Digimasters Shorts - Google DeepMind Unveils Reality-Bending Genie 3, Microsoft Launches Excel AI Copilot, UK Battles AI Chip Talent Crisis, Meta Rebrands AI Division Amid Fierce Competition

Digimasters Shorts is your quick hit of the latest in the digital and tech world. Join hosts Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson as they distill cutting-edge AI breakthroughs, innovative tech developments, and industry shifts into concise, insightful updates. From the rollout of groundbreaking AI models like DeepMind's Genie 3 to advances in productivity tools with Microsoft's Copilot, and from national strategies for AI chip design to revolutionary battery materials, Digimasters Shorts keeps you informed in under 10 minutes. Tune in for expert analysis, emerging trends, and the future shaping tech today.

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. Google DeepMind has announced Genie 3, a groundbreaking AI world model capable of generating diverse, interactive environments in real time at 24 frames per second with 720p resolution. Building on over a decade of research in simulated environments, Genie 3 enhances consistency and realism while allowing users to navigate complex virtual worlds dynamically. Unlike previous models, Genie 3 maintains visual memory up to a minute, enabling longer and more complex interactions. The model supports promptable world events, letting users alter weather, add objects, or introduce characters, greatly expanding the scope for immersive experiences. It has been tested with DeepMind’s SIMA agent, demonstrating the ability to achieve varied goals through navigation in generated worlds. Genie 3’s development marks a significant step toward advanced AI training and the path to artificial general intelligence(AGI). While it offers unprecedented creativity and educational potential, the team emphasizes responsible development, involving strict safety protocols and limited early access for research purposes. The technology outperforms previous methods by creating dynamic, frame-by-frame worlds without relying on explicit 3D representations. Despite its advances, the system still faces challenges in long-term environmental accuracy and ethical use considerations. DeepMind continues to refine Genie 3, aiming to expand access while prioritizing safety and societal benefit.

Adam N2: 1:41

Microsoft Excel is introducing a new AI-powered function called COPILOT, designed to automate tasks like generating summaries, tags, and tables based on selected cells. This feature uses natural language prompts to allow users to instruct the AI on what to do with their spreadsheet data. Powered by Open A.I's gpt-4.1-mini model, COPILOT can classify feedback, summarize content, and work alongside other Excel functions such as IF and SWITCH. For example, users can classify customer feedback by applying a simple formula referencing the relevant cells. Microsoft assures that data used with COPILOT remains confidential and is not used for training AI models. However, the feature is limited to 100 calculations every 10 minutes and cannot access information outside the spreadsheet. Microsoft also cautions against relying on COPILOT for high-stakes decisions or numerical calculations due to potential inaccuracies. The feature is currently available in the Beta Channel on Windows and Mac for Microsoft 365 Copilot license holders. Future updates may include improved AI models and web access capabilities. COPILOT marks a significant step in integrating artificial intelligence into everyday productivity tools. The Council for Science and Technology warns the U.K must seize a once-in-20-years chance to develop a world-class AI chip design industry. This push is about more than economic growth; it addresses national security and technological sovereignty. The global market for specialized AI chips is rapidly expanding, expected to grow 30% annually and dominate semiconductors by 2030. The CST clarifies that chip design, a creative and knowledge-intensive process, is distinct from costly chip manufacturing, aligning with U.K strengths. Their ambitious goal is for U.K companies to design 50 new AI chip products within five years. However, the U.K faces a severe talent shortage, needing an additional 5,000 chip designers atop the current deficit of 7,000. The report urges government investment in education and training, including bursaries and national design courses. It also highlights opportunities in optoelectronics, a field where the U.K already excels. Coordinated government strategy is essential, as current efforts remain fragmented across departments. Industry experts acknowledge the challenge but remain hopeful, citing the U.K's strong semiconductor research and companies like Arm as foundations for success.

Carly W: 4:09

Researchers are actively seeking new materials to replace lithium in batteries, aiming for longer-lasting, environmentally friendly energy storage. While lithium-ion remains dominant, alternatives are critical for advancing industries like electric vehicles, which require efficient and safe batteries. A recent study published in the journal Cell highlights the use of generative AI to rapidly screen a vast array of materials. The challenge wasn't finding promising candidates, but efficiently evaluating them, a task AI excelled at. The researchers identified five transition metal oxide(TMO)-based materials with open, spacious structures ideal for ion movement. These properties could result in safer, more effective batteries in the future. A.I's ability to accelerate material discovery mirrors its impact in fields like medical diagnostics. By narrowing down options, AI enables scientists to focus on the most viable materials for further research. This represents a significant step towards overcoming the limitations of current lithium-ion technology. Ultimately, this approach may lead to breakthroughs in energy storage that benefit both consumers and the environment. Meta has officially reorganized its artificial intelligence division into four new groups under the banner of Meta Superintelligence Labs, or MSL. This restructuring was announced by Alexandr Wang, the new chief AI officer who joined Meta in June and previously founded Scale AI. The key component of MSL is a group named TBD Labs, which will focus on developing foundational models like the Llama series. The other three groups within MSL will concentrate on AI research, product integration, and infrastructure respectively. This overhaul comes as part of Meta’s response to intensifying competition from rivals such as Open A.I, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind. Mark Zuckerberg has been directly involved in recruiting for this initiative, highlighting the company's commitment to AI innovation. The latest Llama model release this April underscores Meta's ongoing AI development efforts. Analysts see the reorganization as a strategic move to accelerate Meta’s AI capabilities and regain competitive momentum. Meta’s renewed focus signals the growing importance of advanced AI technologies in the tech landscape. The company aims to solidify its position as a leader in AI through this comprehensive internal realignment.

Don: 6:29

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!