Google has introduced FunctionGemma, a specialized 270M parameter model designed to bring efficient, action-oriented AI experiences directly to mobile devices through on-device function calling. By leveraging Google AI Edge and LiteRT-LM, the model enables complex tasks—such as managing calendars, controlling device hardware, or executing specific game logic in the "Tiny Garden" demo—to be performed entirely offline with high speed and low latency. Available for testing in the Google AI Edge Gallery app on both Android and iOS, FunctionGemma allows developers to move beyond simple text generation toward building responsive, "agentic" applications that interact seamlessly with the physical and digital world without relying on cloud processing.

Google I/O returns May 19-20. Watch the livestreams for updates on Android, AI, Chrome, and Cloud. Registration is open on the Google I/O website.

To simplify the user experience and prevent startup failures, the Gemini CLI has introduced structured extension settings that eliminate the need for manual environment variable configuration. This update enables extensions to automatically prompt users for required details during installation and securely stores sensitive information, such as API keys, directly in the system keychain. Users can now easily manage and override these configurations globally or per project using the new Gemini extensions config command.

The FBI is investigating suspicious cyber activity in a system used to process surveillance and wiretap warrants, raising concerns about security risks to sensitive data.

The post FBI Investigates Suspicious Activity in Surveillance Platform appeared first on TechRepublic.

Oracle is reportedly planning thousands of layoffs as it pours billions into AI data centers, raising investor concerns over costs and long-term cash flow.

The post Oracle Reportedly Planning Thousands of Job Cuts Amid Massive AI Spending appeared first on TechRepublic.

Google has officially launched LiteRT, the successor to TFLite, which offers significantly faster GPU and NPU acceleration alongside seamless support for PyTorch and JAX. The update also introduces lower-precision data type support for increased efficiency and a commitment to more frequent security and dependency updates across the TensorFlow ecosystem. This transition solidifies LiteRT as Google's primary high-performance framework for deploying GenAI and advanced on-device inference.

Conductor for the Gemini CLI has introduced a new Automated Review feature designed to verify the quality and accuracy of AI-generated code. This update addresses the challenge of validating agentic development by automatically checking implementations against original plans, enforcing style guides, and identifying security risks or bugs. by incorporating test-suite validation and providing actionable reports, Conductor helps developers ensure that their AI agents deliver safe, predictable, and architecturally sound code before it is finalized.

FunctionGemma is a specialized AI model for function calling. This post explains why fine-tuning is key to resolving tool selection ambiguity (e.g., internal vs. Google search) and achieving ultra-specialization, transforming it into a strict, enterprise-compliant agent. A case study demonstrates the improved logic. It also introduces the "FunctionGemma Tuning Lab," a no-code demo on Hugging Face Spaces, which streamlines the entire fine-tuning process for developers.

Bill Gates-backed TerraPower won the first US reactor construction grant in nearly a decade, as AI-driven data center demand is reviving interest in nuclear power.

The post Bill Gates-Backed TerraPower Wins First US Reactor Construction Permit in Nearly a Decade appeared first on TechRepublic.

BYD has shown that ultra-fast EV charging is possible, but the five-minute claim relies on its own vehicle platform and high-power charging network.

The post BYD’s EV Charging Breakthrough Still Depends on BYD’s Own Network appeared first on TechRepublic.

The Android XR team is using Gemini's Canvas feature to make creating immersive extended reality (XR) experiences more accessible. This allows developers to rapidly prototype interactive 3D environments and models on a Samsung Galaxy XR headset using simple creative prompts.

At Thunderhill Raceway Park, a team of Google Developer Experts (GDEs) put a new "Trustable AI Framework" to the test. Here is how they used GCP, Gemini and Antigravity to turn high-velocity racing into a masterclass for agentic architecture.

A practical guide to debugging and profiling JAX on Cloud TPUs. It outlines core components (libtpu, JAX/jaxlib) and essential techniques. Tools covered include: Verbose Logging (via libtpu env vars), TPU Monitoring Library for performance metrics, tpu-info for real-time utilization, XLA HLO Dumps for compiler debugging, and the XProf suite for in-depth performance analysis.

Gemini 3 is powering the next generation of reliable, production-ready AI agents. This post highlights 6 open-source framework collaborations (ADK, Agno, Browser Use, Eigent, Letta, mem0), demonstrating practical agentic workflows for tasks like deep search, multi-agent systems, browser and enterprise automation, and stateful agents with advanced memory. Clone the examples and start building today.

LexisNexis confirmed a data breach after hackers leaked stolen files, with attackers claiming they exploited the React2Shell vulnerability.

The post LexisNexis Hack Exposes 3.9M Records Through Unpatched React Vulnerability appeared first on TechRepublic.

See what you missed in Daily Tech Insider from March 2–6.

The post AI Upgrades, Security Breaches, and Industry Shakeups Define the Week in Tech appeared first on TechRepublic.

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...

Bitwarden now supports passkey logins on Windows 11 for Microsoft Entra ID users, extending passwordless sign-ins to device authentication.

The post Bitwarden Brings Passkey Logins to Windows 11, Expanding Passwordless Sign-Ins appeared first on TechRepublic.

Australian lawyers warn workers against relying on ChatGPT to draft workplace claims as AI-generated submissions raise accuracy concerns at the Fair Work Commission.

The post Lawyers warn over ChatGPT-generated workplace claims in Australia appeared first on TechRepublic.

This week...