Digimasters Shorts - Microsoft’s Voice-Driven Windows 12 Revolution, xAI Co-Founder Babuschkin Quits, Google Gemini Learns Your Secrets, Apple’s Creepy Home Robots Incoming

Digimasters Shorts keeps you ahead of the curve in the fast-evolving world of technology. Hosted by Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson, this bite-sized podcast dives into the latest breakthroughs, industry shifts, and innovative trends shaping our digital future. From Microsoft's ambitious vision for AI-driven Windows experiences and Google's new features enhancing user creativity, to Apple's bold moves into home robotics and AI systems—Tune in for concise insights, breaking news, and expert analysis that keep you informed in minutes. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or an industry professional, Digimasters Shorts is your quick source for all things digital.

Transcript

Adam N2: 0:05

Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam Nagus

Carly W: 0:09

and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from the digital realm. Microsoft’s Windows Chief Pavan Davuluri has revealed that the future of Windows will feature an ambient, multi-modal experience empowered by AI. He explained that computing will become more pervasive, spanning different form factors with voice emerging as a crucial input method. The operating system will gain context awareness, allowing it to understand what’s on the screen and anticipate user intent. Users will be able to interact with Windows through voice while performing tasks like writing, inking, or collaborating with others. This marks a shift where voice complements traditional inputs like mouse and keyboard, creating a triad of interaction modes. Davuluri also emphasized the role of cloud computing in enabling smooth, seamless AI experiences. The OS is expected to evolve into a more agentic platform, integrating AI deeply rather than running assistants as separate applications. Microsoft is investing heavily in redefining human-computer interaction for the next five years, potentially with the launch of Windows 12. Privacy concerns remain, as these advancements require balancing local processing with cloud data to deliver smart functionality. This vision aligns with broader industry trends, with companies like Apple also exploring voice-driven interfaces in future updates.

Adam N2: 1:28

Igor Babuschkin, co-founder of xAI alongside Elon Musk, announced he is leaving the artificial intelligence startup. In a farewell post on X, Babuschkin revealed he will start Babuschkin Ventures, focusing on AI safety research and advancing agentic systems. He reflected on his journey from a CERN particle physics Ph.D. student to building xAI from the ground up. Babuschkin shared two key lessons learned from Musk: to be fearless in tackling technical challenges and to maintain a strong sense of urgency. Despite skepticism from industry veterans, the team built the Memphis supercomputer cluster in just 122 days. A memorable moment came late one night when training issues were resolved, with Musk celebrating their success at 4:20 a.m. Babuschkin described the experience as both intense and bonding, calling it the most exhilarating time of his life. Prior to xAI, he worked at DeepMind and Open A.I, and holds a degree from the Technical University of Dortmund. Neither xAI, Babuschkin, nor Musk immediately responded to requests for comment. Babuschkin’s departure marks a significant shift as he moves on to new ventures in the evolving AI landscape. Google has introduced a new learning feature for its AI chatbot, Gemini, allowing it to personalize interactions by learning from past conversations. This update enables Gemini to remember user preferences without being prompted, enhancing the chatbot's responses over time. The feature will initially roll out with the 2.5 Pro model in select countries, expanding to other versions soon. Users can disable this memory function by adjusting settings under"Personal context" in the Gemini app. For privacy-conscious users, Temporary Chats offer a way to have conversations that aren't saved, similar to an incognito browsing mode. Gemini's ability to recall previous interactions aligns it with other AI tools like Chat G.P.T and Grok, which also use memory to tailor experiences. However, this personalization can sometimes lead to the chatbot prioritizing inferred preferences over direct instructions. Concerns remain about the storage of sensitive or private information despite these controls. Additionally, users will be able to manage whether their data contributes to Google's improvement efforts by toggling the"Keep Activity" setting. This development reflects ongoing efforts to balance AI personalization with user privacy controls.

Carly W: 3:48

Google has begun rolling out a new cartoon-style photo feature called Remix within its Google Photos app. First showcased in July, Remix transforms images into one of four art styles: anime, comic book, sketch, or 3D animation similar to Pixar films. Currently, the feature is available to a limited number of users as part of a gradual global rollout. Users can access Remix by tapping the plus sign in the top-right corner of the mobile app and selecting the Remix option under Create. After choosing a style and a photo, the AI generates the new image, with an option to regenerate if the result is unsatisfactory. This addition joins other AI-powered tools in Google Photos, but unlike the photo-to-video feature, Remix focuses solely on stylistic transformations. The feature offers a convenient way to apply advanced AI effects without uploading photos to third-party apps. Google has also announced an upcoming Create tab to centralize these AI functions, though it is not broadly available yet. As the rollout continues, users without immediate access will have to wait for their devices to be updated. This new feature underscores Google’s ongoing commitment to enhancing creative tools through artificial intelligence. Apple Inc. is reportedly preparing to enter the home robotics market with a range of new devices planned for release over the next few years. Central to this initiative is a tabletop robot, described as a virtual companion, expected to launch in 2027 and serve as the cornerstone of Apple's new AI strategy. The device combines an iPad-like display mounted on a robotic arm that can swivel and reposition itself to engage users in a room actively. This robot can track and turn toward people speaking and aims to enhance features like FaceTime, including locking onto individuals during video calls. Apple is also exploring an iPhone-controlled joystick feature to maneuver the robot for better video call interactions. Underpinning the device is a revamped Siri assistant, designed to engage users dynamically throughout the day. In addition to the robotic arm device, Apple is developing a smart speaker with a standalone display, offering typical smart home functions but without robotic movement. Both devices will operate on a new OS named Charismatic, built around clock faces and widgets. To power these innovations, Apple is creating a new AI system called Linwood or"L.L.M Siri," which could also appear in upcoming iPhones and iPads. Longer-term plans include more advanced mobile robots, though these are several years away from release.

Don: 6:21

Thank you for listening to today's AI and Tech News podcast summary... Please do leave us a comment and for additional feedback, please email us at podcast@digimasters.co.uk You can now follow us on Instagram and Threads by searching for@DigimastersShorts or Search for Digimasters on Linkedin. Be sure to tune in tomorrow and don't forget to follow or subscribe!