GoKawiil
Tech News
Google has updated NotebookLM, its AI-powered research and note-taking tool, to let users upload books and reference their content directly within the app. The update also allows users to convert book material into different formats, such as summaries or study guides, using the tool's AI capabilities.
A new tool called SubSmith lets users transform their own video files into language-learning content by generating and working with subtitles for immersion-based study. It's aimed at learners who prefer building study material from local files like downloaded shows, podcasts, or MKV files rather than relying solely on streaming platforms. The launch is accompanied by guides, including timeline estimators for Japanese and Spanish learners and instructions for sentence mining from local media.
A writer describes turning to an AI chatbot for guidance after prescribed pain medication failed to relieve nighttime back pain from an injury, and reports that the AI's suggestions offered relief. The account reflects a broader trend of millions of people consulting chatbots for medical advice, according to physicians who say the tools can be helpful but come with important caveats.
Google is letting Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) users import select owned ebooks from Google Play Books directly into notebooks for analysis. The feature, called Expert Intelligence, covers over 100,000 titles from publishers like Penguin Random House and O'Reilly Media, and includes partnerships with 15 bestselling authors. Users can then apply Gemini Notebook tools like Audio Overviews and Infographics to the imported book content, and combine multiple titles in one notebook.
An entrepreneur behind more than 22 companies at DRC Ventures argues that corporate values only matter when tested by hard trade-offs, not when displayed as slogans. He describes turning mission statements into operational filters that guide daily decisions on suppliers, partnerships and deals, even when a less principled option would be easier or more profitable.
A new film called 'Buddy' reimagines a wholesome children's character as a menacing figure, continuing a recurring trend in entertainment where beloved kid-friendly icons are twisted into horror antagonists. The concept taps into nostalgia while subverting it for shock value.
Google has expanded its AI Mode search feature to let users track flight prices across more than 180 countries, receiving email alerts when fares change. The tool can also display flight and hotel costs in points or miles, and in the US, users can now book hotels directly within AI Mode using Google Pay through partner services.
A new Entrepreneur commentary argues that most companies underinvest in training as a strategic tool, focusing instead on sales, tech and operations while overlooking the staff who directly shape customer experience. The author says businesses that link training to standards, coaching and culture—not just task completion—build stronger consistency and retention over time.
Erin Katz of Allen Service told CNET that homeowners should avoid turning off air conditioning entirely while traveling, since a home left to overheat can damage electronics, kill houseplants, and endanger pets. Instead, she recommends raising the thermostat only a few degrees above the usual setting, such as 75°F instead of 70°F, to save energy without letting the home get dangerously hot.
Android System Intelligence (ASI) is a system component baked into Android that powers on-device smart features like Now Playing and Live Caption, and it cannot be uninstalled like a regular app, though many manufacturers let users disable it in Settings. Android Authority found in January 2026 that turning ASI off does not break core phone functions, but it does disable the AI-driven contextual features that rely on it. Google has not published a full list of what stops working per device, leaving some uncertainty for users who disable it entirely.
Ubisoft launched the original 1999 Heroes of Might and Magic III on Steam this week, but buyers found the install contained only about 23KB of data, including a placeholder executable, instead of the roughly 1GB game. Players flooded the reviews with jokes about the error before Ubisoft fixed the listing and uploaded the correct files the next day.
A growing number of American workers are turning down promotions when the new role threatens their work-life balance or other personal priorities. Employers, meanwhile, are grappling with how to respond when high performers refuse to move up, since forcing advancement can backfire for both sides.