AI summary

[Andrés Plashal]

🚀 Google Gemini and Agentic Commerce

• Gemini App and AI Mode Adding Product Checkout, Google Search Getting 'Business Agent' - Google launched the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard for "agentic commerce" that allows users to easily make purchases through the Gemini app and AI Mode, and introduced a Business Agent feature in Google Search for partnering retailers.
  • [Jan 11 2026] - link
• A New Era of Agentic Commerce Is Here - Google Cloud unveiled Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience (CX), a platform powered by advanced Gemini models that introduces pre-built and configurable agents to manage the entire customer lifecycle, from discovery to autonomous post-purchase resolution.
  • [Jan 11 2026] - link
• The Home Depot and Google Cloud Launch Agentic AI Tools to Help Customers and Associates Bring Projects from 'How-to' to 'Done' - The Home Depot significantly expanded its Magic Apron suite of AI tools using Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise for CX to provide conversational, expert digital assistance with in-store localization for product finding and technical guidance.
  • [Jan 11 2026] - link
• Walmart and Google Turn AI Discovery Into Effortless Shopping Experiences - Walmart and Google announced a partnership to integrate the intelligence of Gemini directly into Walmart and Sam’s Club shopping experiences, launching first within the Gemini app in the U.S..
  • [Jan 11 2026] - link
• Kroger Scales Generative AI Strategy with Google Cloud to Drive Digital Growth and Personalization - Kroger announced an expanded partnership with Google Cloud to utilize the new agentic platform, Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, aiming to simplify how customers shop and eat.
  • [Jan 11 2026] - link

✨ Gemini Product Updates

• Introducing a New Kind of Gem - New experimental Gems are rolling out from Google Labs, allowing users to create custom AI mini-apps for everyday tasks or to explore new ideas.
  • [Jan 12 2026] - link
• Introducing Visual Layout and Dynamic View in Gemini Labs - Two new experimental features, visual layout and dynamic view, are being introduced in the Gemini app to make responses more engaging by using multimodal capabilities for immersive visual responses and agentic coding for unique user interfaces.
  • [Jan 12 2026] - link
• Understand Complex Topics Faster with Integrated Visuals and YouTube Videos - Gemini now automatically integrates high-quality images, diagrams, and YouTube videos directly into its responses to provide a richer learning experience for complex topics.
  • [Jan 12 2026] - link
• Priority Access with Gemini Advanced: Ask Gemini to Look Back at Past Chats for More Tailored Help - Gemini Advanced subscribers can now allow the AI to use past chats to provide more helpful and tailored responses, summarizing previous conversations and building on ongoing projects.
  • [Jan 12 2026] - link

🚨 General AI Industry News and Concerns

• 'Dangerous and Alarming': Google Removes Some of Its AI Summaries After Users' Health Put at Risk - A report found that Google removed some of its AI Overviews after a Guardian investigation revealed the feature was providing inaccurate and false information when users queried it over blood tests.
  • [Jan 11 2026] - link
• McKinsey Boss Bob Sternfels Breaks Down How AI Is Changing Consulting Jobs - McKinsey's global managing partner revealed the firm now employs 25,000 AI agents alongside 40,000 human employees, noting that client-facing roles are growing while non-client-facing positions have shrunk due to AI-driven productivity gains.
  • [Jan 11 2026] - link