AI search company Perplexity is developing a feature similar to Google’s popular Circle to Search, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas. He announced on X that the functionality would be ‘coming soon’ to all Android users, though specific details remain unclear.
A demo video shared by Srinivas showed how users can highlight text in conversations with Perplexity and request further information.
In the demo, a user circled a mention of Roger Federer and asked about his net worth, prompting Perplexity to fetch details from the web. However, since Google has trademarked ‘Circle to Search’, Perplexity may need a different name for its version.
Perplexity has been gaining popularity as an AI-powered search assistant, with some users preferring it over Google’s Gemini. The company recently introduced an AI-driven web browser called Comet, though it remains uncertain whether it will expand beyond smartphones to platforms like Windows and macOS.
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CoreWeave, the Nvidia-backed AI infrastructure company, has reduced the size of its US initial public offering (IPO) and priced its shares below the initial range, raising concerns over investor interest in AI infrastructure.
The company will offer 37.5 million shares, 23.5% fewer than originally planned, with shares priced at $40 each, well below the lower end of the expected price range.
Despite strong backing from Nvidia, which committed to a $250 million order, the IPO has faced a tepid reception due to concerns about CoreWeave’s long-term growth and capital-intensive business model.
Investors have expressed worries over the company’s reliance on Microsoft’s shifting AI strategy, which could affect demand for its GPU chips. Additionally, CoreWeave’s high debt levels and lack of profitability have raised doubts about its financial sustainability.
The reduced IPO comes at a time when the US IPO market is struggling, with fewer equity deals and lower transaction values in 2024 compared to last year.
CoreWeave’s stock market debut, once seen as a test for the AI infrastructure market, now signals waning investor confidence in AI companies, especially those without a proven profit history.
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Two former Meta AI executives have secured $15 million in funding for Yutori, a San Francisco-based startup focused on developing AI personal assistants.
The funding round was led by Radical Ventures, with backing from prominent investors including AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li and Google DeepMind’s Jeff Dean.
Yutori aims to create autonomous AI agents capable of executing complex online tasks without human intervention. Unlike traditional chatbots, these AI assistants will handle real-world actions, from ordering food to managing travel plans, streamlining everyday digital interactions.
The company is also advancing post-training techniques to enhance AI models’ ability to navigate the web efficiently.
With a team of experts who previously worked on Meta’s AI projects, including the development of Llama 3 and Llama 4 models, Yutori is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven automation.
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Dartmouth College researchers have trialled an AI chatbot, Therabot, designed to assist with mental health care. In a groundbreaking clinical trial, the app was tested on individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), and those at risk for eating disorders.
The results showed encouraging improvements, with users reporting up to a 51% reduction in depression and a 31% decrease in anxiety. These outcomes were comparable to traditional outpatient therapy.
The trial also revealed that Therabot was effective in helping individuals with eating disorder risks, leading to a 19% reduction in harmful thoughts about body image and weight issues.
Researchers noted that after eight weeks of engagement with the app, participants showed significant symptom reduction, marking progress comparable to standard cognitive therapy.
While Therabot’s success offers hope, experts highlight the importance of balancing AI with human oversight, especially in sensitive mental health applications.
The study’s authors emphasised that while AI can help improve access to therapy, particularly for those unable to access in-person care, generative AI tools must be used cautiously, as errors could have serious consequences for individuals at risk of self-harm.
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Just months after predicting a booming future, US airlines are now grappling with economic uncertainty as rising tariffs and government spending cuts dampen travel demand. Consumers and businesses are cutting back on trips, forcing major carriers to lower profit forecasts for the first quarter.
The industry’s outlook for the rest of the year has also dimmed as fears of slow economic growth and high inflation persist.
The S&P 500 passenger airlines index has fallen 15% this year, with stocks of major carriers like Delta and United dropping around 20%. With demand slowing, airlines have begun reducing flight schedules to avoid fare cuts and protect profit margins.
Several airlines, including Delta, United, and American Airlines, have trimmed their April-to-June capacity, while United’s CEO has warned of further cuts if demand does not recover by late summer.
Adding to the industry’s woes, concerns over airline safety have surged, contributing to the travel slowdown. Meanwhile, US consumer confidence has plunged to a four-year low, and airfares posted their first year-on-year decline in six months.
While airlines remain hopeful that full-year earnings targets will hold, sustained weak demand during the peak summer season could force further adjustments.
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South Korea’s SK Hynix has reported that some customers are accelerating orders ahead of potential US tariffs on semiconductor imports.
Speaking at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, Head of Global Sales and Marketing Lee Sang-rak noted that this trend, combined with reduced customer inventory, has contributed to favourable market conditions.
However, he cautioned that it remains uncertain whether the demand surge will continue.
The US government is considering a 25% tariff on semiconductor imports, prompting fears of price increases and supply chain disruptions. Analysts at Nomura have observed preemptive stockpiling in response, though the final decision on tariffs is still pending.
Meanwhile, competitors Micron, SanDisk, and China’s YMTC have raised their memory chip prices due to strong demand from the AI sector.
SK Hynix remains optimistic about growth, particularly in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chip market. CEO Kwak Noh-Jung stated that demand is expected to soar this year, with sales for 2025 already sold out and 2026 orders nearing finalisation.
He also dismissed concerns that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s low-cost models would slow demand for high-performance accelerators, arguing that AI advancements will drive further expansion in the memory chip industry.
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The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) suspended all trading activities for the afternoon session on Friday after a powerful earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar, sending tremors across Bangkok.
The exchange announced the immediate closure on its website, citing the impact of the seismic event.
The suspension affected all markets, including the SET, the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI), and the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX). The decision was made as a precautionary measure following the quake, which caused concern among investors and businesses in the region.
Before the halt, the benchmark SET index was trading 1.05% lower at 1,175.45 points, marking an over one-week low.
The market had already been under pressure earlier in the session due to concerns over new US auto tariffs, adding to the volatility triggered by the earthquake.
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Alibaba and BMW have joined forces to develop advanced AI technologies aimed at shaping the future of mobility in China.
The collaboration brings together Alibaba’s growing AI expertise and BMW’s automotive innovation to produce smarter, more intuitive vehicles tailored to the Chinese market.
The partnership centres on integrating a customised AI engine into BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant, using Yan AI—developed by Alibaba’s Banma—as its foundation.
However, this AI-powered assistant is set to debut in BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse models, manufactured in China from 2026. These vehicles will feature voice-activated controls and real-time assistance, creating a more seamless and personalised driving experience.
BMW plans to introduce two AI agents, Car Genius and Travel Companion, to enhance in-car services such as navigation, traffic updates, and personal scheduling.
The customisable nature of these tools reflects a growing demand for smart, user-friendly features in the automotive space, particularly in tech-savvy markets like China.
As global competition in the electric vehicle sector intensifies, BMW’s strategic pivot towards AI and the Chinese market could strengthen its position against local rivals such as BYD and Geely.
With European subsidies declining, the German carmaker is looking to AI-powered innovation as a key lever to maintain relevance and secure long-term growth.
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OpenAI is delaying the release of its new image generation feature for free ChatGPT users, citing unexpectedly high demand. CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the postponement in a post on Wednesday, saying the feature’s popularity surpassed expectations, which led to a temporary hold on the wider rollout.
The tool, introduced just a day earlier, allows users to create images directly within ChatGPT using the advanced GPT-4o model. The update quickly went viral, with social media flooded by user-generated visuals — many mimicking the whimsical style of Studio Ghibli — including contributions from Altman himself.
GPT-4o enhances text and image capabilities, generating images in a step-by-step, top-to-bottom process known as an autoregressive approach. Currently, the feature remains exclusive to paid ChatGPT tiers: Plus, Pro, and Team. A timeline for when free users will gain access has yet to be announced.
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Japanese chipmaker Rapidus Corporation has announced a strategic partnership with Singapore-based engineering firm Quest Global to develop advanced artificial intelligence semiconductors.
The collaboration focuses on producing low-power, high-performance chips using cutting-edge 2-nanometre technology.
Quest Global will support Rapidus and its clients by designing these next-generation AI chips.
The partnership is also expected to expand Rapidus’s customer reach by tapping into Quest Global’s broad international client base, enabling both companies to deliver new products to established and emerging markets.
Rapidus aims to begin pilot production of the new chips in April at a new facility under construction in Hokkaido, Japan, with mass production planned for 2027.
The move forms part of Japan’s broader effort to revitalise its semiconductor industry amid increasing global supply chain concerns.
Founded in 2022 with investment from major Japanese firms including Toyota and Sony, Rapidus was created to strengthen domestic chip manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers in an era of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
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