Latest news with #Imagen
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First Post
13 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
Global markets falter as Trump's tariffs hit US growth, breed uncertainty among investors
The combination of trade uncertainty, inflationary pressure from tariffs, and geopolitical instability has clouded the outlook for global growth. Stock indices in US, Europe, and leading Asian markets have suffered read more Global stock markets suffered following yet another abrupt tariff announcement from Trump. Image courtesy: AI-generated image via Imagen Global financial markets stumbled Monday (June 2) as investors digested a fresh wave of economic uncertainty triggered by President Donald Trump's announcement to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and renewed friction with China over trade commitments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.2 per cent in early trading, while the S&P 500 fell 1.1 per cent and the Nasdaq lost 1.4 per cent. The dollar weakened against a basket of major currencies. Asian markets closed in the red, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropping 2.1 per cent and Tokyo's Nikkei losing 1.7 per cent. Shanghai markets remained closed for a public holiday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Europe, major indices opened lower, with the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX in Frankfurt shedding nearly 1 per cent. The European Central Bank is widely expected to announce its seventh consecutive interest rate cut this Thursday in a bid to stimulate activity. In the UK, the FTSE 100 was flat at mid-session. London recently finalised a trade agreement with Washington that may shield it from some of the tariff fallout. Factors behind global market rout Trump announced via Truth Social late Sunday (June 1) that import duties on steel and aluminum would rise to 50 per cent starting Wednesday (June 3), accusing Beijing of backtracking on a recent agreement to ease tariffs. The move comes weeks after Washington and Beijing reached a 90-day truce in Geneva to unwind aggressive tit-for-tat levies that had battered global supply chains. That détente now appears to be unraveling. China 'firmly rejected' US accusations of non-compliance, setting the stage for another round of trade hostilities between the world's two largest economies. 'Trump's pledge to double steel and aluminium import tariffs have caused fresh uncertainty,' said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. 'Negotiations between the US and China also appear to be in disarray after China.' Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News that Beijing was 'slow-rolling' its commitments under the truce. Chinese officials have not confirmed if retaliatory measures are forthcoming, though tensions are clearly escalating. Adding to investor jitters, oil prices surged after OPEC and its partners announced over the weekend that production would increase in July, but by less than markets had anticipated. Brent crude rose 3.6 per cent to $88.40 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate gained 3.2 per cent to trade above $84. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, geopolitical risks flared after Ukrainian drones reportedly struck air bases deep inside Russia, one of the world's largest crude producers. The attacks raised fears of an escalation in the three-year-old conflict and potential supply disruptions. The combination of trade uncertainty, inflationary pressure from tariffs, and geopolitical instability has clouded the outlook for global growth. Kai Wang, Asia equity market strategist at Morningstar, warned that markets risked 'greater volatility given the heightened uncertainty with regard to global growth'. Economic consequences mount for US Beyond the markets, early data suggest Trump's tariff policies are already weighing on the US economy. First-quarter GDP contracted by 0.3 per cent, and economists project a 0.7 per cent annual decline if trade tensions persist. The job market is also feeling the squeeze, with estimates indicating a loss of 456,000 jobs by year-end. Consumer prices have risen 1.7 per cent to 2.4 per cent due to tariff-related costs, with apparel and footwear prices jumping as much as 17 per cent. While some sectors, particularly domestic manufacturing, have posted gains, those have been offset by contractions in construction and agriculture. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Agoda Vacation Planner: Agoda Launches AI-Powered Vacation Planner in India with Ayushmann Khurrana, ET TravelWorld
Outbound 1 min read Agoda debuts AI-powered Vacation Planner in India featuring Ayushmann Khurrana Agoda has launched a limited-time AI Vacation Planner tailored for Indian travellers, starring Ayushmann Khurrana as "Mr. Vacaywala." Powered by Google's Gemini and Imagen technologies, the tool offers personalised, visually rich itineraries via The campaign, active until 30 June, combines generative AI, marketing, and entertainment to reimagine how Indian consumers plan stress-free holidays.
Mint
23-05-2025
- Mint
Why Google's Veo 3 has the internet worried after AI-generated news videos go viral
Tech behemoth Google has unveiled a powerful new AI video creation platform called Flow, launched during its annual I/O 2025 developer conference. The tool, which amalgamates the capabilities of Google's advanced generative models — Veo, Imagen, and Gemini — is now accessible to select users in the United States. Flow enables creators to produce short-form video content simply by typing natural language prompts. Building upon its earlier experimental project, VideoFX, Google describes Flow as a creative hub that allows users to generate, edit, and organise cinematic scenes with an emphasis on consistency and creative control. The announcement has stirred considerable excitement — and unease — across social media platforms, with users sharing a deluge of AI-generated clips ranging from comedic sketches to faux news broadcasts. One viral post on X captured the public's growing apprehension. 'General population is cooked. You can literally create news clips with Veo-3 now, what's even real anymore?' the user wrote, accompanying the post with a disturbingly realistic video. The clip, generated with the prompt,'Generate a British TV news anchor saying: In shocking news, Jake Kaye Rowe Ling's yacht sank with her on board after being attacked by orcas off the coast of Turkey,' raised eyebrows over the potential for AI-generated misinformation. Another video from the same thread featured an artificial reporter announcing an imaginary feline coup at Buckingham Palace — a surreal scenario that many found both humorous and alarming. Reactions to the realism of Veo 3's outputs have been sharply divided. While some users hailed the technology as a leap forward for digital storytelling, others voiced concerns over the blurred line between truth and fabrication. Comments ranged from admiration — 'Wow, I thought that was real just by looking' — to stark warnings: 'Welcome to the new world of misinformation.' One user summarised the crux of the dilemma, stating:'The ability to differentiate false and truth — basically a sound mind.' With the power to create hyper-realistic video content now at users' fingertips, the debate over the implications of synthetic media is only just beginning.
Mint
22-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
How Google Flow, powered by Veo 3, takes the internet by storm: Key features explained
Tech giant Google has recently launched a new AI-powered video creation platform called Flow, unveiled at its I/O 2025 event. The tool brings together the company's latest generative models —Veo, Imagen, and Gemini — and is now available to select users in the United States. Flow allows users to create short video clips and scenes using natural language prompts. It builds upon Google's earlier experimental tool, VideoFX, and is described as a space where creators can generate, edit and organise cinematic assets with a focus on scene consistency and control. Flow is integrated with Veo, Google's video generation model designed to deliver high-quality visual content with adherence to user prompts. It also includes Imagen for generating images from text and Gemini for interpreting prompts written in plain language. Notable features include: Camera Controls : Users can manually adjust camera angles, movements and perspectives within scenes. : Users can manually adjust camera angles, movements and perspectives within scenes. Scenebuilder : Enables users to edit and extend video sequences while maintaining continuity between shots. : Enables users to edit and extend video sequences while maintaining continuity between shots. Asset Management : Offers tools to organise images, character elements, and prompts for reuse across projects. : Offers tools to organise images, character elements, and prompts for reuse across projects. Flow TV: A library of sample clips made with Flow and Veo, where users can view the exact prompts used to generate each piece of content. Flow is accessible via two subscription tiers —Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra. The Pro plan includes 100 generations per month, while the Ultra plan includes higher usage limits and early access to Veo 3, which supports environmental audio and character voice generation. The announcement has prompted a surge of user activity online, particularly focused on the capabilities of Veo 3. On X, users have begun sharing early outputs and discussing the implications of AI-assisted video production. One post from Dave Clark, co-founder of the production company Promise, stated: 'Created with Google Flow. Visuals, Sound Design, and Voice were prompted using Veo 3 text-to-video.' Another user wrote, 'Less than 24 hours since Google dropped Veo 3 and people are already creating wild stuff! 13 insane examples 🧵👇 1. A giraffe riding a bike in NYC.' Flow is currently limited to U.S.-based users subscribed to eligible plans, with a broader rollout expected in the coming months.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Glance launches AI-enabled solution to enhance commerce, shopping experiences
NEW DELHI: AI-enabled lockscreen application company Glance on Thursday launched the 'Glance AI' commerce platform, powered by its proprietary AI models, to enhance online shopping experiences. ' Glance AI moves online shopping beyond search to an inspiration-led discovery experience,' the Google-backed firm said. The standalone app has been launched today, and will be be available globally on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store, with deeper integrations rolling out to Android handset makers and telecom operators. While the initial model is trained on fashion, Glance said it plans to extend the same experience to categories such as beauty, accessories, and travel later this year,to drive momentum in the AI commerce domain. Unlike conventional e-commerce stores that display multiple products to browse or search for, Glance AI lets users discover their AI-curated stylised looks. The company explained that by taking a selfie or uploading an image, the solution's AI-native commerce engine uses advanced diffusion models, personalisation engines, and a live commerce layer that maps each user's unique AI look to real, shoppable products from curated brands. With one tap, users can now explore looks and products tailored to their preferences and complete purchases seamlessly from over 400 global brands. All of this while the user retains control over their data. 'Embedded across phones, TVs and brand stores, Glance AI marks a paradigm shift in commerce. It is one of the most ambitious technological efforts in our journey and a bold step toward shaping the future of AI-driven consumer experiences,' said Naveen Tewari, founder & CEO of InMobi & Glance. Glance AI has integrated its proprietary models with Google Gemini and Imagen on Vertex AI, delivering hyper-realistic, personalised experiences to users.
