Office Wars

Welcome back apprentices! 👋

Think back to Apple’s iconic 1984 ad, where a runner smashed conformity with a hammer.

Now, it’s 2025, and Microsoft and Google are doing their own hammer-throwing—this time aimed at the workplace, embedding AI into every office suite imaginable.

If you’re on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace (and let’s face it, you probably are), congrats — you’ve just joined the largest AI rollout in history. Microsoft is taking the “friendly” approach with flexible pricing, while Google’s gone full steam ahead with its “no opt-out” Gemini integration.

Opt-out? Not a chance.

In just a second, we’ll break down what this means for your workplace and how to stay ahead of the AI curve?

Share this with your crew — because mastering AI is the new workplace superpower.  (copy URL here)

In today's email

• Teacher shortages? AI’s got this

• Microsoft Research’s MatterGen

• Meet Black Panther 2.0

• Perplexity AI Bids for TikTok U.S. 

• Apple’s AI News Fail

• Microsoft vs. Google

• More Tools & Updates

_{Read Time: 5 minutes}

New Year Update: Starting soon, our newsletter will come from a new provider!  To keep receiving our updates without a hitch, please add [email protected] to your contacts.

Quick News 

📚 Teacher shortages? AI’s got this. A Nigerian study backed by the World Bank shows students using AI tutors with teacher help gained two years of learning in just six weeks. The program, which focused on English and digital skills, saw major boosts in school exams—especially for girls who were struggling.

Pro tip: the more sessions students attended, the smarter they got. Who knew AI tutoring was like a gym membership for your brain?

🐾 Meet Black Panther 2.0, China’s record-breaking robot dog that just sprinted 100 meters in under 10 seconds. Inspired by black panthers and jerboas (yes, that’s a real animal), this 83-pound speedster features carbon-fiber legs, cheetah-like sneakers, and AI smarts to adapt its gait. It’s not faster than a real cheetah, but it’s left other robots in the dust.

📱 In a twist worthy of a reality show, Perplexity AI—Jeff Bezos’ search engine and chatbot project—has bid for TikTok’s U.S. operations. This follows the Supreme Court’s “sell it or leave” ruling over national security concerns. Analysts think the $40 billion price tag makes this a long shot, while Elon Musk waits in the wings with what’s probably a meme-filled counteroffer.

📰 Apple has pulled the plug on its AI-generated news summaries after a wave of backlash over hilariously inaccurate headlines. From claiming someone’s murder suspect had died (he hadn’t) to other awkward blunders, the feature left media outlets like the BBC scratching their heads. Apple promises a fix, but perfecting device-tailored AI summaries might be like finding a needle in a haystack — blindfolded.

Together with Fellow

Keep your meeting data safe

Worried about all the AI bots joining your meetings?

Fellow is the only AI meeting assistant built with security controls and permissions.

Thousands of organizations rely on Fellow to capture their meeting transcripts, summaries, and action items – all in one secure platform.

Claim 90 days of unlimited AI notes today… and stop sharing your meeting data with AI note-takers that lack proper security.

Get started free

Microsoft vs. Google 
Who Wins the Workspace War? 

The Hammer's Been Thrown and the workplace as you know it just got an AI upgrade — whether you wanted it or not. 

Microsoft and Google have officially embedded AI into their office suites, marking the largest forced adoption of AI in history. This isn't a slow rollout; it's a full-throttle AI blitz, and your tools are evolving faster than you can say, "Let's circle back on that." But what does it mean for your workflow, your wallet, and your sanity? Let's dive in.

The Players

Microsoft: The Friendly Copilot

Microsoft is rolling out Copilot AI to Microsoft 365 for an extra $3 per user per month. 

Here's the lowdown:

• Who Gets It? Everyone on Microsoft 365, with an option to stick to a “Classic” plan for the AI-shy.

• What’s New? Copilot brings GPT-powered tools to apps like Word, Excel, and Teams, allowing you to automate tasks, summarize documents, and even generate data-driven reports.

• The Catch? New users pay the higher price immediately, while existing customers get a grace period until their renewal date.

Google: The AI Bulldozer

Google is taking a “resistance is futile” approach by embedding its Gemini AI across Workspace Business accounts. No opt-out, no debate. 

Here’s what you’re in for:

• Who Gets It? Workspace Business customers now; Enterprise accounts follow next month.

• What’s Included? Gemini powers Gmail, Meet, Docs, and more while offering advanced tools like NotebookLM Plus.

• Pricing Shift? Workspace costs are up $2/month, but considering the standalone Gemini plan was $32/month, bundling is a bargain.

Productivity Boost or AI Overload?

AI promises to reduce busywork — think summarizing email threads, scheduling tasks, and auto-generating meeting minutes. But with great power comes great responsibility: Are you ready to fact-check your AI buddy’s work?

Cost vs. Value

Microsoft’s Copilot keeps things affordable at $3/month, while Google’s Gemini bundling feels like a solid deal compared to standalone prices. Still, these costs add up, especially for larger teams.

The New Normal in the Office

• AI Is Non-Negotiable: If you’re using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, you’re in. The real choice isn’t if you’ll use AI, but how.

• Stay Sharp: AI tools can make you faster, but over-reliance can dull your critical thinking. Balance automation with brainpower.

• Evaluate Your Needs: Do you really need all the bells and whistles? Microsoft’s “Classic” plan or lighter AI alternatives might save you cash and sanity.

What’s Next?

This forced adoption signals a turning point in workplace tech. As AI becomes ubiquitous, the divide will grow between teams who embrace it intelligently and those who let it overwhelm them. Whether it’s Copilot or Gemini, your success will depend on how you integrate AI into your workflow without losing the human edge.

This isn’t just about tools — it’s about transforming how we work. 

Microsoft and Google have thrown the AI hammer through our screens, and there’s no turning back. 

Tools & Updates

🧪 Microsoft Research has unleashed MatterGen, an AI model that dreams up new materials with custom properties. Think of it as a master chef, but instead of recipes, it’s cooking up atoms and crystal structures. The result? Stable materials twice as often as older methods, validated by its sidekick, MatterSim. It’s faster, smarter, and skips the trial-and-error drama—ideal for clean energy, high-tech gadgets, or whatever sci-fi project you’re working on.

🛡️ Cisco just rolled out AI Defense, a digital bouncer for your enterprise AI. This system doesn’t just keep an eye on your AI assets — it fends off threats like data leaks, prompt injections, and those sneaky denial-of-service attacks. Think of it as a 24/7 security guard ensuring your AI stays productive and out of trouble.

🎯 OpenAI has unveiled o3 mini, the reasoning AI model that’s basically ChatGPT’s genius cousin. CEO Sam Altman promises an upcoming launch with API access and ChatGPT integration, aiming to make solving complex problems look easy while giving Google’s DeepMind a reason to sweat. OpenAI is already gunning for AI MVP of the Year.

Let's Chat About AI

This is all for today!

Replay to this email with your thoughts.

AI is more than just a buzzword. It’s a shift in how we live and work. And understanding it a bit better means you can make smarter choices about the tech you use every day.

_FEEDBACK