Research Period: 23 March to 30 March 2026
1. Claude can now control your Mac remotely — assign tasks from your iPhone
What changed
Anthropic launched Computer Use as a research preview for Claude Pro (£17/month) and Max (£100–200/month) subscribers. Claude can now operate your Mac autonomously: opening apps, navigating browsers, filling in spreadsheets, and saving files. The companion Dispatch app on iPhone lets you send tasks to your Mac while you’re away from your desk. It uses a permission-first approach, asking before it touches a new app for the first time.
Why it matters
This is the closest we’ve seen to a genuine “hand off a task and walk away” experience. If you’re heading to a meeting but need someone to pull together research notes, compile a report, or tidy up a spreadsheet, you can dispatch the job from your phone and come back to finished work. It’s Mac-only at launch and still a research preview (expect rough edges), but the core concept — delegating desktop tasks to AI while you do something else — is a meaningful shift for time-pressed business owners.
How to use it
- Send research tasks from your iPhone while commuting and review completed notes on your Mac later
- Ask Claude to compile data from multiple browser tabs into a single document while you’re in meetings
- Delegate repetitive file organisation or spreadsheet formatting during busy periods
- Test with a low-stakes task first to understand what it handles well and where it stumbles
- Use it to draft and format documents from rough notes while you focus on client work
Sources: MacRumors | CNBC | TechCrunch
2. Gemini adds memory import from ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot ⚠️ Not yet available in the UK or Europe
What changed
Google launched a tool that lets you import your AI memories and chat history from ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot directly into Gemini. There are two methods: paste a pre-written prompt into your current AI to generate a memory summary, or upload your full chat history as a ZIP file (up to 5GB). The import takes under ten minutes.
Why it matters
⚠️ UK and EEA members cannot use this feature yet. It’s currently unavailable in the UK, EEA, and Switzerland — likely pending regulatory clearance. We’re including it because it signals something important: AI platforms are starting to compete on portability. The ability to carry your context between AI tools means you’re less locked in to any single provider. When this reaches the UK, switching between AI assistants or testing a new one won’t mean starting from scratch. Worth knowing about now so you’re ready when it arrives.
How to use it
- Bookmark this feature and monitor Google’s announcements for UK/EEA availability
- If you have international operations or colleagues outside the UK, they can try it today
- Start thinking about which AI tool holds your most valuable context — that’s the one you’d import first
- Consider exporting your ChatGPT data now (Settings > Data Controls > Export) so you’re ready
- Use this as a prompt to review what your AI tools have learnt about your business preferences
Source: Google Blog
3. ChatGPT shopping gets a rethink — and Walmart’s AI moves in
What changed
OpenAI has overhauled how shopping works inside ChatGPT. The previous “Instant Checkout” feature — where you could buy directly inside the chat — converted at three times lower rates than retailer websites, so it’s been dropped. Instead, ChatGPT now focuses on product discovery: you describe what you need, it finds and compares options, then sends you to the retailer to complete the purchase. Walmart’s own AI assistant, Sparky, is now live inside ChatGPT on the web, with iOS and Android apps coming soon.
Why it matters
The strategic shift here matters more than the feature itself. AI assistants are becoming the starting point for how people find and evaluate products: not just a search engine alternative but a shopping companion that understands context. For guild members who sell products or services, this is worth watching closely. OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol is already onboarding major retailers. If AI-assisted shopping grows, being discoverable through these channels could become as important as SEO is today. Even if you don’t sell physical products, consider how your customers’ buying habits might shift.
How to use it
- Try asking ChatGPT to help you find a business product you’d normally search for online — note the experience
- If you sell products online, research OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol for future merchant registration
- Think about how your product descriptions and listings would read to an AI recommending options
- Monitor whether your e-commerce platform (Shopify, WooCommerce) announces ChatGPT integration support
- Watch how Google Shopping and other platforms respond — this is likely the start of a broader trend
Sources: CNBC | Digital Commerce 360
Additional Noteworthy
Google Vids gets AI music generation (Lyria 3): Google Workspace AI Pro and Ultra subscribers can now generate custom background music inside Google Vids — from 30-second clips to 3-minute tracks, all from text prompts. Handy if you create video content and need licence-free music. | Google Workspace Blog
Apple iOS 27 to open Siri to rival AIs: Reports confirm iOS 27 will let Siri hand off queries to Claude, Gemini, or Grok based on your preference — ending ChatGPT’s exclusive arrangement. Nothing to do now; watch WWDC on 8 June for the formal announcement. | MacRumors
Gemini 3.1 Flash Live goes global: Google’s real-time voice and screen sharing mode — previously limited — is now available in 200+ countries including the UK. Useful for walking through problems with AI assistance while sharing your screen live. | Google AI Blog
OpenAI shuts down Sora: The Sora video generation app and API are being discontinued. The Disney partnership has collapsed. If you were using Sora, alternatives include Google Veo 3.1 and RunwayML. | TechCrunch
Cursor launches cloud agents and Automations: Cursor’s AI code editor now supports self-hosted cloud agents that run autonomously, plus a new Automations feature triggered by Slack, GitHub, or schedule events. Primarily relevant for guild members with development teams. | Cursor Blog
Perplexity Computer adds inline editing: Comet’s Computer mode now lets you select text on any webpage and fact-check, translate, or improve it in a floating panel. A new website audit workflow covers SEO and accessibility, though that’s Enterprise tier only. | Perplexity Changelog
Looking Ahead
Two dates for the diary: Apple’s WWDC on 8 June should give us the first proper look at iOS 27’s AI Extensions — how Siri will work with Claude, Gemini, and other providers. And keep an eye out for Google’s Gemini memory import reaching UK and EEA users; when it does, it’ll be one of the first things worth trying.
This briefing focuses on AI developments relevant to SME operations. It prioritises tools and features from established providers that UK-based businesses can act on today, with clear notes where geographic restrictions apply.