Got to check out Astra in a closed-door reside demo last week. There’s a significant gap between slick promotional materials and actual in-person demonstrations.
Utilizing Gemini 2.0’s native agent framework, Astra leverages text, speech, image, and video capabilities to respond to inquiries and execute tasks effectively, seamlessly integrating with existing Google applications such as Search, Maps, and Lens as needed. “A powerhouse in information retrieval has emerged,” notes Bibo Xu, product manager at Astra, describing the collective might of its top-tier programs.
Gemini 2.0 and Astra are joined by Mariner, a cutting-edge agent built upon the foundation of Gemini that can browse the internet on your behalf; Jules, a groundbreaking coding assistant powered by Gemini; and Gemini for Video Games, an experimental conversational AI designed to provide creative ideas as you play video games.
Notably, in the final week, Google DeepMind also unveiled a novel video technology model, an updated image technology model, and a revolutionary chip design for quantum computers. Whew. While attending a conference in Sweden, the CEO spent yesterday honing his skills and networking with fellow professionals.
Google DeepMind asserts that Gemini 2.0 is roughly twice as swift as its precursor, Gemini 1.5, outperforming it on numerous standard benchmarks, including MMLU-Professional – a comprehensive suite of multiple-choice questions crafted to rigorously evaluate the capabilities of large language models across diverse topics, spanning math and physics, health, psychology, and philosophy.
Despite the hype surrounding cutting-edge language models like Gemini 2.0, the gap between these innovative technologies and their competitors from rival labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic is surprisingly narrow. Today, advancements in large language models focus more on their capabilities than their performance.
The location where property brokers can be found.
Palms on with Venture Astra
As the final week drew to a close, I found myself ushered through an unmarked door on a higher floor of a building in London’s King’s Cross district, leading me into a room exuding an air of mystery and secrecy. The bold phrase “ASTRA” dominated a large section of the wall. As Xu’s loyal canine companion, Charlie, wandered freely around the bustling workspace, researchers and engineers worked diligently to bring a groundbreaking product to life – one that Google was pinning its hopes on.