#242 - ChatGPT Images 2.0, Qwen 3.6 Max, Kimi-K2.6

Our 242nd episode with a summary and discussion of last week's big AI news!

Recorded on 04/22/2026

Hosted by Andrey Kurenkov and Jeremie Harris

Feel free to email us your questions and feedback at andreyvkurenkov@gmail.com and/or hello@gladstone.ai

Read out our text newsletter and comment on the podcast at https://lastweekin.ai/

In this episode:

• OpenAI released a new ChatGPT image model that excels at accurate text and screenshot-like generations, suggesting a transformer-style approach aligned with agentic “computer use” ambitions.
• Chinese model activity accelerated with Alibaba’s Qwen 3.6 Max Preview moving to an API-only offering, plus open releases from Moonshot AI (Kimi K2.6, a 1T-parameter MoE) and Minimax (Minimax M 2.7) showing strong benchmark results.
• Google expanded Deep Research with a “Max” option built on Gemini 3.1 Pro and MCP support for accessing proprietary data, while Mozilla reported using Anthropic’s Claude to find and fix 271 Firefox bugs.
• Business and policy updates include a reported SpaceX–Cursor deal with a $60B buy option, Cerebras filing for an IPO, Amazon adding $5B to Anthropic alongside a $100B AWS spending pledge, and platform responses to synthetic media like AI music spam and YouTube deepfake takedown requests.

Timestamps:

• (00:00:10) Intro / Banter
• (00:01:05) News Preview
• (00:01:41) Sponsors
• (00:04:41) Response to listener comments

• Tools & Apps
• (00:09:40) ChatGPT's new Images 2.0 model is surprisingly good at generating text | TechCrunch
• (00:16:02) Alibaba Drops Qwen 3.6 Max Preview—Its Most Powerful Model Yet - Decrypt
• (00:19:26) Google launches Deep Research and Deep Research Max agents to automate complex research
• (00:25:00) Mozilla Used Anthropic’s Mythos to Find and Fix 271 Bugs in Firefox | WIRED
• (00:28:35) Ordering with the Starbucks ChatGPT app was a true coffee nightmare | The Verge

• Applications & Business
• (00:29:48) SpaceX is working with Cursor and has an option to buy the startup for $60B | TechCrunch
• (00:34:11) AI chip startup Cerebras files for IPO | TechCrunch
• (00:38:23) Two startups want to replace how AI learns: one just raised $180M, another is seeking up to $1B