on an à la carte basis.  Hence, Google is resorting to giving those tools—which include AI enhancements for Gmail, Google Docs and Google Sheets—to everyone on its Workspace plans while simultaneously raising the price for those plans by $2 a month. That’s a much lower number than the $20 a month Google was charging for Gemini as an add-on feature. But Google will get those extra $2 from all its customers, presumably coming out ahead. It’s reminiscent of the cable TV business model, where every viewer paid for a package of channels, regardless of what they watched, ensuring that all the channels in the package did well.  Google’s move contrasted with pricing changes Microsoft unveiled for certain AI services on Wednesday. Microsoft will start charging businesses for some AI agent features in its Copilot service based on how often they use the service, rather than using a flat monthly fee (Microsoft is still charging the flat fee for customers who want its full suite of AI features in its popular Office software).   https://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/empowering-businesses-with-ai?utm_campaign=article_email&utm_content=article-14309&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sg

The best of Google AI is now included in Workspace Business & Enterprise plans, giving you AI features like Gemini and NotebookLM Plus with no add-on needed.

The future of AI-powered work for every business | Google Workspace Blog

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is not hitting the brakes on his company’s AI efforts. In a call that CNBC obtained a recording of, Pichai told Google workers that “scaling Gemini on the consumer side will be [the company’s] biggest focus next year.” That means we should expect Gemini to take on more tasks for Google’s myriad users across software, search, and mobile in 2025. OpenAI, xAI, Anthropic, and other makers of Gemini competitors have similar goals, setting up next year as yet another annum of scrapping AI models. For those of us who consume the technology, that’s great news.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/27/google-ceo-pichai-tells-employees-the-stakes-are-high-for-2025.html

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is not hitting the brakes on his company’s AI efforts. In a call that CNBC obtained a recording of, Pichai told Google workers that “scaling Gemini on the consumer side will be [the company’s] biggest focus next year.” That means we should expect Gemini to take on more tasks for Google’s myriad users across software, search, and mobile in 2025. OpenAI, xAI, Anthropic, and other makers of Gemini competitors have similar goals, setting up next year as yet another annum of scrapping AI models. For those of us who consume the technology, that’s great news.  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/27/google-ceo-pichai-tells-employees-the-stakes-are-high-for-2025.html

In a meeting with employees, Google CEO Sundar Pichai set the stage for 2025, and the expected increase in competition, regulatory hurdles and AI advancements.

Bobby

A group of likeminded people in Artificial Intelligence are talking about this.