Google has updated its Vids video editor to let users generate a custom AI avatar from a single uploaded photo, rather than requiring the longer face-scanning and voice-recording process previously needed through Gemini's likeness tool. Users can access this by starting a new AI video project, selecting the Avatar option, and choosing 'Design a custom avatar' to upload an image, which the tool then processes and enhances. Those who use the photo-upload method must still pick from Google's existing preset voice options rather than cloning their own voice.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-03
Google has launched its experimental Dreambeans app in India, its first international market, adding support for 13 languages including Hindi, Tamil and Bengali. The app, which pulls data from Gmail, Photos, Calendar, Search and YouTube to auto-generate illustrated personal stories, debuted in the U.S. in June and opened to all eligible adult users there in September.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-11-03
Anthropic engineering leader Addy Osmani said the company added two lines to Claude Code's prompt on Opus 4.5 to stop it from recreating specific existing games, citing its usage policy against IP infringement. Osmani said original games, genre-style games, and projects built from a user's own designs and assets should still work, and he offered to review cases where developers feel requests were wrongly refused.
cnet.com
· 2026-11-03
Android Authority found code in version 17.72.13.sa.arm64 of the Google app showing a new 'Answer type' settings entry, letting users set Chat or Task as their default Gemini mode instead of choosing each time. The feature appears unreleased and it's unclear if Google will ship it.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-02
Code found in the latest Google app build suggests Google is developing a feature letting parents set daily usage limits for Gemini on supervised accounts. Strings found in version 17.72.13.sa.arm64 reference a notification telling kids their parent set a time limit, and a lockout screen showing when access resumes. Currently, Family Link only allows parents to fully allow or block Gemini access, with no option for partial restrictions.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-02
Google has enabled Gemini AI features by default across Gmail, including email summaries, to-do list creation, reply drafting and AI search. These features require Gemini to read email content to function, though Google maintains the data is used only for those specific tasks rather than broader model training. Users can disable the integration through account settings if they prefer Gemini not to access their inbox.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-02
Amazon is currently selling the Google Pixel 11 Pro for $799, a $300 reduction from its $1,099 list price. The discount marks the lowest price the phone has reached since its launch, surpassing an earlier 2024 low of $899, and the device carries a 4.4-star rating on Amazon.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-02
AI assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini now search the web on users' behalf, combining live search results with knowledge stored in their training data before presenting a polished, generative-style answer. The reliability of these answers varies: well-documented facts are usually returned correctly, while obscure queries with limited online references are more prone to errors.
wired.com
· 2026-11-02
Android Authority's Khamosh Pathak tested ChatGPT 6's new Intelligent UI feature, a free, built-in tool for generating interactive interfaces directly in chat, by building four small apps including an F1 tracker. He found the generated mini-apps looked polished but were functionally incomplete, often requiring users to leave the app and visit an official website for fuller data.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-02
A hands-on comparison found Google Maps' Gemini assistant can be triggered by voice alone on Android Auto, while on CarPlay it requires tapping a button that appeared only late in testing. Google's own help page reportedly still listed Gemini as unavailable for CarPlay at the time, and route changes such as adding stops or finding alternate paths home were slower to process on CarPlay than on Android Auto.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-02
Three young hikers on Mount Shasta had to be rescued after planning their climb with help from Google's Gemini chatbot, leading to poor preparation and a dangerous overnight descent. Forest Service officials cited other incidents, including a woman camping illegally based on AI advice and a hiker with an inaccurate AI-generated map, while a teen in British Columbia was also rescued after using Anthropic's Claude to plan a trip.
wired.com
· 2026-11-01
The 41mm Wi-Fi Google Pixel Watch 5 has dropped to $300 from $400, its lowest price since launch, while the 45mm version is down to $330 from $430. The 25% discount is currently available at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store ahead of the official Black Friday period.
wired.com
· 2026-10-30
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