Google has launched Universal Cart, an AI-powered shopping feature first previewed at I/O in May, now live in the US within the Gemini app and Google Search. It lets users save products from multiple retailers into one shared cart, tracks price drops and restocks, surfaces promo codes, and lets shoppers pay via Google Wallet or move items to a retailer's own checkout. Integration with Gmail and YouTube is planned but has no announced timeline.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-15
A retrospective piece revisits predictions from Kevin Kelly's 2016 book The Inevitable, including his claim that by 2026 Google's core product would be AI rather than search. The piece recounts Kelly's early-2000s conversation with Larry Page, who told him Google was 'really making an AI,' and argues Google has used search queries to train its AI systems rather than the reverse.
taylor.town
· 2026-10-12
Android Authority released its weekly Wallpaper Wednesday roundup for October 7, featuring six reader-submitted images and three from its own team. The free, watermark-free wallpapers are available in both JPG and PNG formats, optimized for phones, tablets and PCs, with full-resolution downloads offered via a linked Google Drive folder.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-07
Google is testing a redesign for Search Live in the Google app that allows users to minimize and reposition the camera feed, reducing screen clutter. The update also removes the glow effect around the video feed and may relocate the transcript button, which has currently disappeared in beta versions. These changes aim to shift focus from the camera view to the answers provided by Search Live.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-06
Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) alleges that Google used its dominant market position to deny local news publishers information needed to negotiate fair compensation for content shown in Google Search, News and Discover. UOKiK president Tomasz Chróstny said Google failed to comply with rules requiring it to disclose data that publishers need to assess proper payment, and the regulator could fine Google up to 10 percent of its annual revenue.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-05
A technology commentary argues that widespread dislike of AI reflects frustration with how companies are aggressively pushing the technology, not the technology itself. It notes that US states have proposed or passed over 2,100 AI-related bills in three years, a tenfold increase, and points to open-source alternatives to OpenAI, Google and Anthropic as giving consumers more choice than they had during the social media era.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-10-05
US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled in Google's favor in separate antitrust lawsuits filed by Chegg and Penske Media Corporation, which alleged AI Overviews cut their website traffic and revenue. Mehta found the publishers' claims rested on an unfulfilled 'expectation' of search traffic rather than any actual agreement with Google, and dismissed the suits.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-02
Google is reportedly running an 'AI contribution pilot' that pays around 100 publishers based on how much their content feeds its AI-powered search features. The Information says one publisher earned over $1 million in a year, while another received $50,000-$60,000, with payouts appearing in a Search Console earnings widget. Digiday reports the program has drawn more interest from small and mid-sized publishers than large ones and has expanded beyond news outlets.
tech.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-30
Android Authority released its latest 'Wallpaper Wednesday' collection, featuring six reader-submitted images and three from its own team. The wallpapers are free, watermark-free, and available in both landscape and portrait formats as JPG or PNG files via a shared Drive link.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-30
An Entrepreneur contributor cites data showing 47% of calls to U.S. businesses arrive outside traditional 9-to-5 hours, and argues many companies fail to answer them. The piece recommends using 24-hour answering services, on-call staff rotations, and self-service options to capture leads generated during off-hours.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-29
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.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-29
A writer searched Google for the phrase 'hes never coming over dario,' referencing a 2014 NBA fan meme about player Dario Saric. Instead of returning links, Google's AI Overview interpreted the query as a personal message about heartbreak and responded with sympathetic, therapist-like language.
sancho.bearblog.dev
· 2026-09-27
GoKawiil