Google enhances Gemini as Sundar Pichai faces YouTube calls

Key Takeaways

• Google introduced major AI updates in March 2026 for Gemini, Search Live, Google Workspace, and Google Maps, alongside increased investment in healthcare AI.
• Children's advocacy groups urged YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Google CEO Sundar Pichai to label and restrict "AI slop" videos, especially for users under 18 and on YouTube Kids.
• Billionaire Nelson Peltz acquired Janus Henderson Group Plc for approximately $8 billion, planning to modernize the asset manager using AI in partnership with General Catalyst.
• Cargill received the 2026 BIG AI Excellence Award for its innovative application of AI in global food and agriculture, enhancing supply chains and sustainability.
• Medical AI won the first Global Digital Health Award for its AI platform, which analyzes ECGs to detect cardiovascular conditions, serving 250 hospitals globally.
• El Camino College is implementing Nectir AI by April 24 to improve course material accessibility for disabled students, enabling custom AI assistants for instructors.
• A TD report indicates 55% of consumers use AI for finances, but most prefer human final decisions, with only 18% trusting AI for recommendations alone.
• Europe faces a security emergency due to its military's dependency on US AI technology, with calls to extend EU governance to military AI and invest in sovereign capabilities.
• A content creator warned of an AI deepfake scam using her image in an AI-generated YouTube ad for life insurance without consent.
• Securitas Technology partnered with Ambient.ai to offer an AI-powered threat detection and automation platform, transforming traditional security into proactive intelligence-led operations.

Cargill earns 2026 BIG AI Excellence Award for food system innovation

Cargill has won the 2026 BIG Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award for its work in using AI to improve global food and agriculture. The company uses AI for supply chain, analytics, sustainability, and food safety. This award recognizes Cargill's leadership in applying AI to solve major challenges in the food industry. The company is committed to using technology to create a more sustainable and resilient food system. Experts evaluated AI solutions for their innovation, impact, and scalability.

Globee Awards seeks global AI achievements for 2026 awards

The Globee Awards are now accepting nominations for their 2026 Awards for Artificial Intelligence. Technology teams, AI teams, and departments worldwide can submit their AI achievements. The awards recognize innovation in areas like machine learning, data-driven systems, and automation. Entries will be judged by industry experts globally. This is an opportunity for organizations to gain worldwide recognition for their AI work.

El Camino College adopts Nectir AI for student accessibility by April 24

El Camino College will use Nectir AI to make course materials more accessible for disabled students by April 24 to meet federal standards. The college is implementing AP 3775 to regulate AI use across the district. Nectir AI allows instructors to create custom AI assistants trained on course materials for personalized student tutoring. Rules for AI usage will vary by department, with STEM courses facing specific challenges for complex equations. Faculty will have discretion over consequences for student misuse of AI.

Google announces March 2026 AI updates for Gemini and Maps

Google released major AI updates in March 2026, focusing on making Gemini more helpful in daily life. Gemini now better understands user context, turning devices into proactive assistants for work and creativity. Updates include expanded Search Live, enhanced AI tools in Google Workspace, and improved Google Maps with conversational help. New tools make it easier to switch to Gemini from other AI apps. Google is also increasing AI investment in healthcare and updating Fitbit health tracking.

Europe faces security emergency due to US AI military dependency

Europe faces a security emergency due to its reliance on US AI technology for military operations, as highlighted by NATO's acquisition of the Maven Smart System. This system, powered by US AI, coordinated significant bombing operations in Iran. The article argues that ethical constraints on military AI are being discarded by US companies under Pentagon pressure. Europe's AI Act focuses on civilian use, neglecting military AI dependency and the implications of foreign-owned cognitive infrastructure for defense. Urgent steps are needed to establish binding decision times, extend EU governance to military AI, and invest in sovereign AI capabilities.

Consumers use AI for finances but want human final say

A TD report shows 55% of consumers now use AI to help manage their finances, a sharp increase from last year. However, most people prefer AI to provide insights and recommendations while humans make the final decisions. Only 18% trust AI to make financial recommendations alone. Consumers find AI most helpful for behind-the-scenes tasks like fraud detection and spending tracking. Trust in AI for honest information is growing, with 62% of respondents expressing confidence.

Medical AI wins inaugural Global Digital Health Award for ECG analysis

Medical AI, a company using artificial intelligence for electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis, received the first Global Digital Health Award at ACC.26. Their AI platform helps clinicians detect cardiovascular conditions like heart failure and myocardial infarction earlier and more accurately. The award recognizes non-US organizations making a real impact in digital health for cardiovascular care. Medical AI's technology is used in 250 hospitals worldwide and evaluates about 220,000 patients monthly.

Content creator warns of AI deepfake scam using her image

A content creator named Karen Flowers is warning others about a deepfake scam after her image was used in an AI-generated YouTube ad for life insurance without her permission. The video featured her likeness but used a different voice, making it appear as a deepfake. Cybersecurity experts note that AI can be used to create convincing scams by gathering personal information online. Flowers emphasizes the need for better protection against such AI-driven fraudulent activities.

Nelson Peltz buys Janus Henderson, plans AI overhaul

Billionaire Nelson Peltz has acquired Janus Henderson Group Plc for approximately $8 billion and plans to use artificial intelligence to modernize the asset manager. His firm, Trian Fund Management, is partnering with General Catalyst, which invests heavily in AI. The plan is to use AI to streamline operations, speed up processes like fund creation, and meet investor demands. Janus Henderson already uses some AI tools, but will deploy Percepta's advanced technology. Peltz has sought control of Janus Henderson for years.

Securitas Technology partners with Ambient.ai for AI security

Securitas Technology will now offer Ambient.ai's threat detection and automation platform to help businesses implement intelligent security. The Ambient.ai platform uses AI to continuously perceive, understand, and act on real-world events in real time, working alongside human operators. This partnership aims to transform traditional security into proactive threat detection. It allows clients to move from manual, reactive operations to intelligence-led security where AI handles complexity. This collaboration combines Securitas Technology's security expertise with Ambient.ai's AI platform.

YouTube urged to protect kids from harmful AI videos

Children's advocacy groups, including Fairplay, are urging YouTube to protect kids from low-quality AI-generated videos, calling them 'AI slop.' They sent a letter to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressing serious concerns about these videos harming children's development. The groups want YouTube to clearly label all AI-generated content, ban it from YouTube Kids, and prevent it from being recommended to users under 18. YouTube stated it has high standards for YouTube Kids content and is working on AI labels.

Sources

• Cargill Wins 2026 BIG Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award
• Call for Global Entries: Globee® Awards for Artificial Intelligence Invite Technology Teams, AI Teams, and Departments Worldwide to Nominate Their Achievements
• New AI technology coming to ECC to meet federal deadline
• The latest AI news we announced in March 2026
• Europe's AI sovereignty just became a security emergency
• More people are using AI to manage their money— but they won’t let it make decisions alone
• Medical AI Receives ACC Global Digital Health Award
• Content creator warns of deepfake scam after AI uses her image to sell life insurance
• Billionaire Nelson Peltz Plans AI Makeover for Janus Henderson
• Securitas Technology to Offer Ambient.ai Threat Detection and Automation Platform
• Advocacy groups urge YouTube to protect kids from 'AI slop' videos