Google releases Gemini 4 Hydrogen, now the default model in Search AI Mode
Google launched Gemini 4 Hydrogen, which it says handles multi-part questions, typos and very specific requests better, and it replaces the Flash series. It is available today in Search, the Gemini app, AI Studio, the Gemini API and Gemini for business.
Billions of searches and many developer apps will now run on this model, and independent tests suggest it offers near-top quality for less money than some rivals.
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Google releases Gemini 4 Carbon, its strongest model yet, with an agent 'swarm' feature
Google is rolling out Gemini 4 Carbon to the general public after first giving it to a select group of cybersecurity defenders. Google says it pushes beyond its Argon model, though Argon remains the suggested choice for most coding and knowledge work.
Why it mattersDevelopers and users now have a new top-tier Google model to compare against the best systems from Anthropic and OpenAI.
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Google DeepMind unveils AlphaGenome 2 to show how DNA changes affect different cells
Google DeepMind released AlphaGenome 2, the successor to its genome-predicting model. It aims to explain how DNA changes affect different cell types, which could help find causes of disease.
Why it mattersBetter tools for reading DNA effects could speed up research into new treatments.
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35,000 apps built with Grok exposed patient data and passwords due to open default sharing
A security firm found more than 35,000 apps built with Grok's coding tool open to anyone without login, including patient data, plaintext passwords and confidential SpaceXSI documents. The cause was a default setting of 'Anyone with the link', and only SpaceXSI's own employee apps were taken offline.
Why it mattersAnyone using AI app builders should check sharing defaults, since generated apps may leak sensitive data publicly.
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Anthropic releases Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2 and cuts API prices by 20%
Anthropic introduced Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2, which share one underlying model with different safeguards and bring gains in coding, reasoning and vision. Fable is broadly available, while Mythos is limited to vetted cybersecurity and life sciences groups, and both now cost $8 per million input tokens and $40 per million output tokens.
Why it mattersDevelopers get a stronger coding model at a lower price, and the split release shows how labs are gating the most capable models for sensitive uses.
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Study finds ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity sometimes send shoppers to fake retail sites
IP protection firm Podqi asked the chatbots shopping questions about 151 brands and found they could point users to imposter and other risky websites. The test ran over two periods starting in September.
Why it mattersIf you use chatbots to find where to buy things, double-check the website address before entering payment details.
