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DeepMind unveils AlphaEvolve for scientific breakthroughs

Google DeepMind has unveiled AlphaEvolve, a new AI system designed to help solve complex scientific and mathematical problems by improving how algorithms are developed.

Rather than acting like a standard chatbot, AlphaEvolve blends large language models from the Gemini family with an evolutionary approach, enabling it to generate, assess, and refine multiple solutions at once.

Instead of relying on a single output, AlphaEvolve allows researchers to submit a problem and potential directions. The system then uses both Gemini Flash and Gemini Pro to create various solutions, which are automatically evaluated.

The best results are selected and enhanced through an iterative process, improving accuracy and reducing hallucinations—a common issue with AI-generated content.

Unlike earlier DeepMind tools such as AlphaFold, which focused on narrow domains, AlphaEvolve is a general-purpose AI for coding and algorithmic tasks.

It has already shown its value by optimising Google’s own Borg data centre management system, delivering a 0.7% efficiency gain—significant given Google’s global scale.

The AI also devised a new method for multiplying complex matrices, outperforming a decades-old technique and even beating DeepMind’s specialised AlphaTensor model.

AlphaEvolve has also contributed to improvements in Google’s hardware design by optimising Verilog code for upcoming Tensor chips.

Though not publicly available yet due to its complexity, AlphaEvolve’s evaluation-based framework could eventually be adapted for smaller AI tools used by researchers elsewhere.

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Android adds new scam protection for phone calls

Google is introducing new protections on Android devices to combat phone call scams, particularly those involving screen-sharing and app installations. Users will see warning messages if they attempt to change settings during a call and Android will also block the deactivation of Play Protect features.

The system will now block users from sideloading apps or granting accessibility permissions while on a call with unknown contacts.

The new tools are available on devices running Android 16 and select protections are also rolling out to older versions, starting with Android 11

A separate pilot in the UK will alert users trying to open banking apps during a screen-sharing call, prompting them to end the call or wait before proceeding.

These features expand Android’s broader efforts to prevent fraud, which already include AI-based scam detection for phone calls and messages.

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Google tests AI mode on Search page

Google is experimenting with a redesigned version of its iconic Search homepage, swapping the familiar ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ button for a new option called ‘AI Mode.’

The fresh feature, which began rolling out in limited tests earlier in May, is part of the company’s push to integrate more AI-driven capabilities into everyday search experiences.

According to a Google spokesperson, the change is currently being tested through the company’s experimental Labs platform, though there’s no guarantee it will become a permanent fixture.

The timing is notable, arriving just before Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference where more AI-focused updates are expected.

Such changes to Google’s main Search page are rare, but the company may feel growing pressure to adapt. Just last week, an Apple executive revealed that Google searches on Safari had declined for the first time, linking the drop to the growing popularity of AI tools like ChatGPT.

By testing ‘AI Mode,’ Google appears to be responding to this shift, exploring ways to stay ahead in an increasingly AI-driven search landscape instead of sticking to its traditional layout.

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Harvey adds Google and Anthropic AI

Harvey, the fast-growing legal AI startup backed early by the OpenAI Startup Fund, is now embracing foundation models from Google and Anthropic instead of relying solely on OpenAI’s.

In a recent blog post, the company said it would expand its AI model options after internal benchmarks showed that different tools excel at different legal tasks.

The shift marks a notable win for OpenAI’s competitors, even though Harvey insists it’s not abandoning OpenAI. Its in-house benchmark, BigLaw, revealed that several non-OpenAI models now outperform Harvey’s original system on specific legal functions.

For instance, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro performs well at legal drafting, while OpenAI’s o3 and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet are better suited for complex pre-trial work.

Instead of building its own models, Harvey now aims to fine-tune top-tier offerings from multiple vendors, including through Amazon’s cloud. The company also plans to launch a public legal benchmark leaderboard, combining expert legal reviews with technical metrics.

While OpenAI remains a close partner and investor, Harvey’s broader strategy signals growing competition in the race to serve the legal industry with AI.

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Google tests AI tool to automate software development

Google is internally testing an advanced AI tool designed to support software engineers through the entire development cycle, according to The Information. The firm is also expected to demonstrate integration between its Gemini chatbot in voice mode and Android-powered XR headsets.

The agentic AI assistant is said to handle tasks such as code generation and documentation, and has already been previewed to staff and developers ahead of Google’s I/O conference on 20 May. The move reflects a wider trend among tech giants racing to automate programming.

Amazon is developing its own coding assistant, Kiro, which can process both text and visual inputs, detect bugs, and auto-document code. While AWS initially targeted a June launch, the current release date remains uncertain.

Microsoft and Google have claimed that around 30% of their code is now AI-generated. OpenAI is also eyeing expansion, reportedly in talks to acquire AI coding start-up Windsurf for $3 billion.

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Some Google apps are better off without AI

With Google I/O 2025 around the corner, concerns are growing about artificial intelligence creeping into every corner of Google’s ecosystem. While AI has enhanced tools like Gmail and Photos, some users are urging Google to leave certain apps untouched.

These include fan favourites like Emoji Kitchen, Google Keep, and Google Wallet, which continue to shine due to their simplicity and human-focused design. Critics argue that introducing generative AI to these apps could diminish what makes them special.

Emoji Kitchen’s handcrafted stickers, for example, are widely praised compared to Apple’s AI-driven alternatives. Likewise, Google Keep and Wallet are valued for their light, efficient interfaces that serve clear purposes without AI interference.

Even in environments where AI might seem useful, such as Android Auto and Google Flights, the call is for restraint. Users appreciate clear menus and limited distractions over chatbots making unsolicited suggestions.

As AI continues to dominate tech conversations, a growing number of voices are asking Google to preserve the balance between innovation and usability.

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Honor phones get early access to Google’s AI video tool

Google’s latest AI image-to-video tool has made its debut on new Honor smartphones, ahead of its wider rollout to Gemini users.

The feature, powered by Google’s Veo 2 model, allows users to transform still images into short five-second videos directly from the Gallery app on Honor’s upcoming 400 and 400 Pro devices, launching on 22 May. The technology offers quick generation, usually taking just a minute or two per video.

Designed with simplicity in mind, the tool does not allow text prompts, leaving the AI to interpret each image as it sees fit. Results can be mixed: straightforward subjects such as pets or portraits often yield smooth, lifelike motion, but the tool struggles with complex visuals.

Some results have been amusing or surreal — a pigeon flying out of Van Gogh’s eye, for instance — suggesting that the AI’s creative choices still lack refinement.

Owners of the Honor 400 series will be able to try the feature for free for two months, with a limit of ten videos per day. After the trial, a Google subscription will likely be required, though pricing and terms have not yet been announced.

While video generation is already available to Google’s Gemini Advanced subscribers using text input, image-based generation remains limited to selected users under Google Cloud’s enterprise offerings, where it’s priced at 50 cents per second.

With this early release, Honor users gain rare first-hand access to an experimental AI feature that remains out of reach for most.

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Google pays around $1.4 billion over privacy case

Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by the state of Texas over allegations that it violated users’ privacy through features such as Incognito mode, Location History, and biometric data collection.

Despite the sizable sum, Google denies any wrongdoing, stating that the claims were based on outdated practices which have since been updated.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the settlement, emphasising that large tech firms are not above the law.

He accused Google of covertly tracking individuals’ locations and personal searches, while also collecting biometric data such as voiceprints and facial geometry — all without users’ consent. Paxton claimed the state’s legal challenge had forced Google to answer for its actions.

Although the settlement resolves two lawsuits filed in 2022, the specific terms and how the funds will be used remain undisclosed. A Google spokesperson maintained that the resolution brings closure to claims about past practices, instead of requiring any changes to its current products.

The case comes after a similar $1.4 billion agreement involving Meta, which faced accusations of unlawfully gathering facial recognition data. The repeated scrutiny from Texas authorities signals a broader pushback against the data practices of major tech companies.

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Google unveils AI tool to boost African businesses

Google has announced the beta launch of AI Max for Search Campaigns, a new tool aimed at helping local businesses, including those across Africa, reach more customers through smarter advertising.

The feature, which builds on Google’s Gemini AI models, enhances how businesses appear in search results, even when users type unexpected or highly specific queries.

As African economies continue to embrace digital transformation, AI Max offers vital support to small and medium-sized enterprises. The tool intelligently matches search terms, customises ad text in real time, and expands URL targeting to guide users to the most relevant content.

Designed to reduce the burden on entrepreneurs managing multiple responsibilities, the tool is seen as a cost-effective way to attract higher-intent customers with minimal effort.

This initiative complements Google’s ongoing support for African businesses, including training schemes like Hustle Academy. With AI Max, entrepreneurs now have access to technology that not only adapts to their needs but also improves their visibility in an increasingly competitive digital market.

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