Daily Tech Headlines: Google, Apple, Microsoft AI Moves & More

Google and Epic Games Settlement

• 🤝 Google and Epic Games have reached a potential settlement to resolve Epic's antitrust lawsuit dating back to 2020.
• 📲 The proposal includes allowing Android users to install app stores from websites with a single click, starting with the next major Android release until June 30th, 2032.
• 📢 Developers will also be permitted to share pricing information outside the Google Play Store.

Australia's Social Media Restrictions

• 🇦🇺 Australia's social media ban for individuals under 16 will now encompass Reddit and the live streaming site Kick, effective December 10th.
• 🚫 These platforms join YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Instagram, Threads, and Facebook on the list of age-restricted sites.
• 💰 Failure to prevent under-16s from holding accounts could result in fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.

E-commerce and AI Integration

• 🛒 Amazon has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity, alleging its Comet browser's AI agent makes unauthorized purchases, violating Amazon's terms of service.
• 📈 Shopify reported a sevenfold increase in traffic from AI tools to its stores since January 2025, with AI-powered search purchases up elevenfold.
• 🛍️ A Shopify survey indicates that 64% of shoppers are likely to use AI in their purchasing decisions.

Netflix and Spotify's Podcast Expansion

• 🎧 Netflix is reportedly seeking to sign more video podcasters, following a deal with Spotify for select video podcasts.
• 📈 Spotify's Q3 earnings show its video podcast portfolio has grown to nearly half a million shows, with consumption increasing by over 80% since January.
• 👥 Spotify now has 281 million premium subscribers and 713 million monthly active users.

Apple and Microsoft AI Features

• 🗣️ Apple announced live translation on AirPods will be available in the EU with the upcoming iOS 26.2 update, complying with the EU's digital markets act.
• 🎨 Microsoft's MAI image 1 model is now integrated into Bing Image Creator and Copilot, offering AI-generated art alongside AI-generated audio stories.
• 🌍 While Mai image 1 is available globally, EU access is expected soon.