Google’s Gemini team has introduced two new features aimed at improving user interaction with documents and coding projects. The first, Audio Overview, transforms uploaded documents into audio podcasts presented by AI hosts.
The feature, initially part of Google’s NotebookLM, is now available to all Gemini users, regardless of their subscription plan.
While it currently supports only English, additional languages will be added soon. Users can easily generate podcasts from documents, which can then be shared, downloaded, and accessed via web or mobile.
In addition to Audio Overview, Gemini has launched Canvas, an interactive tool designed to help users create and refine work. Canvas offers features that allow users to generate first drafts, edit content, and receive feedback on tone, length, and formatting.
Once completed, the work can be exported directly to Google Docs. Canvas also supports coding, helping developers create prototypes for web apps, Python scripts, and games, while students can use it to learn coding concepts.
These innovative tools highlight Google’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the user experience and revolutionising how people engage with digital content and coding. Gemini’s new features are now available to all users globally, with Canvas already rolling out to both Gemini and Gemini Advanced users.
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Google has finalized a $32 billion acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, sealing the deal just weeks after Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The agreement, a significant increase from Google’s initial $23 billion offer, was aided by the expectation of a friendlier antitrust review under the new administration, sources familiar with the negotiations said.
Wiz had considered an IPO before returning to the negotiating table, with new Chief Financial Officer Fazal Merchant playing a key role in shaping the deal alongside CEO Assaf Rappaport.
Google’s cloud chief, Thomas Kurian, was also instrumental in the agreement, which includes an unusually high $3.2 billion breakup fee should regulatory issues derail the transaction.
With Wiz boasting 70% annual revenue growth and over $700 million in annualized revenue, Google viewed the premium price as justified.
However, concerns remain over potential antitrust scrutiny, particularly given Google’s ongoing legal battles with the US Department of Justice over its dominance in search and ad technology.
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Google is set to collaborate with Taiwan’s MediaTek on the next generation of its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) chips, which are expected to be produced next year.
The partnership is partly driven by cost considerations, as MediaTek offers Google a lower price per chip than its long-time partner Broadcom. MediaTek’s close ties with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) also played a role in Google’s decision.
Despite the new partnership, Google has not severed ties with Broadcom, which has exclusively worked on its AI chips for several years.
Broadcom remains involved in the project, and an employee at the company confirmed that the relationship with Google is still intact. Google has been developing its own AI server chips, allowing it to reduce reliance on Nvidia, whose processors dominate the industry.
Google introduced its sixth-generation TPU last year to provide itself and its cloud customers with an alternative to Nvidia’s highly sought-after chips. The company reportedly spent between $6 billion and $9 billion on TPUs in 2023, based on revenue targets from Broadcom.
By bringing MediaTek into the fold, Google aims to strengthen its AI chip strategy while managing production costs more efficiently.
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TikTok has launched a new Security Checkup tool, offering users a simplified way to manage their account safety.
The dashboard provides an easy-to-navigate hub where users can review and update security settings such as login methods, two-step verification, and device access.
Designed to be user-friendly, it aims to encourage proactive security habits without overwhelming people with technical details.
The security portal functions similarly to tools offered by major tech companies like Google and Meta, reinforcing the importance of digital safety.
Features include passkey authentication for password-free logins, alerts for suspicious activity, and the ability to check which devices are logged into an account.
TikTok hopes the tool will make it easier for users to secure their profiles and prevent unauthorised access.
While the Security Checkup is a practical addition, it also arrives amid TikTok’s ongoing struggles in the US, where concerns over data privacy persist.
The company’s head of global security, Kim Albarella, describes the feature as a ‘powerful new tool’ that allows users to ‘take control’ of their account safety with confidence.
Accessing the tool is straightforward—users can find it within the app’s ‘Settings and privacy’ menu under ‘Security & permissions.’
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Google is intensifying its investment in the UK’s AI sector, with plans to expand its data residency offerings and launch new tools for businesses.
At an event in London, Google’s DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian unveiled plans to add Agentspace, Google’s platform for AI agents, to the UK’s data residency region.
However, this move will allow enterprises to host their AI agents locally, ensuring full control over their data.
In addition to the data residency expansion, Google announced new incentives for AI startups in the UK, offering up to £280,000 in Google Cloud credits for those participating in its accelerator programme.
These efforts come as part of a broader strategy to encourage businesses to adopt Google’s AI services over those of competitors. The company is also focusing on expanding AI skills training to help businesses better leverage these advanced technologies.
Google’s efforts align with the UK government’s push to strengthen its position in the global AI landscape. The government has been actively working to promote AI development, with a particular focus on building services that reduce reliance on big tech companies.
By bringing its latest AI offerings to the UK, Google is positioning itself as a key player in the country’s AI future.
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Google has announced the addition of its HD voice model, Chirp 3, to its Vertex AI platform, marking a significant step in its push into voice AI. Starting next week, developers will be able to use the platform to build applications such as voice assistants, audiobooks, and video voice-overs with eight new voices available in 31 languages.
The launch comes at a time when other companies, including startups like Sesame, are also advancing in the field of realistic-sounding AI voices. Despite this growing competition, Google remains cautious about potential misuse, with CEO Thomas Kurian noting that the company is working closely with its safety team to establish proper usage guidelines for Chirp 3.
Google’s move with Chirp 3 positions it alongside other tools from its Vertex AI platform, which includes machine learning and generative AI services like its Gemini and Imagen models. With AI voice applications rapidly gaining traction, it will be interesting to see how Google expands its offerings to stay competitive in this evolving space.
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Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded that the mobile browser market, led by Apple and Google, is not functioning effectively for consumers and businesses. The findings support the regulator’s decision to launch an investigation into the sector earlier this year.
Concerns are largely focused on Apple’s policies regarding internet access through its Safari browser, which dominates its devices with an 88% market share. Google’s Chrome browser holds a 77% share on Android devices.
The UK CMA’s independent inquiry group suggested that if Apple and Google are found to have ‘strategic market status’ (SMS), regulatory interventions may be necessary to encourage competition. These could include measures allowing rival browsers to introduce new features.
Apple has defended its approach, arguing that proposed remedies could undermine security and user experience, while Google highlighted Android’s openness in fostering competition and innovation.
The investigation forms part of a broader effort to assess competition in mobile ecosystems, with final decisions expected later this year.
The inquiry group’s chair, Margot Daly, stated that limited competition between mobile browsers is stifling innovation, reinforcing the need for regulatory action.
The CMA’s ongoing probe into the dominance of Apple and Google aims to ensure a fairer and more competitive digital marketplace.
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Google has introduced two new AI models designed specifically for robotics, building on its Gemini 2.0 technology. The launch aims to support the rapidly advancing robotics industry, which is increasingly benefiting from AI improvements.
The first model, Gemini Robotics, enables robots to generate physical actions as outputs, while the second, Gemini Robotics-ER, enhances spatial awareness and reasoning abilities for developers.
The move follows a significant AI breakthrough by robotics startup Figure AI, which recently ended its collaboration with OpenAI.
Google has tested its Gemini Robotics model on its bi-arm robotics platform, ALOHA 2, and believes the technology can be adapted for complex applications, such as Apptronik’s Apollo robot.
Investment in robotics is accelerating, with Apptronik securing $350 million in funding last month, including backing from Google.
Google’s AI models are designed for various types of robots, from humanoid machines to industrial units used in factories and warehouses.
Industry experts believe AI-focused robotics models will help startups reduce costs and bring products to market faster. Google has a long history in robotics, having acquired Boston Dynamics in 2013 before selling it to SoftBank four years later.
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Google has announced an update to its Gemini AI assistant, enhancing personalisation to better anticipate user needs and deliver responses that feel more like those of a personal assistant.
The feature, initially available on desktop before rolling out to mobile, allows Gemini to offer tailored recommendations, such as travel ideas, based on search history and, in the future, data from apps like Photos and YouTube.
Users can opt in to the new personalisation features, sharing details like dietary preferences or past conversations to refine responses further.
Google assures that users must explicitly grant permission for Gemini to access search history and other services, and they can disconnect at any time.
However, this level of contextual awareness could give Google an advantage over competitors like ChatGPT by leveraging its vast ecosystem of user data.
The update signals a shift in how users interact with AI, bringing it closer to traditional search while raising questions for publishers and SEO professionals.
As Gemini increasingly provides direct, personalised answers, it may reduce the need for users to visit external websites. While currently experimental, the potential for Google to push broader adoption of AI-driven personalisation could reshape digital content discovery and search behaviour in the future.
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Several major companies, including Amazon and Google, have pledged to support the goal of tripling the world’s nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
However, this commitment was made during the CERAWeek conference in Houston, with other signatories such as shale company Occidental and Japanese firm IHI Corp. The World Nuclear Association (WNA) facilitated the pledge and expects more industries, including maritime and aviation, to join in the coming months.
Nuclear energy currently accounts for 9% of the world’s electricity, produced by 439 power reactors. As large tech companies like Amazon and Google pursue nuclear projects, including small modular reactors, the demand for uranium, essential for nuclear technology, has surged.
With high demand, uranium prices reached a 16-year peak last year, driven by supply disruptions during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Despite this, global nuclear power generation continues to be concentrated in just a few countries, with 411 reactors in operation as of early 2025, providing a combined 371 gigawatts of capacity.
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