Whether infiltrating a rival territory or testing a new AI service, the optimal strategy is to act discreetly and move ahead of the competition.
OpenAI's ChatGPT currently cannot perform similar functions. Google has scored an early advantage. This feature, which Google refers to as task automation, is a prime example of AI agents delivering tangible value. Notably, Google has not heavily promoted this capability so far, only making a quiet announcement last month.
The feature began appearing in the Gemini app on Pixel and Samsung devices following a software update about a week ago. The range of tasks it can handle is currently limited, focusing mainly on food delivery, grocery shopping, and ride-hailing services. The process does take longer than using the external apps directly: when I summoned an Uber through Gemini, it took more time than completing the action within the Uber app. As tech site The Verge reported on Saturday, the feature is "slow, clunky, and yet totally amazing."
A significant question remains whether consumers will prefer using an AI agent for transactions that are already simple to complete in existing apps. However, the technology will undoubtedly improve. By advancing quietly and steadily, Google can refine details and resolve issues without attracting excessive scrutiny. This approach contrasts sharply with OpenAI's strategy: the latter tends to heavily promote new features, some of which are later quietly abandoned (such as its instant checkout shopping feature). As we reported today, such strategic reversals have impacted its e-commerce partners.
As a more established company, Google has indeed experienced several high-profile failures, including Google Glass, Google+, and the Stadia cloud gaming platform. Perhaps it has learned its lesson about not overhyping new ventures before they are truly mature and usable. Regardless, OpenAI could learn a thing or two from Google's approach.
SpaceX Fans Find Alternative Investment – EchoStar
The upcoming IPO of SpaceX is likely one of the most anticipated market debuts this year. However, some investors have already found a backdoor to gain exposure to SpaceX – by investing in
This satellite communications company entered into a series of transactions with SpaceX last fall, selling wireless spectrum rights to the latter in exchange for $8.5 billion in cash and $11.1 billion in SpaceX stock. Once the deal closes next year, EchoStar will hold a significant stake in SpaceX, while SpaceX will use this spectrum for its next-generation Starlink direct-to-cell mobile service. The SpaceX equity will become one of EchoStar's most valuable assets (the company also owns Boost Mobile and Dish Network, both of which have performed unremarkably).
Since it began selling spectrum last August (the first deal was with AT&T), EchoStar's stock price has surged over 300%. This rally may partly stem from market relief that the company survived—it was near bankruptcy before the SpaceX and AT&T deals—but the enthusiasm is almost certainly also driven by its new investment exposure to Elon Musk's company.
In fact, due to its soaring popularity, EchoStar was added to the S&P 500 index early Monday.
— Theo Waite
Other News
OpenAI is hiring former Meta advertising executive Dave Dugan as Vice President of Global Advertising Solutions. Dugan announced the news on LinkedIn this Monday. Meta has recruited the entire founding team of AI agent startup Dreamer. Co-founders Hugo Bara, David Singleton, and Nicholas Gitkov will join Meta's Super Intelligence Lab division, Singleton announced in a post on X. He stated that as part of the acquisition, Dreamer will license its technology to Meta. U.S. Senators are introducing a bipartisan bill to prohibit prediction markets from offering sports-related contracts. This is the first legislation aimed at regulating fast-growing platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket US.