The agentic AI explainer you need to impress your tech friends. Credit: Kilito Chan / Getty Images According to the AI overlords, this is the year of agentic AI.You may have seen Google announce its "agentic era" with a web browsing research assistant and an AI bot that calls nail salons and mechanics for you. OpenAI leadership talked about agentic AI being a "big theme in 2025" and has already introduced a research preview of Operator, an agent that can perform tasks on your behalf, and Deep Research, which "conducts multi-step research on the internet for complex tasks." Microsoft just unveiled Microsoft Discover, an enterprise agentic AI tool for scientists. And your next smartphone could have agentic features that can send custom messages, create calendar events, or pull together information from across different apps. If you've been nodding and smiling every time one of your tech friends mentions agentic AI, don't be embarrassed. This is a new entry in the AI glossary, but one that can no longer be ignored. You May Also Like So what exactly is agentic AI?"Agentic AI refers to a class of artificial intelligence systems designed to operate autonomously, perceive their environment, set goals, plan actions to achieve those goals, and execute those plans without continuous human intervention. These systems can learn and adapt over time based on feedback and new information." That's according to — what else? — Google's AI chatbot Gemini.Unlike generative AI, which is essentially a tool for creating some kind of output — code, text, audio, images, videos — agentic AI can autonomously perform tasks on a user's behalf. This is a step up from the standard AI chatbot experience. Instead of generating a response based on its training material, agentic AI can take additional steps, such as conducting internet searches and analyzing the results, consulting additional sources, or completing a task in another app or software.You may have heard this term used interchangeably with AI agents, but agentic AI is a broader term that encompasses technology that may not be fully autonomous but has some agent-like capabilities. So, OpenAI considers Operator an AI agent because it has contextual awareness and can perform tasks for you like sending text messages. And its Deep Research tool is agentic AI because it can autonomously crawl the web and compile a report for the user, though its capabilities pretty much stop there for now. Agentic AI is powered by more advanced reasoning models like ChatGPT o3 and Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview, which can break down complex tasks and make inferences. This brings large-language models like ChatGPT one step closer to mimicking how the human brain works. Unless you constantly retrain a generative AI model with new information, it can't learn new things, said Karen Panetta, IEEE Fellow and professor of engineering at Tufts University. "This other kind of AI can learn from seeing other examples, and it can be more autonomous in breaking down tasks and helping you with more goal-driven types of activities, versus more exploratory or giving back information."When combined with computer vision, which is what allows a model to "see" a user's computer screen, we get the agentic AI everyone is so excited about. Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Why is everyone talking about agentic AI? Google's new AI shopping experience could utilize agentic AI to make purchases on your behalf. Credit: Google Agentic AI is not entirely new. Self-driving cars and robot vacuums could both be considered early examples of agentic AI. They're technologies with autonomous properties that rely on advanced sensors and cameras to make sense of their environment and react accordingly.But agentic AI is having its moment now for a few reasons. Crucially, the latest models have gotten better and more user-friendly. And as people begin to rely on AI chatbots like ChatGPT, there's a growing interest in using these tools to automate daily tasks like responding to emails. With agentic AI, you don't need to be a computer programmer to use ChatGPT for automation. You can simply tell the chatbot what to do in plain English and have it carry out your instructions. At least, that's the idea.Companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are banking on agentic AI because it has the potential to move the technology beyond the novelty chatbot experience. With agentic AI, tools like ChatGPT could become truly indispensable for businesses and individuals alike. Agentic AI tools could order groceries online, browse and buy the best-reviewed espresso machine for you, or even research and book vacations. In fact, Google is already taking steps in this direction with its new AI shopping experience.In the business world, companies are looking to agentic AI to resolve customer service inquiries and adjust stock trading strategies in real-time. What could possibly go wrong?Are there risks involved with unleashing autonomous bots in the wild? Why, yes. With an agent operating on your behalf, there's always a risk of it sending a sensitive email to the wrong person or accidentally making a huge purchase. And then there's the question of liability. "Am I going to be sued because I went and had my agent do something?" Panetta wondered. "Say I'm working as an officer of something, and I use an AI agent to make a decision, to help us do our planning, and then you lose that organization money."  Related Stories The major AI players have put safeguards in place to prevent AI agents from going rogue, such as requiring human supervision or approval for sensitive tasks. OpenAI says Operator won't take screenshots when it's in human override mode, and it doesn't currently allow its agent to make banking transactions. But what about when the technology becomes more commonplace? As we become more comfortable with agentic AI, will we become more passive and lax about oversight? Earlier in this article, we used Google Gemini to help define agentic AI. If we become dependent on AI tools for even simple learning, will human beings get dumber?Then there's the extensive data access we have to give agents. Sure, it would be convenient for ChatGPT to automatically filter, sort, or even delete emails. But do you want to give an AI company full access to every email you've ever sent or received?And what about bad actors that don't have such safeguards in place? Panetta warns of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks utilizing agentic AI. "Because the access to powerful computing now is so cheap, that means that the bad actors have access to it," she said. "They can be running simulations and being able to come up with sophisticated schemes to break into your systems or connive you into taking out this equity loan." AI has always been a double-edged sword, with equally potent harms and benefits. And with agentic AI getting ready for primetime deployment, the stakes are getting higher.Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems. Cecily Mauran Tech Reporter Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran. #what #agentic #why #everyone #talking

Memorial Day Weekend means the official start of summer and the start of summer sales events. In the lead-up to the long weekend, we're already seeing tons of early Memorial Day tech deals, and that includes big discounts on popular Apple products. From the latest and greatest Apple watches to high-performing tablets and Beats headphones, you can score hundreds in savings right now – and if you shop early, you'll likely even have your new Apple devices by the holiday weekend! Since you're not on vacation yet, we've gone ahead and rounded up the best early Memorial Day Apple deals. Let's take a closer look, so you can start saving now. Apple Watch DealsAlready off in anticipation of Memorial Day, Apple's flagship smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 10, is our Editor's Choice pick for iPhone users. It's powered by the fast and efficient S10 chip and boasts tons of health, fitness, and lifestyle features, including GPS workout recording, ECG, sleep, and cycle tracking, music, podcast, and third-party app support, and the newly added audio playback mode. Plus, the new depth gauge and water temperature sensors also make it an excellent choice for snorkeling and other shallow-water activities. iPad DealsAlthough small, the latest iPad Mini is powerful and capable with the new ability to support Apple Intelligence. In terms of design, it has the same sleek aesthetic of other iPads, only it's a lighter, more portable size that's ideal for traveling and/or leaving your bulky tablet or laptop at home. Plus, the bright LCD screen features anti-reflective and fingerprint-resistant coatings, so you can use it outside with little glare and clear visibility. In our testing, it performed notably well across gaming, productivity, and media streaming with a solid 7+ hour battery life – and right now, it's off!Recommended by Our EditorsBeats DealsWhen it comes to noise-cancelling earbuds, the sleek Beats Studio Buds + offer the most bang for your buck right now. On sale for just they boast some of the best noise cancellation you can find in the under-price range. The overall audio quality doesn't disappoint either with deep bass and crisp highs. They're compatible with both Apple and Android devices, offering an impressive nine-hour battery life plus an additional 27 hours when you use the charging case. We gave them a rating of "Excellent" per our 2023 review, and that was without a 41% discount!Be sure to check back often for the latest early Memorial Day deals. #best #way #save #apple #products

Posted on : May 19, 2025 By Tech World Times General  Rate this post The fitness and social media guru Sam Sulek, in all probability most famous for his physique and workout regimen, has raised eyebrows regarding his towering height. The person in consideration is an impressive 6′ 3″ tall and weighing 205 pounds. His stature performs a significant role in Sulek’s online presence as well as influencing his audience. The Impact of Height on Social Media Influence Heights stretch back through time as a yardstick of perception among societies, affecting how individuals are treated. Height in social media has a bearing on engagement, eroding the credibility of potential influencers shorter than average; tall images are perceived as being more credible and charismatic. Influencers like Sam Sulek may also benefit from height as a distinguishing characteristic upon which they could essentially build their entire brand. Heights can speak to certain audiences who identify or relate to their image, creating a rather loyal following. Physical Presence and Intimidation Factor Certainly, Sulek’s height adds to his great physical presence. He stands tall in the fitness industry, where much importance is given to the physicality of a person. His tall stature adds to his muscular build and gives him an imposing physical presence. Physical intimidation, as mentioned earlier, is an advantage in the fitness industry, which generally regards confidence and strength with great value. Visual Content and Social Media Sulek frequently uses his workout videos and body updates on social media sites, especially YouTube and Instagram, to highlight his height. His height adds a visually appealing element to his material by enabling him to perform poses and exercises that accentuate his physical characteristics. By captivating his audience, this visual component can increase the engagement and shareability of his content. Relatability and Admiration Even though not everyone can relate to Sulek’s height, his followers may be inspired and motivated by it. His success in the fitness industry may be attributed to the fact that many people see his size as a benefit. His audience may feel inspired and motivated by this impression and try to accomplish comparable physical objectives. Brand Partnerships and Influencer Opportunities Sulek’s influencer opportunities and brand partnerships may also be impacted by his height and physical presence. His commanding presence and attractive physique may entice companies to collaborate with him. His online reputation and influence may be further cemented if this results in profitable sponsorship agreements and partnerships. Authenticity and Confidence Despite the possible benefits of his height, Sulek’s self-assurance and genuineness are key components of his online persona. His content demonstrates his confidence and self-assurance, which helps his audience relate to and like him more. With his followers, this genuineness can play a significant role in fostering loyalty and trust. Conclusion To sum up, Sam Sulek’s height plays a significant role in his online persona, impacting his physical attributes, visual content, and brand collaborations. Although it might not be the only element influencing his success, it surely helps to mold his persona and captivate his audience. Sulek’s height will probably continue to be a significant component of his identity and brand as he expands his online presence. Tech World TimesTech World Times, a global collective focusing on the latest tech news and trends in blockchain, Fintech, Development & Testing, AI and Startups. If you are looking for the guest post then contact at techworldtimes@gmail.com #sam #suleks #height #explained #impacting

Microsoft says it used its own agentic reasoning AI model to help develop and synthesize a new immersion fluid for PC cooling—and then confirmed that it worked by dunking a PC motherboard into a vat of it. John Link, Microsoft’s principal program manager for product innovation, closed out Microsoft’s Build developer keynote by showing off how Microsoft innovated a new immersion cooling technology using Copilot AI without any PFAS. PC boards and server racks can be cooled by air, by water, or by connecting metal heat exchangers with fluid-filled tubing that thermally routes the heat of a processor to the outside world. Immersion cooling is an extreme example of this, which uses electrically non-conductive fluids that surround the entire board. Essentially, the entire board is submerged. Water can’t be used because it would short out the system, so PFAS can be used instead—but PFAS presents environmental and health hazards. Link used what Microsoft calls Microsoft Discovery, an agentic research system. Agentic AI is Microsoft’s next big thing, and your one-on-one interactions with Copilot will soon give way to managing individual AIs that autonomously perform specialized tasks. Submerged, cooled, and running Forza.YouTube According to Microsoft, the model uses both proprietary data as well as external research to try and develop relationships between the data. In Link’s demonstration, it used both a “Knowledge Base” agent as well as a specialized chemistry agent. The example tried to exclude any proposed molecules that would violate the PFAS conditions, and that fell within a certain dielectric range and boiling points. You can watch Link’s Microsoft Build 2025 keynote closeout to see what he discovered, but it appears to be a member of the alkene family. More to the point, Link said that the discovery was promising enough that Microsoft synthesized enough of it to dunk a motherboard and PC processor inside a container of the stuff, and then ran Forza Motorsport to prove that it worked. #microsoft #used #invent #safer #coolant

Crucial launched its new T710 SSD here in Taipei, Taiwan, at Computex 2025, touting speeds of up to a blistering 14.9 GB/s and 2.2 million IOPS. #crucial #announces #t710 #ssd #with

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Microsoft to bring OpenAI's Sora video generation API to Azure AI Foundry next week Pradeep Viswanathan Neowin @pradeepviswav · May 19, 2025 18:32 EDT Microsoft's Azure AI Foundry provides developers access to more than 1,900 AI models suitable for a variety of use cases and industries. However, Azure AI Foundry currently lacks text-to-video generation models, which are already available on AWS via its Nova Reels API and on Google Cloud via its Veo API. Microsoft relies on OpenAI for all its frontier AI needs. Although OpenAI has developed the Sora video generation model, it has not yet been made available as an API for developers. However, ChatGPT Premium plan customers can use Sora to create videos using text prompts. Due to the significant GPU resources required to make Sora available to all ChatGPT users and developers, OpenAI has not yet rolled it out widely, despite launching it back in December 2024. At Build 2025, Microsoft announced that Sora will be available in Azure AI Foundry starting next week. The company also introduced a new 'Video Playground' section within Azure AI Foundry, where developers can experiment with video generation models like Sora. Developers will be able to customize the aspect ratio, resolution, and duration of the generated videos. Additionally, Sora will be accessible via the Azure OpenAI Service, allowing developers to integrate it into their applications. Microsoft also highlighted that T&Pm, a WPP company, is already using Sora through the Azure OpenAI Service to enhance its workflow. The company is leveraging Sora to easily visualize early concepts and scale big ideas through to production. You can read more such use cases for the Sora API here. Tags Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed #microsoft #bring #openai039s #sora #video

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: While using website data to build a Google Search topped with artificial intelligence-generated answers, an Alphabet executive acknowledged in an internal document that there was an alternative way to do things: They could ask web publishers for permission, or let them directly opt out of being included. But giving publishers a choice would make training AI models in search too complicated, the company concludes in the document, which was unearthed in the company's search antitrust trial. It said Google had a "hard red line" and would require all publishers who wanted their content to show up in the search page to also be used to feed AI features. Instead of giving options, Google decided to "silently update," with "no public announcement" about how they were using publishers' data, according to the document, written by Chetna Bindra, a product management executive at Google Search. "Do what we say, say what we do, but carefully." "It's a little bit damning," said Paul Bannister, the chief strategy officer at Raptive, which represents online creators. "It pretty clearly shows that they knew there was a range of options and they pretty much chose the most conservative, most protective of them -- the option that didn't give publishers any controls at all." For its part, Google said in a statement to Bloomberg: "Publishers have always controlled how their content is made available to Google as AI models have been built into Search for many years, helping surface relevant sites and driving traffic to them. This document is an early-stage list of options in an evolving space and doesn't reflect feasibility or actual decisions." They added that Google continually updates its product documentation for search online. of this story at Slashdot. #google #decided #against #offering #publishers

If you work in a tech company with screens in meeting rooms: what is on those screens as screensavers?At Stripe: its realtime business metric graphs. Support satisfaction, fraud rate trends, revenue for product X.Just saw these - what a way to “expose” the business to devs! #you #work #tech #company #with

Jelly Mesh is born, just because I could. #vibecoding #weird #new #idea #completely

For many creatives, there are few times in life that are more thrilling and filled with possibilities than the summer you graduate. At the same time, there's usually a fair bit of anxiety, and in 2025, there are good reasons for that. If you're a creative graduate preparing to enter the workforce, you face a rapidly changing landscape shaped by technological advancements, shifting work paradigms and unprecedented challenges. In short, you'll be navigating uncharted waters as you transition from structured academic environments to the professional world. To help bridge this gap, we've gathered industry-leading advice from established leaders across various disciplines. These veterans have weathered economic shifts, tech revolutions, and cultural transformations throughout their careers. As such, their collective wisdom offers a compass for any graduate at a time of extraordinary opportunity and complexity. 1. Be kind to yourself First things first. You'll want to get into decent-paid work straight away, but in the current job market, that might not happen. That completely sucks, of course, but the important thing is that you don't beat yourself up over it. Creative director Charlie Bowden acknowledges the challenges of getting your foot in the door, even with a degree. "Converting an internship into a job is hard and may take longer than you'd like," he cautions. "So be kind to yourself. The best work comes when you're happy." Adrian Carroll, creative director at D8, agrees. "Don't be too hard on yourself if you don't land a role straight away," he stresses. "It's an incredibly tough market for graduates at the moment. Fewer people are setting up agencies, and more people are opting to freelance, which is tough if you don't have much experience." 2. Build your personal brand In a crowded jobs market, you need to stand out. That can be challenging for many creatives, especially if you're shy or introverted. But the important thing to understand, according to Simon Manchipp, founding partner at SomeOne, is this: "YOU ARE A BRAND. Like it or not." With that in mind, he recommends you: "Get your story straight. Make it stick. Website. Insta. LinkedIn. Behance. They should sing the same song—and it should sound like you. SHOW WORK. NOT PROMISES. Don't tell us what you want to do; show us what you did. Projects are better than platitudes. Side hustles count. So do failed ones. Especially failed ones." 3. Craft a portfolio with cut-through When it comes to your portfolio, Alex Rexworthy, co-founder and design director at Outlaw, advises showcasing development alongside final work. "Show your process, not just a flashy render," he urges. "Take the reader on a journey through each project in your portfolio. Start with the brief, share your initial ideas, and explain how you arrived at the final result." Above all, encourages Cat How, founder and ECD at How Studio, make an impact. "Go big, or go home," she says. "This is your time to shine, so you owe it to yourself to be OUTRAGEOUS." 4. Stay true to your vision When you're struggling to get work, it's natural to want to apply for everything and maybe even pretend to be someone you're not. But Paul Leon, creative director at U037, reckons you'll ultimately be more successful if you focus on your authentic creative path. "Focus on what you really want to do and head for that," he advises. "If you feel something's not right for you, don't be afraid to speak up, and don't be afraid to say no. Value yourself: the journey is where all the good stuff happens. Detours, etc, are fine." When applying for a job at an agency, you obviously need to do your research. But Charlie notes that you need to look beyond an agency's portfolio. "Consider the culture, not just the work," he explains. "Certain agencies make great work, but their culture may not be right for you. Internships are a great way of getting a gauge of this, but so is asking to come in for coffee and a crit, so you can see what the agency is like first-hand." 5. Embrace the beginner's mindset You need confidence to succeed in life, but that confidence shouldn't spill over into overconfidence or the idea that you already know it all; you don't. With that in mind, Kiser Barnes, partner and chief creative officer at Red Antler, stresses the importance of humility paired with curiosity. "Be humble and stay wildly curious," he says. "Finishing school feels like reaching the peak… until you realise you're right back at the bottom of a new hill again. That's okay. The people who thrive in this industry are the ones most open to learning, evolving and collaborating." Barrington Reeves, creative director at Too Gallus, offers similar advice. "Be ready to learn," he urges. "The change from education to commercial can sometimes be daunting. But although you've just been through a full course of education, the real learning begins now. " Part of that means adapting to commercial timeframes. "Don't be discouraged by the pace of change and iteration," he stresses. "While university might teach you to nurture and grow an idea over a prolonged period of time, in the commercial market, it is an incredible skill to be able to think—and fail—fast." 6. Develop leadership skills early Being humble doesn't mean you can't have one eye on the future and start developing your leadership skills. With that in mind, Ashleigh Hansberger, co-founder and COO at Motto, suggests you: "Start studying business and leadership now. Leadership isn't about title; it's about behaviour. That means building discipline, making clear decisions, being accountable, and taking responsibility for your actions and impact. "Practise your own leadership development early," she adds. "Read about it. Reflect on it. Try it. Accumulate experience and wisdom through the unglamorous work of getting 1% better every day. That's how you grow into someone people want to follow." 7. Master your craft while embracing technology Emerging technologies might be disrupting everything right now, with negative consequences for employment. But Kiser encourages graduates to engage with them all the same. "Don't be afraid of AI—tinker with it, play with it, understand it," he says. "Use your fresh perspective to imagine better ways of working. The world doesn't need more copies of what already exists. It needs people who can push the whole system forward." Matthew Schneider, director of product marketing at LucidLink, takes a similar line. "Know your craft, but don't be afraid of new tech," he advises. "When I started, a single video editing system cost well over k; now, a subscription to professional editing software might cost as little as monthly." And the moral of this story? "Now people have access to great tools, what sets you apart is how you use them and the story you ultimately tell with them," Matthew explains. "Growing up an aspiring filmmaker myself, my mother would always tell me, 'It's not the story; it's the storytelling'. She's right!" Tom Munckton, ECD at Fold7Design, similarly notes the accelerating pace of industry evolution right now. "The industry used to shift annually; now it feels more like monthly—with processes and project delivery being challenged by AI and other democratising factors," he says. Ultimately, though, he recommends focusing on creative direction over specific tools. "Regardless of the tool or method you use right now or in the future, confidence will come from being clear about the type of work you want to make and making constant steps towards that," he reasons. 8. Embrace discomfort as growth Finding all this stressful and frightening? Many creative people feel like they don't "belong" in normal society, but the good news is that agencies are generally pretty friendly places and are probably filled with other people who've felt like outsiders themselves. Take Claire Parker, group creative partner at The Chase. "I never fitted in at school—couldn't do maths, couldn't spell—but I could create," she recalls. "The world needs curious minds like yours. Creativity isn't about having all the answers; it's about asking better questions. "Stay interested, stay committed, and back yourself even when you feel out of your depth," she adds. "In fact, especially then, as David Bowie said, 'Always go a little further into the water'. That's where the magic happens. Be more Bowie." #creative #leaders #share #their #golden