Google Cloud repositions as AI platform with Gemini at the core

1. Google Cloud repositions as AI platform with Gemini at the core

• Google unveiled a full-scale shift toward enterprise AI at its Cloud Next ‘25 conference, introducing the Gemini 1.5 Pro model, new AI agents, and enhanced cloud infrastructure.

• With expanded partnerships across Nvidia, SAP, and Cognizant, Google is positioning itself as an end-to-end AI infrastructure provider for the enterprise stack.

• This isn’t just a product update — it’s a power move to make Google indispensable for enterprise AI. CEOs leading digital transformation efforts must now evaluate Google Cloud not just as a utility, but as a foundational AI partner.

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2. Samsung’s Ballie robot will bring Gemini AI into your home

• Samsung and Google Cloud are integrating Gemini AI into Ballie, an autonomous home robot designed to act as a personal assistant and smart device controller.

• Running Gemini Nano, Ballie is designed to move around the house, respond to voice commands, and interact with smart home ecosystems in real time.

• Consumer robotics is entering the AI arms race — and Samsung just gave it a serious boost. Expect home devices to evolve from passive gadgets into proactive, AI-powered assistants that reshape how brands engage with users inside their homes.

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3. Flying taxis set to launch in China by 2028, says EHang

• EHang, a Chinese drone and aviation firm, says its autonomous air taxis will begin commercial operations within three years, following recent regulatory approvals.

• The company is rolling out electric vertical takeoff aircraft in cities with advanced infrastructure, aiming to solve urban congestion with AI-powered mobility.

• While the West debates safety frameworks, China is clearing a path for AI-driven urban flight. This is more than transportation — it’s a signal that airspace, energy demand, and urban design are being redefined, and forward-looking CEOs need to get ahead of it.

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4. Nvidia delays China-bound AI chips amid rising U.S. pressure

• Nvidia’s H20 chips, designed for the Chinese market to comply with U.S. sanctions, are facing more delays due to supply chain snags and regulatory tightening.

• These chips were meant to provide high-performance AI computing under export controls, but delivery is now expected in Q2 2025 at the earliest.

• The AI hardware race is becoming a geopolitical chess match, with CEOs caught in the crossfire. Leaders relying on global chip supply must now plan for redundancy and localization — or risk falling behind.

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5. Family offices quietly fuel next wave of AI capital

• A new Forbes analysis shows global family offices are increasing their exposure to AI, dialing back from crypto and climate in Q1 2025.

• They’re targeting infrastructure plays, model startups, and AI tools for managing complex wealth — not as a trend, but as a generational asset shift.

• The capital behind AI is changing hands — and family offices are bypassing funds to go direct. CEOs should view them not only as investors, but as fast-moving competitors in the AI ecosystem.

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