The collaboration will focus on creating software tailored to Australia’s regulatory environment. Google will contribute its existing open-source vulnerability database and AI services, while CSIRO will apply its research expertise to enhance the project’s outcomes. The goal is to provide customised cybersecurity solutions that align with local laws and promote greater compliance and trust.
The partnership is part of Google’s commitment to invest A$1 billion in Australia over five years, a pledge made in 2021 amidst Australia’s efforts to enforce stricter regulations on global tech companies. The collaboration is seen as a critical step in bolstering the country’s defences against cyber threats.
Why does this matter?
The Australian government has recently imposed stricter requirements on critical infrastructure operators to report and prevent cyberattacks following a series of breaches that compromised the personal data of millions of Australians. The tools developed through this partnership aim to mitigate such risks and ensure the security of essential services.
The findings from this research will be made publicly available, ensuring that critical infrastructure operators can easily access the information and improve their cybersecurity measures.
Google must now contend with a class action lawsuit accusing it of collecting data through Chrome without user consent. A US federal appeals court has revived the case, overturning a 2022 decision that had dismissed it. The court highlighted the need for a closer examination of Google’s privacy disclosures to determine whether users genuinely understood and consented to the data collection.
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, alleges that Google collected user data from Chrome even when they did not enable Chrome sync. Plaintiffs argue that browsing history, IP addresses, and unique browser identifiers were shared without explicit permission. Google has maintained that users consented by accepting its privacy policy, a stance previously upheld by a lower court.
However, the recent ruling suggests that the lower court may have overlooked whether users truly grasped the implications of their agreement with Google. The case will now return to the lower courts for further consideration. Google remains confident in its position, stating that Chrome Sync provides seamless functionality across devices while maintaining clear privacy controls.
Despite the ongoing legal challenge, Google spokesperson José Castañeda has emphasised that upcoming changes to Chrome’s sync feature, which will no longer be necessary for accessing saved information, are unrelated to the lawsuit.
Google has released new updates for Gmail building on its existing ‘Help me write’ feature. These updates will enable users to polish drafts written by users on both web and mobile devices. Additionally, there will also be ‘help me write’ and ‘refine my drafts’ shortcuts on both Android and iOS devices.
Users paying for Google One AI Premium or those who have paid for ‘Google’s Gemini add-on for Workspace’ will have access to the tools. Just by opening an empty draft, one can access the ‘Help me write’ shortcut that enables Gemini to draft texts. As long as there are 12 or more (regardless of whether it’s written by AI or Humans) words in a draft, the ‘refine my draft’ shortcut appears.
The latest addition expands Google’s array of AI offerings as it competes with Microsoft’s Copilot and ChatGPT in the race to capture market share in the AI chatbot space.
A US appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit against Google, allowing Chrome users to pursue claims that the company collected their data without permission. The case centres on users who chose not to synchronise their Chrome browsers with their Google accounts yet allege that Google still gathered their information.
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco determined that a lower court had prematurely dismissed the case without adequately considering whether users had consented to the data collection. The decision follows a previous settlement where Google agreed to destroy billions of records in a similar lawsuit, which accused the company of tracking users who believed they were browsing privately in Chrome’s ‘Incognito’ mode.
Google has expressed disagreement with the ruling, asserting confidence in its privacy controls and the benefits of Chrome Sync, which helps users maintain a consistent experience across devices. However, the plaintiffs’ lawyer welcomed the court’s decision and is preparing for a trial.
Why does this matter?
Initially dismissed in December 2022, the lawsuit has now been sent back to the district court for further proceedings. The case could impact thousands of Chrome users using the browser since July 2016 without enabling the sync function, raising broader questions about the clarity and transparency of Google’s privacy policies.
Google is expanding its AI-generated search summaries, known as AI Overviews, to six new countries: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and Britain. This follows a previous rollout in the US, which faced criticism for inaccuracies such as incorrect information and misleading content. The company has since refined the feature, adding restrictions to improve accuracy and reducing reliance on user-generated content from sites like Reddit.
The updated AI Overviews now include more hyperlinks to relevant websites, displayed alongside the AI-generated answers, with plans to integrate clickable links directly within the text. Google aims to balance user experience with publisher traffic, responding to concerns from the media industry about potential impacts on referral traffic.
Hema Budaraju, a senior director at Google, reported improved user satisfaction based on internal data, noting that users of the feature tend to engage more deeply with search queries. These updates come at a time when Google faces legal challenges and competition from AI advancements by rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
A US judge ordered Google to provide Android users with more ways to download apps outside of its Play Store, following a jury decision in favour of ‘Fortnite’ developer Epic Games in an antitrust case. Epic’s lawsuit accused Google of dominating app distribution and in-app payments on Android devices, urging the court to make it easier for users to access third-party app stores. Google countered that such changes would damage competition, as well as consumer privacy and security.
District Judge James Donato criticised Google’s resistance to Epic’s suggestions, signalling that he will deliver a brief ruling focused on enhancing app distribution options for both users and developers. Donato stressed that Google, deemed a monopolist, must address its anticompetitive behaviour and announced the formation of a three-person committee to monitor the enforcement of the injunction.
Why does this matter?
The following case is part of a wider antitrust examination. Google also faces a separate government lawsuit in Washington, DC, concerning its search engine dominance, where another judge recently ruled against the company. Both cases highlight increasing legal challenges to Google’s business practices. Neither Epic Games nor Google commented on the latest developments.
Google is intensifying its AI initiatives in India, with a focus on addressing language barriers and improving agricultural efficiency. Abhishek Bapna, Director of Product Management at Google DeepMind, emphasized the economic importance of breaking language barriers, particularly in areas like healthcare and banking. Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini, supports over 40 languages globally, including nine Indian languages, and aims to enhance language quality further.
In collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, Google’s Project Vaani provides over 14,000 hours of speech data from 80 districts, empowering developers to create more efficient AI models for India’s multilingual environment. Additionally, the IndicGenBench benchmark helps fine-tune language models for Indian languages. These efforts are crucial to improving the accuracy and reach of AI in the country.
Google is also piloting its Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Research API in Telangana, designed to boost farm yields and enhance market access. The initiative aligns with Google’s broader goals of improving livelihoods and addressing climate change, offering granular data-driven insights at the farm field level.
These initiatives are expected to not only assist farmers but also attract end users like banks and insurance companies. Once the pilot program is completed, Google plans to scale the project to work with state governments across India.
Google has unveiled its latest lineup of Pixel smartphones, marking a significant shift towards deeper integration of artificial intelligence in its hardware. Unlike previous years, the company chose to announce the new models in the summer, positioning itself ahead of competitors as it races to incorporate AI technology across its products.
The new Pixel devices feature innovative AI-powered tools, including a unique function that allows users to search for information within screenshots. Additionally, Google’s chatbot, Gemini, can now be accessed as an overlay on other apps, offering assistance and generating content. The launch event, held at Alphabet’s Bay View campus, showcased these advancements, with Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, Rick Osterloh, emphasising the company’s commitment to practical AI applications.
With AI taking centre stage, Google’s event impressed industry experts, with some noting it as one of the most comprehensive presentations the company has ever held. This early release strategy comes as Google aims to stay ahead of its rivals, particularly Apple, which is expected to launch new AI features in its products later this year.
The Pixel 9 series includes several models, with the base version priced at $799, $100 more than its predecessor. The devices will start shipping in August, with the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold set for release in September, further highlighting Google’s push to lead in the AI-driven smartphone market.
The US Department of Justice is exploring various options, including potentially breaking up Alphabet’s Google, after a recent court ruling found the tech giant guilty of illegally monopolising the online search market. The ruling was considered a significant victory for federal authorities challenging Big Tech’s dominance, which determined that Google spent billions to establish an illegal monopoly as the world’s default search engine.
Among the remedies the DOJ considers are forcing Google to share data with competitors and implementing safeguards to prevent the company from gaining an unfair advantage in AI products. Discussions have also included the possibility of divesting key assets such as the Android operating system, the AdWords search ad program, and the Chrome web browser.
Why does this matter?
The following case is part of a broader effort by federal antitrust regulators, who have previously taken action against other tech giants like Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Apple, accusing them of maintaining illegal monopolies. Alphabet and the DOJ have not yet commented on the ongoing deliberations.
Google’s dominance in the search engine market faces growing challenges from AI advancements, particularly from OpenAI, while also dealing with ongoing antitrust scrutiny. A recent US ruling deemed Google’s search monopoly illegal, marking a significant victory for regulators. However, experts argue that the real threat to Google is the rapid adoption of AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, reshaping how people search the internet.
Despite Google’s long-standing control of around 90% of the global search market, the rise of AI-powered search alternatives is beginning to erode its position. Former Google engineers and industry analysts believe AI’s impact will be felt much sooner than the effects of antitrust rulings, which often take years.
Historically, Apple has partnered with Google for search services, but it is now exploring AI-driven alternatives. The tech giant has announced a non-exclusive partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its devices, signalling a shift from Google’s search dominance.
OpenAI’s move into the search market with its AI-powered SearchGPT further intensifies the competition. Some analysts predict that AI’s influence on search could outpace regulatory actions, potentially dismantling Google’s monopoly.
Why does it matter?
Although Google has the resources to lead in AI development, its response could have been faster than that of competitors like OpenAI’s swift rise. Google’s initial missteps with AI-powered search features, which were criticised for inaccuracies and errors, have raised concerns about the company’s ability to maintain trust with users.
Analysts suggest that while antitrust actions may not immediately weaken Google’s position, they could pave the way for increased competition in the search market. However, breaking Google’s dominance will be challenging, and whether these developments will lead to significant changes in consumer choice remains to be seen.
