by Raphael Dudler | May 24, 2026 | gafam watch
The week of May 18–24, 2026 will be remembered as the moment AI stopped being a tool that answers questions and became a system that takes action — specifically, commercial action. Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol signed Meta, Microsoft, Stripe, Klarna and Affirm as partners for end-to-end agentic checkout. Amazon’s Alexa for Shopping buys at third-party retailers. Microsoft’s Copilot executes tasks across enterprise workflows. And Zuckerberg admitted most AI agents aren’t ready for his mother. gafam.ai’s Sunday analysis of the week that changed AI commerce forever.
by Raphael Dudler | May 18, 2026 | google ai
Google I/O 2026 is confirmed. Gemini 3.2 Flash — not 4.0 — deploys simultaneously across Search, Maps, YouTube, Gmail and Chrome for billions of users. Android XR glasses from Samsung, XREAL, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster get their first public preview. Gemma 4 open-weights launch commercially. Google Health Coach arrives at $9.99 per month. This is not a capability story. It is a distribution story. gafam.ai — the European eye on Big Tech and AI.
by Raphael Dudler | May 18, 2026 | google ai
Today is the day. Google I/O 2026 keynote opens at 10am PT — 19:00 CET. The entire industry is watching one question above all others: how good is the new Gemini model? Sources say it lands roughly at the level of OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 — and meaningfully behind Anthropic’s Claude Mythos, the frontier model that redefined the industry benchmark in April 2026. A competent Gemini is no longer a headline achievement. It is the minimum requirement. gafam.ai watches live — from a European perspective. Published by gafam.ai — The European Eye on Big Tech & Artificial Intelligence.
by Raphael Dudler | May 16, 2026 | meta ai
Google and Meta — two companies competing directly in AI, advertising and social media — have quietly become collaborators on Android. Instagram is now fully optimised for Android tablets. AI-powered Instagram editing tools including video upscaling, night sight and audio separation have landed on Android. And Instagram Edits for Android is getting a major AI upgrade. In the AI arms race, even rivals find reasons to cooperate. gafam.ai examines what this unlikely partnership reveals about the future of the GAFAM landscape. Published by gafam.ai — The European Eye on Big Tech & Artificial Intelligence.
by Raphael Dudler | May 16, 2026 | google ai
Three days to Google I/O 2026. The keynote streams May 19 at 10am PT — 19:00 CET. Google has already revealed Googlebooks, Gemini Intelligence and Android 17 features through The Android Show. What remains for the main stage: Gemini upgrades, Veo video generation, Android XR glasses, the possible debut of Project Aura AR glasses with Xreal, and the full reveal of Aluminium OS. gafam.ai’s complete preview — from a European perspective. Published by gafam.ai — The European Eye on Big Tech & Artificial Intelligence.
