Insiders React: Google Goes AI 'Beast Mode' + Airbnb's Bold Pivot, Microsoft’s Agent Strategy

The Startup Podcast

Is Google staging the biggest comeback in tech history? Or are we just getting swept up in the hype?

Founders often underestimate just how fast platform shifts change the rules of the game, and Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are rewriting the rulebook in real time.

In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad break down Google’s massive AI showcase at I/O 2025, spotlighting the rollout of Gemini Live, Gmail Smart Replies, and even AI-powered glasses. They also dive into Airbnb’s bold strategy to become the “Amazon for services”—and why it could either revolutionize local work or crash hard. Plus, Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI are all shaping the future of how software will be built in the AI era.

In this episode, you will:

• Understand how Google is integrating AI into its entire product ecosystem—from Search to Android to Gmail
• Learn why Gemini Live and Google’s “AI Mode” could change how consumers interact with the internet
• Explore how Google is personalizing AI by tapping into your email, calendar, and Drive
• Evaluate Airbnb’s ambition to become a services marketplace—and the operational challenges ahead
• See how OpenAI’s Codex, Microsoft’s coding agents, and Windsurf’s SWE1 model are reshaping software engineering
• Discover Nvidia’s clever strategy to absorb chip competition with NVLink Fusion
• Debate whether vibe coding tools or engineer-facing AI agents will define the future of software development

Google’s making a comeback. Airbnb’s making a bold move. And AI tools are now building AI tools.It’s a lot. But we break it down so you know what matters—and what doesn’t.

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Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/