Google

Google Chrome is facing criticism after users discovered that the browser can quietly place a multi-gigabyte local AI model on their computers. The issue has drawn attention because the file is large, the download may not be obvious to ordinary users, and deleting the file manually may not stop Chrome from downloading it again. The concern is not simply that Chrome has AI features, but rather that browser-based AI is moving from optional cloud tools into local system storage, using disk space and bandwidth without the kind of clear, up-front warning many users would expect. For people with ...view more

Google Search is undergoing its biggest identity shift in years: instead of acting mainly as a gateway to websites, it is becoming an AI-powered answer engine that summarizes the web before users ever click. While the change may be convenient for searchers, it threatens the basic traffic model publishers, bloggers, news sites, and independent website owners have relied on for decades. Old Google Search Model Rewarded Useful Websites For most of its history, Google Search worked like a ranking engine. A user typed in a query, Google returned a page of links, and the user decided which result ...view more

Google has announced a new brand of laptop called "Googlebook". Unlike the Chromebook, which was mainly about reducing hardware needs, the Googlebook is based around artificial intelligence. The Googlebook appears to be the result of a much-discussed merger of ChromeOS (which runs Chromebooks) and Android. The new devices will closely integrate with Android phones. Users will be able to respond to phone messages on their Googlebook and access files from the phone without needing a cable. However, it's Google's AI tool Gemini which Google is pushing as the main point of the Googlebook. It goes ...view more

Google says it is tackling websites which "hijack" a user's back button. The shady tactic means users who try to leave a website and get back to a previous destination are unable to do so. Normally users expect a consistent response to the buttons in their browser. Clicking a link on site A could take them to site B. No matter how many pages they then move through on site B, clicking the back button should retrace their steps, eventually taking them back to site A. The Mechanics of Back Button Hijacking "Back button hijacking" involves a variety of tricks to disrupt this process. One variant ...view more

Google has finally made it possible to change usernames on Google Accounts. It will mean changing an email address, though the old one will continue working. The policy affects what is officially called the "account username" but is better known as the part before the "@gmail.com" in an email address. As well as email, it's used for identification on many Google services such as photos and YouTube. Until now there was no way to change this short of creating a new account entirely, which would require setting up mail forwarding to continue accessing old messages without having to switch back ...view more

Google has offered to lower the commission it takes on in-app purchases and to make it easier to use rival app stores. The offer is an attempt to avoid more drastic penalties resulting from a major court defeat and may mean lower costs and more choice for app users. Epic Games, maker of the hugely popular Fortnite, had sued Google, claiming it was unfairly taking advantage of its position in running both an operating system and an app store. It said Google used this power to charge excessive fees and to make it more difficult for users to get apps from sources other than the official Play ...view more

Google has updated its policy on parental supervision for teenage users on a Family Account. It now requires parental approval before a 13-year-old can remove the supervision features from their account. Previously, the company's system would email children as they approached their 13th birthday. This email informed them of their new ability to "graduate" from parental oversight without needing permission. Parental Pushback Prompts Change The policy drew considerable criticism from parents and online safety advocates. A LinkedIn post describing the practice as "predatory ...view more

Google's AI Overviews are reportedly generating dangerously misleading health advice, causing alarm among health organizations. These AI-powered summaries of expert advice on websites have provided incorrect and sometimes harmful information for queries about critical health topics. Health charities in the UK have raised significant concerns about the potential for AI-generated search summaries to spread medical misinformation. They worry that this technology could undermine their carefully curated and expert-approved health guidance, which they have spent years developing and making ...view more

Google is introducing a new capability to its Phone application, dubbed "Expressive Calling," which gives users the ability to flag a call as important. This new function is currently being tested by some participants in the beta program for Google's Phone app. The core purpose is to provide context for incoming calls, helping the recipient understand the importance of answering promptly. When a caller chooses to label their call this way, the person receiving it will be shown a large "It's urgent!" alert. The notification, which appears when the phone rings, also ...view more

Infopackets Reader Peter K. writes: " Dear Dennis, I received this message from Google: 'You're receiving this message because your Google Account has not been used in at least 8 months. To keep your Google Account active, take a moment now to sign in. If your Google Account is not used within a 2-year period, Google may delete your Google Account and its activity and data.' No worries, but the address I received this to (ex: john@example.com ) is not a gmail account. It is one I have owned, and paid for, for many years but have not used for a while. At any rate, I logged in to Gmail using my ...view more