Google

184 million passwords exposed in massive data breach

A major data breach has exposed over 184 million user credentials, including emails, passwords, and account details for platforms such as Google, Microsoft and government portals. It is still unclear whether this was due to negligence or deliberate criminal activity.

The unencrypted, unprotected database was discovered online by cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler, who confirmed many of the credentials were current and accurate. The breach highlights ongoing failures by data handlers to apply even the most basic security measures.

Fowler believes the data was gathered using infostealer malware, which silently extracts login information from compromised devices and sells it on the dark web. After the database was reported, the hosting provider took it offline, but the source remains unknown.

Security experts urge users to update passwords across all platforms, enable two-factor authentication, and use password managers and data removal services. In today’s hyper-connected world, the exposure of such critical information without encryption is seen as both avoidable and unacceptable.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Google to appeal US ruling in search monopoly case

Google has announced plans to appeal a ruling that found it guilty of anti-competitive practices in the online search market, as the tech giant faces mounting pressure from US regulators to restructure its business.

The company said Saturday it ‘strongly believes the Court’s original decision was wrong’ and will challenge the ruling on appeal.

However, this follows a hearing on Friday in which the US Department of Justice proposed sweeping remedies that could force Google to divest from its Chrome browser and end exclusive agreements with smartphone manufacturers that pre-install Google Search by default.

The government also wants the company to share the data it uses to generate search results on Chrome, a move Google criticised as giving Washington the power to determine who receives access to user data.

The Justice Department’s proposals are part of a broader effort to curb what it sees as Google’s abuse of its dominant position in the search market, which it argues has stifled competition and harmed consumers.

But Google has pushed back, saying the remedies would benefit wealthy competitors like Microsoft’s Bing rather than improve users outcome. Instead, the company has suggested more limited actions, such as letting phone makers pre-install its Play Store without requiring Chrome or Google Search.

The judge’s final decision on penalties is expected by August, marking the end of one of the most significant antitrust cases against a major tech firm in over a decade.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Shoppers can now let AI find and buy deals

Tech giants are pushing deeper into e-commerce with AI-powered digital aides that can understand shoppers’ tastes, try on clothes virtually, hunt for bargains, and even place orders independently.

The so-called ‘AI agent’ mark a new phase in retail, combining personalisation with automation to reshape how people shop online.

Google recently introduced a suite of tools under its new AI Mode, allowing users to upload a photo and preview how clothing would look on their own body. The AI adjusts sizes and fabric drape, enhancing realism.

Shoppers can also set their price and let the AI search for the best deal, alerting them when it’s found and offering to complete the purchase using Google’s payment platform.

OpenAI, Perplexity AI, and Amazon have also added shopping features to their platforms, while Walmart and other retailers are working to ensure their products remain visible to AI shoppers.

Payment giants Visa and Mastercard have upgraded their systems to allow AI agents to process transactions autonomously, cementing the role of digital agents in the online shopping journey.

Experts say this growing ‘agent economy’ offers powerful convenience but raises questions about consumer privacy, trust, and control.

While AI shoppers are unlikely to disrupt e-commerce overnight, analysts note that companies like Google and Meta are particularly well-positioned due to their vast user data and AI leadership.

The next evolution of shopping may not depend on what consumers choose, but on whether they trust machines to choose for them.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Gmail adds automatic AI summaries

Gmail on mobile now displays AI-generated summaries by default, marking a shift in how Google’s Gemini assistant operates within inboxes.

Instead of relying on users to request a summary, Gemini will now decide when it’s useful—typically for long email threads with multiple replies—and present a brief summary card at the top of the message.

These summaries update automatically as conversations evolve, aiming to save users from scrolling through lengthy discussions.

The feature is currently limited to mobile devices and available only to users with Google Workspace accounts, Gemini Education add-ons, or a Google One AI Premium subscription. For the moment, summaries are confined to emails written in English.

Google expects the rollout to take around two weeks, though it remains unclear when, or if, the tool will extend to standard Gmail accounts or desktop users.

Anyone wanting to opt out must disable Gmail’s smart features entirely—giving up tools like Smart Compose, Smart Reply, and package tracking in the process.

While some may welcome the convenience, others may feel uneasy about their emails being analysed by large language models, especially since this process could contribute to further training of Google’s AI systems.

The move reflects a wider trend across Google’s products, where AI is becoming central to everyday user experiences.

Additional user controls and privacy commitments

According to Google Workspace, users have some control over the summary cards. They can collapse a Gemini summary card, and it will remain collapsed for that specific email thread.

In the near future, Gmail will introduce enhancements, such as automatically collapsing future summary cards for users who consistently collapse them, until the user chooses to expand them again. For emails that don’t display automatic summaries, Gmail still offers manual options.

Users can tap the ‘summarise this email’ chip at the top of the message or use the Gemini side panel to trigger a summary manually. Google also reaffirms its commitment to data protection and user privacy. All AI features in Gmail adhere to its privacy principles, with more details available on the Privacy Hub.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

How AI could quietly sabotage critical software

When Google’s Jules AI agent added a new feature to a live codebase in under ten minutes, it initially seemed like a breakthrough. But the same capabilities that allow AI tools to scan, modify, and deploy code rapidly also introduce new, troubling possibilities—particularly in the hands of malicious actors.

Experts are now voicing concern over the risks posed by hostile agents deploying AI tools with coding capabilities. If weaponised by rogue states or cybercriminals, the tools could be used to quietly embed harmful code into public or private repositories, potentially affecting millions of lines of critical software.

Even a single unnoticed line among hundreds of thousands could trigger back doors, logic bombs, or data leaks. The risk lies in how AI can slip past human vigilance.

From modifying update mechanisms to exfiltrating sensitive data or weakening cryptographic routines, the threat is both technical and psychological.

Developers must catch every mistake; an AI only needs to succeed once. As such tools become more advanced and publicly available, the conversation around safeguards, oversight, and secure-by-design principles is becoming urgent.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

DeepSeek claims its new AI rivals top global models

Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek has announced a major upgrade to its R1 model, stating that the new version, R1-0528, now matches the performance of top-tier models from global giants like OpenAI and Google.

Unveiled on Thursday, the upgraded model brings notable improvements in reasoning and creative writing, allowing it to generate argumentative essays, fiction, and prose with a style said to be close to human authors.

DeepSeek also reported enhanced coding capabilities, positioning the model as a more versatile tool for both technical and literary applications.

The original R1 model debuted in January. With the R1-0528 update, DeepSeek appears to be accelerating its efforts to compete with established Western AI developers in both domestic and international markets.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Gemini AI can now summarise videos in Google Drive

Google is expanding Gemini AI’s capabilities in Drive by enabling it to analyse video files and respond to user questions or generate concise summaries.

The new feature aims to save users time by providing quick insights from lengthy content such as meetings, classes or announcements, instead of requiring them to watch the entire video. Until now, Gemini could only summarise documents and PDFs stored in Drive.

According to a blog post published on 28 May 2025, the feature will support prompts like ‘Summarise the video’ or ‘List action items from the meeting.’ Users can access Gemini’s functionality either through Drive’s overlay previewer or a standalone viewer in a separate browser tab.

However, captions must be enabled within the user’s domain for the feature to work properly.

The update is being gradually rolled out and is expected to be available to all eligible users by 19 June. At the moment, it is limited to English and accessible only to users of Google Workspace and Google One AI Premium, or those with Gemini Business or Enterprise add-ons.

For administrators, smart features and personalisation settings must be activated to grant access.

To use the new function, users can double-click on a video file in Drive and select the ‘Ask Gemini’ option marked by a star icon in the top right corner. Google says the upgrade reflects a broader effort to integrate AI seamlessly into everyday workflows by making content easier to navigate and understand.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Chinese state-linked hackers use Google Calendar to steal data

In a report published this week, analysts at Google have uncovered a campaign in which a China-linked group known as APT41 targeted government ministries and other organisations.

Victims received spearphishing emails directing them to a ZIP file hosted on a compromised official website. Inside, a PDF and some insect images were designed to tempt users into clicking.

Opening the PDF quietly installed a programme called ToughProgress, which runs entirely in a device’s memory to evade antivirus checks. Once active, the malware stole sensitive files and prepared them for exfiltration.

Google Calendar became the hackers’ secret communication channel. An event dated 30 May 2023 carried encrypted data stolen from victims in its description.

Further entries in July contained new instructions. ToughProgress regularly checked the attacker-controlled calendar, decrypted any commands and uploaded its results back as new calendar events.

APT41 is one of China’s most active state-linked cyber groups. US authorities charged five members in 2020 with over a hundred intrusions worldwide and issued arrest warrants for operatives including Zhang Haoran and Tan Dailin.

Earlier investigations tie the group to long-running breaches of Southeast Asian government agencies and a Taiwanese research institute working on strategic technology.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Google Photos new update adds AI editing

Google is marking the 10th anniversary of Google Photos by introducing a revamped, AI-powered photo editor aimed at making image enhancement simpler and faster.

The updated tool combines multiple effects with a single suggestion and offers editing tips when users tap on specific parts of a photo.

Instead of relying solely on manual controls, the interface now blends smart features like Reimagine and Auto frame with familiar options such as brightness and contrast. The new editor is being rolled out to Android users first, with iOS users set to receive it later in the year.

In addition, Google Photos now supports album sharing via QR codes. Instead of sharing links, users can generate a code that others nearby can scan or receive digitally, allowing them to view or add photos to shared albums.

With over 1.5 billion monthly users and more than nine trillion photos stored, Google Photos remains one of the world’s most widely used photo services.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI Mode reshapes Google’s search results

One year after launching AI-generated search results via AI Overviews, Google has unveiled AI Mode—a new feature it claims will redefine online search.

Functioning as an integrated chatbot, AI Mode allows users to ask complex questions, receive detailed responses, and continue with follow-up queries, eliminating the need to click through traditional links.

Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai described it as a ‘total reimagining of search,’ noting significant changes in user behaviour during early trials.

Analysts suggest the company is attempting to disrupt its own search business before rivals do, following internal concerns sparked by the rise of tools like ChatGPT.

With AI Mode, Google is increasingly shifting from directing users to websites toward delivering instant answers itself. Critics fear it could dramatically reduce web traffic for publishers who depend on Google for visibility and revenue.

While Google insists the open web will continue to grow, many publishers remain unconvinced. The News/Media Alliance condemned the move, calling it theft of content without fair return.

Links were the last mechanism providing meaningful traffic, said CEO Danielle Coffey, who urged the US Department of Justice to take action against what she described as monopolistic behaviour.

Meanwhile, Google is rapidly integrating AI across its ecosystem. Alongside AI Mode, it introduced developments in its Gemini model, with the aim of building a ‘world model’ capable of simulating and planning like the human brain.

Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis said the goal is to lay the foundations for an AI-native operating system.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!