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Technology Chrome's AI-Driven Bug Hunt Spurs Twice-a-Week Security Patches, Google Reports
Google Chrome's security team has moved to twice-a-week patching after AI vulnerability hunting led to a surge in bug discoveries. In June, the browser fixed 1,072 security bugs—more than the prior 23 releases combined. The team sees this as a near-term spike but expects a new equilibrium.
Technology Google DeepMind's Gemini AI Now Controls Humanoid Robots for Dextrous Tasks
Google DeepMind has released Gemini Robotics 2, an AI model that can control humanoid robots to perform complex physical tasks. The system combines vision language and action models, and has been demonstrated using Apptronik's Apollo 2 robot. Safety remains a key concern, with Google introducing a new benchmark called ASIMOV-Agentic.
Technology Private Claude Chats Exposed in Google and Bing Search Results
Private chats generated by Anthropic's Claude AI chatbot were found indexed in Google and Bing search results over the weekend. The exposure, first flagged on Reddit, includes sensitive conversations. Despite Anthropic's robots.txt instructions, the pages lacked the 'noindex' tag required by search engines.
Technology EU Fines Google $1 Billion for Prioritizing Its Own Services in Search Rankings
The European Commission has fined Google $1 billion for violating the Digital Markets Act by giving preferential treatment to its own services in search results and restricting app developers from communicating with users outside the Play Store. Google stated it will consider appealing, while industry groups argue that heavy-handed enforcement harms European consumers. The fine adds to a series of multi-billion-dollar EU antitrust penalties against Google.
Google Selfie Video Sign-In Offers Account Recovery, Enterprise Implications
Google has rolled out a new selfie video sign-in option for account recovery, allowing users to verify their identity with a short video. The feature includes liveness detection to prevent deepfake attacks and offers users control over whether their data is used for training. For enterprise security teams, the method demonstrates evolving authentication approaches beyond traditional passwords and passkeys.
Technology Google's AI spending surges, pushing free cash flow to negative $5.9bn in second quarter
Alphabet reported negative free cash flow of $5.9bn in Q2 2026 as AI infrastructure spending surged to $45bn in the quarter. CFO Anat Ashkanazi said 60% of capital expenditure went to servers and 40% to data centres. CEO Sundar Pichai described the AI shift as 'early innings' and said the company remains disciplined on returns.
Technology How Google’s New Gemini Rates Work and How to Track Your Usage
Google has overhauled how Gemini AI usage is measured, shifting from request counts to the computing power required. This change affects all tiers—Free, Plus, Pro, and Ultra—and can lead to unpredictable limits. Users can track their usage through new tools in the app.
Technology WIRED's Best Smart Speakers for 2026: Google Home Speaker Leads the Pack
WIRED's Nena Farrell tested nearly every smart speaker from Amazon, Google, and Apple. The 2026 Google Home Speaker (8/10, WIRED Recommends) leads with its Gemini AI assistant, but many advanced features require a subscription. Amazon and Apple remain strong ecosystem contenders.
Technology San Francisco Demands Apple and Google Remove AI ‘Nudify’ Apps from App Stores
San Francisco city attorney David Chiu sent cease-and-desist letters to Apple and Google demanding removal of 13 AI-powered “nudify” apps that generate nonconsensual intimate images. The letters allege the tech giants have profited millions from the apps and are aiding illegal deepfake pornography. Google has removed hundreds of similar apps; Apple did not comment.
Technology There’s Only One Google Smart Speaker Worth Buying Now
Google has streamlined its smart speaker lineup to a single speaker and two displays, introducing the new Home Speaker and the Gemini AI assistant. WIRED's Nena Farrell explains why the Home Speaker is the only one worth buying now, but notes the Nest Hub Max remains a solid smart display.
Technology Google launches new tools to monetise AI mode in Search and YouTube at Marketing Live 2026
Google announced new AI-powered advertising tools at Google Marketing Live 2026, including Business Agent for Leads and YouTube BrandStack, designed to monetise the AI mode experience in Search and YouTube. The tools leverage Gemini to integrate ads directly into conversational search and automate campaign management, with early testing in the US showing improved ad relevance.
Business From Amazon, ABB to Google, AirTrunk & More: Global Giants Commit Billions of Dollars to India
Global companies including Amazon, AirTrunk, ABB, CPP Investments, and Saint-Gobain have announced cumulative investments worth tens of billions of dollars in India, focusing on AI, cloud infrastructure, data centers, and manufacturing. The commitments underscore India's growing importance as a long-term growth market despite global economic uncertainties.
Technology Google Must Pay €4.1bn Fine for Using Android to Block Rivals, Europe's Top Court Rules
Europe's top court has dismissed Google's appeal and ordered the company to pay a €4.1bn fine for using its Android mobile operating system to block competitors. The European Commission originally imposed the penalty in 2018, citing three illegal practices such as requiring manufacturers to pre-install Google apps. The court's decision is final, marking the largest antitrust fine ever levied by the Commission.
Technology 7 Lesser-Known Google Account Settings You Should Change for Better Security and Privacy
WIRED highlights seven often-overlooked Google account settings that can improve security, privacy, and personalization. Settings include home/work addresses, profile visibility, recovery contacts, and ad customization. Users can manage these via their Google account page.
Technology Top Google Security Staff Warn Search Data Could Be Hacked if EU Rules Change
Google's vice president of security engineering, Heather Adkins, warns that proposed changes under the EU Digital Markets Act could lead to search data being de-anonymized and hacked, and increase fraud on Android. The European Commission's final decisions are expected by July 27.
Technology Google Limits Meta’s Use of Its Gemini AI Models Due to Compute Constraints
Google has placed limits on Meta’s use of its Gemini AI models after the social media company sought more computing capacity than Google could provide. The shortfall disrupted and delayed some of Meta’s internal AI projects, according to the Financial Times. The incident underscores the broader industry struggle to secure enough computing power for AI workloads.
Technology Google Search's New AI Data Training Feature: How Enterprise Users Can Opt Out
Google is rolling out a new Search Services History setting that automatically saves users' uploaded images, audio, and video for AI model training. Enterprise users should know how to opt out via the My Activity page, as the feature is enabled by default and training data can be retained for up to four years.
Technology A24's $75 Million Google AI Partnership Sparks Backlash From Independent Film Fans
A24 announced a $75 million research partnership with Google DeepMind to create AI filmmaking tools. The deal has sparked significant backlash from the studio's fanbase, who see it as a betrayal of independent cinema values. A24 defends the partnership as giving artists a voice in tool development.
Technology Google's New Home Speaker: Six-Year Wait Yields a Gemini-Powered Smart Speaker
After a six-year hiatus, Google launched the Home Speaker, a decade after the original. It adopts a compact design reminiscent of the HomePod Mini, runs on Google Gemini for smarter voice interactions, and offers stereo pairing. Some advanced features require a subscription.
Technology Google restores Telegram on Playstore after temporary government ban ends
Google restored the Telegram messaging app on the Playstore on Tuesday morning after a temporary government ban expired at midnight on June 22. The ban was imposed over Telegram's failure to prevent the circulation of fake NEET examination papers. Telegram remains unavailable on Apple's Appstore as of 10 am.
How Transparent Is DiffusionGemma? New Research Quantifies Reasoning Transparency Gap
A new paper decomposes LLM transparency into variable and algorithmic components. It finds DiffusionGemma's naive opaque serial depth is 28.6X higher than Gemma 4, but a token bottleneck reduces it to 1.1X. Algorithmic transparency remains harder due to non-chronological reasoning and token smearing, yet monitorability is similar.
Business Jio Platforms Files for India's Largest IPO: $4 Billion Raise, Meta and Google Backing, AI Ambitions
Jio Platforms has filed draft papers for a $4 billion IPO, aiming to be India's largest-ever public issue. The fresh-issue-only offering will value the company at roughly $137 billion. Proceeds will primarily reduce debt, with Reliance Industries retaining control. Key backers include Meta (9.99%) and Google (7.73%).
Technology Google Launches First New Smart Speaker in Six Years, Powered by Gemini AI Assistant
Google has announced its first new smart speaker in six years, the Google Home Speaker, powered by the Gemini assistant instead of the old Google Assistant. Preorders begin June 17 at $100, with sales starting June 25. The speaker offers improved natural conversation understanding, multi-command handling, and a subscription-based Gemini Live mode.
Technology Google Begins Android 17 Rollout; Key AI Upgrades Coming Later This Year
Alphabet's Google has begun rolling out Android 17, the latest major update to its mobile operating system, with initial enhancements for Pixel devices. While the update introduces new multitasking tools like Bubbles and security improvements, marquee artificial intelligence features such as Gemini Intelligence will arrive later this year. Wear OS 7 is also receiving updates with longer battery life and better interoperability.
Technology Google Earth's Flight Simulator Mode Now Available in Your Browser Globally
Google Earth has released its flight simulator mode as an experimental feature accessible globally through web browsers. Announced via social media on June 12, 2026, the tool allows users to explore a simulated flight experience without requiring desktop software, though Google cautions it is designed for casual exploration rather than professional training.
Manufacturing Google Home Speaker Launch Next Week Signals New Import Wave for Smart Home Devices
Google will launch its new Google Home Speaker as soon as next week, according to a Google executive's email and a Best Buy Canada listing. The device, Google's first new smart speaker in six years, will roll out to 20 countries. For trade professionals, this signals a potential uptick in imports of smart home hubs and the need to review tariff classifications.
Technology iOS 27 Screen Time vs Android 17 Pause Point: Why Google's Mindfulness Approach Wins
At WWDC 2026, Apple announced new Screen Time features for children, but a TechRadar columnist argues Android 17's Pause Point is more effective for adults. Pause Point interrupts app access with a 10-second breathing exercise and suggests alternative apps like Play Books and Mellow Mindspace.
Technology Google TV's Gemini Voice Assistant Now Controls Picture Settings on TCL TVs
Google's Gemini voice assistant on Google TV has gained the ability to adjust audio and video settings, change picture modes, and troubleshoot display issues via voice commands. The feature is initially rolling out to select 2025 and 2026 TCL TV models in the US.
Technology Google Slashes Gemini AI Plus Price to $4.99, Doubles Storage to 400GB
Google has reduced the price of its Gemini AI Plus subscription from $7.99 to $4.99 per month and doubled included storage from 200GB to 400GB. The move positions the plan as a cheaper alternative to OpenAI's ChatGPT Go, which costs $8 monthly. Subscribers gain access to enhanced Gemini capabilities, video generation, NotebookLM, and 200 Google Flow credits.
Tech Expert Wishes Apple Would Copy 5 Google Features in iOS 27 at WWDC 2026
David Nield, a technology journalist covering both iOS and Android, shares five features he hopes Apple will incorporate from Google's ecosystem in the upcoming iOS 27 update at WWDC 2026. The wishlist includes an improved keyboard, more Liquid Glass customizations, version history in Apple Notes, and additional place details in Apple Maps.
Technology Google Gemini outage hits users globally with error messages and no official fix yet
A spike in reports on Downdetector shows Google Gemini is down for many users, with 480 reports in the US and 440 in the UK as of 6:11am ET. Despite error messages like 'error 1099' and 'error 1076', Google's status page states all systems are operational. A temporary workaround involves retyping the query.
Technology Gemini in Chrome Expands to Latin America, Middle East, and Africa, Bypassing Europe
Google's Gemini in Chrome, an AI browsing assistant, has expanded to Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, covering nearly every region except Europe. The feature offers personalized help with summarizing content, comparing tabs, and integrating with Google apps like Calendar and Gmail, but European availability remains blocked by GDPR compliance hurdles.
Technology German Court Rules Google Directly Liable for False AI Overview Content, Setting Precedent for Enterprise AI Risk
A German court has ruled that Google is directly liable for incorrect information generated by its AI Overviews, classifying the summaries as Google's own content rather than mere search results. The decision, stemming from false claims about two Munich-based publishers, could have broad implications for enterprises deploying AI in critical operations like supply chain and trade documentation.
Technology Android Is Fighting Phone Scams With a New Feature to Prove Who’s Calling
Google has introduced a new Android security feature that uses the RCS communication standard to verify caller identity and flag spoofed calls. The feature, rolling out for Android 12 and later, aims to combat AI-powered voice cloning scams by providing a hardware-based confirmation signal between Android phones.
Technology Google Sues Chinese Cybercrime Network Exploiting Gemini AI in Massive Fraud Cam
Google has filed a lawsuit against a Chinese cybercrime network called Outsider Enterprise for using its Gemini AI to perpetrate a massive fraud operation, creating fake Google, YouTube, and government websites. The company reports hundreds of thousands of victims and losses in the millions, while advocating for seven bipartisan bills to combat AI-driven scams.
Technology German Court Rules Google Liable for False AI Overviews: A Global Precedent
The Munich Regional Court preliminarily ruled that Google is liable for false statements generated by its AI Overviews feature, marking a significant departure from traditional search engine protections. The court held that AI systems producing 'independent, new, and substantial statements' make the operator responsible, ordering Google to remove defamatory content and cover 80% of legal costs. The decision could set a precedent for AI liability globally.
Technology Crusoe Pauses Wyoming Data Center After Google Backs Out
Crusoe has paused development of a massive 1.8GW data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after key customer Google raised concerns about cost and construction time. The project may proceed without Crusoe as Black Hills Corp moves forward, and Crusoe's interest in the site is likely to be bought out by development partners.
Technology Gemini voice control now tunes picture and audio on Google TV
Google TV has integrated Gemini to allow natural-language voice commands for picture and audio adjustments, including brightness, contrast, picture mode, and EQ. The feature is currently exclusive to select TCL models in the US, with a rollout to additional TCL lines expected soon.
Technology Google director quits over Pentagon AI contracts, cites lost moral compass
René Mayrhofer, a Google director for Android platform security, resigned over the company's decision to allow the Pentagon to use its AI models for any lawful purpose. In an internal letter titled 'Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass,' he cited abandonment of carbon-neutral goals and deals with the 'US Ministry of War.' The resignation follows employee protests and Google's removal of its AI weapons ban.
Technology Phishing campaign exploiting Google Cloud links reaches 12,000 servers worldwide
An investigation by Comparitech revealed a coordinated phishing and spam network spanning 12,704 servers across 55 countries. Attackers use Google Cloud Storage links to evade detection, with fake New York Times pages as decoys. 99.8% of servers run end-of-life software, and 89% had no prior abuse history, indicating a rapidly rotating infrastructure aimed at bypassing traditional security tools.
Technology Test Your Google Knowledge with Our Tech Quiz
Google's expansive tech portfolio extends beyond search and YouTube. Test your knowledge of its products and services with our 15-question quiz. Discover how well you know Google.
Technology AI Enters World Cup with Google Gemini Partnership
Google Gemini partners with Argentina's national team to integrate AI into the World Cup, enhancing play analysis and fan interaction. The collaboration marks a significant step in AI's role in sports, with potential risks and rewards.
Technology Sundar Pichai: AI's Impact Rivals Electricity and Fire
Google CEO Sundar Pichai has likened the potential impact of AI to that of electricity and fire, emphasizing its transformative power. Despite AI's current limitations, Pichai's vision suggests a future where AI fundamentally alters human civilization.
Technology Google Urges Immediate Chrome Update to Fix Zero-Day Flaw
Google has released a patch for a high-severity zero-day vulnerability in Chrome, identified as CVE-2026-11645. The flaw allows remote code execution and is actively exploited. Users should update Chrome immediately to version 149.0.7827.103 or later.
Technology Apple's Siri AI Lacks Health Coach to Compete with Google Fitbit
Apple's latest Siri AI enhancements at WWDC 2026 fell short of expectations for a dedicated health coach feature, unlike Google's Fitbit Air. The absence of this feature leaves a gap in Apple's health and fitness offerings.
Technology Apple's New Siri: A Collaborative AI Leap with Google and Nvidia
Apple has unveiled a significantly enhanced Siri, developed with Google's Gemini foundation models and Nvidia's technology. This collaboration aims to deliver a more integrated and intelligent voice assistant across Apple's ecosystem.
Technology Cosmeticorexia: The Skincare Obsession Impacting Young Consumers
The skincare industry is witnessing a surge in young consumers driven by social media influencers. This trend, termed 'Cosmeticorexia,' is reshaping market dynamics as companies target younger demographics with sophisticated products.
Technology AI and Automation: Transforming Global Trade Logistics
AI and automation are revolutionizing global trade logistics by enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. This article delves into the technologies driving these changes and their impact on international commerce.