OpenClaw, the viral open-source AI agent that autonomously executes tasks across apps like WhatsApp, Slack and Discord, has released version 2.0. The company calls it the largest update in the project's history, adding new features, expanded capabilities and bug fixes since its chaotic rise to fame earlier this year.
Caterpillar is extending the autonomous systems expertise it built in mining—covering haul trucks, drilling and remote operations—into construction sites, quarries and internal tools. CTO Jaime Mineart said the company's Cat AI Assistant now lets field technicians use voice commands to retrieve repair procedures and identify parts, drawing on data from roughly 1.6 million connected machines and over 16 petabytes of structured data.
BYOK, a minimalist distraction-free writing gadget, is developing an optional scripting system that lets power users extend its functionality beyond basic drafting. Founder Nick Sjolinder is testing features like a screenplay assistant, character note tool, and writing analyzer that could flag passive voice or pull highlighted text into notes. The scripting system is still in early development and not yet public, with the company currently soliciting user feedback.
A hands-on comparison of Google's new autonomous AI assistant Gemini Spark against Perplexity Computer finds that Spark's main advantage is deep native integration with Google Workspace apps like Gmail and Drive, letting it execute multi-step tasks without external connectors. However, the reviewer identifies at least one area where Perplexity's approach outperforms Spark, based on extended use of both tools.
A reviewer granted Google's new Personal Intelligence feature access to personal accounts and data to evaluate how it functions as an AI-powered assistant. The tool is designed to make advanced personal AI assistance usable for everyday consumers, not just technically savvy users.
An Entrepreneur contributor argues that most business owners misuse AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude by treating them as static software rather than trainable assistants. The piece proposes a five-step iterative coaching process—starting with a clear job brief, assigning real tasks, giving specific feedback, auditing changes, and repeating the cycle—to turn generic chatbots into reliable business tools.
Instinct, founded last year by 23-year-old Noah Shinn under parent company Spear Street Technology, has closed a $250 million Series B round led by Index Ventures and Benchmark. The deal pushes the young startup's total funding to $350 million and its valuation to $2.5 billion, driven by buzz around its AI assistant that manages users' schedules, purchases and subscriptions through texts and calls.
After users reported that Gemini on Google Home devices couldn't properly add items to Google Keep lists, a Google spokesperson confirmed the company is rolling out a fix. Google described the issue as a set of 'UI issues' rather than a change to Keep support, and said the patch should reach all affected users within a few days.
Google's newest Gemini Live update introduces distinct features—chat, Spark, and Daily Brief—each with its own icon and navigation slot in the Gemini app. Daily Brief pulls data from Gmail and Calendar to generate proactive updates, but it often surfaces unsolicited or unsettling information, like resurfacing old search history, rather than truly useful alerts. Spark, meanwhile, is a capable AI agent for taking actions on a user's behalf, but Google has needlessly turned it into its own branded sub-product rather than folding it into a unified assistant experience.
Startup Instinct is raising funds at a $2.5 billion valuation for its AI assistant that manages email and other tasks, generating buzz across Silicon Valley. However, some early testers have flagged concerns about how the tool handles personal data and privacy.
Several Google Home owners report that asking their smart speakers to add items to Google Keep lists no longer works, even though the assistant correctly recognizes the voice command. In some cases the device merely states how many items are already on a list instead of adding anything new, and one user found it worked for a list named 'Shopping list' but not others. Google has not yet confirmed the cause, and the Notes & lists settings in the Google Home app appear to hint that voice-based list access may have been altered or removed.
Calendly has rolled out a new logo, wordmark, color palette, and brand identity designed by studio Smith & Diction, moving away from its image as a simple scheduling calendar. Alongside the visual overhaul, the company announced new AI-powered tools, including an email assistant and a meeting notetaker, aimed at reducing scheduling friction and administrative busywork.