Google updates car app store and adds Firefox
Google has announced a redesign of the Google Play app store for cars equipped with built-in Google systems, alongside the rollout of new apps for parked drivers, including the Firefox browser. The new update will arrive automatically over the coming weeks to more than 100 car models from 16 brands.
Google updates AI shopping: Conversations and agentic assistants
Google is rolling out a major AI-powered shopping update with agentic technology, including conversational shopping in Search, Gemini shopping features, and new capabilities that let AI call stores on your behalf and even purchase products when prices drop.
NotebookLM Update: Deep Research and support for Word and Sheets files
Google’s AI-powered research and writing assistant, NotebookLM, is receiving a major update that adds a “Deep Research” feature to automate complex research, in addition to support for new file types including Microsoft Word and Google Sheets.
Google launches Foresight for local note-taking
Google has released the Foresight app for Mac computers to record meeting minutes and notes without requiring an internet connection. The application relies on local lightweight Gemma models to provide instant analysis and compete with leading cloud apps.
Google restricts free Gemini users to auto mode
Google has removed manual model selection for free users of the Gemini app, locking them into an automatic mode. The move is part of a broader restructuring of paid subscription tiers and logical reasoning levels.
Google tests secret Gemini Carbon model
Google employees have begun testing a new internal artificial intelligence version codenamed Carbon, which competes with Anthropic’s strongest software models. These tests coincide with the continued restriction of the officially announced Argon model from general users.
YouTube tests the return of direct messaging between users
In an effort to increase engagement within the platform, YouTube is currently testing a new feature that allows users to share videos and have direct conversations within the app, a feature that was removed in 2019.