The name Google is synonymous with online searches, but over the years the company has grown beyond search and now builds multiple consumer products, including software like Gmail, Chrome, Maps, Android, and hardware like the Pixel smartphones, Google Home, and Chromebooks. Its name can also be found on internet services such as Google Fi, Flights, Checkout, and Google Fiber. Here is all of the latest news about one of the most influential tech companies in the world.
Google Follow Follow The name Google is synonymous with online searches, but over the years the company has grown beyond search and now builds multiple consumer products, including software like Gmail, Chrome, Maps, Android, and hardware like the Pixel smartphones, Google Home, and Chromebooks. Its name can also be found on internet services such as Google Fi, Flights, Checkout, and Google Fiber. Here is all of the latest news about one of the most influential tech companies in the world. ‘Shut up and focus on the mission’: Tech workers are frustrated by their companies’ silence about ICE Across the industry, workers describe a ‘fear-based culture’ and pressure to ‘fall in line.‘ Hayden Field Feb 11 Samsung’s next Unpacked is confirmed for later this month Get ready for a software-centered showcase. Allison Johnson Feb 10 Latest In Google T Quote Terrence O'Brien Feb 15 Link NPR’s David Greene is suing Google over its AI podcast voice. The former host of Morning Edition and current host of Left, Right & Center claims that Google illegally replicated his voice for its male podcast host in NotebookLM. Google denies this, but Greene (and many of his friends and colleagues) say the resemblance is “uncanny.” As the Washington Post reports: To Greene, the resemblance of the AI voice to his own is uncanny — and the harm is deeper and more personal than just a missed chance to capitalize on his most recognizable asset. “My voice is, like, the most important part of who I am,” Greene said. T Terrence O'Brien Feb 14 Link Some users are reporting problems with Gemini. What’s causing the issues or how widespread they are is unclear. We’ve been unable to reproduce the issue here, but DownDetector has seen a spike in reports over the past few hours. Users report that Gemini displays error messages or hangs after a prompt . We’ve reached out to Google for comment. Image: DownDetector E External Link Emma Roth Feb 13 Link The DHS is reportedly pressing social media platforms for info about ICE critics. Google, Reddit, Discord, and Meta have received “hundreds” of subpoenas from the DHS in recent months, according to a report from The New York Times . The agency is reportedly asking the platforms for the names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other information associated with accounts that “track or criticize” ICE. Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts [ The New York Times ] J Jess Weatherbed Feb 13 Link Google adds AI audio summarization to Docs. Gemini-powered Audio Summaries give you a condensed overview of lengthy documents instead of reading the entire thing . The feature is starting to roll out to select business and Google AI users now, and can be found in the Tools menu in Google Docs. Audio Summaries can be found in the Tools menu in Google Docs. Image: Google D External Link Dominic Preston Feb 12 Link Gmail adds label creation on Android. You’ve been able to add them via desktop for decades , and even iPhone users had the option , but finally Android is catching up. You still can’t customize the colors from your phone, but maybe we’ll get that in another ten years or so. Gmail for Android finally lets you create new labels [ 9to5Google ] Fitbit’s AI health coach is now available on your iPhone Stevie Bonifield Feb 10 FBI releases recovered footage from Nancy Guthrie’s Nest cam Jay Peters Feb 10 Google can now help you find and remove your ID from search results Emma Roth Feb 10 Autodesk is suing Google over the name of its Flow AI videomaker Emma Roth Feb 10 D Quote Dominic Preston Feb 9 Link Edge cases only. As Waymo uses AI-generated 3D worlds to simulate driverless cars’ encounters with tornadoes, floods, and even elephants, one commenter wonders if they could try AI school buses next. cowboyfromspace : They got elephants down but forgot about school buses? Get the day’s best comment and more in my free newsletter, The Verge Daily . YouTube Music starts putting lyrics behind a paywall Terrence O'Brien Feb 8 S Youtube Stevie Bonifield Feb 6 Link Gemini becomes an AI interior decorator in Google’s Super Bowl ad. The “New Home” commercial features nostalgic piano music and a heartfelt voiceover of a mother and son envisioning their new house with some help from Gemini. Notably, it steers clear of fact-focused prompts like the Gouda cheese stat Gemini got wrong in one of last year’s Super Bowl ads . What happens when Waymo runs into a tornado? Or an elephant? Andrew J. Hawkins Feb 6 Google is expanding AirDrop support to more Android devices ‘very soon’ Jess Weatherbed Feb 6 Republicans attack ‘woke’ Netflix — and ignore YouTube Emma Roth Feb 5 Google’s annual revenue tops $400 billion for the first time Emma Roth Feb 4 Google’s Pixel 10A will be revealed on February 18th Emma Roth Feb 4 Sen. Warren wants to know what Google Gemini’s built-in checkout means for user privacy Emma Roth Feb 4 Department of Justice appeals Google search monopoly ruling Stevie Bonifield Feb 3 Google Home finally adds support for buttons Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Feb 3 Aluminium: Why Google’s Android for PC launch may be messy and controversial Sean Hollister Feb 3 YouTube now blocking background playback on mobile browsers Tom Warren Feb 3 S External Link Sean Hollister Feb 2 Link “‘How long do we want to support this thing?’ And Jensen said, ‘For as long as we shall live.’” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, that is, re: the Nvidia Shield TV, likely the most supported Android gadget ever at over a decade . Nvidia’s Andrew Bell tells Ars Technica a new model isn’t in active development, but hints at what he’d add (like AV1 and YouTube HDR). He says Nvidia doesn’t profit off its Netflix button , BTW. Inside Nvidia's 10-year effort to make the Shield TV the most updated Android device ever [ Ars Technica ] The Epstein files Verge Staff Feb 15 T External Link Terrence O'Brien Jan 31 Link Google co-founder Sergey Brin visited Epstein’s private island and traded emails with Ghislaine Maxwell. The latest batch of documents released by the DOJ reveals that Brin had corresponded with Maxwell as early as 2003 , and was invited to dinner at Epstein’s townhouse that year. The files also contain testimony that places Brin and his then fiancée, Anne Wojcicki, at the private island in 2007 . It’s not a great look for one of the authors of “Don’t Be Evil.” Google co-founder had long relationship with Maxwell and visited Epstein’s island. [ The New York Times ] Video game company stock prices dip after Google introduces an AI world-generation tool Jay Peters Jan 30 Fitbit users now have until May to migrate to a Google account Stevie Bonifield Jan 30 Google’s AI helped me make bad Nintendo knockoffs Jay Peters Jan 29 A Quote Andrew J. Hawkins Jan 29 Link Gemini will be your tour guide while using Google’s walking directions. Google says you can now use the AI chatbot to ask questions while using walking or cycling directions in Google Maps, which already worked for driving directions . When you’re exploring around town and navigating with Maps, Gemini can be your personal walking tour guide. Just ask, “OK Google, what neighborhood am I in?” If you’re hungry, follow up with “What are top-rated restaurants nearby?” and Gemini will recommend delicious options along your route based on Maps’ fresh, comprehensive information about the real world. Update : Google’s blog post says it’s rolling out now on both iOS and Android. Google agrees to $135 million settlement for collecting Android users’ data Stevie Bonifield Jan 29 Google disables Take a Message on older Pixel phones amid audio leak bug Jess Weatherbed Jan 29 Google adds Gemini AI-powered ‘auto browse’ to Chrome Emma Roth Jan 28 My favorite folding phone is the one that doesn’t exist yet Allison Johnson Jan 28 D Quote Dominic Preston Jan 28 Link Google is “exploring” letting publishers opt out of AI in Search. At least in the UK, where the walkback comes after the country’s CMA opened a consultation on forcing Google to do just that, having given the company “strategic market status” last year . Ron Eden, Google’s principal for product management, says : “We’re now exploring updates to our controls to let sites specifically opt out of Search generative AI features. Our goal is to protect the helpfulness of Search for people who want information quickly, while also giving websites the right tools to manage their content.” Google just leaked a first look at Android for PC in action Dominic Preston Jan 28 The best Android phones for everyone Allison Johnson Jan 28 R Robert Hart Jan 27 Link Google’s more affordable AI Plus plan is now available in the US. The plan is rolling out in 35 new countries and territories. It includes access to tools like Gemini 3 Pro and the Nano Banana Pro image model . There’s also 200GB of storage. It’ll cost $7.99 a month, compared to $19.99 for AI Pro, but new US subscribers can get half off the first 2 months. Google Search now lets you ask AI Overviews follow-up questions Robert Hart Jan 27 L The Verge Lauren Feiner Jan 27 Link TikTok moves to settle a major social media addiction case shortly before trial. It follows Snap in reaching an agreement to resolve the first of several cases slated to go to trial this year about social media’s alleged harm to users, an attorney for the 19-year-old plaintiff confirmed. That leaves Meta and YouTube as defendants in the case going to jury selection today. 2026 is the year of social media’s legal reckoning Lauren Feiner Jan 26 Google Photos now lets you describe how to transform images into video Jess Weatherbed Jan 27 Most Popular Most Popular Apple’s doing something on March 4th Why are Epstein’s emails full of equals signs? OpenClaw founder Peter Steinberger is joining OpenAI The Pocket Taco is the best way to turn your phone into a Game Boy Anker’s USB-C cable that lets you charge two gadgets at once is 20 percent off Advertiser Content From This is the title for the native ad
