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Welcome to the September 2026 edition of theVar AI.
theVar is Going Weekly!
This month we’re celebrating a huge milestone for theVar.
For years, the newsletter was published on a monthly basis, covering four major topics: Software Architecture, Cloud, AI, and Development. But in recent years, we - as has the entire industry - have experienced tremendous change across all these fields, and it became clear that a monthly newsletter was simply no longer enough.
And so, we’re incredibly proud to announce that theVar is going weekly!
Every week, you’ll receive a new edition of theVar directly in your inbox, dedicated to a specific topic:
Week 1: Software Architecture
Week 2: Cloud
Week 3: AI
Week 4: Development
We’re confident this change will help you stay up to date with the latest developments and news across the industry, while getting even more value from the high-quality content you’ve come to expect from theVar.
Enjoy the new theVar! And please feel free to reply with your thoughts, comments, or questions. We’re eager to hear your feedback - and we promise to read every message you send.
In this edition - AI slowdown, Gemini 3.8, agents performance, ConvertWiz beta and more.
As usual, if you found something interesting that you think should be included here, you're interested in a sponsorship, or you have something to say about the content of this newsletter - drop me a mail at [email protected]
Is Big Tech’s AI Slowdown a safety pact or a cartel? - Major tech companies are proposing a slowdown in AI development, but this move raises eyebrows about their intentions. Are they genuinely aiming for safety, or are they trying to protect their dominance from competitors? This article on The Verge outlines the key points of contention surrounding this controversial agreement.
Mistral and Mozilla are bringing open, private and multilingual AI to your web browser - Mistral and Mozilla are teaming up to enhance your web browsing experience with open, private, and multilingual AI technology. This collaboration will ensure that users benefit from locally optimized, nuanced interactions with AI while maintaining control over their data. This article outlines the implications of their partnership and what it means for the future of AI in your browser.
Introducing Gemini 3.8 Live and 3.8 Live Extended Thinking - Google has just unveiled Gemini 3.8 Live and Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking, the latest advancements in voice AI technology. These models focus on making voice interactions not only smarter but also more seamless, allowing users to handle complex tasks effortlessly while keeping conversations flowing. Read more about the new models here.
Your Agent Aced the Task. Will It Do It Again? - Your agent might perform well in practice, but can it deliver that performance repeatedly? This is a crucial question for anyone relying on automated systems. This post on Hugging Face discusses the performance variability in AI agents and introduces a method to enhance their consistency.
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Introducing ConvertWiz Beta
Ever found yourself reading an article or checking out a product online, only to hit a wall of unfamiliar measurements like Fahrenheit, miles, or ounces?
Pausing what you are doing to run mental math or open another tab just to convert a simple number breaks your focus and slows you down.
ConvertWiz, the chrome extension I’ve been working on in the last few months, solves this seamlessly by automatically converting overseas measurement units into your local formats right on the page as you browse. No longer do you need to check the exchange rate between your local currency and your dream destination hotel’s, or convert your favorite webinar’s time zone to your local one. Everything is shown directly on your web page, simply, seamlessly, and cleanly.
I’m opening an exclusive closed beta soon, and space is limited - join the waitlist now to secure your spot and receive a direct installation link as soon as testing goes live!
See how you can make the global web your new local here:
https://convertwiz.io/waitlist
So, that was the September 2026 edition of theVar AI.
I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to suggest and comment on it, simply by replying to this mail.
Also, if you created a unique content you think can be included here - drop me a note!
Looking forward for your feedback!
Cheers,
Memi