Topic: Deepmind
Billionaire Ambani taps Google, Meta to build India’s AI backbone
Reliance is launching a new subsidiary to drive India's AI ambitions, including a pending partnership with OpenAI....
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Reliance will partner with Google Cloud to build a dedicated AI infrastructure in India with a major data center in Jamnagar.
- The Reliance-Meta joint venture committing ₹8.5 billion ($100 million) will offer Meta's Llama-based enterprise AI platform-as-a-service, including pre-configured AI solutions for various sectors.
- Reliance plans to expand beyond India, take its flagship subsidiary Reliance Jio Platforms to international markets, and file for an initial public offering in the first half of 2026.
Google Debuts Device-Bound Session Credentials Against Session Hijacking
Article URL: https://www.feistyduck.com/newsletter/issue_128_google_debuts_device_bound_session_credentials_against_session_hijacking Comments URL: ht...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- DBSC uses public-key cryptography to bind session credentials to a device, making them inaccessible on other devices.
- Google has announced a beta of DBSC in Google Workspace for users running Chrome on Windows.
- DBSC has the potential to make session hijacking a thing of the past if adopted by other browser vendors.
Google launches new device protection program called Pixel Care+
Google says Pixel Care+ provides a "higher level of coverage, service and peace of mind for Google hardware owners."...
Google and Grok are catching up to ChatGPT, says a16z’s latest AI report
The report, in its fifth iteration, showcases two and a half years of data about consumers' evolving use of AI products....
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Google's Gemini AI app has gained four spots on the list of top gen AI consumer web products, with its AI Studio and NotebookLM entries reaching the top 10 and 13 list, respectively.
- Meta AI's Grok has shown quick growth, with nearly 20 million monthly active users and a ranking of 4th on the web and 23rd on mobile, despite a recent slowdown due to sharing user posts without consent.
- Chinese AI makers have made a significant presence in the top 20 web list, with ByteDance's Doubao and Alibaba's Quark AI assistant reaching 12th and 9th, respectively, and 22 out of 50 top mobile apps being developed in China.
Google Vids adds AI avatars to its video editor and launches a consumer version
Google is launching a free consumer version of its video editor Vids that will be available without any AI-powered features....
Google Release Nano Banana
Article URL: https://blog.google/intl/en-mena/product-updates/explore-get-answers/nano-banana-image-editing-in-gemini-just-got-a-major-upgrade/ Commen...
Google Translate takes on Duolingo with new language learning tools
Translate is also getting new live capabilities to make it easier to communicate in real-time with a person speaking a different language....
New AI-powered live translation and language learning tools in Google Translate
Google Translate is using AI to make live translation and language learning even more helpful....
Chipolo launches its first rechargeable Bluetooth trackers
Device tracker brand Chipolo announced the Loop and Card, two new Bluetooth-powered item trackers that can be recharged instead of requiring users to ...
Gemini Nano Banana improves image editing consistency and control at scale for enterprises – but is not perfect
The long awaited image editing model nanobanana from Google, now renamed Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, has finally released to the public....
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Gemini 2.5 Flash Image maintains character likenesses between different images and has more consistency when editing pictures.
- The model is integrated into the Gemini app and available for all paid and free users, with all images generated including Google's SynthID watermark.
- Google's new image model aims to compete with rival providers such as AI21, Qwen, and OpenAI, as the fight for capable and realistic image and edit capabilities intensifies.
Google will verify Android developers distributing apps outside the Play store
Google is increasing security measures around sideloading apps by removing anonymity for Android developers who distribute outside of the Play Store. ...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- The new requirement will impact Android developers in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand starting in September 2024, and globally in 2027 and beyond.
- Developers will need to provide personal details like their legal name, address, email, and phone number, and may need to upload an official government ID.
- The move aims to prevent users from installing malicious apps and make it harder for developers to distribute malware and scams.
Google Nest Camera and Doorbell leak shows off new colors and 2K video recording
According to a new report from Android Headlines, Google’s next-generation Nest Cams might get an upgrade from 1080p to 2K. Along with a series of lea...
Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store
Google will ask all Android developers to verify their identity starting next year....
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Developers who distribute apps outside of the Play Store through alternative app stores or sideloading will no longer be able to hide their identities.
- More than 50 times more malware came from internet-sideloaded sources than Google Play, where developer verification is already required.
- Developers will need to provide their legal name, address, email, and phone number, potentially affecting independent developers registering as businesses.
FTC chair warns Google about Gmail’s ‘partisan’ spam filters
FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson appears to be pursuing conservative complaints over Gmail's spam filters....
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Ferguson claims that Gmail's filters may block Republican emails more frequently than Democratic emails, which could harm American consumers and violate the FTC Act.
- A Google spokesperson disputes these claims, stating that Gmail's spam filters apply objective signals equally to all senders, regardless of political ideology.
- This controversy is part of a broader trend of conservatives accusing digital platforms of censorship and unfair treatment.
Show HN: Hacker News em dash user leaderboard pre-ChatGPT
The use of the em dash (—) now raises suspicions that a text might have been AI-generated. Inspired by a suggestion from dang [1], I created a leaderb...
SynthID
Article URL: https://deepmind.google/science/synthid/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45071677 Points: 12 # Comments: 2...
How to Stop Google from AI-Summarising Your Website
Article URL: https://www.teruza.com/info-hub/how-to-stop-google-from-ai-summarising-your-website Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Google's AI Overviews are taking content from websites and potentially directing traffic away, forcing website owners to make an unfair choice.
- The only current workaround recommended by Google is to set snippet length to zero using `max-snippet:0`, which significantly decreases click-through rate.
- Regulatory investigations in the EU and UK aim to hold Google accountable for potentially stifling competition and harming publishers through its AI Overviews feature.
Show HN: Grammit – Local-only AI grammar checker (Chrome extension)
Hey HN, I wanted a grammar checker that didn’t send my writing to someone's servers, so we built Grammit, a Chrome extension that runs grammar checks ...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Grammit offers AI-powered grammar corrections and rephrasing capabilities.
- The tool operates locally on-device, ensuring user data remains private and secure.
- Grammit supports various writing tasks, including emails, social media posts, and chat messages.
Google has eliminated 35% of managers overseeing small teams in past year
Article URL: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/27/google-executive-says-company-has-cut-a-third-of-its-managers.html Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Google has gotten rid of about 35% of its managers overseeing small teams, resulting in a more streamlined organization.
- The company has offered buyouts to U.S.-based employees in various teams, with 3-5% accepting the voluntary exit program so far.
- Google's focus on efficiency and reduced bureaucracy is a response to the need for the company to grow without increasing headcount.
Google Pixel 10 Pro review: AI, Qi2, and a spec bump too
Last year, Google proved it could make a phone that looks and feels like a true flagship, despite the software feeling like an AI jumble. This year, t...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- The Pixel 10 series is the first major Android device to fully support Qi2 wireless charging.
- The Tensor G5 chip allows for on-device AI processing, enhancing features like Magic Cue, voice translations, and real-time language processing.
- The camera app features a new Pro Res Zoom mode that uses a diffusion model to digitally zoom in on images, and a revamped portrait mode with improved subject isolation and hair detail.
How Google is investing in Virginia to accelerate innovation for the U.S.
Google is investing an additional $9 billion in Virginia through 2026 in cloud and AI infrastructure. As we expand our local presence, including a new...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Google's $9 billion investment will support a new data center in Chesterfield County and address growing energy capacity demand.
- All Virginia-based college students now have access to the Google AI Pro plan and AI training for a year, as part of a $1 billion commitment.
- The investment aims to unlock substantial economic opportunity for Virginia and help the U.S. lead the world in AI.
Google is building a Duolingo rival into the Translate app
Google is putting AI-powered language learning tools into its Translate app. The new feature, rolling out now in beta, can create customized language ...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- The new feature can create customized language lessons based on users' skill levels and goals, similar to Duolingo.
- Live translation is now available in the Translate app, allowing users in the US, India, and Mexico to have back-and-forth conversations across 70 languages.
- The feature uses Gemini AI models to generate AI-generated transcription and audio translation in real-time.
Hackers demand Google fire 2 staff and halt probes, or they will leak databases
Article URL: https://www.newsweek.com/hackers-issue-ultimatum-data-breach-2122489 Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45092942 Points: ...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- The hacking group claims to have members from other communities, including Scattered Spider, LapSus, and ShinyHunters.
- The hackers are demanding the fire of Austin Larsen and Charles Carmakal, who work in the Google Threat Intelligence Group.
- This threat comes after a previous data breach involving ShinyHunters, who gained information from Salesforce, a third-party service provider to Google.
Show HN: AfriTales – Discover the Magic of African Storytelling
Hi HN,I've been working on AfriTales, a flutter based mobile app that brings African folktales into modern stories narrated episodes wrapped in a chil...
The Pixel 10’s AI screamed at us
This seems to be the year that Google's AI features are actually starting to add up to something useful. After a week testing the Pixel 10 Pro, my col...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- The Pixel 10 Pro's AI features show some promise and can be useful, at least when they work as expected.
- Google's AI-infused Pro Res Zoom feature in the camera app seems accurate and un-AI-like, until it encounters text and becomes a jumbled mess.
- Other companies, such as Dish, Intel, and Elon Musk's xAI, face their own challenges, including failed business ventures and lawsuits.
Google adds iPhone-like ‘Calling Cards’ to its Phone app
Google’s Phone app is adding “Calling Cards” that let you customize the appearance of contact screens for incoming calls. They’re similar to the Conta...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- Customize images, colors, and text on contact call screens, similar to iPhone's Contact Poster feature.
- The update includes a 'Take a Message' feature that automatically answers and transcribes voicemails when a user misses a call.
- Calling Cards are only available on Pixel 4 phones or newer, and on Pixel Watch 2 models or newer when paired with Pixel 6 or more recent Google phone models.
Google will now let everyone use its AI-powered video editor Vids
Google is rolling out a basic version of Vids to everyone. Until now, the AI-powered video editor has only been available to Google Workspace or AI pl...
TL;DR
Key Takeaways:
- The basic version of Vids lacks new AI features, such as AI-generated avatars and the image-to-video tool, but offers some AI capabilities.
- Google bets that Vids can help companies save time and money when producing product demos, training videos, or support content.
- The AI-powered editor is designed to quickly pull together video presentations with AI video editing and creation tools, such as a feature to help create a storyboard with suggested scenes and stock images.
Rising Tools
Show HN: Q.js – Smaller than React/Vue, yet more powerful (40KB gzipped)
Q.js is a lightweight JS framework that I recently distilled from our in-house Qbix platform that I’..
HyNote AI
Full stack AI note taker with Google, Notion + more support Discussion | Link..
Video Updates
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Nano Banana - Did Google Just Killed Photoshop?
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Google Launches (nano Banana) Gemini 2.5 Flash Image Model Livestream
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Google Launches (nano Banana) Gemini 2.5 Flash Image Model Livestream
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