Google

Google rolls out AI features to surface fresh web content in Search & Discover

Google is launching two new AI-powered features in its Search and Discover tools to help people connect with more recent content on the web. The first feature upgrades Discover. It shows brief previews of trending stories and topics you care about, which you can expand to view more.

Each preview includes links so you can explore the full content on the web. This aims to make catching up on stories from both known and new publishers easier. The feature is now live in the US, South Korea and India.

The second is a sports-oriented update in Search: when looking up players or teams on your phone, you’ll soon see a ‘What’s new’ button. That will surface a feed of the latest updates and articles so you can follow recent action more directly. Rolling out in the US in the coming weeks.

These features are part of Google’s effort to use AI to help people stay better informed about topics they care about, trending news, sports, etc. At the same time, Google emphasises that web links remain a core part of the experience, helping users explore sources and dive deeper.

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India’s AI infrastructure gets a $15bn lift from Google

Google has announced a $15 billion commitment for 2026–2030 to build its first Indian AI hub in Visakhapatnam, positioning itself as a foundational partner in India’s AI-first push and strengthening US–India tech ties.

The hub will centre on a purpose-built, gigawatt-scale data-centre campus engineered to Google’s global standards for performance, reliability, and low latency. Partners AdaniConnex and Airtel will help deliver enterprise-grade capacity, enabling large companies and startups to build and scale AI-powered services.

Beyond compute, Google will anchor an international subsea gateway in Visakhapatnam, landing multiple cables to complement those in Mumbai and Chennai, adding route diversity, lowering latency across India’s east coast, and strengthening national connectivity for users, developers, and enterprises.

Clean growth is a core pillar of the plan, with work on transmission lines, new clean-energy generation, and storage in Andhra Pradesh. Google will apply its energy-efficient data centre design to expand India’s diverse clean power portfolio while supporting grid reliability and long-term sustainability goals.

The initiative aligns with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, targeting high-value jobs in India and spillover benefits to US research and development. By combining compute, connectivity, and clean energy at scale, Google aims to accelerate AI adoption across sectors and broaden digital inclusion nationwide.

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Google gives students free access to AI tools

Google has launched a 12-month free AI Pro Plan for university students aged 18 and above across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The plan gives access to Google’s top AI tools, including Gemini 2.5 Pro, Deep Research, NotebookLM, Veo 3, Nano Banana, and 2 TB of cloud storage.

Students can use these tools for homework, research, content creation, and creative projects, all designed to enhance learning and skill development.

Guided Learning in Gemini helps students with step-by-step support for math, essays, and test preparation. AI tools let students explore creativity by generating images, editing visuals, and making short cinematic clips with Veo 3 and Nano Banana.

Educators gain over 30 new tools with Gemini for Education and Classroom to plan lessons, create resources, and foster AI literacy. Google is partnering with universities to integrate AI into teaching, helping students gain practical skills for the future workforce.

The initiative reflects Google’s commitment to equipping students with AI skills, boosting critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving while expanding access to knowledge through innovative technologies.

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‘AI City Vizag’ moves ahead with ₹80,000-crore Google hyperscale campus in India

Andhra Pradesh will sign an agreement with Google on Tuesday for a 1-gigawatt hyperscale data centre in Visakhapatnam. Officials describe the ₹80,000-crore investment as a centrepiece of ‘AI City Vizag’. Plans include clean-energy integration and resilient subsea and terrestrial connectivity.

The campus will deploy Google’s full AI stack to accelerate AI-driven transformation across India. Infrastructure, data-centre capacity, large-scale energy, and expanded fibre converge in one hub. Design targets reliability, scalability, and seamless links into Google’s global network.

State approval came via the State Investment Promotion Board led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Government estimates forecast average annual GSDP gains of ₹10,518 crore in 2028–2032. About 1,88,220 jobs a year, plus ₹9,553 crore in Google Cloud-enabled productivity spillovers, are expected.

The agreement will be signed at Hotel Taj Mansingh in New Delhi. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Ashwini Vaishnaw will attend with Chief Minister Naidu. Google executives Thomas Kurian, Bikash Koley, and Karan Bajwa will represent the company.

Delivery will rely on single-window clearances, reliable utilities, and plug-and-play, renewable-ready infrastructure, led by the Economic Development Board and ITE&C. Naidu will invite the Prime Minister to ‘Super GST – Super Savings’ in Kurnool and the CII Partnership Summit in Vizag on 14–15 November.

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Google cautions Australia on youth social media ban proposal

The US tech giant, Google (also owner of YouTube), has reiterated its commitment to children’s online safety while cautioning against Australia’s proposed ban on social media use for those under 16.

Speaking before the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, Google’s Public Policy Senior Manager Rachel Lord said the legislation, though well-intentioned, may be difficult to enforce and could have unintended effects.

Lord highlighted the 23-year presence of Google in Australia, contributing over $53 billion to the economy in 2024, while YouTube’s creative ecosystem added $970 million to GDP and supported more than 16,000 jobs.

She said the company’s investments, including the $1 billion Digital Future Initiative, reflect its long-term commitment to Australia’s digital development and infrastructure.

According to Lord, YouTube already provides age-appropriate products and parental controls designed to help families manage their children’s experiences online.

Requiring children to access YouTube without accounts, she argued, would remove these protections and risk undermining safe access to educational and creative content used widely in classrooms, music, and sport.

She emphasised that YouTube functions primarily as a video streaming platform rather than a social media network, serving as a learning resource for millions of Australian children.

Lord called for legislation that strengthens safety mechanisms instead of restricting access, saying the focus should be on effective safeguards and parental empowerment rather than outright bans.

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Google faces UK action over market dominance

Google faces new regulatory scrutiny in the UK after the competition watchdog designated it with strategic market status under a new digital markets law. The ruling could change how users select search engines and how Google ranks online content.

The Competition and Markets Authority said Google controls more than 90 percent of UK searches, giving it a position of unmatched influence. The designation enables the regulator to propose targeted measures to ensure fair competition, with consultations expected later in 2025.

Google argued that tighter restrictions could slow innovation, claiming its search tools contributed £118 billion to the UK economy in 2023. The company warned that new rules might hinder product development during rapid AI advancement.

The move adds to global scrutiny of the tech giant, which faces significant fines and court cases in the US and EU over advertising and app store practices. The CMA’s decision marks the first important use of its new powers to regulate digital platforms with strategic control.

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Google fights to bundle Gemini AI with Maps and YouTube

Google is seeking permission to bundle its Gemini AI application with long-standing services such as YouTube and Maps, even as US regulators press for restrictions to curb its dominance in search.

At a recent court hearing, Google’s lawyer John Schmidtlein told Judge Amit Mehta that tying Gemini to its core apps is vital to delivering a consistent AI experience across its ecosystem.

He insisted the courts should not treat the AI market as a settled domain subject to old rules, and claimed that neither Maps nor YouTube is a monopoly product justifying special constraints.

The government’s position is more cautious. During the hearing, Judge Mehta questioned whether allowing Google to require its AI app to be installed to access Maps or YouTube would give it unfair leverage over competitors, mirroring past practices that regulators found harmful in search and browser markets.

This moment frames a broader tension: how antitrust frameworks will adapt (or not) when dominant platforms seek to integrate generative AI across many services. The outcome could shape the future of bundling practices and interoperability in AI ecosystems.

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Google invests €5 billion to boost Belgium’s AI infrastructure

The US tech giant, Google, has announced a €5 billion investment in Belgium to strengthen its AI and cloud infrastructure over the next two years.

A plan that includes major expansions of its Saint-Ghislain data centre campuses and the creation of 300 full-time jobs.

The company has also signed agreements with Eneco, Luminus and Renner to develop new onshore wind farms and supply the Belgian grid with clean energy.

Alongside the infrastructure push, Google will fund non-profits to deliver free AI training for low-skilled workers, ensuring broader access to digital skills.

By deepening its presence in Belgium, Google aims to bolster the country’s technological and economic future. The initiative marks one of Europe’s largest AI infrastructure investments, reflecting growing competition to secure leadership in the continent’s digital transformation.

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AI and cloud to drive Google’s partnership with LA28 and Team USA

Google has announced a significant partnership with LA28, Team USA, and NBCUniversal ahead of the 2026 and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The collaboration aims to create a more interactive and personalised experience for fans, athletes, and the 70,000 volunteers helping deliver the LA28 Games.

The agreement will combine innovations across Google Search, Gemini, and Google Cloud. AI tools will assist Team USA with training analysis, while viewers will benefit from more innovative search functions during NBCUniversal’s coverage.

Gemini will also support athletes and organisers with enhanced data insights and communication tools.

Google Cloud will power what is set to be the most technologically advanced Games in history. It will optimise event logistics, analyse performance data, and provide real-time analytics to NBCUniversal.

Meanwhile, YouTube will host exclusive Olympic content, expanding NBCUniversal’s storytelling reach through short-form video.

The partnership underscores how AI and cloud technologies are shaping the future of global events. Fans attending or watching from home will enjoy more immersive, on-demand access to the athletes, competitions, and stories driving LA28.

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Google expands Gemini-powered AI Search across the globe

Google has expanded its AI Mode in Search, supporting over 35 new languages and 40 more countries and territories. The rollout expands access across Europe and other regions, reaching over 200 countries and territories worldwide.

The update aims to make AI-powered Search more accessible globally, allowing people to interact with Search in their native language. Expanding language support, Google will enable users to ask questions and access information in their preferred language.

AI Mode is powered by Google’s latest Gemini models, which deliver advanced reasoning and multimodal understanding. These capabilities help the system grasp the subtleties of local languages and provide relevant, context-aware answers, making AI Mode genuinely useful across diverse regions.

According to Google, people using AI Mode tend to explore topics in far greater depth, with queries nearly three times longer than traditional searches. The enhanced experience will continue to roll out globally over the coming week.

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