Trending This Week: Gemini 2.5 and Apple Music DJs

Mar 30

Emerging Tech Roundup — March 28, 2025

The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.

This week in tech: Google releases Gemini 2.5 AI model for complex thinking, Instagram has a new program for school officials to report bullying, OpenAI introduces 4o image generation, Otter’s new AI agent can speak up in meetings, Apple Music is integrating with music tools to allow DJs to create mixes using its catalog, Waymo to launch robotaxi service in Washington, D.C., and scientists observe carbon dioxide on planets outside the solar system for the first time.

Google Releases Gemini 2.5 AI Model for Complex Thinking

(Engadget, March 25)

Google has launched Gemini 2.5, an upgraded AI model designed to enhance reasoning, analysis, and context capabilities, particularly excelling in coding, mathematics, and science. The first model, Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental, combines a refined base model with improved post-training to tackle more complex problems and create context-aware agents. Available now in Google AI Studio and the Gemini app for Gemini Advanced members, this release follows Google's ongoing efforts to integrate advanced AI into its platforms.

Instagram Has a New Program for School Officials to Report Bullying

(Engadget, March 25)

Instagram is launching a Schools Partnership Program to help teachers and school administrators quickly address bullying incidents involving young teens on the platform. Schools participating in the program will have their reports prioritized, receiving responses within 48 hours, and will gain a school partner badge on their Instagram profiles. However, Meta is not hiring more moderators, instead expediting reports through existing channels with added context from schools.

OpenAI: Introducing 4o Image Generation

(OpenAI, March 25)

OpenAI has introduced GPT-4o Image Generation, a new multimodal model capable of producing precise, context-aware, and photorealistic visuals. This advanced system allows users to create diagrams, comics, infographics, and more by blending language, symbols, and visuals, thanks to its ability to accurately render text and follow prompts. Trained on a vast dataset of images and text, GPT-4o aims to enhance visual communication by generating useful, high-quality imagery with applications ranging from storytelling to scientific illustrations.

Otter’s New AI Agent Can Speak Up in Meetings

(The Verge, March 25)

Otter is launching a new AI-powered Meeting Agent designed to enhance productivity during calls and meetings by using company data to answer questions and complete tasks. Unlike previous AI chatbots, the Meeting Agent can now transcribe conversations, summarize information, and even handle tasks like scheduling meetings and drafting emails through natural voice interaction. This update marks a significant evolution in Otter’s AI capabilities, making virtual meeting management more efficient and interactive.

Apple Music is Integrating with Music Tools to Allow DJs to Create Mixes Using its Catalog

(Tech Crunch, March 25)

Apple is expanding Apple Music to allow DJs to build mix sets using various tools like Algoriddim’s djay Pro, Serato, Engine DJ, Denon DJ, Numark, and RANE DJ. This integration aims to attract DJs by giving them access to Apple Music’s 100 million-song catalog and providing a new DJ with Apple Music category page featuring editorial playlists and DJ partner resources. The move follows industry trends of music platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify exploring remix tools, and startups like Hook trying to create a market for legal remixes.

Waymo to Launch Robotaxi Service in Washington, D.C., in 2026

(Tech Crunch, March 25)

Waymo plans to launch robotaxi rides via the Waymo One app in Washington, D.C. by 2026, although current regulations requiring a human driver will need to be addressed. The Alphabet-owned company is rapidly expanding its robotaxi coverage, with active services in Phoenix, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Austin, and soon Atlanta through its partnership with Uber. As Waymo aims to outpace competitors like Tesla and Amazon’s Zoox, it is also targeting Miami for a public launch in 2026.

Scientists Observe Carbon Dioxide on Planets Outside the Solar System for the First Time

(Wired, March 25)

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected carbon dioxide on four exoplanets within the HR 8799 system, located 130 light-years from Earth, marking the first direct observation of CO2 outside our solar system. The discovery supports the theory that these giant planets formed through core accretion, similar to Jupiter and Saturn, and indicates the presence of heavier elements like carbon, oxygen, and iron in their atmospheres. Published in The Astronomical Journal, the findings offer valuable insights into planetary formation, especially for young systems like HR 8799, which is only 30 million years old.