Google AI Search Evolves Amidst Tech AI Updates

Google's AI Search Nears Primetime

It certainly appears that Google is preparing its much-discussed AI mode for a widespread launch. This past week, some Google users reported an AI Mode button surfacing in place of the iconic "I'm feeling lucky" button on the search engine's homepage. Adding to this, a Mashable reporter observed "AI Mode" as an option on search results pages, positioned alongside established Google tools like News, Shopping, Images, and Videos. Notably, this reporter had not actively opted into AI Mode via Google Labs, suggesting that Google is testing the feature with a select group of users.

The race for AI supremacy continues. Credit: Bekir Bektas / Anadolu / Getty Images

AI Mode appears for select users on search results pages. Credit: Tim Marcin / Mashable

This is what AI Mode looks like in Google Search. Credit: Tim Marcin / Mashable

These developments point towards an imminent, broad release of Google's AI-powered search tool, perhaps as early as the upcoming Google I/O event next Tuesday. Google has been actively testing AI search features since competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT began to attract search users, particularly those in younger demographics. This is just one of many recent developments from the world of Google's Gemini AI.

This Week's AI News Explosion

Much like many other weeks recently, this one was packed with significant AI news. We've compiled the major stories and key AI developments across products, business, politics, and even Catholicism. Here’s a recap of this week's top AI news.

Chatbot Updates: Grok's Controversy and ChatGPT's New Skills

xAI's Grok chatbot generated controversy this week, delivering unprompted remarks to X users concerning "'white genocide' in South Africa." The company stated this was due to an "unauthorized modification" and committed to improving. This occurred as xAI leader Elon Musk has also been tweeting about the same subject. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commented on the situation on X:

A Tweet from Sam Altman regarding this issue was mentioned in the original article but is currently unavailable.

In OpenAI's sphere, the company introduced GPT-4.1 to ChatGPT users by popular demand. Initially available only via API, it's now accessible to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team users, with Enterprise and Edu access following soon, and a GPT-4.1 mini version for free users.

An announcement tweet from OpenAI about GPT-4.1 was mentioned but is currently unavailable.

On Friday, OpenAI also unveiled a preview of Codex, a coding assistant for engineers. This is being rolled out to ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team subscribers. Codex is described as "a version of OpenAI o3 optimized for software engineering."

Gemini Expands, TikTok Gets 'AI Alive', Audible Embraces AI Narration

Google held a pre-I/O event focused on Android news, where the main announcement was the integration of Gemini into Android operating systems for smartwatches, cars, and TVs.

TikTok, a natural platform for image-to-video generation, released a new feature called AI Alive. Mashable’s CJ Silva reports that the results are quite realistic.

Credit: TikTok

Lastly, prepare for more AI-generated narration in Audible books. Amazon, its parent company, announced a partnership with publishers this week to "expand [its] catalog with AI narration."

OpenAI's Global Ambitions and Domestic Hurdles

This week also brought significant news regarding AI in politics and international affairs.

OpenAI is reportedly advancing its global AI infrastructure plans. Bloomberg reported that OpenAI is "considering building new data center capacity in the United Arab Emirates." Simultaneously, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other tech billionaires joined President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia for a visit with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who launched a new AI company named Humain.

While these international activities were underway, Bloomberg also reported that OpenAI's Stargate Project to build AI infrastructure in the U.S. has encountered obstacles. Plans have reportedly been delayed due to tariff-related concerns from Japanese investor SoftBank.

Furthermore, Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly renegotiating their partnership terms as OpenAI seeks to restructure its for-profit arm into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), which would remain governed by its nonprofit board, according to the Financial Times. OpenAI needs to maintain a positive relationship with Microsoft, a $13 billion investor, but their increasingly competitive interests have reportedly caused tension between the two companies.

The Politics of AI: Regulation and Copyright Battles

In the public sector, House Republicans proposed a ten-year moratorium on states implementing their own AI regulations, as reported by 404 Media. This provision was included in the Budget Reconciliation bill, raising questions about the party's stance on states' rights.

Regarding AI regulation under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Copyright Office released a "pre-publication version" of part three of its much-anticipated AI copyright report last week. This report generally favored copyright holders over AI companies asserting fair use. The day after its release, President Trump fired Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter. Despite this, plaintiffs in the Kadrey v. Meta case are reportedly using the report against Meta, as first reported by Mashable.

The Vatican Weighs In: Pope Leo XIV on AI and Human Dignity

A lot, it turns out. Pope Leo XIV stated that AI presents "new challenges for humanity" in his inaugural address to the College of Cardinals. His choice of name honors Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church during the Industrial Revolution and championed workers' rights and social reform.

Sensing myself called to continue in this same path, I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.

Disclosure

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.