Hey AI Explorers,

Buckle up- today’s AI update is a wild ride.

From Google quietly continuing to release apps to a Hugging face being unstoppable, the AI world isn’t slowing down- it’s accelerating.

As artificial intelligence weaves deeper into our daily lives, staying ahead isn’t just smart- it’s essential. Let’s get you caught up.

Here’s what’s in store for you today:

• 📱 Google quietly released an app that lets you download and run AI models locally

• ⚠️ NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI’s ‘dirty data center

• 🤖 Hugging Face unveils two new humanoid robots

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

Offline

🌐 Google’s AI Edge Gallery App

Google has launched AI Edge Gallery, an experimental app allowing Android users to run open-source AI models locally on their devices. The app supports a range of tasks including image generation, question answering, and code editing—without requiring an internet connection. With an iOS version coming soon, the app is aimed at privacy-conscious users and developers exploring edge AI.

Key Points:

• App Name: Google AI Edge Gallery

• Availability: Android now, iOS coming soon

• Functionality: Run AI models offline for tasks like image generation, Q&A, code editing

• Model Source: Hugging Face (e.g., Google’s Gemma 3n)

• Features:

  • “Ask Image” and “AI Chat” capabilities

  • “Prompt Lab” with templates and tuning settings

• Performance: Depends on device hardware and model size

• License: Apache 2.0 – free for commercial and non-commercial use

• Distribution: Downloadable from GitHub

• Status: Alpha release

• Feedback: Google is actively seeking developer input

Importance:
This move signifies a shift toward privacy-first, offline AI experiences—cutting reliance on cloud infrastructure. It empowers users to harness AI capabilities without connectivity and invites developers to explore edge-based innovation with fewer barriers.

Pollution

⚠️ NAACP vs xAI’s Colossus Data Center in Memphis

The NAACP is urging Memphis officials to shut down xAI’s Colossus data center, citing serious environmental violations and public health risks. The group accuses xAI of illegally operating over 35 gas turbines, emitting hazardous pollutants like formaldehyde near a historically Black neighborhood. The facility, powered by gas instead of clean energy, has reignited concerns about environmental racism and regulatory neglect.

Key Points:

• Facility: Colossus, xAI’s data center in South Memphis

• Issue: Operation of 35 gas turbines, allegedly without permits

• Pollution: Emissions of formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides, exceeding EPA limits

• Location Concern: Near Boxtown, a historically Black community with elevated cancer risk

• NAACP Claims:

  • “Dirty data center” exacerbates existing health disparities

  • Authorities have failed to enforce clean air laws

  • Calls for emergency shutdown or citation of xAI

• Regulatory Context: xAI claimed turbines didn’t require permits in their first year

• Letter Recipients: Shelby County Health Department, Memphis Light Gas and Water

• Leadership Note: Health Director Michelle Taylor is departing for a role in Baltimore

Importance:
This confrontation spotlights the environmental and social costs of AI infrastructure, especially when sited in marginalized communities. It raises broader questions about how clean—or dirty—the AI revolution truly is, and whether tech giants will be held accountable for local impact.

Robotics

🤖 Hugging Face Launches Open-Source Humanoid Robots

Hugging Face has unveiled two new open-source humanoid robots: the full-sized HopeJR and the compact Reachy Mini. Designed to be affordable and customizable, these bots mark the company’s deepening commitment to democratizing robotics. Backed by its acquisition of Pollen Robotics, this move positions Hugging Face as a counterweight to black-box robotics giants.

Key Points:

• New Releases:

  • HopeJR: Full-sized humanoid robot with 66 degrees of freedom, including walking and arm movement.

  • Reachy Mini: Desktop robot that can move its head, talk, and test AI applications.

• Price Estimate:

  • HopeJR: ~$3,000

  • Reachy Mini: ~$250–$300

• Timeline: First units expected to ship by end of 2025; waitlist now open.

• Open Source: Fully customizable and rebuildable to prevent robotics from becoming a black-box monopoly.

• Powered by Acquisition: Enabled by Hugging Face’s April 2025 acquisition of Pollen Robotics.

• Previous Robotics Moves:

  • LeRobot platform: Released in 2024, includes models, datasets, and tools for robotics development.

  • SO-101 Arm: Upgraded in 2025 with The Robot Studio.

  • Self-driving training data: Expanded via partnership with Yaak.

Importance:
Hugging Face’s move democratizes access to advanced robotics, offering affordable, open-source alternatives to proprietary systems. As AI continues to integrate with hardware, this could accelerate grassroots robotics innovation and help balance a market dominated by closed tech giants.

QUICK HITS

🛠️ Trending AI Tools

• 🤖 DeepSeek R1 – Upgraded reasoning and overall improvements

• 🖥️ Neon – Opera’s new agentic web browser

• 🎥 Gemini in Drive – Summarize & query Drive videos

• 🛠️ Retool Agents – Turn APIs & data into AI tools

🔥 Money in AI

• 💸 xAI signs $300M deal with Telegram

• 💸 Chalk hits $500M valuation after raise

• 💸 Bito grabs $5.7M for code AI

📰 Everything else in AI today

• 🧪 Perplexity Labs enables Pro content creation with tools

• 🗣️ EVI 3 by Hume beats GPT-4o in speech tests

• 🎙️ Chatterbox – Resemble AI's open-source voice cloning model

• 📊 Manus Slides creates autonomous, tailored slide decks

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