Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has written to Google CEO Sundar Pichai asking for details on the new checkout feature in the Gemini AI chatbot. She warns that the integration could let Google and retailers exploit sensitive user data or push consumers toward higher‑priced items. Warren seeks clarification on what data will be shared with retailers, how pricing might be affected, and whether users will be told when product suggestions are driven by upselling or advertising motives. Google has until mid‑February to respond. Read more →

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman announced an internal “code red,” pausing projects such as ads, shopping, health agents, and the Pulse personal assistant to focus on boosting ChatGPT’s speed, reliability and personalization. The memo calls for daily calls and temporary team transfers to speed development. Meanwhile, Google, which launched its own “code red” after ChatGPT’s debut, sees its AI user base expand with tools like Nano Banana and its new Gemini 3 model, which outperforms rivals on several benchmarks. The parallel moves highlight a pivotal moment in the AI race, with both firms investing heavily to maintain leadership. Read more →

Google has rolled out an update to its AI Mode that lets users search for images using natural, conversational language. The new feature allows shoppers and browsers to describe what they want—like they would to a friend—and receive visual results that can be refined on the fly. Users can also start a search by uploading a reference photo or taking a picture, blending visual cues with text to hone results. The update, powered by Gemini 2.5 and the latest multimodal capabilities, is currently available in English to U.S. users. Read more →