The Signal
Issue 001 · 23 May 2026 · From the research desk

The Signal

Top Picks from the AI World

A year ago the question was “which AI model is best?” This fortnight, the biggest stories weren't about models at all — they were about who controls the doorway to them.

01The Landscape

What happened in AI this fortnight

Google I/O 2026

Google reframes Gemini as an agent that does the work for you

At I/O, Google introduced Gemini Spark, a 24/7 cloud agent that takes multi-step actions across Gmail, Docs and Workspace — even when your device is off. It also launched Gemini Omni, one model that turns any input (text, image, audio, video) into editable video, free to try in YouTube Shorts.

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The Signal — Issue 001