Magnificent 7 Weekly Briefing

January 16, 2026

Apple tapped Google's Gemini for Siri's AI, infrastructure expansion sparked utility cost debates, regulators pursued Google's ad tech, and more.

• Apple confirmed a major deal with Google to integrate Gemini models, expected to power a revamped Siri and future Apple Intelligence features, with speculation the partnership could be worth up to $5 billion. ^1234567
• Google faced intensifying legal pressure over alleged monopolistic conduct in its ad tech stack and search results, including a push from the European Commission and several new lawsuits from publishers. ^8910111213
• Big Tech infrastructure expansion continued globally, as Amazon launched a European Sovereign Cloud and Google reported that U.S. power grid delays were hampering its own data center growth. ^{14151617181920}
• Microsoft committed to new community-focused AI infrastructure principles, including minimizing water use and paying for electricity, following concerns that data center growth could raise local power costs. ^{21222324252627}
• Tesla announced that its Full Self-Driving software will transition to a subscription-only model, while the company also agreed to mediation to resolve a U.S. racism lawsuit. ^28293031
• Apple launched a new $12.99/month Creator Studio subscription bundle and reported 2025 as a record year for its services division, with developers earning $550 billion since the App Store launched. ^3233343536
• Other developments included Nvidia expanding its BioNeMo platform and co-innovation lab for drug discovery, and Microsoft disrupting the cybercrime-as-a-service operation RedVDS. ^3738394041

Sources

1. Apple s Google Gemini Deal Could Be Worth $5 Billion macrumors.com
2. The Apple-Google deal: A marriage of convenience or a strategic surrender? livemint.com
3. Apple Picking Google Gemini to Power Siri Was About Buying Time cnet.com
4. AI models: Musk considers cooperation between Apple and Google problematic heise.de
5. Apple has confirmed that Siri’s big AI reboot will be powered by Google’s Gemini digitaltrends.com
6. Apple taps Google to power a new Siri and future AI tools washingtonpost.com
7. Apple, Google strike Gemini deal for revamped Siri in major win for Alphabet reuters.com
8. The EC further pushes to rein-in Google’s ad tech monopoly digiday.com
9. Ohio AG Presses To Reinstate Suit Against Google Over Search Results mediapost.com
10. Publishers seek to join lawsuit against Google over AI training yahoo.com
11. McClatchy Media accuses Google in federal court of monopolizing online ad sales yahoo.com
12. The Rundown: Google has drawn its AI payment lines — and publishers’ leverage is narrow digiday.com
13. Google defends AI search summaries in Rolling Stone publisher's lawsuit reuters.com
14. Amazon digs deep for AI gold as copper mine partnership fuels massive data center expansion aol.com
15. Amazon launches new Europe-based cloud service to address user concerns reuters.com
16. AWS launches AWS European Sovereign Cloud Amazon
17. Google Says U.S. Power Grid Delays Hamper Data Center Expansion finance.yahoo.com
18. Amazon stops in NEPA to talk about data center development yahoo.com
19. City leaders looking to expand plans for proposed Amazon data center in Wilmington yahoo.com
20. Google Goes Electric to Get Quick Data Center Approval — The Information theinformation.com
21. Microsoft moving on from Caledonia data center following local anger jsonline.com
22. Microsoft launches Community-First AI Infrastructure initiative Microsoft
23. Microsoft announces glut of new data centers but says it won't let your electricity bill go up techcrunch.com
24. Microsoft's Brad Smith pushes Big Tech to 'pay our way' for AI data centers amid rising opposition apnews.com
25. AI Data Centers: Trump: Microsoft should not burden households for AI power - 01/13/2026 wallstreet-online.de
26. Trump says Microsoft to make changes to curb data center power costs for Americans reuters.com
27. Microsoft plans data center campuses in Dorr and Lowell Townships, Michigan datacenterdynamics.com
28. Musk announces changes to Tesla's 'full self-drive,' Starlink in Iran, and should you be more 'rude' to chatbots? | Tech Today zdnet.com
29. Tesla to offer self-driving software only on monthly basis from Feb 14, Musk says reuters.com
30. Tesla agrees to mediation that could resolve US agency's racism lawsuit reuters.com
31. Tesla Sued After Driver Kills Motorcyclist While Reportedly On Autopilot carscoops.com
32. Apple says developers have earned $550 billion from the App Store since 2008 moneycontrol.com
33. Apple Takes On Adobe Creative Cloud With A New Creator Studio Subscription forbes.com
34. Apple introduces Apple Creator Studio Apple
35. Apple reports record-breaking 2025 for services Apple
36. Apple says 2025 was a record year for services as App Store, TV and Music hit new highs moneycontrol.com
37. Microsoft Disrupts Cybercrime Service RedVDS darkreading.com
38. Microsoft disrupts RedVDS cybercrime service Microsoft
39. NVIDIA and Lilly announce AI co-innovation lab for drug discovery Nvidia
40. Nvidia unveils physical AI advancements Nvidia
41. NVIDIA expands BioNeMo platform for AI-driven drug discovery Nvidia