Google

Google Cloud boosts AI security with agentic defence tools

Google Cloud has unveiled a suite of security enhancements at its Security Summit 2025, focusing on protecting AI innovations and empowering cybersecurity teams with AI-driven defence tools.

VP and GM Jon Ramsey highlighted the growing need for specialised safeguards as enterprises deploy AI agents across complex environments.

Central to the announcements is the concept of an ‘agentic security operations centre,’ where AI agents coordinate actions to achieve shared security objectives. It represents a shift from reactive security approaches to proactive, agent-supported strategies.

Google’s platform integrates automated discovery, threat detection, and response mechanisms to streamline security operations and cover gaps in existing infrastructures.

Key innovations include extended protections for AI agents through Model Armour, covering Agentspace prompts and responses to mitigate prompt injection attacks, jailbreaking, and data leakage.

The Alert Investigation agent, available in preview, automates enrichment and analysis of security events while offering actionable recommendations, reducing manual effort and accelerating response times.

Integrating Mandiant threat intelligence feeds and Gemini AI strengthens detection and incident response across agent environments.

Additional tools, such as SecOps Labs and native SOAR dashboards, provide organisations with early access to AI-powered threat detection experiments and comprehensive security visualisation capabilities.

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Google to replace Assistant with Gemini in smart home devices

Google has announced that Gemini will soon power its smart home platform, replacing Google Assistant on existing Nest speakers and displays from October. The feature will launch initially as an early preview.

Gemini for Home promises more natural conversations and can manage complex household tasks, including controlling smart devices, creating calendars, and handling lists or timers through natural language commands. It will also support Gemini Live for ongoing dialogue.

Google says the upgrade is designed to serve all household members and visitors, offering hands-free help and integration with streaming platforms. The move signals a renewed focus on Google Home, a product line that has been largely overlooked in recent years.

The announcement hints at potential new hardware, given that Google’s last Nest Hub was released in 2021 and the Nest Audio speaker dates back to 2020.

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Google urges users to update Chrome after V8 flaw patched

Google has patched a high-severity flaw in its Chrome browser with the release of version 139, addressing vulnerability CVE-2025-9132 in the V8 JavaScript engine.

The out-of-bounds write issue was discovered by Big Sleep AI, a tool built by Google DeepMind and Project Zero to automate vulnerability detection in real-world software.

Chrome 139 updates (Windows/macOS: 139.0.7258.138/.139, Linux: 139.0.7258.138) are now rolling out to users. Google has not confirmed whether the flaw is being actively exploited.

Users are strongly advised to install the latest update to ensure protection, as V8 powers both JavaScript and WebAssembly within Chrome.

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Google prepares Duolingo rival using Translate

Google Translate may soon evolve into a full-featured language learning tool, introducing AI-powered lessons rivalling apps like Duolingo.

The latest Translate app release recently uncovered a hidden feature called Practice. It enables users to take part in interactive learning scenarios.

Early tests allow learners to choose languages such as Spanish and French, then engage with situational exercises from beginner to advanced levels.

The tool personalises lessons using AI, adapting difficulty and content based on a user’s goals, such as preparing for specific trips.

Users can track progress, receive daily practice reminders, and customise prompts for listening and speaking drills through a dedicated settings panel.

The feature resembles gamified learning apps and may join Google’s premium AI offerings, though pricing and launch plans remain unconfirmed.

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Google Pixel 10 could transform smartphones with advanced AI features

Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 smartphones are tipped to place AI at the centre of the user experience, with three new features expected to redefine how people use their devices.

While hardware upgrades are anticipated at the Made by Google event, much of the excitement revolves around the AI tools that may debut.

One feature, called Help Me Edit, is designed for Google Photos. Instead of spending time on manual edits, users could describe the change they want, such as altering the colour of a car, and the AI would adjust instantly.

Expanding on the Pixel 9’s generative tools, it promises far greater control and speed.

Another addition, Camera Coach, could offer real-time guidance on photography. Using Google’s Gemini AI, the phone may provide step-by-step advice on framing, lighting, and composition, acting as a digital photography tutor.

Finally, Pixel Sense is rumoured to be a proactive personal assistant that anticipates user needs. Learning patterns from apps such as Gmail and Calendar, it could deliver predictive suggestions and take actions across third-party services, bringing the smartphone closer to a truly adaptive companion.

These features suggest that Google is betting heavily on AI to give the Pixel 10 a competitive edge.

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Google adds Gemini AI audio to Docs for better accessibility

Google has introduced a new feature in Docs that allows Workspace subscribers to turn written documents into audio using its Gemini AI assistant.

The tool produces natural-sounding voices, offers playback controls such as pausing and rewinding, and even highlights text as it is read. The rollout marks a step toward transforming Docs from a simple text editor into a multimedia platform that serves both accessibility and productivity needs.

Available under the Tools menu, the feature caters to auditory learners, professionals on the move, and users with visual impairments.

Gemini provides several AI voice options and synchronises narration with text, offering an audiobook-like experience that could change how people review drafts, collaborate remotely, or proofread reports.

The audio tool is limited to select Workspace plans, including Business, Enterprise, and Education, reflecting Google’s strategy of tying advanced AI functions to premium tiers.

Analysts believe the integration could encourage organisations to upgrade, especially as Google seeks to keep pace with rivals such as Microsoft, which has similar Copilot features in Office.

Looking ahead, experts suggest Gemini’s audio capabilities could expand to real-time translation and interactive playback.

By weaving audio into Docs, Google strengthens its position in the growing competition over AI-powered productivity while pushing for more inclusive and efficient workflows.

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Google sees growing demand for cloud data sovereignty

Google’s Cloud Experience lead Hayete Gallot says developer interest in sovereign cloud solutions is rising sharply amid AI concerns. More clients are asking to control how and where their data is stored, processed, and encrypted within public cloud environments.

Microsoft said it could not guarantee full cloud data sovereignty in July, increasing pressure on rivals to offer stronger protections.

Gallot noted that sovereignty is more than location. Cybersecurity measures such as encryption, ownership, and administrative access are now top priorities for businesses.

On AI, Gallot dismissed fears that assistants will replace developers, saying skills like prompt writing still require critical thinking.

She believes modern developers must adapt, comparing today’s AI tools to learning older languages like Pascal or Fortran.

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Google fined $36M in Australia over Telco search deals

Google has agreed to pay a fine of A$55 million (US$35.8 million) in Australia after regulators found the tech giant restricted competition by striking deals with the country’s two largest telecommunications providers. The arrangements gave Google’s search engine a dominant position on Android phones while sidelining rival platforms.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) revealed that between late 2019 and early 2021, Google partnered with Telstra and Optus, offering them a share of advertising revenue in exchange for pre-installing its search app. Regulators said the practice curtailed consumer choice and prevented other search engines from gaining visibility. Google admitted the deals harmed competition and agreed to abandon similar agreements.

The fine marks another setback for the Alphabet-owned company in Australia. Just last week, a court essentially ruled against Google in a high-profile case brought by Epic Games, which accused both Google and Apple of blocking alternative app stores on their operating systems. In a further blow, Google’s YouTube was recently swept into a nationwide ban on social media access for users under 16, reversing an earlier exemption.

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the outcome was essential to ensure Australians have ‘greater search choice in the future’ and that rival providers gain a fair chance to reach consumers. While the fine still requires court approval, Google and the regulator have submitted a joint recommendation to avoid drawn-out litigation.

In response, Google emphasised it was satisfied with the resolution, noting that the contested provisions were no longer part of its contracts. The company said it remains committed to offering Android manufacturers flexibility in pre-loading apps while maintaining features that allow them to compete with Apple and keep device prices affordable. Telstra and Optus confirmed they have ceased signing such agreements since 2024, while Singtel, Optus’ parent company, has yet to comment.

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Google launches AI tool offering flexible travellers cheap flights

Google has rolled out Flight Deals, a new AI‑powered tool for flexible, budget‑conscious travellers within Google Flights. It allows users to type natural‑language descriptions of their ideal trip, such as favourite activities or timeframe, and receive bargain flight suggestions in return.

Powered by Gemini, the feature parses conversational inputs and taps real‑time flight data from multiple airlines and agencies.

The tool identifies low fares and even proposes destinations users might not have considered, ranking options by percentage savings or lowest price.

Currently in beta, Flight Deals is available in the US, Canada, and India without special opt‑in. It is also accessible via the Google Flights menu.

Traditional Google Flights remains available, with a new option to exclude basic economy fares in the US and Canada.

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New Gemini update remembers your preferences, until you tell it not to

Google has begun rolling out a feature that enables its Gemini AI chatbot to automatically remember key personal details and preferences from previous chats, unless users opt out. However, this builds upon earlier functionality where memory could only be activated on request.

The update is enabled by default on Gemini 2.5 Pro in select countries and will be extended to the 2.5 Flash version later. Users can turn off the setting under Personal Context in the app to deactivate it.

Alongside auto-memory, Google is introducing Temporary Chats, a privacy tool for one-off interactions. These conversations aren’t saved to your history, aren’t used to train Gemini, and are deleted after 72 hours.

Google is also renaming ‘Gemini Apps Activity’ to ‘Keep Activity’, a setting that, when enabled, lets Google sample uploads like files and photos to improve services from 2 September, while still offering the option to opt out.

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