Google has announced Gemini 2.0, its latest, greatest AI model. 9to5google.com reports that the first model is Gemini 2.0 Flash, which they say “outperforms 1.5 Pro on key benchmarks” — across code, factuality, math, reasoning, and more — at twice the speed. The model is available today in AI Studio and Vertex AI for developers…it will be open to the general public next month. Google says the new model results in an “even more helpful Gemini assistant.” Both Gemini and Gemini Advanced users will be able to use a chat-optimized version of 2.0 Flash experimental in gemini.google.com this week. Go to the model dropdown menu in the top-left corner. Access is “soon” coming to the mobile app. With all these helpful AI assistants, does anyone else have flashbacks to Microsoft’s ‘Clippie?’ Just wondering.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was a big snooze, while the latest version of the Watch…10…was a huge update. Now, according to macrumors.com, we will see a pretty cool update when the Ultra 3 comes out next year. It will have satellite connectivity for off-grid texting like the iPhones 14, 15, and 16…but in a WATCH! Like with the latest iPhones, you will not only be able to send emergency texts, but will be able to send texts to anyone. Now, you can text your friend from your surfboard out riding a wave if you are so inclined! Presumably, if a satellite was overhead, you could even send one while scuba diving. Right now, we don’t know if the Watch Ultra 3 will get 5G though…Watches have continued to use 4G LTE, even though the iPhones moved to 5G several years ago.

Hydrogen is a great, clean way to power vehicles and systems, but getting it is not so clean…it mostly comes from natural gas. Now, bgr.com says some scientists have figured out a way create green hydrogen using some tech from batteries and solar panels. Apparently by using a 2-step process with a couple different photocatalysts, they can create hydrogen from sunlight. So far, the process is just a proof of concept that was published in Frontiers in Science, but if they are able to scale it up…and build big enough battery systems to store the power at night…since you can’t derive anything from sunlight at night, it could be a real leap forward in completely clean hydrogen for fuel. 

General Motors has taken the old No Cruising signs that have graced certain California streets to heart…well, kind of. The General has announced that it is killing off the Cruise robotaxi experiment after dropping a fortune into it. Engadget.com reports that they will fold Cruise into GM’s in-house technical team, where the engineers will focus on developing advanced driver assistance programs, and work towards fully autonomous personal vehicles. After seeing the little cars around San Francisco, as well as in Arizona and Texas, the fleet will be no more. The incident where one hit and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco probably did the most to take the program down.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.