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5 min read

Week 20, 2025

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highlights

1 / AI chatbots transform online shopping

  • ChatGPT now offers shopping features, responding to natural requests like "recommend a waterproof backpack under $200" with product lists and purchase links.
  • Google's new AI Mode compares prices across 45 billion products, while Amazon's Rufus assistant considers even local weather for recommendations.
  • Perplexity recently partnered with Shopify, adding one-click payments to its AI shopping service.
  • These advances are replacing keyword searches with conversational experiences that seamlessly handle everything from product discovery to purchase.

2 / Big Tech CEOs align on AI coding expansion

  • At Meta's LlamaCon developer conference, Mark Zuckerberg predicted "within 12-18 months, most of the code is written by AI" at Meta.
  • During the same event, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that "20%, 30% of the code that is inside of our repos today and some of our projects are probably all written by software" sharing that this percentage is steadily increasing.
  • Anthropic's Dario Amodei offered a more aggressive timeline, saying "We are not far from the world where, in 3-6 months, AI is writing 90% of the code."
  • Meanwhile, Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott projected 95 percent of programming code will be AI-generated by 2030 .
  • In response to these emerging trends, tech giants are accelerating their AI coding investments.
  • OpenAI recently acquired AI coding startup Windsurf for about $3 billion, marking its largest acquisition to date.
  • Amazon is developing "Kiro," an AI code generation tool that can generate code in "near real-time" with plans for a possible launch in late June 2025.

3 / Smart glasses rivalry heats up with AI focus

  • Apple is developing a custom chip for smart glasses to compete with Meta's Ray-Ban smart eyewear.
  • It is building on Apple Watch processor technology with ultra-low power design to maximize battery efficiency and comfort.
  • Apple aims to begin chip production between late 2026 and 2027, targeting product launch within two years.
  • Meanwhile, market leader Meta plans to introduce a controversial AI feature called "Super Sensing" in its next-generation smart glasses, allowing users to scan faces to identify people's names and identities.
  • This contradicts Facebook's 2021 decision to discontinue facial recognition and delete over a billion facial templates, potentially triggering serious privacy concerns.
  • Apple is focusing on hardware optimization and user experience, while Meta emphasizes implementing innovative features.

4 / Meta revives crypto plans after 3-year hiatus

  • Meta is exploring stablecoins as a payment method across its platforms to reduce creator payout costs on Instagram and other services.
  • This marks Meta's return to cryptocurrency three years after abandoning its "Libra" project amid regulatory pushback.
  • The timing aligns with the Trump administration's more crypto-friendly stance and the OCC's relaxed banking regulations for digital assets.
  • With Bitcoin and Ethereum performing strongly, Meta's move could signal broader Big Tech entry into the cryptocurrency space.

5 / OpenAI scraps for-profit conversion plans

  • OpenAI has abandoned its controversial shift to a for-profit structure, opting instead to keep nonprofit governance while converting its subsidiary to a Public Benefit Corporation.
  • The nonprofit board will maintain control in this hybrid model.
  • This reversal follows significant pressure from Elon Musk's lawsuit, public backlash from former employees, civil society groups, and investigations by state attorneys general.
  • Sam Altman acknowledged that discussions with these stakeholders drove the "difficult decision."
  • While the PBC model (also used by Anthropic and xAI) allows OpenAI to balance profit with social impact, Musk's team remains unsatisfied, vowing to continue their lawsuit and claiming OpenAI is hiding details about reduced nonprofit ownership.

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more

ai

  • OpenAI has hired Instacart CEO Fidji Simo to lead its app division as second-in-command while Altman focuses on tech and safety.
  • Amazon's new flagship Nova Premier model struggles to match competitors in some benchmarks, lagging behind Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro in coding tests and math knowledge.
  • Meta's improved AssetGen 2.0 technology now quickly generates complete 3D scenes with "dramatically improved detail and fidelity" compared to its predecessor.
  • Alibaba's ZeroSearch training method cuts AI search training costs by 88% through simulation without using external search engines.
  • Google Chrome is using Gemini Nano to detect and block scam websites in real-time, providing "instant insight on risky websites" even against previously unseen scams.
  • Google has opened Gemini access to under-13 users with parent-managed accounts through Family Link.
  • Google launched a language learning tool called "Little Language Lessons" competing with Duolingo, focusing on conversational language with features like Slang Hang for learning casual speech.
  • Meta appointed Robert Fergus, FAIR co-founder alongside Yann LeCun, as its new AI lab head after his return from Google DeepMind.
  • Palantir has cracked the top 10 US tech companies by market cap at $281B, overtaking Salesforce despite generating 10 times less revenue.

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chips / cloud

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robotics

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commerce

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social media

  • Reddit criticized University of Zurich researchers for conducting "unethical" AI bot opinion manipulation experiments on its platform.
  • Instagram admitted in Meta's antitrust trial that TikTok is its "biggest threat," having lost 23% of user time to the rival.
  • Threads rolls out video ads, further resembling TikTok.

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content / entertainment

  • Epic Games plans Fortnite's return to Apple's App Store following regulation changes, while Spotify adds direct audiobook purchases.
  • SoundCloud secretly changed its AI training policy to use creator content without consent, triggering artist exodus.
  • Apple Music launches Viral charts updated daily using Shazam data.

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device / hardware

  • Huawei debuts first HarmonyOS laptop as US sanctions force end of Microsoft Windows partnership.

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app / platform

  • Alphabet shares tumble after Apple VP reveals Google search on Safari declined for first time, signaling AI could supplant traditional search.
  • Google insists overall search volume continues growing despite Safari setback.
  • Apple's App Store fees exceed $10B, doubling revenue in four years.

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ev / autonomous

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energy / environment

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space

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crypto / blockchain

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regulation

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etc

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