Hi tech & AI enthusiasts, this week's highlights:
Google Launches Gemini 3 With Nano Banana Pro Image Model
Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.5 Becomes First to Break 80% on SWE-bench
OpenAI and Microsoft Expand AI Into Collaborative Workflows
Plus: GPT-5.1, Grok 4.1, Microsoft Agent 365, Adobe Acquires Semrush
The Lab: How to Create Professional LinkedIn Headshots With AI
AI Image of the Week: Retro 90’s neon
Let’s get into it.
▲ AI MODELS
Google released Gemini 3, alongside Nano Banana Pro, a new image creator that makes high-quality images with readable text and can pull in real information from the web.
What you need to know
Text that actually looks right: For the first time, you can create professional images with readable text that looks like it belongs there. Need a poster with your company tagline? A social media graphic with a quote? It actually works now.
Professional-looking results: You can control the lighting, focus, and colours just like a photographer would. Plus, it pulls real information from Google Search, so if you ask for "today's weather in Tokyo," it shows you the actual forecast.
3 new AI helpers launched: Gemini Agent can book your travel or clean up your inbox. Deep Think helps you work through complicated problems. Antigravity helps developers build software faster.
Key Ideas
▲ Usable Images: Until now, adding text to AI-generated images looked amateurish. Google solved this, which means businesses can finally use AI to create real marketing materials, social posts, and presentations without hiring a designer for every little thing.
▲ AI MODELS
Anthropic launched Claude Opus 4.5, becoming the first AI to score above 80% on a challenging test where AI’s try to fix real bugs from actual software projects.
What you need to know
Best coding AI yet: Opus 4.5 can solve real programming problems better than any other AI, beating Google's and OpenAI's top models on industry tests that use actual software bugs and challenges.
Cheaper and smarter: The new version costs 66% less than before while doing better work. You can also tell it how much "thinking" to do which uses less for simple tasks to save money, or max it out for complex problems.
Beats human programmers: When given the same coding test that Anthropic gives to job candidates, Opus 4.5 outperformed every human who took it.
Key Idea
▲ Coding access for any business: AI that can write code is getting good enough and cheap enough that any business can use it. Small teams without big tech budgets can now access the same advanced coding help that was previously only practical for large companies.
▲ AI TOOLS
Microsoft announced new AI agents that work inside Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, plus a sales assistant that handles outreach automatically.
What you need to know
Office agents create content: New AI helpers in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations when you describe what you want in plain language.
Sales on autopilot: A Sales Development Agent finds potential customers, follows up with leads, and personalises your outreach. It connects to your existing customer management system.
Handles the busy work: These agents take care of repetitive tasks like building sales pipelines and nurturing leads, so your team can focus on closing deals.
Key Idea
▲ Business Native AI: Microsoft is putting AI directly into the tools businesses already use every day. Rather than switching to a separate AI tool, your Office apps now have built-in assistants that understand what you need and can do the work for you.
▲ AI BUSINESS
OpenAI launched two new ChatGPT features: Shopping Research that does product research for you, and Group Chats that let teams collaborate with AI.
What you need to know
ChatGPT shops for you: Tell ChatGPT what you're looking for, and it searches the web to find options, compare prices, check reviews, and create a buyer's guide.
Team up with AI: Up to 20 people can now chat together with ChatGPT in the conversation. Your team can brainstorm, plan projects, or solve problems together with AI helping out when you need it.
Available now: Both features work on Free, Plus, and Pro plans. Group chats keep work separate from your personal chats for privacy.
Key Idea
▲ No ads, yet: OpenAI added ability to shop through ChatGPT opens up a massive market to online sellers. Expect to see paid ads coming to the feed, as they give access to their massive customer base.
▲ EVEN MORE NEWS
Other big ideas from the past week.
Image created with Midjourney
▲ ChatGPT with personality: OpenAI's GPT-5.1 now lets you choose how it talks to you. Professional, Friendly, Quirky, Efficient, Cynical, Nerdy, or other styles.
▲ Grok gets smarter: Grok 4.1 rolled out everywhere on grok.com, X, and mobile. User testing shows it's noticeably better than the previous version.
▲ Microsoft's AI for busy work: Agent 365 is Microsoft's system for managing AI helpers that handle routine office tasks. They also released a new AI voice that sounds natural and responds quickly for business phone systems.
▲ Adobe buys marketing giant: Adobe is buying Semrush for $1.9 billion to strengthen its AI marketing tools. Semrush helps businesses with online marketing and SEO.
The Lab
▲ AI EDUCATION
How to Create Professional Portrait Headshots With Nano Banana Pro 3.0
Learn how to use Google's Gemini 3 Nano Banana Pro to generate professional-looking portrait headshots from a single photo of yourself.
What you'll learn:
How to access and use Nano Banana Pro for portrait generation
Techniques for prompting professional headshots with proper lighting and composition
How to refine and iterate on AI-generated headshots for the best results
Professional applications for LinkedIn profiles, company websites, and marketing materials
🔬 Interested in learning about AI for business? Join The Lab waitlist.
▲ AI IMAGE SHOWCASE
Create this type of image with Midjourney
Image Usage Suggestion: Tech startup marketing, music production software interfaces, or creative workspace branding
💌 Reply to this email with your AI image generation or suggestion of what you’d like to see and I'll feature it in a future newsletter.
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Thanks for reading, until next time.
Stay curious,
Matt Lok, Editor
Brought to you by Metalabs. Digital marketing consulting specialising in AI.