Google continues to push the envelope in AI innovation, and recent developments reveal a sweeping expansion across infrastructure, consumer products, and developer tools. This article lays out the freshest updates in Google AI news, from Gemini’s evolving capabilities to massive investment in AI infrastructure, in a human-like, approachable style.
AI Infrastructure and Spending Boom
Google is ramping up AI infrastructure in a way that’s almost surreal. In 2026, Alphabet plans to spend between $175 billion and $185 billion on capital expenditures—largely to support AI-powered data centers and hardware like TPUs, nearly doubling the $91.4 billion spent in 2025 . Revenue also hit new heights: over $400 billion in annual sales, a 30% increase in net income to about $34.5 billion, and cloud revenue up 48% to $17.7 billion .
Wall Street remains cautiously optimistic. Analysts like J.P. Morgan’s Doug Anmuth still rate Alphabet “Overweight” and consider it a “best idea” despite investor concerns around AI return on investment .
Gemini Evolution: Smarter, More Agentic
Gemini is branching out in powerful ways. The Gemini 3 model, released in November 2025, raised the bar on multimodal reasoning—outperforming many rivals across benchmark tests like LMArena and Humanity’s Last Exam . Its derivatives, such as Gemini 3 Flash and 3 Pro, bring efficiency and advanced reasoning even to edge cases like mobile devices and enterprise tools .
A subtle but big update: Agentic Vision in Gemini 3 Flash lets the AI write and execute code to inspect, annotate, and manipulate visual data—supercharging tasks like plotting graphs or zooming into images .
Consumer Features and Personal Intelligence
Google is weaving AI into everyday life—sometimes without you even noticing. January brought us a suite of personalized upgrades:
- Personal Intelligence in the Gemini app can securely link to Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube, offering tailored responses across your favorite Google tools .
- Gmail now includes AI enhancements like “Help me write,” “AI Overviews,” and “Proofread,” offering advanced tools to paid subscribers and basic writing aids to all users .
- Chrome’s Gemini 3–powered features, such as auto browse and Nano Banana image edits, let you manage tasks like booking travel or transforming images directly within the browser .
- In education, partnerships with Khan Academy and Oxford University bring AI-powered learning tools, plus free SAT and JEE prep in the Gemini app .
- Retail got attention too. At the National Retail Federation 2026, Google announced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) to enable seamless AI-driven shopping, including checkout through AI Mode in Search and the Gemini app .
Gemini is also becoming more integrated in media: At CES 2026, Google unveiled Gemini-powered Google TV enhancements—users can now search via natural language, dig into visuals, edit photos via Photos Remix, and create media effects like Pixar-style animations .
A leak also hints at Gemini’s upcoming screen automation feature—capable of placing orders or booking rides in apps like Uber or Lyft. But there are privacy concerns, as task execution may involve screenshots reviewed by humans .
Ecosystem Transition: From Assistant to Gemini
The shift toward Gemini as the default AI assistant is underway. Google confirmed the complete replacement of Google Assistant with Gemini in 2026, spanning Android devices and eventually the standalone app on iOS . The phase-out is slower than anticipated, extended into 2026 to smooth integration across current hardware and smart home systems .
Educational Outreach and Developer Tools
Google is investing in the next generation of AI talent. The newly launched 2026 Student Researcher Program invites Bachelor’s through PhD candidates to work on AI, ML, and quantum computing projects with Google’s research teams globally .
Developers and students are also benefiting from new access:
– Google AI Plus, a $7.99/month subscription, now provides global users access to Gemini 3 Pro, Nano Banana Pro, Veo 3.1, and 200GB of storage .
– Students in the U.S. can get complimentary access to powerful tools—Gemini Advanced, NotebookLM Plus, and 2TB of storage—through spring finals 2026 .
Apple Taps Google for Siri Makeover
In a noteworthy AI collaboration, Apple partnered with Google to power its next-gen Siri using Gemini AI and Google Cloud infrastructure. This multi-year deal is seen as a game-changer in Apple’s AI strategy and a nod to Gemini’s capabilities .
Summary
Google’s AI landscape in early 2026 is marked by colossal investments, smarter models, deep integration into daily tools, and strategic partnerships. From doubling down on AI infrastructure to embedding Gemini everywhere—from Search and Chrome to TV and Siri—Google is orchestrating a sweeping AI transformation. Educational programs and new developer tools open doors for wider participation, while cautious optimism among investors signals growing trust in the value of these massive AI bets.
FAQs
What is Google’s projected AI spending for 2026?
Alphabet plans to invest between $175 billion and $185 billion in AI-related capital expenditure, nearly double the $91.4 billion from 2025 .
What capabilities does Gemini 3 bring to the table?
Gemini 3 features advanced multimodal reasoning, outperforms rivals on top AI benchmarks, and powers efficiency models like Gemini 3 Flash and Pro with reasoning abilities .
How is Google integrating AI into everyday products?
Features like Personal Intelligence, auto task completion in Chrome, smart tools in Gmail, AI-powered SAT prep, and AI-enabled Google TV are making AI central to daily life .
When will Gemini replace Google Assistant?
The complete transition of Gemini replacing Google Assistant across Android and iOS is expected to finish in 2026, with phased rollouts to ensure smooth integration .
Can students and developers access Google’s AI tools?
Yes—students can access Gemini Advanced, NotebookLM Plus, and storage for free in the U.S. through finals 2026. Developers can use AI Plus subscriptions and educational programs to tap into Google’s AI ecosystem .
What’s the significance of Apple’s partnership with Google on AI?
Apple’s new collaboration with Google to build Siri using Gemini marks a pivotal step for Apple’s AI strategy and underscores trust in Gemini’s advanced capabilities .
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