the PULSe

Top AI News From October 10-17, 2025

The Stories That Matter for Small Business Owners Like You

Hey Reader,

This week the AI platform wars heated up. OpenAI turned ChatGPT into an app store with 800 million weekly users, while Google fired back with Gemini Enterprise at $21 per seat for small business. But the NBC News investigation into circular AI deals reminded us that not all growth is what it seems. The takeaway? Choose practical tools carefully—and don’t bet your business on hype.

1. ChatGPT Just Became the App Store for AI—Here's What That Means for Your Business

Summary

On October 6, OpenAI announced that ChatGPT now functions as a full app platform where developers can build interactive applications that run inside your conversations. Instead of switching between tabs, you can now book travel through Expedia, create designs in Canva, search real estate with Zillow, or build playlists with Spotify—all without leaving ChatGPT. The company revealed it has 800 million weekly active users and plans to let developers monetize their apps with instant checkout later this year.

This is OpenAI’s answer to the failed GPT Store. Apps now appear naturally in your chat when ChatGPT thinks they’re relevant or when you call them by name. Early partners include Booking.com, Figma, Coursera, and Spotify, with DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber coming soon.

The move transforms ChatGPT from a chatbot into something closer to an operating system. For small businesses, this means the tools you use daily might soon live inside one conversational interface—but it also means OpenAI controls discovery and could shape which apps succeed.

Source Link: OpenAI launches apps inside of ChatGPT | TechCrunch​

My Take

• This is Apple’s App Store playbook—build massive distribution first, then let developers monetize on your platform. It’s a smart strategy, but it creates dependency.
• If you’re using ChatGPT Business or Enterprise, watch how this changes your workflow. The convenience is real, but so is the risk of vendor lock-in.
• Small businesses should ask: Do I want all my tools living inside one company’s ecosystem? Diversification still matters.

Action Step (Do this week)

Open ChatGPT and test the new apps feature if you're already a user. See if tools like Canva or Spotify integration actually save you time versus switching tabs. Make a note of what works and what doesn't—this will help you decide whether to adopt more deeply or hold back.

Note: currently, Apps is available to all ChatGPT users on Free, Plus, and Pro plans, with one notable exception: it is not yet available in the Teams plan or in the European Union. OpenAI has stated they expect to bring the feature to EU users soon.

2. Google Launches Gemini Enterprise to Challenge ChatGPT (and It Costs Less)

Summary

On October 9, Google unveiled Gemini Enterprise, a comprehensive AI platform designed to be “the new front door for AI in the workplace.” Unlike previous Workspace add-ons, this is a standalone platform that lets businesses build, deploy, and manage custom AI agents across sales, marketing, finance, HR, and engineering. It connects to both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, plus business apps like Salesforce and SAP.

Pricing starts at $30 per user per month for enterprise plans, but small businesses get a better deal: $21 per user per month with a thirty-day free trial. Early customers include Figma, Klarna, Gordon Food Service, and Virgin Voyages, which has already deployed more than fifty specialized AI agents.

The platform includes pre-built Google agents for deep research and data insights, a no-code workbench for automating processes, and centralized governance to audit all your AI activity. Google is positioning this as the complete package versus competitors who “hand you the pieces, not the platform.”

Source Link: Google ramps up its 'AI in the workplace' ambitions with Gemini Enterprise | TechCrunch​

My Take

• The small business price point ($21/seat) is aggressive and includes integration with Microsoft tools—that’s a direct shot at both OpenAI and Microsoft.
• The thirty-day free trial is your chance to test whether AI agents actually reduce workload or just add complexity. Be honest about what you measure.
• Notice the emphasis on “no-code” and “pre-built agents”—Google knows most small business owners don’t want to become AI engineers. Simplicity wins.

Action Step (Do this week)

If you’re currently paying for ChatGPT Business or considering Microsoft Copilot, sign up for Google’s thirty-day free trial of Gemini Business. Pick one specific workflow—like sales follow-ups or customer support—and test whether Gemini’s agents actually save time. Track the results before committing.

3. NBC Investigation Reveals AI Boom May Be Built on Circular Deals—What It Means for Your Investment

Summary

An NBC News investigation published October 6 uncovered a troubling pattern in AI: major companies are creating circular financial deals that some analysts warn mirror the 2000 dot-com bubble. Nvidia invests in OpenAI, which buys chips from AMD, which gives OpenAI equity, while Oracle buys Nvidia chips to power OpenAI’s data centers. Money and stock pass back and forth, inflating valuations without clear external revenue.

The numbers are staggering—Nvidia plans to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, while Oracle commits $40 billion for Nvidia chips. SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI announced a $500 billion Stargate data center project, with Nvidia as a core partner. The Magnificent Seven tech companies (Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla) now represent more than 35 percent of the S&P 500′s market value—more than $20 trillion.

Gil Luria of D.A. Davidson financial group warned these “related-party transactions” can artificially prop up valuations. Oxford Economics noted that if AI productivity gains prove limited or delayed, “a sharp correction in tech stocks, with negative knock-ons for the real economy, would be very likely.”

Source Link: The AI boom's reliance on circular deals is raising fears of a bubble | NBC News​

My Take

• This doesn’t mean AI tools don’t work—it means the financial structure behind them is fragile. Your ChatGPT subscription probably isn’t going anywhere, but the stock valuations might.
• For business owners, the lesson is simple: invest in AI tools that solve real problems today, not because you’re betting on the industry’s growth trajectory.
• If you’re considering AI-heavy stocks or funds, understand the concentration risk. When 35 percent of the market depends on seven companies, diversification matters more than ever.

Action Step (Do this week)

Review any AI investments in your portfolio or retirement accounts. If you have significant exposure to tech stocks through index funds, understand what percentage is tied to the Magnificent Seven. Consider rebalancing if you’re overexposed—especially if you’re within ten years of retirement.

Conclusion

This week revealed the fundamental tension in AI right now. The tools keep getting better and more accessible—that’s real. But the financial engineering behind the scenes looks increasingly fragile. For small business owners, the path forward is clear: adopt AI where it demonstrably improves your operations, but don’t confuse useful technology with sound investment strategy. Test the free trials, measure the results, and stay focused on solving actual problems in your business.

What to watch next

• OpenAI’s app monetization details (coming later this year) will reveal whether developers can actually make money on the platform
• Google’s Gemini 3.0 model launch—whether it can deliver same-day updates to compete with OpenAI’s release pace
• Any regulatory action on the circular AI deals, especially antitrust scrutiny of Nvidia’s relationships with its customers

Comments Got a question or story about AI, Reader? Hit reply and let me know. I read every email. Seriously. Your experiences help me write better content, and sometimes the best insights come from readers like you. Transforming AI from noise to know-how, Michael Hyatt ​Founder & CEO​ AI Business Lab P.S. Consider the AI Business Lab Mastermind: Running a $3-10M business? You’re past the startup chaos but not quite at autopilot. That’s exactly where AI changes everything. The AI Business Lab Mastermind isn’t another networking group—it’s a brain trust of leaders who are already implementing, not just ideating. We’re talking real numbers, real strategies, real results. If you’re tired of being the smartest person in the room, this is your new room. 👉🏼 Learn more and apply here.