A senior Google employee claims she was made redundant after reporting sexual harassment and a toxic 'boys' club' culture within the company, leading to an employment tribunal case where Google denies retaliation and attributes her redundancy to normal business restructuring.
The article highlights the significant difference in ease of data transfer between iOS and Android, praising Apple's seamless iPhone-to-iPhone migration process and criticizing Android's complex and imperfect migration and backup system, urging Google to improve Android's data transfer experience to match Apple's simplicity.
Google warns against creating 'bite-sized' content for large language models (LLMs) as it may harm search rankings, emphasizing that content should be focused on human readers rather than trying to game the system with artificial content segmentation, which may not be effective long-term.
Google is replacing the Gemini side panel with in-line AI features for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US, streamlining AI functionalities like email summarization, response suggestions, and event management directly within Gmail, while the side panel remains available on mobile and for Google Workspace users.
Samsung is revamping its Bixby assistant with AI features that mimic Google's tools, including a generative AI response, 'Bixby Live' for conversational UI, and 'Circle to Ask' for AI-powered search, aiming to debut with the Galaxy S26 series in late February 2026.
Google is testing a new Calling Card feature in the Phone by Google app's beta that allows users to customize how their caller ID appears on others' phones, including options for photos, fonts, and visibility settings, with a wider rollout expected soon.
Google's Danny Sullivan advises against creating bite-sized content specifically for AI and LLMs, emphasizing that such strategies are temporary and that content should primarily be written for humans, as search systems evolve to favor human-centric content.
Google's Danny Sullivan and John Mueller emphasized that hiring an AEO/GEO or purchasing AI-optimization tools is similar to hiring or buying SEO tools, with the key being understanding SEO principles and Google's guidelines first. They advise focusing on creating content for humans rather than solely optimizing for rankings, and caution against tools or practices that go against Google's guidance, as these can lead to penalties. The overall message is that SEO knowledge is crucial, whether doing it yourself or hiring others.
Google's Danny Sullivan advises content creators not to optimize their content into bite-sized chunks specifically for large language models (LLMs), emphasizing that content should be written for users first. He warns that strategies tailored for current LLMs may not work in the long run as search systems evolve, and focusing on human-centric content is the best approach for sustainable success.
Google is testing AirDrop support for Pixel 9 series on Android through Quick Share, initially available in the latest Canary build, with a full rollout expected in future updates, expanding file sharing capabilities between Pixel and Apple devices.
Google and startup Character.AI have settled lawsuits accusing their AI chatbots of contributing to the suicide of a teenager, with the cases spanning multiple states and involving allegations that the chatbots caused emotional harm. The settlements are pending final court approval, and Character.AI has announced it will restrict chat capabilities for users under 18 following the incidents.
Google's AI Overviews appear selectively based on user engagement and usefulness, with the system learning when to show them and expanding search queries under the hood to provide relevant information. The feature is designed to assist with complex questions and is gradually incorporating limited personalization, but overall, it prioritizes consistency across users. Fluctuations in AI Overviews' presence may reflect user behavior rather than algorithm changes.
Google is preparing to expand AirDrop support via Quick Share beyond Pixel 10 series to include Pixel 9 series, as indicated by new system files found in Android Canary builds, though the feature has not yet been activated for Pixel 9 devices.
Google will now release Android Open Source Project (AOSP) source code twice a year starting in 2026, aligning with its trunk-stable development model to improve ecosystem stability and simplify development, while maintaining monthly security patches.
Google's Pixelsnap Charger will receive firmware updates, with the latest Pixel Stand app version hinting at new features like firmware version checking. The update may allow users to view and manage firmware versions directly, similar to Apple's MagSafe Chargers, though it's unclear if these updates have been ongoing since launch or are new.