apple, google and openai Updates

Apple recently selected Google's Gemini models and cloud technology to power its upcoming Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri. This multi-year partnership is expected to cost Apple around $1 billion annually. However, Elon Musk, founder of xAI, publicly criticized the deal, expressing concern that it grants Google excessive power given its existing control over Android and Chrome. Musk had hoped Apple would instead partner with xAI for its Grok AI, which he believed would help xAI expand its reach and challenge Google's growing dominance in the AI sector. Amidst these major partnerships, tech analyst Ben Thompson from Stratechery questions OpenAI's business strategy, arguing that its decision to avoid ads for ChatGPT is a poor choice. He suggests that ads could make the best products accessible to everyone, not just paying users, and warns that delaying ads risks the company, especially with billions in spending and intense competition from Google's Gemini. Meanwhile, AI adoption is expanding across various sectors. North Dakota, for instance, is already using AI in state offices and public schools to enhance services, with plans to form a group to guide safe AI use in education. Top executives and IT leaders globally view artificial intelligence and automation as crucial long-term investments, with many chief information officers and chief executive officers aiming to increase AI use and transform their businesses into data-driven organizations. Companies like EMEET are showcasing their dedication to AI imaging, as seen at CES 2026, with new hardware and software solutions designed for clearer visual content. In Massachusetts, tech leaders from companies such as Whoop and DraftKings have formed an AI Coalition to boost the region's AI economy through educational events and fostering new partnerships. Experts at UC Santa Cruz are actively shaping AI's future by studying its environmental impact, particularly data center energy consumption, alongside its effects on jobs, the economy, and privacy. In a significant medical advancement, AI-designed antibodies are now entering early clinical trials, with companies like Generate:Biomedicines utilizing "generative biology" to precisely design new antibodies. Looking further ahead, Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin are exploring the ambitious concept of placing AI data centers in space to leverage abundant room and constant sunlight. Concurrently, Nigeria is set to become one of the first African nations to regulate AI, proposing a new law that requires developers of high-risk AI systems to file annual reports and allows for significant fines for non-compliance.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple selected Google's Gemini models and cloud technology to power its Apple Intelligence features, including Siri, in a multi-year partnership estimated at $1 billion annually.
  • Elon Musk criticized the Apple-Google AI deal, citing Google's increased power and expressing a desire for Apple to partner with xAI's Grok.
  • Tech analyst Ben Thompson argues OpenAI's decision to avoid ads for ChatGPT is a risky business move, especially given competition from Google's Gemini and billions in spending.
  • North Dakota is implementing AI in state offices and public schools, using tools like an Instant Language Assistant and requiring disclosure for AI-created campaign content.
  • Global executives and IT leaders consider AI and automation vital long-term investments, with plans to increase AI adoption and employee training over the next five years.
  • The Massachusetts AI Coalition, formed by tech executives, aims to boost the region's AI economy through over 100 educational events and fostering new partnerships.
  • UC Santa Cruz experts are researching AI's broad impacts, including environmental energy use, jobs, the economy, intellectual property, and privacy.
  • AI-designed antibodies, developed through "generative biology," are entering early clinical trials, marking a significant shift in drug discovery from guesswork to precise design.
  • SpaceX and Blue Origin are exploring the concept of placing AI data centers in space to overcome Earth's limitations, despite significant engineering and cost challenges.
  • Nigeria plans to pass a new law, the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, to regulate AI, requiring annual risk reports for high-risk systems and allowing for fines up to 10 million naira.

Elon Musk criticizes Apple Google AI deal

Apple chose Google's Gemini models and cloud technology to power its future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri. Elon Musk, founder of xAI, publicly criticized this decision. He believes the deal gives Google too much power since it already controls Android and Chrome. Musk had hoped Apple would partner with xAI for its Grok AI. This partnership would have helped xAI reach more users and challenge Google's growing AI dominance.

Apple picks Google Gemini to power Siri

Apple chose Google's Gemini and cloud technology to power its future AI features, including a more personalized Siri. This multi-year partnership will use Google's foundational models for Apple Intelligence. Google's chief scientist, Jeff Dean, expressed excitement about the collaboration. However, Elon Musk criticized the deal, stating it gives Google too much power since it also has Android and Chrome. Apple is expected to pay Google about $1 billion annually for this AI service.

North Dakota uses AI in schools and state offices

North Dakota government offices and public schools are using artificial intelligence to improve services. State Superintendent Levi Bachmeier plans to form a group to guide the safe use of AI in schools. N.D. Job Service uses an Instant Language Assistant, powered by AI, to help recruit job seekers and translate multiple languages. The Secretary of State's office uses AI for smoother operations but ensures it does not handle elections. They also require campaign content created by AI to be disclosed to protect against misinformation.

OpenAI risks company by avoiding ads says analyst

Tech analyst Ben Thompson from Stratechery believes OpenAI's choice to not add ads to ChatGPT is a bad business decision. He argues that ads help make the best products available to everyone, not just paying users. Thompson thinks OpenAI should have started using ads in 2023 to be good at it by now. He warns that delaying ads risks the entire company, especially as OpenAI spends billions and faces competition from Google's Gemini. Thompson finds it confusing since many former Meta executives, who know about ad-supported products, now work at OpenAI.

Executives see AI as a long term investment

Surveys from late 2025 show that top executives and IT leaders see artificial intelligence and automation as important long-term investments. Many chief information officers and chief executive officers want to increase AI use and turn their businesses into data-driven organizations. Rimini Street's CFO, Michael Perica, said executives are being careful with tech investments, looking for clear results and quicker returns. A Deloitte study also found that UK chief financial officers plan to invest more in AI over the next five years. They expect this investment to boost business performance and productivity in the long run, and also plan to invest in employee training.

EMEET showcases AI imaging at CES 2026

EMEET attended CES 2026 to highlight its dedication to artificial intelligence imaging. The company showed off its new hardware and software solutions. These tools are designed to make visual content clearer and more consistent. EMEET aims to help both creators and professionals with these advancements.

Massachusetts tech leaders form AI coalition

Tech executives from companies like Whoop, DraftKings, Suno, and HubSpot have formed the Massachusetts AI Coalition. This new group aims to boost the region's artificial intelligence economy. The coalition plans to hold over 100 in-person events this year. These events will educate students and entrepreneurs about AI and help create new partnerships and startups. Ryan Durkin, a Whoop vice president, said bringing people together is the best way to speed up AI progress. The group will focus on learning and collaboration, not on lobbying or changing laws.

UC Santa Cruz experts shape AI future

Experts at UC Santa Cruz are actively working to shape the future of artificial intelligence. They are studying how AI impacts the environment, especially the energy use of data centers. Researchers are also looking at AI's effects on jobs, the economy, and the stock market. They aim to make AI systems more understandable so users can see how they make decisions. Other areas of focus include intellectual property, creativity, and how AI changes education, student writing, and privacy.

AI designed antibodies enter clinical trials

Artificial intelligence is quickly changing how scientists design antibodies for medicine. This "generative biology" approach moves drug discovery from guesswork to precise design. Some antibodies created with AI are already in early clinical trials, including those from Generate:Biomedicines in Massachusetts. Researchers like Nobel Prize winner David Baker are using AI to create new antibodies for specific targets. Unlike traditional methods that are slow and unpredictable, AI can design completely new antibodies from scratch. The latest AI models are proving successful at creating antibodies that reliably attach to their intended targets.

AI data centers in space are becoming real

Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin are exploring the idea of putting artificial intelligence data centers in space. Space offers benefits like plenty of room and constant sunlight for power, which could help with Earth's limits on space and energy for large AI facilities. However, this idea faces big engineering challenges and is not yet cheap enough to be practical. Difficulties include launching huge solar panels, protecting satellites from harmful cosmic rays, and designing cooling systems for space. Companies would need licenses from the FAA and FCC to launch and operate these satellite networks.

Nigeria to pass new AI rules for digital economy

Nigeria plans to pass a new law to regulate artificial intelligence, making it one of the first African countries to do so. The National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill will give regulators power over data, algorithms, and digital platforms. This law will require developers of high-risk AI systems to file annual reports on risks and performance. Regulators can also fine AI providers up to 10 million naira or 2% of their annual revenue from Nigeria. The bill aims to set ethical standards for AI and promote innovation through controlled testing environments.

Sources

NOTE:

This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

AI Apple Google AI Partnership xAI Grok AI Siri Apple Intelligence AI Dominance Elon Musk Gemini Cloud Technology Foundational Models Business Strategy North Dakota AI in Government AI in Education Translation AI AI Disclosure Misinformation OpenAI ChatGPT Advertising AI Monetization AI Competition AI Investment Automation Data-driven Organizations Executives Employee Training Business Performance Productivity EMEET AI Imaging CES 2026 Hardware Software Solutions Massachusetts AI Coalition Tech Industry Regional AI Economy Collaboration Entrepreneurship Startups UC Santa Cruz AI Research Environmental Impact of AI Data Centers AI and Jobs Economy AI Explainability Intellectual Property Creativity Privacy AI in Medicine Drug Discovery Generative Biology Antibodies Clinical Trials Biotechnology Space-based AI SpaceX Blue Origin Space Technology Engineering Challenges Nigeria AI Regulation Digital Economy Ethical AI Innovation Risk Management Election Security Long-term Investment

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