1. Microsoft is turning Windows into an ‘agentic OS,’ starting with the taskbar
Tom Warren’s illuminating dispatch shows how Windows 11 is morphing into a “canvas for AI,” embedding opt-in agents directly into the taskbar and File Explorer to automate workflows, surface contextual help, and let users hover over icons to track an agent’s progress—all in service of “superpowers of AI.” (theverge.com)
"This is all about us wanting to make sure that every user can get the superpowers of AI."
2. Google Antigravity is an ‘agent-first’ coding tool built for Gemini 3
Google’s new IDE reimagines software development as a mission-control for AI: multiple agents access the editor, terminal, and browser in parallel, generating verifiable “Artifacts”—task lists, screenshots, recordings—to document every action and intention, fostering transparency in autonomous coding. (theverge.com)
"Antigravity is designed for an ‘agent-first future.’"
3. AgenticSciML: Collaborative Multi-Agent Systems for Emergent Discovery in Scientific Machine Learning
Jiang and Karniadakis introduce AgenticSciML, where a cadre of specialized AI agents propose, critique, and evolve physics-informed models through structured debate and evolutionary search, uncovering novel architectures that slash error rates by orders of magnitude and point toward autonomous, transparent discovery. (arxiv.org)
"Collaborative reasoning among AI agents can yield emergent methodological innovation."
4. Art by algorithm: From book critiques to music choices, computation is changing aesthetics
Ed Finn’s graceful essay maps the journey from Deep Blue to Auto-Tune, arguing that while algorithms elevate average competence—automated photography, predictive critiques—the human faculty for surprise remains the last frontier of creativity, and cultivating “algorithmic literacy” is crucial to navigating this new aesthetic terrain. (aeon.co)
"How will we distinguish great beauty from an increasingly perfect average?"
5. An environment designed to suit every body is better for all
Anna Leahy traces the arc of universal design—from accessible Xbox controllers co-created with children with disabilities to tsunami-evacuation maps refined for cognitive recall—showing how human-centred design can dissolve barriers, shift responsibility from individuals to environments, and foster true inclusion. (aeon.co)
"There is no design-free world."