🎉 Apple Intelligence, Meta Enters Search, Google Agents for All, National Security Memorandum, Accessible Animation Rigging
Apple Intelligence Launches Across Product Line, Meta Competes with Google Search, Google Opens Up Agents for Consumers on Web, Biden Administration AI Guidelines, Accessible Animation Rigging Tech
Welcome to this week’s edition of AImpulse, a five point summary of the most significant advancements in the world of Artificial Intelligence.
Here’s the pulse on this week’s top stories:
What’s Happening: Apple just officially launched its highly-anticipated AI system, Apple Intelligence, with the latest iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 updates — introducing a suite of new features focused on productivity, creativity, and privacy enhancements.
The details:
The initial release brings systemwide writing tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text, as well as enhanced photo search capabilities.
A redesigned Siri features new typing support, better context understanding, and upgraded product knowledge to answer questions about Apple devices.
Only newer devices with the M1 / A17 Pro chips or later can access the AI features, with some users also facing a waitlist system after opting in.
The next update, expected in December, will include more advanced features like ChatGPT integration, Image Playground, and Genmoji.
Why it matters: The long-awaited Apple Intelligence is finally here… sort of. This first wave of integrations is a far cry from the hyped AI phone revolution expected with the new iPhones. While substantial features should arrive in only another month, this initial release feels much more like a soft launch than a revolutionary upgrade.
What’s Happening: Meta is reportedly developing its own AI-powered search engine, hoping to reduce its dependence on Google and Bing to power real-time information in Meta AI conversations.
The details:
Meta is developing proprietary web crawling tech to power its AI’s real-time knowledge of current events and web info without relying on competitors.
Internal teams have reportedly been quietly building the search infrastructure since early 2024.
Meta also recently partnered with Reuters for news content, suggesting a broader strategy to control its AI information sources.
The development comes as Meta AI reaches 185M weekly active users across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Why it matters: The AI race is turning to a new battleground — search. With Meta’s quest to build a self-sufficient AI ecosystem and tech giants increasingly viewing AI as their core business, the race for search independence could spark new competition in how the top models access and deliver real-time info.
What’s Happening: Google is reportedly developing an AI agent codenamed ‘Project Jarvis’ that can control web browsers to complete everyday tasks for users, and a possible preview could come as early as December, according to The Information.
The details:
The system captures and interprets browser screenshots to navigate websites and input information.
Jarvis will initially focus on consumer tasks like online shopping, research, and travel booking.
The agent is specifically optimized for web browsers (not full computer use) and reportedly currently operates with a few-second delay between actions.
The release is expected to coincide with Google's launch of its next-gen Gemini AI model before the end of the year.
Why it matters: Google’s ‘Jarvis’ news may have been a bit more exciting if the release (still months away) didn’t come immediately on the heels of Anthropic’s live computer use feature. The launch, coming alongside a Gemini upgrade, could give Google some momentum heading into the new year — or disappoint after the longer wait.
What’s Happening: The White House just issued a new national security memorandum directing federal agencies to accelerate AI adoption – while establishing clear boundaries for its use in sensitive government areas like defense and intelligence.
The details:
The memo outlined the government’s strategy for leveraging technology across national security departments while managing its risks.
The directive prohibits AI from tasks like making autonomous nuclear weapons decisions, targeting systems without human oversight, and privacy violations.
Biden highlighted the need for improvements to the U.S. AI chip infrastructure, also directing agencies to assist AI labs in defending against foreign espionage.
OpenAI published a blog alongside the memo explaining its stance on national security and the company’s partnerships and government initiatives.
Why it matters: AI safety and development are national security issues, and the US is finally acting on its most comprehensive attempt to craft guardrails to prepare for the evolution to come. The memo’s emphasis on protecting private sector innovations also signals a major shift in treating commercial AI as crucial national security assets.
What’s Happening: Runway just unveiled Act-One, a new Gen-3 Alpha video feature that allows creators to map real human facial expressions onto AI-generated characters using a single video and reference image — without any specialized equipment.
The details:
The system captures nuanced performances, including micro-expressions and eye movements, using just a smartphone video and character reference image.
Act-One allows creators to transfer the single video performance across multiple AI characters in different styles and angles.
The tool integrates directly with Runway's Gen-3 Alpha video model for creating complex narrative scenes.
The release follows Runway's recent partnership with Lionsgate to develop custom AI models using their film catalog.
Why it matters: Professional-quality character animation was labor and equipment-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive in the past. Runway’s new tool now gives anyone the ability to craft expressive, believable characters, smashing down yet another barrier to entry for creative storytelling.