Google told schools on Tuesday that students would lose Search unless the school opted in to its AI tools, then changed course the same day after criticism. Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search will now be off by default, and schools can switch each one on separately.
Google backs off its plan to tie school Search to AI
On 3 November Google said schools using its K-12 software would lose access to Search unless they opted in to tools like Gemini, TechCrunch reports. Google's education VP Chris Phillips told The New York Times that "Search and AI are deeply integrated." Senators Bernie Sanders and Richard Blumenthal and former FTC chair Lina Khan criticised the move, and Google then said the three products will be off by default, citing requests from schools for more control.
Why it matters: when a vendor bundles AI into a tool you already depend on, check the admin settings for what's switched on by default, and who gets to decide.
OpenAI says ChatGPT does about a fifth of Google's search volume
At an OpenAI press event, ChatGPT consumer product lead Adam Fry said search volume in ChatGPT is "roughly one-fifth (20%) of the volume of queries of Google," 9to5Google reports. OpenAI counts a search whenever a prompt sends ChatGPT to the web, and it didn't say where its Google figure came from. 9to5Google says that definition leaves "a lot of wiggle room".
Why it matters: it's OpenAI's own number with no method behind it. Still, some of your customers now ask a chatbot before they search, so check what ChatGPT says about your business.
Apple opens Siri AI to any app in the 27.3 developer betas
The first 27.3 betas for iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS let apps bring "content and actions directly into Siri AI by using App Intents," Macworld reports. A new feature called skills lets developers teach Siri to combine several actions for one request, with Apple's examples including checking a delivery and booking a reservation. For now only developers can test it, and apps using it can't go on the App Store yet.
Why it matters: if you have an iPhone app, list the two or three things a customer would want Siri to do in it. No public date has been given.
Texas elects a governor who wants to pause data centers
Democrat Gina Hinojosa beat Governor Greg Abbott and wants to enact an immediate moratorium on data centers in the state, CNBC reports. In morning trading on 4 November, CoreWeave and Iren each fell 4%. Wells Fargo says Texas accounts for 27% of planned data center gigawatts.
Why it matters: power and local politics now set limits on how fast AI capacity grows. Don't build your plans on the idea that AI only gets cheaper.
Meta borrows up to $25bn for AI
Meta was seeking to raise $20bn to $25bn in a bond sale on 3 November, expected to be two-thirds in dollars and a third in euros, CNBC reports. Its free cash flow was negative $2.12bn in the third quarter, and it expects 2026 capex of $135bn to $145bn. S&P kept Meta's AA- rating but moved the outlook from stable to negative, citing uncertainty about the heavy spending and negative free cash flow.
Why it matters: even Meta is borrowing to keep building. You don't need to make that kind of bet: pay for AI where it saves time or money this quarter.
Worth watching: whether other vendors follow Google in turning AI on by default for schools and businesses, and when Apple opens Siri AI apps to the App Store.
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