Google unveils AI conservation while Microsoft powers data centers

Key Takeaways

• Director Darren Aronofsky's AI-generated series, 'On This Day... 1776,' produced with Google DeepMind and Salesforce, has received significant negative viewer feedback for its visuals.
• Over 175,000 Ollama hosts, primarily running Llama and Qwen2 AI models, are exposed online across 130 countries, creating a security risk due to a "monoculture" and lack of safety checks.
• The Indian Army is adopting Shield AI's V-BAT drones, powered by Hivemind AI, for defense, with plans for local manufacturing in India by JSW Defence by late 2026.
• Constellation Energy is restarting a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island to supply a Microsoft AI data center, addressing the projected 165 percent increase in AI data center electricity demand by 2030.
• Google's AI tools are supporting projects like the Vertebrate Genomes Project, helping to sequence the genomes of 13 endangered species, including the cotton-top tamarin and African penguins.
• Qualcomm and ECARX Holdings introduced the Snapdragon Elite-powered Zenith AI computing platform at CES 2026, expanding Qualcomm's presence in automotive AI and competing with Nvidia.
• Jon Serna and Micah Berry, former Arts & Letters alums who worked with Google and Apple, launched Field Pattern, a new AI-focused branding agency aiming to amplify human creativity.
• Kong Inc. launched Kong MCP Registry within Kong Konnect Catalog to provide an enterprise directory for managing AI agents and tools, supporting the Model Context Protocol ecosystem.
• Discussions in Silicon Valley highlight the debate on whether AI will act as a "bicycle for the mind" to augment human abilities or an "autopilot" that could diminish critical thinking skills.

Darren Aronofsky launches AI series on American Revolution

Director Darren Aronofsky released an AI-generated series called 'On This Day... 1776' about the American Revolution. His new AI studio, Primordial Soup, partnered with Google DeepMind and Salesforce for the project. The series appears weekly on Time Magazine's YouTube channel, marking 250 years since the events. Early episodes like "The Flag" and "Common Sense" received many negative comments from viewers. Critics noted issues like strange visuals and very short, choppy clips.

Critics call Aronofsky's AI war series a horror

Director Darren Aronofsky's AI-generated series 'On This Day... 1776' is getting harsh reviews. Published on Time magazine's YouTube channel, the show depicts America's revolutionary war using AI. Critics describe the visuals as "ugly as sin" and "creepy," pointing out strange details like King George's hair and shifting wrinkles on faces like Benjamin Franklin's. While human actors provide the voices, which are the most convincing part, the overall look is widely criticized. The article suggests that despite its flaws, this AI content shows how quickly AI is improving, potentially threatening human jobs in the future.

Open source AI poses global security risks

Researchers from SentinelLABS and Censys warn that open-source AI deployments create a global security risk. They found over 175,000 Ollama hosts in 130 countries exposed online, mostly running similar AI models like Llama and Qwen2. This creates a "monoculture" where one vulnerability could affect many systems at once. Many of these exposed systems also have dangerous features like tool-calling APIs and uncensored prompts without safety checks. Experts stress that all AI, open source or not, needs the same strong security measures as other important online systems.

Indian Army boosts defense with Shield AI drones

The Indian Army chose Shield AI's V-BAT drones, which use Hivemind artificial intelligence, to improve its defense capabilities. This agreement includes supplying the drones and licensing Shield AI's technology, with plans for local manufacturing in India. The V-BAT drones can launch and land vertically, fly for over 12 hours, and operate in tough areas without runways or GPS. Hivemind AI allows the drones to complete missions autonomously, even if communication is lost. This move helps the Indian Army with intelligence and surveillance, and supports India's goal of technological independence in AI and unmanned systems. JSW Defence will build a new manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, expected to start production by late 2026.

How AI will change work and human thinking

A recent Silicon Valley discussion explored how artificial intelligence will change work and society. The main question was whether AI will act as a "bicycle for the mind," helping people do more, or an "autopilot," causing humans to lose critical thinking skills. Axios CEO Jim VandeHei advises people to quickly learn how to use AI as a "force multiplier" for their work. He stresses that AI should extend human abilities, not replace them, to keep people unique and avoid becoming "boring lemmings." The article concludes that how we choose to use AI will decide its impact, requiring new human thinking to use it in creative ways.

Arts and Letters alums launch AI branding agency

Jon Serna and Micah Berry, former employees of Arts & Letters Creative Co., launched a new AI-focused branding agency called Field Pattern this month. The Richmond-based firm offers services like branded content, commercial production, and creating custom AI models for clients. Both founders have extensive backgrounds in advertising and technology, with Serna working with Google and Apple, and Berry with ESPN and Hubspot. They aim for Field Pattern to use AI as an "amplifier" for human creativity, helping companies speed up processes and visualize ideas in a brand-safe way. The company plans to work with various industries and will expand its team soon.

Constellation Energy powers AI with nuclear energy

Artificial intelligence data centers need huge amounts of electricity, and this demand is expected to grow by 165 percent between 2023 and 2030. Constellation Energy is uniquely positioned to meet this need as the nation's largest producer of carbon-free electricity. The company operates 21 nuclear reactors at 12 sites, which provide 86 percent of its power. For example, Constellation Energy announced in September 2024 that it would restart a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island to supply a Microsoft AI data center. The company can quickly increase its output from existing reactors, leading to expected accelerated growth in its revenue.

Kong Konnect adds MCP Registry for AI agent management

Kong Inc. launched Kong MCP Registry, a new feature within its Kong Konnect Catalog, to help manage AI tools. This enterprise directory allows businesses to register, find, and control MCP servers and AI native tools used in agentic applications. It works with the Model Context Protocol ecosystem and follows the AI Alliance Interoperability Framework standard. Kong MCP Registry aims to simplify the complex task of managing AI agents and their data by offering centralized registration, easy agent discovery, and strong governance. Marco Palladino, CTO at Kong Inc., stated this tool provides crucial infrastructure for confidently deploying and managing AI agents.

Google AI helps save endangered species genomes

Google is using its artificial intelligence tools to help preserve the genetic information of endangered species. The company provides funding and AI support to projects like the Vertebrate Genomes Project and the Earth BioGenome Project. Scientists predict one million species could face extinction, and understanding their complete genetic instructions, or genomes, is key to their survival. Google's AI has already helped sequence the genomes of 13 endangered species, including the cotton-top tamarin and African penguins. This technology makes genome sequencing much faster and more affordable, allowing researchers to develop better conservation plans and prevent further species loss.

Qualcomm and ECARX unveil Zenith AI car platform

Qualcomm and ECARX Holdings introduced the Zenith computing platform at CES 2026, marking Qualcomm's push into automotive AI. Powered by Snapdragon Elite, this platform aims to bring advanced smart vehicle functions and better in-car experiences to cars. Qualcomm is also looking into SOCAMM2 memory technology for its AI chips to boost its standing in AI hardware, competing with companies like Nvidia. This move shows Qualcomm's plan to grow its business in the automotive industry, expanding beyond its traditional focus on smartphones.

Sources

• Darren Aronofsky Debuts AI-Generated Series on the American Revolution
• Requiem for a film-maker: Darren Aronofsky’s AI revolutionary war series is a horror
• Open-source AI is a global security nightmare waiting to happen, say researchers
• Shield AI V-BAT drones boost Indian Army artificial intelligence capability
• 5 Stages of AI Adoption
• Arts & Letters alums form new AI-powered local agency Field Pattern
• Forget Tech Stocks: The Utility That's Solving AI's Biggest Problem
• Kong Introduces MCP Registry in Kong Konnect to Power AI Connectivity for Agent Discovery and Governance
• How we’re helping preserve the genetic information of endangered species with AI
• Qualcomm’s Zenith Auto AI Push Redraws Growth Mix Beyond Smartphones