GOOGL News & Events

Zillow (ZG) said that Zillow Rentals is now live as a connected app inside Google Gemini (GOOGL) and Gemini Spark, the only real estate platform in Gemini's connected apps ecosystem. Renters can ask Gemini to find apartments with tours available on Zillow - "Find me a pet-friendly one-bedroom in Seattle with tours on Zillow," for example - and the Zillow connected app brings up matching listings and available booking times directly in Gemini. One click takes the renter to Zillow to confirm the booking, pick a time and lock it in. The search starts in Gemini. The tour books on Zillow. "Renters don't all start their search the same way," said Michael Sherman, senior vice president of Zillow Rentals. "What matters is that Zillow is there when they are ready to take a real next step - that includes inside one of the largest AI assistants in the world."

Catch up on the top artificial intelligence news and commentary by Wall Street analysts on publicly traded companies in the space with this daily recap compiled by The Fly.GPT-5.6 FAMILY OF MODELS:OpenAI said it is launching the GPT-5.6 family of models for general availability following its limited preview. "GPT-5.6 spans three model tiers: Sol, our flagship; Terra, a lower-cost model with performance competitive with GPT-5.5; and Luna, our fastest and most affordable model. The number identifies the generation, while Sol, Terra, and Luna are durable capability tiers that can advance on their own cadence. GPT-5.6 is available starting today across ChatGPT, Codex, and the OpenAI API. The rollout is starting globally now and will continue gradually toward full availability over the next 24 hours... GPT-5.6 is priced per 1M tokens across three model sizes: Sol is $5 input / $30 output; Terra is $2.50 input / $15 output; and Luna is $1 input / $6 output. GPT-5.6 also introduces more predictable prompt caching, including support for explicit cache breakpoints and a 30-minute minimum cache life. For GPT-5.6 and later models, cache writes are billed at 1.25x the model's uncached input rate, while cache reads continue to receive the 90% cached-input discount," the company said.AI CHIP PRODUCTION:Metaplans to begin manufacturing its in-house AI chip, code-named Iris, in September as part of a broader effort to expand computing capacity and use custom silicon to enhance AI capabilities across Facebook and Instagram, Reuters' Katie Paul, Max A. Cherney, and Stephen Nellis, citing an internal memo reviewed by the publication. Meta is working with Broadcomto help design the chip and TSMCto manufacture it, the report notes.MUSE SPARK AI:Meta has released developer access to its Muse Spark AI model and an upgraded version, positioning the company to compete with Anthropic and OpenAI by offering advanced AI coding and agentic capabilities as part of its personal superintelligence strategy, Reuters' Harshita Mary Varghese and Katie Paul. The upgraded model can write and debug code, use software and external tools, understand text, images and video, and carry out complex multi-step tasks with less human intervention, according to the report.IN-HOUSE TOOLS:Starbucksis developing in-house tools with the help of AI that could replace some software applications it now buys from companies such as Microsoftand IBM, Bloomberg's Daniela Sirtori and Brody Ford. The coffee chain is building alternatives to a Microsoft system that tracks inventory and an IBM tool that manages maintenance, according to an internal presentation reviewed by Bloomberg News. Some of the Starbucks-developed software could roll out by the end of next year, pending the results of testing, the authors add.AI DISCLOSURES FOR ADS:Googleis rolling out global AI disclosures for ads across Search, YouTube, and Discover, allowing users to see whether an ad was created or modified using AI through a new "How this ad was made" section, SearchEngineLand's Danny Goodwin.OPERATING MODEL FRAMEWORK FOR AI:Rackspaceand Palantirannounced an operating model framework to help regulated and sovereign enterprises own and operate AI in production. The framework, delivered through Rackspace, combines Palantir Foundry and AIP with Rackspace's governed private cloud, sovereign cloud, on-prem infrastructure, certified FDEs, and managed operations for customers that require control over data, security, governance, deployment location, and operational outcomes. The framework is built for markets such as healthcare systems protecting patient records, financial institutions running on regulated data, energy operators with air-gapped infrastructure, and sovereign organizations that cannot move data across borders. Rackspace has scaled to approximately 400 Palantir certifications across sales, engineering, delivery, and operations, including a large global cohort of Palantir-certified forward deployed engineers to serve demand across healthcare, financial services, energy, and mid-market. Rackspace is also committing to deploy Foundry and AIP across more than 70% of its own back-office operations under the Rackspace OneOS program. Under the framework, Rackspace serves as a preferred operator for on-premise, private cloud, and sovereign Palantir deployments across critical infrastructure in both the public and private sectors, and for enterprises that demand the same control governments require - with Palantir Foundry and AIP as the data + AI platform layer of the governed enterprise AI stack that Rackspace has been assembling throughout 2026.AIDORA ACQUISITION:Paylocityannounced the acquisition of Aidora, an AI-native leave management compliance software company built on a natural language interaction model that automates highly regulated leave processes. Paylocity does not expect the acquisition of Aidora to have a material impact on first quarter or fiscal 2027 financial results. Paylocity will provide financial guidance in the normal course of business in its next earnings release.AI-POWERED INFRASTRUCTURE MONITORING:ServiceNowhas partnered with Hitachi (HTHY) subsidiary Hitachi Digital Services to strengthen reliable and efficient management of mission-critical infrastructure. Through this collaboration, the companies will advance Hitachi Intelligent Infrastructure Monitoring, or HIIM, an AI-driven solution that provides real-time monitoring and remote inspection while enabling a coordinated response across complex operations environments. As part of the broader partnership ecosystem, this collaboration leverages Hitachi Digital Services' operational technology domain knowledge along with its physical AI and systems integration expertise to help customers connect operational data and enterprise workflows on the ServiceNow AI Platform, enabling teams to act on insights at scale. The combined HIIM and ServiceNow platform aims to provide intelligent solutions that safeguard and enable efficient operations of critical infrastructure.AGENTIC-AI PLATFORM CONTRACT:Voyager Technologieswas awarded a contract to deliver an agentic-AI spectrum operations platform for an undisclosed program. Voyager's agentic platform will support the full lifecycle of autonomous systems operations, from mission planning and execution to data management and exploitation. The yearlong contract focuses on explainable AI, human-machine teaming and modular open architectures, priorities that align with the U.S. government's long-term vision for next-generation mission systems.SPACEXAI API:Rocket Oneannounced that it has added the SpaceXAI APIto its AI technology stack following acceptance into the SpaceXAI API program. The addition provides Rocket One with access to SpaceXAI's latest multimodal artificial intelligence models for coding, reasoning, text, image, video, and voice applications.

Private company dealmaking stayed active this week, led by Joulent's $1.75B strategic investment from National Grid and a slate of sizable raises across energy infrastructure, enterprise software, AI development, geothermal power, and sports media.This week's private company news:Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is raising outside capital for the first time, in a round valuing the rocket company at $130B, sources told.Some of the biggest capital raises by private companies this week include:Joulent– The technology-driven energy company developing multi-gigawatt power infrastructure to meet the accelerating demands of American industry and innovation said that National Grid has agreed to a $1.75B strategic minority investment in the company. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include NextEra, Constellation Energy, and GE Vernova.LeapXpert– The Governed Communication Intelligence company announced a $180M growth investment led by Riverwood Capital. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include Microsoft, Proofpoint, and Commvault.8090– The AI-native software factory founded by Chamath Palihapitiya raised $135M. The fundraise was led by Salesforce. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include ServiceNow, Palantir, and Atlassian.Quaise Energy– The developer of utility-scale superhot geothermal energy announced the first close of its Series B financing, raising $134M with additional equity and debt capital expected to close imminently. The round was led by Prelude Ventures, with strategic investments from JERA and Idemitsu, two of Japan's largest energy companies. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include Calpineand Ormat Technologies.The Premier Lacrosse League– The company announced the closing of a $100M Series E financing round led by Ares and Joe Tsai. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include Disney, TKO Group, and MSG Sports.Unicorns to watch this week:Anthropic– The company continues to be one of the most strategically important AI companies globally, with accelerating enterprise adoption. It has recently closed multibillion dollar funding cycle over the past year; expanding Claude enterprise deployments and model distillation partnerships. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon.Rippling– The company continues to disrupt legacy HR/payroll stacks with unified workflows. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include Workday, Paycom, and ADP.Anduril Industries– The autonomous defense systems, AI-powered surveillance, and drone tech company continues to be one of the fastest growing defense unicorns, reshaping procurement with software first systems. It has recently won multiple Department of War contracts, with expanding Lattice OS deployments across U.S. and allied defense programs. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include RTX, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin.Databricks– The software company focused on data analytics and AI continues to be a core player in enterprise AI infrastructure and a likely future IPO candidate. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include Snowflake, MongoDB, and Palantir.Redwood Materials– The company is positioned at the center of U.S. battery materials reshoring and EV sustainability, and it has recently secured major supply agreements with automotive OEMs and is expanding Nevada and South Carolina facilities. Publicly-traded companies operating in the same space include Li-Cycle, Albemarle, and Tesla.IPOs to watch:Jersey Mike's Subs– The company has filed an initial public offering of shares of Class A common stock. Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, and J.P. Morgan are acting as global coordinators and joint bookrunning managers for the offering.Kardigan– The company has filed an initial public offering of shares of its common stock. JP Morgan, Jefferies, Leerink Partners, and TD Cowen are acting as the underwriters for the offering.Inspire Brands – The company announced that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock. Inspire Brands expects to use the net proceeds of the proposed offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under its existing term loan facility and pay offering fees and expenses.Tarsier Pharma Ltd.– The company filed for an initial public offering of its ordinary shares. The prospectus stated, "Tarsier Pharma is developing TRS01 and TRS02, novel product candidates based on dazdotuftide, a new molecule with a new mechanism of action for uveitis and uveitic glaucoma. We are attempting to address a significant, underserved market opportunity and have engaged closely with the FDA on our clinical development strategy, including a Special Protocol Assessment agreement for our planned pivotal trial... Although we are still early in this journey, I believe we have the technology, the team, the discipline, and the persistence required to build an enduring company.""Private Markets" is The Fly's recurring series of stories on the latest moves in the private sector, largest unicorn companies and initial public offerings to watch. Fly subscribers, add $PRIVATE to your portfolio for alerts on breaking news in the startup and venture capital space.