Alibaba upgrades Qwen app to order food, book travel
BEIJING, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Alibaba (9988.HK), opens new tab on Thursday launched significant upgrades to its Qwen artificial intelligence app, saying it could now execute tasks such as order food delivery and make travel bookings as it more aggressively pushes into consumer-facing AI. The new features, now in public testing in China, enable users to complete such tasks entirely within the AI chat interface, without switching between applications. The upgrade comes two months after Alibaba's major upgrade on the Qwen App as part of a strategic pivot into consumer-facing AI, an area where it had previously lagged domestic rivals ByteDance and Tencent while focusing primarily on enterprise AI services through its cloud business. "What we are launching today represents a shift from models that understand to systems that act—deeply connected to real-world services," said Wu Jia, Vice President of Alibaba Group. AI agents are growing in popularity worldwide as companies seek to use AI to aid real-world tasks. Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab acquired startup Manus last month to improve its AI systems that can complete multi-step tasks, while OpenAI has rolled out its "Operator" agent that can book restaurants and fill out forms on behalf of users. The upgrade integrates core Alibaba ecosystem services including e-commerce platform Taobao,
New Huawei AI glasses with translation tool could be on the way
Huawei may release new AI glasses in the coming months. According to a recent leak, the brand is developing a new wearable which will offer a translation tool and other new functionalities. It has also been suggested that these smart glasses could be lightweight and offered in a range of colorways. Polly Allcock, Huawei could release new AI glasses in 2026. The company already sells wearables like the Smart Glasses 2. Launched in China in 2025, this product has a range of AI features like real-time translations and support for voice commands. A recent leak from reliable source Digital Chat Station on Weibo suggests that Huawei is working on another AI glasses product. According to the report, this HarmonyOS device will also offer a translation tool. Plus, users would be able to take photos and videos with the glasses, as well as record audio and listen to music via an integrated microphone and speakers. On top of this, the tipster hints at other “new functionalities”, without providing further details. The leak indicates that the upcoming Huawei AI glasses will be powered by a trio of lithium batteries, while remaining lightweight. They are also said to offer “seamless cross-platform collaboration”. It appears that users will be able to
Adobe Launches AI-Powered Video Editing Tools for Premiere
Adobe has recently announced the introduction of AI-powered video editing tools for Premiere Pro, enhancing the editing experience for filmmakers and content creators. New Features in Adobe Premiere Pro The new tools incorporate advanced artificial intelligence technologies aimed at simplifying the editing process. These features promise to improve precision and efficiency in video production. Enhanced Masking Capabilities One of the key updates is improved masking functionality. This feature enables editors to create detailed masks rapidly, facilitating a more nuanced approach to video edits. Adobe Firefly Integration Additionally, Adobe has integrated its Firefly technology into Premiere Pro, further enriching the editing toolkit. This integration allows users to leverage AI capabilities for tasks like image generation. Community Support and Grants Supporting the creative community, Adobe has allocated $10 million in grants to assist filmmakers. This initiative underlines Adobe’s commitment to fostering creativity among content creators. Sundance Film Festival Insights Recent statistics reveal that 85% of filmmakers at the Sundance Film Festival chose Adobe tools for their projects. This significant trend emphasizes the industry’s reliance on Adobe’s innovative solutions. Conclusion Adobe continues to lead the way in video editing technology with these new AI-powered tools for Premiere Pro. By integrating advanced features and providing financial support, Adobe supports both established filmmakers and emerging artists. Improved
Top 10 AI Tools for 2026: What You Need to Know
The artificial intelligence landscape has shifted fundamentally in the last twelve months. In 2024, the focus was on generative capability: creating text, images, and code. As we approach 2026, the industry has pivoted toward agentic workflows and reasoning models. The most effective AI tools for 2026 are no longer just chatbots; they are integrated systems capable of planning, executing multi-step tasks, and operating with a high degree of autonomy. For organizations and professionals, the differentiator is no longer “who uses AI,” but who has successfully orchestrated these tools into a cohesive, high-performance stack. This article analyzes the top 10 AI tools that are defining the Artificial Intelligence Strategy for AI-first enterprises in 2026. What are the AI trends for 2026? Two primary trends dominate the current ecosystem: Reasoning over retrieval: Models like OpenAI’s o1 and o3 series now prioritize “thinking time” to solve complex logic problems, moving beyond simple pattern matching. The Agentic shift: Tools like n8n and Microsoft Copilot Studio are enabling businesses to build “agents” that don’t just answer questions but actively perform work (e.g., sending emails, updating CRMs, or deploying code). The top 10 AI tools for 2026 1. ChatGPT (OpenAI) Best for: Complex reasoning and general-purpose assistance. ChatGPT remains the market leader, primarily due to the release of the o1 and o3 reasoning models. Unlike previous
ChatGPT to carry adverts for some users: What You Need to Know
Adverts will soon appear at the top of the AI tool ChatGPT for some users, the company OpenAI has announced. The trial will initially take place in the US, and will affect some ChatGPT users on the free service and a new subscription tier, called ChatGPT Go. This cheaper option will be available for all users worldwide, and will cost $8 a month, or the equivalent pricing in other currencies. OpenAI says during the trial, relevant ads will appear after a prompt - for example, asking ChatGPT for places to visit in Mexico could result in holiday ads appearing. In example screenshots shared by the firm, the ads look like banners. OpenAI says they will not influence ChatGPT's responses and the firm will not share data about conversations with advertisers. It said it had decided to explore ads "so more people can benefit from our tools with fewer usage limits". However there is also growing speculation that the AI sector has been over-valued by keen investors and hype, and has yet to actually demonstrate much in the way of profit. Some analysts predict this "bubble" is unsustainable and could soon burst. Henry Ajder, an expert in AI, Deepfakes and synthetic media, said OpenAI's decision to explore ad revenue was
They hear, but do they care? What AI can teach us about listening better
AI chatbots don't interrupt and aren't judgemental – so what can they teach us about deep listening? "I am aware it's a machine but it's super convenient and knows how to listen well whenever I need it," says Anna, a Ukrainian living in London. She is talking about her regular use of the premium version of ChatGPT, a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence. What Anna – the BBC is not using her real name to protect her identity – finds particularly valuable isn't necessarily the AI's advice, but its ability to give her space for self-reflection. "I have a history with it, so I can rely on it to always understand my issues and communicate with me in a way that suits me," she says. She is aware that this might seem odd to many people, including her friends and family, which is why she has asked to remain anonymous. But when she recently broke up with her boyfriend she found the AI's patient listening offered something that her protective friends and family couldn't provide with their immediate judgments about her ex-partner – "he's an idiot". Instead, the absence of judgement created an opportunity for self-understanding as she unpacked her mixed emotions. And Anna is not
