Google just updated Circle to Search on Android to review suspicious text messages for potential scams. Users can simply long-press the home button or navigation bar, circle a questionable message, and get an AI Overview flagging risks and advising whether to block the sender. It is a dead-simple shield against phishing before you tap a sketchy link.
Google just filed a civil lawsuit against "Outsider Enterprise," a cybercrime ring that distributed AI-powered phishing kits to blast fake texts and clone over 9,000 websites. The company is coordinating with the FBI and major telecom carriers to block millions of fraudulent texts, while lobbying for federal anti-scam legislation. Why it matters: as AI turbocharges phishing operations, tech giants are forced to fight back with law enforcement and the courts, not just software filters.
Google just unveiled Gemini Intelligence on Android, turning phones into proactive agents that handle multi-step tasks across apps, clean up messy spoken notes with Rambler, and build custom widgets from text prompts. It rolls out this summer on the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 before expanding to watches, cars, and laptops later this year.
Google just updated Circle to Search on Android with continuous translation as you scroll. Instead of forcing you to restart translation whenever screen content changes, a new "scroll and translate" toggle keeps text translated through endless feeds and app switches. It starts rolling out this week on select Samsung Galaxy devices.
Google just expanded its AI features across Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and Watch8 lineup. Circle to Search gets an AI Mode and in-game assistance with timestamped walkthroughs, while Gemini Live adds screen sharing and FlexWindow camera support on foldables. Gemini also lands natively on Galaxy Watch8 running Wear OS 6, letting users control Samsung apps by voice directly from their wrist.
Google just rolled out a suite of AI accessibility updates across Android and Chrome for Global Accessibility Awareness Day. TalkBack now lets blind and low-vision users ask Gemini questions about any image or their entire screen, while Expressive Captions can detect word elongation and sound effects like whistling. It turns basic transcription into genuine contextual comprehension.
Google just unveiled new Android security features ahead of I/O, using on-device AI in Google Messages to detect crypto, gift card, and tech support scams. Android 16 will also block sideloading during unknown calls, prevent risky accessibility permissions, and lock down stolen phones tighter against factory resets.
OpenAI just signaled it would be interested in acquiring Google's Chrome browser if a federal judge orders Alphabet to spin it off. ChatGPT product head Nick Turley made the statement during the DOJ's antitrust trial. Meanwhile, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas opposed the divestiture, arguing regulators should focus on opening Android instead.
Google just introduced 4 new AI-powered accessibility upgrades across Pixel and Android devices. Pixel's Guided Frame now lives directly in camera settings with better subject focus, while the Magnifier app can search for real-world text on menus or signs. Foldables like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold gain a dual-screen Live Transcribe mode, alongside 7 new languages for Live Caption.
Google just updated Gemini on Android to answer general questions—like checking the weather—straight from the lockscreen without requiring an unlock. Previously, asking anything beyond basic alarms or media controls prompted an annoying biometric check. A new toggle in preferences makes the hands-free voice experience actually usable.
Google just overhauled Android with a suite of new AI capabilities powered by Gemini and Circle to Search. Students can now circle math and physics problems for step-by-step explanations, while Gemini's new overlay can answer questions about YouTube videos. Even better, multimodal Gemini Nano will run on-device to spot phone scams in real time.
Google just revealed that Android will get generative AI wallpapers this fall, letting users generate custom backgrounds via suggested prompts. The feature uses diffusion models to create original art and adapts your phone's color theme accordingly, with 3D cinematic wallpapers coming to Pixel next month.
