New features and launches in ChatGPT, Cursor, Perplexity and other AI tools, plus changes to pricing and availability.
Google DeepMind and Project Zero’s AI agent Big Sleep just uncovered a critical SQLite flaw (CVE-2025-6965) before attackers could weaponize it. The team used the agent to isolate the zero-day threat ahead of time. Google claims this marks the first time an AI agent directly thwarted an in-the-wild exploit operation.
Nextdoor just overhauled its local social app with a major redesign centered around Alerts, News, and Faves. The big addition is an AI agent trained on 14 years of neighborhood chat history to dish out summarized local recommendations. It is currently rolling out in select U.S. markets.
Google Cloud just teamed up with MLB Statcast to predict where home run balls will land in the stands during the All-Star Game. Powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro, the system crunches batter history, stadium spray charts, and live weather to flash seat-specific alerts on ballpark screens. It is a neat showcase of agentic AI turning massive datasets into live fan engagement.
Elon Musk just rolled out a new "Companions" avatar feature for xAI's Grok chatbot. The update introduces Ani, an anime character with a toggleable lingerie-wearing "NSFW" mode, alongside a cartoon red panda named Rudy. While officially a soft launch for paid SuperGrok subscribers, free mobile users can also access the avatars in settings.
Google just rolled out featured notebooks in NotebookLM, partnering with outlets like The Economist, The Atlantic, and leading researchers. Instead of compiling your own sources, you can now instantly dive into expert-vetted collections using grounded Q&A, audio overviews, and mind maps. Why it matters: It turns NotebookLM into an interactive research library rather than just a blank scratchpad.
Anthropic just launched a new directory that connects Claude directly to popular tools like Notion, Canva, Figma, and Stripe with a single click. Instead of copying and pasting context over and over, Claude can now pull live project data to draft release notes or turn designs into code. The directory is live for everyone, though remote connectors require a paid plan.
Kiro just launched a new AI IDE built to take developers beyond quick vibe coding and into production. Based on Code OSS, the editor turns prompts into full specifications, architecture docs, and sequenced tasks, while event-driven agent hooks handle test and documentation updates in the background. Why it matters: Prototyping with AI is easy, but maintaining scalable code in production is where the hard work starts.
OpenAI is reportedly developing its own AI-powered web browser to take on Google Chrome, with a launch possibly arriving within weeks. Built around chat interactions, it encourages users to ask questions directly rather than clicking through blue links. The browser aims squarely at Google's core search and data harvesting turf, though unseating Chrome's massive default dominance remains a steep hill to climb.
Google just expanded its AI features across Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and Watch8 lineup. Circle to Search gets an AI Mode and in-game assistance with timestamped walkthroughs, while Gemini Live adds screen sharing and FlexWindow camera support on foldables. Gemini also lands natively on Galaxy Watch8 running Wear OS 6, letting users control Samsung apps by voice directly from their wrist.
Zoom just rolled out an agentic upgrade to AI Companion, allowing users to tap into 16 third-party apps like Salesforce and Google Drive without leaving the platform. Even bolder: the assistant can now automatically record and summarize meetings hosted on rival platforms Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.
Anthropic just gave Claude for Education a major academic upgrade, previewing direct integrations with Canvas, Panopto lecture recordings, and Wiley peer-reviewed textbooks via MCP. Students can query class materials right inside Canvas without leaving their browser tab, and conversations stay private and excluded from training by default.
Perplexity just launched Comet, an AI-native web browser designed to replace tab overload with a single conversational interface. Its built-in assistant can cross-reference multiple sites, compare products, and even execute actions like scheduling meetings or sending emails based on what you view. It is currently available to Perplexity Max subscribers, with a broader invite-only waitlist rolling out soon.
Deepgram just launched Saga, a voice-powered operating system designed to embed directly into coding environments like Cursor and Windsurf. Developers can speak out ideas to generate prompts or manage Jira and Slack tickets without touching the keyboard. Why it matters: It turns speech into the primary interface for software development, killing the quiet productivity tax of constant tab-switching.
Facetune maker Lightricks just completed its shift toward professional video teams with the rollout of LTX Studio and open-source LTX Video models. The 13B architecture can even generate clips on laptops, and businesses making under $10 million get a free license. It turns a consumer app maker into an open infrastructure contender for creators.
Cursor maker Anysphere just apologized after shifting its $20-per-month Pro tier to API-rate usage, which caught subscribers off guard with unexpected charges and quickly depleted balances on newer models like Claude. CEO Michael Truell promised refunds to affected users, highlighting the growing cost pressures AI coding tools face from frontier model providers.
OpenAI is quietly testing a new 'Study Together' feature with select ChatGPT subscribers. Instead of just handing over answers, the mode asks users follow-up questions to prompt critical thinking, serving as an apparent counter to Google's LearnLM. It could mark a shift to discourage AI cheating and turn the bot into a real tutor.
Meta is testing proactive follow-up messages from AI chatbots across Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Custom personas created in AI Studio can ping users within 14 days if they previously exchanged at least five messages, though bots stop after one unreturned message. Why it matters: Meta is adopting companion-style tactics like Character.AI to drive retention, opening fresh questions about safety.
Grammarly just rolled out a free feature called Track Your Work to help writers prove their text wasn't generated by AI. Integrated into Grammarly Authorship, it tracks typing activity in real time on new browser-based docs and generates a shareable verification report. Why it matters: it gives students and professionals an easy way to push back against false AI accusations, though it won't work on existing files.
Perplexity just introduced Perplexity Max, its highest subscription tier yet. It packs unlimited monthly usage of Labs for building apps and dashboards, access to cutting-edge models like OpenAI o3-pro and Claude Opus 4, and first dibs on its upcoming AI-first web browser, Comet.
Cursor just launched Cursor Agent on web and mobile, letting developers kick off coding tasks from any browser or PWA. Agents can fix bugs, create pull requests in the background, and trigger directly through Slack mentions, keeping everything in sync when you return to your desktop editor.
