Google

Google faces scrutiny over AI use of online content

The European Commission has opened an antitrust probe into Google over concerns it used publisher and YouTube content to develop its AI services on unfair terms.

Regulators are assessing whether Google used its dominant position to gain unfair access to content powering features like AI Overviews and AI Mode. They are examining whether publishers were disadvantaged by being unable to refuse use of their content without losing visibility on Google Search.

The probe also covers concerns that YouTube creators may have been required to allow the use of their videos for AI training without compensation, while rival AI developers remain barred from using YouTube content.

The investigation will determine whether these practices breached EU rules on abuse of dominance under Article 102 TFEU. Authorities intend to prioritise the case, though no deadline applies.

Google and national competition authorities have been formally notified as the inquiry proceeds.

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Google faces renewed EU scrutiny over AI competition

The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation into whether AI features embedded in online search are being used to unfairly squeeze competitors in newly emerging digital markets shaped by generative AI.

The probe targets Alphabet-owned Google, focusing on allegations that the company imposes restrictive conditions on publishers and content creators while giving its own AI-driven services preferential placement over rival technologies and alternative search offerings.

Regulators are examining products such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, assessing how publisher content is reused within AI-generated summaries and whether media organisations are compensated in a clear, fair, and transparent manner.

EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said the European Commission’s action reflects a broader effort to protect online media and preserve competitive balance as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how information is produced, discovered, and monetised.

The case adds to years of scrutiny by the European Commission over Google’s search and advertising businesses, even as the company proposes changes to its ad tech operations and continues to challenge earlier antitrust rulings.

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New spyware threat alerts issued by Apple and Google

Apple and Google have issued a fresh round of cyber threat notifications, warning users worldwide they may have been targeted by sophisticated surveillance operations linked to state-backed actors.

Apple said it sent alerts on 2 December, confirming it has now notified users in more than 150 countries, though it declined to disclose how many people were affected or who was responsible.

Google followed on 3 December, announcing warnings for several hundred accounts targeted by Intellexa spyware across multiple countries in Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

The Alphabet-owned company said Intellexa continues to evade restrictions despite US sanctions, highlighting persistent challenges in limiting the spread of commercial surveillance tools.

Researchers say such alerts raise costs for cyber spies by exposing victims, often triggering investigations that can lead to public scrutiny and accountability over spyware misuse.

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AI Ultra users gain access to Gemini 3 Deep Think mode

Google has begun rolling out the Gemini 3 Deep Think mode to AI Ultra subscribers, offering enhanced reasoning for complex maths, science and logic tasks. The rollout follows last month’s preview during the Gemini 3 family release, allowing users to activate the mode directly within the Gemini app.

Deep Think builds on earlier Gemini 2.5 variants by utilising what Google refers to as parallel reasoning to test multiple hypotheses simultaneously. Early benchmark results show gains on structured problem-solving tasks, with improvements recorded on assessments such as Humanity’s Last Exam and ARC-AGI-2.

Subscribers can try the mode by selecting Deep Think in the prompt bar and choosing Gemini 3 Pro. Google states that the broader Gemini 3 upgrade enhances reliability when following lengthy instructions and reduces the need for repeated prompts during multi-step tasks.

Gemini 3 features stronger multimodal handling, enabling analysis of text, images, screenshots, PDFs and video. Capabilities include summarising lengthy material, interpreting detailed visuals and explaining graphs or charts with greater accuracy.

Larger context windows and improved planning support extended workflows such as research assistance and structured information management. Google describes Gemini 3 as its most secure model to date, with reinforced protections around sensitive or misleading queries.

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Google drives health innovation through new EU AI initiative

At the European Health Summit in Brussels, Google presented new research suggesting that AI could help Europe overcome rising healthcare pressures.

The report, prepared by Implement Consulting Group for Google, argues that scientific productivity is improving again, rather than continuing a long period of stagnation. Early results already show shorter waiting times in emergency departments, offering practitioners more space to focus on patient needs.

Momentum at the Summit increased as Google announced new support for AI adoption in frontline care.

Five million dollars from Google.org will fund Bayes Impact to launch an EU-wide initiative known as ‘Impulse Healthcare’. The programme will allow nurses, doctors and administrators to design and test their own AI tools through an open-source platform.

By placing development in the hands of practitioners, the project aims to expand ideas that help staff reclaim valuable time during periods of growing demand.

Successful tools developed at a local level will be scaled across the EU, providing a path to more efficient workflows and enhanced patient care.

Google views these efforts as part of a broader push to rebuild capacity in Europe’s health systems.

AI-assisted solutions may reduce administrative burdens, support strained workforces and guide decisions through faster, data-driven insights, strengthening everyday clinical practice.

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Google boosts Nigeria’s AI development

The US tech giant, Google, has announced a $2.1 million Google.org commitment to support Nigeria’s AI-powered future, aiming to strengthen local talent and improve digital safety nationwide.

An initiative that supports Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and its ambition to create one million digital jobs, recognising the economic potential of AI, which could add $15 billion to the country’s economy by 2030.

The investment focuses on developing advanced AI skills among students and developers instead of limiting progress to short-term training schemes.

Google will fund programmes led by expert partners such as FATE Foundation, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, and the African Technology Forum.

Their work will introduce advanced AI curricula into universities and provide developers with structured, practical routes from training to building real-world products.

The commitment also expands digital safety initiatives so communities can participate securely in the digital economy.

Junior Achievement Africa will scale Google’s ‘Be Internet Awesome’ curriculum to help families understand safe online behaviour, while the CyberSafe Foundation will deliver cybersecurity training and technical assistance to public institutions, strengthening national digital resilience.

Google aims to create more opportunities similar to those of Nigerian learners who used digital skills to secure full-time careers instead of remaining excluded from the digital economy.

By combining advanced AI training with improved digital safety, the company intends to support inclusive growth and build long-term capacity across Nigeria.

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Gemini Projects feature appears in Google app teardown

Google is preparing a Gemini feature called Projects, offering a small workspace for grouping chats by topic. Early clues show it works like a sandbox that keeps related conversations structured. It is still hidden and not active for anyone.

An Android Authority teardown of the Google app revealed the interface and onboarding prompts. These mention isolating chats, choosing a focus area and adding files for context. The feature remains dormant until Google enables it on the server.

When opening a project, users can name it and then view a simple dashboard. This includes options to set project goals that guide Gemini’s behaviour. The aim is to keep longer tasks organised in one place.

The teardown shows a limit of ten file uploads per project, with no clarity on whether paid tiers will receive more. This may affect complex tasks that require a larger context. Users will also be able to pin projects for quicker access.

Because all information comes from hidden code, Google has not confirmed any details. The design or limits may change before launch. Until the Gemini feature is announced, the findings should be treated as provisional.

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Google teams with Accel to boost India’s AI ecosystem

Google has partnered with VC firm Accel to support early-stage AI start-ups in India, marking the first time its AI Futures Fund has collaborated directly on regional venture investment.

Through the newly created Atoms AI Cohort 2026, selected start-ups will receive up to US$2 million in funding, with Google and Accel each contributing up to US$1 million. Founders will also gain up to US$350,000 in compute credits, early access to models from Gemini and DeepMind, technical mentorship, and support for scaling globally.

The collaboration is designed to stimulate India’s AI ecosystem across a broad set of domains, including creativity, productivity, entertainment, coding, and enterprise automation. According to Accel, the focus will lie on building products tailored for local needs, with potential global reach.

This push reflects Google’s growing bet on India as a global hub for AI. For digital-policy watchers and global technology observers, this partnership raises essential questions.

Will increased investment accelerate India’s role as an AI-innovation centre? Could this shift influence tech geopolitics and data-governance norms in Asia? The move follows the company’s recently announced US$15 billion investment to build an AI data centre in Andhra Pradesh.

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Google warns Europe risks losing its AI advantage

European business leaders heard an urgent message in Brussels as Google underlined the scale of the continent’s AI opportunity and the risks of falling behind global competitors.

Debbie Weinstein, Google’s President for EMEA, argued that Europe holds immense potential for a new generation of innovative firms. Yet, too few companies can access the advanced technologies that already drive growth elsewhere.

Weinstein noted that only a small share of European businesses use AI, even though the region could unlock over a trillion euros in economic value within a decade.

She suggested that firms are hampered by limited access to cutting-edge models, rather than being supported with the most capable tools. She also warned that abrupt policy shifts and a crowded regulatory landscape make it harder for founders to experiment and expand.

Europe has the skills and talent to build strong AI-driven industries, but it needs more straightforward rules and a long-term approach to training.

Google pointed to its own investments in research centres, cybersecurity hubs and digital infrastructure across the continent, as well as programmes that have trained millions of Europeans in digital and entrepreneurial skills.

Weinstein insisted that a partnership between governments, industry and civil society is essential to prepare workers and businesses for the AI era.

She argued that providing better access to advanced AI, clearer legislation instead of regulatory overlap and sustained investment in skills would allow European firms to compete globally. With those foundations in place, she said Europe could secure its share of the emerging AI economy.

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Europe needs clearer regulation to capture AI growth, Google says

Google says Europe faces a pivotal moment as AI reshapes global competitiveness, arguing that the region has the talent to lead the way. It points to growing demand for tools that help businesses innovate and expand. Startups like Idoven are highlighted as examples of Europe’s emerging strengths.

Google highlights its long-standing partnership with Europe, pointing to significant investments in infrastructure, security, and research. It has more than 40 offices and 31,000 staff across the region. DeepMind’s scientific advances, including broad use of AlphaFold, remain central to that work.

Despite this foundation, Google warns that Europe risks falling behind other regions without faster access to advanced AI models.

Only 14% of European companies currently utilise AI, which is significantly lower than the adoption rates in China and the United States. Google says outdated technology limits competitiveness across sectors.

Regulatory complexity is another concern, with more than 100 digital rules introduced since 2019. Google supports regulation but notes that abrupt changes and overlapping requirements can slow product launches and hinder smaller developers. The company calls for more straightforward, more explicit rules that avoid penalising innovation.

Google argues that Europe must also expand AI skills, from technical expertise to leadership and workforce readiness. It cites a decade of training initiatives that helped 15 million Europeans gain digital skills. With the right tools and support, Google says Europe could unlock €1.2 trillion in economic value.

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