July 27, 2025

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Google $85B AI Investment, Microsoft Copilot Update

Google is making a massive $85 billion investment in AI, focusing on expanding data centers and improving AI infrastructure, signaling its commitment to leading AI innovation. Meanwhile, China's AI strategy is shifting the global tech power balance, challenging the U.S. through its Global AI Governance Initiative and investments in domestic chip technology. The AI infrastructure market is experiencing strong growth, with companies like Intuit leveraging AI to enhance services and increase revenue. In the U.S., a new bill is set to boost AI development for tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet by providing tax breaks for AI infrastructure investments. Microsoft is enhancing its Copilot AI assistant with a new 'Appearance' feature, adding facial expressions to make interactions more human-like. Daydream, an AI startup, is personalizing online shopping by allowing users to describe what they're looking for in natural language, using AI to recommend products from over 8,000 brands. The rise of AI-generated music is sparking debate about the role of human artists, with AI bands earning significant revenue on platforms like Spotify. Concerns are also being raised about the potential dangers of AI, including its impact on originality and human expression. An Apollo economist suggests that the best AI investments may lie outside the 'Magnificent 7' tech companies, while a coding competition reveals that humans still outperform AI in coding, though this may change. AI is also proving useful in unexpected areas, such as helping scholars decipher ancient Roman texts and assisting individuals in visualizing their dream lives through AI-generated vision boards.

Key Takeaways

  • Google is investing $85 billion in AI data centers and infrastructure for 2025.
  • China's AI initiative aims to promote AI for development in poorer countries and challenge U.S. export controls.
  • Intuit is maximizing value from AI infrastructure to improve services and automate tasks for businesses.
  • A new U.S. bill provides tax breaks for AI investments, benefiting Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet.
  • Microsoft Copilot is testing a new 'Appearance' feature to add facial expressions and non-verbal cues.
  • Daydream, an AI startup, raised $50 million to personalize online shopping using AI.
  • AI-generated music is raising questions about originality and human expression in the music industry.
  • An economist warns that the best AI investments may be outside of the 'Magnificent 7' tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
  • Humans still code better than AI, but AI is rapidly improving.
  • Google's AI tool, Aeneas, is helping scholars decipher ancient Roman texts.

Google invests $85 billion in AI data centers and tech

Google is investing $85 billion in AI for 2025, focusing on expanding data centers and improving AI infrastructure. This shows Google's commitment to leading AI innovation in areas like healthcare and finance. The investment will enhance Google's AI systems, including Gemini models, and specialized hardware like Tensor Processing Units. This move aims to keep Google ahead of competitors like Microsoft and Amazon. However, Google faces challenges like environmental regulations and the rising costs of capital.

China's AI strategy shifts global tech power balance

China's AI plans are changing the global tech world, challenging the U.S. China's Global AI Governance Initiative promotes AI for development, especially in poorer countries. This initiative aims to counter U.S. export controls and promote state-controlled AI. China is also working to become self-reliant in semiconductors, investing heavily in domestic chip technology. Investors should watch both U.S. and Chinese firms in this changing landscape. China's focus on renewable energy for AI hubs also presents opportunities for clean energy companies.

AI infrastructure market strong as Intuit maximizes value

The AI infrastructure market is growing quickly, despite economic challenges. Companies like Intuit are using AI to improve their services and make more money. Intuit's AI agents help businesses automate tasks and make better financial decisions. Intuit uses subscription models and partnerships to increase revenue. While AI infrastructure faces challenges like high energy use, it also presents opportunities for innovation in areas like liquid cooling and clean energy.

Trump's bill boosts AI for Amazon, Meta, Alphabet

A new bill in the U.S. Congress, called the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' helps big tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet grow their AI businesses. The bill provides tax breaks for investments in AI infrastructure, like data centers and hardware. This allows these companies to expand their AI capabilities faster than smaller competitors. The bill aims to make the U.S. a leader in AI development and increase productivity across different industries. Investors should consider investing in these AI leaders and their suppliers.

Microsoft Copilot gets a face with new 'Appearance' option

Microsoft is testing a new 'Appearance' option for Copilot, giving it a face that reacts to user interactions. This feature, currently available to a limited number of users, adds non-verbal communication to voice conversations. Users can toggle the 'appearance' on or off in the settings. Microsoft aims to make Copilot more engaging and expressive. The new option is only available to consumers, not business subscribers.

Microsoft Copilot's new 'Appearance' feature brings AI to life

Microsoft is testing a new feature called Copilot Appearance that gives its AI assistant a visual presence. This feature adds facial expressions and non-verbal cues to Copilot's voice interactions. The goal is to make conversations with Copilot feel more natural and human-like. Copilot Appearance can smile, nod, and raise its eyebrows during conversations. The feature is currently available as an early preview in Copilot Labs for select users in the US, UK, and Canada.

Daydream uses AI to personalize online shopping

Daydream, an AI startup, aims to make online shopping more personal by allowing users to search for products as if they're talking to a stylist. Users can describe what they're looking for in natural language, like "a revenge dress for a party in Sicily." Daydream uses AI to understand these requests and recommend products from over 8,000 brands. The platform has raised $50 million in funding and operates like a digital personal stylist. Daydream plans to release a mobile app this fall.

AI music raises questions about human artists

AI is now creating music that people are streaming, raising questions about the role of human artists. Bands like The Velvet Sundown, mostly made by AI, earn thousands of dollars monthly on Spotify. This has sparked debate about originality and human expression in music. Platforms like Suno and Udio allow users to generate full songs in minutes. The music industry is responding with lawsuits and demands for regulation, as AI-generated content reshapes the music landscape.

AI is like a 21st-century 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'

The author expresses concern about the increasing use of artificial intelligence and its potential dangers. She worries that AI makes it difficult to identify the truth and can replace human creativity. She shares an experience where AI wrote something in her style, making her feel irrelevant. She also criticizes the use of AI for creating virtual boyfriends and girlfriends. While acknowledging the benefits of AI, she believes that society will lose more than it gains by relying on this technology.

Economist warns AI investment may not be in big tech

An Apollo economist warns that the S&P 500 is too focused on a few large tech companies. He suggests that the best AI investments might be outside of the 'Magnificent 7,' which includes Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Smaller companies or those in different industries could offer better growth opportunities in AI. Investors should research and diversify their portfolios to reduce risks and take advantage of new trends.

Humans still code better than AI, for now

In a recent coding competition, a human coder beat an AI program developed by OpenAI. However, the coder predicts that AI will eventually surpass humans in coding due to its rapid progress. While AI can quickly generate code, humans still excel at reasoning and solving complex problems. The coder acknowledges that he contributed to the development of AI, which may eventually replace his profession. He also expresses concern about the potential social impact of AI.

AI helps scholars decipher ancient Roman texts

A new AI tool is helping Latin scholars understand ancient Roman texts. The AI, called Aeneas, was developed by Google researchers and trained on thousands of Latin inscriptions. It can estimate when and where an inscription was made and guess missing sections. Historians found the AI useful as a starting point in 90% of cases. The AI helps address challenges historians face when studying ancient texts.

AI helps people visualize their dream lives

People who believe in manifestation are using AI to create digital vision boards. These vision boards show personalized videos of their ideal future. One person, Sharon Melzer, uses AI to put herself in videos depicting her goals. She hopes to become a content creator in tech, AI, and marketing. These digital vision boards help people visualize their dreams and goals.

Sources

AI Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data Centers AI Infrastructure Investment Google Microsoft Amazon China Global AI Governance Initiative Semiconductors Clean Energy Intuit AI Agents Tax Breaks Copilot AI Assistant Natural Language Processing Online Shopping AI Music AI-Generated Content Regulation S&P 500 Coding Ancient Roman Texts Vision Boards Gemini Models Tensor Processing Units AI Ethics AI Safety AI Development AI Innovation AI Systems AI Technology AI Startups AI Models AI Tools