🛒 Amazon Alexa+ Arrives on Web for $19.99/Month 🛒
Amazon expands Alexa+ beyond Echo devices with browser-based access and agentic capabilities.

Amazon has launched Alexa.com, bringing its AI-powered Alexa+ assistant to web browsers for the first time and marking a direct challenge to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok. The move signals Amazon's push into the crowded web-based AI assistant market. Alexa+ Arrives on Web for $19.99/Month, though it remains free during Early Access and permanently free for Prime members. The assistant supports agentic capabilities through integrations with Expedia, Yelp, Uber, and OpenTable, enabling users to complete tasks without leaving the chat interface. Amazon reports usage has surged dramatically, with shopping interactions up 5x and cooking queries up 3x. The Alexa mobile app is also being redesigned around a chatbot-first experience.

🏥 OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health for medical guidance 🏥
AI leader enters healthcare market with personalized experience

OpenAI just launched ChatGPT Health, a new experience that allows users to upload and connect medical data for personalized health guidance, including navigating complex insurance options. The company consulted with over 260 physicians to build the platform, though it emphasizes Health is designed to support—not replace—professional medical care. The timing is notable: Utah recently approved a pilot program allowing AI to renew prescriptions without a doctor.

📧 Gmail enters the Gemini era with AI-powered inbox 📧 
Google makes AI features free for all personal users

Google launched major AI upgrades to Gmail, including an AI Inbox that surfaces your most important tasks and updates, plus AI Overviews that let you search through emails using natural language. The company is making two previously paid features—Help Me Write and Suggested Replies—free for all personal users. Google stressed that all AI features are optional and that it doesn't use personal email content to train its models.

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🛡️ Mistral AI partners with French Defence Ministry 🛡️

Mistral AI announced that the French Ministry of Armed Forces has selected the company to strengthen France's Defence capabilities through advanced AI solutions. The collaboration will provide the French Armed Forces—alongside research institutions and public agencies—with access to Mistral's models, solutions, and experts. Solutions will be deployed on France's own infrastructure, ensuring full control over critical data and technologies. Mistral will fine-tune models on Defence-specific data and tailor applications to operational needs, reinforcing France's strategic autonomy in AI-driven Defence.

🚪 Meta's chief AI scientist exits with sharp criticism 🚪

Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist for over a decade, departed the company with pointed criticism in a candid FT interview. He called his replacement Alexandr Wang "inexperienced" and lacking research credentials, admitted that Llama 4 benchmarks were "fudged a little bit," and predicted more departures from Meta's GenAI team. LeCun revealed he'll serve as executive chair of AMI, his new AI venture, while maintaining that LLMs are a "dead end" for achieving superintelligence—directly contradicting Meta's current strategy.