Cohere, backed by $1 billion in funding, has hired Joelle Pineau, Meta's former VP of AI research, as its Chief AI Officer.

Pineau will lead AI strategy across research, product, and policy teams, focusing on practical AI applications for enterprises and government agencies, emphasizing privacy and security.

Cohere's focus is on real-world, enterprise applications, differentiating it from competitors focused on AGI.

Pineau aims to gear more research around Cohere’s AI agent platform, North, and explore AI agent interactions in secure settings.

One challenge for Pineau is replacing Cohere’s VP of AI Research, Sara Hooker, amidst high demand for AI talent, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics over individual superstars.

Google has introduced 'Flight Deals,' an AI-driven search tool within Google Flights designed to assist travelers in finding cheaper fares using natural language queries. This launch comes as regulators, particularly the European Commission, scrutinize Google for potentially favoring its own search products, including Google Flights, in ways that may stifle competition.

The AI tool, currently in beta, is set to roll out in the U.S., Canada, and India, aiming to gather feedback on how AI can enhance travel planning. While competitors like Booking.com, Expedia, and MakeMyTrip have already integrated AI into their platforms, Google's entry signifies a broader effort to compete with major AI players.

Despite the introduction of 'Flight Deals,' the original Google Flights interface will remain, receiving an update to exclude basic economy fares for trips within the U.S. and Canada.

Eric Migicovsky, the original creator of the Pebble smartwatch, has unveiled the new designs for the Pebble Time 2.

The company was able to regain the Pebble trademark, renaming the watches from Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2 to Pebble 2 Duo and Pebble Time 2.

The industrial design has been updated with new features, including a multicolor RGB LED backlight, a second microphone, a compass sensor, and a screw-mounted back cover.

The watch will be stainless steel on the front and back, featuring stainless steel buttons similar to the older Pebble Time Steel.

Other specs remain the same, including a 1.5-inch 64 color e-paper display, touch screen, quick-release 22 mm watch strap, and 30-day battery life.

The Pebble Time 2 is available for preorder and will pair with a smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing it to display notifications and control music.

Pocket FM is providing its writers with an AI-powered tool, CoPilot, to accelerate the creation and adaptation of audio series. CoPilot assists in transforming narratives, suggesting engaging endings, and tailoring content to different markets.

Key features of CoPilot include:

• Transforming narrative-based writing into dialog-based writing.
• Performing beat analysis to enhance audience engagement.
• Generating character bios and plot summaries.
• Reviewing plot points and grammar.

Pocket FM has also launched adaptation tools to translate and localize content for various regions, significantly reducing the time required to enter new markets. The company is developing its own large language model (LLM) to further enhance its AI capabilities.

The adoption of AI has enabled Pocket FM to scale content production, launching approximately 1,000 pilots per month and exploring formats like comic strips and micro dramas. However, it has also led to layoffs and concerns about potential over-reliance on AI and the quality of content.