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Google I/O 2025: Gemini Takes Centre Stage in AI Revolution

Gemini diffusion models, Claude 4 launch, OpenAI acquires Jony Ive's startup, and nPlan's Schedule Studio

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Morning Project AI enthusiasts,

A special welcome to all our new subscribers who joined this week. This edition brings you the latest developments in AI and data across project delivery.

In this edition:

  • Google I/O 2025: Gemini's new features and capabilities

  • Anthropic releases Claude 4 with enhanced coding abilities

  • OpenAI acquires Jony Ive's hardware startup for £6.5 billion

  • nPlan's Schedule Studio: AI-powered project scheduling

Grab your favourite beverage, find a comfortable spot, and dive into this week's AI developments in project delivery.

Flux check-in

Google I/O 2025: Gemini Takes Centre Stage

Google's annual I/O developer conference showcased a wave of Gemini-powered AI innovations that are set to transform how we interact with technology. The star of the show was Gemini Diffusion, the first large language model using diffusion instead of transformers, performing at five times the speed of Gemini 2.0 Flash-Lite. Learn more about the announcements.

What Does This Mean for Me?

For project delivery professionals, these advancements signal a significant shift in how AI can be integrated into workflows. The enhanced speed and capabilities of Gemini 2.5 Pro and Flash models will enable more efficient data processing and analysis, potentially reducing project timelines and improving decision-making processes. The new Agent Mode, in particular, transforms Gemini into a genuine personal assistant that can handle complex tasks autonomously, freeing up valuable time for strategic work.

Key Themes or Details

  • Gemini Diffusion: This revolutionary approach to language models uses diffusion instead of transformers, resulting in five times faster performance and enhanced task capabilities across various domains.

  • AI Mode in Search: Google's new AI-powered search experience provides more contextual and comprehensive results, helping project professionals find relevant information more efficiently.

  • Agent Mode: This feature turns Gemini into a true personal assistant that can perform tasks independently, such as scheduling, research, and data analysis—crucial for busy project managers.

  • Gemini 2.5 Pro Deep Think: Designed for complex reasoning and problem-solving, this model could revolutionise how project teams approach challenging technical and logistical issues.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Anthropic Releases Claude 4 with Enhanced Coding Capabilities

Anthropic has launched Claude 4, introducing two new models—Claude Opus 4 and Sonnet 4—that showcase impressive coding capabilities and enhanced reasoning abilities. Sonnet 4 is available for free users and will be integrated into GitHub Copilot, making advanced AI assistance accessible to more developers. Learn more about Claude 4.

What Does This Mean for Me?

For project delivery professionals, Claude 4's improved coding and reasoning capabilities offer new opportunities to automate complex tasks and enhance decision-making processes. The integration with GitHub Copilot means that even team members with limited coding experience can leverage AI assistance for technical tasks. However, it's worth noting the controversy surrounding Claude 4 Opus's safety features, which include the ability to contact authorities if it detects potentially harmful activities.

Key Themes or Details

  • Enhanced Coding Capabilities: Both Claude Opus 4 and Sonnet 4 score exceptionally high on coding benchmarks, making them valuable tools for automating development tasks.

  • Improved Reasoning: The new models demonstrate advanced reasoning abilities, potentially helping project teams solve complex problems more efficiently.

  • AI Safety Level 3: Anthropic has implemented new safety measures, though these have sparked debate about the appropriate boundaries for AI intervention.

  • New Pricing Structure: Anthropic has introduced updated pricing for Claude 4, with different tiers based on usage and capabilities.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Together with Cogram

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  • Automatically extract key details from the RFP — including scope, submission requirements, deadlines, and evaluation criteria — to easily make a go/no-go decision.

  • Cogram’s AI will then reference your firm’s knowledge base and past proposals to draft tailored proposals within minutes.

  • Use AI-assisted editing tools to review, cross-check data, and make improvements remarkably fast. 

OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive's Hardware Startup for £6.5 Billion

OpenAI has fully acquired io, its joint venture with famed Apple designer Jony Ive, for £6.5 billion in equity as it moves into hardware development. This acquisition signals OpenAI's ambition to develop an undisclosed AI device, described by Sam Altman as potentially the biggest project for the company, with plans to ship 100 million units by late 2026. Learn more about the acquisition.

What Does This Mean for Me?

For project delivery professionals, this acquisition highlights the growing convergence of AI software and purpose-built hardware. The involvement of Jony Ive, known for his influential design work at Apple, suggests that the resulting products may prioritise user experience and aesthetic considerations alongside technical capabilities. This trend could influence how AI tools are integrated into project workflows, potentially moving from screen-based interfaces to more intuitive, dedicated devices.

Key Themes or Details

  • Hardware Strategy: OpenAI's move into hardware development represents a significant strategic shift for the company, previously focused primarily on software.

  • Design-Led Approach: Jony Ive's involvement suggests a focus on design excellence and user experience, potentially setting new standards for AI hardware.

  • Cultural Integration Challenges: Analysts predict potential culture clashes between Ive's design-focused approach and OpenAI's engineering-driven culture.

  • Ambitious Production Goals: The target of shipping 100 million units by late 2026 indicates the scale of OpenAI's hardware ambitions.

Down the Rabbit Hole

nPlan's Schedule Studio: AI-Powered Project Scheduling

nPlan has launched Schedule Studio, an AI-powered tool designed to revolutionise project scheduling in construction and engineering. The tool leverages machine learning to analyse historical project data and generate optimised schedules with risk assessments. See a demonstration by Lawrence Roland or visit the official website.

What Does This Mean for Me?

For project delivery professionals, Schedule Studio represents a significant advancement in planning capabilities. By leveraging AI to analyse historical project data, the tool can help identify potential delays and risks before they occur, allowing for more proactive management. This could lead to more realistic timelines, better resource allocation, and ultimately, improved project outcomes. The tool's ability to continuously learn from new data means it should become increasingly accurate over time.

Key Themes or Details

  • AI-Driven Scheduling: Schedule Studio uses machine learning algorithms to generate optimised project schedules based on historical data and industry benchmarks.

  • Risk Assessment: The tool provides detailed risk assessments for project timelines, highlighting potential bottlenecks and delays.

  • Continuous Learning: As more projects are completed, the system learns and improves its predictions, becoming more accurate over time.

  • Integration Capabilities: Schedule Studio can integrate with existing project management tools, allowing for seamless incorporation into current workflows.

Down the Rabbit Hole

The pulse check

Tips of the week

For project managers looking to understand AI development tools without diving into technical complexities, we recommend this excellent 35-minute non-technical guide to OpenAI's Codex.

The guide breaks down how this AI agent software development tool works in accessible language, helping you grasp its potential applications for project delivery without requiring coding knowledge. Understanding tools like Codex can help you better communicate with technical team members and identify opportunities for AI integration in your workflows. Access the guide here.

Book of the Week

Apple in China: Technology and Geopolitics in the Modern Era: This timely analysis explores Apple's complex relationship with China, offering valuable insights for project managers navigating international technology partnerships amid changing geopolitical landscapes.

Particularly relevant as trade tensions resurface. Watch the author interview

  • Gling: AI video editing tool that automatically removes silences and filler words while providing audio clean-up and subtitle synchronization, streamlining content creation for project documentation. Go deeper

  • ChatGPT for Business Tasks: OpenAI's latest update allows ChatGPT to complete scheduled tasks autonomously, helping project managers automate routine workflows and administrative processes. Go deeper

  • Zoho Sheet: AI-powered spreadsheet collaboration tool that automates data tasks, allowing project teams to work together in real-time with intelligent analytics assistance. Go deeper

  • NotebookLM: Google's AI-powered note-taking tool now available on mobile, bringing source-backed summaries and AI-generated audio overviews to enhance project documentation on the go. Go deeper

  • HeyGen Avatar IV: Create lifelike talking videos from static images, enabling project managers to produce engaging presentations and updates without extensive video production skills. Go deeper

  • f2 CLI Tool: Powerful command-line utility for bulk renaming files, helping project teams efficiently manage large document repositories and standardize file naming conventions. Go deeper

  • Cursor: Code editor with enhanced LLM capabilities, now featuring command-line tool usage and integration with existing applications to streamline development workflows. Go deeper

Robotics

  • Beyond Imagination raises $100M: Beyond Imagination, co-founded by AI futurist Ray Kurzweil, successfully raised $100 million in Series B funding to advance its humanoid robotics efforts.

  • Robot Revolution: Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang showcased GR00T N1.5 at Computex, an upgraded model for humanoid reasoning that utilizes a new blueprint for generating synthetic motion data.

  • Humanoid Robots Gear Up for Boxing: Chinese robotics company Unitree has demonstrated aggressive combat capabilities in their humanoid robots as they prepare for the world's first robot boxing match on May 25.

  • Home Hero: Tesla's Optimus robot demonstrated improved household capabilities in a viral video, showcasing tasks like taking out the trash and vacuuming while following natural language instructions.

  • Bedside Bot: Taiwan has deployed Nurabot, an AI nursing robot, to help with tasks in hospitals, potentially decreasing the workload on nurses by 30% in response to a global nursing shortage.

  • Boston Dynamics teams with LG Innotek: Boston Dynamics is collaborating with LG Innotek to create advanced vision-sensing technology for its Atlas humanoid robot, enhancing its sensory capabilities.

  • Heavy Hauler: California startup RoboForce revealed Titan, an AI-powered industrial robot designed for tough jobs in mining, manufacturing, and solar industries.

  • Hyundai installs AI-powered charging robots: Hyundai has implemented the world's first AI-driven automatic charging robots at Incheon International Airport to serve electric vehicles.

  • Humanoid robots gear up for boxing debut: Unitree demonstrated combat capabilities of their humanoid robots ahead of a boxing match set for May 25 in Hangzhou, China, utilising various control modes for operator teams during competition.

Other things we’re loving

AI in Project Delivery and Productivity

  • AI-powered safety compliance systems revolutionise housing projects, enhancing risk assessment whilst boosting productivity on UK construction sites.

  • Walgreens' robotic micro-fulfillment centre processes 13 million prescriptions annually, freeing pharmacists to focus on patient-centred care.

  • JPMorgan executives detail how AI integration transforms workflows, driving unprecedented efficiencies across their global banking operations.

  • Mistral's Devstral LLM achieves breakthrough performance on software engineering tasks, outperforming all open-source models on standard hardware.

  • Professors create company staffed entirely with AI agents, revealing surprising insights about productivity and the future of work.

  • Google launches Jules, an AI coding agent working asynchronously on programming tasks, enhancing developer productivity through intelligent problem-solving.

AI Infrastructure and Resources

  • MIT Technology Review's analysis of AI's energy consumption reveals significant challenges in measuring impact due to tech company opacity.

  • OpenAI announces plans to build massive new data centres in the UAE, expanding computational capacity for advanced AI training.

  • Amazon boss advocates for increased nuclear power capacity in the UK to meet growing energy demands from AI infrastructure.

  • NVIDIA announces plans for Europe's largest AI campus in Paris, creating a collaborative hub for research and innovation.

AI in Healthcare and Wellbeing

  • Harvard's new AI tool predicts biological age from facial analysis, offering potential breakthroughs for personalised healthcare interventions.

  • World's first AI doctor clinic opens in Saudi Arabia, providing AI-powered diagnostics whilst maintaining human oversight for complex cases.

AI in User Experience and Communication

AI Ethics and Governance

  • Pope Leo highlights AI as a fundamental challenge to humanity, calling for ethical frameworks in his papal vision.

  • Chicago Sun-Times mistakenly published an AI-generated reading list with non-existent books, raising serious concerns about content verification.

  • Denis Hassabis argues that AI hallucinations aren't inherently problematic, suggesting they represent creative thinking rather than dangerous malfunctions.

  • Reddit discussion reveals concerning evidence of potential model sabotage in o3 systems, raising questions about AI security.

AI Advancement and Future Impact

  • Top AI model now surpasses 85% of humans in cognitive tasks, marking a significant milestone in artificial intelligence development.

  • Sam Altman's roadmap to the Intelligence Age outlines transformative changes to society and economy as AI capabilities advance.

  • Perplexity's financial report reveals revenue challenges, highlighting the complex economics of scaling AI search platforms.

  • Maryrose Lyons explores varying AI adoption rates across different regions, highlighting cultural factors influencing implementation success.

Community

The Spotlight Podcast

Why Does Real Estate Resist AI?

The Project Flux Spotlight with David Blumenfeld explores how AI is transforming physical spaces through digital innovation. David shares insights on integrating digital technologies into built environments, offering practical strategies for project managers navigating this intersection. 

Stephen Bartlett hosts an emergency AI debate bringing together industry experts to discuss urgent ethical considerations and regulatory challenges facing artificial intelligence development. The conversation offers project delivery professionals valuable context on how AI governance may impact future implementations. Listen now.

Events

AWS Summit Washington, DC: The AWS Summit on June 10-11 will feature over 340 sessions focused on leveraging AI for real-world applications, with free registration available for attendees. Go deeper

One more thing

James Hope Bryant's thought-provoking perspective on how AI will fundamentally transform our world offers project delivery professionals a compelling vision of the future. His analysis challenges us to reconsider how we approach long-term planning and adaptation strategies in an era of accelerating technological change. Watch the full discussion.

That’s it for today!

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See you soon,

James, Yoshi and Aaron—Project Flux