Google has released Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS and Flash-Lite TTS, new text-to-speech models that can generate custom voices from text descriptions, replicate a voice from a 30-second sample with permission, and follow directions for accent, pacing, emotion and multi-speaker dialogue. The models support over 100 languages and more than 2,000 ready-made voices, and are rolling out in Gemini Notebook and Google Vids as well as to developers via Google AI Studio and the Gemini API.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-24
Google Maps is rolling out a change that displays stop signs and traffic lights in the same floating info boxes used for upcoming street names, according to 9to5Google. The feature has been spotted on Android Auto and on smartphone navigation, suggesting it may also reach CarPlay users.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-24
Koray Kavukcuoglu, in his first media appearance as Google DeepMind's leader, told The Information that Gemini 4 is in its post-training refinement stage and that Google hopes to release it well before year-end. He said Google would keep up 'fast-paced iterations,' and acknowledged the company shelved a planned Gemini 3.5 Pro update to focus on faster Flash models instead.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-24
Discord announced it will introduce a new age-assurance system that avoids requiring most users to submit ID documents. The company said over 90% of users won't be asked to confirm their age, with most sorted automatically into age groups, while those who do need verification can use methods like Google Wallet, Apple App Store records, or a reusable credential called AgeKey. Discord says vendors handling verification data won't use it for ad targeting or AI training.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-24
Google now lets anyone with a personal or Workspace account use Google Vids to create 1080p videos powered by its Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash-Lite model, free of charge. The feature is accessible via vids.new by selecting 'Create AI videos,' though Google hasn't specified any usage limits for free accounts, and generated videos carry a SynthID watermark. Google also announced plans to add Gemini 3.8 Flash-Lite text-to-speech for voiceovers, supporting over 100 languages.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-23
Several users report that Google Maps' speedometer on Android Auto is randomly toggling between miles per hour and kilometers per hour, ignoring their chosen unit settings. One user also reported the same mismatch on the mobile app itself, according to a Reddit thread. The cause remains unclear, and it's unknown how many drivers are affected.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-23
Google announced 14 new connected apps for Gemini spanning productivity, creativity and lifestyle categories, including Airtable, Linear, monday.com, PandaDoc, Wispr AI, Zoho, Adobe, Picsart, Squarespace, Webflow, Apartments.com, Experian, Peloton and SeatGeek. Users can link these services via Gemini's settings, an @ mention, or by asking the chatbot directly, with rollout starting today.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-23
According to The Mobile Report, T-Mobile is preparing to add new subscriber perks that could include Apple Music, YouTube, SiriusXM, Paramount Plus, ESPN Plus, Xbox Game Pass, Google AI, and DoorDash's DashPass. The launch was originally expected on September 23 but has reportedly been delayed to October 1, and T-Mobile has not officially confirmed the plans.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-23
Android Authority found a new settings option in Google Recorder version 4.2.2 called "Access recordings in other apps." When turned on, future audio recordings would be saved automatically to a Recordings folder accessible through Files by Google or other file manager apps, rather than being locked inside the app's sandboxed storage. The change would only apply to new recordings, not files already saved.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-23
Vigilance Security researchers say attackers are seeding tens of thousands of web pages, PDFs, reviews and fake support portals with fraudulent phone numbers, emails and login links, aiming to get AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Google AI Overview to surface them as trustworthy answers. The campaign, named Dark Sourcery, has reportedly affected at least 374 companies, including Fortune 100 firms, airlines, banks, travel companies and software providers.
darkreading.com
· 2026-09-23
YouTube announced at its Made On YouTube event that creators can now organize short, vertical video clips into serialized microdrama-style series. The feature mirrors the format popularized by standalone microdrama apps, which use brief, cliffhanger-driven episodes shot for phone screens.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-23
Tom Siegel, formerly Google's vice president of trust and safety, told Reuters that AI is harming children at a scale exceeding social media's damage. He has become the first executive director of the Youth AI Safety Institute, a new initiative launched by children's advocacy group Common Sense Media, which counts Anthropic and the OpenAI Foundation among its backers.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-23
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