# AI Video, Agentic Search, and Global Delivery Consolidation

**Podcast:** TechCrunch Daily Crunch
**Published:** 2026-07-18

## Transcript

This is TechCrunch.
Google's AI mode gets an update.
I'm Imran Shaikh in your Weekend Crunch, featuring three big tech headlines.
Start right now.
We begin with other Google news.
OpenAI's Sora may have shut down, but Google apparently thinks there's still interest in a tool that lets you star in your own AI videos.
You see, on Thursday, the tech giant announced an update to Google Vids that will allow you to create a custom digital avatar that looks and sounds like you based on a selfie and a voice recording you upload.
In addition, Google said it's bringing its multimodal AI model, Gemini Omni, to Vids.
letting you create videos using a combination of a written prompt and reference images you upload.
Omni then mixes those inputs together to create the AI video you want.
It can also be used to do things like swap out the background or fix the lighting in a video recorded on your phone or add effects.
Omni now supports step-by-step edits, meaning you can make changes to your video as you go instead of starting over from scratch.
The updates push Google Vids beyond its original role as an AI-assisted workplace presentation tool to become more of an all-in-one video creation platform.
By making Vids a part of Google Workspace, the company is telegraphing its use as a business tool for things like company updates or training videos, but personalized avatars.
and conversational edits could put it in closer competition with other AI video startups and tools like Heigen, Synthesia, Captions, DID, and others.
Uber's $14.8 billion Delivery Hero deal would nearly double its global footprint.
After weeks of speculation, Uber officially agreed to acquire Delivery Hero, a purchase that'll take the ride-hailing and delivery giant's status to new heights and to nearly 100 markets across Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.
German-based Delivery Hero also made a separate agreement to sell its business in 14 markets, where Uber Eats is already operating, to New York-based investment firm SSW Partners for $1.6 billion.
The $14.8 billion all-stock acquisition isn't a done deal yet.
The purchase will make Uber's delivery platform one of the largest in the world, at least the largest outside of China, and will likely face regulatory scrutiny.
And Uber, which was already the largest shareholder of Delivery Hero, has set a minimum acceptance threshold of 50%, plus one share of Delivery Hero's outstanding share capital.
Prosus, another major shareholder, has agreed to sell its 17% stake as well, according to the announcement.
If the deal closes, Uber will essentially double its footprint, putting it in a better position to compete with DoorDash and Just Eat.
Together, we'll nearly double the number of markets where we offer both mobility and delivery services, scaling a proven platform that we believe will create significant long-term value for our customers and shareholders, Uber CEO Dara Khazrashahi said in a statement.
Google announced on Thursday that it now allows users to link and interact with some of their go-to apps right in AI mode, the tech giant's conversational search experience.
At launch, supported apps include Instacart, Canva, and YouTube.
With this new update, Google is expanding AI mode beyond answering questions and into completing tasks across the apps they use regularly.
The tech giant is also likely hoping that users will rely on AI mode more often for things like planning and shopping.
Plus, the rollout will allow Google to better compete with rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropics Cloud, both of which support app integrations.
In one example, Google says that if you're planning a barbecue and using AI mode to create a grocery list, you can connect your Instacart account to add the ingredients directly to your shopping cart and quickly check out on the Instacart app or website.
Or, if you're working on a project and need design ideas, like for a flyer, you can ask Canva.
to show you a selection of templates.
In another example, Google says you could use AI mode to curate a playlist for your next party and instantly save it to YouTube Music.
The update is rolling out to users in the US.
Google says it's working with a range of partners and plans to launch support for more apps soon.
Thursday's announcement builds on a capability Google launched earlier this year at Google I.O.
that lets users connect third-party apps to the Gemini app to complete tasks faster.
And folks, that's your Daily Crunch.
Today's stories were reported by Kirsten Karosek, Sarah Perez, Aisha Malek, and more awesome TechCrunch journalists.
We'll see you here next week.
And until then, find us at TechCrunch.com.