Google adds AI Skills to Chrome to help you save favorite workflows
Google is adding “Skills” to Chrome, letting users save and reuse AI prompts across websites. The feature builds on Gemini’s browser integration.
Has Google’s AI watermarking system been reverse-engineered?
A software developer claims to have reverse-engineered Google DeepMind’s SynthID system, showing how AI watermarks can be stripped from generated images or manually inserted into other works. A claim that, according to Google, isn’t true. The developer, going by the username Aloshdenny, has open-sourced their work on GitHub and documented his process, claiming all it […]
Google’s Pixel 10A is a good midrange phone that’s $50 off
If it’s time for you to upgrade your phone, it’s worth considering the Pixel 10A, Google’s latest midrange phone that has some (but not all) of the new software features of the pricier $599 Pixel 10. Every color of the 128GB 10A — including the alluring “berry” tone — is down to $449 ($50 off) […]
The AI code wars are heating up
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on the AI coding and vibe-coding booms, follow David Pierce. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Writing code was a killer app for AI […]
Google says Polymarket bets showing up in News was an ‘error’
Polymarket bets started popping up in Google News alongside legitimate news articles. But now those results aren’t showing, and Google says they were never supposed to. Spokesperson Ned Adriance told The Verge that “Google News is designed to show sources that create content about current issues, events, and important topics, and we have policies for […]
Google’s latest Nest Doorbells just hit their lowest prices of the year
If you’ve ever worried about porch pirates stealing packages while you’re away, a video doorbell can offer some peace of mind, letting you keep tabs on deliveries no matter where you are. Google offers some of the best around, and right now, its battery-powered, second-gen Nest Doorbell is available for $129.99 ($50 off) from Amazon and […]
YouTube Premium and YouTube Music are getting more expensive
The YouTube Premium individual plan is increasing from $13.99 to $15.99 per month, while the family plan is increasing from $22.99 to $26.99 per month.
YouTube Premium is getting pricier
YouTube Premium is getting more expensive in the US, with prices rising by $2 on standard individual accounts and as much as $4 for the family plan. The price hike is already in effect for new accounts, and is rolling out now for existing customers. Premium’s Individual plan now costs $15.99 per month, up from […]
Google’s Gemini AI can answer your questions with 3D models and simulations
Google’s latest upgrade for Gemini will allow the chatbot to generate interactive 3D models and simulations in response to your questions. With the new feature, you may see options to rotate the AI-generated model, manually adjust sliders on it, or input different values to change the simulation in real-time. When trying out the feature for […]