Welcome to Get The Gist, where every weekday we share an easy-to-read summary of the latest and greatest developments in AI—news, innovations, and trends—all delivered in under 5 minutes! ⏱

In today’s edition:

• China's Baidu Reveals Two New ‘Ernie’ AI Models

• Google Replaces Assistant with Gemini on Most Devices

• AI-Powered Summaries Coming to Notepad

• Google is Rolling Out New Gemini Models

• And more AI news….

Top Developments

Baidu

China's Baidu Reveals Two New ‘Ernie’ AI Models

The Gist: Baidu has unveiled two new AI models, Ernie X1 and Ernie 4.5, promising performance comparable to leading US models at significantly lower costs. The move strengthens China's AI ambitions while intensifying competition with OpenAI and DeepSeek.

Key Details:

• Ernie X1 rivals DeepSeek R1 in reasoning but at half the cost.

• Ernie 4.5 outperforms GPT-4.5 in multiple benchmarks while costing just 1% as much.

• Baidu will integrate the models into its ecosystem, including Baidu Search.

• China is increasingly embracing open-source AI, with Ernie 4.5 set for release on June 30.

Google

Google Replaces Assistant with Gemini on Most Devices

The Gist: Google is phasing out Google Assistant in favor of Gemini, its next-gen AI assistant, across compatible devices. The transition has already begun, with Assistant expected to be removed from most devices later this year.

Key Details:

• Gemini will handle voice commands, app integration, and more.

• Older Android devices (Android 9 or lower, or with <2GB RAM) will keep Assistant for now.

• New Gemini features include music playback, timers, and quick actions from the lock screen.

• Google is also upgrading tablets, cars, wearables, and home devices with Gemini-powered experiences.

Microsoft

AI-Powered Summaries Coming to Windows Notepad

The Gist: Microsoft is testing AI-generated summaries in Notepad, allowing users to quickly condense information with a right-click or shortcut. The feature is currently in testing for Windows Insiders.

Key Details:

• Users can generate summaries via right-click, Ctrl + M, or the Copilot menu.

• The AI summary length can be adjusted.

• Requires a Microsoft account, but AI features can be disabled in settings.

• Notepad is also getting a recent files feature.

Quick Gist

Microsoft's Copilot app for Windows 11 is facing uninstallation issues due to a recent update, with a fix in progress while users can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store. (Read More)

Apple's iOS 18.4 update will introduce AI writing tools for iPhones, enabling users to proofread and rewrite messages using Apple Intelligence. (Read More)

Google is rolling out new Gemini models, including 2.0 Flash Thinking, offering improved efficiency, personalization, and expanded features on web and mobile. (Read More)

ChatGPT can now be set as the default assistant on Samsung phones, allowing users to activate it via the side button, though still in beta. (Read More)

THAT’S IT FOR TODAY!