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Google has streamlined a key feature of its Gemini AI assistant on Android devices, speeding up image sharing and editing, as spotted by Android Authority. The latest Gemini update lets you send images directly from other apps to Gemini instead of the more cumbersome setup that was in place before. 

Now, if you have a picture in, for instance, Google Photos, that you want Gemini to look at in conjunction with a text prompt, you can submit it directly via Android's built-in share sheet as you would to send a text with the image attached. That's much easier than starting in the Gemini app, tapping on the upload image button, locating the image you want, and attaching it. And if your image is in the cloud, you would also need to download it to your device. It might not be more than a minute or even less, but if you want Gemini to explain a photo or use one to inform a new AI-generated image, that extra time and friction might put you off the idea. 

It's not a total revolution for Gemini, however. Submitting images to the AI is faster, but only images. You can't use the sharing button to send text or a link to Gemini. It also doesn't encompass the Gemini overlay, which lets you use Gemini without switching out of the app you're currently using. While the image gets sent to the AI app, you still actually need to switch to the app to use Gemini's features. 

Gemini Speed

Though subtle, the update is part of Google's efforts to smooth the road for intuitive engagement with Gemini. If you often use Gemini for multimedia content, the update could save you time in the long run. Gemini will be able to analyze the image and provide insights, descriptions, or even text content based on what it "sees" more quickly than before. This makes the app more useful for users who need to switch between different types of media in their daily workflows.

Even if Gemini is only an occasional part of your mobile usage, a minute or less can affect whether you decide to skip using Gemini. That's anathema to Google's plans to embed Gemini throughout your mobile device experience and your life in general. It's also another way for users who already rely on Google's ecosystem, such as Photos or Drive, to thread Gemini into how they use those other services. Making Gemini more convenient is clearly a major goal for Google. As ChatGPT and other AI assistants keep upping their multimodal features, Gemini will need this kind of edge to stay ahead, or at least keep even, with its rivals.

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Samsung recently announced that its PM9E1 NVMe Gen 5 SSD has entered mass production. The initial press release was pulled shortly after publication, but the details were later republished by TechPowerUp.

The PM9E1 is the successor to the PM9A1 SSD, which launched in 2021, and brings notable improvements in speed, capacity, and power efficiency.

The SSD appears to be mostly aimed at enterprise customers and those working with AI-driven workloads, offering enhanced storage solutions for data-heavy applications.

Large capacities

The PM9E1 SSD doubles both the read and write speeds of its predecessor, delivering 14.5GB/s read and 13GB/s write speeds. This is a significant improvement over the PM9A1's 7GB/s read and 5.2GB/s write speeds. According to Samsung, the PM9E1 is built with an in-house 5nm controller and eighth-generation V-NAND (V8) technology, which allows it to offer better performance and efficiency.

The drive will be available in four capacities - 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB - with the larger models aimed at users who need high-performance storage for AI-generated content, gaming, and high-resolution video processing. The 4TB option, in particular, is intended for demanding enterprise applications, providing ample space for handling large data sets and real-time AI tasks.

In addition to increased speed, the PM9E1 is 50% more power-efficient than its predecessor, which Samsung claims will extend battery life, making it ideal for on-device AI applications. The SSD also features security enhancements, including Device Authentication and Firmware Tampering Attestation, provided through the updated SPDM Version 1.2 protocol. These features help protect against supply chain attacks and ensure that the device’s firmware remains intact during the production and distribution process.

"Our PM9E1 integrated with a 5 nm controller delivers industry-leading power efficiency and utmost performance validated by our key partners," YongCheol Bae, Executive Vice President of Memory Product Planning at Samsung, said. "In the rapidly growing on-device AI era, Samsung's PM9E1 will offer a robust foundation for global customers to effectively plan their AI portfolios."

While the initial press release was pulled without warning and there is no confirmed pricing or release date, it is clear that Samsung is positioning the PM9E1 as a key component for enterprise and AI-driven applications. More details regarding availability will hopefully be made available soon.

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Tesla's bizarre-looking Cybertruck has suffered through yet another recall. It's a sign that not only is the truck a bit like an experiment on wheels, but that Tesla is increasingly no longer the standard bearer for our EV aspirations.

"Elon Musk is the reason both cars in my driveway are electric. He’s also the reason neither of them are Teslas," wrote Firebird Music CEO Nathan Hubbard on Threads. The post encapsulates a growing sentiment among EV owners and EV curious: Tesla is not necessarily the electric car company that will own the future of the market it all but created.

Post by @nathanchubbard View on Threads

Look, I don't want to dive too deeply here into the unpleasant actions and social presence of Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk. Let's just say that the once inspiring entrepreneur has become, to put it lightly, a polarizing figure. It's not a good look for someone who wants to sell electric vehicles to everyone and not just those who share his world (and off-world) views.

There is, though, no denying that Musk has put Tesla fans in a difficult position and they are perhaps making different choices. As of Q2 2024, Tesla owned, according to the US Energy Information Administration 48.9% of the US EV market. The number is notable because Tesla no longer owns the "majority" of the market. Granted, what's left is split among numerous competitors, including major US auto manufacturers who, over the last few years, moved aggressively into the EV and Hybrid market. It hasn't all gone smoothly.

Earlier this year, Ford pulled back on its aggressive EV plans. Plus, consumers still appear more interested in half-measures. Hybrids, which combine combustion with one or two electric motors appear, based on recent United States Department of Transportation statistics, to be far out-pacing pure EV ones, which, is likely another cause for concern for Tesla.

United States Dept. of Transportation • Bureau of Transportation Statistics EV growth (Image credit: United States Dept. of Transportation)

The EV market continues to shift around Tesla, with more competitors offering comparable products that are, finally, approaching Tesla on the range front and often beating it on sticker price. The point is we now have choices. I know that when I finally make the EV move, it won't be with a Tesla. That's an important shift for me. I was a stalwart Tesla fan who wrote extensively about early Tesla Model S owners and remember fondly being among the first to experience a Model 3 test drive.

Now, though, I can't stomach the idea of enriching Elon Musk. I know Tesla employs over 140,000 people, and most of them probably don't agree with Musk's often publicly stated views, but he remains a highly visible and vocal leader.

On October 10, Musk is expected to finally launch his Tesla robo taxi. That event will be notable, I think, for its lack of direct consumer appeal. There'll be no Model 3 update or a cheaper Tesla. Affordable is not in Tesla's vocabulary. The company recently stopped selling the cheapest version of the Model 3.

@lanceulanoff

♬ original sound - LanceUlanoff

I'd say there's no longer a point in waiting for a truly affordable Tesla. Generally, the automaker's appeal to everyday Americans is, I think, waning, and there may be no better evidence than the Cybertruck.

Over the last six months, I've noticed these awkward-looking vehicles in San Francisco and in New York. No matter when you see them, they look out of place. I've watched countless videos showing some of the odd and potentially dangerous design choices (like a hood that could almost remove a finger or edges that look likely to puncture something).

Considering all that, perhaps these recalls are unsurprising. The latest one from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration relates to rearview mirrors that deliver a feed from rear cameras as you back up. The problem, according to the NHTSA (PDF) is that when you start to back up, it takes an extra second for the feed to appear. Fortunately, the fix will arrive in an over-the-air software update.

Recalls are not inherently a disaster. Untold combustion engine vehicles get them. For Tesla, they're certainly not confined to the Cybertruck. The company has had dozens that range across its most popular models. Still, this is already the fifth recall for the relatively new Cybertruck and it often seems like the EV was built not based on practicality (watch it fail as a "truck"), or elegance but on the design whims and demands of Musk, who I think wanted something that looked more at home on the surface of Mars that it does on Earth.

You can wrap it in black but it still doesn't look normal. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)

When I see a Cybertruck rolling through my neighborhood, I don't admire it; I gawk. It always looks out of place. I also think I instantly know the driver, not personally, but who this person is. They're clearly someone who's bought into not just the Tesla EV strategy but Musk's perspective on trucks, modern transportation, and maybe his twisted worldview. Why else would you spend over $100,000 to drive something that looks like it's well-equipped to survive a nuclear blast but ill-prepared for a casual run to the grocery store?

Cybertruck screams, "Look at me," but as sentiment about Tesla changes in the EV market, that scream sounds increasingly like a cry of desperation, "Look at me, please, while I try to remain relevant."

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