👋 Happy Friday. AI’s hijacking Google Search, LinkedIn’s cutting checks for your cringe-worthy thought leadership, and Apple’s legal team is sweating harder than a Tesla in traffic. Meanwhile, Elon’s AI might move in with Microsoft—because even billionaires need roommates.

TL;DR: This week in tech is weirder than a quantum computer at a bake sale.

What’s Merging Today:
• 🧠 Google Search adds full AI chat
• 🧾 Apple’s App Store moves
• 🤖 Microsoft courts Musk’s Grok AI
• 💼 LinkedIn to pay top creators
• 🚗 Tesla: Musk isn’t leaving, stop asking

MERGE MINDBLOWERS

🌌 NASA’s new space telescope found a galaxy shaped like Elon’s Twitter logo—coincidence or cosmic trolling? (Peer review pending.)

🧠 AI just decoded brain waves into smells—meaning it could soon recreate your grandma’s cookies… or your gym socks.

⚡ A startup built a battery that charges in 30 seconds—using tech inspired by electric eels. Your phone’s still at 1%.

🦈 Scientists trained sharks to send tweets (#JustOceanThings). Next up: TikTok dances.

💎 Lab-grown diamonds now have embedded microchips—proposing with a ring that also mines crypto? Baller.

TODAY IN AI

Google Search: Now with 100% More ChatBot

Google just replaced your search bar with an AI concierge. Ask it anything—except why it’s still recommending Yahoo Answers.

🔹 Full conversations: No more typing “reddit” after every query.
🔹 Follow-up questions: “Why is the sky blue?” → “Why aren’t you blue, Google?”
🔹 Instant citations: Answers come with sources (so you can fact-check the bot’s ego).

Takeaway: The ‘search bar’ is dead. Long lived the chatbot overloard.

TODAY IN TECH

LinkedIn’s Creator Fund: Monetizing Your Hot Takes

LinkedIn’s paying 30 top creators a cut of ad revenue. Finally, a reward for pretending you love “synergy.”

📈 Video engagement up 36%—because nothing says “hire me” like a shaky iPhone rant.
💰 Revenue sharing: Get paid for posts that out-awkward your Tinder bio.
🎯 Goal: Steal talent from TikTok/YouTube. “Influencer” just got a 401(k).

Takeaway: Your “day in the life of a CEO” video might actually pay rent.

TODAY IN BUSINESS

Apple vs. DOJ: Contempt Edition

A federal judge accused Apple of “willfully defying” orders to open App Store payments. Tim Cook’s response: “Our bad (but also we’ll appeal).”

⚖️ Contempt charges loom—possible fines and felony giggles.
🍎 Apple’s defense: “We technically complied… if you squint.”
💸 Developers cheer: The 30% “Apple Tax” could finally crumble.

Takeaway: The only thing thicker than an iPhone is this legal drama.

MERGE TOOLS

Top AI Tools

• 💬 Genei — Summarize web pages, fast

• 📑 Wordtune Spices — Add smart facts to bland writing

• 📽️ Opus Clip — Turn long videos into viral clips

• 📊 Whimsical AI — Auto-generate wireframes, workflows, mind maps

• 🔎 Humata AI — Chat with your PDFs like it’s 2099

🛠️ Want More? Check out our Top 50 AI Tools.

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WHAT ELSE IS MERGING

🔴 Reddit’s AI bets on Google’s crowd
Reddit’s new AI tools aim to lure search users, not just scroll addicts. Think "TL;DR bots" for the ADHD generation. Read more

🗣️ Alexa hits 100K users (wait, that’s it?)
Amazon’s CEO proudly announced Alexa’s milestone—turns out it’s 100K premium subscribers, not total users. Read more

🍎 Apple eats $900M in tariffs, won’t raise prices (yet)
Tim Cook’s playing chicken with inflation—but the iPhone 16 might cost your firstborn soon. Read more

🎬 Peacock turns TikTokers into TV stars
Four creators who mastered "POV: You’re a sandwich" now get original series. Read more

💸 Stripe teaches devs to dodge Apple’s 30% tax
The payment giant’s new guide: "How to keep your kidneys while selling apps." Read more

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Until next time,

Matt + The Morning Merge team.