#242 - ChatGPT Images 2.0, Qwen 3.6 Max, Kimi-K2.6

#242 - ChatGPT Images 2.0, Qwen 3.6 Max, Kimi-K2.6

Author: Skynet Today April 29, 2026 Duration: 1:30:48
Our 242nd episode with a summary and discussion of last week's big AI news!Recorded on 04/22/2026Hosted by Andrey Kurenkov and Jeremie HarrisFeel free to email us your questions and feedback at andreyvkurenkov@gmail.com and/or hello@gladstone.aiRead out our text newsletter and comment on the podcast at https://lastweekin.ai/In this episode:OpenAI released a new ChatGPT image model that excels at accurate text and screenshot-like generations, suggesting a transformer-style approach aligned with agentic “computer use” ambitions.Chinese model activity accelerated with Alibaba’s Qwen 3.6 Max Preview moving to an API-only offering, plus open releases from Moonshot AI (Kimi K2.6, a 1T-parameter MoE) and Minimax (Minimax M 2.7) showing strong benchmark results.Google expanded Deep Research with a “Max” option built on Gemini 3.1 Pro and MCP support for accessing proprietary data, while Mozilla reported using Anthropic’s Claude to find and fix 271 Firefox bugs.Business and policy updates include a reported SpaceX–Cursor deal with a $60B buy option, Cerebras filing for an IPO, Amazon adding $5B to Anthropic alongside a $100B AWS spending pledge, and platform responses to synthetic media like AI music spam and YouTube deepfake takedown requests.A thank you to our current sponsors:Box - visit Box.com/AI to learn moreODSC AI - go to odsc.ai/east and use promo code LWAI for an additional 15% off your pass to ODSC AI East 2026.Factor - head to factormeals.com/lwai50off and use code lwai50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a yearTimestamps:(00:00:10) Intro / Banter(00:01:05) News Preview(00:01:41) Sponsors(00:04:41) Response to listener commentsTools & Apps(00:09:40) ChatGPT's new Images 2.0 model is surprisingly good at generating text | TechCrunch(00:16:02) Alibaba Drops Qwen 3.6 Max Preview—Its Most Powerful Model Yet - Decrypt(00:19:26) Google launches Deep Research and Deep Research Max agents to automate complex research(00:25:00) Mozilla Used Anthropic’s Mythos to Find and Fix 271 Bugs in Firefox | WIRED(00:28:35) Ordering with the Starbucks ChatGPT app was a true coffee nightmare | The VergeApplications & Business(00:29:48) SpaceX is working with Cursor and has an option to buy the startup for $60B | TechCrunch(00:34:11) AI chip startup Cerebras files for IPO | TechCrunch(00:38:23) Two startups want to replace how AI learns: one just raised $180M, another is seeking up to $1B(00:38:56) Months-old start-up Recursive Superintelligence raises $500mn for self-teaching AI(00:41:36) Anthropic takes $5B from Amazon and pledges $100B in cloud spending in return | TechCrunch(00:45:09) Kevin Weil and Bill Peebles exit OpenAI as company continues to shed 'side quests' | TechCrunch(00:46:04) Meta hires five Thinking Machines Lab founders including a reported $1.5 billion engineer - Meta cuts 198 Bay Area jobs as even larger layoffs reportedly loom(00:50:12) Meta employees are up in arms over a mandatory program to train AI on their mouse movements and keystrokes(00:51:43) Chinese fabs import record volumes of US chipmaking equipment via Singapore and Malaysia — homegrown tool makers booked record 2025 revenues as price competition squeezes margins(00:54:01) Google Eyes New Chips to Speed Up AI Results, Challenging Nvidia(00:54:20) Canadian quantum company Xanadu soars to $16 billion valuation after Nvidia releaseProjects & Open Source(01:00:13) Moonshot AI releases Kimi-K2.6 model with 1T parameters, attention optimizations - SiliconANGLE(01:05:22) MiniMax Just Open Sourced MiniMax M2.7: A Self-Evolving Agent Model that Scores 56.22% on SWE-Pro and 57.0% on Terminal Bench 2 - MarkTechPostPolicy & Safety(01:06:25) Infusion: Shaping Model Behavior by Editing Training Data via Influence Functions(01:10:25) Scoop: NSA using Anthropic's Mythos despite blacklist(01:11:03) Unauthorized group has gained access to Anthropic’s exclusive cyber tool Mythos, report claimsResearch & Advancements(01:17:21) Parcae: Scaling Laws For Stable Looped Language Models(01:24:20) OccuBench: Evaluating AI Agents on Real-World Professional Tasks via Language Environment SimulationSynthetic Media & Art(01:27:01) Deezer says 44% of songs uploaded to its platform daily are AI-generated | TechCrunch(01:29:47) Celebrities will be able to find and request removal of AI deepfakes on YouTube | The Verge See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Keeping up with artificial intelligence can feel like drinking from a firehose. Every week brings a new breakthrough, a surprising application, or an urgent ethical debate. Last Week in AI, from the team at Skynet Today, is here to turn that torrent into a clear, digestible stream. Instead of getting lost in the noise, you'll get a thoughtful rundown of the developments that actually have impact, explained without unnecessary jargon. Each episode feels like a conversation with well-informed friends who have done the homework for you, sifting through research papers, product launches, and industry announcements to highlight what's substantive. You'll hear nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines, considering the real-world implications of new models, policy shifts, and corporate moves in the tech landscape. This podcast doesn't just tell you what happened; it provides context on why it matters for developers, businesses, and society at large. It’s an efficient way to stay informed and critically engaged with a field that is reshaping our world at a breathtaking pace. Tune in for a consistently insightful analysis that makes the complex world of AI feel accessible and relevant, week after week.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Last Week in AI
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