Indian‑American CEO guiding Google and Alphabet through AI and policy shifts
The Defense Department has reached agreements with multiple AI firms to augment warfighter decision-making in complex environments. OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, SpaceX, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services are among the partners, with Anthropic excluded amid a dispute over guardrails. Officials say the move speeds decision-making while preserving human oversight and civil liberties.
Oil prices have steadied as the U.S. has signaled further action to ease vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed tensions with Iran. Brent sits around $111-113, while U.S. crude trades near $105, with global markets awaiting clarity on the ceasefire talks and potential supply disruptions.
A consortium-backed safety institute in Europe will test AI products for harms to children, while the US weighs new vetting and export-control policies as AI labs race ahead. Separate reports show rising use of shadow AI in workplaces and ongoing national-security deals over AI in defence.
Apple has unveiled Siri AI and expanded Apple Intelligence at WWDC, promising a conversational assistant that uses personal device data and Google-powered foundation models. The company has said Siri AI will enter beta this summer with a public fall release, but regulators in the EU and China will delay availability there. Apple has emphasised privacy and private cloud compute in its rollout.
At Stanford, a walkout during Sundar Pichai’s commencement speech has spotlighted Google’s contract with Israel and its broader AI role. Pro-Palestinian activists chant ‘Free Palestine’ as students signal dissent over corporate ties to government and military uses of AI. The protest follows decades of campus debate as graduates listen to speakers about technology’s future.
Meta is pursuing a new cloud business to sell excess AI compute power and access to AI models. The move could generate revenue from its data-center footprint and compete with AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. The plan has sparked immediate stock in the market but faces questions about ROI given Meta’s heavy capex.
The European Court of Justice has dismissed Google's appeal against the Android antitrust ruling, confirming the European Commission's 4.1–4.3 billion euro penalty for pre-installation practices. The decision comes after years of litigation, as Brussels continues to push for stronger digital regulation.