Google just partnered with StopNCII.org to proactively block non-consensual intimate imagery across Search. Instead of forcing victims to manually request takedowns for every leak, Google will use image and video hashes to automatically detect and purge matching abusive content over the coming months.
Google just admitted in an antitrust court filing that the "open web is already in rapid decline," arguing that breaking up its ad business would accelerate the crash for publishers. That statement starkly contradicts its public claims that web traffic is thriving under AI search. Google later pushed back, arguing the line was cherry-picked and only applied to display ads.
Google just added direct audio uploads to the Gemini app, addressing what the company calls users' most-requested feature. Free users can upload clips up to 10 minutes long (capped at five daily), while AI Pro and Ultra subscribers get up to three hours. Google also upgraded NotebookLM with new report styles like study guides and flashcards.
OpenAI is reportedly using scraped Google Search results via third-party service SerpApi to boost ChatGPT's real-time queries in news, sports, and markets. Despite directly competing with Google, OpenAI's internal web index still cannot match Google's accuracy on long-tail searches.
Google just gave its AI Mode in Search an agentic upgrade, letting it search across platforms like OpenTable and Resy to find open restaurant tables and link directly to checkout. The update also brings personalized recommendations and chat sharing, while expanding AI Mode in English to over 180 new countries. Agent features are currently limited to U.S. Google AI Ultra subscribers.
Google just expanded AI Mode in Search with desktop support for images and incoming PDF uploads that cross-reference the web. The update also brings a dynamic Canvas side panel for building study plans and rolls out Search Live, bringing real-time video queries from Project Astra directly into Lens. Most features are currently available to enrolled Labs users in the U.S.
Google just launched AI Mode for Search in the UK, designed to tackle messy, multi-part queries that usually take multiple searches. Powered by a custom Gemini 2.5 model, it breaks down your prompt into subtopics and fires off multiple searches simultaneously using query fan-out. It works with text, voice, and camera inputs, showing up as a dedicated tab on web and mobile.
Google just brought Gemini 2.5 Pro and a new Deep Search feature into Search's AI Mode for U.S. Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Deep Search can run hundreds of queries and compile cited research reports in minutes. Search is also rolling out an agentic feature to all U.S. users that actually calls local businesses to check prices and availability on your behalf.
Google just started rolling out AI-generated news summaries directly into its Discover feed on iOS and Android for U.S. users. The cards condense stories from multiple publishers into a three-line preview focusing on sports and entertainment. While convenient for readers, publishers worry it will accelerate the collapse of referral traffic.
Google just launched Search Live in its mobile app, letting users have free-flowing voice conversations with Search powered by a custom Gemini model. It streams spoken answers, shows web links on-screen, and keeps running in the background. It basically turns search into an active audio call, though it's currently limited to U.S. Labs users.
Google just launched Audio Overviews in Search Labs, using its latest Gemini models to turn search queries into quick, conversational audio recaps. The built-in player also serves up relevant links directly on the results page if you want to dig deeper. It basically brings the NotebookLM audio magic directly into everyday Google searches.
Google just detailed how it is deploying on-device AI across Search, Chrome, and Android to block evolving online scams. Desktop Chrome's Enhanced Protection mode now runs Gemini Nano locally to catch zero-day scam sites like fake remote tech support, while Android gains on-device warnings against rogue notifications, fraudulent texts, and suspicious calls.
Google just ditched the waitlist for AI Mode in Labs, giving everyone in the US immediate access. The update rolls out visual cards for places and shoppable products with real-time pricing and local inventory, plus a desktop sidebar to jump back into past queries. Google is also testing an AI Mode tab directly inside Search for select users.
Google just integrated Gemini 2.0 into AI Overviews in the U.S. to tackle coding and advanced math, while dropping the login requirement and expanding access to teens. The search giant also launched 'AI Mode' in Labs, a deep-reasoning search experience that runs concurrent multi-topic queries and supports conversational follow-ups. Early access is currently rolling out to Google One AI Premium subscribers.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai just teased that Google Search will "change profoundly" in 2025 to tackle far more complex queries. Pichai also fired back at Satya Nadella's past comments, inviting a direct model comparison while pointing out that Microsoft is simply relying on OpenAI.
Google just announced its biggest AI Overviews rollout yet, expanding search summaries to more than 100 countries and territories. The move pushes the feature past 1 billion monthly users worldwide, alongside broader multi-language support for English, Japanese, Spanish, and more.
Redditors in London are purposefully sharing fake restaurant recommendations to keep tourists and influencers away, tricking Google’s AI Overviews into serving bogus answers. The grassroots misinformation campaign highlights a glaring flaw in search engines relying on scraped user forums for factual summaries.
Google just announced it is adding sponsored ads directly inside its AI Overviews search summaries on mobile in the U.S., alongside links to relevant web pages. The company is also rolling out AI-organized search pages powered by custom Gemini models. It shows Google is racing to monetize generative answers before users switch to ChatGPT or Perplexity.
Google just dropped a major AI update for Search and Lens. Users can now record a short video while speaking a question aloud, letting Gemini analyze the moving scene to generate an AI Overview. The update also brings voice queries for photos, song identification to Circle to Search, and AI-organized search pages. Video search is currently rolling out in English for Search Labs testers.
Google just announced plans to flag AI-generated and edited images in Search, Google Lens, and Circle to Search later this year. The system relies on C2PA metadata to trace origins. It is a solid step against deepfakes, though missing support from tools like Flux remains an issue.
