GoKawiil
Tech News
Google is shutting down Heads Up, an Android safety tool that warned users about looking at their phones while walking, according to reporting on the move. Separately, Google is developing a Gemini-based chat feature intended to help users navigate Digital Wellbeing settings.
Google has replaced Google Assistant with Gemini in its Google Built-in infotainment platform, now live across sixteen car brands. New features include AI-enhanced Google Maps with real-time traffic and EV routing, voice control over messages and email, playlist creation, food ordering, and a camera-enabled Gemini Live mode for discussing surroundings. The rollout began earlier this summer with Android Auto before expanding to automakers including Honda, Chevrolet and Volvo.
Owners of foldable phones say they cannot place outgoing calls through Android Auto when their devices are closed, with one user receiving a prompt to 'flip open to continue.' Reports on Reddit and in Google and Motorola support forums indicate incoming calls still work fine, and several affected users say the problem began after they started using Gemini. Google and Motorola representatives have been gathering details from affected users but have not confirmed a cause.
Anthropic has released a Google Workspace add-on that lets Claude directly edit files in Docs, Sheets, and Slides rather than requiring users to copy and paste text back and forth. The beta is available now for Claude Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers, and includes connectors that let Claude create or edit Google files from within the chat interface itself. Users can choose between an 'Ask before edits' mode requiring approval or an 'Accept all edits' mode that lets Claude work unsupervised.
Google will limit free Gemini app and website users to only the Flash-Lite model, its lowest-tier offering, cutting off access to Flash and Pro starting October 9. AI Plus subscribers ($5/month) will lose the Pro model but keep Flash and Flash-Lite, while AI Pro subscribers ($20/month) gain access to the Deep Think reasoning mode previously limited to AI Ultra tiers costing $100-$200 monthly.
Google has updated its support documentation to limit which Gemini models free and AI Plus ($4.99/month) subscribers can use. Free users will be restricted to Gemini 3.5-Flash-Lite, losing access to Gemini 3.6 Flash and newer models, while AI Plus subscribers will lose access to Gemini 3.1 Pro and other reasoning models, retaining only Flash and Flash-Lite variants. The changes take effect on October 9th and do not affect AI Pro or Ultra subscribers, who retain full access including a Deep Thinking option.
Google Docs offers dark mode on its mobile app but not on the web version, leaving a gap between platforms despite frequent feature updates including Gemini-powered AI tools. Users seeking a dark interface on desktop must rely on workarounds rather than a built-in setting.
Google has added a new Map tool to the Gemini app, currently available only on Android and iOS mobile versions. The tool shows users' location on a live map with zoom and search functions, and an 'Explore this area' button that adds map data to prompts. Separately, a beta version of the Google app is replacing the forward-slash shortcut with an @ symbol for accessing skills and connectors.
A June preprint by Samsung AI Center Warsaw researchers Neo Christopher Chung and Michał Brzozowski found that chatbots including Claude, Gemini and GPT repeatedly invent the same fictional 'expert' personas, such as Elena Vasquez and Marcus Chen, when asked to generate expert profiles. The researchers traced hundreds of these AI-fabricated identities to manuscripts on repositories like Zenodo and ResearchGate, some of which carry real DOIs.
Google has integrated Gemini with Find Hub so users can verbally log where they've stored important belongings, such as saying a passport is kept in a vault. The assistant confirms the entry and links back to Find Hub, where users can attach photos, addresses, and notes, or add items manually through the app's Remembered tab.
Michael Gnagy, a Google product manager, says businesses can improve visibility on Search and Maps by connecting their Google Business Profile to Gemini and by posting content directly to the profile rather than relying solely on Instagram Stories. He explains Gemini can analyze a listing's photos, videos and reviews and answer owners' natural-language questions about what needs attention. Gnagy also notes that ephemeral content like Instagram Stories often isn't indexed by Google, while direct posts can appear on both Search and Maps.
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.