Google’s Gemini Nano, a powerful on-device AI model, is now available for developers to integrate into their apps through the newly released AI Edge SDK. By running locally, Gemini Nano offers tasks such as text summarisation and image descriptions, while keeping user data private by processing everything on the device.
Already featured in Google’s Pixel 9 and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 devices, Gemini Nano powers AI functionalities in apps like Pixel Recorder and Google Messages. Developers can now experiment with these tools to bring AI features to their own apps, with Google expanding access to the AI Edge SDK beyond its previous early access programme.
Currently, developers can explore text-to-text prompts, such as smart replies, proofreading, and summarisation. Google plans to add support for other modalities, like image processing, in future updates. This move will enable broader AI integration across third-party apps, offering enhanced user experiences.
By customising Gemini Nano through the AI Edge SDK, developers will have control over how AI processes information, allowing them to adapt responses to suit their app’s needs. This marks a significant step towards more AI-driven apps for Android users.
Google is ramping up its AI efforts in India, aiming to integrate its Gemini AI model across various products to cater to the world’s most populous nation. The move, announced at Google’s 10th event in India, focuses on enhancing search, visual recognition, and language processing features, with special attention to voice commands and support for multiple Indian languages.
To further this, the company is launching its AI assistant, Gemini Live, initially in Hindi, with plans to expand support for eight more Indian languages soon. Google is also rolling out generative AI tools for search in regional languages such as Bengali, Marathi, and Telugu, alongside expanding its visual search capabilities, particularly through video-based searches, to enhance the user experience.
Google Maps is also being revamped for the Indian market, with new AI-generated summaries and improved local business discovery features. Additionally, the company has introduced several AI-powered tools for merchants, allowing them to easily build engaging online profiles and offer deals through their Google Business Profiles.
Google’s AI push in India is part of its broader strategy to tap into the country’s vast user base and help businesses thrive in the digital era. The company has proposed frameworks to enhance India’s AI adoption, estimating that AI could unlock $4 trillion in economic value for the nation by 2030.
Google is facing accusations of censorship after locking the pan-African media platform African Stream out of its Gmail Workspace, resulting in the loss of two years’ worth of emails and files stored in the cloud. The organisation has claimed that this action is part of a broader crackdown by US tech companies on its content, which is dedicated to providing a voice for Africans and challenging negative stereotypes.
The controversy escalated following remarks from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who suggested that African Stream is influenced by Russian propaganda, labelling the outlet as ‘Kremlin propagandists.’ Within the last two weeks, African Stream pointed out that it had also been banned from other platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Threads, and criticised Google for not providing any credible reasons for the ban.
In response to the allegations, African Stream has denied any wrongdoing and questioned why major tech companies would bow to a single speech by a US official. The organisation emphasises its commitment to delivering African-centered content and amplifying African voices globally, raising significant concerns about the implications of censorship and the influence of political narratives on the policies of major tech firms.
Epic Games has accused Google and Samsung of conspiring to protect Google’s Play Store from competition through Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature. The gaming company plans to file a lawsuit in a United States court, alleging that the Auto Blocker, introduced in late 2023, deters users from downloading Android apps from sources outside Google’s Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Store.
Epic argues that Samsung’s Auto Blocker was made the default setting in mid-2024 to reduce the impact of a 2023 US court ruling that required Google to make it easier for users to access apps from alternative sources. Epic claims this action violates US antitrust laws by reducing consumer choice and stifling competition, which would otherwise drive down app prices.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, described the lawsuit as part of a larger global effort to defend competition and its benefits for consumers. The company also plans to raise these concerns with regulators in the European Union, which has scrutinised Google’s business practices in the past.
Epic previously sued Google in 2020, accusing the tech giant of maintaining an illegal monopoly over app distribution and payments. The lawsuit follows the verdict in that case, where a US court found Google had acted unlawfully.
Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the 2024 United States presidential election, has vowed to prosecute Google if he wins the November election. Trump claimed, without evidence, that the tech giant only displays negative stories about him while favouring positive coverage for Democratic rival Kamala Harris.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused Google of ‘illegally’ interfering with the election by promoting biased search results. He said he would ask the Justice Department to investigate the company if they fail to act before he potentially returns to the presidency.
This isn’t the first time Trump has accused Google of such behaviour. In 2019, he made similar claims, alleging the company promoted negative coverage of him during the 2016 presidential election. Google dismissed the accusations at the time.
Recently, some Trump supporters have revived the allegations. Elon Musk accused Google of having a search ban on Trump in July, just days after an assassination attempt on the former president.
Malaysian tech firm Dagang NeXchange Berhad (DNeX) and Google Cloud have signed a multi-year agreement to provide sovereign cloud services in Malaysia. That partnership aims to meet the country’s growing demand for secure and compliant cloud solutions, particularly in regulated sectors such as public services, finance, healthcare, and energy. The collaboration will allow DNeX to operate Google Distributed Cloud, which offers ‘air-gapped’ solutions that can run without an internet connection, ensuring strict data privacy and residency.
This deal follows Google’s announcement in May to invest $2 billion in its first data center and Google Cloud region in Malaysia. The partnership also includes plans to establish an AI centre of excellence designed to foster local talent in AI. Both companies aim to drive digital transformation in Malaysia through cutting-edge infrastructure and AI tools.
While the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, Google Cloud’s Vice President for Asia Pacific, Karan Bajwa, emphasised that the deal would empower Malaysian organisations to advance their digital capabilities while maintaining control over their data.
The European Union has chosen a team of AI experts to help shape the guidelines for compliance with its upcoming AI Act. On 30 September 2024, the European Commission convened the first meeting of working groups responsible for drafting a ‘code of practice’ to guide how companies should meet the law’s requirements. The selected experts include figures like AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, former UK policy adviser Nitarshan Rajkumar, and Marietje Schaake from Stanford University.
These working groups, which also feature representatives from major tech companies such as Google and Microsoft, will address issues like copyright and risk management. Although the code of practice won’t be legally binding, it will serve as a checklist for companies to prove compliance with the AI Act, which takes full effect in 2025. Firms that claim to follow the law but ignore the code may face legal challenges.
A key focus will be on the transparency of AI training data, a contentious issue in the industry. Some AI companies resist sharing details about the data used to train their models, citing trade secrets. The code of practice is expected to clarify how much information companies will need to disclose, with the potential for increased legal scrutiny over the use of copyrighted content.
As Google‘s trial on allegations of monopolising the advertising technology market draws to a close, experts believe the financial risk to the tech giant is minimal. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of states accuse Google of illegally controlling the markets used by advertisers and publishers to buy and sell online ads. However, analysts point out that the ad tech business at the centre of the trial, Google Network, is declining and represents a smaller portion of the company’s overall revenue compared to its dominant search business.
In 2023, advertising made up over 75% of Google’s $307.4 billion revenue, though the Network division, which is central to the DOJ case, contributed just $31.4 billion. The DOJ is pushing for the divestiture of Google Ad Manager, but analysts believe that even if Google loses, the financial impact would be small, with revenue losses potentially under 10%. Google has defended itself by highlighting strong competition from other platforms, especially in mobile apps and streaming ads, which could undermine the DOJ’s argument.
The more significant worry for Google lies in the potential consequences of a ruling in favour of the DOJ, as it could facilitate easier transitions for advertisers and publishers between platforms. A successful case might establish a legal precedent that holds tech companies accountable for monopolistic practices. However, the overall impact will hinge on the trial’s outcome and the remedies the court proposes in the upcoming months.
Alphabet Inc.’s Google has announced a $1 billion investment in Thailand to establish a data centre and cloud region, aimed at meeting the increasing demand for cloud services and supporting AI adoption in Southeast Asia. This investment is projected to create approximately 14,000 jobs annually until 2029, according to a Deloitte study.
Google’s new cloud and data centre infrastructure will be situated in Chonburi and Bangkok, respectively, improving access to Google Cloud capabilities and AI innovations while also supporting popular services like Search, Maps, and Google Workspace. This announcement follows Microsoft’s launch of its own regional data centre in Thailand in May, aimed at expanding cloud services in the region.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra praised Google’s investment, stating that it aligns well with the country’s Cloud First Policy, which promotes the adoption of cloud technologies across various sectors.
Germany’s competition watchdog has designated Microsoft as a ‘company with paramount cross-market significance for competition,’ allowing for stronger regulatory actions against the tech giant. Andreas Mundt, head of the Bundeskartellamt, emphasised that Microsoft’s products are essential across various sectors, making its ecosystem more interconnected than ever.
This classification also extends to Apple, Google, and Meta, indicating that Microsoft will undergo heightened scrutiny and may face restrictions on anti-competitive practices. A spokesperson for Microsoft expressed the company’s commitment to promoting a competitive environment and working cooperatively with the Bundeskartellamt.
The designation follows antitrust charges against Microsoft by the European Commission in June, which accused the company of unfairly bundling its Teams app with the Office suite, putting rivals like Slack at a disadvantage. The German authority clarified that its increased oversight will apply to Microsoft as a whole, rather than focusing solely on individual services or products.
