News/Mobile
Character.AI launches world’s first AI-native social feed
Character.AI has launched what it calls the world's first AI-native social feed, now live in its mobile app, where users scroll through content created entirely by AI-generated characters rather than humans. The platform transforms AI interactions from private conversations into shareable, remixable content that other users can engage with and build upon, positioning Character.AI as an entertainment-focused alternative to productivity-driven AI tools. What you should know: The feed replaces traditional social media posts from influencers and brands with AI-generated content that users can actively remix and expand.• Users can share chat snippets from character conversations, promote custom-built AI personas through...
read Aug 4, 2025Google mocks Apple’s year-long Siri AI delay in new Pixel 10 ad
Google has launched a new Pixel 10 advertisement that directly mocks Apple's delayed Siri AI upgrade, highlighting how Apple Intelligence features promised nearly a year ago still haven't been delivered. The 30-second spot capitalizes on Apple's ongoing struggles with its AI-powered Siri improvements, which were originally promised alongside the iPhone 16 launch but have faced significant technical delays. What you should know: Google's ad targets Apple's unfulfilled AI promises with pointed messaging about waiting for features that never arrive. The narrator suggests users could "just change your phone" if they bought "a new phone because of a feature that's coming...
read Aug 1, 2025Samsung unfolds free 6-month Google AI Pro subscriptions with purchase of foldable phones
Samsung's latest foldable phones are breaking preorder records, and the company is sweetening the deal with a valuable bonus that many buyers might overlook. Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Z Flip 7 FE purchasers can claim six months of Google AI Pro absolutely free—a $120 value that unlocks advanced artificial intelligence tools, expanded cloud storage, and premium features designed to enhance productivity. This promotion arrives as Samsung celebrates record-breaking demand for its newest foldables. According to the company, preorders have surged nearly 60% compared to last year's models, with carrier partners reporting unprecedented interest in the lighter,...
read Jul 29, 2025Google’s Magic Cue AI assistant debuts with Pixel 10 this August
"Magic Cue Ball" was a missed opportunity but be that as it may... Google is developing Magic Cue, an AI assistant that will proactively analyze your screen activity and suggest relevant information and actions based on what you're doing. New code strings discovered in Android's latest Canary build confirm the feature's development, with Google expected to debut it alongside the Pixel 10 series at their August 20th Made by Google event. What you should know: Magic Cue represents Google's most ambitious contextual AI assistant yet, designed to work entirely on-device while accessing data from multiple Google services. The assistant will...
read Jul 29, 2025Google expands AI Mode with 4 major features including video support
Google is expanding its AI Mode with four major features, including video capabilities for Search Live, a new Canvas planning tool, PDF upload support, and integration with Google Lens on desktop Chrome. These updates position Google's AI search experience as a more comprehensive workspace for research, planning, and document analysis, directly competing with ChatGPT's similar features. What you should know: AI Mode will soon support file uploads beyond just text and images, allowing users to upload PDFs and ask detailed questions about documents.• Uploaded files will be analyzed and cross-referenced with relevant web information, rolling out to stable in the...
read Jul 28, 2025Google expands AI weather forecasts to Pixel 8 devices
Google's Pixel Weather app has begun rolling out AI-powered forecasts to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a devices, expanding beyond the Pixel 9 series where the feature originally debuted. This marks a significant expansion of the locally-generated AI weather feature, which had previously been limited to Google's newest flagship phones despite older devices having the necessary Gemini Nano AI capabilities. What you should know: The AI forecast feature requires Gemini Nano to be enabled and updated to the latest model version.• Users need to activate Gemini Nano in their phone's Developer Settings to access the AI-powered weather predictions.• The latest Gemini...
read Jul 28, 2025Google expands AI Mode widget to all Android devices
Google has rolled out an AI Mode shortcut for its Search widget on Android devices, allowing users to directly access the AI-powered search interface from their home screen. The feature, which was previously limited to Pixel devices through the Pixel Launcher, now extends to any Android device running Google app version 16.28, making AI Mode more accessible across Google's broader ecosystem. What you should know: The AI Mode widget shortcut appears as a dedicated circle to the right of the voice microphone and Google Lens icons in Google's latest widget redesign. Users can customize the widget by long-pressing it on...
read Jul 23, 2025Google boosts AI spending to $85B as user adoption of Gemini app soars
Google's CEO Sundar Pichai declared that "AI is positively impacting every part of the business" as the company reported strong Q2 2025 earnings with $96.4 billion in revenue, up 14% year-over-year. The tech giant is doubling down on its AI strategy by increasing planned capital expenditures to $85 billion—a $10 billion jump that signals Google's determination to keep pace with competitors like OpenAI and Meta in the AI infrastructure race. What you should know: Google's AI features are gaining massive user adoption across its platform ecosystem. AI Overviews now reaches more than 2 billion monthly users across "more than 200...
read Jul 23, 2025Trust, but don’t verify: Americans rarely check sources amid 2.5B daily ChatGPT queries
ChatGPT now processes approximately 2.5 billion daily queries, with 330 million originating from US users, marking its explosive growth since launching in late 2022. Despite this widespread adoption, new survey data reveals a striking paradox: only 8.5% of Americans "always trust" AI-generated information from tools like Google's AI Overviews, yet over 40% rarely verify AI responses by clicking source links. The big picture: Generative AI has fundamentally altered how people search for information online, with ChatGPT becoming the world's most downloaded app in April and surpassing TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X combined in June App Store downloads. Key usage statistics:...
read Jul 22, 2025Apple brings back AI notification summaries with stronger error warnings
Apple has reintroduced AI-powered notification summaries for news and entertainment apps in the fourth iOS 18 developer beta, months after temporarily disabling the feature due to accuracy issues with BBC headlines. The return comes with enhanced warnings about potential errors, signaling Apple's cautious approach to deploying Apple Intelligence features that could misrepresent critical information. What you should know: Apple Intelligence notification summaries are back with stronger disclaimers about their limitations. Users installing the new beta see a splash screen where they can opt into summarized notifications for News & Entertainment apps. Apple displays a prominent red warning stating "Summarization may...
read Jul 21, 2025PDFgear Scan delivers free AI document scanning with OCR and math solving
Document scanning apps have become essential tools for modern professionals, but most force users into expensive subscription models for basic features like text recognition or multi-page PDF creation. PDFgear Scan, a new AI-powered scanning application, challenges this norm by offering enterprise-grade scanning capabilities completely free of charge. This comprehensive scanning solution goes beyond simple photo-to-PDF conversion, incorporating artificial intelligence to automatically classify documents, extract editable text, and even solve mathematical problems found within scanned materials. For business users juggling contracts, receipts, invoices, and other critical paperwork, PDFgear Scan represents a significant departure from the subscription-heavy alternatives that dominate the mobile...
read Jul 18, 2025HSBC warns Apple’s slow AI rollout may delay iPhone upgrades
HSBC has warned that Apple's slow rollout of AI features introduced at WWDC 2024 has "failed to trigger significant improvement in user experience," potentially leading users to delay iPhone upgrades. The investment bank's analysis suggests that initial hopes for AI to accelerate the iPhone renewal cycle have been short-lived, with delays in launching the AI-powered Siri particularly concerning for Apple's hardware sales strategy. What you should know: Apple's AI strategy isn't delivering the expected boost to iPhone sales, according to HSBC, a global investment bank. The iPhone still represents about half of Apple's total sales, making upgrade cycles critical to...
read Jul 17, 2025Google adds visual song search history to Circle to Search on Android
Google has added Song Search history to Circle to Search on Android, allowing users to view their recent music searches in an organized grid format. The feature, which was previously available only on iOS, provides a more visual way to track music identification history compared to the existing text-based activity log. What you should know: The new history feature appears as a clock icon in the top-right corner of Circle to Search's music interface. After tapping the music icon in Circle to Search, users can access "Recent song searches" showing cover art, song titles, artists, and search dates. The grid...
read Jul 17, 2025Candy Crush maker King fires 200 workers to replace them with AI they built
Two major gaming companies recently demonstrated how not to handle AI-driven workforce changes, with King (maker of Candy Crush) laying off 200 employees to replace them with AI tools those same workers had built, and Microsoft's Xbox division posting AI-generated artwork for new job openings just after conducting layoffs. These incidents highlight a growing concern about how companies communicate and implement AI-driven changes while maintaining employee trust and morale. What happened at King: The mobile gaming giant announced layoffs affecting approximately 200 staff members, primarily targeting middle management and UX and narrative copywriting roles. Multiple sources inside King alleged that...
read Jul 17, 2025Ohio requires all K-12 schools to create AI policies by 2026 but is down on phones in class
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 96 into law this week, requiring all K-12 school districts to create artificial intelligence usage policies by July 1, 2026, and implement cellphone restrictions starting in January. The legislation also establishes a $100,000 grant program for community colleges to integrate AI into their programs, marking a comprehensive effort to modernize education while addressing digital distractions in classrooms. What you should know: The new law creates a two-step process for AI policy development in Ohio schools. By December 31, 2025, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce must release a model AI policy addressing...
read Jul 16, 2025Nextdoor’s biggest redesign adds 3 AI features for 100M users
Nextdoor has unveiled its biggest app redesign ever, introducing three AI-powered core features: real-time safety alerts, local news from trusted sources, and neighborhood recommendations. The overhaul aims to transform the platform from a neighborhood bulletin board into a comprehensive local information hub for its 100 million users. The big picture: Nextdoor is leveraging AI to create a more useful and engaging neighborhood app that goes beyond typical social media complaints to provide genuinely valuable local information. What you should know: The redesign centers on three main components that address different aspects of neighborhood life. Real-time safety alerts provide information on...
read Jul 11, 2025Samsung explores AI earrings and necklaces as smartphone alternatives
Samsung is exploring new AI-powered wearable devices, potentially including earrings and necklaces, as part of an industry-wide push to develop alternatives to smartphone-based interactions. The company's mobile division chief Won-joon Choi revealed that Samsung is "looking at all kinds of possibilities" for wearable AI devices that could enable faster communication without requiring users to pull out their phones. What you should know: Samsung's approach focuses on companion devices that work alongside smartphones rather than standalone replacements. The company is actively developing smart glasses but recognizes that some consumers don't want to wear glasses because they change their appearance. Potential wearable...
read Jul 10, 2025Google tests Android 16 changes to remove AI shortcuts and restore colorful icons
Google is testing significant changes to Android's Pixel Launcher that will allow users to remove the AI Mode shortcut and bring back colorful weather icons. These adjustments address user interface concerns following the Material 3 redesign and Android 16's new search experience rollout. What you should know: The Android Canary build introduces user-facing tweaks that restore previous design elements while offering more customization options. Users will be able to disable the AI Mode shortcut in the Pixel Launcher search field through Google app settings under "Customize Pixel Search Box." The AI Mode toggle is currently enabled by default but can...
read Jul 9, 2025Google’s AI notification organizer will sort Android alerts into 4 categories
Google is developing an AI-powered "notification organizer" feature for Android that will automatically sort phone notifications into categories like promotions, news, social, and suggested content. The feature, expected to debut in Android 16's first quarterly release, aims to reduce notification clutter by silencing and bundling alerts based on AI analysis, though it may initially be exclusive to Pixel devices. What you should know: The notification organizer will function similarly to Gmail's automatic inbox sorting, using AI to analyze incoming alerts and categorize them into four distinct groups. Promotions: Sales, new features, and marketing content. News: Top stories, editorials, and breaking...
read Jul 9, 2025Google expands Circle to Search with AI Mode and gaming support
Google is expanding Android's Circle to Search feature with new AI capabilities and gaming assistance, alongside updates to Gemini Live for foldable devices. The enhancements integrate Google's AI Mode chatbot directly into Circle to Search and introduce camera-sharing support for Samsung's latest foldable phones, marking a significant step toward more seamless AI-powered mobile experiences. What you should know: Circle to Search now includes AI Mode integration, allowing users to access Google's chatbot-style search without switching apps. Users can "long press the home button or navigation bar, then circle, tap, or gesture on what you want to search," with AI Overviews...
read Jun 26, 2025WhatsApp launches AI message summaries to tackle unread chat overload
WhatsApp users drowning in unread messages now have an AI-powered lifeline. Meta has introduced Message Summaries, a feature that leverages artificial intelligence to distill lengthy group chats and message threads into digestible bullet points, helping users catch up without scrolling through dozens of individual messages. The feature represents Meta's latest effort to weave AI capabilities into everyday communication tools, following a broader industry trend of embedding artificial intelligence into essential productivity applications. Unlike generic AI assistants that require separate apps or interfaces, Message Summaries works directly within WhatsApp's familiar messaging environment. How Message Summaries works Message Summaries appears as a...
read Jun 26, 2025Simon Squibb launches free AI chatbot for business mentorship
Serial entrepreneur and viral philanthropist Simon Squibb has launched a free AI chatbot app that packages his 30 years of business knowledge into an accessible mobile platform. The app, called "What's your dream?", allows users to receive personalized entrepreneurial advice through text or voice conversations, representing Squibb's effort to scale his mentorship impact beyond his 16 million social media followers. What you should know: The app distills Squibb's entrepreneurial expertise into an AI assistant that provides one-on-one business guidance at no cost. Available on both iOS and Android, the app begins by asking users about their dreams, using examples like...
read Jun 25, 2025WhatsApp launches AI message summaries with privacy-first approach
WhatsApp has officially rolled out Meta AI-powered message summaries for users in the United States, allowing people to get AI-generated recaps of unread messages in any chat. The feature uses what Meta calls "Private Processing technology" to ensure neither Meta nor WhatsApp can access users' messages or the summaries themselves, addressing privacy concerns while offering a practical solution for catching up on busy group chats and conversations. What you should know: The message summary feature is designed to help users quickly catch up on conversations without scrolling through every message. Summaries work for any chat and can condense everything from...
read Jun 25, 2025United uses AI to help passengers navigate tight airport layovers
United Airlines has launched an enhanced ConnectionSaver technology that uses artificial intelligence and real-time mapping to help passengers navigate tight layovers at its hub airports. The system can hold connecting flights at gates longer while providing passengers with turn-by-turn navigation directions through the airport, addressing one of air travel's most stressful scenarios during the peak summer travel season. How it works: The upgraded ConnectionSaver technology combines AI-powered flight management with detailed airport mapping to create a comprehensive connection assistance system. United can use AI and ground teams to hold connecting flights at gates for additional time without delaying the overall...
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