Google Cloud repositions as AI platform with Gemini at the core

Google unveiled a full-scale shift toward enterprise AI at its Cloud Next ‘25 conference, introducing the Gemini 1.5 Pro model, new AI agents, and enhanced cloud infrastructure.

With expanded partnerships across Nvidia, SAP, and Cognizant, Google is positioning itself as an end-to-end AI infrastructure provider for the enterprise stack.

This isn’t just a product update — it’s a power move to make Google indispensable for enterprise AI. CEOs leading digital transformation efforts must now evaluate Google Cloud not just as a utility, but as a foundational AI partner.

Samsung and Google Cloud are integrating Gemini AI into Ballie, an autonomous home robot designed to act as a personal assistant and smart device controller.

Running Gemini Nano, Ballie is designed to move around the house, respond to voice commands, and interact with smart home ecosystems in real time.

Consumer robotics is entering the AI arms race — and Samsung just gave it a serious boost. Expect home devices to evolve from passive gadgets into proactive, AI-powered assistants that reshape how brands engage with users inside their homes.

EHang, a Chinese drone and aviation firm, says its autonomous air taxis will begin commercial operations within three years, following recent regulatory approvals.

The company is rolling out electric vertical takeoff aircraft in cities with advanced infrastructure, aiming to solve urban congestion with AI-powered mobility.

While the West debates safety frameworks, China is clearing a path for AI-driven urban flight. This is more than transportation — it’s a signal that airspace, energy demand, and urban design are being redefined, and forward-looking CEOs need to get ahead of it.

Nvidia’s H20 chips, designed for the Chinese market to comply with U.S. sanctions, are facing more delays due to supply chain snags and regulatory tightening.

These chips were meant to provide high-performance AI computing under export controls, but delivery is now expected in Q2 2025 at the earliest.

The AI hardware race is becoming a geopolitical chess match, with CEOs caught in the crossfire. Leaders relying on global chip supply must now plan for redundancy and localization — or risk falling behind.

A new Forbes analysis shows global family offices are increasing their exposure to AI, dialing back from crypto and climate in Q1 2025.

They’re targeting infrastructure plays, model startups, and AI tools for managing complex wealth — not as a trend, but as a generational asset shift.

The capital behind AI is changing hands — and family offices are bypassing funds to go direct. CEOs should view them not only as investors, but as fast-moving competitors in the AI ecosystem.