🎧 Google Just Turned Class Lessons Into Podcasts

Today’s Highlights:

• 🎧 Google Turns Classroom Lessons Into Podcasts

• 🛒 Microsoft Pushes Shopping and Checkout Into Copilot

• 🎯 OpenAI Bets Big on AI Coaching

• 📈 MiniMax Raises $619M in Hong Kong IPO

• 💰 OpenAI Sets Aside $50B in Employee Equity

• 🛠️ Snowflake Acquires Observe for AI Monitoring

• 🕵️ China Probes Meta’s Manus AI Deal

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LATEST AI NEWS

GOOGLE

🎧 Google Turns Classroom Lessons Into Podcasts

Google has rolled out a new Gemini-powered feature in Google Classroom that lets teachers turn lesson material into podcast-style audio episodes, designed to boost engagement and comprehension.

The Details:

• Teachers can generate audio lessons from the Gemini tab, setting grade level, topics, and learning objectives

• Lessons can be customized with different formats like interviews, roundtables, or casual conversations

• Educators can choose the number of speakers and conversational style to match student preferences

• The feature is available to Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus users

• Google advises teachers to review and edit AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and classroom fit

Why it matters:

Students already spend hours listening to podcasts. By meeting learners in a format they enjoy, Google is betting audio-first lessons can drive deeper understanding and more flexible learning, while nudging classrooms toward responsible, teacher-led use of AI.

MICROSOFT

🛒 Microsoft Pushes Shopping and Checkout Into Copilot

Microsoft is moving commerce directly into its AI assistant, introducing in-chat shopping and checkout inside Copilot in a bid to turn AI conversations into the new retail funnel.

The Details:

• Microsoft unveiled Copilot Checkout at NRF 2026, letting users complete purchases inside Copilot without leaving the chat

• The feature is live in the US with integrations from Shopify, PayPal, Stripe, and Etsy

• Copilot has over 100M monthly active users, while AI features across Microsoft products reach 800M users

• Microsoft says Copilot-led shopping journeys are 33% shorter and 194% more likely to convert when intent is present

• New tools include AI shopping agents, auto-enriched product data, and store-operations agents for retailers

Why it matters:

AI assistants are quickly becoming the front door of commerce. If checkout shifts into Copilot, Microsoft controls the customer interface while retailers risk losing direct relationships. This move puts Microsoft head-to-head with Amazon, Google Shopping, and social commerce platforms, and raises a bigger question: who owns the customer in an AI-first internet?

OPENAI

🎯 OpenAI Bets Big on AI Coaching

OpenAI has acqui-hired the team behind Convogo, signaling a deeper push into AI-powered coaching, leadership development, and professional decision support.

The Details:

• OpenAI is hiring the Convogo founding team in an all-stock deal, but not acquiring the product or IP

• Convogo’s platform, used by executive coaches and HR teams, will be shut down as the team joins OpenAI

• The startup helped automate leadership assessments and feedback reporting for thousands of coaches

• The three co-founders will work on OpenAI’s broader AI cloud and applied AI efforts

• This marks OpenAI’s ninth acquisition in a year, continuing its talent-first M&A strategy

Why it matters:

AI is moving beyond tools into guidance. By bringing in a team focused on coaching and human judgment, OpenAI is betting that the next wave of AI value will come from systems that help people think, decide, and grow, not just write, code, or summarize.

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MORE AI & TECH NEWS

• Chinese AI startup MiniMax raised $619M in its Hong Kong IPO to fund next‑gen text, audio, and video models. The strong debut shows investor appetite for AI remains high despite global uncertainty.

• Snowflake is acquiring Observe to add AI‑driven system monitoring and faster issue detection. The deal strengthens Snowflake’s push into automated reliability and observability.

• China is investigating Meta’s $2B acquisition of Manus over tech export and national security concerns. A block would signal tighter control over AI talent leaving the country.

• The team behind Chatbot Arena is now valued at $1.7B after new funding. Investors are betting on its role as the neutral scoreboard for comparing top AI models.

• OpenAI has reportedly reserved $50B worth of shares for employee stock grants. The move helps retain top talent as the company’s valuation climbs toward $750B.

• Oxford Economics says fears of AI‑driven mass layoffs are overstated. The report argues companies often blame AI for routine cuts rather than true workforce replacement.

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