Google creates code red scramble for its AI rivals
Google’s sudden momentum in the AI race has the rest of the field looking rattled.
OpenAI has reportedly issued a “code red” internally, with Sam Altman pushing teams to rapidly level up ChatGPT. Apple just lost its top AI strategy executive in a move described as abrupt, and Nvidia is loudly insisting it is not worried about rivals exploring other chip suppliers.
The common thread is Google’s surge. Its latest Gemini models have earned strong early reviews, and Google has the money, data and hardware to compete at a scale few labs can match.
OpenAI sees Gemini as its biggest threat. Apple is considering using Gemini to power future versions of Siri after ongoing struggles with Apple Intelligence. And Meta is in talks to run Google TPUs in its data centers, a potential crack in Nvidia’s grip on the AI chip market.
A month ago, top AI leaders privately told Axios the rival they feared most was Google. Today, that looks very visible in public.
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EU opens antitrust probe into Meta over WhatsApp AI
The European Commission has launched a new antitrust investigation into Meta, focusing on how the company integrated its Meta AI assistant into WhatsApp. Regulators are examining whether Meta’s updated policies limit rival AI providers from accessing the messaging platform, a move that could amount to abuse of market power.
Meta says the claims are unfounded, arguing that chatbots place extra strain on WhatsApp’s systems and that users still have plenty of ways to access competing AI tools.
The probe adds to a growing list of European actions against Big Tech. Italy opened its own investigation earlier this year, looking into whether Meta used WhatsApp’s scale to push its AI assistant and block competitors. That case was expanded in November.
The EU investigation will run under traditional antitrust rules rather than the Digital Markets Act, showing how regulators are widening their scrutiny as generative AI becomes more deeply embedded in major platforms.
Anthropic CEO says government will need to retrain workers in the age of AI
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says the government will have to take an active role in retraining workers as AI reshapes the job market. Speaking at the New York Times DealBook Summit, Amodei warned that traditional tech comparisons like the internet or telecom do not reflect the scale of what is coming.
Asked about potential job losses, he said retraining programs will be necessary, even if they are not a perfect solution. He added that companies and governments will need to work together once the impact becomes unavoidable.
Amodei has been one of the more direct voices on the topic. Earlier this year he told Axios that half of all entry level jobs could disappear within five years, which could push unemployment into double digits. He says his goal is not fear mongering, but making sure the transition is handled responsibly.
Anthropic hires lawyers as it gears up for an IPO
Anthropic has started preparing for a public listing that could arrive as early as 2026, according to the FT.
The company has hired Wilson Sonsini to guide the process and is working through the internal steps needed for what could become one of the biggest tech IPOs in years. Anthropic is also exploring a new funding round that may value the company at more than $300 billion. It last raised $13 billion in September at a $183 billion valuation.
Alongside the IPO prep, Anthropic has begun conversations with investment banks, though it has not selected an underwriter yet. Wilson Sonsini has advised the company since 2022.
The move comes as OpenAI, now valued at around $500 billion, is also weighing a public listing and has started early preparation work of its own.