Google has enhanced its NotebookLM assistant by introducing a feature that lets users customise AI-generated audio conversations. This update shifts the platform from providing generalised audio summaries to facilitating more focused discussions based on users’ preferences. The tool allows users to guide AI dialogue using specific content, adding precision to audio overviews.
Since launching last month, NotebookLM’s audio overviews have become popular among users looking to digest complex information quickly. With these features, long documents and videos can be summarised into conversational audio snippets. NotebookLM has seen significant traction, with traffic surging by 371% in September, drawing over 3 million monthly visits.
The new ‘Guide the Conversation’ option enables users to give detailed instructions for targeted discussions, such as focusing on niche topics or adjusting the expertise level. Google also introduced a ‘Customise’ button to refine audio overviews further before the AI generates them. This ensures conversations prioritise essential content and align with user intentions.
Google assures users that custom instructions won’t be used to train its AI models, reflecting its commitment to privacy. Alongside the new tools, a ‘Background Listening’ feature allows users to play audio while working within NotebookLM. Additionally, the company has launched a business pilot program, offering select organisations access to advanced features and training.
A California judge has granted Google’s request to delay a ruling that required overhauling its Play Store by 1 November. The pause allows more time for an appeals court to consider Google’s challenge to the order, which aimed to give users more choice in downloading apps.
The ruling came as part of an antitrust lawsuit from Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite. Google warned that implementing the changes quickly would introduce security risks across the Android ecosystem. The company’s request for a longer pause during the full appeals process was denied.
Epic criticised Google’s argument as fearmongering, stating the court had dismissed the appeal as meritless. The initial order required Google to permit rival app stores within the Play Store and enable third-party payment systems. The ruling also barred Google from incentivising device makers to preinstall its store.
Google has already challenged the antitrust findings and maintains that Play competes directly with Apple’s App Store. The company argued it should not be labelled a monopolist and warned that complying with the injunction would unfairly force it to collaborate with rivals.
Alphabet has transferred the Gemini app team to DeepMind, streamlining operations to accelerate progress in generative AI. The decision aims to foster quicker deployment and seamless collaboration across its AI platforms.
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, highlighted that the change would enhance feedback cycles and improve the rollout of models within the Gemini app. Gemini represents Google’s most advanced AI technology, with the app offering direct access to the latest developments.
Sissie Hsiao, who previously led the Gemini app team, will now report to Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind. This realignment reflects the company’s broader efforts to strengthen its generative AI capabilities.
Google also reshuffled senior leadership, appointing Prabhakar Raghavan as chief technologist. His former role in search and information management will be taken over by Nick Fox, aligning the company’s AI product strategy under new leadership.
Google is enhancing its Shopping tab with AI, building on its previous integration of generative AI into Search in 2023. The company announced it will use AI technology to help users find products that match their specific needs. The update includes a new, personalised feed of shoppable products, offering a scrollable, TikTok-inspired design.
When users search for a product, an AI-generated brief will provide personalised tips and considerations based on their query. For example, if someone searches for a “men’s winter jacket for Seattle,” the AI might recommend prioritising water resistance for the rainy climate and suggest insulation types suitable for the milder temperatures.
Google’s AI will recommend relevant products, offering brief descriptions to explain why each item is a suitable choice. Users can browse categories like “Synthetic insulated winter jackets for Seattle” and use filters to refine their search based on specific sizes or local availability.
The personalised shopping feed will showcase products and videos tailored to user preferences, featuring items like Chelsea boots alongside YouTube Shorts with shopping tips. Google is positioning itself to compete with TikTok, which has gained traction in e-commerce. These new features will roll out in the US in the coming weeks, as Google combines its Shopping Graph with advanced Gemini models to enhance the user experience.
Google has signed the first-ever corporate agreement to source electricity from small modular reactors (SMRs) to power its AI operations. Partnering with Kairos Power, the tech giant plans to bring its first SMR online by 2030, with further installations expected by 2035. The innovative approach aims to ensure a reliable, around-the-clock supply of clean energy, addressing the growing energy demands triggered by the expansion of AI technology.
The agreement outlines Google’s commitment to purchasing 500 megawatts of power from six to seven SMRs, though details regarding the plants’ financial terms and locations remain undisclosed. The power output from these SMRs is significantly smaller than traditional nuclear reactors, but Google’s strategic investment signals a push toward long-term sustainability.
The tech industry’s focus on nuclear energy has gained momentum this year, with companies like Amazon and Microsoft entering similar agreements. According to Goldman Sachs, the demand for data centres in the US is expected to triple between 2023 and 2030. The surge in energy consumption has prompted technology companies to explore alternative energy sources, including nuclear, wind, and solar, to meet future needs.
Kairos Power must navigate regulatory hurdles, including securing permits from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and local agencies, which could take several years. However, the company achieved a key milestone last year by obtaining a construction permit to build a demonstration reactor in Tennessee, signalling progress toward deploying SMRs.
Despite the enthusiasm for SMRs, critics point to potential challenges, including high costs and the production of long-lasting nuclear waste. However, Google’s decision to commit to an order book framework with Kairos rather than purchasing individual reactors represents a strategic investment to accelerate the development of SMRs while ensuring cost-effectiveness and timely project delivery.
Google has introduced ‘Checks by Google’, a new tool designed to assist developers and compliance teams ensure that apps, websites, and AI adhere to various standards and regulations. Initially used internally within Google, this tool is now publicly accessible and focuses on three key areas of compliance – app compliance, code compliance, and AI safety.
The app compliance feature evaluates adherence to regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and Brazil’s Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD). Meanwhile, the code compliance aspect aids developers in identifying regulatory issues during the app development process.
Furthermore, the AI safety component addresses compliance and ethical standards related to AI, particularly targeting potential biases and safety concerns in AI-generated outputs. In addition to these features, ‘Checks by Google’ employs a fine-tuned Large Language Model and a smart AI crawler for thorough assessments, thereby providing insights into compliance without offering legal advice.
Moreover, the tool is customisable to meet the specific needs of various industries, such as finance and healthcare. Currently available for free, with additional paid services for enterprises, ‘Checks by Google’ has the potential to transform how developers navigate compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
Google is pushing back against a federal judge’s recent order that would force it to allow more competition in its Play Store. In a court filing, the tech giant requested that US District Judge James Donato’s injunction, set to take effect on 1 November, be paused. Google argues that the ruling could introduce significant security, privacy, and safety risks to the Android ecosystem and is seeking time to pursue an appeal.
The injunction stems from a lawsuit initiated by Epic Games, the creator of ‘Fortnite,’ which argued that Google monopolised app distribution and in-app payment processes on Android devices. A jury sided with Epic, and the judge’s order now requires Google to allow users to download apps from third-party platforms and use alternative payment methods for in-app purchases.
In addition, the ruling prevents Google from paying manufacturers to preinstall its Play Store on devices and from sharing revenue generated through the Play Store with other distributors. These measures aim to reduce Google’s control over the app marketplace, opening up more space for competitors.
If Judge Donato denies Google’s request to delay the order, the company can take its case to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco. Google has already filed its notice of appeal and is preparing to challenge the injunction and the antitrust verdict that underpins it.
As the appeal process unfolds, the court will ultimately decide whether Google must comply with the ruling or if the tech giant can maintain its current app store policies while reviewing the case.
The legal battle has significant implications for app distribution on Android devices.
The US Department of Justice has proposed remedies to dismantle Google‘s dominance in the search market, which analysts warn could undermine the company’s primary profit source and hinder its advancements in AI. The DOJ may seek to compel Google to divest parts of its business, including the Chrome browser and Android operating system, while also considering measures such as barring the collection of sensitive user data, requiring transparency in search results, and allowing websites to opt out of their content being used for AI training.
The proposed changes have already affected Alphabet’s stock, which fell by 1.5% after the announcement. Analysts indicate that if these remedies are put into action, they could diminish Google’s revenue while providing more opportunities for competitors like DuckDuckGo and Microsoft Bing, as well as AI companies such as Meta and Amazon. With Google’s share of the US search ad market expected to fall below 50% for the first time in over a decade by 2025, these remedies are viewed as essential for creating a more competitive landscape.
Despite the ambitious nature of the DOJ’s proposals, some experts are sceptical about their feasibility. Adam Kovacevich from the Chamber of Progress argues that these remedies could encounter legal challenges and may not withstand the appeals process. While investors appear doubtful that a forced breakup of Google will take place, the situation highlights the increasing scrutiny and pressure on the tech giant within a rapidly changing competitive landscape.
Kaspersky has announced that its developer account on the Google Play store has been terminated, resulting in the removal of all its apps. This decision follows recent US government actions that restrict the distribution and sales of Kaspersky products within the United States after September 29. While these restrictions have no legal impact outside the country, Google has preemptively removed Kaspersky’s products, limiting global access to its cybersecurity solutions.
Kaspersky believes Google’s decision stems from a misinterpretation of US restrictions, which are not confirmed by the US Department of Commerce. The company asserts that these measures do not prohibit the sale or distribution of its products and services beyond US borders. Kaspersky has communicated this understanding to the Department of Commerce and is awaiting further guidance.
For users with already-installed Kaspersky apps on Android, the apps will continue to function normally and receive database updates via Kaspersky’s cloud infrastructure. All paid features will remain operational. However, users will no longer be able to update or reinstall the apps directly from the Google Play store.
Google is gradually rolling out new security features to protect user data, focusing on preventing unauthorised access in cases of theft. The latest tools, which include Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock, were announced in May and are becoming available on various Android devices.
Theft Detection Lock uses AI to lock the screen when it detects movement commonly associated with theft, such as someone snatching the phone. Offline Device Lock automatically secures the screen if a phone remains offline for a while, while Remote Lock allows users to lock their phone remotely using only their phone number, even if they can’t log into Find My Device.
Some users have reported seeing the features on devices like the Xiaomi 14T Pro, though others may need to wait as Google rolls out these updates over time. Users are encouraged to ensure their Google Play Services are updated to potentially access these features sooner.
The new security options are supported on Android 10 and up for Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock, while Remote Lock works on devices running Android 5 and higher.
