📸 Google’s viral new image model

Also: China’s Baidu launches extremely cheap reasoning model

Author

Evolving AI
March 17, 2025

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Welcome, AI enthusiasts

In December, Google first introduced native image output in Gemini 2.0 Flash to trusted testers. Now, they’ve made it available to all, and people have already been pushing it to its limits — causing many new use cases to go viral online. Let’s dive in!

In today’s insights:

  • Google’s viral new image model

  • China’s Baidu launches extremely cheap reasoning model

  • Leaked Apple meeting shows how dire the Siri situation really is

Read time: 5 minutes

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Source: HalimAlrasihi on X

Evolving AI: Google just launched Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental, and it's catching attention fast.

Key Points:

  • Gemini 2.0 Flash can create images directly from text commands.

  • Users are making quick edits like changing colors or adding objects to photos.

  • The model raised concerns after users found it easily removes watermarks.

Details:

​​Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental introduces new AI capabilities for image creation and editing. This model allows users to generate images from text prompts and edit existing images through natural language conversations. The model supports creating stories with matching illustrations, editing images through dialogue, and producing images that reflect real-world knowledge. It also excels at rendering text within images, useful for advertisements and social media posts. As always, people have been pushing the boundaries of it and finding some interesting use cases.

Here’s how you can do this yourself:

Why It Matters:

Gemini Flash shows AI's impressive power but also raises important ethical questions. Easy watermark removal could trigger copyright issues, misuse, or unauthorized sharing. It's part of an ongoing conversation about responsible AI use. How do big tech companies balance creativity with protecting original work?

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Source: Baidu

Evolving AI: Baidu just launched two new AI models, Ernie X1 and Ernie 4.5, aiming straight at top competitors.

Key Points:

  • Baidu released two models, Ernie X1 and Ernie 4.5.

  • These models match OpenAI and DeepSeek in cost efficiency.

  • Baidu plans to make its Ernie AI models open source starting June 30.

Details:

Baidu just unveiled two new AI models — Ernie X1 and Ernie 4.5. They claim Ernie X1 rivals leading models like DeepSeek R1, while Ernie 4.5 matches OpenAI’s GPT-4.5, but at a much lower price. Baidu also announced that its chatbot, Ernie Bot, will be free from April 1. This push aligns with China's trend toward adopting open-source AI models. Baidu plans to open-source Ernie 4.5 by June, further heating up the global AI competition.

Why It Matters:

Baidu’s aggressive pricing isn't just about being cheaper, but it's part of a bigger face-off between China and the US in the AI race. With China continuously undercutting prices, US companies face real pressure to keep up. This ongoing battle could reshape who leads in AI tech. The key question now is how fast and effectively US companies will respond.

Source: Getty Images

Evolving AI: A leaked Apple meeting revealed serious issues with delayed AI upgrades to Siri.

Key Points:

  • Apple's Siri team faces delays on AI improvements for iOS 19.

  • Internal tensions exist between Siri developers and marketing teams.

  • Planned upgrades delayed due to major quality issues.

Details:

A leaked internal meeting shows Apple's struggles to upgrade Siri with advanced AI features. Siri team head Robby Walker admitted the situation is "ugly," noting frustration within the team. Apple aimed to launch significant Siri upgrades with iOS 19, but these features faced delays due to severe quality problems. The company had to remove promotional materials and publicly mark these features as "TBD," highlighting internal tensions.

Why It Matters:

Apple's ongoing problems with Siri aren't just delays but they expose deep cracks in how Apple manages AI. Customers expect top-tier AI features from Apple, yet the company continues to lag behind rivals like Google and OpenAI. If Apple doesn't quickly address its internal chaos, Siri risks becoming irrelevant in the rapidly advancing AI landscape.

 👀 Click on the image you think is real

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