Google’s Gemini has beaten Pokémon Blue (with a little help)

May 3, 2025
Google’s most expensive AI model seems to have crossed a major milestone: Beating a 29-year-old video game. Last night, Google CEO Sundar Pichai posted triumphantly on X, “What a finish! Gemini 2.5 Pro just completed Pokémon Blue!” To be clear, the Gemini Plays Pokemon livestream was created by (in his own words) “a 30 year […]

eBay and Etsy are relatively confident despite tariff pressures

May 3, 2025
Like virtually every sector in the business world, the secondhand industry is grappling with the ramifications of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.  However, based on the comments made by eBay and Etsy earlier this week, both don’t appear to be overly concerned.  The companies recently reported Q1 2025 earnings results, both addressing the pressing topic of […]

AI chatbots are ‘juicing engagement’ instead of being useful, Instagram co-founder warns

May 2, 2025
Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom says AI companies are trying too hard to “juice engagement” by pestering their users with follow-up questions, instead of providing actually useful insights. Systrom said the tactics represent “a force that’s hurting us,” comparing them to those used by social media companies to expand aggressively.  “You can see some of these […]