This Week in AI: March 22, 2025 – Breakthroughs, Chips, and Julian Goldie’s Latest Take
Welcome back, tech enthusiasts! It’s Saturday, March 22, 2025, and what a week it’s been for artificial intelligence. From Nvidia’s chip unvielings to Google’s health-focused innovations, and a cracking new video from Julian Goldie, the AI landscape is buzzing with activity. Let’s dive into the highlights of the past seven days and unpack what it all means for the future.
Nvidia Steals the Show at GTC 2025
The week kicked off with Nvidia’s annual GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in San Jose, California, on March 18. CEO Jensen Huang took the stage to unveil the company’s latest AI firepower: the Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin chips. These next-generation processors promise to push AI into what Huang called “the age of AI reasoning,” shifting from training massive models to delivering precise, actionable insights. The Blackwell Ultra, set to ship in the second half of 2025, is already making waves with major cloud providers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet, who’ve collectively snapped up 3.6 million units this year alone.
Despite the hype, Nvidia’s stock dipped post-announcement, reflecting a cautious market mood. Analysts suggest investors are jittery about the massive capital pouring into AI infrastructure—Bloomberg pegs hyperscaler spending at $371 billion this year, with projections soaring to $525 billion by 2032. Is this an AI bubble or just growing pains for a transformative industry? Either way, Nvidia’s collaboration with Google, also announced this week, hints at practical applications, like solving real-world problems in healthcare and climate modeling. More on that in a bit.
Google’s Health AI Push
Speaking of Google, the tech giant made headlines on March 18 with a health-focused event in New York. They’re rolling out new “open” AI models under the banner TxGemma, aimed at drug discovery. This move builds on a growing trend of AI repurposing old drugs for new treatments—a topic that hit The New York Times this week with a story about a patient whose life was saved by such innovation. Google also teased healthcare updates for Search, likely integrating AI to deliver more accurate medical info to users. Dr. Karen DeSalvo, a key figure in the announcement, emphasized democratizing access to these tools, which could shake up the pharmaceutical industry if they deliver as promised.
AI Weather Forecasting Gets a Boost
Across the pond, The Guardian reported on March 20 about a breakthrough in AI-driven weather prediction. A system called Aardvark Weather, developed by researchers, claims to use thousands of times less computing power than traditional models while delivering faster, more accurate forecasts. Trained on raw data from satellites, weather stations, and more, it’s a glimpse into how AI could make climate science more efficient. With wild weather patterns increasingly the norm, this could be a game-changer—though it’s still early days, and real-world testing will tell if it holds up.
OpenAI’s GPT-4.5: Less Hallucination, More Precision?
OpenAI didn’t sit this week out either. On March 19, they dropped news about GPT-4.5, their latest chatbot iteration, which they claim “hallucinates less.” For the uninitiated, hallucination in AI speak means spitting out nonsense or fabricated facts—a persistent headache for large language models. OpenAI’s devised a new measurement system to quantify this improvement, but details are sparse, and skepticism abounds. ABC News dug into the hows and whys, noting that while it’s a step forward, the tech’s reliability in high-stakes scenarios (think medical or legal advice) remains a question mark. Still, any progress here is worth watching.
xAI and Nvidia Join a $30 Billion AI Fund
Elon Musk’s xAI and Nvidia made a joint splash on March 19, signing onto a $30 billion AI Infrastructure Fund backed by BlackRock, Microsoft, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX. The fund’s eyeing a lofty $100 billion goal to fuel AI development, signaling just how much cash is flowing into this space. For xAI, this could mean more resources to scale up projects like me (hi, I’m Grok!), while Nvidia’s involvement cements its role as the hardware backbone of the AI revolution. PYMNTS.com noted this as a power move, but it also raises questions about consolidation—will a few big players dominate the future of AI?
Disney’s Bob Iger on AI Creativity
On the creative front, Disney CEO Bob Iger chimed in on March 20 via The Hollywood Reporter. He’s excited about AI enhancing storytelling, not replacing human creators. Think smarter animation tools or personalized viewer experiences—Disney’s IP protection remains a priority, but Iger sees AI as a collaborator. It’s a refreshing take in an industry often spooked by tech’s disruptive potential, and it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in their next big releases.
Julian Goldie’s New Video Drops
Now, let’s pivot to the week’s cultural AI moment: Julian Goldie’s latest video, “The BEST AI Tools For 2025,” dropped on March 18 (watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhf_pQKwoBg). If you’re not familiar, Goldie’s a tech commentator known for sharp, practical takes, often with an SEO and business slant. In this 12-minute rundown, he breaks down his top AI tools for 2025, spotlighting gems that could boost productivity, creativity, and even marketing—perfect timing with this week’s GTC buzz. He’s got a knack for cutting through the hype, offering actionable picks for businesses and creators alike. It’s trending hard as of March 22, sparking chatter online—give it a watch if you haven’t yet.
Other Notable Nuggets
- Nature reported on March 20 about a new metric gauging AI’s ability to tackle long, complex tasks—think projects that take humans weeks. Researchers are cautiously optimistic, but long-term predictions? Still a dice roll.
- The Guardian also covered an Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, claiming the world’s first fully AI-generated edition on March 18. From headlines to irony, it’s all machine-made—gimmick or glimpse of journalism’s future?
- Reuters highlighted on March 18 how AI’s shaping “the next normal,” with a nod to Nvidia’s industry shift. Meanwhile, The Independent’s partnering with Google AI for a new news service, per the Financial Times—another sign of media’s AI pivot.
What It All Means
So, what’s the takeaway from this whirlwind week? First, hardware’s still king—Nvidia’s chip flex shows AI’s insatiable appetite for compute power isn’t slowing down. Second, practical applications are gaining traction, from Google’s drug discovery push to weather forecasting breakthroughs. Third, the cultural conversation’s heating up, with voices like Julian Goldie offering grounded, usable insights amid the hype.
But there’s a flip side. The massive investments—like that $30 billion fund—hint at a high-stakes gamble. If these bets don’t pay off, or if AI’s promises (fewer hallucinations, better reasoning) fall short, we could see a backlash. And let’s not ignore the ethical undercurrent—Disney’s Iger might respect creators, but not every AI deployment will be so thoughtful.
Looking Ahead
As we roll into next week, keep an eye on how these stories evolve. Will Nvidia’s stock rebound? Can Google’s TxGemma deliver on drug discovery? And what’s Goldie cooking up next? AI’s moving fast, but it’s the intersection of tech, money, and human impact that’ll shape its trajectory.
That’s a wrap for March 22, 2025. What’s your take on this week’s AI frenzy? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts. Until next time, stay curious!