AI and Tech Weekly Roundup September 8–14th 2025
A concise briefing on the week’s most consequential hardware launches product updates regulatory moves and media lawsuits across Tech and AI
Apple unveils iPhone 17 lineup including the ultra thin iPhone Air
What happened
Apple announced the iPhone 17 family and introduced an ultra thin iPhone Air positioned as a lighter replacement for the Plus tier. Coverage highlights a chassis as thin as 5.6 mm and a 6.6 inch display with 120 Hz ProMotion along with A19 Pro silicon. AirPods Pro 3 and new Apple Watch models also debuted. Business Insider+3TechCrunch+3TechCrunch+3
Why it matters
Apple’s return of the Air branding to phones signals a renewed emphasis on industrial design and efficiency while larger scale AI assistant upgrades remain in development. For the portfolio Apple is segmenting on thinness and weight rather than only on cameras and screens. TechCrunch
Key numbers
iPhone Air thickness about 5.6 mm reported in event coverage
Display 6.6 inches at up to 120 Hz ProMotion on Air
Entry iPhone 17 price unchanged while the base Pro rises 100 dollars with larger base storage according to event recaps TechCrunch+2TechCrunch+2
What to watch
Adoption split between the extremely thin Air and the mainstream iPhone 17 will indicate whether thinness alone drives meaningful upgrade demand this cycle. TechCrunch
Google expands Gemini and Search AI features and upgrades NotebookLM
What happened
Google rolled out three user facing updates. The Gemini app now accepts audio file uploads with tiered limits by plan. Search’s AI Mode adds five languages Hindi Indonesian Japanese Korean and Brazilian Portuguese. NotebookLM adds customizable report styles such as study guides briefings flashcards and quizzes in over 80 languages. The Verge+1
Why it matters
Multimodal inputs and multilingual access broaden practical utility for students researchers and everyday users while NotebookLM shifts from a chat only helper to a templated report generator. The Verge
Key numbers
AI Mode language expansion count five new languages on September 8 2025
NotebookLM report styles available across 80 plus languages per product coverage and recent updates
Audio uploads supported in the Gemini app with limits that scale by subscription tier blog.google+1
What to watch
Engagement changes in non English locales as AI Mode reaches more markets and whether audio workflows increase time spent in Gemini versus third party transcription tools. blog.google
OpenAI and Microsoft sign a non binding MOU for the next phase of their partnership
What happened
OpenAI and Microsoft announced a memorandum of understanding intended to define a revised partnership and enable corporate restructuring at OpenAI with details to be finalized in a definitive agreement. Multiple reports frame the move as clearing a path toward a possible OpenAI offering and a less exclusive cloud posture. The Verge+3The Official Microsoft Blog+3Reuters+3
Why it matters
The agreement reshapes governance and capital access for a leading model developer while preserving product collaboration. Reduced exclusivity could diversify infrastructure partners and alter competitive dynamics among hyperscalers. Reuters
Key numbers
Microsoft investment cited at 11 to 13 billion dollars in recent reporting
Target valuation and revenue share terms remain subject to negotiation and regulatory review per wire coverage Reuters+2www.alphaspread.com+2
What to watch
The text of the definitive agreement model access terms for enterprises and any antitrust or nonprofit governance reviews that shape the final structure. The Official Microsoft Blog
US Federal Trade Commission opens a formal inquiry into AI companion chatbots
What happened
The FTC issued Section 6 b orders to seven companies that operate consumer facing AI companion chatbots including Alphabet Meta OpenAI xAI Character Technologies Instagram and Snap seeking details on safety testing monetization data handling and safeguards for minors. Federal Trade Commission+1
Why it matters
The action elevates scrutiny of products popular with teens and younger users and could set expectations for design testing disclosures and parental controls even in the absence of a specific enforcement case. Federal Trade Commission
Key documents and scope
FTC press release issued September 11 2025
Model 6 b order template published by the agency describing required Special Reports due within 45 days
Parallel coverage by major outlets summarizing the companies named and the child safety focus Federal Trade Commission+2Federal Trade Commission+2
What to watch
Company responses the breadth of data the FTC requests and whether follow on actions emerge around children’s privacy deceptive design or advertising practices. Federal Trade Commission
Penske Media sues Google over AI Overviews
What happened
Penske Media Corporation owner of Variety Rolling Stone and other titles filed a federal lawsuit alleging Google’s AI Overviews repackage journalism and divert traffic. The filing represents a direct challenge from a major publisher to search summary features. Reuters+1
Why it matters
If courts find the feature infringes or harms competition Google could be compelled to change how AI summaries are produced credited or monetized which would affect publisher revenue and search result design. Reuters
What to watch
Judicial stance on fair use and competition claims publisher alliances or licensing deals and any interim product adjustments by Google during litigation. Axios
Encyclopaedia Britannica and Merriam Webster sue Perplexity AI
What happened
Encyclopaedia Britannica and Merriam Webster sued Perplexity AI in New York federal court alleging copyright and trademark infringement tied to Perplexity’s answer engine including claims of verbatim copying and misattribution of AI generated text. The complaint seeks damages and injunctive relief. Reuters+1
Why it matters
Reference publishers are escalating legal pressure on AI search tools after prior publisher suits raising the stakes for training data licensing source citation and brand attribution practices. The Verge
What to watch
Judicial treatment of scraping and RAG outputs alleged false endorsement claims and whether additional publisher AI agreements or further suits follow. Reuters
Spotify launches Lossless for Premium users
What happened
Spotify began rolling out lossless FLAC streaming for Premium subscribers enabling playback up to 24 bit 44.1 kHz across mobile desktop and supported Connect devices with rollout continuing through October. Early reviews note benefits mainly for wired or high end listening setups. Spotify+2Pitchfork+2
Why it matters
The launch narrows a long standing feature gap with Apple Music and Tidal and may reduce churn among audiophile leaning users though Bluetooth limitations temper real world gains for most listeners. The Verge
Key numbers
Format up to 24 bit 44.1 kHz FLAC
Availability 50 plus markets in the initial wave per industry coverage
Included in existing Premium price at launch according to several trade outlets Spotify+1
What to watch
Adoption rates device compatibility issues and whether Spotify introduces a higher priced hi res tier beyond 44.1 kHz in future updates. TechRadar
One chart for the week
At a glance
Big consumer hardware Apple iPhone Air introduces a thinness first phone tier
Practical AI features Google expands Gemini audio and multilingual Search AI while NotebookLM adds report templates
Platform power dynamics OpenAI and Microsoft advance a reworked partnership via MOU
Regulatory spotlight FTC opens a 6 b inquiry into AI companions’ safety and monetization
Media pushback Penske Media sues Google over AI Overviews
Reference publishers escalate Britannica and Merriam Webster sue Perplexity
Consumer audio Spotify flips the Lossless switch for Premium
Sources
TechCrunch — iPhone 17 iPhone Air AirPods Pro 3 and everything else announced at Apple’s hardware event 2025 09 09. TechCrunch
TechCrunch — Apple debuts the 999 dollar ultra thin iPhone Air 2025 09 09. TechCrunch
TechCrunch — The iPhone Air is a hint at the iPhone’s future 2025 09 09. TechCrunch
Business Insider — Apple Event recap new iPhone 17 lineup and more 2025 09 09. Business Insider
Google — AI Mode in Search expands to five new languages 2025 09 08. blog.google
The Verge — Gemini app adds audio uploads and NotebookLM gains report styles 2025 09 08. The Verge
Microsoft Corporate Blog — A joint statement from Microsoft and OpenAI 2025 09 11. The Official Microsoft Blog
Reuters — Microsoft and OpenAI sign MOU for next phase of partnership 2025 09 11. Reuters
Reuters — Microsoft OpenAI reach non binding deal to allow restructuring 2025 09 11. Reuters
The Verge — Microsoft and OpenAI have a new deal that could clear the way for an IPO 2025 09 12. The Verge
FTC — Press release FTC launches inquiry into AI chatbots acting as companions 2025 09 11. Federal Trade Commission
Reuters — FTC launches inquiry into AI chatbots 2025 09 11 12. Reuters
Reuters — Penske sues Google over AI Overviews 2025 09 14. Reuters
Axios — Penske Media sues Google over AI summaries 2025 09 14. Axios
Reuters — Encyclopaedia Britannica sues Perplexity over AI answer engine 2025 09 11. Reuters
The Verge — Britannica and Merriam Webster sue Perplexity 2025 09 12. The Verge
Spotify Newsroom — Lossless listening arrives on Spotify Premium 2025 09 10. Spotify
Pitchfork — Spotify adds Lossless audio for Premium users 2025 09 10. Pitchfork
The Verge — Spotify Lossless hands on 2025 09 14. The Verge