AI search heats up in India, Copilot limits free access 🚫, ChatGPT targets Google Docs 📝

🛠️ Product Updates

Text

Google’s AI search mode lands in India, upping the game against Microsoft

Google has rolled out its AI-powered "AI Mode" search feature in India, the first international market to access this technology outside the U.S. Leveraging its proprietary Gemini 2.5, Google aims to attract India's vast internet user base keen on voice and visual search. If AI Mode can't conjure a confident answer, it gracefully defaults to regular search results. This move is Google's strategic chess play to deepen digital engagement and stay ahead in the AI-enhanced search arena against Microsoft Copilot and other rivals.

Google’s NotebookLM turns messy notes into AI-powered genius insights

Google's NotebookLM, powered by Gemini, is redefining note-taking with new mobile apps and unique AI capabilities. Unlike rivals such as Evernote and Notion, NotebookLM offers dynamic content synthesis with features like Audio Overviews and Mind Maps, focusing solely on user-provided sources. This laser-focused strategy helps users effortlessly transform chaotic notes into coherent insights. With the launch of NotebookLM Plus, Google is gently reminding us that innovation is worth a price tag, and your jumbled notes might just become your next big idea.

Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics goes fully local, ditching the cloud

Google DeepMind has unveiled Gemini Robotics On-Device, a new language model empowering robots to operate locally without internet reliance. This marks a leap from their March cloud-based model, moving toward autonomy and setting a robust standard in robotics AI. The model's ability to match cloud performance and outperform other local models is an intriguing twist in robotics, like carrying its own backup band. Developers can train robots with minimal demonstrations using a new SDK, supporting faster task adaptation—a creative stride that enhances privacy, latency, and real-world application.

Microsoft Edge’s new Copilot Voice turns web browsing hands-free

Microsoft Edge has introduced Copilot Voice, an AI-driven voice assistant for hands-free web browsing that accommodates over 40 languages. This strategic leap distinguishes Microsoft in the AI landscape, enhancing user interaction with natural language commands for tasks like navigation and language practice. By integrating voice control into the Edge browser, Microsoft sidesteps a direct showdown with OpenAI's text-heavy offerings, instead opting to enrich user experiences with a hands-free twist. After all, why type when you can talk your way around the web?

OpenAI’s ChatGPT eyes Google Docs with bold new collaboration tools

OpenAI is reportedly working on collaboration tools for ChatGPT, potentially challenging Google Docs and Microsoft Word. This strategic leap could draw more business subscriptions, expanding ChatGPT’s role beyond conversation into a comprehensive productivity suite. As OpenAI maneuvers through complex ties with investor Microsoft, this move raises eyebrows—and competition. If successful, ChatGPT could become a prime choice for businesses seeking seamless document collaboration within their AI toolkit. Looks like your office suite might soon get a ChatGPT upgrade!

Coding

GitHub's Copilot cuts free use, sparking backlash from power users

GitHub’s Copilot service now enforces monthly limits on AI model interactions, angering developers and aiming for profitability. These changes, affecting models like Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini, charge excess use starting at $0.04 per request. This might just be GitHub trying to balance the books against rising operational costs, but it risks pushing frustrated devs to seek alternatives like OpenAI's expanding offerings. Copilot now costs more for those who code with it most, but it’s a calculated risk to stabilize its revenue stream.

Audio

ElevenLabs launches 11ai, a voice AI aiming to outsmart Alexa and Slack bots

ElevenLabs has unveiled 11ai, a voice-activated AI assistant, currently in a free alpha phase, designed to execute tasks through spoken commands integrated via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This marks a strategic leap beyond simple chat AIs, focusing on sequential actions across applications like Slack and Google Calendar. While Perplexity and Amazon Alexa stick to basic commands, 11ai promises deeper integration and customizable tools, attracting enterprises hungry for smarter, actionable AI in their workflows. ElevenLabs is gathering user feedback to refine its offering in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

ElevenLabs’ new app lets creators generate voice from text anywhere

ElevenLabs has launched a mobile app for iOS and Android, making voice generation from text more accessible for content creators. This strategic move caters to users’ demands for on-the-go convenience, allowing them to ditch clunky web browsers in favor of a slick, all-in-one app experience. By including its latest v3 alpha text-to-speech models, ElevenLabs offers enhanced expressive control, a timely upgrade as creators increasingly flock to apps like CapCut and Instagram. The app positions ElevenLabs uniquely in the voice AI sector, focusing on individual creativity over enterprise solutions.

Image

Google’s Imagen 4 raises the stakes in AI image battles

Google has unveiled Imagen 4, a text-to-image AI model available for a paid preview in the Gemini API, with limited free testing via Google AI Studio starting June 24, 2025. Offering sharper lettering and fewer artifacts than its predecessor, Imagen 4 and its higher-fidelity sibling, Imagen 4 Ultra, position Google ahead in the image generation race against foes like DALL·E. With flexible pricing and developer-friendly integration, Google’s bet is on attracting innovators looking for both speed and quality. Déjà vu for tech, as chess moves intensify in AI’s creative game.

🧪 Use Cases

Cisco and ElevenLabs join forces to humanize AI customer service

ElevenLabs and Cisco are teaming up to weave ElevenLabs' voice technology into Cisco’s Webex AI Agent, promising more lifelike and engaging customer service. This fusion is noteworthy as it targets a market pain point—clunky, unresponsive chatbots—by letting the AI grasp nuances in speech and context, offering a personalized experience. For tech enthusiasts, this means a leap forward in support interactions, potentially outpacing competition by merging emotional intelligence with enterprise-level security and integration, setting a new standard in AI-driven communication.

📚 How-To

Perplexity AI pivots from search to your new digital study buddy

Perplexity AI has unveiled an educational series, including a "How-to Guide" and "Tips and Tricks," enhancing its position as a niche research and learning tool amid powerful competitors like Google and Microsoft. This update aligns with its roadmap, focusing on user engagement through rich content and leveraging its summarization prowess. By fostering ongoing learning support, Perplexity broadens its utility beyond simple queries. This tactical expansion sets the stage for Perplexity as more than just a search engine—think of it as your digital study buddy.