Artificial Intelligence
Ongoing coverage on Artificial Intelligence.
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Comings and Goings
Xbox has hired Matthew Ball, a veteran analyst, as its new chief strategy officer. The company also appointed an Amazon veteran to the role of chief technology officer, signaling a strategic shift in leadership.
I read every document in the Musk vs Altman case and my takeaway is: 'Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just…
An analysis of the Musk vs Altman legal case, which was dismissed on statute of limitations grounds, suggests Elon Musk may have had a valid point regarding OpenAI's initial non-profit mission. Documents reveal early exchanges where Sam Altman and others committed to a non-profit structure, contrasting with later developments towards a for-profit model.
Google is bringing new AI-powered ad formats to search
Google announced new AI-powered advertising formats for its search engine. These updates were revealed during the Google I/O event, signaling advancements in how ads will be integrated and presented to users.
Xbox announces hire of veteran analyst Matthew Ball as chief strategy officer, and AI and Amazon veteran as CTO
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has appointed industry analyst Matthew Ball as chief strategy officer and Amazon veteran Scott Van Vliet as chief technology officer as part of an ongoing management restructure. Ball, a recognized metaverse expert and longtime gamer, will report directly to Sharma, while Van Vliet will focus on improving the product development pipeline. Chris Schnakenberg was also promoted to corporate vice president of partnerships and business development.
Midday Metaverse
Google is reportedly combating the manipulation of its AI systems and is also transitioning free G Suite legacy users to paid plans. The article touches on Firefox's developments as well.
Midday Tech Bits
Google I/O 2026 is set to feature major announcements regarding Gemini AI and Android XR smart glasses. The event will cover the latest developments in artificial intelligence and augmented reality technologies.
AI Yi-Yi!
Google's I/O 2026 event will feature updates on AI agents. A report from WIRED suggests that opt-out forms provided by data brokers and AI firms are designed to be ineffective.
Alruna: End of History hits Steam next month — MP3s & NPCs
Alruna: End of History, the second game in the Alruna series, is set to launch on Steam on June 3. Developer Niklas Hallin emphasizes the game's pure and direct design, pushing the boundaries of pixel-art side-scrollers and deliberately avoiding generative AI in development. The game will feature commissioned artwork from various artists as part of an "Alruna Art Bomb" initiative.
An AI speaker messed up and skipped the names of students at a college commencement ceremony and yes, there were many…
An AI speaker malfunctioned during a college commencement ceremony, failing to announce the names of students. College president Tiffany Hernandez apologized for the incident, which involved a new AI system being used as the reader. The ceremony was paused multiple times, and a human speaker eventually read the names after vocal complaints from the audience.
FIRSTLOOK UNVEILS AGENT FOR GAME MARKETING
FirstLook has launched 'FirstLook Agent,' an AI-powered marketing system designed for the gaming industry. This new tool allows game studios to analyze player feedback, identify trends, and deploy targeted marketing campaigns in real-time using natural language prompts. Several leading companies, including Team17 and Remedy Entertainment, are already using FirstLook's platform.
Surreal narrative match-3 game Titanium Court has sold over 25,000 copies, giving designer AP Thomson enough time to peacefully work on his next game
The surreal narrative match-3 game Titanium Court has sold over 25,000 copies on PC, exceeding expectations for designer AP Thomson and publisher Fellow Traveller. This success provides Thomson with the financial runway to develop his next game at his own pace. The article also touches on Recreate Games cancelling an AI video competition for Party Animals due to community backlash.
Android Auto's big 2026 makeover is Gemini at its most practical
Android Auto is set to receive a significant update in 2026, integrating Google's Gemini AI to provide practical enhancements. This makeover focuses on small but helpful upgrades to the in-car infotainment system.
Web infrastructure company Cloudflare says Claude Mythos reasoning 'looks like the work of a senior…
Cloudflare has analyzed Anthropic's Claude Mythos AI model, finding it to be a significant advancement in identifying and exploiting software vulnerabilities. While the model can chain low-severity bugs into severe exploits, Cloudflare suggests a more directed, multi-agent approach is more effective than a single agent reviewing large codebases. The company believes the focus should shift from rapid patching to architectural defenses that make exploitation harder, even when bugs exist.
'If engineers are becoming three or four times more productive, then we just [want to] do three or four times more stuff': Google DeepMind CEO reckons AI-induced job cuts aren't inevitable
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis believes that AI-induced job cuts are not inevitable, arguing that increased engineer productivity should lead to more ambitious projects rather than workforce reductions. He suggests that companies replacing engineers with AI lack imagination and understanding of future possibilities. Hassabis also reflected on his past in the game industry and the current limitations of AI in creating compelling game experiences.
"We overlooked the potential offense and harm" - the studio behind popular multiplayer game Party Animals has now cancelled its AI video competition entirely
Recreate Games has cancelled its AI video competition for the multiplayer game Party Animals following significant community backlash. The studio apologized for overlooking the potential harm and offense associated with AI-generated content, stating their original intention was to encourage creativity but they mistakenly linked it with AI. The company plans to gather player feedback for future initiatives.
"Whoa what a wild reaction" - Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi reacts to backlash after praising an AI-generated FF6 remake trailer
Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi expressed surprise at the backlash he received for praising an AI-generated trailer for a hypothetical Final Fantasy 6 remake. Sakaguchi, who also shared AI-generated art for Lost Odyssey, stated that while the AI remake isn't viable as-is, he senses potential in the technology. He left Square Enix in 2003 to found Mistwalker, which received funding from Microsoft for games like Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey.
Warhorse Studio Reveals It's Working on a "Middle-Earth RPG"
Warhorse Studios has announced it is developing an open-world "Middle-earth RPG" in addition to a new "Kingdom Come adventure." The studio also plans to utilize generative AI for localization, a decision that has drawn controversy and led to a translator's layoff. Head developer Daniel Vavra has stepped down to focus on a Kingdom Come movie.
An Open-World Middle-Earth RPG From Kingdom Come Studio Is Officially Happening
Warhorse Studios has officially confirmed it is developing an open-world RPG set in Middle-earth, based on The Lord of the Rings IP. The studio, owned by Embracer Group, is also working on a new entry in its Kingdom Come series. Details on the Lord of the Rings game are scarce, but it follows Embracer's acquisition of Middle-earth Enterprises and its stated goal of a 'Lord of the Rings Renaissance'.
'AI Mode has been a revelation, our biggest upgrade to Search ever. People love it,' says Google CEO
Google CEO Sundar Pichai claims its AI integration in Search, dubbed 'AI Mode,' has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users and is the company's biggest upgrade ever. The Gemini app also reportedly has over 900 million users. The article questions these metrics and Google's focus on user count over profit, while also noting the significant capital expenditure and energy consumption associated with AI development.
Engadget Podcast: Google I/O 2026 was AI all the way down
Google I/O 2026 was heavily focused on artificial intelligence, with numerous announcements and demonstrations. However, the article questions the practical utility and long-term impact of these AI advancements for consumers and developers.