The AI Times

Tech CEOs, including Box founder Aaron Levie, are debating the potential for AI psychosis, with some expressing skepticism about the technology's impact. The discussion comes as Google faces a backlash over its plans to integrate more AI into its search engine, leading to a surge in installs of alternative search engine DuckDuckGo. The debate highlights the polarizing nature of AI, with some users embracing its benefits while others are concerned about its direction.

A journalist investigated a mysterious AI-powered weed vape called Gudtrip that claims to reward users with Bitcoin, only to find the truth behind it to be absurd. The device was advertised on Slack with the promise of 'every hit delivers Bitcoin'. The journalist's search for answers led to a bizarre discovery.

Google's new 24/7 AI assistant, Gemini Spark, aims to help users navigate their digital lives by automating tasks and providing personalized suggestions. In testing, Spark proved to be a fairly useful implementation of consumer AI, assisting with tasks such as shopping research and planning a packing list for a day trip. However, it also had some limitations and oversights, such as being unable to use Google Keep.

Craig Campbell, a former Meta engineer and experienced tech founder, has defied the trend of investing in AI by creating a website, Past Maps, which overlays historical maps on current ones. Despite the potential risks and the looming 'Google Zero event horizon', Campbell's bet on the 'old school web' is paying off. His decision to focus on a traditional website has yielded promising results.

Wispr Flow, an AI-powered transcription tool, promises to help users write faster by talking out loud, but its high price tag has led to a search for free alternatives. Spokenly, a free platform-agnostic application, offers similar benefits without a subscription. It can work entirely offline and supports various LLM providers for post-transcription formatting.

Developers are now refusing to work without AI coding tools, but research suggests that AI may not be producing better code and could lead to increased maintenance costs and errors. This over-reliance on AI could cause problems down the road for developers and companies. The solution may involve using AI for specific tasks, but not relying solely on it.

Amazon is developing an AI-animated TV show based on the character 'Good Advice Cupcake', originally created by Loryn Brantz, who is now speaking out against the project. Brantz claims she was not involved in the decision and feels the use of AI to animate her character is an 'assault on artists everywhere'. The show is part of Amazon's GenAI Creators' Fund initiative, which aims to leverage AI in content creation.

Google's new AI agent, Gemini Spark, has been tested and shown impressive capabilities in automating daily tasks and interactions, but also had some humorous mishaps, such as 'friend-zoning' the author's boyfriend. Gemini Spark can access personal data, complete online tasks, and generate detailed itineraries. The AI agent is available as a beta to subscribers of Google's AI Ultra plan.

Google has released a quiz to test knowledge of its I/O 2026 announcements, built using Google AI Studio and vibe coded for a unique experience. The quiz showcases the capabilities of Google AI Studio, which allows users to bring ideas to life with the latest Gemini models. It is accessible to non-developers, as demonstrated by the editor who created the quiz with no coding background.

The rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence has created a new language with terms like AGI, AI agent, and chain of thought, which can be confusing even for tech-savvy individuals. A glossary is being updated regularly to help clarify these concepts. The goal is to make AI more accessible and understandable to a broader audience.

Companies are increasingly relying on AI, but this trend may be misguided, as those making the decisions often don't fully understand the jobs being replaced, according to Box founder Aaron Levie. This has led to significant layoffs, with some companies cutting staff to make way for AI agents. As a result, some users are pushing back against the forced integration of AI into search and other services.

Tech companies are offering free cleaning services in exchange for footage of the cleaning process to train AI models for robotics. The goal is to teach machines to perform domestic labor, making it easier to outsource chores. This data will help companies develop and sell robots that can perform household tasks.

Google has unveiled Gemini Omni and Gemini 3.5, two new AI models that can create and edit videos, as well as execute complex tasks. Gemini Omni allows users to edit videos through conversation, while Gemini 3.5 Flash delivers high-performance intelligence for agentic tasks. The models were showcased in 9 demos at Google I/O 2026.

AI chip startup Groq is reportedly raising $650 million in new funding to grow its inference cloud business, following a $20 billion deal with Nvidia. The funding round is led by existing investors, with some committing to fill the round if others opt out. Groq's new direction is led by interim CEO Adam Winter and CFO Matt Eng.

AI chip startup Groq is reportedly raising $650 million in new funding from existing investors to grow its inference neocloud business, following a $20 billion not-acqui-hire deal with Nvidia. The funding will support the company's plans to expand its cloud business, which hosts inference-hungry apps for developers and enterprises. Groq's backers have agreed to fill the funding round if other investors opt out.

Author Steve Rosenbaum's book 'The Future of Truth' has come under scrutiny for its use of AI-generated quotes and potential AI-assisted writing, despite his claims that the ideas and final authorship are his own. An investigation by WIRED found that AI-detection tools suggested the book was likely AI-generated, but Rosenbaum refused to comment on the accuracy of these results. The incident raises questions about the role of AI in writing and the importance of transparency in authorship.

Cognition CEO Scott Wu says his company's AI coding agent, Devin, is designed to augment human programmers, not replace them. Wu believes AI agents can free programmers from mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on creative work. The goal, he says, is to enhance human capabilities, not supplant them.

The Vatican has enlisted the help of Chris Olah, co-founder of AI company Anthropic, in its efforts to promote responsible AI development, as outlined in Pope Leo's historic AI encyclical. Olah's involvement is seen as a significant step in creating dialogue between the AI industry and the Church. The encyclical warns of the potential risks of AI, including a new form of slavery and a regime of efficiency and surveillance.

Today is the last day to apply to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, a major tech event to be held in San Francisco from October 13-15. The event will gather over 10,000 startup and VC leaders to discuss the latest in AI, fintech, and innovation. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. PT tonight.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is offering a final chance to save up to $410 on tickets before prices increase at 11:59 p.m. PT tonight. The event, taking place from October 13-15, will bring together founders, investors, and innovators for networking, startup discovery, and conversations on the future of tech. Attendees can register now and take advantage of discounts for groups and additional tickets.