Tom Warren

Google launched its Gemini AI model earlier today to compete with OpenAI’s popular GPT-4. While Google has a number of videos demonstrating Gemini’s capabilities, the one below stood out to me.

This multimodal AI model is capable of reasoning across images, audio, video, code, and, of course, text. So you can start drawing, and Gemini will understand you’re drawing a duck, or you can set some cups down on a table with a paper ball and Gemini reasons you want to play a game. If Gemini can understand my poor attempts at doodling, then I’ll be the one shouting, “what the quack!”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is appealing a district court’s decision not to block Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition. Microsoft finalized its $68.7 billion deal in October, but the FTC’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hearing starts tomorrow. Now 37 venture capital firms and investors are opposing the FTC’s appeal, claiming it “threatens the cycle of investment and entrepreneurship that drives America’s innovation economy.” The FTC is also planning to continue its administrative process against the acquisition.

It’s the holiday season, so it’s time for the latest Windows-themed ugly sweater. This time Microsoft has selected the Bliss default wallpaper from Windows XP for some holiday treatment. It’s available today from the company’s Xbox Gear Shop, priced at $69.99. Microsoft is supporting The Nature Conservancy this year with its sixth Windows-themed ugly sweater. Previous sweaters have included Clippy, Minesweeper, and Windows 95.