Latest news with #SergeyBrin
Mint
8 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Weekly Tech Recap: Sergey Brin wants you to kidnap your AI, Notepad gets a major revamp and more
With a flood of news coming in throghout the week, its hard to keep a track of all the updates. In order to keep the readers updated, we have compiled the Weekly Tech Recap, where we take a look at the top news that made waves in the world of technology. This week, Microsoft added new features to Notepad, Meta WhatsAp announced more Instagram like features for WhatsApp Status, Google's Sergey Brin discussed a new technique to get the best out of an AI and more. Top tech news of the week: Microsoft is providing a much-needed upgrade to Notepad, allowing the vintage Windows app to format text in various styles such as bold and italic, while also adding support for hyperlinks and Markdown. The new update has rolled out to Notepad Canary and the Dev Channel, though there's no confirmation yet on when it will be available for stable users. The new lighweight formatting options are part of a new format tab that is located at the top alongside the File, Edit and View options. Apart from choosing styles like Bold and Italic, there is also an option to add lists for Headings and that too in different sizes. WhatsApp has added new elements to its Status feature in a bid to make it more interactive. Most of the new features aren't entirely new features and have been taken directly from Instagram such as Layout for images, adding Music for pictures, Photo Stickers and Add Yours option for pictures. Google co-founder Sergey Brin made a shocking remark earlier this week when he stated that threating an AI say kidnapping or physical harm, could get the best results from the models. In a conversation on the All-In podcast, Brin said, Brin said, 'You know it's a weird thing It's like we don't circulate this too much in the AI community, but the, not just our models, but all models tend to do better if you threaten them, like with physical violence' Donald Trump's 25% tariff threats on Made-in-India iPhones could face a potential lawsuit from California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Trump had earlier said he had told Apple CEO Tim Cook to fully manufacture iPhones in the US or face a 25% tariff on iPhones made in India or anywhere else in the world. In a statement to Politico, Bonta said, 'We will be monitoring what he does, if he does anything, and we'll make sure that if the law is broken and we have standing to sue, we'll take appropriate action.' International Data Corporation (IDC) has cut down its global smartphone shipment growth forecast to 0.6% from 2.3% citing high uncertainty, tariff volatility and macro-economic challenges like inflation and unemployment across various regions. IDC further predicts that growth will remain in the low single digits throughout the forecast period and a five year (2024-2029) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4% owing to increasing smartphone penetration, lengthening refresh cycles, and cannibalization from used smartphones.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Google co-founder Sergey Brin offers tip to make AI work better — threaten it
How can you get better results from artificial intelligence? Giving good prompts—well, yes, that helps. Requesting politely? Umm, maybe. But according to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, to get better results, you should threaten AI. While Brin's comment was clearly amusing, it also contrasts with the usual way many people use AI, as users are often seen politely asking AI to answer their queries using words like 'please' and even 'thank you.' But Brin suggests that threatening generative AI models—even with physical violence—yields better at the All-In Live event in Miami, Brin said, 'We don't circulate this too much in the AI community—not just our models, but all models—tend to do better if you threaten them with physical violence.' He added, 'But like... people feel weird about that, so we don't really talk about it. Historically, you just say, 'Oh, I am going to kidnap you if you don't blah blah blah blah''This approach to dealing with AI directly contradicts the behaviour of users who believe courteous language yields better responses. Last month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman mocked this habit as a costly quirk, joking that such pleasantries waste "tens of millions of dollars" in unnecessary compute power. Sam's comment came after a user on X asked the OpenAI CEO about "how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying 'please' and 'thank you' to their models."advertisementBrin's suggestion on getting the best answers from AI raises questions about the practice of prompt engineering—a method for crafting inputs to maximise the quality of AI-generated responses. The skill was very important following the emergence of AI, especially ChatGPT, in 2023. However with AI models getting smarter, many users are now asking the AI itself to generate and fine tune prompts for better Spectrum by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers even declared the practice of working on prompt "dead" due to the rise of AI-powered prompt optimisation, while the Wall Street Journal first called it the "hottest job of 2023" before later declaring it "obsolete."Daniel Kang, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, told The Register that while such anecdotes are common, systematic studies show "mixed results." A 2024 paper titled "Should We Respect LLMs?" even found that politeness sometimes improves Brin's return to Google after a brief retirement has been fuelled by his fascination with AI's rapid evolution. "Honestly, anybody who's a computer scientist should not be retired right now," he said during Google I/O. Brin, who stepped down from Google in 2019, rejoined the office in 2023 after the AI boom. He is now working with the AI team to guide them through projects, particularly around Google's ongoing Gemini AI models.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Retired. World's 10th richest. But why is Google cofounder Sergey Brin back to a full-time job?
A Tech Titan's Unexpected Comeback From Retirement Projects to AI Leadership Why AI Is Different — and Why Brin Is All In The Man Behind the Tech Once a visionary pioneer who transformed the internet, Sergey Brin Google 's co-founder and the world's 10th richest person with a net worth of $146 billion, surprised the tech world by stepping back into the spotlight. After retiring in 2019 from his role as president of Alphabet , Google's parent company, Brin had seemingly shifted focus to ventures like airship startups, Parkinson's research, and real estate. Yet, in a dramatic turn, he's returned to full-time work — driven by one powerful force: artificial intelligence At 51, Sergey Brin is 'working pretty much every day now,' fully immersed in Google's latest AI projects . His return wasn't just a casual re-entry; it followed the seismic impact of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, a breakthrough that shook the industry and spurred Google to accelerate its own AI ambitions. Brin himself acknowledged the urgency, telling Big Technology, 'Honestly, anybody who's a computer scientist should not be retired right now. There's just never been a greater problem and opportunity—greater cusp of technology.'This renewed zeal positions Brin at the heart of Google's AI race, where his technical mastery is fueling the development of Gemini, the company's ambitious artificial general intelligence (AGI) model. Unlike earlier, narrower AI tools, Gemini aims to be a unified system capable of solving diverse human tasks—a goal Brin boldly declared: 'We fully intend that Gemini will be the very first AGI.'Brin's retirement phase was far from idle. He invested in LTA Research, an airship startup, contributed to medical research on Parkinson's disease, and dabbled in real estate. Yet, none of these pursuits matched the pull of AI, a technology he now calls 'far more exciting' than any previous revolution he's witnessed since Google's early at Google's I/O developer conference in May 2025, Brin shared the scale of the challenge. Google is expanding its computational infrastructure at an unprecedented pace to meet soaring demand. 'For us, we're building out compute as quickly as we can. We just have a huge amount of demand,' he revealed, highlighting that resource constraints have even forced Google to turn down cloud customers. This race to scale computing power underscores just how critical AI has become to the tech giant's journey from Web 1.0 to today's AI revolution gives him a rare perspective. He insists AI's transformative potential eclipses any technology shift he's witnessed. The excitement stems not only from AI's power but also from the 'greater cusp of technology' it represents—a watershed moment where machines could begin solving complex human problems with an intelligence that rivals or surpasses a fireside chat last year at the All-In Summit, Brin hinted at his deep involvement, explaining how Google is moving away from multiple small AI models toward a singular, unified system. This paradigm shift could redefine how technology integrates with everyday life, from search to personal assistants to entirely new fields yet to be Brin's return to full-time work is more than a comeback; it's a testament to the magnetic pull of innovation. Despite stepping away from executive roles, his passion for pushing boundaries remains undiminished. With a fortune of $146 billion and decades of shaping the digital world behind him, Brin's renewed focus on AI highlights a profound truth: even the wealthiest and most accomplished innovators are drawn back to the frontier when a technology promises to reshape humanity's the relentless race toward artificial general intelligence, Sergey Brin is not just watching from the sidelines—he's back in the game, pushing Google to redefine what's possible. And for the world's 10th richest man, the greatest adventure might just be beginning.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Retired. World's 10th richest. But why is Google cofounder Sergey Brin back to a full-time job?
Once a visionary pioneer who transformed the internet, Sergey Brin , Google 's co-founder and the world's 10th richest person with a net worth of $146 billion, surprised the tech world by stepping back into the spotlight. After retiring in 2019 from his role as president of Alphabet , Google's parent company, Brin had seemingly shifted focus to ventures like airship startups, Parkinson's research, and real estate. Yet, in a dramatic turn, he's returned to full-time work — driven by one powerful force: artificial intelligence . A Tech Titan's Unexpected Comeback At 51, Sergey Brin is 'working pretty much every day now,' fully immersed in Google's latest AI projects . His return wasn't just a casual re-entry; it followed the seismic impact of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, a breakthrough that shook the industry and spurred Google to accelerate its own AI ambitions. Brin himself acknowledged the urgency, telling Big Technology , 'Honestly, anybody who's a computer scientist should not be retired right now. There's just never been a greater problem and opportunity—greater cusp of technology.' This renewed zeal positions Brin at the heart of Google's AI race, where his technical mastery is fueling the development of Gemini, the company's ambitious artificial general intelligence (AGI) model. Unlike earlier, narrower AI tools, Gemini aims to be a unified system capable of solving diverse human tasks—a goal Brin boldly declared: 'We fully intend that Gemini will be the very first AGI.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kaolack: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo — Overlap_Tech (@Overlap_Tech) From Retirement Projects to AI Leadership Brin's retirement phase was far from idle. He invested in LTA Research, an airship startup, contributed to medical research on Parkinson's disease, and dabbled in real estate. Yet, none of these pursuits matched the pull of AI, a technology he now calls 'far more exciting' than any previous revolution he's witnessed since Google's early days. Speaking at Google's I/O developer conference in May 2025, Brin shared the scale of the challenge. Google is expanding its computational infrastructure at an unprecedented pace to meet soaring demand. 'For us, we're building out compute as quickly as we can. We just have a huge amount of demand,' he revealed, highlighting that resource constraints have even forced Google to turn down cloud customers. This race to scale computing power underscores just how critical AI has become to the tech giant's future. You Might Also Like: Warren Buffett's shocking post-retirement plan at 94 will leave you amazed and inspired: 'I won't sit at home watching soap operas...' Why AI Is Different — and Why Brin Is All In Brin's journey from Web 1.0 to today's AI revolution gives him a rare perspective. He insists AI's transformative potential eclipses any technology shift he's witnessed. The excitement stems not only from AI's power but also from the 'greater cusp of technology' it represents—a watershed moment where machines could begin solving complex human problems with an intelligence that rivals or surpasses us. In a fireside chat last year at the All-In Summit, Brin hinted at his deep involvement, explaining how Google is moving away from multiple small AI models toward a singular, unified system. This paradigm shift could redefine how technology integrates with everyday life, from search to personal assistants to entirely new fields yet to be imagined. The Man Behind the Tech Sergey Brin's return to full-time work is more than a comeback; it's a testament to the magnetic pull of innovation. Despite stepping away from executive roles, his passion for pushing boundaries remains undiminished. With a fortune of $146 billion and decades of shaping the digital world behind him, Brin's renewed focus on AI highlights a profound truth: even the wealthiest and most accomplished innovators are drawn back to the frontier when a technology promises to reshape humanity's future. In the relentless race toward artificial general intelligence, Sergey Brin is not just watching from the sidelines—he's back in the game, pushing Google to redefine what's possible. And for the world's 10th richest man, the greatest adventure might just be beginning. You Might Also Like: Forbidden to use Google at Google? Co-founder Sergey Brin reveals 'big tiff' inside his own company over using Gemini You Might Also Like: Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt sounds alarm on AI data centers' soaring power demand: 'We need energy in all forms' 'Don't be that person who ignores this technology': Nvidia CEO warns AI will rewrite the rules of employment
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Forbes Daily: A Major CDC Shift On Covid-19 Vaccines Draws Criticism
No one has donated more to Parkinson's disease research than Google cofounder Sergey Brin, and now he's giving away another $700 million. Brin's recent gift of Alphabet shares was split between three nonprofits, most of which went to his 4-year-old nonprofit Catalyst4. Brin, who is worth an estimated $137 billion and is currently the world's eighth richest person, sees the work as deeply 'personal.' His mother had Parkinson's and he carries a genetic mutation that gives him a much higher chance of getting the disease. His hope is to address both scientific research and eventual treatments for central nervous system diseases, which also include autism and bipolar disorder. The CDC is no longer recommending routine Covid-19 vaccines or boosters for pregnant women and healthy children, a decision that drew criticism as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a longtime vaccine skeptic. FDA Commissioner Martin Makary, who appeared in the video announcement with Kennedy, had written that pregnancy was a high-risk condition for Covid infections earlier this month. The Giving Pledge announced 11 new signatories in 2025 who have pledged to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes during their lifetime or in their wills—the largest cohort since 2021. Six of the new pledgers are members of Forbes' Billionaires' List, and the richest among them is Canva cofounder and chief product officer Cameron Adams, who is worth an estimated $2.9 billion. Satya Patel Homebrew In Forbes' fourth annual Midas Seed list, a global ranking of the top 25 seed stage investors, Silicon Valley veteran Pejman Nozad stayed in the top spot. And a lack of IPOs and acquisitions means a handful of massive private startups are driving changes in the rankings for even those investors focused on the very earliest stage of a startup's lifecycle. MORE: Satya Patel, a partner at the venture firm Homebrew who ranked No. 13 on this year's Midas Seed list, refers to his broad philosophy as a VC as 'bottom up' investing—betting on companies from 'boring' industries like HR or banking, and gussying them up with high-tech software. He's made early bets on companies like IPO-bound digital bank Chime, payroll unicorn Gusto, and Plaid, which was acquired by Visa in 2020 for $5.3 billion. Following in the footsteps of President Donald Trump's crypto strategy, Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, is raising $2.5 billion to build a corporate bitcoin reserve. According to an SEC filing, the company will sell $1.5 billion in shares and $1 billion in convertible bonds to institutional investors, the proceeds of which will be used for the reserve—making cryptocurrency a core part of its balance sheet. Elon Musk said he is 'disappointed' with President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill passed by the House last week, his most direct criticism of a signature White House policy after recently stepping back from his work as the head of DOGE. Musk said the expansive budget bill 'undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' as it is expected to add around $3.3 trillion to the federal debt over the next 10 years, according to an estimate published by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. A body of the United Nations released a new report that projects global temperatures will remain near record levels over the next five years, with a strong chance the 2024 annual temperature record will be broken during this period, likely worsening the impact of climate change and increasing the chances of extreme weather events. There is also a 70% chance that the 5-year average temperature for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial numbers—a key benchmark laid out in the Paris Climate Agreement. As President Donald Trump escalates his attacks on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump on Tuesday took credit for preventing 'lots of really bad things' from happening to Russia and said the Russian leader is 'playing with fire.' Trump's criticism comes after Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war, killing at least 12 people, according to the Associated Press. TRAVEL + LIFESTYLE A string of recent high-profile aviation safety incidents has travelers nervous as summer approaches. A few key ways to reduce risk when flying, experts told Forbes, include avoiding airports with air traffic issues and booking direct flights. Consider your seat and the type of plane you'll be flying in, too—larger airplanes typically have more sophisticated safety systems. General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja, No. 8 on Forbes' 2025 Midas List, believes his venture capital firm is going to transform how Americans access health care. Last year, the firm announced its $485 million purchase of Summa Health, an 8,000-employee hospital system based in Akron, Ohio, with the aim of plugging it into Silicon Valley's innovation engine. That means injecting tech and artificial intelligence into almost every step of the health care process, from checkups to insurance. Buying a hospital is jaw-dropping for a VC. Tech investors preach disruption, but they are deeply conservative when it comes to running their own funds. General Catalyst wants to break that mold. Since 2018, it has morphed from a typical VC partnership to a multi-hyphenate investment house: There's the firm's 'creation' fund, which spins up new AI companies aimed at remaking dusty industries like accounting or customer service. Then there's the General Catalyst Institute, a think tank looking to shape technology policy around the world, and GC Wealth, a white-glove broker meant to woo well-heeled founders away from private banks. That makes Taneja, 50, one of the champions of a new class of venture capitalist. 'Mega funds' are the sometimes-sniffy label for General Catalyst and peers like Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed and Thrive Capital, Josh Kushner's outfit. Managing tens of billions of dollars, they are still minnows compared to Blackstone ($1 trillion in assets) and KKR ($660 billion), but Taneja's ambition isn't to be the biggest investor. Instead, he wants General Catalyst to be a 'strategic conglomerate.' But perhaps the biggest risk is that General Catalyst is doing too much. 'I get that question a lot,' Taneja says. He says it's a matter of having 'leadership bandwidth' and a good operating model, comparing the company to Amazon, which expanded from books to data centers to grocery stores to moviemaking. WHY IT MATTERS Taneja has his critics, too. General Catalyst's industrial-scale investing barely resembles venture capital, some say. Others snipe, discreetly, about General Catalyst's focus shifting from generating returns from financing startups to 'farming fees' from ever-multiplying funds. But Taneja's supporters are willing to back his bold vision thanks to a near-15-year winning streak. Since moving to Silicon Valley from Boston in 2011, Taneja has backed payment giant Stripe (last valued at $91 billion), defense startup Anduril (in funding talks at a $28 billion valuation) and a string of health care unicorns like Commure (valued at $6 billion). MORE Ranking The World's Top Venture Capitalists In 2025 The Trump Administration paused interviews for new student visa applicants as it weighs expanded social media screening, a potential indication of a wider crackdown on international students: More than 1.1 million: The number of international students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Institute of International Education $43.8 billion: The amount per year international students contribute to the U.S. economy $100 million: The value of the remaining government contracts with Harvard that the Trump Administration canceled Tuesday Remote work gives employees greater flexibility, but it can also be isolating. To help feel less lonely when working from home, try organizing occasional meetups if your colleagues are nearby, and if not, organize virtual lunches where the discussion isn't about work. It can be easy to blur the lines between personal and professional if your home is also your office, so be sure to dedicate a designated workspace, even if it's just a small corner. Users reported outages for a popular streaming service Tuesday, the latest server disruption for the company. Which streaming platform is it? A. Netflix B. Spotify C. Apple Music D. Hulu Check your answer. Thanks for reading! This edition of Forbes Daily was edited by Sarah Whitmire and Chris Dobstaff.
