Astronomers using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii captured the most detailed image yet of the Pa 30 nebula, the remains of a supernova believed to have been observed from Earth in the Middle Ages. The image shows roughly 10 times more detail than prior observations, revealing that the nebula's filaments are actually made of uniform, pearl-like knots of gas rather than continuous strands, according to a study in The Astrophysical Journal.
Frederick County's school board voted 6-1 to prohibit AI tools from pre-K through 12th grade, reversing its earlier decision to let middle and high school students use Google Gemini with teacher permission. Exceptions remain for lessons teaching about AI and for accommodations for students with disabilities. The reversal comes just weeks after Gemini was introduced to older students this school year.
Google Cloud unveiled a new agentic AI feature for Gemini that can plan and execute multi-step tasks, not just answer questions, using a single interface. The rollout targets business users first, with Gemini Enterprise already used by nearly 90% of Fortune 100 companies, before expanding to consumers. The agent can connect to internal business systems, use custom tools, and let users pick which AI model handles a task, including Anthropic's Claude.
Google has expanded its Maps platform to include AI-driven conversational ordering, trending restaurant exploration, and detailed user reviews to enhance dining decisions. These updates aim to position Maps as a comprehensive tool for finding, evaluating, and ordering food from local eateries.
A CNET writer asked ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Claude AI to plan two full days of her life hour-by-hour, optimized for happiness. All three tools produced similar schedules: early wake-up times, structured breakfasts, work blocks, and multiple exercise sessions, but the writer found the results tedious and emotionally hollow rather than genuinely joyful.
Google unveiled a new Gemini AI agent designed to operate seamlessly across multiple apps and devices within enterprise environments. Available through the Gemini Enterprise app, it enables users to assign tasks and communicate with the AI from platforms like Gmail, Drive, and third-party apps such as Slack and Microsoft 365, maintaining context across devices. Currently in private preview, the tool aims to streamline work processes by acting as a virtual coworker with specialized sub-agents for different tasks.
Google has made its SynthID Detector publicly available, allowing users to upload images, videos, and audio to verify if they contain AI-generated or manipulated content. The tool currently detects media created by Google, OpenAI, Nvidia, and Kakao, with Apple support expected soon. It successfully identified embedded SynthID tags in media edited with Apple’s tools, distinguishing them from untouched files.
A new web tool tested 12 AI models by asking them to rank top three choices on various topics. The results revealed that four Chinese models—DeepSeek, Kimi K2, Tencent’s Hy3, and GLM—tended to produce answers more consistent with the overall group consensus. The scoring system measured each model's agreement with others, highlighting differences in conformity among the models.
Google has opened a public website, SynthID.com, that lets anyone check images, video, or audio for invisible SynthID watermarks. The tool now recognizes watermarks from partner platforms including OpenAI, Nvidia, and Kakao, with Apple support coming soon, rather than only detecting Google's own Gemini-generated content as before. Google says Gemini alone has embedded SynthID in over 180 billion images and videos and 240,000 years of audio.
Google launched a public website that lets anyone check whether an image, video, or audio clip was generated using AI, after testing the tool with journalists and researchers since last year's Google I/O. The site uses SynthID, Google's watermarking technology introduced in 2023, and supports a wide range of image, video, and audio file formats. Google says SynthID is already built into Gemini, Nano Banana, Veo, Lyria, and other generative tools, as well as the Gemini app and Chrome browser.
Code strings found in Gmail app version 2026.09.28 point to a new feature letting users assign AI Inbox action items directly to Gemini, which would then work through tasks such as drafting replies. The strings suggest statuses like 'In progress' and 'Needs your input' would appear, with Gemini pausing to ask for user confirmation before sending emails or marking tasks complete. The discovery was first flagged publicly by X user Abhishek Yadav and corroborated by Android Authority's own review of the app's code.
An Android Authority writer lays out personal reasons for favoring Google's Pixel 11 Pro over rival Android flagships, citing a cleaner software experience with fewer duplicate or bloatware apps compared to phones like Samsung's. The piece also highlights Pixel's position as first in line for software updates as a key advantage.
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