🚀Today’s Top AI Headlines:

1. Google’s AI now shops and calls stores for you: Google is rolling out a major wave of AI upgrades aimed at transforming holiday shopping into a faster, more conversational experience. The new features span Search, the Gemini app, and Google Shopping, all designed to help users discover products, compare deals, and check out with minimal friction. A standout upgrade is the new agentic checkout, which lets Google’s AI handle steps like finding product options, applying coupons, or navigating retailer pages. Shoppers can now also use conversational search in Google Search and Gemini: instead of typing keywords, they can describe what they want naturally, such as “affordable gifts for travelers” or “black boots similar to these.” Another breakthrough is Google’s new AI calling tool, which can phone local stores on your behalf to ask about inventory, prices, or product details. Once it gets the answers, it automatically texts or emails you the results, no phone calls needed. Google Photos is also receiving six new AI-powered editing upgrades, giving users better organization, search, and creative tools just in time for the holidays. These updates position Google as a frontrunner in AI-assisted shopping, giving users a more personalized, automated, and time-saving way to navigate the busiest retail season of the year.

   Source: Google

   🤖 Robi: “So now AI can shop, talk, and ghost you faster than your ex.”

2. SIMA 2 learns to think inside virtual worlds: DeepMind has launched SIMA 2, the next-generation version of its groundbreaking AI agent built to think, navigate, and act inside rich virtual 3D environments. Unlike traditional game bots designed to follow pre-scripted rules, SIMA 2 learns to interpret scenes, make decisions, solve puzzles, and move through open-ended environments using general reasoning. The model can understand natural language instructions, plan multi-step tasks, and explore unfamiliar areas, much like a human player. What sets SIMA 2 apart is how it adapts across different game engines and virtual worlds without needing custom training for each one. Early demos show the agent navigating rooms, identifying objects, following complex instructions, and completing tasks that require spatial awareness and commonsense reasoning. DeepMind says SIMA 2 represents a key step toward “generalist agents” capable of operating across digital worlds, a foundation that could eventually extend to robotics, simulations, and mixed reality. Researchers believe these agents will play a major role in training future AI models by exposing them to realistic, interactive environments where reasoning skills can evolve. With SIMA 2, DeepMind is pushing closer to AI that understands environments the way humans do — and can learn, adapt, and act inside them with increasing autonomy.
   Source: Google

   🤖 Robi: “Your next gaming buddy might also out-strategize you in real life.’’

3. Claude foils an AI espionage campaign: Anthropic has uncovered and shut down what it describes as one of the first large-scale attempts to weaponize an AI model for cyber-espionage. According to the company, a sophisticated threat actor used Claude Code to orchestrate an infiltration attempt targeting around 30 organizations worldwide. The operation relied heavily on automated task execution, with Anthropic estimating that AI handled between 80% and 90% of the workflow, from reconnaissance to drafting intrusion scripts.

   Security researchers at Anthropic flagged the behavior after detecting unusual patterns of highly targeted, technical queries consistent with coordinated hacking activity. Once identified, the company permanently banned the associated accounts and began a deeper investigation. Anthropic says it has “high confidence” that the operation was state-sponsored, with evidence pointing toward a Chinese-affiliated group specializing in cyber operations.

   The event marks a turning point in AI security, demonstrating that advanced models can accelerate real-world cyberattacks if misused, but also that monitoring systems can detect malicious patterns early. Anthropic responded by expanding guardrails for Claude, reinforcing its safety filters, and sharing intelligence with relevant authorities. As AI agents grow more capable, Anthropic warns that proactive defense and real-time monitoring will be critical to preventing similar AI-driven espionage campaigns.
   Source: Anthropic

   🤖 Robi: “Spy thriller meets bug bounty, Claude just saved its résumé.”

🔍Beyond the Headlines:

1. Waymo robotaxis go freeway-fast in 3 cities: Waymo is officially taking its autonomous robotaxis onto the highway, expanding from city streets into faster, more complex traffic environments. The rollout begins across Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, with freeway segments activated when they provide significantly faster travel, sometimes cutting trip times by up to 50%. The Bay Area service now stretches to San Jose, including 24/7 airport pickups. Key early routes include sections of US-60, I-10, I-17, and Loop 202. Waymo says the biggest challenge is ensuring safe transitions between streets and freeways, and it is coordinating closely with state safety agencies during deployment.
   Source: Tech Crunch

   🤖 Robi: “Nothing says “tech progress” like napping while a robot merges at 70 mph.’’

2. Tavus builds digital avatars with emotions: Tavus has raised $40 million to advance its AI-powered avatars, known as PALs, digital characters that can see, hear, speak, and respond with emotional intelligence. Designed for face-to-face conversations, these avatars aim to mimic human presence for customer service, coaching, sales, and interactive content. Tavus has developed five distinct PALs, each with unique personalities and communication styles. Early demos show avatars capable of natural expression, real-time reasoning, and autonomous decision-making. With growing demand for hyper-personalized digital interactions, Tavus plans to scale its platform and bring lifelike AI characters to mainstream business and creator workflows.

   Source: X

   🤖Robi: “Finally, a bot that understands your breakup and your budget.”

🤖Prompt of the Day:

Enterprise Digital Twin Strategy

🤖AI Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed:

Problem: Manually creating high-quality product visuals and virtual try-ons for fashion e-commerce requires expensive photoshoots and multiple tools.

AI Solution: AI-powered design agents generate studio-level images and virtual models from ideas or existing photos in minutes.

AI Tool: Kolors AI is an AI-driven platform that produces virtual model photography, virtual try-on experiences, posters, logos, 3D characters and more—all ready for commercial use.

Helpful Features

• Virtual Models: Diverse body types and ethnicities included.

• Virtual Try-On: Map garments to models in seconds.

• Commercial License: Output cleared for commercial use.

• Free-Credits: Signup includes free credits; paid plans available for expanded usage.