AI Watchly Google shut down Project Mariner on May 4, 2026, discontinuing its experimental web task automation feature that could perform up to 10 tasks at a time. The company said its underlying technology has been integrated into other Google products, including Gemini Agent.
Google DeepMind has partnered with EVE Online to test AI models in the massively multiplayer game environment. The collaboration comes alongside CCP Games' $120M recapitalization to achieve independence and rebrand as Fenris Creations.
Google updated its AI-powered search results to surface quotes directly from Reddit and other web forums for niche queries. The integration aims to provide more diverse perspective and community-driven answers, though it carries risks of surfacing low-quality or misleading information.
Google released Gemma 4 with a token prediction technique that delivers up to 3x faster inference speed without sacrificing output quality. The optimization predicts multiple future tokens in parallel, enabling significantly faster text generation while maintaining the model's accuracy.
Google updated its AI Search feature to include summaries quoting Reddit and other firsthand sources like social media forums, allowing users to discover human perspectives alongside search results. The change reflects growing user demand for authentic advice and real experiences rather than SEO-optimized content.
Google Chrome is automatically downloading a 4GB weights.bin file containing Gemini Nano, an on-device AI model, to users' system folders when certain AI features are enabled. The model powers Chrome's built-in AI tools including scam detection, writing assistance, and autofill—but users weren't explicitly informed about the large storage footprint.
Google upgraded Gemini for Home to version 3.1, enabling the assistant to handle complex multi-step tasks and combine multiple commands in a single request. The update improves natural language understanding, event management, and smart home device identification to enhance the assistant's reliability after earlier reported bugs.
Google Home is receiving an upgraded Gemini voice assistant with enhanced capabilities and new camera controls as part of its latest smart home ecosystem update. The expansion extends Google's AI integration into consumer smart home devices, building on features introduced in the 2025 revamp.
Google Chrome automatically installed a 4 GB AI model on users' devices without explicit consent, raising privacy and data autonomy concerns. The silent installation bypassed user awareness, sparking significant controversy about software practices and user control over local AI execution.
OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are backing legislation to fund AI literacy programs in schools. The bill aims to equip students with foundational knowledge about artificial intelligence and its societal impacts as AI becomes increasingly central to the economy.
AI-generated music is increasingly flooding streaming platforms, but consumer demand remains unclear. The article explores how generative AI music evolved from experimental projects like Taryn Southern's "I AM AI" (2018) and Holly Herndon's "Proto" (2019) to widespread platform presence today.
Kimi K2.6, an open-weights Chinese language model, outperformed Claude, GPT-5.5, and Gemini in a competitive coding challenge. The result demonstrates that open-source models can match or exceed proprietary frontier models on specific technical benchmarks.
The Pentagon has approved classified AI contracts with OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, xAI, and Reflection, while notably excluding Anthropic due to supply-chain risk concerns. This marks expansion of the DoD's classified AI partnerships beyond the existing agreements with OpenAI and xAI.
Google is expanding Gemini AI into millions of vehicles as an in-car assistant. The deployment demonstrates Google's strategy to integrate conversational AI capabilities into automotive experiences.
Google is rolling out its Gemini AI assistant to vehicles with Google built-in, replacing the current Google Assistant with improved natural conversation capabilities and vehicle-specific features. The upgrade will be available to both new vehicles and existing ones already equipped with Google built-in through a software update.
An analysis questioning Google's privacy commitments in AI features, examining how default settings and design choices may undermine user consent and control. The piece argues that Google's framing of respecting privacy obscures structural incentives that favor data collection and AI training.
Drone strikes targeting data centers in the Middle East are causing major tech companies to pause or halt infrastructure projects in the region, citing uninsurable war damage risks. The attacks have prompted Big Tech to reassess their expansion strategies and geopolitical exposure in conflict zones.
A BBC article examines how AI companies leverage fear narratives about existential risks and advanced capabilities to shape policy, regulatory discussions, and public perception in their favor. The strategy serves corporate interests by influencing regulation and building justifications for market dominance.
Google signed a new contract to expand the Pentagon's access to its AI systems following Anthropic's public refusal to allow DoD use of Claude for domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. The move highlights a divergence in how major AI labs approach military and defense applications.
YouTube is testing an AI-powered search feature that provides guided answers to user queries, rolling it out to Premium subscribers in the U.S. on an opt-in basis. This move positions YouTube to integrate conversational AI into its core search and discovery experience.
Google has signed a classified deal allowing the US Department of Defense to use its AI models for "any lawful government purpose," according to The Information, placing it alongside OpenAI and xAI in providing AI to the Pentagon. The agreement comes amid employee protests urging CEO Sundar Pichai to block military use of Google's AI over concerns about potential harmful applications.
Google is testing an AI-powered conversational search feature on YouTube that generates results across longform videos, Shorts, and text summaries in response to natural language queries. The feature, called "Ask YouTube," is currently available to YouTube Premium subscribers 18+ in the US.
The EU has ordered Google to offer alternative AI models alongside Gemini on Android devices in Europe, arguing that Google's default placement constitutes unfair competition. Google argues the mandate represents unwarranted intervention, but faces potential compliance pressure under EU digital competition rules.
Google DeepMind announced a partnership with the Republic of Korea to accelerate scientific breakthroughs using frontier AI models. The collaboration aims to leverage advanced AI capabilities to address key scientific challenges in the region.