Chrome’s AI makeover

Plus: Zuck bets big on AI

January 30, 2026

Welcome back! Google just made Gemini your walking and cycling companion. The AI assistant is now embedded directly into Google Maps navigation, letting you ask questions or dictate hands-free while you're on the move. 

Like "Text Emily I'm 10 minutes behind” or "Are there cafes with a bathroom along my route?" The feature is available worldwide on iOS wherever Gemini is available and rolling out on Android. No more need to scroll while you stroll. 

Chrome Embeds Gemini Directly Into Your Browser

Via The Information

Gemini continues to steal the spotlight. Google has turned Chrome into an AI-powered agent with tighter Gemini integration. While Google added Gemini to Chrome back in September, it lived in a floating window. Now it's embedded as a core feature with direct access to your personal data and the ability to act autonomously.

Let’s take a look at what's launching. 💻

  • Gemini sidebar: Understands context across multiple tabs, useful for comparing prices or products.

  • Personal intelligence: Access to your Gmail, Search history, YouTube, and Photos to answer questions based on your data and draft emails without switching apps.

  • Auto-browse: Navigates websites for you, handling tasks like scheduling appointments, filling out forms, collecting tax documents, and filing expense reports.

  • Nano Banana integration: Modifies existing images with other images or products you find while browsing. 

The bigger picture: Chrome is responding to a flood of AI-first browsers from OpenAI, Perplexity, Opera, and The Browser Company. It was only a matter of time before Google jumped on the bandwagon.

Meta to Spend up to $135B on AI This Year

Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta will spend up to $135 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026, nearly twice the $72 billion it spent last year. During Meta's Q4 earnings call this week, Zuckerberg said he expects 2026 to be the year that AI changes the way we work.

What's driving the spend: Meta is “capacity constrained,” meaning it needs more computing power to improve its core ad business and give its AI team resources to build more advanced models.

  • The company is pouring money into data centers to support Zuckerberg's mission of personal super intelligence and developing a new frontier model code-named Avocado. 

  • Plus: Zuckerberg hinted at further layoffs, saying projects that used to require big teams can now be done by a single person thanks to AI. 

Wall Street's reaction: Despite concerns about Meta's rising expenses and AI spending spree, investors took comfort in the company's 24% year-over-year revenue growth driven by online ads. Meta shares popped as much as 10% in after-hours trading. 

Why it matters: While executives like JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon and Cisco's Chuck Robbins warn of a dotcom-style crash, Zuckerberg is doubling down. Meta has spent roughly $140 billion on AI in the last three years. Only time will tell if it can get the revenue engine running beyond ads.

Apple Launches Creator Studio Pro

Apple just released Creator Studio Pro, a $12.99/month subscription suite that packages Apple software with AI features. The goal? Aid creators, not replace them. 

The positioning is deliberate: AI handles tedious tasks while humans stay in control of the creative process. Think AI-powered transcripts to find soundbites in Final Cut Pro, or Keynote generating slideshows based on text notes. 

Why it matters: As AI creative tools proliferate, companies are wrestling with how to message them. Apple's approach involves tools—and a narrative—that won’t alienate its core users.

Voice AI that converts

Via Sideconvo

Sideconvo is an AI plugin that lives on your site, crawls your pages, and answers visitor questions in real time using your content. 

How you can use it:

  • Turn blogs, docs, and product pages into a conversational search experience

  • Guide shoppers to the right product or page without menu hunting

  • Capture common questions from chat logs to improve site content and UX

  • Gate access with SSO for internal portals or client-facing sites

Pricing: Paid with free trial available

Design & deploy AI agents

Via Origon

Origon is a full-stack, agentic AI operating system for creating custom agents and internal apps using natural language or a drag-and-drop studio. 

How you can use it:

  • Build internal AI tools for ops, research, or customer support workflows

  • Deploy multi-step agents that call APIs, run code, and use company knowledge

  • Trace and debug agent behavior with live sessions and logs

  • Monitor performance, usage, and governance from a central dashboard

Pricing: Paid

Jobs, announcements, and big ideas

  • OpenAI is reportedly planning to go public in Q4.

  • Creators like Amanda Goetz and Holly Joyner grew their audiences to 30k–50k+ followers on LinkedIn with Taplio, the tool to find viral post ideas faster, engage efficiently, and double down on posts that perform.*

  • Claude releases a comprehensive guide for building skills and optimizing workflow integrations.

  • Google's AlphaGenome uses AI to identify cancer-related DNA mutations and genetic patterns.

  • SpaceX and xAI may consolidate into a single company under Elon Musk's consideration.

  • Apple acquires Israeli artificial intelligence startup Q.ai for $2 billion to strengthen its AI capabilities.

  • Nvidia introduces Cosmos Policy, an advanced system for robot control that improves manipulation performance.

*This is sponsored advertising content.

The benchmark that lied its way to the top. Can AI performance metrics actually be trusted? I investigate what's happening behind the numbers.

That’s a wrap! See you next week for more.

—Matt (FutureTools.io)