Google launches free Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Model, Challenges OpenAI’s o1 & o1 mini

Here are the top trending news from the world of technology and AI

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Google launches free Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Model, Challenges OpenAI’s o1 & o1 mini

Google has just launched the Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model in an apparent challenge to OpenAI’s reason-based models like o1 and o1 mini. This model is now available for free testing. It can process extensive datasets in a single query, making it suitable for applications in legal analysis, scientific research, and long-form content generation. Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking also comes with native code execution feature. This means users can insert code directly within the AI framework, bridging theoretical reasoning with practical applications. Early benchmarks shows that Gemini 2.0 significantly outperformed its predecessors in areas like math and science reasoning. For example, it achieved a 73.3% success rate in math benchmarks compared to previous models.

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YouTube rolls out speed controls and high-quality audio tests for Premium users

YouTube has launched bunch of new experimental features like high-quality audio and faster playback speeds for its premium users. Users can now enjoy music videos with a higher audio bitrate of up to 256 kbps, allowing them to enjoy music with superior sound and clarity. Faster playback speeds, on other hand, will increase the maximum playback speed on mobile devices to 4x, allowing users to watch videos at much faster rates than the previous limit of 2x. Additionally, premium users will also get new features like jump ahead and picture-in-picture mode for shorts.

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OpenAI’s rival Anthropic receives an additional $1 billion investment from Google

Google has made yet another big move in the generative AI space by investing an additional $1 billion in Anthropic, an AI startup that competes directly with OpenAI. Anthropic is recognized for its Claude series of models. This new investment brings Google’s total commitment to Anthropic to approximately $3 billion, following a previous investment of around $2 billion made in 2023. Anthropic is also reportedly seeking to raise an additional $2 billion in funding from venture capital investors, which could elevate its valuation to about $60 billion.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 gets a new kids’ mode

Samsung, in collaboration with Google, has officially launched a kid-friendly mode for the Galaxy Watch 7 LTE. This new feature allows parents to set up the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 specifically for their children. They can do this by using the Google Family Link app that gives them the parental control, allowing them to manage their child’s watch experience. This includes tracking location, controlling contacts for calls and texts, and imposing restrictions during school hours with a School Time mode that minimizes distractions. The kid mode also includes an SOS function that allows children to send emergency alerts to their parents in case of any emergency.

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Google’s Gemini to become the default on-device assistant for the new Galaxy S25 series

Google’s Gemini has been designated as the default on-device assistant for Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 series. This was officially announced during Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event on January 22, 2025. This means that Gemini will now replace Bixby as the primary assistant on all Samsung smartphones. Samsung users can access Gemini by using the power button. Samsung said that Gemini can handle many complex tasks. For example, users can request recommendation for suitable holiday destinations during the summer season and share them via messaging apps. Notably, despite being demoted, Bixby will still be available on the S25 series.