Models & Labs
Google launches Nano Banana 2 Lite image generator
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Why it matters
- →Nano Banana 2 Lite offers a cost-effective solution for rapid image generation.
- →It enhances Google's AI capabilities in the competitive generative media space.
- →The model supports high-volume workflows, crucial for industries needing quick content iteration.
Google has unveiled Nano Banana 2 Lite, a new version of its AI image generator that promises faster and cheaper image production. The model can generate images in four seconds and costs $0.034 per 1,000 images, making it suitable for high-volume tasks. This release follows the original Nano Banana and Nano Banana 2, with the Lite version optimized for rapid workflows. Available through Google AI Studio and the Gemini API, it replaces the original Nano Banana model.
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OpenAI acquires Glass Imaging for $300M
OpenAI's acquisition of Glass Imaging for over $300 million signals a strategic move into hardware, leveraging AI to enhance smartphone camera capabilities. Glass Imaging, founded by former Apple engineers, specializes in using neural networks to improve image quality at the moment of capture, rather than post-processing. This acquisition aligns with rumors of OpenAI's interest in developing its own hardware, potentially including smartphones and AI companion devices. The move could position OpenAI to integrate advanced AI-driven imaging technology into future products, expanding its influence beyond software.
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llama.cpp b10955 release addresses heap corruption
The latest release of llama.cpp, b10955, tackles a critical issue of heap corruption by disabling the ggml-cpu precompiled header and fixing CACHE_LINE_SIZE ambiguity. This update ensures consistent CACHE_LINE_SIZE values across C++ kernels and C work-buffer sizing code, preventing heap-buffer-overflow and subsequent crashes. By restoring the natural include order and removing the std::hardware_destructive_interference_size branch, the update makes the value deterministic and include-order independent. This release is a technical fix that stabilizes the runtime environment for developers using llama.cpp.
llama.cpp Releases
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llama.cpp b10956 release enhances SYCL backend
The latest llama.cpp release, b10956, introduces significant improvements to the SYCL backend, particularly for handling large k values in TOP_K operations. By implementing a radix select method, the update allows for efficient GPU-resident processing, avoiding previous limitations that forced operations to fall back to the CPU. This change enhances performance, especially in scenarios requiring large k values, such as qwen4exp's sparse-attention indexer. The update ensures that operations are more efficient and scalable, providing a notable boost in processing speed without regressing any measured shapes.
