Google's $15B AI Expansion and Legal Hurdles as $2000 Direct Deposit IRS Update Gains Urgency

Google announced a series of strategic advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and infrastructure, alongside legal challenges and global investments, signaling its aggressive push into next-generation technologies. The company introduced autonomous shopping capabilities, unveiled plans for a major AI model, and expanded its data center footprint, while facing regulatory scrutiny and cybercrime-related litigation. These moves position Google at the forefront of AI innovation and infrastructure development, though they also highlight ongoing legal and market challenges.

AI Shopping Tools for Holiday Season

Google deployed autonomous shopping features across its Search and Gemini platforms on November 13, 2025, targeting the holiday season. The system includes agentic checkout, which automates purchases when prices drop within user-specified budgets; Duplex-powered AI calls to verify local inventory; and conversational shopping via AI Mode and the Gemini app. These tools leverage the company's Shopping Graph, now containing 50 billion product listings updated hourly. Agentic checkout requires user confirmation before transactions, operating exclusively through participating merchants like Wayfair and Chewy. The Duplex system contacts local stores via phone to check availability, while conversational shopping allows natural language queries for product discovery.

Gemini 3 AI Model Launch

Google is set to release Gemini 3, its next major AI model, by year-end. CEO Sundar Pichai hinted at the launch in October 2025, with speculation placing the release in late November. The model is expected to improve coding capabilities and multimedia generation, potentially integrating Google's Nano Banana image tool. Some users report early access to Gemini 3 via the Gemini app's Canvas feature, citing differences in output quality between web and mobile versions. Analysts predict the agentic AI market could reach $1 trillion by 2035-2040, though commercial viability of autonomous purchasing systems remains debated.

$15 Billion AI Hub in India

Google announced a $15 billion investment in a gigawatt-scale AI hub in Visakhapatnam, India. The project includes a data center campus, subsea cables, and partnerships with Adani Enterprises and Bharti Airtel. The hub will provide access to Google's AI tools, including TPUs for accelerated processing, and support industries like healthcare and agriculture. The initiative aims to boost India's AI capabilities while addressing energy demands through renewable power agreements and infrastructure upgrades.

Legal Challenges in Germany

A Berlin court ruled that Google must pay €572 million ($665 million) to German price comparison platforms Idealo and Producto for anticompetitive practices. The court found Google abused its dominant position by favoring its own shopping services in search results. Idealo, which initially sought €3.3 billion in damages, plans to continue legal pressure. This ruling follows the European Commission's €3 billion fine against Google for similar practices in the advertising tech industry.

Smishing Lawsuit

Google filed a lawsuit against the operators of the Lighthouse phishing-as-a-service platform, alleging the group stole up to 115 million U.S. credit card credentials. The Smishing Triad, operating through Chinese-speaking networks, created over 100 counterfeit website templates impersonating Google services. The lawsuit seeks to block third-party support for the platform, aiming to dismantle its infrastructure.

Texas Data Center Workforce Expansion

Google pledged to train over 1,700 workers for its $40 billion Texas data center project, emphasizing energy efficiency and workforce development. The company will strengthen Texas's electrical workforce by 2030, aligning with state Governor Greg Abbott's vision of Texas as an AI innovation hub. The expansion includes solar and battery storage facilities to reduce grid strain, addressing growing electricity demand driven by data center growth.