All articles tagged with #ai tools
Linux 7.1-rc5 launches with AI-assisted fixes across graphics, security, sound, and various drivers, plus improved HP/ASUS laptop x86 support and CPU power driver updates; Linus Torvalds criticizes the unusually large rc5 for late-cycle churn and hints that non-critical fixes may belong in linux-next, with a mid-June target for the stable 7.1 release.
Google announced major updates to Flow and Flow Music at I/O 2026, turning Flow into a Gemini-powered conversational co-pilot with memory, launching Flow Tools to code and share custom workflows without coding, adding Gemini Omni Flash for precise video-to-video editing and avatar consistency, and releasing native mobile apps for Flow (Android beta, iOS coming) and Flow Music (iOS now, Android coming).
Google I/O 2026 unveiled a wave of AI tools, with many flashy features still gated behind paid tiers, but a few freebies are available now: Gemini 3.5 Flash is the new default model, Omni Flash for YouTube Shorts and Create will be free when it rolls out later this week, SynthID watermarking will help Chrome/Search detect AI-generated content, Gemini’s visual design gets a refreshed look, and Google Pics will launch in Workspace apps with free access only for certain Google Workspace business accounts.
Epic Games says it’s using AI tooling to boost efficiency in its games and development workflows, not to replace workers; a Fortnite executive said tasks that once took hours can be shortened with AI, and Epic will steer how AI is integrated. Sony also touts AI as the future of game development in partnership with Bandai Namco.
Sony and Bandai Namco announced a collaborative pilot centered on generative AI and future technologies to speed up game development, boost productivity, and personalize player experiences. Sony executives emphasized AI as an amplifier for human creativity rather than a replacement for creators, highlighting tools like Mockingbird for faster facial animation and AI-driven workflows. The move accompanies broader AI initiatives at Sony, including potential changes to business models amid memory shortages and an undecided PS6 timeline, signaling a deeper AI push across PlayStation’s strategy.
Derrick Downey Jr.’s DualShot Recorder is an iPhone camera app that uses Apple’s camera API to harvest the full sensor and create in‑camera horizontal and vertical crops without sacrificing resolution. Launched as a $6.99 paid app, it shot to No. 1 on the App Store’s paid list within 12 hours and stayed there for about a week (currently priced at $9.99). The app records from two cameras on one device, offers granular quality controls, and preserves videos on-device with no data collection. Development relied on AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to craft prompts, with Downey iterating to address inaccuracies. The origin tale ties to Downey’s viral squirrel videos, and he signals potential pivots as the venture grows.
Amazon’s Stores division is measuring how often engineers use AI and how it affects code deployments to boost software delivery, aiming for broad, AI-native practices while balancing concerns over centralized mandates. The initiative relies on tools like AI Teammate and Pippin and a detailed metrics system (deployments, monthly active users, two-pizza teams, sentiment) to drive faster output, but has sparked internal friction and calls for collaborative adoption and flexibility rather than rigid mandates.
After failing to land interviews with video cover letters and visual portfolios, Courtney Clapper used a Reddit-recommended tactic: locate hiring managers’ emails with Apollo AI and email her résumé and an AI-written cover letter directly. This direct outreach earned her multiple interviews (including one at Microsoft) and, through a connection she made after reaching out to the Sweetgreen CEO, led to a strategy-lead role at a major retailer.
DaVinci Resolve 21 adds a dedicated photo mode for organizing, editing, and color-correcting stills, with AI-powered search and facial edits, plus RAW support from Sony, Canon, Nikon, and Fujifilm. It also brings imports from Apple Photos and Lightroom Catalogs, multi-user collaboration via Blackmagic Cloud, and GPU-accelerated batch exports, positioning Resolve as a Lightroom/Photoshop competitor and a potential draw away from Premiere for photo workflows.
Blackmagic Design unveils DaVinci Resolve 21 with a new Photo page that lets users import and manage RAW photos directly in Resolve, apply node-based color grading, preview changes across albums in real time, and tether cameras; it also adds AI facial editing (age, reshaping, blemish removal) plus upscaling and motion deblurring, and integrates Fusion/VFX workflows, with most features in the free version and selective AI tools only in the Studio ($295); collaboration via Blackmagic Cloud requires a subscription.
Google Gemini now includes a Notebooks feature that lets you organize chats, upload PDFs and files, set project-specific instructions, and bidirectionally sync with NotebookLM, creating a cross‑app personal knowledge base for brainstorming and producing outputs like videos or infographics. Rollout began on web for Google AI Ultra/Pro/Plus subscribers, with mobile and free access planned soon.
Northwestern’s survey of 112 responses from 502 active federal judges (bankruptcy, magistrate, district, and appeals) found that more than 60% use at least one AI tool in their work, but only about 22.4% use them weekly or daily. Judges mainly employ AI for legal research and document review, with wide variation in training and formal policy adoption, highlighting the need for broader AI training and governance in the judiciary.
ChatPlayground AI offers a Lifetime Unlimited Plan for $67.15 (regularly $619) through March 29 with code MARCH15, letting users run prompts across 20+ AI models from major providers in a single interface to compare responses in real time. It also supports image generation, coding workflows, and document analysis (PDFs/images), plus prompt tools, saved chat history, and conversation management to streamline AI testing and usage.
Investors slashed about $400 billion from software stocks after Anthropic unveiled tools like Claude Code and Cowork that automate coding and collaboration, signaling AI's potential to replace large swaths of software work and compress profits; while some see opportunities in AI-enabled toolkits, the market is pricing in broader disruption across many industries.
LinkedIn is rolling out vibe coding badges that let users showcase proficiency with AI coding tools by having the toolmakers—Replit, Lovable, Descript, and Relay.app—assess and assign levels (e.g., bronze, intermediate) that appear on profiles. More integrations with GitHub and Zapier are in the works. These levels update as users gain experience, providing recruiters with a verifiable signal of tool-driven work while LinkedIn emphasizes that this isn’t meant to replace existing signals. The move comes amid a broader AI-era backdrop and concerns about layoffs.