TL;DR
- OpenAI released GPT-6.1 Terra on October 26. Per press reports, it costs $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens, half the price of GPT-6.1 Sol.
- Google unveiled Gemini 4 Carbon on October 28. For now only a subset of cyber defenders can use it, and Google gives no date for anyone else.
- Moonshot says it will release Kimi K3.1 Pro's weights "by Nov 4," which is this week.
- Shopify announced on October 28 that Shop Pay now works inside AI assistants like Claude Duet, and that your card is never shared with the assistant.
- Instagram tested "Features," horizontal videos up to 90 minutes, with a small group of creators.
- This week's one thing: every time someone tells you about a new model, write down what material of yours you would hand it.
Last week we covered who has to say yes before AI acts. This week the headline was different: new models arrived, and one of them costs half of its bigger sibling.
1. GPT-6.1 Terra costs half of the model above it
What happened. On October 26, OpenAI released GPT-6.1 Terra, a model the company places in the middle of its lineup. Per specialized press reports (AI Magazine, YourStory), it costs $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens, half of GPT-6.1 Sol, and OpenAI pitches it as stronger at visual reasoning and computer tasks like filling in forms. The performance figures come from OpenAI's own tests, not an independent evaluation. We couldn't open OpenAI's post; what's above comes from those reports.
What it means for you. If a tool or an agency charges you for "having AI," the question is what it does with your information, not which model it uses.
The takeaway. Nothing to do this week.
2. Google unveils Gemini 4 Carbon, but almost nobody can use it yet
What happened. On October 28, Google unveiled Gemini 4 Carbon. According to Google, it ranks first on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index (version 5.0) with a score of 59. That figure is the company's own; we haven't verified it. Google says that starting this week it's making Carbon available to a subset of cyber defenders, and that it will phase in access to more trusted partners through its Fairwind Program. For developers, businesses and consumers there's no date: Google says it wants to gather feedback and strengthen its guardrails first.
What it means for you. A model that tops a ranking but that you can't use doesn't change your week.
The takeaway. Nothing to do this week.
3. Kimi K3.1 Pro: its weights are due this week
What happened. Moonshot already offers Kimi K3.1 Pro on its API. Its quickstart guide, which looks like a draft because some figures are left blank, says the full model weights will be released "by Nov 4," and describes it as its most capable open-weight model in the 3T (three trillion parameter) class to date. That description is the company's. Open weights means anyone can download the model and run it on their own servers. It doesn't mean it's free to use for a business without a technical team.
What it means for you. An open model is an option for people who build tools, not a job for a business owner.
The takeaway. Nothing to do this week.
4. Shop Pay comes to AI assistants, and your card isn't shared with them
What happened. On October 28, in its Fall '26 Edition, Shopify announced that Shop Pay works inside personal AI assistants. It names Claude Duet, Instinct and Meta's Muse as starting points. For purchases from brands that aren't on Shopify, it says Claude Duet, Grok Bot and Instinct offer Shop Pay. According to the post, "the buyer remains in control of their purchases" and "their card is never shared with the agent"; for brands off Shopify, Shop Pay uses tokens from Mastercard, Visa and Discover, with American Express tokens "coming soon." The post doesn't say in which countries or from when.
What it means for you. If you sell online, some of your customers will start asking an assistant to buy for them.
The takeaway. Ask your payment platform whether it already accepts purchases made by an AI assistant, and what purchase information it receives. To see what an assistant can and can't do inside your apps, read what you connect and what you let it decide.
5. Instagram tests videos up to 90 minutes
What happened. On October 26, Adam Mosseri and Tessa Lyons introduced "Features," a format for horizontal videos up to 90 minutes, aimed at podcasts, comedy and full-length shows. It's a test: according to an Instagram spokesperson, cited by The Verge, a small group of creators in the US and some in Brazil have it. Instagram is also testing Reels that link to the full video. For now it doesn't plan to share ad revenue from these videos with creators, though it hasn't ruled it out. We don't know whether it will reach every account.
What it means for you. If it reaches you, a long video can be a place to answer the question your customers ask most.
The takeaway. Nothing to do this week. If you do want to record, one long video a month works just as well on your site and on any network.
What we saw this week
In three of the five stories, the models (Terra, Carbon and Kimi), the pattern repeats: one costs less, one can't be used yet and one will be downloadable. That's our reading. None of the three changes what your business has to give any of them: your services, your prices, your photos, what really happens in your operation.
A new model doesn't know what you charge, which services you offer or the name of your best customer. Only you know that, and it's what needs to be in order before you switch models, not after.
The other two stories, Shop Pay and Instagram, don't fit that reading and we don't force them to.
This week's one thing
This week, every time someone tells you about a new model, write down what material of yours you would hand it.
One line on your phone is enough: a real photo, a price, a question from a customer. You don't have to decide anything else.
Keep reading
- Anthropic and the banks said who approves what AI does - last week's roundup
- Two assistants can get into your apps. You choose which ones - what you connect and what you let it decide
- Your business's first AI agent shouldn't decide anything. It should carry your messages - where to start with an agent
- Introducing Gemini 4 Carbon, Google, October 28, 2026 - the full announcement
Frequently asked questions
To close
Models change every week. What your business hands any of them is what stays.
Thanks for reading, and for making it to the end on a Monday.
Sources
- Introducing Gemini 4 Carbon, Google, October 28, 2026 - https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/gemini-models/introducing-gemini-4-carbon/
- Kimi K3.1 Pro Quickstart, Moonshot (developer guide, accessed November 2, 2026) - https://platform.kimi.ai/docs/guide/kimi-k3-1-pro-quickstart
- Shopify Fall '26 Edition, Shopify, October 28, 2026 - https://www.shopify.com/news/fall-26-edition-merchant
- Instagram tests 90-minute horizontal videos called Features, The Next Web, October 26, 2026, citing The Verge and Instagram's post - https://thenextweb.com/news/instagram-tests-90-minute-horizontal-videos-called-features
- GPT-6.1 Terra, AI Magazine and YourStory reports on OpenAI's October 26, 2026 announcement (we couldn't open the original post) - https://aimagazine.com/news/how-openais-gpt-6-1-terra-is-much-faster-and-50-cheaper - https://yourstory.com/ai-story/gpt-6-1-terra-lower-api-pricing-developers
