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OpenAI had another ridiculously busy week confirming a $6.5B acquisition of io, Jony Ive’s stealth AI startup. Ive will now lead product design for OpenAI, which aims to ship 100M “companion” devices by 2026. Meanwhile, Altman and Ive issued a joint letter, pledging to develop products that move beyond screens. OpenAI also added agentic features to its Responses API. Find out what this all means for you/r business now:
Google unleashed a blizzard of Gemini announcements, including AI Mode for Search, Gemini in Chrome and Gmail, Search Live, Gemini Diffusion, Project Mariner, and Video Overviews in NotebookLM. It also launched Gemini Ultra at $250/month and debuted Beam, a 3D video calling platform.
Find out what this all means for you/r business now:
A new rice strain uses half the water and does not require flooding is going to change the lives of billions of people. /5 mins
Almost half the 16-21 year olds surveyed in Britain wish the internet didn't exist, and 70% say social media makes them feel bad about themselves. /6 mins
The FDA has endorsed a first-of-its-kind blood test for Alzheimer’s disease. /5 mins
PRIMER: A deep look at the automation of fraud thanks to generative AI. /40 mins
3 in 10 Americans visit astrology, tarot card or fortune tellers. /4 mins
↑ The current state of the ghost gun market is shocking. /21 mins
GOOGLE HAD A SEISMIC WEEK
Google used I/O 2025 to formally position Gemini as the company’s core platform, not just a product. AI Mode is now live in Search across the US, with Deep Search, Search Live (camera/screen-based queries), and Gemini embedded in Chrome, enabling agentic browsing. Ads will appear inside AI responses, merging monetisation with generated content. The only problem was the OpenAI announcement that broke the momentum of the conference.
What did Google announced? NotebookLM now includes video summarisation. Firebase gets AI Logic tools for app development. Gemini 2.5 Pro gains Deep Think. Project Mariner introduces a browser-native AI agent, while Jules—Google’s async coding assistant—enters public beta. Veo 3 impressed with ultra-realistic video, triggering deepfake concerns. Gemini is expanding into Volvo cars, Android Auto, and Google Meet (with AI voice translation). Google confirmed personalisation will rely on user data. The company also launched XR glasses in partnership with Samsung, Xreal, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster, and previewed an Android XR headset.
Security issues emerged after credential leaks, and . The Gemini stack is scaling fast—so are the risks.
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Google didn’t just showcase features. It made a bid to be the infrastructure, interface, and intelligence layer of the internet at once. Gemini is now a substrate running across products, wrapped in AI-generated content, and monetised through sponsored logic. Google wants to be the platform, not just the tool.
That ambition has a cost. Personalisation requires data. Agents require autonomy. Wearables require trust. The company is running a full-court press to operationalise AI across everything from shopping and driving to content creation and customer support. But the wider and deeper the AI stack gets, the more fragile the trust stack becomes.
Google is positioning itself as the AI-native platform the post-browser world will be built on. Whether it succeeds depends less on technical capacity and more on timing, regulation, and how quickly people decide that the price of convenience has become too high. Case in point, Google now faces a wrongful death lawsuit tied to Character.AI, raising fresh scrutiny. For the full analysis, videos, and links, check out ‘What Did Google Do This Week?’.
[DO] Pay attention to how Google is packaging Gemini—not as a product but as infrastructure. Developers, brands, and partners should start thinking in terms of Gemini compatibility and integration as table stakes. The platform is no longer optional. For anyone building in search, shopping, media, or mobility, the shift from query-based tools to AI agents means adjusting both UX and monetisation strategies.
[DON’T] Underestimate how public sentiment, compliance thresholds, and real-world harm could slow the rollout. The more personal Gemini becomes, the more personal the backlash will be. Just because Google can operationalise AI across everything doesn’t mean everyone will accept it happening all at once.
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Thousands of startups use Notion as a connected workspace to create and share docs, take notes, manage projects, and organise knowledge—all in one place. We’re offering 6 months of new Plus plans, including unlimited Notion AI so you can try it all for free!
I deliver actionable insights that keep companies ahead of the disruption that’s coming. As the founder of TBD Group and author of Disruptive Technologies, I am trusted by global brands, agencies, and when breaking news hits media giants like FT, WSJ, BBC, and CNN ask for my analysis. Connect with me on LinkedIn and Bluesky.
