Perplexity’s browser, Google’s Gemini 2.5 & more (October 3, 2025)

Good morning,

From global healthcare markets to Google’s Gemini updates, today’s AI headlines span massive new opportunities and strategic launches. We’re seeing Middle East investment in AI imaging surge, Gemini’s next model drop, and startups clarifying where their AI dollars go. Meanwhile, Perplexity, Sound Hound, and Indiana University all bring new breakthroughs to the table.

Let's dig in👇

🚀 New Launches

📢 Perplexity launches Comet, its AI-first browser

Perplexity launched its Comet browser, designed from the ground up with AI features. The release signals Perplexity’s ambition to go beyond search into full-stack browsing experiences. If adoption grows, it could disrupt traditional browser markets and push others to follow suit.

🚀 Google launches Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model in general availability

Google launched the Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model, making its latest multimodal AI widely available. The model promises faster image generation at lower compute costs, targeting enterprise and creative workflows. With Gemini upgrades arriving at rapid pace, Google is pushing hard to retain ground against OpenAI and Anthropic.

🔬 IU research combines sound waves and AI

Researchers at Indiana University combined sound waves and AI to accelerate biomedical imaging breakthroughs. The integration enables faster and more precise tissue analysis, potentially speeding up diagnostics and treatments. This points toward a new frontier where multimodal AI enhances healthcare research at scale.

💰 Money Moves

🌍 Middle East & Africa AI-assisted Medical Imaging Market

The Middle East and Africa AI-assisted medical imaging market is projected to expand sharply through 2032, with GCC countries accounting for over 60% of spending. This investment reflects a regional commitment to using AI in healthcare infrastructure and diagnostics. The trend could accelerate innovation in medical imaging and position the GCC as a global hub for AI-powered health tech.

💸 Sound Hound AI: Evaluating Valuation After Recent Double

Sound Hound AI shares doubled recently, prompting analysts to revisit its valuation. The spike reflects investor enthusiasm around conversational AI’s role in consumer tech and enterprise. Sustaining momentum, however, will require delivering consistent revenue growth in a crowded speech-AI field.

📰 Where startups actually spend on AI

A recent report revealed where startups actually spend on AI, with budgets flowing more toward infrastructure than flashy tools. This highlights the immediate need for reliability and scalability rather than consumer-facing experiments. Over time, this spending pattern may reshape which companies capture value in the AI stack.

📈 Still Trending from Yesterday

💰 Open AI Hits $500 Billion Valuation

OpenAI hit a $500B valuation in private markets, fueled by investor demand and optimism around Sora and enterprise adoption. The milestone cements OpenAI as one of the most valuable companies in tech and raises the bar for AI competition. Looking forward, the valuation will pressure OpenAI to accelerate product monetization while rivals scramble to keep pace.

🧰 Tools of the Day

→ Super Intern - First customizable AI agent in group chats, for work and fun
→ solveit - New course and AI platform from Jeremy Howard and Eric Ries
→ Strix - Open-source AI hackers for your apps

✍️ Prompt of the Day

"Act as my AI strategy consultant. I’ll provide a budget and company size. Recommend the top 3 AI workflows to prioritize, expected ROI for each, and the first tool or vendor I should evaluate. Present results in a board-ready summary with key risks and quick wins."

⚡ Quick Hits

→ Red cat raises $172.5m for AI defense surface vessels.
→ OpenAI asks court to dismiss xAI lawsuit over trade secrets.
→ Nvidia & Fujitsu partner on AI robots and infrastructure in Japan.
→ Bezos says AI boom is a bubble that will ultimately pay off.

🧾 TLDR

AI is now a global market story, not just a Silicon Valley one. The Middle East is anchoring healthcare investment, Google is racing ahead with Gemini 2.5, and startups are grounding their AI spend in infrastructure. Meanwhile, Perplexity, Sound Hound, and IU’s biomedical research show how diverse and applied AI is becoming. Yesterday’s OpenAI valuation milestone remains the benchmark that every player is chasing.

Cheers,
David