Google has announced the general availability of its Imagen 4 text-to-image model family through the Gemini API and Google AI Studio, offering developers more flexibility in speed, quality, and cost. The line-up includes Imagen 4 Fast for rapid prototyping at $0.02 per image, the standard Imagen 4 with improved text rendering, and Imagen 4 Ultra for premium, high-detail outputs. Both Imagen 4 and Ultra support up to 2K resolution for sharper visuals. All images carry SynthID watermarking for responsible AI use. With tiered pricing, Google aims to empower creators and businesses while advancing safe, scalable AI image generation.
From designing complex algorithms to steering teams at the forefront of AI innovation, Igor Babuschkin has been a quiet but powerful force in the tech world. His career reads like a roadmap for anyone hoping to jump from academia to industry leadership. Initially a particle physics researcher at CERN, Igor took a different turn—trading particle collisions for neural networks, and eventually landing at DeepMind, OpenAI, and later co-founding xAI with Elon Musk in 2023.
The Rise at xAI
Let’s be honest—few believed a brand‑new AI company could go toe-to-toe with giants like OpenAI or Google. But Babuschkin and his team proved the doubters wrong. Under his leadership, xAI built critical infrastructure like the Memphis supercluster, the brain behind Grok—an AI chatbot that sparked as much curiosity as controversy. People inside xAI recall frantic nights of coding, Musk’s relentless pace, and an undercurrent of belief that they were doing the impossible.
Why Igor Walked Away
August 2025 shocked the AI industry—Igor left xAI. In an age where people jump startups for bigger paychecks, his reason was different: purpose over profit. Increasingly unsettled by the ethical dilemmas and safety debates swirling around advanced AI, Babuschkin decided to dedicate himself fully to AI safety. His new venture, Babuschkin Ventures, aims to back researchers and startups working on technologies that expand human understanding—without jeopardizing our future.
Final Thoughts
In my view, Igor’s move is both bold and necessary. Too many chase AI’s speed; too few stop to question its direction. His decision reminds us that technological progress should run in parallel with responsibility.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is co-founding Merge Labs, a new brain-computer interface startup aiming to compete directly with Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Valued at around $850 million and seeking $250 million in funding, Merge Labs focuses on less invasive brain implants enhanced with AI to improve human-machine connections beyond medical uses. The project could be funded by OpenAI’s ventures arm and involves Alex Blania, known for biometric ID innovations. The rivalry between Altman and Musk, former OpenAI co-founders turned competitors, extends from AI into brain-computer technology, marking a dramatic chapter in Silicon Valley’s tech battles.
Two hackers, known as Saber and cyb0rg, breached the computer of a North Korean government hacker affiliated with Kimsuky, a notorious state-backed espionage group. They leaked 8.9GB of data revealing internal hacking tools, phishing logs, source code of South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs email system, and evidence of cyberattacks on South Korean government networks. The leak shows Kimsuky’s collaboration with Chinese hackers and exposes their methods, including cryptocurrency theft to fund North Korea’s programs. The hackers condemned Kimsuky for hacking driven by greed and political agendas. This rare exposure offers unprecedented insight into North Korea’s clandestine cyber operations.
AI startup Perplexity shook the tech world by making a bold, unsolicited $34.5 billion cash offer to buy Google’s Chrome browser. Perplexity promises to keep Chrome’s underlying code open source and invest $3 billion to improve it, while retaining Google as the default search engine for users. Their bid comes as Google faces antitrust pressure to divest Chrome, which holds 68% of the browser market with over three billion users. Perplexity, valued at $18 billion, says outside investors will fund the deal—but Google hasn’t responded and is expected to fight any forced sale in court.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future where “personal superintelligence” empowers individuals rather than replaces them. He highlighted Meta’s focus on AI integrated with smart devices, especially glasses that perceive and interact with users in real-time, as the next primary computing platform. Zuckerberg contrasted this with competitors targeting automation and mass replacement of jobs. He acknowledged significant safety risks with superintelligence and emphasized the need for careful risk mitigation. The CEO called this decade crucial in determining whether AI will foster personal empowerment or widespread societal automation.
OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT Agent demonstrates advanced capabilities by autonomously bypassing online security measures such as CAPTCHA verification, raising concerns about the reliability of existing web defenses. Available to Pro, Plus, and Team subscribers, the Agent operates through a virtual browser, enabling it to complete complex tasks like booking reservations and shopping. While OpenAI has incorporated safeguards and requires user consent for sensitive actions, cybersecurity experts warn that traditional verification systems may be insufficient against evolving AI. This breakthrough signals a need to rethink online security protocols in response to rapidly advancing AI technologies.
Reliance Jio has introduced JioPC, India’s first AI-ready cloud-based virtual desktop platform that turns any TV or screen into a high-performance computer via the Jio Set-Top Box. Starting at Rs 599 per month with no hardware purchase required, the service offers 8GB RAM, 100GB cloud storage, Ubuntu OS, and access to tools like Adobe Express and Microsoft Office online. Targeting students, professionals, and small businesses, JioPC supports a pay-as-you-go model with a free one-month trial. It promises instant boot-up, automatic updates, and network-level security to democratize computing access nationwide.
Chinese AI company Zhipu AI, now Z.ai, unveiled its biggest open-source model, GLM-4.5, boasting advanced features and strong performance on global benchmarks. The model uses fewer hardware resources while maintaining high accuracy, ranking third worldwide. Z.ai’s aggressive pricing strategy undercuts rivals, offering significantly lower costs per million input and output tokens. As China’s AI sector accelerates, Zhipu has secured more than $1.5 billion in funding and is reportedly eyeing a potential IPO in Hong Kong. Despite U.S. trade restrictions, the company aims to expand globally with affordable, efficient AI solutions.
Apple is expected to enter the foldable smartphone market with a premium model debuting alongside the iPhone 18 in September 2026. Priced around $1,999, the foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer screen, and advanced titanium and “Liquid Metal” hinge technology. Collaborating with Samsung, Apple aims for a crease-free experience, addressing common foldable weaknesses. JPMorgan forecasts sales starting in the teens of millions by 2027, growing to 45 million in 2028, positioning Apple competitively in a market led by Samsung and others. The device may replace Face ID with Touch ID for design innovation.
