Google

Google seeks balance between user satisfaction and ecosystem health

At the Search Central Live Deep Dive 2025 event, Google’s Gary Illyes acknowledged that they are still calibrating how to weigh user needs, especially around AI-powered features, and the health of the broader web publishing community.

The company gathers internal survey data and tracks the adoption of external AI tools to assess satisfaction and guide product decisions.

While Google aims to enrich user experience with AI Overviews, critics warn these features may shrink organic traffic for publishers, as users often consume information without visiting source sites.

Illyes reaffirmed that Google does not intend disruption but is navigating a trade-off between serving users efficiently and maintaining a healthy content ecosystem.

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Google brings Gemini AI shortcut to Android home screens

Google has launched a new AI Mode shortcut in Android Search, offering direct home-screen access to its Gemini-powered tools. The upgrade brings conversational AI to everyday mobile searches, enabling users to ask complex questions and receive context-rich responses without leaving the home screen.

AI Mode, introduced in Google Labs and now available on a wide range of Android devices, marks a leap in integrating AI across Android’s ecosystem. The feature’s rise from a limited beta to mass adoption follows enhancements powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Search, now with 100 million monthly users.

Key functions include multimodal inputs, advanced planning tools, and even the ability for AI to call businesses to verify local information. These capabilities are already live for paid subscribers, while core features remain free, drawing comparisons with rivals such as ChatGPT and Bing AI.

Privacy concerns surfaced as real-time interactions expand, but Google claims strong data protection controls are in place. As AI-powered results blend into traditional search, SEO strategies and user trust will be tested, signalling a new era in mobile discovery and digital engagement.

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Google launches AI feature to reshape how search results appear

Google has introduced a new experimental feature named Web Guide, aimed at reorganising search results by using AI to group information based on the query’s different aspects.

Available through Search Labs, the tool helps users explore topics in a more structured way instead of relying on the standard, linear results page.

Powered by Google’s Gemini AI, Web Guide works particularly well for open-ended or complex queries. For example, searches such as ‘how to solo travel in Japan’ would return results neatly arranged into guides, safety advice, or personal experiences instead of a simple list.

The feature handles multi-sentence questions, offering relevant answers broken into themed sections.

Users who opt in can access Web Guide via the Web tab and toggle it off without exiting the entire experiment. While it works only on that tab, Google plans to expand it to the broader ‘All’ tab in time.

The move follows Google’s broader push to incorporate Gemini into tools like AI Mode, Flow, and other experimental products.

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Google’s AI Overviews reach 2 billion users monthly, reshaping the web’s future

Google’s AI Overviews, the generative summaries placed above traditional search results, now serve over 2 billion users monthly, a sharp rise from 1.5 billion just last quarter.

First launched in May 2023 and widely available in the US by mid-2024, the feature has rapidly expanded across more than 200 countries and 40 languages.

The widespread use of AI Overviews transforms how people search and who benefits. Google reports that the feature boosts engagement by over 10% for queries where it appears.

However, a study by Pew Research shows clicks on search results drop significantly when AI Overviews are shown, with just 8% of users clicking any link, and only 1% clicking within the overview itself.

While Google claims AI Overviews monetise at the same rate as regular search, publishers are left out unless users click through, which they rarely do.

Google has started testing ads within the summaries and is reportedly negotiating licensing deals with select publishers, hinting at a possible revenue-sharing shift. Meanwhile, regulators in the US and EU are scrutinising whether the feature violates antitrust laws or misuses content.

Industry experts warn of a looming ‘Google Zero’ future — a web where search traffic dries up and AI-generated answers dominate.

As visibility in search becomes more about entity recognition than page ranking, publishers and marketers must rethink how they maintain relevance in an increasingly post-click environment.

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FBI alert: Fake Chrome updates used to spread malware

The FBI has warned Windows users about the rising threat of fake Chrome update installers quietly distributing malware when downloaded from unverified sites.

Windows PCs remain especially vulnerable when users sideload these installers based on aggressive prompts or misleading advice.

These counterfeit Chrome updates often bypass security defences, installing malicious software that can steal data, turn off protections, or give attackers persistent access to infected machines.

In contrast, genuine Chrome updates, distributed through the browser’s built‑in update mechanism, remain secure and advisable.

To reduce risk, the FBI recommends that users remove any Chrome software that is not sourced directly from Google’s official site or the browser’s automatic updater.

They further advise enabling auto‑updates and dismissing pop-ups urging urgent manual downloads. This caution aligns with previous security guidance targeting fake installers masquerading as browser or system updates.

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Google expands AI tools in Search with new subscriber perks

Google has begun rolling out new AI features in Search, introducing AI-powered phone calling to help users gather business information instead of contacting places manually.

The service, free for everyone in the US, allows people to search for businesses and have Google’s AI check pricing and availability on their behalf.

Subscribers to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra receive additional exclusive capabilities. These include access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google’s most advanced AI model, which supports complex queries such as coding or financial analysis.

Users can enable Gemini 2.5 Pro through the AI Mode tab instead of relying on the default model. Google is also launching Deep Research tools through Deep Search for in-depth investigations related to work, studies, or major life decisions.

Rather than rolling everything out all at once, Google is phasing in the features gradually. AI-powered calling is now available to all Search users in the US, while Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Research are becoming available specifically to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

With these updates, Google aims to position Search as more than a simple information tool by transforming it into an active digital assistant capable of handling everyday tasks and complex research instead of merely providing quick answers.

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OpenAI and Shopify explore product sales via ChatGPT

OpenAI is preparing to take a commission from product sales made directly through ChatGPT, signalling a significant shift in its business model. The move aims to monetise free users by embedding e-commerce checkout within the chatbot.

Currently, ChatGPT provides product links that redirect users to external sites. In April, OpenAI partnered with Shopify to support this feature. Sources say the next step is enabling purchases without leaving the platform, with merchants paying OpenAI a fee per transaction.

Until now, OpenAI has earned revenue mainly from ChatGPT Plus subscriptions and enterprise deals. Despite a $300 billion valuation, the company remains loss-making and seeks new commercial avenues tied to its conversational AI tools.

E-commerce integration would also challenge Google’s grip on product discovery and paid search, as more users turn to chatbots for recommendations.

Early prototypes have been shown to brands, and financial terms are under discussion. Shopify, which powers checkout on platforms like TikTok, may also provide the backend infrastructure for ChatGPT.

Product suggestions in ChatGPT are generated based on query relevance and user-specific context, including budgets and saved preferences. With memory upgrades, the chatbot can personalise results more effectively over time.

Currently, clicking on a product shows a list of sellers based on third-party data. Rankings rely mainly on metadata rather than price or delivery speed, though this is expected to evolve.

Marketers are already experimenting with ‘AIO’ — AI optimisation — to boost visibility in AI-generated product listings, similar to SEO for search engines.

An advertising agency executive said this shift could disrupt paid search and traditional ad models. Concerns are growing around how AI handles preferences and the fairness of its recommendations.

OpenAI has previously said it had ‘no active plans to pursue advertising’. However, CFO Sarah Friar recently confirmed that the company is open to ads in the future, using a selective approach.

CEO Sam Altman said OpenAI would not accept payments for preferential placement, but may charge small affiliate fees on purchases made through ChatGPT.

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Google pushes urgent Chrome update before 23 July

Google has confirmed that attackers have exploited a high-risk vulnerability in its Chrome browser. Users have been advised to update their browsers before 23 July, with cybersecurity agencies stressing the urgency.

The flaw, CVE-2025-6554, involves a type confusion issue in Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has made the update mandatory for federal departments and recommends all users take immediate action.

Although Chrome updates are applied automatically, users must restart their browsers to activate the security patches. Many fail to do so, leaving them exposed despite downloading the latest version.

CISA highlighted that timely updates are essential for reducing vulnerability to attacks, especially for organisations managing critical infrastructure. Enterprises are at risk if patching delays allow attackers to exploit known weaknesses.

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Google expands NotebookLM with curated content and mobile access

While Gemini often dominates attention in Google’s AI portfolio, other innovative tools deserve the spotlight. One standout is NotebookLM, a virtual research assistant that helps users organise and interact with complex information across various subjects.

NotebookLM creates structured notebooks from curated materials, allowing meaningful engagement with the content. It supports dynamic features, including summaries and transformation options like Audio Overview, making research tasks more intuitive and efficient.

According to Google, featured notebooks are built using information from respected authors, academic institutions, and trusted nonprofits. Current topics include Shakespeare, Yellowstone National Park and more, offering a wide spectrum of well-sourced material.

Featured notebooks function just like regular ones, with added editorial quality. Users can navigate, explore, and repurpose content in ways that support individual learning and project needs. Google has confirmed the collection will grow over time.

NotebookLM remains in early development, yet the tool already shows potential for transforming everyday research tasks. Google also plans tighter integration with its other productivity tools, including Docs and Slides.

The tool significantly reduces the effort traditionally required for academic or creative research. Structured data presentation, combined with interactive features, makes information easier to consume and act upon.

NotebookLM was initially released on desktop but is now also available as a mobile app. Users can download it via the Google Play Store to create notebooks, add content, and stay productive from anywhere.

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Google strengthens position as Perplexity and OpenAI launch browsers

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch an AI-powered web browser in the coming weeks, aiming to compete with Alphabet’s dominant Chrome browser, according to sources cited by Reuters.

The forthcoming browser seeks to leverage AI to reshape how users interact with the internet, while potentially granting OpenAI deeper access to valuable user data—a key driver behind Google’s advertising empire.

If adopted by ChatGPT’s 500 million weekly active users, the browser could pose a significant challenge to Chrome, which currently underpins much of Alphabet’s ad targeting and search traffic infrastructure.

The browser is expected to feature a native chat interface, reducing the need for users to click through traditional websites. The features align with OpenAI’s broader strategy to embed its services more seamlessly into users’ daily routines.

While the company declined to comment on the development, anonymous sources noted that the browser is likely to support AI agent capabilities, such as booking reservations or completing web forms on behalf of users.

The move comes as OpenAI faces intensifying competition from Google, Anthropic, and Perplexity.

In May, OpenAI acquired the AI hardware start-up io for $6.5 billion, in a deal linked to Apple design veteran Jony Ive. The acquisition signals a strategic push beyond software and into integrated consumer tools.

Despite Chrome’s grip on over two-thirds of the global browser market, OpenAI appears undeterred. Its browser will be built on Chromium—the open-source framework powering Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and other major browsers. Notably, OpenAI hired two former Google executives last year who had previously worked on Chrome.

The decision to build a standalone browser—rather than rely on third-party plug-ins—was reportedly driven by OpenAI’s desire for greater control over both data collection and core functionality.

The control could prove vital as regulatory scrutiny of Google’s dominance in search and advertising intensifies. The United States Department of Justice is currently pushing for Chrome’s divestiture as part of its broader antitrust actions against Alphabet.

Other players are already exploring the AI browser space. Perplexity recently launched its own AI browser, Comet, while The Browser Company and Brave have introduced AI-enhanced browsing features.

As the AI race accelerates, OpenAI’s entry into the browser market could redefine how users navigate and engage with the web—potentially transforming search, advertising, and digital privacy in the process.

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