In this episode of IT SPARC Cast – News Bytes, John Barger & Lou Schmidt break down a week of moves that signal where enterprise AI, cloud platforms, and data center infrastructure are really headed. From Apple officially leaning on Google to power its AI ambitions, to Microsoft giving IT admins the ability to remove Copilot, this episode highlights growing tension between vendor momentum and enterprise control.

They also explore Google’s push to standardize AI-driven commerce through agent protocols and why Meta locking down more than 6 GW of nuclear power may be the clearest sign yet that energy—not silicon—is becoming the limiting factor for AI at scale. If you’re tracking AI strategy, platform lock-in, and the future of data centers, this episode connects the dots.

📌 Show Notes

00:00 – Intro

This week on IT SPARC Cast, John Barger and Lou Schmidt break down a week dominated by AI power shifts, enterprise pushback, and the growing reality that energy—not compute—may be the biggest constraint on AI’s future.

📰 News Bytes

00:52 – It’s Official: Apple Going with Google for AI

Apple confirms it will rely on Google’s Gemini models to power the next generation of Siri and Apple Intelligence. John and Lou discuss what this says about Apple’s AI strategy, the risks of deep vendor lock-in, and whether Apple can realistically switch models later without breaking workflows.

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/12/googles-gemini-to-power-apples-ai-features-like-siri/

05:44 – Microsoft to Allow IT Admins to Uninstall Copilot

Microsoft is testing new Windows policies that allow enterprise IT teams to remove the consumer Copilot app from managed devices. The conversation explores enterprise data governance, Intune controls, and why this signals a broader shift toward AI choice rather than forced adoption.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-may-soon-allow-it-admins-to-uninstall-copilot-on-managed-devices/

09:46 – Google Announces a New Protocol for AI-Driven Commerce

Google introduces the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard designed to let AI agents handle shopping, payments, and transactions across retailers. With backing from major brands and payment networks, John and Lou unpack why agent-driven commerce may become one of AI’s first truly mainstream use cases.

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/11/google-announces-a-new-protocol-to-facilitate-commerce-using-ai-agents/

12:47 – Meta Signs Nuclear Power Deals for AI Data Centers

Meta secures long-term nuclear power contracts totaling more than 6 GW to fuel its AI infrastructure. The discussion focuses on why power—not chips—is becoming the true bottleneck for AI expansion and why nuclear energy is rapidly moving from “controversial” to “necessary.”

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/09/meta-signs-deals-with-three-nuclear-companies-for-6-plus-gw-of-power/

🔚 Wrap Up

16:49 – Mail Bag

Listener feedback revisits cross-platform AI agents, Apple’s closed ecosystem, and whether enterprises can afford to exclude Mac users as agentic AI becomes more central to daily workflows.

18:53 – Wrap Up

John and Lou close the episode by reinforcing a key theme: AI’s future will be defined as much by energy, policy, and interoperability as by model performance.

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