🤖 Google's AI Plays Pokémon

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📣 TOP AI UPDATES

Google’s AI Tries Pokémon and Panics!

In a quirky twist on AI benchmarking, Google DeepMind reports that its Gemini 2.5 Pro model shows signs of panic while playing classic Pokémon games — especially when its digital creatures are close to defeat. As the pressure mounts, the AI’s decision-making deteriorates noticeably, often leading it to overlook critical items or make irrational moves. Despite this panicked behavior under stress, Gemini still solves complex puzzles faster than many human players (see Google’s report). Independent developers have even launched a Twitch stream called “Gemini Plays Pokémon,” offering a surprisingly insightful — and often amusing — glimpse into how these models think as they fumble through a children’s video game (watch AI play Pokémon here).

xAI Seeks $4.3B as Musk’s AI Ambitions Accelerate

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is reportedly seeking a fresh $4.3 billion equity investment — just months after raising $6 billion in December. This latest fundraising effort comes alongside a separate $5 billion debt raise, with both moves aimed at fueling the ambitious, capital-intensive development of xAI and its integration with X (formerly Twitter). The company appears to be burning through funds at a rapid pace, driven by the immense costs of training large models and building out products like its Grok chatbot and Aurora image generator. While details remain scarce, the scale of these funding rounds signals Musk’s intent to position xAI as a serious contender in the AI race (read more).

Amazon’s CEO Warns of Workforce Shifts as AI Expands

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has signaled that generative AI will significantly reshape the company’s workforce. In a memo to employees, he explained that AI agents are expected to reduce the need for certain corporate roles while also creating entirely new ones. Jassy noted that the full extent and timing of these changes remain uncertain, but said the company anticipates a smaller corporate workforce in the coming years due to efficiency gains from widespread AI use. He added that agents will allow teams to focus less on rote work and more on strategic thinking and innovation. A recent World Economic Forum survey reinforces this outlook, with 40% of employers planning to reduce roles that can be automated by AI (see Jassy’s full memo).

🛠️ THIS WEEK’S AI COMBO: 1 PROMPT + 1 TOOL

⚡️ MIND SPARK

🕶️ Prada Meets AI — Meta’s Next Stylish Move: Meta is reportedly partnering with Prada to develop AI-powered smart glasses, marking a shift beyond its collaboration with EssilorLuxottica announced last fall. The company also teased a new Oakley smart glasses model, expected to launch tomorrow, June 20 (see more).

🛡️ Pentagon Awards OpenAI $200M for National Security AI: OpenAI Public Sector has landed a $200 million Pentagon contract to develop prototype AI tools for national security, including warfighting and enterprise use. The deal runs through July 2026 and reflects OpenAI’s growing government focus. While its policies still prohibit weapon development, the agreement marks a rare direct collaboration with the Department of Defense (see the DoD’s official announcement).

👗 Closet Meets Code — Startup Alta Raises $11M: Harvard-trained engineer Jenny Wang has launched Alta, an AI-powered personal stylist that suggests outfits based on your wardrobe, budget, and weather. Backed by Menlo Ventures and fashion insiders, Alta is expanding globally and partnering with the CFDA to support top designers (see Alta’s announcement).

🎨 AI ART

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