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AI is stepping into the classroom as Google lets teachers turn lessons into podcast style audio using Gemini, which means corporate training decks may soon start speaking back while you pretend that was always the plan. Shopping is becoming a conversation as Microsoft rolls checkout directly into Copilot with AI brand agents, which means your future customers might buy faster than you can finish updating the pricing slide. And while DeepSeek claims its upcoming V4 model could outperform GPT in coding, it is a gentle reminder that the AI helping you debug today might be the one reviewing your pull request tomorrow.

Here's what's making headlines in the world of AI and innovation today.

In today’s AI Pulse

• 🎙️ AI – Turns Classroom Lessons Into Podcasts.

• 🛒 Microsoft – Brings Shopping Inside AI Chat.

• 🧠 DeepSeek V4 – Targets Coding AI Supremacy.

• ⚡ Quick Hits – IN AI TODAY

• 🛠️ Tool to Sharpen Your Skills –🎓 AIGPE® Certified Lean Specialist | Lean Management (Accredited)

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🎧 Teachers Turn Lessons into Podcasts with Gemini – Too Good to Be True?

🧠The Pulse

Google Classroom’s latest update lets educators transform lesson plans into podcast‑style audio using Gemini. They choose the grade level, topic, number of speakers and tone. Admins restrict usage to adults, promising new ways to deliver personalised, accessible learning experiences across classrooms worldwide in more languages globally and training.

📌The Download

• Customisable audio – Teachers can set grade, subject, objectives, speakers and style; then Gemini produces an engaging podcast‑style dialogue using story‑based conversation. This customization helps lessons meet diverse learner needs.

• AI assistance – Gemini’s language models turn teacher prompts into conversations that simplify complex topics. The AI uses natural language to mimic human teaching and adapt across subjects. Educators must review and edit lessons to ensure accuracy and curriculum alignment.

• Admin controls – Access is restricted to adults. Administrators decide which domains and grades may use the audio generator and can disable or limit it based on policies, consent and local regulations. These controls help protect minors and maintain safety and privacy.

• Rollout & integration – Google is rolling out the generator to eligible education customers, starting with beta testers and expanding widely by spring 2026. It complements other Gemini features like note‑taking and translation, expanding Classroom’s AI toolkit for classrooms.

💡What This Means for You

For educators and trainers, AI‑generated audio lessons could boost engagement and accessibility, especially for auditory learners. Yet human oversight is essential. Proof‑listen and adjust AI content, respect policies and ensure technology enhances rather than replaces thoughtful instruction and conversations in training and learning environments and professional development programs.

🛍️ Microsoft’s Copilot Checkout: Chatting Your Way to the Cart

🧠The Pulse

Microsoft just launched Copilot Checkout and Brand Agents, letting people shop within Copilot and turning retailers’ websites into AI chat experiences. By integrating PayPal, Shopify, Stripe and Etsy, the move pits Microsoft against Amazon and Google and could reshape online commerce and customer interactions worldwide for millions of shoppers soon.

📌The Download

• AI checkout – Copilot Checkout lets consumers browse and buy products directly within Microsoft Copilot across Bing, Edge and Windows. Purchases are processed through PayPal, Shopify, Stripe and Etsy. Shopify merchants are auto‑enrolled with an opt‑out window, simplifying integration for small businesses.

• Brand Agents – Retailers can embed Microsoft’s AI agents on their websites. These chatbots use the merchant’s product catalogue and policies to answer questions, recommend items and handle orders. Sellers remain the merchant of record and control fulfilment and pricing.

• US launch and expansion – The features debut in the United States with plans to expand internationally after testing. Microsoft positions Copilot as a rival to Amazon and Google’s shopping assistants, tapping into the surge of conversational commerce.

• Privacy and control – Microsoft says customer data is encrypted and interactions are private; merchants can customise agent tone and capabilities. The tools aim to give shoppers a seamless checkout while reducing cart abandonment and boosting loyalty through personalised help.

💡What This Means for You

For professionals in marketing or e‑commerce, AI‑powered shopping assistants signal a shift toward frictionless transactions. Expect customers to expect conversational checkout and on‑site agents. Adapting product data, policies and brand voice for AI will be essential, and coordination with payment partners will become part of daily workflows.

🧠 DeepSeek’s V4 Could Beat GPT in Coding?

🧠The Pulse

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek announced that its upcoming V4 model, arriving in February 2026, will focus on coding and long prompts. Internal tests suggest V4 could surpass Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s GPT models in coding tasks, signalling competition in specialised AI capabilities as China accelerates its AI ambitions.

📌The Download

• Coding powerhouse – DeepSeek says its V4 model has been optimised for software development, excelling at writing and debugging code. Internal benchmarks indicate that V4 may outperform Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s GPT series on complex programming tasks.

• Long‑prompt mastery – V4 is designed to process longer prompts and documents than prior versions. This makes it useful for analysing large codebases, technical specifications and configuration files without splitting them into smaller chunks.

• February launch – The company plans to release V4 to developers in mid‑February 2026. DeepSeek is part of China’s burgeoning AI ecosystem and previously faced scrutiny over security practices; the new model incorporates privacy improvements and safeguards.

• Intensifying competition – Specialised models like V4 highlight how AI developers are racing to differentiate. By focusing on coding and long‑prompt reasoning, DeepSeek aims to carve a niche in enterprise AI and challenge incumbents like OpenAI and Anthropic while spurring innovation in China’s AI sector in coming years.

💡What This Means for You

For professionals, the rise of specialised coding models means AI tools are maturing. Expect a wave of competitors offering tailored assistants for programming, documentation and system design. Evaluating accuracy, security, integration and vendor stability will be essential when choosing future AI companions for demanding technical work worldwide for global teams.

IN AI TODAY - QUICK HITS

⚡Quick Hits (60‑Second News Sprint)

Short, sharp updates to keep your finger on the AI pulse.

• MiniMax’s IPO Doubles – AI Mania Hits Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s latest AI listing just doubled on debut. MiniMax, one of China’s so‑called AI tigers, saw its shares surge 100 % on its first trading day yesterday, valuing the open‑source and consumer‑app developer at over $13 billion and signalling investor hunger for Chinese AI platforms.

• Musk’s $20 B Mississippi Compute Gambit: Elon Musk’s xAI plans to spend more than $20 billion to build a colossal data‑center in Mississippi that will open in February 2026. The facility will supply two gigawatts of compute power to support generative models and marks a dramatic escalation in the AI infrastructure arms race worldwide.

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🙌 About Us

AI Pulse is the official newsletter of AIGPE®. Our mission: help professionals master Lean, Six Sigma, Project Management, and now AI, so you can deliver breakthroughs that stick.

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