August 22, 2025 · 24-Hour AI Briefing: Google Expands AI Search Globally, Alibaba Launches Qoder, Meta Poaches Apple Exec
In the past 24 hours, the global AI race has seen major developments: Google rolled out its AI search mode worldwide, Alibaba launched its new programming platform Qoder, and Meta hired another senior AI leader away from Apple. Here’s the full roundup with insights.
1. Google Expands AI Search Mode Worldwide
Google announced that its AI search mode is now available in 180 countries and regions. The feature now supports link sharing, and more “agent-like” capabilities will be added soon, such as restaurant reservations, local service bookings, and event ticket purchases.
In addition, Google introduced Gemini for Government at a price of $0.47 per user for U.S. federal agencies—significantly lower than the $1 per user charged by OpenAI and Anthropic.
Commentary:
Initially launched in the U.S. before expanding to India and the U.K., Google’s AI search mode is now going global. As the long-time leader in search, Google is racing to adapt under the pressure of generative AI challengers like ChatGPT and Grok.
In the government AI market, Google’s aggressive pricing signals strong determination to outcompete its rivals. Expect the bidding war for government AI contracts to intensify.
2. Alibaba Unveils Qoder Programming Platform
Alibaba has launched Qoder, a global programming platform that integrates leading coding models. Qoder, now available for Windows and MacOS, is built on powerful AI agents capable of autonomous software development, aiming to significantly boost real-world programming productivity.
Commentary:
Following ByteDance’s Trae programming platform, which has already gained traction, Alibaba is entering the field with its own solution. After receiving global recognition for its Qwen large language model, Alibaba is betting that Qoder will capture the attention of developers worldwide. The key question is whether it can replicate the success of Qwen in the developer ecosystem.
3. Meta Hires Former Apple AI Leader
Reports suggest that Frank Chu, who previously led Apple’s AI team focused on cloud infrastructure, training, and search, is set to join Meta’s Super Intelligence Lab. Both Apple and Meta have declined to comment.
The move comes as Meta recently announced a major restructuring of its AI division, splitting the Super Intelligence Lab into four separate teams and reassigning many AI staff.
Commentary:
Meta’s relentless talent hunt in AI reflects both its ambition and anxiety in the global race. The company has been aggressively poaching experts, signaling just how critical AI is to its long-term strategy.
For Apple, if confirmed, this is a setback. While Apple is often criticized for being slow in AI, the company is far from ignoring the field. Losing a senior leader like Chu could disrupt its momentum.
Within a single day, Google, Alibaba, and Meta showcased just how fierce and fast-paced the AI competition has become.
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