Google announced an update to Chrome's autofill feature that uses AI to scan users' Gmail for information like flight confirmation numbers, membership IDs, tracking numbers, addresses and phone numbers to fill out online forms. The feature, part of Google's Personal Intelligence suite that also powers Gemini, is opt-in and rolling out to U.S. desktop users and the iOS and Android Gemini-in-Chrome apps, with Google saying sensitive data is encrypted.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-28
Android Authority uncovered a new Gemini Live interface hidden in version 17.70.10.ve.arm64 of the Google app, replacing the current pill-shaped audio visualizer with a circular button surrounded by animated dots and a glowing blue background. The design appears to extend Google's previously spotted 'Neural Expressive' visual style, which features gradients and animated elements, into the Gemini Live voice assistant. The feature is still under development, showing visual glitches, and Google has not indicated a rollout timeline.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-27
Google DeepMind has released Genie 4, an upgraded world model that generates interactive virtual environments frame by frame from text prompts, now with audio support and more realistic human characters. The new version uses Gemini 3.8 Flash as a guiding agent to track goals and keep simulations consistent, though DeepMind says scenes still only hold together for a few minutes before losing context. Genie 4 also retains the ability to alter weather, add elements, or move the camera mid-simulation, as in Genie 3.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-27
A WIRED software reporter ran a day-long comparison of six always-on AI agents installed on an iPhone: Meta's Muse, OpenAI's Dots, Instinct, Anthropic's Claude Duet, Google's Gemini Spark and xAI's Grok Bot. The agents vary widely in price and access, from Meta's free Muse app to OpenAI's $100-a-month Dots, with Claude Duet only released as a wait-listed preview the night before testing.
wired.com
· 2026-10-27
Google Home Speaker owners reported their devices consuming unusually large amounts of Wi-Fi data, with one user citing three terabytes over two weeks and a WIRED writer finding her own speaker had used 487 GB in ten days. Google told WIRED a server misconfiguration caused some speakers to repeatedly re-download a software update, and said the issue has now been fixed.
wired.com
· 2026-10-22
A CNET reporter tested Google's newly released Gemini 3 Pro model by asking it to build an application for designing 3D-printable objects. Within about 18 hours of conversation-based iteration, the AI produced a working app that let him generate and refine cosplay armor pieces like greaves, pauldrons and vambraces, which he then printed himself.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-22
Writing on the threat generative AI poses to Wikipedia, Helen Choi notes that chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT often answer queries directly, citing Wikipedia without prompting users to click through. She argues this reduces the readership Wikipedia depends on to recruit the volunteers who write, edit and maintain its articles, and calls on academics to actively support the platform given their stake in open knowledge.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
· 2026-10-20
Google has begun rolling out its Universal Cart feature in the US, letting shoppers track products from multiple retailers in one saved cart within Search and the Gemini app. The tool monitors over 60 billion listings for price drops and stock alerts, suggests promotions and optimal credit cards via Google Wallet, and lets users check out through the Universal Commerce Protocol using Google Pay or complete purchases on the merchant's site. The feature, previewed at Google I/O in May, launches just before Black Friday.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-15
Google has launched Universal Cart, a feature first shown at Google I/O in May, for US users. It lets shoppers save products found through Search or the Gemini app into one cart across multiple retailers, with alerts for price drops and restocks, and payment suggestions based on card perks and promo codes. Checkout runs through Google's Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard it introduced earlier this year for linking AI agents with retailers.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-15
Ash Saulsbury, who previously worked on Meta's smart-glasses technology, is building Awear AI, a platform designed to let wearers carry their AI assistant's learned preferences and memories across different devices and brands. The effort targets a market where Meta and Google currently tie their AI assistants tightly to their own glasses hardware and services.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-15
A new Android Auto 18 beta has appeared, revealing a redesigned user interface alongside references to deeper Gemini AI personalization and updated font technology. The changes were spotted in the beta code rather than announced formally by Google.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-14
Google has launched Gemini Argon 4 for users worldwide. The model is available only through paid tiers, with no free version offered to consumers or developers.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-10-13
GoKawiil