Google has launched Nano Banana Pro, a new image generation and editing model built on Gemini 3 Pro. The upgrade expands Gemini’s visual capabilities inside the Gemini app, Google Ads, Google AI Studio, Vertex AI and Workspace tools.
Nano Banana Pro focuses on cleaner text rendering, richer world knowledge and tighter control over style and layout. Creators can produce infographics, diagrams and character consistent scenes, and refine lighting, camera angle or composition with detailed prompts.
The AI model supports higher resolution visuals, localised text in multiple languages and more accurate handling of complex scripts. Google highlights uses in marketing materials, business presentations and professional design workflows, as partners such as Adobe integrate the model into Firefly and Photoshop.
Users can try Nano Banana Pro through Gemini with usage limits, while paying customers and enterprises gain extended access. Google embeds watermarking and C2PA-style metadata to help identify AI-generated images, foregrounding safety and transparency around synthetic content.
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Meta has presented a new generation of AI glasses designed to increase independence for people with disabilities. The devices support hands-free calls, messages and translations while offering voice-activated photography and video capture.
Users can rely on spoken prompts instead of phones when they want to explore their surroundings or capture important moments.
The glasses help blind and low-vision individuals identify objects, read documents and understand scenes through detailed AI descriptions. Meta partnered with the Blinded Veterans Association to produce a training guide that explains how to activate voice commands and manage daily tasks more easily.
Veterans Affairs rehabilitation centres have adopted the glasses to support people who need greater autonomy in unfamiliar environments.
Creators and athletes describe how the technology influences their work and daily activities. A filmmaker uses first-person recording and AI-assisted scene guidance to streamline production. A Paralympic sprinter relies on real-time updates to track workouts without pausing to check a phone.
Other users highlight how hands-free photography and environmental awareness allow them to stay engaged instead of becoming distracted by screens.
Meta emphasises its collaboration with disabled communities to shape features that reflect diverse needs. The company views AI glasses as a route to improved participation, stronger confidence and wider digital access.
An approach that signals a long-term commitment to wearable technology that supports inclusion in everyday life.
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DeepSeek made a rare public appearance at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, where senior researcher Chen Deli restated the firm’s ambition to develop AGI. He joined other companies known as China’s ‘six little dragons’ of AI and acknowledged the potential risks of advanced systems.
Chen represented founder Liang Wenfeng, who has remained out of the public eye since meeting President Xi Jinping earlier this year. He said AI’s current limits create a short ‘honeymoon phase’ before automation reshapes employment and social stability.
The start-up, founded in 2023 as a High-Flyer spin-out, continues to focus on long-term AGI research rather than short-lived commercial trends. Chen said it was reasonable to consider the dangers of highly capable systems while still pursuing them.
His comments echoed an open letter calling for a pause on superintelligence work until strong public support and scientific consensus on safety emerge. Hundreds of experts and public figures backed the appeal for tighter oversight.
Chen argued that market incentives make slowing progress unrealistic and said widespread job replacement may ultimately define the AI revolution. Other firms from China, including Zhipu AI and Alibaba, outlined plans for more powerful infrastructure to meet rising compute demand.
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OpenAI Academy is running a US nationwide Small Business AI Jam for more than 1,000 owners. Workshops in San Francisco, New York, Detroit, Houston and Miami give practical help using AI to handle everyday tasks.
Participants from restaurants, retailers, professional services and creative firms work alongside mentors to build tailored AI tools. Typical projects include marketing assistants, customer communication helpers and organisers for bookings, stock or paperwork. Everyone leaves with at least one ready to use workflow.
A survey for OpenAI found around half of small business leaders want staff comfortable with AI. About sixty percent expect clear efficiency gains when employees have those skills, from faster content writing to smoother operations.
Only available in the US, owners gain access to an online academy hub before and after the in person events. Follow up offers a virtual jam on 4 December, office hours, and links to an AI for Main Street certification track and jobs platform.
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Uber has been confronted with legal demands to halt the use of its AI-driven pay systems after accusations that they have reduced driver incomes.
Worker Info Exchange, a non-profit foundation, alleges that the ride-hailing firm breached European data protection laws by varying pay through algorithms.
Research conducted in partnership with Oxford University indicates many drivers earn less per hour since Uber introduced dynamic pricing in 2023, which adjusts pay and fares based on demand.
The findings suggest that the average hourly wage has stagnated and declined in real terms compared to previous models.
The foundation argues that Uber trained its algorithms using drivers’ historical personal data and demands a return to transparent, human-monitored pay setting.
If the company does not comply, WIE plans to bring collective proceedings before Amsterdam’s district court under Dutch collective redress laws.
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Cities worldwide face increasing operational challenges as populations grow and infrastructure becomes strained. Traffic congestion, emergency response coordination, and fragmented data pipelines make it difficult for local authorities to obtain real-time insights for effective decision-making.
NVIDIA’s Blueprint for smart city AI, combined with OpenUSD digital twins, allows cities to simulate complex scenarios and generate accurate sensor data.
These digital twins enable authorities to test urban systems, train vision AI models, and deploy real-time AI agents for tasks such as video analytics, emergency response, and traffic monitoring.
Several cities and organisations have adopted these technologies with measurable results. Kaohsiung City reduced incident response times by 80%, Raleigh achieved 95% vehicle detection accuracy, and French rail networks cut energy use by 20%.
Applications range from optimising rail operations to automating street inspections and video review.
By integrating AI-driven insights into city management, authorities can shift from reactive measures to proactive operations. Simulation, monitoring, and analysis tools improve infrastructure planning, enhance efficiency, and allow urban systems to respond dynamically to emerging situations.
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Google Maps is rolling out new Gemini-powered features to streamline travel planning and reduce everyday friction. The update includes Insider Tips for venues, a refreshed Explore tab, predictions of EV-charger availability, and the option to review businesses under a nickname.
Insider Tips uses Gemini to analyse reviews and local data, offering practical guidance on parking details, dress codes, and lesser-known menu items. The feature is launching first in the United States on Android and iOS before expanding further.
The Explore tab has been redesigned with curated lists of trending restaurants, attractions, and activities. Google says the update will be available globally this month, helping users discover new places without having to sort through lengthy reviews.
EV drivers will gain predictive insights into charger availability, with Maps estimating how many ports are likely to be free when they arrive. The feature will begin rolling out next week on Android Auto and Google-built-in vehicles.
Users can also choose to leave business reviews under a nickname and profile picture instead of their real name, offering greater privacy without losing review protections. Google says the option will roll out across Android, iOS, and desktop.
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British novelists are raising concerns that AI could replace their work, with nearly half saying the technology could ‘entirely replace’ them. The MCTD survey of 332 authors found deep unease about the impact of generative tools trained on vast fiction datasets.
About 97% of novelists expressed intense negativity towards the idea of AI writing complete novels, while around 40% said their income from related work had already suffered. Many authors have reported that their work has been used to train large language models without their permission or payment.
While 80 % agreed AI offers societal benefits, authors called for better protections, including copyright reform and consent-based use of their work. MCTD Executive Director Prof. Gina Neff stressed that creative industries are not expendable in the AI race.
A UK government spokesperson said collaboration between the AI sector and creative industries is vital, with a focus on innovation and protection for creators. But writers say urgent action is needed to ensure their rights are upheld.
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Drexel University researchers studied how AI can aid emergency decisions in pediatric trauma at Children’s National Medical Center. Clinicians used the AI display DecAide to view key patient data, AI-synthesised information, or AI data with treatment recommendations.
The study tested 35 emergency care providers across 12 scripted scenarios, comparing their decisions to established ground truth outcomes.
The results showed participants achieved the highest accuracy, 64.4%, when both AI information and recommendations were provided, compared to 56.3% with information alone and 55.8% with no AI support.
Decision times were consistent across all conditions, suggesting AI did not slow clinicians, though providers varied in how they used the recommendations. Some consulted the guidance after deciding, while others ignored it due to trust or transparency concerns.
Researchers highlight the potential for AI to augment emergency care without replacing human judgement, particularly in time-critical settings. Researchers stress the need for larger studies and clear policies to ensure clinicians can trust and use AI tools effectively.
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India is forecast to surpass one billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2031. Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report highlights the rapid uptake in a market that is already leading global data consumption.
The study estimates that there will be approximately 394 million Indian 5G subscriptions by the end of 2025, roughly one-third of all connections. The average monthly mobile data usage per smartphone is expected to increase from 36GB today to 65GB by 2031.
Ericsson expects global 5G subscriptions to reach 6.4 billion by 2031, accounting for around two-thirds of all mobile lines. Affordable 5G phones, expanding networks and fixed wireless access services are credited with driving worldwide adoption.
Industry leaders say 5G already underpins key digital services, from streaming platforms to industrial automation and remote education. Analysts predict rising data use will spur further investment in Indian telecom infrastructure and cloud-based services.
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