News/Google
Google launches $4.56 AI Plus tier targeting Indonesia and emerging markets
Google has launched AI Plus, a new subscription tier priced at approximately $4.56 per month in Indonesia, positioned between its free Gemini offering and the $19.99 AI Pro plan. Designed specifically for emerging markets, the service provides expanded access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, additional AI tools, and 200 GB of Google One storage at a fraction of the cost of premium tiers. What you should know: AI Plus offers significantly more functionality than Google's free tier while remaining affordable for users in developing economies. Free users currently receive only five Gemini 2.5 Pro prompts daily, while AI Plus subscribers get...
read Sep 9, 2025AI Quests from Google aims to teach students real-world AI applications
Google has launched AI Quests, an interactive online game series designed to teach students aged 11-14 about real-world AI applications through fantasy-based gameplay. The initiative represents part of a broader tech industry push to familiarize younger generations with AI technology and build early user loyalty in what companies view as the foundational technology of the future. What you should know: AI Quests transforms Google's actual AI research projects into educational games where students learn by solving real-world challenges. The first quest, based on Google's Flood Forecasting research, tasks students with tracking variables like rainfall and river flow to train an...
read Sep 9, 2025Google’s Nano Banana gains 10M users with viral photo prompts. Here are some to try.
Google's latest AI image generation tool has captured global attention, drawing millions of users within days of its launch. Nano Banana, integrated directly into the Gemini ecosystem, represents a significant leap forward in AI-powered visual creation, processing images at unprecedented speeds while maintaining quality that rivals established competitors like ChatGPT and MidJourney. Josh Woodward, Google's Vice President of Product, recently announced that the Gemini app gained over 10 million new users following Nano Banana's release. The tool has already generated or edited over 200 million images, sparking viral social media trends that showcase its versatility and accessibility. Unlike standalone image...
read Sep 8, 2025Google admits in court filing that “open web is in rapid decline”
Google admitted in a recent court filing that "the open web is in rapid decline," directly contradicting its previous public statements defending the health of the internet. This acknowledgment comes as the tech giant faces antitrust scrutiny over its dominance in online advertising, revealing a stark disconnect between Google's courtroom arguments and its public messaging about web vitality. What you should know: Google's admission emerged during ongoing litigation about its control over the digital advertising market. The company argued that proposed court remedies would "only accelerate that decline, harming publishers who currently rely on open-web display advertising revenue." Google contends...
read Sep 5, 2025Google Cloud survey finds AI delivers on customer service while ROI drops
The artificial intelligence honeymoon period appears to be ending. After years of breathless predictions about AI transforming every aspect of business, a new survey from Google Cloud reveals that executives are taking a more measured approach to evaluating their AI investments—and the results are decidedly mixed. The survey, which polled nearly 3,500 senior leaders globally from companies with at least 100 employees and $10 million in annual revenue, focused exclusively on organizations that have already deployed generative AI systems. Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT that can create text, images, code, and other content based on prompts,...
read Sep 5, 2025Chrome extension “Bye Bye Google AI” removes AI overviews, touts 50K+ users
A tech industry veteran has created a free Chrome extension called "Bye Bye Google AI" that removes Google's AI Overviews from search results with a single click. The tool addresses growing concerns about AI summaries that may contain inaccurate information while diverting traffic from original content creators. Why this matters: Research shows that 10.4% of Google's AI Overview responses are derived from AI-generated content, with 52% of citations coming from sources outside Google's top 100 search results—pages the algorithm considers less authoritative. How it works: The Chrome extension modifies search result pages by hiding AI Overviews through CSS manipulation.• Users...
read Sep 4, 2025TCL’s QM9K TVs first to feature built-in Google Gemini AI
TCL has announced the QM9K, its new flagship QD mini LED television series that will be the first TVs to feature Gemini built into Google TV. The integration represents a significant step forward in smart TV technology, combining advanced AI capabilities with hands-free operation and premium display features. What you should know: The QM9K series introduces several industry-first features that could reshape how users interact with their televisions. Users can engage with Gemini using the standard "Hey Google" voice prompt to find movies, ask questions about any topic, and control smart home devices synced through Google Home. An mmWave sensor...
read Sep 4, 2025Google DeepMind AI boosts gravitational wave detection by 100x
Google DeepMind has developed Deep Loop Shaping, a novel AI method that reduces noise in gravitational wave observatories by 30 to 100 times, significantly improving their ability to detect cosmic events. Published in Science and tested at LIGO's Louisiana facility, this breakthrough could help astronomers detect hundreds more black hole mergers and neutron star collisions annually, potentially revealing intermediate-mass black holes that represent the "missing link" in understanding galaxy evolution. Why this matters: LIGO's extraordinary sensitivity—measuring distances 1/10,000th the size of a proton—makes it vulnerable to any vibration, even ocean waves 100 miles away, limiting its ability to peer deeper...
read Sep 4, 2025Apple partners with Google to power AI search for Siri in 2026
Apple is developing an AI-powered search engine tool called "World Knowledge Answers" that will integrate into Siri and launch as early as spring 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The search engine will be powered by Google's AI technology through a new partnership agreement, potentially giving Apple's struggling AI efforts the boost they need to compete with ChatGPT and other AI search tools. What you should know: The new search engine aims to transform Siri into a more capable AI assistant that can answer complex internet queries using multiple content types. The tool will handle text, photos, videos, and "local...
read Sep 4, 2025Clock is ticking: Why your SEO strategy has 3 years left to work
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how customers find businesses online, and companies that fail to adapt risk becoming invisible in the digital marketplace. The shift from traditional search engine optimization to what experts now call "answer engine optimization" represents the most significant change in business discoverability since the birth of search itself. This transformation extends far beyond simple keyword targeting. Where businesses once optimized for short phrases like "brake service Omaha," they now must prepare for natural language queries such as "Why are my GMC Canyon's brakes making a grinding noise when I drive above 45 mph?" Answer engines—AI-powered tools...
read Sep 3, 2025Apple tests Google’s Gemini AI for Siri upgrade
Apple and Google have reached a formal agreement for Apple to evaluate and test Google's Gemini AI model to potentially power an upgraded version of Siri currently in development. The deal comes as Apple works to modernize its voice assistant for the AI era while also developing an AI-powered search feature called "World Knowledge Answers" targeted for release next year. What you should know: Apple is testing multiple AI models for Siri's upgrade, including its own models alongside options from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic. The formal agreement with Google allows Apple to evaluate Gemini specifically for the voice assistant project,...
read Sep 3, 2025Google Gemini replaces Assistant on Home devices starting in October
Google has announced that Gemini will replace Google Assistant on Google Home devices starting October 1, 2025, marking the end of an era for the company's original voice assistant. The integration promises more natural conversations through Gemini Live and enhanced automation capabilities, though questions remain about which features will require paid subscriptions. What you should know: Google first announced Gemini integration for smart home devices at its I/O event in May, but has now set a firm launch date. Users can sign up for updates through a link Google posted on X to know when Gemini becomes available on their...
read Sep 3, 2025Google avoids Chrome breakup but must share search index data
US District Judge Amit Mehta has ruled that Google can keep Chrome and continue paying browser developers for default search placement, but must share search index data with competitors at marginal cost. The decision, stemming from Google's antitrust case, represents a significantly lighter penalty than the Department of Justice had sought, with the judge citing AI search engines as a growing competitive threat that could naturally erode Google's market dominance. The big picture: Mehta's 230-page ruling reflects his belief that generative AI companies are already better positioned to compete with Google than traditional search engines have been in decades. "The...
read Sep 1, 2025Meta explores Google and OpenAI partnerships while building Llama AI
Meta is reportedly exploring partnerships with competitors Google and OpenAI to integrate their AI models into its own applications and services. This strategic move represents a temporary measure to enhance Meta's AI capabilities while the company continues developing its proprietary Llama models to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. What you should know: Meta's Superintelligence Lab is actively evaluating external AI models to power key features across its platform ecosystem. Leaders have examined integrating Google Gemini into Meta AI's chatbot to improve conversational search responses for users. The company has also held discussions about incorporating OpenAI's models to...
read Sep 1, 2025Google Photos uses AI to find the best moments in your videos
Google Photos is introducing a new "Key Moments" feature that uses AI to automatically identify and highlight the most engaging sections of user videos. The tool addresses a common problem with video sharing—lengthy recordings filled with uninteresting content—by allowing users to quickly find and extract compelling clips with a single tap. How it works: Key Moments analyzes videos that are at least ten seconds long, using AI to detect joyful, nostalgic, or visually rich segments.• The feature displays interactive "chips" on the video timeline that users can tap to save highlighted moments as separate clips or remove unwanted markers.• Google's...
read Aug 29, 202560 UK lawmakers accuse Google DeepMind of breaking AI safety pledges
Sixty U.K. lawmakers have accused Google DeepMind of violating international AI safety pledges in an open letter organized by activist group PauseAI U.K. The cross-party coalition claims Google's March release of Gemini 2.5 Pro without proper safety testing details "sets a dangerous precedent" and undermines commitments to responsible AI development. What you should know: Google DeepMind failed to provide pre-deployment access to Gemini 2.5 Pro to the U.K. AI Safety Institute, breaking established safety protocols. TIME confirmed for the first time that Google DeepMind did not share the model with the U.K. AI Safety Institute before its March 25 release....
read Aug 29, 2025Operation Chrome: AI companies battle for browser as DOJ forces Google’s $34.5B divestiture
The Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google has created an unexpected opportunity in the tech world: the potential forced sale of Chrome, the world's most popular web browser. With over 60% of the global browser market, Chrome represents far more than just a way to surf the internet—it's a strategic gateway that controls how billions of people access information online. Now AI companies are circling, recognizing that owning a browser could provide unprecedented access to user data and behavior patterns that are crucial for training advanced AI systems. The stakes are enormous, and the implications stretch far beyond typical...
read Aug 28, 2025Google’s AI fights “clanker” slur robo-bigotry with surprisingly effective rebuttals
Google's AI Overview feature has launched into an unexpectedly passionate defense against the term "clanker," a slang insult directed at artificial intelligence and robots. The AI's detailed, well-sourced rebuttal stands in stark contrast to its typical output of fabricated information and bizarre recommendations, raising questions about when and why Google's AI produces reliable versus problematic content. What happened: A Reddit user discovered that searching "clanker" triggers Google's AI Overview to deliver an extensive argument against the term's usage. The AI describes "clanker" as "a derogatory slur that has become popular in 2025 as a way to express disdain for robots...
read Aug 27, 2025Google adds more links to AI search results amid publisher traffic concerns
Google is expanding the number of links displayed in its AI Mode search results, with plans to embed more website links directly within AI-generated responses. The move comes as publishers report significant traffic drops from AI summaries, while Google maintains that overall search traffic remains unchanged despite growing concerns about users bypassing traditional web browsing. What you should know: Google's AI Mode will feature enhanced link placement designed to encourage more user clicks to source websites.• Robby Stein, VP of product for Google Search, announced via X that the company is experimenting with methods to display more links in AI...
read Aug 27, 2025Review: Google Pixel 10 Pro’s AI integration moves beyond chatbots
Google's Pixel 10 Pro represents a significant evolution in smartphone AI integration, moving beyond the chatbot-centric approach that defined the previous generation. While last year's Pixel 9 Pro required users to actively seek out AI features by opening specific applications, the Pixel 10 Pro weaves artificial intelligence naturally throughout the core user experience. This comprehensive review examines how Google has transformed AI from an optional add-on into an integral part of daily smartphone usage, creating what may be the first truly integrated AI mobile device. Hardware foundation for AI processing The Pixel 10 Pro's hardware improvements, while noticeable, serve primarily...
read Aug 27, 2025Adobe integrates Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash into Firefly and Express
Adobe has integrated Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model into its Firefly and Express platforms, expanding its roster of AI partners beyond its own in-house models. The addition gives users access to enhanced text-to-image generation capabilities with improved context understanding, consistency, and performance compared to Adobe's existing Firefly models. What you should know: Adobe is positioning itself as a multi-model AI platform rather than restricting users to proprietary technology alone. Gemini 2.5 Flash Image joins models from OpenAI, Black Forest Labs, Runway, Pika, Ideogram, Lume AI, and Moonvalley in Adobe's ecosystem. The integration allows users to generate stylized graphics in...
read Aug 27, 2025Google’s Pixel 10 Pro weaves AI throughout Android
Google's latest flagship smartphone represents a significant shift in how artificial intelligence integrates with mobile devices. Unlike previous generations where AI features felt like add-ons requiring separate apps, the Pixel 10 Pro weaves machine learning capabilities throughout the core user experience. This comprehensive review examines how Google has evolved from prompt-based AI interactions to contextually aware assistance that anticipates user needs. The device showcases what happens when a company controls both hardware design and software development, creating opportunities for deeper AI integration that third-party manufacturers struggle to match. Hardware foundations for AI processing The Pixel 10 Pro's physical design reflects...
read Aug 25, 2025Montana restaurant begs customers to stop using Google AI for (its fake) daily specials
A Montana restaurant is pleading with customers to stop using Google's AI Overviews to check their daily specials after the AI repeatedly fabricated non-existent deals and menu items. Stefanina's Wentzville has been flooded with angry customers demanding discounts the restaurant never offered, highlighting how AI hallucinations can directly harm small businesses. What happened: Google's AI Overviews has been generating false information about Stefanina's Wentzville, creating fake specials and menu items that don't exist.• The AI told customers the restaurant was offering "a large pizza for the price of a small one," among other fabricated deals.• Restaurant owner Eva Gannon said...
read Aug 22, 2025Apple explores Google partnership to power next-generation Siri
Apple is exploring partnerships with Google to power the next-generation Siri, with the tech giant conducting an internal "bake-off" between different AI models to determine the best approach. This development comes as Apple faces significant delays in delivering its promised AI-powered Siri redesign, originally announced for iOS 18 but now pushed to spring 2026. What you should know: Apple has approached Google to explore building a custom Gemini-based AI model that would run on Apple's servers to power the new Siri experience. Google has already begun training a model specifically designed to operate on Apple's infrastructure, according to Bloomberg's Mark...
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