Baidu has launched two new AI systems, the native multimodal foundation model Ernie 4.5 and deep-thinking reasoning model Ernie X1. The latter supports features like generative imaging, advanced search and webpage content comprehension. Baidu is touting Ernie X1 as of comparable performance to another Chinese model, DeepSeek-R1, but says it is half the price. Both Baidu models are available to the public, including individual users, through the Ernie website. Baidu, the dominant search engine in China, says its new models mark a milestone in both reasoning and multimodal AI, “offering advanced capabilities at a more accessible price point.” Read more

Apple’s iOS 18 update added Rich Communication Services (RCS), which meant better integration with Android users, including media sharing and chat. Now the GSMA has added end-to-end encryption (E2EE), which Apple will implement to allow iPhone users to share E2EE files and messages with Android users. The new specs make RCS the first mainstream messaging service to support interoperable E2EE between different providers, according to the GSMA. Coupled with SIM-based authentication, “E2EE will provide RCS users with the highest level of privacy and security for protection” from fraud and threats, GSMA adds. Read more

Cerebras Systems was founded 10 years ago on the belief that there would be a shortage of processors powerful enough to drive enterprise AI computing at scale. Its solution, the Cerebras Wafer-Scale Engine, is integrated into Cerebras’ CS-3 systems, which will power six new data centers launching this year that the company says will make it “the world’s number one provider of high-speed inference and the largest domestic high speed inference cloud.” Cerebras notes the new facilities will collectively serve over 40 million Llama 70B tokens per second to clients that now include Hugging Face and financial intelligence firm AlphaSense. Read more

Google has begun rolling out an updated Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental reasoning model that is faster and supports new features like file upload. The model, which is trained to break down prompts into a series of steps for more indepth responses, will now power Google Deep Research, replacing Gemini 1.5 Pro, and broadening its access so “anyone will be able to try it across the globe in 45-plus languages,” according to Google. Previously Deep Research was only available to subscribers paying $20-per-month for Google One AI Premium. Deep Research is a sort of AI assistant that searches the web, synthesizing information. Read more

OpenAI is urging the Trump Administration to declare AI training fair use, seeking unfettered access to copyrighted material for the purpose of educating models. The company is also asking for relief from state AI rules and more permissive AI export rules in a response to President Trump’s call for a U.S. “AI Action Plan.” The deadline to submit responses to the National Science Foundation and Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) request for information (RFI) regarding the plan was Saturday. Google also publicized its response, which largely echoed OpenAI’s points. Read more