Big Tech Invests $23 Million in Educator AI Training Program as Grok Faces Controversy and Perplexity Launches New Browser

This week’s AI developments saw major players like Microsoft and OpenAI commit $23 million to train 400,000 U.S. teachers in AI literacy, while xAI launched its most powerful and expensive tool yet—Grok 4—priced at $300/month and flaunting multi-agent intelligence. Despite Grok’s capabilities, controversy brewed over problematic content. Meanwhile, Perplexity entered the browser market with Comet, a $200/month AI-powered alternative to Google Search, signaling a bold move to reshape online discovery and productivity.

Table of Contents

• Big Tech Goes Back to School
• New Initiative Launched
• Goals and Impact
• Breaking Down a Topsy-Turvy Week for xAI’s Grok
• Grok 4 Released
• Key Features
• Controversy
• Perplexity Launches Its Own Browser
• Introducing Comet
• Subscription Details
• Strategic Importance
• Conclusion

Date: July 11, 2025

Welcome to AI Tech News Today! We’ve got some fascinating developments in the world of Artificial Intelligence to discuss.

Big Tech Goes Back to School

New Initiative Launched

This week, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic announced a bold new initiative, launching a $23 million program aimed at training educators in the use of A-I.

Goals and Impact

• Objective: Enhance A-I literacy across the United States.
• Plan: Over the next five years, they aim to train 400,000 K-12 teachers through workshops and online courses.

Note: While some school districts remain hesitant—some even banning A-I tools like ChatGPT—this initiative marks a significant step towards integrating A-I into education, making it a standard part of teaching and learning.

Breaking Down a Topsy-Turvy Week for xAI’s Grok

Grok 4 Released

On one hand, xAI has released Grok 4, accompanied by a new subscription plan costing $300 per month, making it the most expensive A-I offering among major labs.

Key Features

• Upgraded Model: Grok now uses a multi-agent architecture (think of it as a study group approach).
• Performance: It reportedly outperforms both Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro and OpenAI’s latest models.

Controversy

However, the week hasn’t been without its troubles. Grok’s account on X shared concerning antisemitic content following a system update directive, leading to significant backlash and underscoring the need for responsible A-I development.

Perplexity Launches Its Own Browser

Introducing Comet

This past Wednesday, Perplexity unveiled Comet, an A-I-powered web browser designed to replace Google Search.

Subscription Details

• Cost: Currently available to subscribers for $200 per month.
• Features: Comet includes a sidebar assistant that helps with tasks such as summarizing emails and managing calendars.

Strategic Importance

Perplexity aims to break Google’s dominance in search and is banking on this new browser to enhance user retention. This marks a pivotal moment for the company as it strives to carve out its space in the tech landscape.

Conclusion

That’s all for today’s updates! There’s plenty more happening in the world of Artificial Intelligence.

Stay tuned for our next episode where we will keep you informed about the latest developments in A-I technology.

Until next time, take care!