AI🌪️Thursday Breakthroughs: Rabbit’s New Agent, Google’s iPhone Feature, Apple’s AI-Powered iPhone 16e, and Mistral’s Rapid Growth

AI is evolving faster than ever, and today’s headlines prove it! From Rabbit unveiling the AI agent it should have launched with to Google bringing a Circle to Search-like feature to iPhones, the tech world is buzzing with innovation. Apple is also stepping up, introducing the AI-powered iPhone 16e at an affordable $599 price point. Meanwhile, Mistral’s AI assistant, Le Chat, is making waves, surpassing one million downloads in just two weeks. Let’s dive into these exciting updates and explore how AI is shaping the future of technology.

1. Rabbit unveils the AI agent it should have launched with

Rabbit has introduced a new AI-powered generalist Android agent, demonstrating its ability to control apps—something its R1 device originally promised but failed to deliver. In a recent blog post and video, Rabbit showcased the agent performing tasks like finding YouTube videos, retrieving cocktail recipes, and even learning to play a game. However, the AI still has quirks, sometimes misinterpreting prompts. While the R1 struggled to meet expectations, Rabbit continues refining its technology, promising a cross-platform multi-agent system in the near future. As competition in AI agents grows, Rabbit aims to stay ahead with steady improvements and updates.

Rabbit shows off the AI agent it should have launched with

Rabbit’s AI agent figures out how to play 2048.

The VergeWes Davis

2. Google brings Circle to Search to iPhone

Google is rolling out its AI-powered Circle to Search feature to iOS users through Google Lens in the Chrome and Google apps. Unlike Android’s system-wide Circle to Search, iPhone users can now tap, highlight, or draw around objects on their screen to get instant search results without needing to take a screenshot. The feature allows users to refine searches with additional context and will soon integrate AI Overviews for deeper insights. Google is also introducing a camera-based search option, expanding Lens functionality to provide quick AI-generated information on objects like buildings, food, and fashion.

Google Brings Circle to Search-Like Feature to the iPhone in Its Google and Chrome Apps

The AI-powered feature, which lets you quickly search for whatever’s on your screen, is rolling out to iOS users this week.

CNETSee full bio

3. Apple’s $599 iPhone 16e with AI drops Feb 28

Apple has unveiled the iPhone 16e, dropping the SE branding and introducing its most advanced budget-friendly model yet. Priced at $599 and shipping on February 28, the iPhone 16e features Apple Intelligence, powered by the A18 chip, enabling AI-driven text generation and image creation. It sports a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a 48MP camera, and a USB-C port. With up to 12 hours more battery life than previous SE models, the device aims to regain Apple’s market share, particularly in China. Preorders start February 21, as Apple positions this phone as an affordable gateway to its AI ecosystem.

Apple’s $599 iPhone 16e adds AI, launches February 28 | TechCrunch

As anticipated, Apple revealed the long-awaited iPhone SE refresh Tuesday. The fourth-generation device arrives three years after the last major update to

TechCrunchBrian Heater

4. Mistral’s Le Chat hits 1M downloads in 2 weeks

Mistral's AI assistant, Le Chat, has taken the AI world by storm, surpassing one million downloads just two weeks after launch. The app quickly climbed to the top of iOS free app charts, gaining strong momentum, especially in France. Even French President Emmanuel Macron endorsed it in a TV interview, urging users to choose Le Chat over OpenAI’s ChatGPT. While the AI assistant market is heating up with competition from Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot, Le Chat’s rapid rise and national support signal a strong contender in the space. As AI adoption grows, the race for dominance continues to intensify.

Mistral’s AI Assistant Le Chat Surpasses One Million Downloads in Two Weeks

In the field of artificial intelligence, Mistral’s recently released AI assistant Le Chat has garnered widespread attention. Just two weeks after its launch, the app achieved an impressive milestone — surpassing one million downloads. This achievement has sparked excitement not only in its home country of France but also led it to rapidly rise to the top of the free app download charts in the iOS App Store. French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned Le Chat in a recent television interview, encouraging the public to download this app developed by Mistral.

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AI is reshaping the tech landscape at an incredible pace, and today’s updates are just a glimpse of what’s ahead. From smarter assistants to AI-powered devices, innovation is everywhere. As companies race to push boundaries, one thing is clear—AI isn’t just the future, it’s the present. Stay tuned for more breakthroughs, trends, and game-changing updates as we continue to explore the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence. Keep learning, stay curious, and let’s navigate this AI-driven future together!

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