Alibaba Group’s shares surged over 8% after unveiling a new AI reasoning model called QwQ-32B. The model, comparable to DeepSeek’s R1 despite having fewer parameters, showcases capabilities in mathematical reasoning, coding, and problem-solving. This development aligns with China’s increased support for AI industries. Alibaba’s AI unit announced the model is accessible via its Qwen Chat service. The news comes as Chinese companies race to advance AI technology, with startups like Monica also releasing innovative AI agents.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool and the Research Institute for Diagnostic Accuracy, Netherlands, have demonstrated that artificial intelligence can significantly improve lung cancer screening efficiency. The study, published in the European Journal of Cancer, shows AI can accurately rule out negative low-dose CT scans, potentially reducing radiologists’ workload by up to 79%. The AI tool, developed by Coreline Soft Co. Ltd., South Korea, successfully identified scans without significant lung nodules while ensuring all confirmed lung cancer cases were flagged for further review. This advancement could help optimize healthcare resources and ensure timely diagnoses in lung cancer screening programs worldwide.

Anthropic has employed the classic Game Boy game Pokémon Red to test its latest AI model, Claude 3.7 Sonnet. Unlike its predecessor, Claude 3.0 Sonnet, which struggled to leave the starting area, the updated model successfully battled three gym leaders, demonstrating impressive progress. Equipped with basic memory, screen pixel input, and function calls, Claude 3.7 Sonnet leveraged “extended thinking” to perform 35,000 actions and achieve significant milestones. The company revealed that within hours, the AI defeated Brock and subsequently conquered Misty, showcasing its advanced problem-solving capabilities. Pokémon Red joins a range of games now used to assess AI performance

New research reveals that 58% of businesses are adopting AI due to competitive pressure. The “Impact of Technology on the Workplace” report surveyed over 1,000 executives and found that most companies fear being left behind if they don’t invest in AI. Other motivators include pressure from investors (41%) and stakeholders (30%). Currently, AI is mainly used for written tasks, data analysis, and customer support. While AI offers benefits like increased productivity, the report warns of potential downsides such as job losses as automation increases.

Amazon has announced Alexa+, a new AI-powered virtual assistant that promises enhanced conversational abilities and expanded capabilities. According to Amazon’s SVP of Devices & Services Panos Panay, Alexa+ leverages generative AI to offer more natural interactions, deeper personalization, and improved task completion across various services and devices. The upgraded assistant will be available for free to Prime members and $19.99/month for others. Alexa+ aims to seamlessly integrate into users’ lives, managing homes, making reservations, and even navigating the internet autonomously.