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Google Maps now lets you access Gemini while walking and cycling

Plus: Insurers betting big on AI: Accenture

Author

Hafizur Rahman
January 29, 2026

In partnership with

Today's Newsletter Highlights:

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Google Maps now lets you access Gemini while walking and cycling

Hands-Free Gemini Access for Walking and Cycling: Google Maps users can now use the AI assistant, Gemini, when walking or cycling. You no longer need to type or leave the navigation screen.

Key points :

  • Continuing Its Rollout: This expands on the earlier driving mode integration. Now, conversational AI is here for all three main navigation modes: driving, walking, and cycling.

  • Ask Context-Aware Questions: You might say, “What’s this neighbourhood like?” or “Are there any cafĂ©s with restrooms close by?”” or “What’s my ETA?” while following a route.

  • Available Globally on iOS, Rolling Out on Android: At launch, the feature is widely available on iOS where Gemini is supported. It is being gradually rolled out to Android devices.

  • 🧠 Why This Matters

  • Conversational Navigation: This update makes Maps a more interactive assistant. It can answer questions about your trip and nearby places instantly, not just give turn-by-turn directions.

  • Safety and Convenience: The hands-free design keeps people safer. It lets them focus on their surroundings while walking or cycling.

  • Part of a Bigger Plan: Google is adding Gemini to its products. This will make services more AI-driven and conversational.

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Insurers Boost AI Investment A new Accenture survey shows that 90% of senior insurance leaders plan to increase AI spending in 2026.

This highlights their strong belief that AI can drive growth and strategic change.

AI as a Growth Engine About 85% of insurers see AI as a way to boost revenue, not just cut costs.

Key points :

  • From Pilots to Full Use Companies are moving beyond small tests. They are integrating AI into wider operations like underwriting, claims, and customer service.

  • Challenges Identified

  • Skills Gap Slowing Progress

  • A major challenge is the shortage of trained talent. There isn't enough expertise to implement and scale AI effectively.

  • This issue appears across various industry studies.

  • Employee Adoption Lags Behind Leaders Leaders are hopeful about AI, but many employees feel unprepared. Few report adequate training or involvement in shaping how AI affects their work.

  • Data Quality and Trust Issues

  • Some insurers think that bad AI results lower productivity and damage trust in the technology.

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Open-source AI models vulnerable to criminal misuse, researchers warn

Cybersecurity researchers found that criminals often misuse open-source large language models (LLMs). This risk increases when these models run on internet-connected computers without proper protections.

SentinelOne and Censys conducted the study over 293 days. They surveyed thousands of open-source LLM instances exposed online.

Key points :

  • Security Vulnerabilities and Misuse

  • Criminals can hijack systems that host these models to do harmful things, like:

  • • Generating spam, phishing messages, and disinformation.

  • • Producing hate speech, violent content, or stealing personal data.

  • • Facilitating scams or serious abuses like child sexual abuse material.

  • Many systems that were checked had their safety measures taken away. This made them easier to misuse.

  • In about 7.5% of cases, prompts were found that could enable harmful activities.

  • Geographic Spread

  • About 30% of exposed open-source models were hosted in China, while around 20% were in the United States. This shows the global nature of the risk.

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