Snap Inc. has secured San Francisco-based Perplexity as its new partner in artificial intelligence, with Perplexity’s AI-powered answer engine to become an in-app feature of social service Snapchat starting in early 2026. Snapchat’s community of over 943 million monthly active users will be able to converse with Perplexity, asking questions and getting “clear, conversational answers drawn from verifiable sources,” Snap explains. Perplexity will pay Snap $400 million over the next year through a combination of cash and equity, gaining access to Snap’s mobile-native audience, comprised of more than 75 percent of 13–34-year-olds in over 25 countries. Continue reading Perplexity Deal Will Bring Conversational AI to Snapchat App

YouTube is launching new features to help creators make the most of exposure on TV screens. “The living room is increasingly the new prime time for creators,” according to YouTube, which claims that “in the last year, the number of YouTube channels earning six figures or more in revenue from TV screens is up by over 45 percent.” To support that momentum, the Google-owned streaming platform is providing creators with “five new ways to make their content look incredible while making it easier for viewers to discover and shop.” YouTube is introducing AI-powered upscaling, improved search functionality, and QR codes to enable shopping for items in tagged videos. Continue reading New YouTube Tools Help Creators Optimize Content for TVs

Alphabet has notched its first $100 billion-plus quarter, with revenue of $102.35 billion, a 16 percent increase for the period ending September 30. The result exceeded analyst estimates of $99.89 billion. CEO Sundar Pichai noted the results marked a 100 percent increase in Q3 revenue since 2020, when it was $50 billion. “We’re firmly in the generative AI era,” Nadella said, noting diversification “with successful businesses in Cloud, YouTube and subscriptions.” The company was onboard with the trend in increased spending, upping its capital expenditure range from $85 billion to $91 billion – $93 billion for 2025. Continue reading Cloud and AI Drive Alphabet to First $100 Billion-Plus Quarter

OpenAI has launched Atlas, a free web browser that uses ChatGPT as its search engine and integrates with the company’s other products. Initially released for Apple’s macOS, OpenAI says support for Windows, Android and iOS is coming soon. News that OpenAI was developing the product surfaced in April as part of the Google antitrust trial, where OpenAI executive Nick Turley testified the company was interested in buying Chrome. Now the ChatGPT Atlas browser is available for download, challenging Chrome and others. Rather than type queries, people can chat with Atlas, something Chrome and Perplexity’s new Comet browser also allow. Continue reading OpenAI Enters Browser Market with Launch of ChatGPT Atlas

The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, has noticed an increase in bot activity on the encyclopedic website, and a decline of approximately 8 percent in human page views. The non-profit says the trend is due to a combination of the impact of social media and generative AI as informational sources for potential visitors. AI now provides summarized answers to user questions, while younger people are increasingly finding information through social video. The Foundation’s organizers say the audience loss could have a negative effect on Wikipedia donors as well as the human volunteers who keep the site current. Continue reading AI Search and Social Video Have Impact on Wikipedia Traffic

Nano Banana, the viral image generation and editing model Google released in August as part of Gemini 2.5 Flash, has been used to generate more than 5 billion images to date, and now Google is looking to increase its usage by introducing the model to other popular services. Officially known as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, the visual tool is now available in Google Search via a Create tab that activates it in Google Lens and AI Mode. It’s also been incorporated into NotebookLM, powering the Video Overviews tool that transforms documents into narrated explainer videos. The company says Nano Banana is also coming soon to Google Photos. Continue reading Nano Banana AI Image Tool Is Added to Search, NotebookLM

Meta Platforms has updated its Facebook recommendation algorithm to boost Reels use, adding a topic search filter as well as prioritizing same-day content, with a 50 percent increase in pushing Reels videos posted within 24-hours of user scrolls. In July, Meta said time spent watching videos on Facebook in the United States had expanded more than 20 percent year-over-year, and the company wants to continue boosting that number. Taking a page from the TikTok playbook, Facebook is adding topic search links to Reels displays to help users find material of interest. Facebook is also trying to accommodate user pushback against AI slop by urging use of a “Not Interested” button. Continue reading Meta Updates Recommendation Algorithm for Facebook Reels

Squarespace, the platform launched in 2003 for website development and operation, is getting a refresh aimed at helping entrepreneurs and creative professionals incorporate more personalization and AI features. The ability to build websites via chat is coming soon. AI Optimization (AIO) for search is another focus. The company has partnered with AI answer engine Perplexity to serve as the website building and hosting partner for Perplexity’s new browser, Comet. Squarespace has also launched Finish Layer, a design suite with capabilities for animation, transforms, and advanced editing to help websites add “immersive experiences with professional-grade customization.” Continue reading Squarespace Partners with Perplexity, Debuts Chat Site Builder

AI search startup Perplexity has made its Comet browser available for free worldwide as it seeks to gain market share against the major players in the field. Comet was first released three months ago to its Max plan subscribers, who pay $200-per-month. While the free version comes with a Comet Assistant, paid subscribers will get access to the new, higher-level Background Assistant, which leverages agentic capabilities to perform multi-step tasks simultaneously and asynchronously in the background. It joins the Email Assistant Perplexity announced last week for those on the Max plan. Perplexity is also rolling out early previews of Comet for mobile, so assistants can be managed from anywhere. Continue reading Perplexity Comet Browser Free Globally and Coming to Mobile

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is expanding its functionality to include in-app shopping. The new feature, called Instant Checkout, is powered by the Agentic Commerce Protocol developed by OpenAI and Stripe. ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Free users in the U.S. can now buy products conversationally, starting with domestic Etsy sellers. Shopify’s merchants will be added soon, with plans to ramp up to “more than a million” of the e-commerce platform’s clients, including Glossier, Spanx and Vuori. The move lays the groundwork for OpenAI’s segue to agentic shopping. Instant Checkout currently supports only single-item purchases, with multi-item carts coming soon, according to OpenAI. Continue reading OpenAI ‘Instant Checkout’ Adds In-App Shopping to ChatGPT

Pinterest is introducing new ad formats along with an updated ad manager tool. Currently in beta, the debuting Top of Search ad configuration aims to leverage visual search by inviting advertisers to perch atop search returns and results for Related Pins queries. The company is also making local inventory ads generally available so local merchants can highlight products available in nearby stores. Also unveiled at the Pinterest Presents summit last week was Pinterest Media Network Connect, which allows advertisers to securely link campaigns to media networks on the platform. Continue reading Pinterest Introduces New Ad Tools Ahead of Holiday Season

Google has launched its Gemini-powered AI search tool Search Live in the United States. The mobile integration for iOS and Android can look at the world through your phone’s camera and respond to questions conversationally, in real time, while also offering helpful Web links for a deeper dive. “Just open the Google app and tap the new Live icon under the search bar,” Google explains. Camera sharing will be activated by default and the app also accepts video input. If you’re already pointing your camera with Google Lens, you can select the Live option at the bottom of the screen. Continue reading Google Launches Conversational ‘Search Live’ for U.S. Mobile

Pinterest has added multiple “where-to-buy” options it says make it easier for consumers to shop with Pins. This new menu of links allows brand advertisers to drive potential customers to a selection of purchase sites instead of a single source, surfacing multiple in-stock retailer options for a product directly from an ad. Pinterest claims the new presentation format offers richer purchase data and new CPG opportunities. Advertisers will no longer face the “tough choice” of directing shoppers to a retail site for a familiar purchase experience but losing valuable insights or linking to their own site and sacrificing lower-funnel performance. Continue reading Pinterest Says Where-to-Buy Links Add Richer Purchase Data

Amazon Music has a new AI-powered personalization feature called Weekly Vibe that is designed to keep playlists fresh and prevent listeners from tiring of the same songs. The feature is available to iOS and Android users in the U.S. across all subscription tiers. Every Monday, Weekly Vibe will update playlists to reflect recent listening choices, taking into account musical interests and moods. It will also suggest new music based on demonstrated patterns and preferences. Weekly Vibe builds on the Maestro AI playlist generator Amazon Music launched in beta last year. Continue reading Amazon Music Adds Weekly Vibe AI Playlists Across All Tiers

Samsung is integrating Microsoft Copilot with its 2025 lineup of AI-powered TVs and monitors. Copilot can be accessed through the Samsung Tizen OS, the Samsung Daily+ lifestyle hub and Click to Search, enabling conversational AI support for personalized recommendations, searches, interactive learning and other experiences. The South Korean manufacturer’s high-end hardware already has Samsung Vision AI, and the AI-assisted Click to Search and Bixby voice assistant. Copilot joins the mix, appearing on the home screen app menu. Once selected, Copilot appears as an animated emoji that reacts with simple expressions and lip movements. Continue reading Samsung Offers Microsoft Copilot via Premium TVs, Monitors