Digimasters Shorts - Microsoft slashes Copilot prices, Ant Group’s slow humanoid sparks doubts, Google’s Gemini adds audio AI, Apple blocks EU Live Translation, Larry Ellison briefly richest beating Musk

Digimasters Shorts is your bite-sized source for the latest updates in the digital and tech worlds. Hosted by Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson, this quick-hit podcast delivers concise insights on major AI developments, innovative robotics, industry shifts, and influential tech figures. From Microsoft's revamped AI pricing strategies and partnerships with Anthropic, to Ant Group’s exploration into humanoid robots, Google’s new audio transcription features, and regulatory hurdles for Apple’s Live Translation—Digimasters Shorts keeps you informed on the trends shaping the future of technology. Tune in for clear, compelling summaries that keep you ahead in the fast-paced digital landscape.

Transcript

Adam N2: 0:05

Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam Nagus

Carly W: 0:09

and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from the digital realm. Microsoft has announced a significant change to its Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing, bundling its sales, service, and finance Copilots into the core Microsoft 365 Copilot package. Previously, businesses paid$30 per user per month for Microsoft 365 Copilot, with an additional$20 per user for the extra Copilots. Starting in October, all users will have access to these Copilots at no extra cost through the Microsoft 365 Copilot Agent Store. This reduces the overall price to$30 per user per month, simplifying the subscription model for businesses. Internally, Microsoft views this as a way to streamline Copilot offerings while expanding AI agents in its productivity suite. The company is also developing Agent 365, a toolset to manage AI agents and ensure compliance and security, expected to be announced at Microsoft Ignite. Additionally, Microsoft plans to integrate AI models from Anthropic into Microsoft 365 Copilot features. This decision followed findings that Anthropic’s models outperformed Open A.I’s in certain tasks like Excel and PowerPoint. Microsoft will reportedly pay Anthropic for access via A.W.S, signaling a shift after mixed results with Open A.I’s G.P.T-5. This marks a notable move in Microsoft’s AI strategy as it diversifies its AI model partnerships.

Adam N2: 1:37

Chinese tech giant Ant Group, known for its payment platform Alipay, has unveiled its first humanoid robot, Robbyant's R1, at recent tech events. The robot was showcased cooking shrimp at the IFA 2025 tech show in Berlin and displayed at the 2025 Inclusion Conference in Shanghai. Ant Group envisions the R1 serving multiple roles, including caregiving in healthcare and acting as a tour guide in the travel sector. Though the company is currently testing the robot in settings like community centers and restaurants, no launch date or price has been disclosed. Videos reveal that R1 performs tasks at an extremely slow pace, casting some doubt on its current real-world capabilities. Despite this, Ant Group's entry marks a significant step in combining artificial intelligence with robotics in the global race for automation innovation. This move aligns Ant with other tech leaders like Elon Musk’s Tesla, who are also investing heavily in AI-powered robots. The field of AI robotics has faced repeated challenges with slow and limited task execution for decades. However, recent advances in software are generating optimism that these limitations may finally be overcome. As R1 continues development, skepticism remains about when AI robots will achieve practical and efficient real-world performance. Google has introduced a new feature to its AI assistant Gemini, allowing users to upload audio files for transcription, summaries, and key detail extraction. This update addresses a common user request and brings Gemini's capabilities beyond its real-time voice commands. Users can upload audio clips up to 10 minutes long, enabling quick conversion of voice memos or meeting excerpts into searchable text. Tests have shown Gemini effectively transcribes speech and identifies important points, despite minor errors in names. This integration simplifies the process of turning audio content into actionable data without the need for external transcription tools. While competitors like Chat G.P.T and Anthropic’s Claude also handle audio, Gemini focuses on practical everyday usage. Additional features include language simplification, speaker-specific notes, question generation, and study guide creation from audio files. However, usage limits apply, especially for free-tier users, and longer audio sessions require pacing due to quota restrictions. This update complements recent Gemini improvements, including personalized interfaces and enhanced app integration. Overall, Google’s move signals ongoing efforts to make AI assistants more responsive to how users capture and manage information.

Carly W: 4:11

Apple’s new Live Translation feature for AirPods will not be available to users physically in the European Union with EU-based Apple accounts due to regulatory restrictions. The company has not explicitly stated the reasons, but the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act and General Data Protection Regulation likely play a role. These regulations impose strict rules on speech and translation services, focusing on privacy, consent, data flows, and user rights. The Live Translation feature, announced with the AirPods Pro 3, will also be available for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. It allows hands-free communication by translating spoken language in real time, with enhanced functionality when both users wear compatible AirPods. Active Noise Cancellation adjusts audio levels to help users focus on translated speech without disrupting natural conversation flow. The feature requires AirPods with the latest firmware paired with an iPhone running iOS 26 or later, including iPhone 15 Pro models and newer. Initially, it will support English, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish, with more languages like Italian and Japanese planned for later. Apple is expected to release the required firmware alongside the iOS 26 update on September 15. When or if the EU restriction will be lifted remains uncertain. Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, briefly surpassed Elon Musk as the world's richest man, with a fortune peaking at$393 billion. Oracle’s stock surged, driven by success in cloud computing and lucrative AI partnerships, notably with Open A.I. Despite his immense wealth, Ellison is less of a household name than Musk but wields significant influence in Silicon Valley and politics. At 81, he owns nearly all of Hawaii's Lanai island and has a lavish lifestyle including mega-yachts and private jets. Ellison’s son, David, now leads Paramount Skydance, the media conglomerate owning CBS and MTV, with plans to diversify its editorial approach. Ellison has longstanding ties to the Republican Party and is a close ally of Donald Trump, frequently dining at Mar-a-Lago and engaging in high-level discussions. Oracle is positioned as the lead bidder for TikTok amid ongoing U.S. regulatory challenges. Ellison also maintains strong connections with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, donating millions to the Israeli military. He served on Tesla’s board and holds a stake in Musk’s electric car company, underscoring their complex friendship and rivalry. Musk has credited Ellison as a mentor, highlighting the depth of their relationship despite the competitive dynamic.

Don: 6:48

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