Welcome back to Daily Zaps, your regularly-scheduled dose of AI news ⚡️ 

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 🌎 Google's web-browsing AI agent

• 🤖 Microsoft goes all in on AI agents

• 🕵🏻‍♂️ Google AI Mode in search expanded

• 🇺🇸 Federal proposal to override state AI regulations

Let’s get right into it!

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BIG TECH

Google's web-browsing AI agent

At Google I/O 2025, Google announced the wider rollout of Project Mariner, its experimental AI agent that autonomously browses and interacts with websites to complete tasks like buying tickets or groceries, now improved to handle up to 10 tasks simultaneously by running in the cloud. Available to U.S. subscribers of the $249.99/month AI Ultra plan with plans to expand internationally, Project Mariner integrates with Google’s Gemini API and Vertex AI for developer use and will soon be part of Google’s AI-powered Search experience via Search Labs.

Alongside Project Mariner, Google introduced “Agent Mode,” a feature combining browsing, research, and app integration, also coming to Ultra subscribers. These advances mark Google’s major push to shift internet navigation from manual user actions to AI-driven delegation, positioning its AI agents as key players in transforming online user experience and commerce.

BIG TECH

Microsoft goes all in on AI agents

Microsoft envisions a future where AI agents autonomously perform a wide range of tasks—from coding to managing Windows—creating an “open agentic web” of interconnected AI systems serving individuals and organizations. At its Build conference, Microsoft highlighted tools like Copilot Studio, enabling businesses to build custom AI agents, with projections of 1.3 billion agents in use by 2028.

These agents can streamline workflows by communicating with each other to handle complex tasks such as drafting proposals and scheduling follow-ups. Microsoft is investing heavily—around $80 billion—in AI data centers and model development, driving significant growth in its Azure business, though it currently faces resource constraints limiting AI feature access.

BIG TECH

Google AI Mode in search expanded

Google has expanded AI Mode—a chatbot integrated into Google Search—to all U.S. users following a gradual rollout since March and previews in its Labs program. Powered now by a custom Gemini 2.5 model, AI Mode lives in a separate Search tab and is designed to handle complex queries like comparing products. Google plans to incorporate many AI Mode features into core Search over time, including Deep Search for comprehensive research reports and task automation inspired by Project Mariner, enabling users to book event tickets or reservations seamlessly through partners like Ticketmaster and Resy.

Upcoming enhancements include generating custom charts, personalizing responses using past searches, and connecting other Google apps like Gmail for tailored recommendations. Additionally, AI Mode will add shopping capabilities to help users find and purchase products with permission.

GOVERNMENT

Federal proposal to override state AI regulations

A provision in a House committee budget bill would block states and local governments from enforcing or passing any AI-related laws or regulations until 2035, effectively placing a decade-long moratorium on state AI oversight. This move, pushed by House Republicans and supported by Sen. Ted Cruz, targets laws like Colorado’s comprehensive AI legislation and California’s rules on AI harms, raising concerns from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and privacy groups that it undermines states’ efforts to responsibly regulate AI in the absence of federal action.

Legal experts see the provision as politically motivated and unusually broad, potentially leading to conflicts as states seek to enforce existing AI rules. While ongoing state AI initiatives and broader technology-neutral laws would remain intact, this moratorium could nullify parts of states’ data privacy laws that include AI provisions. Critics argue that sensible regulation balances innovation and safety, questioning the federal government’s own actions to promote responsible AI use amid fears the bill would stifle state-led innovation.