Latest news with #Veo
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Google took 25 years to be ready for this AI moment. Apple is just starting.
Artificial intelligence is a bit like constructing office buildings. For months or years, the ground has a big hole, and it looks like nothing's happening. Then, suddenly, the steel framework goes up, followed by the walls and windows. The bit we all see often takes a lot less time. The foundation work below ground takes ages, and without that, the building won't stand. In AI, crucial building blocks take years, or even decades, to emerge. Many of these are not visible to end users, but without this technical foundation, AI products don't work. Google has almost all of these building blocks. Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have many of them, too. OpenAI is frantically implementing them and has a long way to go. Apple has very few, and that's a big problem for the iPhone maker. Because these building blocks work in the background, we don't often see problems clearly. This year, though, they were on full show when Apple delayed its big AI-powered Siri update. The company was trying to radically upgrade the technical underpinnings of its digital assistant for the generative AI age. It wasn't ready for prime time. Fixing Siri properly could require a massive overhaul — essentially developing crucial AI building blocks almost from scratch in some cases. If that doesn't work, Apple might have to rely on other tech giants (and rivals) for help or go on an expensive acquisition spree. I asked Apple about all this last week and have not heard back. Google's building blocks Apple needs a multitude of AI building blocks. To give you a better idea, take a look at what Google has put in place over the decades to ensure it's ready for this AI moment. Take the example of Flow, a new generative AI tool Google unveiled last week that helps creators churn out professional videos. Many huge AI building blocks lie underneath this product. Here's a rough look at some of them: Veo is Google's video-generation AI model, now in its third iteration. That wouldn't exist without all those YouTube videos to train on. Who owns YouTube? Oh yeah, Google. Imagen is Google's image-generation model, now in its fourth incarnation. Gemini is Google's answer to ChatGPT. Transformer architecture is the research breakthrough that made generative AI possible. That was invented at Google around 2017. Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) are a type of Google AI chip (more on that below). It's way more than this, though. Google has indexed everything on the web and has done so for decades. It slurps up mountains of other information in multiple ways. This can be used as training data to develop powerful AI models. Larry Page's AI vision Google cofounder Larry Page talked about this in an interview back in 2000 when most of us were worrying about whether our dishwashers were Y2K compliant. "Artificial intelligence would be the ultimate version of Google," he said when Google was barely two years old. "It would understand, you know, exactly what you wanted. And it would give you the right thing. And that's obviously artificial intelligence, you know, it would be able to answer any question, basically, because almost everything is on the web, right?" He said that Google had about 6,000 computers to store roughly 100 copies of the web. "A lot of computation, a lot of data that didn't used to be available," a cherubic Page explained. "From an engineering scientific standpoint, building things to make use of this is a really interesting intellectual exercise. So I expected to be doing that for a while." When Google went public as a search engine provider in 2004, it was already an AI company. From AlexNet to TensorFlow In 2012, researchers developed a major AI breakthrough when they trained computers to recognize and classify objects just by "looking" at them. Alex Krizhevsky, Ilya Sutskever, and their advisor Geoffrey Hinton at the University of Toronto developed this AlexNet technology and formed a company called DNNresearch. Google bought it in 2013, gaining all the intellectual property, including its source code. If there's one building block I would highlight that led to Google's Flow product, it's this moment, which occurred at least 12 years ago. In 2014, Google bought DeepMind, a secretive AI lab run by Demis Hassabis and Mustafa Suleyman. This building block inspired Elon Musk to bring OpenAI into being, as a counterweight to Google's growing AI power. That was over a decade ago. Hassabis and DeepMind now lead many of Google's most impressive AI creations. Suleyman runs big AI stuff at Microsoft. Before Google's big I/O conference in 2016, the company brought in me and a bunch of other journalists to learn about "machine learning," a branch of AI. Hinton and other AI pioneers spent hours scribbling on a whiteboard trying to explain how this complex tech worked — to an audience that probably got Bs or lower in high school math. It was painful, but again it shows how far ahead Google has been in AI. That same year, Google unveiled TPUs, a series of home-grown AI chips that compete with Nvidia's GPUs. Google uses TPUs in its own data centers and also rents them out to other companies and developers via its cloud service. It even developed an AI framework called TensorFlow to support machine learning developers, although Meta's open-source PyTorch has gained ground there lately. An 'AI-first' world Last week, I attended I/O again. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company is uniquely ready for the generative AI moment. It seems like a throw-away comment, though it represents a quarter of a century of work that began with Page's AI vision. Almost a decade ago, Pichai said Google was moving toward an " AI-first" computing world. All these building blocks are massively expensive to create and maintain. For instance, Google plans $75 billion of capex this year, mainly for AI data centers. How does Google power all these facilities? Well, it's one of the largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy and recently cut deals to develop three nuclear power stations. Without all this, Google wouldn't be able to compete in AI. Apple's tricky situation Apple lacks many of these building blocks. For instance, it doesn't run many large data centers and sometimes even uses Google facilities for important projects. For example, when Apple device users do iCloud backups, they're often stored in Google data centers. When it came to training Apple AI models that power the iPhone maker's new Apple Intelligence, the company asked for additional access to Google's TPUs for training runs. Why rely on a rival like this? Well, Apple only started working on a home-grown AI chip for data centers in the last couple of years. That's roughly seven years after Google TPUs came out. Apple has a lot of data but has been cautious about using it for AI development due to user privacy concerns. It's tried to handle AI processing on devices such as iPhones, but these projects require massive computing power that only data centers can provide. Apple has also been slow to recruit AI talent. It didn't let AI researchers publish research papers publicly, or put limits on this. That has been a basic ingredient for recruiting this crucial talent over many years. Apple did hire AI pioneer John Giannandrea from Google in 2018, though he has struggled to make an impact, Bloomberg reported. If generative AI transforms computing devices such as smartphones, this lack of AI building blocks could become a real problem for Apple. 'Apple is desperate!' Tech blogger Ben Thompson is a fan of Apple, and even he is worried about this. Last week, he suggested some solutions, most of which seem hard or unappetizing. For example, he proposed that Apple allow Siri to be replaced by other AIs. That's attractive because Apple would avoid having to spend $75 billion a year in capex to compete with Google and others on the cutting edge of AI. The best option here would be to have ChatGPT replace Siri. However, OpenAI recently teamed up with former Apple design chief Jony Ive to develop gadgets that could compete with the iPhone, which suggests that ChatGPT isn't an easy solution. Another tie-up with Google may get antitrust scrutiny. Meta could be an AI partner, except its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, seems to really not like Apple. Anthropic is another idea, though Amazon owns a lot of that startup, and Google owns a chunk, too. "It does seem increasingly clear that the capex-lite opportunity is slipping away, and Apple is going to need to consider spending serious money," Thompson wrote. That could come in the form of acquisitions. Thompson suggested Apple buy SSI, a startup founded by Ilya Sutskever. (He's one of the AI pioneers behind AlexNet.) However, that would be expensive, and SSI doesn't have a product yet. Thompson also suggested Apple buy xAI, Musk's new AI startup. That one seems like a joke. But, as Thompson wrote, "Apple is desperate!"
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Malaysia Airlines, Google expand strategic partnership with AI-powered solutions
Powered by Google Gemini's advanced AI capabilities, Malaysia Airlines aims to deliver next-level personalisation across multiple customer touchpoints. — Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (May 27): Malaysia Airlines and Google have announced the expansion of their strategic commercial partnership, reinforcing a shared vision to redefine the future of travel through artificial intelligence (AI), data-driven marketing, and cutting-edge digital innovation. The renewed collaboration builds on a successful partnership established in 2024 and marks a significant milestone in Malaysia Airlines' ongoing digital transformation. The partnership will now deepen its focus on integrating AI-powered solutions across the airline's operations and enhancing the overall travel experience. Among the recent highlights of the partnership was an interactive AI showcase unveiled at the Matta Fair, which brought to life Malaysia Airlines' 'Time For' campaign. The showcase featured a pilot of Google's latest image-to-video generation technology, Veo, allowing visitors to transform personal travel photos into dynamic, shareable video content. The activation exemplified both companies' commitment to creating immersive, personalised travel experiences. At the heart of this strategic alignment is a mutual goal to elevate the traveller journey from start to finish. Powered by Google Gemini's advanced AI capabilities, Malaysia Airlines aims to deliver next-level personalisation across multiple customer touchpoints by supporting its ambition to become Asia's premier travel gateway and complementing national efforts in tourism development under the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. 'This is about transforming how we connect with our customers from inspiration to booking, to every interaction across the journey,' said Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) chief commercial officer of airlines Dersenish Aresandiran. 'By leveraging Google's advanced technology and global expertise, we're unlocking new opportunities, enhancing the travel experience, and reinforcing Malaysia's appeal as a world-class tourism destination.' The expanded collaboration between Malaysia Airlines and Google is formalised under a new Joint Business Plan that aligns with the airline's commercial growth strategy and brand aspirations. Central to this plan are several strategic pillars, including the use of AI-powered performance marketing through Google's Performance Max and AI-enhanced search tools to drive smarter, data-driven outcomes. The partnership also focuses on global brand building via YouTube, with targeted campaigns in key international markets such as the UK, Australia-New Zealand, Japan, and across Asean to strengthen brand visibility. Additionally, both companies are fostering an agile innovation culture by adopting a 'test and learn' mindset to accelerate digital transformation across the customer journey. Another key area is first-party data activation, aimed at unlocking deeper customer insights to enhance loyalty programmes like Enrich and improve premium cabin offerings. Google Malaysia country director Farhan Qureshi said the partnership exemplifies the potential of AI and creativity in revolutionising the travel industry. 'Our collaboration with Malaysia Airlines showcases how technology and creativity can converge to transform travel at scale. Together, we're pushing boundaries to deliver more relevant, intuitive, and engaging experiences for travellers worldwide.' This strategic expansion reflects Malaysia Airlines' commitment to digital excellence and its broader ambition to lead innovation within the aviation sector. By embracing AI to streamline operations and personalise services, the airline is positioning itself as a customer-centric, future-ready brand while supporting Malaysia's tourism goals on the global stage. Dersenish Aresandiran Farhan Qureshi Google Google Gemini Malaysia Airlines
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia Airlines and Google deepen strategic commercial partnership to drive travel innovation
Qureshi (left) and Dersenish (right) flanked by Malaysia Airlines cabin crew during the partnership ceremony. The partnership highlights Malaysia Airlines' drive to lead aviation's digital shift while boosting customer experience and tourism. MALAYSIA AIRLINES and Google have announced the expansion of their strategic commercial partnership, strengthening their shared ambition to redefine travel through artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, and innovative digital experiences. Building on a successful collaboration since 2024, the renewed partnership marks a significant step forward in Malaysia Airlines' digital transformation journey. The focus now shifts from consumer showcases to deeper integration of AI-powered marketing and end-to-end digital innovation across the airline's ecosystem. As part of this ongoing partnership, Malaysia Airlines and Google most recently unveiled an AI showcase at the recent Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair to bring Malaysia Airlines signature campaign 'Time For' to life. The showcase featured an on-ground pilot of Veo, Google's image-to-video generation technology. This interactive experience allowed visitors to bring their favourite travel memories to life using Google's state-of-the-art video generation tool – simply by uploading a photo and watching it transform into a dynamic video, ready to be shared across social platforms. The activation underscored both partners' commitment to pushing the boundaries of personalised and immersive travel engagement. At the core of this partnership is a mutual commitment to elevating the traveller journey. Google Gemini's advanced AI capabilities will power next-generation personalisation across multiple customer touchpoints, aligning with Malaysia Airlines' ambition to become the gateway to Asia and support Malaysia's broader goals as a regional aviation and tourism hub, in line with Visit Malaysia 2026. 'This is about transforming how we connect with our customers — from inspiration to booking, to every interaction across the journey. 'By leveraging Google's advanced technology and global expertise, we're unlocking new opportunities, enhancing the travel experience, and reinforcing Malaysia's appeal as a world-class tourism destination. 'This partnership reinforces our commitment to supporting the goals of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 by positioning Malaysia as the gateway to Asia and beyond,' said Malaysia Aviation Group chief commercial officer (airlines business) Dersenish Aresandiran. The partnership introduced an AI-powered experience using Google's Veo image-to-video tech, highlighting immersive engagement potential. The partnership is now formalised under a bold new Joint Business Plan, closely aligned with Malaysia Airlines' commercial growth strategy and brand aspirations. Key focus areas include: > AI-powered performance marketing: Leveraging Google's Performance Max and AI enhanced Search tools to drive smarter, data-led marketing outcomes. > Global brand building via YouTube: Launching targeted campaigns in the UK, ANZ, Japan, and key ASEAN markets to grow international brand affinity. > Agile innovation culture: Embedding a 'test and learn' mindset to accelerate innovation across the customer journey. > First-party data activation: Unlocking deeper customer insights to drive loyalty through Enrich and premium cabin offerings. Google Malaysia country director Farhan Qureshi said, 'Our collaboration with Malaysia Airlines showcases how technology and creativity can converge to transform travel at scale. 'Together, we're pushing boundaries to deliver more relevant, intuitive, and engaging experiences for travellers worldwide.' This expanded partnership underscores Malaysia Airlines' commitment to digital excellence, leveraging AI to streamline operations, personalise services, and create a seamless, customer-centric travel ecosystem. It also reflects a broader ambition to lead innovation in the aviation industry while supporting national tourism growth.
Tom's Guide
24-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
I tried Google Veo 3 — here's what impressed me, and what still needs work
Google's Veo 3 made a splash at Google I/O 2025 as the latest leap forward in AI-powered video generation. As a feature within the new Google AI Ultra subscription, the highest access to Google's most advanced models and premium features, you can get Veo 3 and Flow, which strings videos together for a more robust cinematic feature. Designed to turn simple text prompts into hyper-realistic clips — with audio, dialogue, and sound effects — it's arguably one of the most advanced tools available to casual creators. And after testing it hands-on, I can say it delivers some truly jaw-dropping results. But it also comes with its share of hiccups. Here's what I loved about Veo 3 — and what left me frustrated. I've tested my fair share of AI video tools, including earlier versions of Veo, and this latest release is by far the most user-friendly when it comes to adding sound and dialogue. The realism is genuinely impressive — especially for the fact that the 8-second clips can be generated in under two minutes on a computer without a full production crew. Users across the internet are sharing clips that are nearly indistinguishable from human-made videos. It's a glimpse at just how fast this tech is moving. Google Veo 3 realism just broke the Internet is 100% AI10 wild examples:1. Street interview that never happened 22, 2025 For all its strengths, Veo 3 still has a ways to go before it's seamless. Obviously, it's still in experimental mode, so Google is working out the kinks, but here are the biggest issues I ran into while testing: Veo 3 sometimes struggles with spatial prompts, like when I asked for an overhead camera angle but got a slightly tilted side view instead. It seems to prioritize cinematic flair over strict prompt accuracy, which limits creative control. By default, Veo runs in Veo 2 mode, which does not include audio. I only realized this after a few silent clips and some digging. You'll need to manually switch to "Experiential Mode" under the "Quality" tab to activate audio and dialogue. Even then, lip-syncing is inconsistent, and dialogue sometimes drops out altogether, like a badly dubbed foreign film. Additionally, the subtitles are almost always wrong or misspelled. Veo 3 shines with single-subject clips, but longer or more intricate scenes can fall apart. The narrative gets muddy, and character interactions often feel stiff or repetitive. If you're aiming to create a multi-character, multi-scene story, temper your expectations. There were moments when the interface felt unintuitive or unstable. I experienced an unexpected session timeout that erased a generated video, and I couldn't find a recovery option. Additionally, when I prompted the model to add dialogue within the scene I got something that did not fit the scenario at all. For a tool this powerful, the UX still feels a bit rough around the edges. Veo's realism is incredible — and a little unsettling. There's growing concern that ultra-realistic, AI-generated videos could blur the lines between fact and fiction, especially as this tech becomes more accessible. It also sparks new debates around authorship and originality in creative work. Veo 3 is a huge step forward in AI video — especially for casual users who want fast, high-quality results. But at $249 per month (with a discounted rate for the first three months), the Google AI Ultra package is a steep price to pay for a tool that still has some notable bugs. If you're just looking to experiment with video generation or create basic promotional content, Veo 3 is exciting — but not yet essential. For professional creators, though, it's worth watching closely. Just keep your prompts tight, your expectations realistic and your finger ready to re-render.
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.
