Global search engine and AI-powered information hub
Google announces Gemini has reached 1 billion monthly active users (MAUs) in the Gemini app, with voice input driving most usage. The milestone mirrors OpenAI’s ChatGPT and signals Gemini’s rapid integration across Google products, while OpenAI and others continue to compete in the AI race.
Tech giants are continuing heavy AI infrastructure investments, but free cash flow is deteriorating as capital expenditure outpaces revenue growth. Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft report mixed quarters, with Microsoft remaining positive while the others burn cash. Investors worry about monetizing AI and sustaining long-term growth.
Google has announced that AI tools for Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will be off by default for K-12 students, with administrators able to turn them on. If schools block AI features, students will lose access to Google Search. The move follows pressure from educators and policymakers and is part of a broader effort to give schools control over AI in the classroom.