Google is challenging in court two European Commission requirements issued in July: one forcing it to give rival AI assistants deeper access to Android, including voice-activation capability, and another requiring it to share Google Search data with competing search providers. The Android rule would require Google, within 12 months of the July decision, to let users set a non-Google AI assistant like ChatGPT as their default and invoke it by voice.
Google has quietly updated its Find Hub app with a new 'Remembered' tab that uses Gemini AI to help users track items that can't carry a physical Bluetooth tracker. Users can tag an item, add a note and photo, and later recall where they placed it. The feature was highlighted by an Android Authority writer who has been using it for several weeks.
Google confirmed via a support page that Gemini Skills, previously limited to AI Pro or Ultra subscribers, are now available to all personal Google account users aged 18 and up. The change comes as Google prepares to migrate Gems into Skills starting November 17, addressing concerns about free-tier access after the switch. Google also plans to add features to Skills, including file imports from Google Drive and Gemini Notebook, and the ability to share Skills with other users.
Google and five hardware partners launched Googlebook, an Android-based laptop line priced from $899 to $1,299, positioned as a premium alternative to Chrome OS devices. The machines run Android apps, Chrome, a Linux terminal, and Gemini, but early reactions from readers and Reddit users have been largely critical since launch.
Google has begun phasing out Google Assistant on mobile devices, replacing it with Gemini. Users report that the 'Switch to Google Assistant' option has disappeared from the Gemini app's account menu, following a company email last month announcing the rollout would begin September 4.
Google Wallet now connects to Gemini, letting the AI assistant access boarding passes, event tickets, loyalty cards, and rewards stored in the app. Users who link financial accounts via Plaid can also ask Gemini to analyze transactions, summarize spending, and suggest budgets. The feature is currently limited to US users aged 18 and older, and Gemini cannot make purchases or alter connected accounts.
Google has released version 1.0.981607934 of the Pixel Buds app, adding Gemini-powered voice control over earbud settings such as EQ presets, ANC mode, conversation detection, and touch controls. The feature requires the Gemini app and is rolling out now via the Play Store.
Google is shutting down Gems, the Gemini feature that let users build custom AI assistants for specific tasks, and will automatically migrate them into a new format called 'skills.' The Gemini app is notifying users that existing Gems will keep working until the November 17, 2026 transition, after which they'll be accessible as skills usable across different AI tasks without requiring manual setup.
OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and xAI all allow users to opt out of having their chat conversations used to train future models, a process that takes about a minute per service and doesn't affect personalization or memory features. Meta is the exception: US users cannot opt out of training on Meta AI chats, and since December the company has used those chats for ad targeting without any opt-out option.
Google has confirmed it is sunsetting Gemini Gems, with migration to its newer Skills feature beginning November 17. Existing Gems will remain usable until they're converted, and users will retain their customizations in the form of Skills afterward. A banner in the Gems manager announced the change, though Google's linked support page explaining details isn't yet live.
The UK government has published a draft document called 'Using AI ethically and sustainably' that instructs civil servants on responsible AI use, including skipping courtesy phrases like 'thank you' to reduce environmental impact. The under-600-word guide also tells staff to follow department-specific AI policies, use lighter-weight AI models where possible (such as Gemini Flash over Gemini Pro), and verify AI outputs for accuracy and fairness before use.
A columnist for Android Authority describes turning off eight built-in features in Google Messages, including the Gemini AI shortcut, profile sharing, outgoing message sounds, floating chat bubbles and follow-up reminders. The writer says disabling these options over a week made the app less cluttered and reduced notification interruptions, and provides steps for other users to switch them off.
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