Google Launches Gemini Alongside Microsoft Copilot Upgrades

Demis Hassabis, Google's top AI executive and DeepMind founder, continues to steer the company's AI efforts with a strong focus on fundamental scientific innovation rather than immediate financial gains. Hassabis, a Nobel Prize winner for DeepMind's protein modeling work, famously declined a joint venture offer from OpenAI around 2019 and did not prioritize a DeepMind project applying AI to financial trading with BlackRock. Despite some investor concerns about Alphabet's AI market leadership, Google has launched new AI tools like Gemini and the Nano Banana photo editor, which attracted 13 million users in just four days this September. DeepMind also recently solved a century-old fluid physics mystery using machine learning, uncovering new unstable singularities in fluid dynamics equations, a discovery that could improve understanding of turbulence in areas like aircraft drag and blood flow. Meanwhile, Microsoft Copilot Studio now offers the experimental GPT-5.1 model, developed alongside OpenAI, to US customers in early release Power Platform environments, providing improved adaptability in thinking time for chat and reasoning. Salesforce is acquiring the one-year-old Israeli startup Doti AI for $100 million to enhance its AI capabilities, particularly for Slack, aiming to accelerate agent-based search and knowledge discovery tools for enterprise customers. Beyond corporate developments, AI is finding significant applications in public services and infrastructure. On November 13, 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced a major AI partnership with Anthropic and Percepta, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation. This initiative aims to leverage AI, including Anthropic's Claude models, to combat child poverty, expand housing access, and modernize state government services, building on a bilingual AI chatbot launched in June 2025. The legal system is also adapting, with a new "3 bucket framework" outlined to help courts evaluate AI use and ensure justice while maintaining judicial integrity. Education stands at a turning point, with AI poised to reshape learning and teaching through platforms and virtual experiences, requiring educators to lead the transformation by training teachers and reimagining curriculums. The global AI race also highlights infrastructure and market dynamics. HSBC's chief sustainability officer, Julian Wentzel, points out China's unique advantage due to its robust clean energy supply, which allows it to power AI architecture at a very low extra cost. This contrasts with the US focus on fossil fuels, and companies like DeepSeek are developing low-cost AI solutions in China. In the UK, there is a strong opportunity to capture a 5% share of the global AI chip market, projected to reach $700 billion by 2033, by focusing on specialized AI applications like robotics and medical devices, leveraging its chip design legacy including Arm and DeepMind. However, the expansion of AI infrastructure is not without local concerns, as residents in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, express mixed views on new AI data centers being built by Chirisa Technology Parks, with some raising concerns about environmental impact and community input.

Key Takeaways

• Demis Hassabis, Google's AI chief, prioritizes fundamental scientific research over immediate profits, having declined an OpenAI joint venture and a BlackRock AI trading project.
• Google's DeepMind AI solved a century-old fluid physics mystery, discovering new unstable singularities that improve understanding of turbulence.
• Google launched AI tools like Gemini and the Nano Banana photo editor, which gained 13 million users in four days this September.
• Microsoft Copilot Studio now offers the experimental GPT-5.1 model, developed with OpenAI, to US customers for testing in early release Power Platform environments.
• Maryland partnered with Anthropic, Percepta, and The Rockefeller Foundation on November 13, 2025, to use AI, including Anthropic's Claude models, for state services, fighting child poverty, and increasing housing access.
• Salesforce is acquiring Doti AI for $100 million to enhance Slack's AI capabilities, focusing on agent-based search and knowledge discovery for enterprises.
• China holds a significant advantage in the global AI race due to its strong clean energy supply, enabling low-cost AI architecture, as noted by HSBC.
• The UK has the potential to capture a 5% share of the global AI chip market, estimated at $700 billion by 2033, by specializing in areas like robotics and medical devices.
• A new "3 bucket framework" has been introduced to guide courts in evaluating AI use within the legal system, ensuring justice and integrity.
• AI is set to transform education, requiring educators to lead changes in teacher training, policy development, and curriculum design to focus on creativity and critical thinking.

Google AI Leader Demis Hassabis Prioritizes Big Ideas Over Quick Profits

Demis Hassabis, Google's top AI executive and DeepMind founder, focuses on groundbreaking AI research rather than immediate profits. He declined a joint venture offer from OpenAI around 2019 and did not prioritize an AI financial trading project with BlackRock. Despite this, Google has launched new AI tools like Gemini and the Nano Banana photo editor, which attracted 13 million users in four days this September. Hassabis, who won a Nobel Prize, aims for significant scientific innovation, even as some investors question Alphabet's AI market leadership.

Google AI Chief Demis Hassabis Favors Science Over Quick Money

Demis Hassabis, Google's top AI executive and DeepMind founder, prioritizes deep scientific research over immediate financial gains. He won the 2024 chemistry Nobel Prize for DeepMind's protein modeling work. Hassabis previously turned down an OpenAI joint venture in 2019 and did not push a DeepMind project to apply AI to financial trading with BlackRock. Despite investor concerns about Google's AI leadership, the company has released new AI tools like Gemini and the Nano Banana photo editor, which saw 13 million new users in four days this September.

Google DeepMind AI Solves Century Old Fluid Physics Mystery

Google's DeepMind AI lab, led by Demis Hassabis, has solved a physics mystery about fluid movement that puzzled scientists for over a century. Using machine learning and special AI models, DeepMind researchers found new unstable singularities in fluid dynamics equations. This breakthrough helps scientists better understand turbulence, which affects things like aircraft drag, weather, and blood flow. The discovery could lead to smoother flights and improved monitoring of turbid flows, according to mechanical engineering student Nora Woolley.

Maryland Partners With Anthropic and Percepta to Boost State Services

On November 13, 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced a major AI partnership with Anthropic and Percepta, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation. This initiative aims to use artificial intelligence to fight child poverty, increase housing access, and modernize state government services. Anthropic will provide its Claude AI models for state workers, including a virtual assistant to help residents with benefits applications. Percepta engineers will work with state agencies to implement AI solutions and improve permitting timelines, building on earlier successes like a bilingual AI chatbot launched in June 2025.

Rockefeller Foundation and Maryland Partner to Use AI for Good

Seventy years after the 1956 Dartmouth Summer Research Project, considered the birth of AI, The Rockefeller Foundation is partnering with the State of Maryland to use artificial intelligence for social good. This collaboration aims to strengthen government services and help vulnerable populations by tackling issues like child poverty and expanding affordable housing. Anthropic will provide its Claude AI tools to Maryland workers, while Percepta engineers will offer technical assistance within state agencies. This partnership, which began in June 2025, seeks to make government services more effective and accessible for all residents.

Lancaster Residents Share Mixed Views on New AI Data Centers

Residents of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, shared mixed feelings about new AI data centers being built by Chirisa Technology Parks. One center is already under development on Greenfield Road, with a second planned for Harrisburg Pike. During an open house, managing director David Kelly said conversations were positive, but resident Charlotte Altimare expressed concerns about "forever chemicals" and the lack of community input before the project began. The Greenfield project is expected to finish in 2027.

China Leads AI Race With Strong Clean Energy Supply Says HSBC

Julian Wentzel, HSBC's chief sustainability officer, states that China holds a unique advantage in the global AI race due to its strong clean energy supply. China's massive investment in renewable power means it can fuel AI architecture at a very low extra cost once infrastructure is built. This contrasts with the US focus on fossil fuels. China already produces most of the world's solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and batteries. This energy advantage, along with companies like DeepSeek developing low-cost AI, positions China strongly in the future of AI.

Microsoft Copilot Studio Now Offers Experimental GPT-5.1 Model

Microsoft Copilot Studio now offers the experimental GPT-5.1 model to US customers in early release Power Platform environments. This new model, released alongside OpenAI, provides improved adaptability in thinking time for both chat and reasoning. Ami Shastri, Principal Product Manager for Copilot Studio, notes that experimental models allow users to test cutting-edge features before general release. Microsoft recommends using GPT-5.1 in non-production settings while they complete quality evaluations.

New Framework Helps Courts Evaluate AI Use in Legal System

Artificial intelligence is changing how trial courts operate, making workflows more efficient but also bringing new challenges. To ensure justice and maintain the integrity of the judicial process, thoughtful integration and careful oversight of AI are crucial. A new "3 bucket framework" has been outlined to help governments evaluate how AI can be used in legal settings. This framework builds on recent discussions about current and future AI applications in trial courts.

UK Can Capture Big Share of Growing AI Chip Market

The UK has a strong chance to capture a significant 5% share of the global AI chip market, which is expected to reach $700 billion by 2033. Britain's world-class legacy in chip design, including companies like Arm and DeepMind, provides a strong foundation. While Nvidia currently dominates, the UK can focus on specialized AI applications such as robotics, factory automation, medical devices, and autonomous vehicles. Government support is crucial to help British engineers and businesses scale up and compete in this rapidly growing industry.

AI Will Transform Education Teachers Must Lead the Change

Artificial intelligence is a major turning point for education, not just a new tool, and will soon reshape how students learn and teachers work. Economic pressure, rapid technological advances, and changes in the workforce are pushing schools towards hybrid learning environments. AI tutoring platforms and virtual experiences promise more learning for less cost, while human educators will become guides and mentors. Educators in North Carolina and elsewhere must lead this transformation by training teachers, developing clear policies, and reimagining curriculums to focus on creativity and critical thinking.

Salesforce Buys Doti AI for 100 Million Dollars to Boost Slack

Salesforce is acquiring the one-year-old Israeli startup Doti AI for $100 million to enhance its AI capabilities, especially for Slack. Doti AI, founded by former Wix engineers Matan Cohen and Opher Hofshi, developed a Work AI platform that helps companies securely access and use internal knowledge in real-time. This acquisition will strengthen Salesforce's AI research center in Israel and accelerate the creation of agent-based search and knowledge discovery tools for enterprise customers. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.

Sources

• Google’s top AI executive seeks the profound over profits and the “prosaic”
• Google’s top AI executive seeks the profound over profits and the “prosaic”
• Unstable genius: DeepMind cracks a century-old physics mystery with AI
• Maryland Governor Wes Moore Announces Landmark AI Partnership To Transform State Service Delivery
• Seventy Years After the Birth of AI, the Work Begins
• Lancaster residents express mixed feelings during AI data center open house
• HSBC Executive Says China ‘Uniquely’ Strong on AI Energy Supply
• Available now: GPT-5.1 in Microsoft Copilot Studio
• 3 bucket framework for government legal AI evaluation use
• UK firms can win a significant chunk of the AI chip market
• Perspective | Artificial intelligence is not just a new tool, it’s a turning point
• Salesforce acquires one-year-old startup Doti AI for $100 million