Google launches Nano Banana 2 as Anthropic powers Perplexity

Key Takeaways

• Google released Nano Banana 2, an advanced AI image model integrated with Gemini, offering faster, higher-quality image generation and text rendering.
• Perplexity launched "Computer," an AI super agent that orchestrates multiple AI models, including Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6, Gemini, Nano Banana, and ChatGPT, for complex task execution.
• Deloitte's Enterprise AI Navigator helps businesses manage AI investments and strategy, aiming to reduce traditional work time by up to 50%.
• AI is expected to transform manufacturing, with 80% of manufacturers deploying it by 2030, improving safety and efficiency, and creating new opportunities for skilled workers.
• Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi predicts AI agents could reduce the need for additional engineers in five years, shifting coding roles towards orchestration.
• Synthetic data generation, like DiffuseDrive's platform, addresses the high cost and time of collecting real-world data for physical AI applications.
• Some workers report feeling devalued and experiencing reduced pay or increased workload when training AI systems that then perform their tasks.
• Sam Altman's Worldcoin is expanding its World ID biometric verification service to Gap stores, aiming for broader adoption despite privacy concerns.
• OpenAI and PNNL are partnering to use AI, specifically coding agents, to accelerate federal permitting processes, potentially reducing document drafting time by 15%.
• Brands emphasize the need for early team alignment, clear communication, and clean, sufficient data for successful AI integration, viewing it as a fundamental operational shift.

Google launches Nano Banana 2 for advanced AI image creation

Google DeepMind has released Nano Banana 2, its most advanced AI model for generating and editing images. This new model offers higher quality, faster editing, and better understanding of the world by using the Gemini model. Developers can now create more detailed images, render text accurately in multiple languages within images, and have greater control over image creation with new aspect ratios and resolution options. Nano Banana 2 is available now through Google AI Studio and Vertex AI for developers to build with.

Nano Banana 2 AI model offers speed and advanced image features

Google DeepMind introduced Nano Banana 2, an AI image model that combines the advanced capabilities of Nano Banana Pro with the speed of Gemini Flash. This new model allows for rapid image generation and editing, enhanced creative control, and improved subject consistency. Nano Banana 2 is being integrated into Google products like the Gemini app and Search, and also enhances SynthID technology for identifying AI-generated content. It provides production-ready features like various aspect ratios and resolutions, from 512px to 4K.

Google's Nano Banana 2 AI image model now in Gemini

Google has launched its new Nano Banana 2 AI image model, which is now available within the Gemini app. This model aims to provide professional-level image generation and editing with enhanced speed. It features improved world knowledge, advanced text rendering, and greater creative control for users. The integration into Gemini allows for quicker and more sophisticated image creation directly within the app.

Perplexity unveils AI super agent 'Computer' for task execution

Perplexity, led by Aravind Srinivas, has launched Perplexity Computer, an AI super agent designed to unify current AI capabilities into a single system. Users describe their desired outcome, and Computer breaks down the task, assigning sub-agents to complete it. It can select the best AI models for specific jobs, including those from competitors like Nano Banana for images and Veo 3.1 for video. Perplexity Computer uses Opus 4.6 for core reasoning and integrates various models like Gemini, Grok, and ChatGPT for different tasks. The tool is currently available to Perplexity Max subscribers.

Perplexity's 'Computer' AI agent manages multiple AI models

Perplexity has introduced 'Computer,' an AI tool that coordinates multiple AI agents and models to execute complex workflows. Users define a desired outcome, and Computer assigns tasks to specialized agents using models like Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6, Gemini, Nano Banana, Veo 3.1, Grok, and ChatGPT. This system runs in the cloud with access to file systems and browsers, aiming to simplify advanced AI task execution. 'Computer' is currently available for Perplexity Max subscribers and offers a more controlled environment compared to earlier open-source agent tools.

Deloitte's AI Navigator helps businesses turn AI costs into value

Deloitte has launched Enterprise AI Navigator, a new solution designed to help organizations manage their AI investments effectively. This tool provides a clear roadmap for AI initiatives, focusing on those that will deliver the most value across processes, people, and technologies. It considers operational, tax, regulatory, and workforce impacts, and can design and prototype AI agent solutions. Enterprise AI Navigator aims to speed up AI strategy and design, potentially reducing traditional work time by up to 50%. It is available now as part of client engagements and is built on Deloitte's AI-infused platform, Deloitte Ascend.

Brands share AI implementation lessons at eTail Palm Springs

At eTail Palm Springs, brands discussed the challenges and successes of integrating AI into their operations. Revelyst shared how they moved from initial apprehension about AI replacing jobs to using it across various departments, emphasizing early team alignment and clear communication. J.Crew highlighted the importance of clean, sufficient data, using AI to summarize customer reviews after collecting more feedback. Both companies stressed that AI is becoming a fundamental way of operating rather than just a project, requiring strategic planning and data readiness.

AI will transform manufacturing jobs, leader says

Carolyn Lee, president of the Manufacturing Institute, believes AI will significantly change the manufacturing industry but sees it as an opportunity for growth. Speaking at an event in Plano, she stated that while AI might not eliminate jobs, those who learn to use AI will be more successful. Lee noted that AI is already being used in manufacturing to improve safety, strengthen supply chains, reduce downtime, and speed up product design. She predicts that by 2030, about 80% of manufacturers will be deploying AI, emphasizing that when used correctly, AI elevates workers and creates new opportunities.

Synthetic data generation solves AI data challenges

Generating sufficient data is a major hurdle for physical AI applications like autonomous vehicles. Collecting real-world data is expensive and time-consuming, with companies like Waymo spending billions. DiffuseDrive offers a solution by using generative AI and proprietary algorithms to create realistic synthetic data, including rare edge cases. Their platform analyzes existing customer data to identify gaps and then generates new data that matches the required distributions. This approach helps train AI models more efficiently and cost-effectively for various industries.

Sam Altman's Worldcoin eye scan service expands to Gap stores

Sam Altman's Worldcoin is expanding its eyeball-scanning verification service, World ID, to Gap stores. The service uses an 'orb' to scan a person's iris, creating a unique digital identifier to prove humanity in an age of AI. While initially targeting developing nations with Worldcoin cryptocurrency incentives, the service is now aiming for broader adoption. Worldcoin has reportedly gained over 33 million users globally, with 18 million verified World IDs, though North American adoption has been slower due to privacy concerns about handing over biometric data.

Workers feel devalued as they train AI to do their jobs

Some workers are expressing feelings of being devalued and concerned about declining work quality as they train AI systems to perform their tasks. An editor named Christie felt betrayed after training an AI that led to her pay being reduced and her workload increasing to correct AI errors. A palliative care consultant, Mark Taubert, found that while AI could assist with patient questions, it struggled with nuances like pronunciation and complex queries. While some workers feel their roles are threatened, others believe AI is not yet sophisticated enough to fully replace human skills that rely on empathy and complex understanding.

OpenAI and PNNL partner to speed up government permitting with AI

OpenAI and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are collaborating to explore how AI can accelerate federal permitting processes for critical infrastructure. They developed a benchmark, DraftNEPABench, to test AI models on tasks related to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. Initial results show that coding agents, like Codex CLI, can potentially reduce drafting time for NEPA documents by up to 15%. This partnership aims to make government workflows more efficient, reduce project costs, and speed up the delivery of infrastructure benefits to communities.

Uber CEO: AI agents could replace engineers in 5 years

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi believes AI is significantly boosting engineering productivity, with 90% of Uber's coders using AI tools. He suggests that in about five years, the company might invest in AI agents and GPUs instead of hiring more engineers to scale operations. Khosrowshahi emphasizes that AI is changing the nature of coding jobs towards orchestration rather than manual writing. While near-term productivity gains are leading to more hiring, the long-term vision points to a structural shift in how tech companies grow their engineering capacity.

Sources

• Build with Nano Banana 2, our best image generation and editing model
• Nano Banana 2: Combining Pro capabilities with lightning-fast speed
• Google reveals Nano Banana 2 AI image model, coming to Gemini today
• Perplexity Computer: Froom Bloomberg Terminal competitor to portfolio manager, Aravind Srinivas unveils AI super agent
• Perplexity announces "Computer," an AI agent that assigns work to other AI agents
• Deloitte Launches Enterprise AI Navigator to Enable Organizations to Move AI From Cost to Value
• Brands at eTail Palm Springs share lessons on the ‘messy middle’ of building AI tools
• AI to shake up manufacturing, but change can be good, leader says
• Solving The Data Bottleneck For Physical AI
• Sam Altman's Creepy Eyeball-Scanning Verification Service Is Coming to a Gap Store Near You
• Keen bosses, strange mistakes and a looming threat: workers on training AI to do their jobs
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and OpenAI partner to accelerate federal permitting
• Can Imagine Replacing Incremental Engineering Headcount With AI Agents And GPUs In 5 Years: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi