Google, Cognizant Launch 18,000-Expert AI Team

Key Takeaways

• <ul><li>Cognizant and Google Cloud formed the Gemini Frontier Capability Group with 18,000+ experts to scale enterprise AI adoption</li><li>Tech Mahindra is training 12,500 workers on Gemini Enterprise tools worldwide through Google Cloud workshops</li><li>Georgia Tech researchers are building a probe to detect harmful AI behavior by tracking internal model signals</li><li>Microsoft Copilot ranks as the most expensive AI sales presentation tool reviewed at $30 per user per month</li><li>San Francisco and New York lead the AI Cities Index, but East Asian cities dominate six of the top ten hubs</li><li>Seoul ranks first globally for AI implementation according to the Observer's AI Cities Index</li><li>Colombia scores 56.8 points in the ILIA 2026 index, placing fourth in Latin America for AI readiness</li><li>Brazil holds 92% of regional GPU capacity in Latin America, creating a significant infrastructure gap</li><li>Texas Tech launches a new AI degree program in January 2027 to address workforce automation concerns</li><li>Harvey and Legora released nearly identical AI legal tools within 24 hours in a competitive clash</li></ul>

Cognizant and Google Cloud expand AI partnership with Gemini group

Cognizant and Google Cloud have expanded their partnership to help businesses adopt agentic AI. They created a new Gemini Frontier Capability Group with more than 18,000 experts. The group will help companies move AI projects from testing to real use. It will focus on legacy modernization, developer experience and cyber defense. More than 55,000 Cognizant workers completed a Build with Gemini workshop.

Tech Mahindra expands Google Cloud AI training for workers

Tech Mahindra expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to train more than 12,500 workers on Gemini Enterprise tools worldwide. The program includes hands-on workshops called Build with Gemini. Workers learn how to create, secure and manage AI agents using tools like Agent Runtime and Model Armour. Those who finish the training receive a Google Cloud Skill Badge. The company has 146,000 professionals across 90 countries.

The dangerous fatalism of AGI in Silicon Valley

This article looks at the growing belief in Silicon Valley about artificial general intelligence, or AGI. It explores how some in the tech industry treat AGI as something certain and unavoidable. The piece examines the culture and attitudes driving this mindset. It raises concerns about the risks of such fatalism in the technology world.

Tech students face changing workforce as AI grows

Students at Texas Tech are rethinking their careers as AI becomes more common in schools and workplaces. An accounting lecturer said students now enter fields where tasks they learned are being automated. Texas Tech is launching a new AI degree in January 2027 to help students understand which tasks AI can and cannot do. Students shared worries about losing human connection in careers like nursing and journalism.

Bricklayer duped by AI girlfriend on Gutfeld!

A Brazilian bricklayer sold all his belongings and traveled more than 1,200 miles because of an AI-generated woman. The story was shared during a segment on the show Gutfeld!. It sparked a lively debate about people forming emotional bonds with AI. The segment used the story to discuss how AI can deceive people.

Researchers probe internal signals to detect harmful AI behavior

Georgia Tech researchers Eyas Ayesh and Anna Ivanova are building a probe to find warning signs inside AI models before they behave unsafely. Their probe tracks internal activity patterns linked to harmful outputs in large language models. They tested it on deliberately misbehaving open-source models and found early signals may also appear in original versions. The team hopes this work will help create guardrails for real-world AI systems.

East Asian cities challenge US lead in global AI ranking

The Observer's first AI Cities Index ranked 57 cities across 36 countries on AI investment, innovation and implementation. San Francisco and New York took the top two spots overall. Six of the ten most influential AI hubs are in East and Southeast Asia, including Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing. Seoul ranked first in the world for AI implementation, while US cities led in innovation and investment.

Representative Moran hires AI policy fellow in Washington

Rep. Nathaniel Moran's Washington office is hiring a paid Artificial Intelligence Policy Fellow. The role will focus on research, legislation, hearings and meetings with outside experts on emerging technology and national security. Moran has worked on AI policy through the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Candidates with AI, policy research or national security experience are encouraged to apply.

Colombia ranks fourth in Latin American AI readiness index

The Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) 2026 ranks Colombia fourth in the region with 56.8 points, placing it among AI adopters. Chile, Brazil and Uruguay lead as pioneers with scores above 60 points. The report highlights a large gap in computing capacity, with Brazil holding 92 percent of regional GPU capacity. Colombia scores 19.6 points in AI expert training, above the regional average of 12.4 points.

Eight AI tools compared for sales presentation creation

A review scored eight AI sales presentation tools on ten criteria including speed, quality and collaboration. Plus AI ranked best for users who work in PowerPoint or Google Slides at $10 per user per month. Pitch was praised for team co-editing and heatmaps at $13 per user per month. Storydoc was recommended for interactive leave-behinds at $19.80 per user per month, while Microsoft Copilot costs $30 per user per month.

Harvey and Legora launch similar AI legal tools in Intakegate clash

Harvey and Legora both released nearly identical products for in-house legal teams within 24 hours of each other. This event, called Intakegate, was seen as a sign of AI's creative problems. However, the real cause may be strong competition and a shrinking number of available trademarks. Muireann Bolger reported on this issue.

Sources

• Cognizant, Google Cloud expand AI alliance with Gemini capability group
• Tech Mahindra expands Google Cloud AI training push
• Smoke signals: The dangerous fatalism of AGI in Silicon Valley
• Where AI meets passion; Tech students face changing workforce
• 'Gutfeld!': Bricklayer duped by AI girlfriend
• Can we detect harmful AI before it's too late? Researchers search for warning signs
• East Asian Cities Threaten US AI Dominance, According to The Observer’s AI Cities Index
• Press Release: Nathaniel Moran Seeks Artificial Intelligence Policy Fellow
• Colombia Ranks Fourth in Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index
• 8 AI Sales Presentation Maker Tools That Actually Help Reps Close Deals
• ‘Intakegate’: Lawtech product clash highlights AI’s branding problem