AI News Archive: May 19, 2026 — Part 14
Sourced from 500+ daily AI sources, scored by relevance.
- Google says Gemini 3.5 Flash can slash enterprise AI costs by more than $1 billion a year
Google unveiled Gemini 3.5 Flash at its annual I/O developer conference on Tuesday, a new artificial intelligence model that the company says shatters what had become a seemingly iron law of the AI industry: that the smartest models must also be the slowest and most expensive to run. The model sits at the center of a sweeping set of announcements — from a video-generating "world model" called Gemini Omni to a 24/7 personal AI agent called Gemini Spark — but 3.5 Flash carries perhaps the most immediate consequence for the enterprises pouring billions of dollars into AI infrastructure. Sundar Pichai, Google's chief executive, told reporters during a press briefing Monday that companies running roughly one trillion tokens per day on Google Cloud could save more than $1 billion annually by shifting 80 percent of their workloads to a mix of Flash and other frontier models. "You've probably heard anecdotes from other CIOs that companies are already blowing through their annual token budgets,
- Google, Blackstone to launch AI cloud venture to meet data centre demand
Google, Blackstone to launch AI cloud venture to meet data centre demand Reuters
- Researchers improve AI’s ability to learn new tasks without sacrificing performance
Researchers improve AI’s ability to learn new tasks without sacrificing performance EurekAlert!
- Googles Gemini Spark announced: Meet the AI agent that could run your life
Google introduces its new AI agent, Gemini Spark
- AI can seem more human than real humans in a classic Turing test, study finds
AI can seem more human than real humans in a classic Turing test, study finds EurekAlert!
- Mistral AI acquires Viennese physical AI startup Emmi AI
French AI company Mistral AI has acquired Vienna-based startup Emmi AI to expand its offering for industrial clients across Europe. The article Mistral AI acquires Viennese physical AI startup Emmi AI appeared first on The Decoder .
- AI interviewers can't connect with people the way human researchers can. They can produce only data, not meaning
Anthropic, the company behind the generative AI tool Claude, claimed in March 2026 that it used an AI interviewer to conduct "the largest and most multilingual qualitative study" ever done. The AI tool collected responses from nearly 81,000 people about their visions for AI, spanning 70 languages and 159 countries. Anthropic contends that tools like this can enable researchers to conduct "rich, open-ended interviews at a very large scale."
- Mistral AI buys Austrian physics AI startup in industrial push
France's Mistral AI has acquired Emmi AI from Austria. This move aims to boost Mistral's services for European industrial clients. Emmi AI specializes in complex physics models. This acquisition will help Mistral AI better serve manufacturing and engineering tasks. The company believes tailored AI models outperform general ones. This strengthens Mistral's position as a key partner for European manufacturers.
- Google overhauls its AI subscription tiers, makes them cheaper
Google overhauled its AI subscription plans at I/O, and made them cheaper
- Gemini Omni, the ‘create anything’ model, starts today with lifelike video
Google has unveiled Gemini Omni, a new family of generative models designed to “create anything,” and you can use it today to create surprisingly realistic videos. more…
- Google I/O 2026 Live Blog: All the Gemini and Smart Glasses Updates as They Happen
Follow our live coverage of Google’s annual developer keynote, where the company will announce updates to its Gemini suite of AI tools and more details about Android XR smart glasses.
- Apple Taps Virtual Avatar Firm Animato's Expertise and Intellectual Property
Apple has quietly agreed to hire employees and license intellectual property of Animato, a small California-based company that has developed software for creating virtual avatars used in video chats and tutoring, according to a European Commission filing spotted by MacRumors . The acquisition was filed under the EU's Digital Markets Act in January 2026, and appears to be what's known as a "structured acqui-hire." In other words, Apple is able to make employment offers to certain Animato employees and receive a non-exclusive license to the company's intellectual property, as well as acquire its patent applications. Apple Inc. ("Apple") will have the right to make employment offers to and hire certain employees of Animato, Inc. ("Animato"), receive a non-exclusive license to Animato's intellectual property rights, and acquire Animato's patent applications. Animato develops and distributes software that creates virtual avatars for video chats and tutoring. Animato was founded in October 2
- Mistral acquires Austria’s Emmi AI
Europe’s leading AI model firm has acquired an Austrian AI startup, in an effort to build out its offering for aerospace, automotive and industrial businesses across Europe. France’s Mistral has acqui...
- Apple just revealed an iOS 27 feature that hints at Siri’s new powers
Today Apple announced its lineup of new accessibility features coming in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and more, with an upgrade to Voice Control offering an exciting preview of agentic capabilities the new Siri will reportedly gain. more…
- Mistral strikes second M&A deal in months with Austrian AI startup Emmi
Mistral strikes second M&A deal in months with Austrian AI startup Emmi
- Gemini Omni is Googles new world model, with advanced AI video generation capabilities
At Google I/O 2026, Google unveiled a new AI model called Gemini Omni.
- Your favorite Google apps are getting a massive Gemini Live-like upgrade
New conversational AI voice features are coming to Gmail, Keep, and Docs this summer to change how you work.
- Google is plugging the Play Store into Gemini for smarter app recommendations
Forget searching the Play Store — just ask Gemini to find the best apps for your needs.
- StanChart eyes more than 7,800 job cuts by 2030 in AI embrace
The London bank aims to boost income per employee by 20% – and will reduce risk management, compliance and HR roles as part of that effort.
- Google launches Gemini 3.5 Flash model. How to try it for free now.
Google unveiled a new AI model, Gemini 3.5 Flash, at Google I/O 2026. The new model is available now at no cost.
- Gemini gets two new voices just in time for Google I/O 2026
Google is on a roll with Gemini features and changes leading up to the I/O 2026 keynote.
- GE Aerospace Just Did Something Amazing With AI
GE Aerospace Just Did Something Amazing With AI Barron's
- Standard Chartered plans to cut 7,000 jobs in AI push — lender wants to replace ‘lower-value human capital’ and focus on automation
Standard Chartered says that it will trim a huge number of positions from its back offices in a bid to increase automation.
- NewReputation's AI Sentiment Analysis Tool Reaches 2,500 Users as Businesses Demand Clearer Brand Intelligence
NewReputation's AI Sentiment Analysis Tool Reaches 2,500 Users as Businesses Demand Clearer Brand Intelligence azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic
- StanChart to slash almost 8,000 jobs in AI push
StanChart to slash almost 8,000 jobs in AI push The Straits Times
- Gemini Spark is Googles answer to OpenClaw. 3 reasons why it might be better.
At Google I/O 2026, Google revealed Gemini Spark, a personal AI agent that runs on the cloud. Here's why it might win out over OpenClaw.
- Trump shares AI-generated images of shackled alien and spaceships
Trump shares AI-generated images of shackled alien and spaceships USA Today
- Standard Chartered is cutting 8,000 jobs. Here's where it's focused on automating...
“We don’t have job losses, but we do have job role reductions in favor of the machines, and that will accelerate.”
- Anthropic lets Glasswing partners publicly share Mythos flaws
Anthropic lets Glasswing partners publicly share Mythos flaws IT Pro
- ‘Replacing lower-value human capital’: Standard Chartered plans over 7,800 job cuts by 2030 amid AI, profitability push
The job cuts would drive productivity improvements to raise income per employee by about 20% by 2028, according to StanChart.
- Google I/O 2026 live updates: See the latest reveals, including Gemini, Android XR, more
Mashable will be providing live updates on Google I/O 2026 and the latest updates to Gemini, Android XR glasses, Workspace, Android, and Chrome.
- Google drops its most expensive AI Ultra pricing and adds new, lower tier
Plus Google AI Pro picks up bundled YouTube Premium Lite access.
- OpenAI avoided a costly court loss to Elon Musk, but neither side is unscathed
OpenAI avoided a costly court loss to Elon Musk, but neither side is unscathed The Mercury News
- 1 in 5 Brits think AI layoffs could trigger civil unrest
UK folk increasingly don't believe AI jobs revolution will end in prosperity for anyone outside the boardroom, say researchers
- UK public gripped by fear over AI's impact on jobs, major study finds
UK public gripped by fear over AI's impact on jobs, major study finds Computing UK
- Company to replace 'lower-value human capital' with AI
Standard Chartered bank could cut more than 7,500 jobs as it seeks to replace "lower-value human capital" under a technology and artificial intelligence (AI) drive.
- Dell Bulks Up Hardware As AI Infrastructure Shifts To On-Premises
Dell Bulks Up Hardware As AI Infrastructure Shifts To On-Premises
- Standard Chartered blames AI as it cuts thousands of jobs
Standard Chartered blames AI as it cuts thousands of jobs The Telegraph
- Everything announced at the Google I/O 2026 keynote: AI, more AI, and smart glasses
Everything announced at Google I/O 2026 keynote
- Google's Gemini Omni Tries to Fill the Void Left by OpenAI's Sora
Google's Gemini Omni Tries to Fill the Void Left by OpenAI's Sora PCMag Australia
- Standard Chartered to cut thousands of roles as AI use increases
The UK-headquartered banking giant aims to move some of the effected workers to other roles in the business.
- I Have Mild ADHD. These Free, AI-Powered Goblin Tools Helped Me Crush My Task Paralysis
I Have Mild ADHD. These Free, AI-Powered Goblin Tools Helped Me Crush My Task Paralysis PCMag Middle East
- Standard Chartered to cut more than 7,000 jobs as it steps up AI use
London-headquartered bank will reduce back-office jobs and aims to move some workers to new roles Standard Chartered plans to cut more than 7,000 jobs over the next four years as it increasingly uses artificial intelligence. The London-headquartered lender is one of the first major global banks to lay out plans to cut thousands of jobs, citing AI as a driver to make its operations slimmer as it seeks to increase its profitability and tackle competition. Continue reading...
- All the Gemini announcements from Google I/O 2026
Google had a slew of Gemini announcements to share at I/O 2026. Here are the big ones.
- Google’s newest Gemini Omni model can turn real videos into surreal fever dreams
Gemini Omni gives a whole new meaning to AI hallucinations.
- I Have Mild ADHD. These Free, AI-Powered Goblin Tools Helped Me Crush My Task Paralysis
I Have Mild ADHD. These Free, AI-Powered Goblin Tools Helped Me Crush My Task Paralysis PCMag Australia
- Standard Chartered to slash workforce by 15% over AI
The UK-headquartered company said it was boosting automation.
- Google Unwraps Plans to Put AI to Work for Android, Web Developers
Google Unwraps Plans to Put AI to Work for Android, Web Developers PCMag Middle East
- Google Unwraps Plans to Put AI to Work for Android, Web Developers
Google Unwraps Plans to Put AI to Work for Android, Web Developers PCMag UK
- StanChart to cut over 7,000 jobs, boost AI to replace 'lower-value human capital'
StanChart to cut over 7,000 jobs, boost AI to replace 'lower-value human capital' Reuters