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Google warns breakup plans could harm economy and security

Google has urged the Trump administration to reconsider efforts to break up the company as part of ongoing antitrust lawsuits.

The meeting with government officials took place last week, according to a source familiar with the matter. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is pursuing two cases against Google, focusing on its dominance in search and advertising technology.

Executives at Google have expressed concerns that proposed remedies, including the potential divestment of the Chrome browser and changes to search engine agreements, could negatively impact the American economy and national security.

The DOJ has not yet commented on the discussions. A trial to determine appropriate remedies is set for April, with a final ruling expected in August.

President Trump’s administration is expected to take a softer approach to antitrust enforcement compared to his predecessor.

Industry experts believe this could lead to adjustments in the DOJ’s stance on breaking up Google, potentially reshaping the legal battle over its market power.

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ElevenLabs unveils fast and accurate speech-to-text solution

ElevenLabs, a Palo Alto-based AI startup valued at $3.3 billion, has introduced its first stand-alone speech-to-text model, Scribe. The company, which is better known for its audio-generation capabilities, now aims to disrupt the speech detection market by providing a faster and more accurate alternative to existing models like Whisper and Deepgram. Scribe supports over 99 languages, with top accuracy in more than 25, including English, French, and Spanish.

The new AI model has already outperformed competitors like Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash and OpenAI’s Whisper Large V3 in benchmark tests. It also includes features like speaker diarisation, accurate subtitles, and sound event tagging, which could appeal to customers in media and content creation. While Scribe currently only works with pre-recorded audio, ElevenLabs plans to release a real-time version soon.

Priced at $0.40 per hour of transcribed audio, Scribe offers a competitive rate, though some rivals currently offer lower prices. With this move into speech-to-text, ElevenLabs is positioning itself to expand its AI offerings and challenge established players in the field.

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Google loses European court battle over Android Auto access

Europe’s top court has ruled that Google’s decision to block an Enel e-mobility app from Android Auto could be considered an abuse of market power. The judgment reinforces competition rules and may push major tech firms to allow easier access for rival apps.

The case stemmed from a €102 million fine imposed by Italy’s antitrust authority in 2021 for restricting access to Enel’s JuicePass app.

Google challenged the penalty, arguing security concerns and the absence of a specific app template. However, the Court of Justice of the European Union backed the Italian regulator, stating that dominant companies must ensure interoperability unless valid security risks exist.

The court clarified that companies should develop necessary templates within a reasonable timeframe.

Although Google has since introduced the requested feature, the ruling may set a precedent for similar cases. Legal experts see it as aligning with EU competition law, citing past decisions against IBM and Microsoft.

The ruling also supports the objectives of the Digital Markets Act, which aims to regulate dominant digital platforms.

The decision is final and unappealable, meaning the Italian Council of State must now rule on Google’s appeal in line with the court’s findings.

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Google faces lawsuit over AI search impact on publishers

An online education company has filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming its AI-generated search overviews are damaging digital publishing.

Chegg alleges the technology reduces demand for original content by keeping users on Google’s platform, ultimately eroding financial incentives for publishers. The company warns this could lead to a weaker online information ecosystem.

Chegg, which provides textbook rentals and homework help, says Google’s AI features have contributed to a drop in traffic and subscribers.

As a result, the company is considering a sale or a move to go private. Chegg’s CEO Nathan Schultz argues Google is profiting from the company’s content without proper compensation, threatening the future of quality educational resources.

A Google spokesperson rejected the claims, insisting AI overviews enhance search and create more opportunities for content discovery. The company maintains that search traffic remains strong, with billions of clicks sent to websites daily.

However, Chegg argues that Google’s dominance in online search allows it to pressure publishers into providing data for AI summaries, leading to fewer visitors to original sites.

The lawsuit marks the first time an individual company has accused Google of antitrust violations over AI-generated search features. A similar case was previously filed on behalf of the news industry. A US judge overseeing another case involving Google’s search monopoly is handling this lawsuit as well.

Google intends to challenge the claims and is appealing a previous ruling that found it held an illegal monopoly in online search.

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Google unveils Gemini Code Assist for Individual developers

Google has launched a new free AI tool aimed at helping developers with code completion and assistance. Gemini Code Assist for Individuals allows users to interact with a Google AI model through a chat window, helping to fix bugs, complete code, or explain parts of a codebase. The tool can be integrated into popular coding environments like VS Code and JetBrains, and supports a range of programming languages. It offers impressive capabilities, with 180,000 code completions per month—90 times more than GitHub’s free Copilot plan—and 240 daily chat requests, well beyond the limits of competing tools.

In addition, Google unveiled Gemini Code Assist for GitHub, a tool that automatically scans code in pull requests to identify bugs and provide helpful suggestions. These tools highlight Google’s increasing efforts to compete with Microsoft and GitHub in the developer space. Both tools leverage Google’s Gemini 2.0 AI model, fine-tuned for coding tasks, and offer a context window four times larger than similar models, enabling the AI to process more complex code.

The launch marks a strategic move by Google to attract developers, especially those early in their careers, with the hope that some will eventually transition to premium plans. Gemini Code Assist for Individuals is available through a free public preview, with Google planning to roll out additional enterprise features soon, including integration with third-party tools and more advanced customisation options for businesses.

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EU court sides with Italy in Google antitrust case

The European Court of Justice has backed Italy‘s antitrust authority in a ruling against Google, stating that the tech giant’s refusal to allow Enel’s JuicePass app to work with its Android Auto platform could constitute an abuse of market power. This decision supports a 2021 fine of 102 million euros imposed by the Italian watchdog after Google blocked the e-mobility app. Google had argued that the refusal was due to security concerns and the absence of a specific template for compatibility, but the court disagreed, stating that dominant companies must ensure their platforms are interoperable with third-party apps unless doing so would harm security.

Although Google has since resolved the issue, the ruling sets a precedent for future cases involving platform dominance. The court acknowledged that companies could refuse interoperability if it compromises platform security, but if this is not the case, they must develop a compatible template in a reasonable timeframe. Google claimed the feature was only relevant to a small percentage of cars in Italy at the time, but the ruling now forces the company to comply with the antitrust decision. The case is final and cannot be appealed, and the Italian Council of State will follow the court’s guidance in its future ruling.

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Google prices Veo 2 as competition with OpenAI heats up

Google has quietly disclosed the pricing for its Veo 2 video-generating AI model, setting the cost at 50 cents per second of video. This translates to $30 per minute or $1,800 per hour, positioning Veo 2 as a premium tool for AI-generated video content.

While unlikely to produce big-budget epics, the model can create clips of two minutes or longer, as highlighted in Google’s initial announcement.

Jon Barron, a Google DeepMind researcher, compared Veo 2’s cost to Hollywood productions, noting that Avengers: Endgame had a production cost of around $32,000 per second.

Though Veo 2 operates at a fraction of that price, its output serves different purposes, targeting creators seeking efficient video generation without traditional production expenses.

The AI video generation space has grown increasingly competitive, with OpenAI recently releasing its Sora model to ChatGPT Pro subscribers for $200 a month. Google’s move to price Veo 2 publicly reflects the broader push to commercialise AI video tools as demand surges among content creators and businesses.

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Google finalising locations for first Indian retail stores

Google is close to selecting locations for its first physical retail stores in India, marking its first such expansion outside the US. The company views India as a key market and has invested $10 billion in the country. Currently, Google operates only five retail stores, all in the US, selling Pixel phones, watches, and earbuds.

New Delhi and Mumbai are emerging as the most likely choices for the initial stores, with Bengaluru also considered. The planned outlets are expected to be around 15,000 square feet and may take at least six months to open. If successful, Google is likely to expand with more stores across the country.

By launching physical stores, Google aims to adopt a retail strategy similar to Apple’s, which has helped drive massive revenue growth over the past two decades.

Apple opened its first company-run stores in India in 2023 and currently dominates the country’s premium smartphone market. Google, which started manufacturing Pixel phones in India, is looking to strengthen its presence in this segment.

Before opening the stores, Google must navigate regulatory and compliance requirements. The company also faces legal challenges in India, including antitrust cases related to its in-app billing system and smart TV market practices. Despite these hurdles, Google remains committed to executing its retail expansion in India.

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Google plans global expansion of YouTube Premium Lite

Google is reportedly preparing to launch YouTube Premium Lite, a cheaper alternative to its full subscription service, in several countries, including the US, Australia, Germany and Thailand. Bloomberg reports that the service will cater to users who want an ad-free experience for most videos but do not necessarily need access to YouTube Music.

YouTube previously tested a similar version of Premium Lite in parts of Europe in 2021, but the plan was discontinued in 2023. However, recent tests suggest that the updated version may include limited ads rather than a completely ad-free experience. Pricing remains unclear, but in Australia, a test version was listed at $8.99 AUD per month, significantly lower than the standard YouTube Premium price.

A YouTube spokesperson confirmed that the company is working on a new subscription tier with ‘most videos ad-free’ and hopes to expand it with support from its partners. While no official launch date has been announced, the move could provide a middle ground for users seeking fewer interruptions without committing to the full YouTube Premium package.

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Google unveils virtual AI collaborator for scientists

Google has introduced an AI tool designed to act as a virtual collaborator for biomedical researchers. Tested by Stanford University and Imperial College London, the tool helps scientists analyse large volumes of literature and generate new hypotheses. It uses advanced reasoning to streamline research processes and assist in problem-solving.

DeepMind, Google’s AI unit, has prioritised science in its innovations. The unit’s leader, Demis Hassabis, recently shared a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for groundbreaking AI technology. In an experiment addressing liver fibrosis, the AI tool proposed promising solutions, showing potential to improve expert-generated approaches over time.

The system is not intended to replace scientists but to enhance their work. Google stated that the tool could accelerate scientific advancements, offering new possibilities for tackling complex challenges. Researchers involved in the project highlighted its role in fostering collaboration, rather than diminishing it.

Experts see this development as part of a growing trend in using AI across various industries. Successes like ChatGPT have demonstrated AI’s ability to support tasks ranging from customer service to legal research.

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