Anthropic is making significant strides in AI capabilities, acquiring Vercept to enhance Claude's ability to use computers and interact with software like a human. This move aims to allow Claude to perform more complex tasks within live applications. The Vercept team, including co-founders Kiana Ehsani, Luca Weihs, and Ross Girshick, brings expertise in AI perception and interaction, which is crucial for advancing Claude's functionality. This follows Anthropic's recent launch of Claude Code Security, and the creator of Anthropic's Claude Code even predicts the traditional "software engineer" role could disappear by the end of the year, with AI handling most coding tasks.
The impact of AI is also being felt across various industries and in the workforce. An entrepreneur, Ira Bodnar, reported her startup, which managed Google and Meta ads, was negatively affected by a Claude AI update that allowed it to analyze Meta ads, causing a significant drop in conversion rates. Bodnar anticipates AI will soon manage entire ad campaigns and make sales decisions directly. Meanwhile, Meta AI has released GCM (GPU Cluster Monitoring), an open-source toolkit designed to manage hardware for training large AI models, addressing instability by monitoring GPU performance and reliability using NVIDIA's DCGM.
Globally, investments and policy discussions around AI are intensifying. South Korea plans to invest $240 million this year to boost its AI-driven and eco-friendly shipbuilding sector, focusing on autonomous navigation and digital shipyard systems, with pilot projects for over 30 ships. The UK Treasury is also seeking advice from Tony Blair's thinktank and private tech firms like IBM, Faculty AI, and Google to implement AI across government services, aiming for efficiency. On the policy front, President Donald Trump has proposed that major technology companies should cover the energy costs associated with artificial intelligence to reduce consumer electricity bills.
In hardware development, Nvidia has unveiled its next AI system, Vera Rubin, expected to ship in the second half of 2026. This system promises to be 10 times more efficient in performance per watt than its predecessor, Grace Blackwell, despite using more power, as Nvidia faces competition from companies like AMD. Concurrently, Dr. Manjeet Rege from the University of St. Thomas highlighted AI's impact on Minnesota's workforce, noting changes in hiring and employee evaluation. He emphasized the need for transparency regarding AI monitoring and called for mandatory regulations to ensure AI systems are regularly checked for bias and fairness. Amadeus also acquired SkyLink to integrate conversational AI into its travel products, enabling voice command bookings.
Key Takeaways
- Anthropic acquired Vercept to enhance Claude's ability to use computers and interact with software, leveraging Vercept's expertise in AI perception.
- The creator of Anthropic's Claude Code predicts the "software engineer" role may disappear by year-end as AI handles most coding tasks.
- Meta AI released GCM (GPU Cluster Monitoring), an open-source toolkit, to manage hardware instability and monitor GPU performance for large AI models, integrating with NVIDIA's DCGM.
- Nvidia unveiled Vera Rubin, its next AI system, set to ship in H2 2026, promising 10 times more efficiency per watt than Grace Blackwell, while facing competition from AMD.
- South Korea is investing $240 million this year to advance AI-driven and eco-friendly shipbuilding, focusing on autonomous vessels and digital shipyard systems.
- President Donald Trump proposed that major technology companies should cover AI's energy costs to reduce consumer electricity bills.
- The UK Treasury is consulting Tony Blair's thinktank and private firms like IBM, Faculty AI, and Google on implementing AI across government services to boost efficiency.
- AI is significantly impacting the workforce, changing hiring and evaluation processes, with calls for transparency and mandatory regulations for bias checks.
- An entrepreneur's startup managing Google and Meta ads was negatively impacted by a Claude AI update, highlighting AI's growing capability to manage entire ad campaigns and make sales decisions.
- Amadeus acquired SkyLink to integrate conversational AI into its travel solutions, enabling voice command bookings for flights and hotels, starting with business travel.
Anthropic buys Vercept to boost AI's computer skills
Anthropic has acquired Vercept to improve how its AI, Claude, can use computers. This will allow Claude to perform more complex tasks within live applications, like a human user. The Vercept team, including co-founders Kiana Ehsani, Luca Weihs, and Ross Girshick, brings expertise in AI perception and interaction. Vercept will stop its current product and join Anthropic to advance these computer use capabilities. This follows Anthropic's recent launch of Claude Code Security.
Anthropic acquires Vercept.ai to enhance Claude's computer use
Anthropic has acquired Vercept.ai, a startup focused on using AI to control computers. This acquisition brings Vercept's team, including co-founders Kiana Ehsani, Luca Weihs, and Ross Girshick, to Anthropic to improve Claude's ability to interact with software. Vercept's technology uses computer vision to understand screens like a human, enabling flexible automation. The team's expertise in visual perception and interaction is key to advancing Claude's complex task capabilities. Vercept will close its product and merge with Anthropic.
Meta AI releases GCM tool for better GPU cluster monitoring
Meta AI has released GCM (GPU Cluster Monitoring), an open-source toolkit to help manage hardware for training large AI models. GCM addresses hardware instability, a major issue in AI development, by monitoring GPU performance and reliability. It integrates with workload managers like Slurm to track jobs and node health. The toolkit uses 'Prolog' and 'Epilog' scripts for pre-job checks and post-job diagnostics, leveraging NVIDIA's DCGM. GCM also converts cluster data into OpenTelemetry formats for better analysis.
South Korea invests $240M in AI and green shipbuilding
South Korea plans to invest $240 million this year to boost its global standing in AI-driven and eco-friendly shipbuilding. The increased budget focuses on next-generation vessels, autonomous navigation, and digital shipyard systems. Significant funding will go towards carbon-free fuel systems and AI-powered autonomous vessels, with pilot projects planned for over 30 ships. The investment also aims to improve productivity and safety in shipyards through AI and automation. Major shipbuilders like HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, and Samsung Heavy Industries are also increasing their related investments.
AI's impact on Minnesota workforce discussed by St. Thomas professor
Dr. Manjeet Rege from the University of St. Thomas discussed artificial intelligence's effect on Minnesota's workforce with WCCO Radio. He highlighted that AI is already changing hiring, monitoring, and employee evaluation processes. Rege stressed the need for transparency, urging that employees should know when they are being monitored by AI. He also called for mandatory regulations to ensure AI systems are regularly checked for bias and fairness.
Trump pledges Big Tech will cover AI energy costs for consumers
President Donald Trump announced a plan for major technology companies to cover the energy costs associated with artificial intelligence. This initiative aims to reduce electricity bills for consumers. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the policy and discussed the global AI competition with China, as well as the importance of rare earth minerals.
UK Treasury seeks advice from Tony Blair's thinktank on AI in public services
The UK Treasury has enlisted Tony Blair's thinktank and private tech firms to advise on implementing AI across government services. This move aims to improve efficiency and productivity within the public sector. Critics, however, compare the decision to inviting 'foxes to consult on the future of the henhouse,' raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The government aims to become the fastest AI adopter in the G7 and is engaging with companies like IBM, Faculty AI, and Google. The advice will inform future investment priorities.
AI coding tool creator predicts software engineer role may disappear
The creator of Anthropic's Claude Code, a tool that writes code, predicts the title 'software engineer' could disappear by the end of the year. He believes AI will handle most coding tasks, with people shifting to roles like 'builder' or product manager. The creator has used Claude Code for all his coding needs since November, only reviewing the output. He compares this shift to the invention of the printing press, which changed the role of scribes. Anthropic also released Cowork, a user-friendly AI for non-coders.
Entrepreneur's startup 'killed' by Claude AI, predicts AI-to-AI sales
An entrepreneur named Ira Bodnar reported that her startup, which managed Google and Meta ads using an AI agent, was negatively impacted by a Claude AI update. Her conversion rate dropped significantly after Claude gained the ability to analyze Meta ads. Bodnar believes AI will soon manage entire ad campaigns, potentially making her product category obsolete. She predicts that while CRMs and lead databases will remain, outreach automation tools may decline. Bodnar also foresees AI agents making sales decisions directly, bypassing human interaction.
Amadeus acquires SkyLink to add conversational AI to travel products
Amadeus has acquired SkyLink, a New York-based company, to integrate conversational AI into its travel solutions, especially for business trips. This technology will allow travelers to book flights and hotels using voice commands, aiming to save time and money. Amadeus plans to expand SkyLink's AI capabilities beyond business travel to its airline, airport, and hospitality services. The acquisition focuses on enhancing user experience through natural language interactions.
Nvidia's new Vera Rubin AI system is 10x more efficient
Nvidia has unveiled Vera Rubin, its next AI system, which is expected to ship in the second half of 2026. This new system is designed to be 10 times more efficient in performance per watt compared to its predecessor, Grace Blackwell, despite using more power. Vera Rubin is a modular, liquid-cooled system built with 1.3 million components, including Rubin GPUs and Vera CPUs. Nvidia aims to meet growing demand for AI computing power while facing competition from companies like AMD.
Sources
- Anthropic acquires Vercept to advance Claude's computer use capabilities
- Anthropic Acquires Computer Use Startup Vercept.ai
- Meta AI Open Sources GCM for Better GPU Cluster Monitoring to Ensure High Performance AI Training and Hardware Reliability
- South Korea to invest $240M in AI, green shipbuilding
- In the News: Manjeet Rege on AI in the Minnesota Workforce - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas
- Donald Trump's SOTU: Big Tech to cover AI power costs for consumers
- Treasury calls in Blair thinktank to advise on using AI across public services
- ‘It’s going to be painful for a lot of people’: Software engineers could go extinct this year, says Claude Code creator
- Entrepreneur says Claude ‘killed’ her marketing company, predicts AI-to-AI sales in future, 'They don't get charmed'
- Amadeus Acquired SkyLink to Infuse Its Products With Conversational AI
- Nvidia’s new AI system Vera Rubin is 10 times more efficient than its predecessor — here’s a first look
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