Google’s online and mobile calendars no longer feature Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and LGBTQ+ Holidays.
Previously, the world’s largest search engine acknowledged the beginning of Black History Month in February and Pride Month in June, but they will not be included in 2025.
The removal of these holidays was first reported by The Verge last week.
Google spokesperson Madison Cushman Veld shared a statement with The Guardian stating that the listed holidays were not “sustainable” for the model.
“A few years ago, the calendar team started manually adding broader cultural moments in many countries worldwide. It was noted that several other events and countries were missing, making it unsustainable to maintain hundreds of moments globally. So, in mid-2024, we decided to only display public holidays and national compliance from Timeanddate.com worldwide, allowing users to manually add other important moments,” the statement said.
The decision to remove black, LGBTQ+ and women’s holidays is another change by Google following Donald Trump’s second presidency.
Recently, Google announced a rollback of previous commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in employment policy following an order by the US President to end DEI in federal agencies.
Google also revealed that US users will now be referred to as “American Gulf,” following an executive order by Trump to rename Alaska’s mountains to “Mount McKinley”. The company announced the name change for US users will take effect on Monday.
Many users on social media have expressed disappointment and frustration at Google’s latest decision. Users who wish to track events like Pride Month, Black History Month, and Indigenous Month will need to manually add them to their calendar.
Google assured The Guardian that changes to the calendars will not impact future Google Doodles, which typically celebrate these events with digital artwork on the website’s homepage. The company stated, “Google continues to actively celebrate and promote our cultural moments as a company,” and offers a Black History Month Playlist on YouTube Music.
Google had to edit an ad for its AI tool Gemini after discovering it contained false information about Gouda cheese, just before it was set to air during the Super Bowl.
Local ads showcasing how AI is used in businesses featured Gemini’s capabilities in helping Wisconsin cheesemongers write product descriptions and track global cheese consumption.
However, a blogger claimed the statistics were “AI hallucinations” and “clearly false”. More reliable data suggests that Dutch cheese may be less popular than cheddar or mozzarella.
Blogger Nate Hake added, “I found this example of AI errors in 20 minutes. I attempted fact checks during the Super Bowl ad.”
Replying,Google executive Jerry Dischler clarified that the AI systems do not invent false information but sometimes pull honest data from websites like Gemini. He emphasized, “Gemini is linked to the web, showing results and references. In this case, multiple sites have the 50-60% stats.”
Google stated they would correct the ads to fix the error after speaking with the cheesemonger in the ad and adjusting the product descriptions on Gemini as per his suggestion.
Google’s AI tools have previously faced criticism for errors and questionable advice. Last year, the AI’s Search feature drew backlash for advising users to use “non-toxic adhesives” to improve cheese sticks, and Gemini’s image generation tool sparked controversy by depicting historical figures in a questionable manner.
The images provoked negative reactions, including from Elon Musk, questioning the impact of libertarians and Stalin. The Gemini Chatbot also faced criticism for its responses in these situations.
Salvo was fired by Donald Trump at the start of his trade war, imposing tariffs on China on Tuesday, prompting immediate retaliation from Beijing due to concerns about the global economic impact.
10% tariffs have been implemented currently, prompting China to release an anti-trade survey on Google swiftly. The Ministry of Finance has announced tariffs of 10% on items such as coal, liquefied natural gas, crude oil, agricultural equipment, large distributed vehicles, and pickup trucks from the United States.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce and Customs Bureau took actions on Tuesday to protect national security interests by imposing export controls on important minerals such as tungsten, terrillium, lutenium, molybdenum, and rutenium-related items.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Commerce indicated that US PvH Group and Illumina would be added to the list of unreliable entities, subjecting them to restrictions or penalties without specifying the accusations against the companies.
In response to tightened US exports of high-tech products to China, Beijing is considering adding Intel to a list of companies under investigation for antitrust law violations. Financial Times reported this on Tuesday.
Despite Google services being blocked in China, the company continues to earn revenue from Chinese companies advertising overseas and using Android operating systems.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance stated that the unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States violates World Trade Organization rules and could harm economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
After initially threatening economic disputes with Canada and Mexico, President Trump decided to postpone tariffs following discussions with their leaders.
The US has removed exemptions for Chinese exports, imposing tariffs on most goods. Some Chinese retailers, like SHEIN and TEMU, relied on exemptions to sell affordable products in the US.
Trump agreed to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico after speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led Trump to delay 25% tariffs on Canada. Trudeau announced a $1.3 billion border security plan in response to the decision.
The White House announced a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the week to address escalating trade tensions.
Economists warn that Trump’s tariff plan could raise prices for millions of Americans.
Trump believes tariffs will strengthen the US financially and lead to beneficial trade agreements with other countries.
The global financial markets reacted cautiously to Trump’s tariff actions, with mixed results.
Various stock indexes fluctuated following the tariff announcements, with currencies like the Canadian dollar experiencing volatility.
The Chinese market was closed for the Lunar New Year holiday and is set to reopen on Wednesday.
Google has committed to taking additional measures to identify and remove fake reviews, as confirmed by the UK competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated that Google will implement sanctions against individuals and UK companies that have manipulated star ratings. Furthermore, Google will issue “warning” alerts on profiles of companies using fake reviews to inflate their ratings.
The agreement follows an investigation launched by the CMA in 2021 into Google’s potential violation of consumer law by not adequately protecting users from fraudulent reviews on its platform. A similar investigation on Amazon is currently ongoing.
The CMA estimates that £23 billion of UK consumer spending is influenced by online reviews annually. A survey conducted by Which? revealed that 89% of consumers rely on online reviews when researching products and services.
CEO of CMA, Sarah Cardel, praised Google for taking a proactive approach in combating fake reviews, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public trust and fairness for businesses and consumers.
According to CMA, any company found publishing reviews will be subject to investigation to determine if changes to practices are necessary to comply with the agreement. Google will report to CMA over a three-year period to ensure compliance.
Starting in April, CMA will have enhanced powers to independently assess violations of consumer law without court intervention. Violating companies could face fines up to 10% of their global turnover.
The watchdog has intensified its scrutiny of major tech firms, launching investigations into Google’s search and advertising practices, as well as Apple and Google’s mobile platforms.
Amidst these actions, the appointment of former Amazon executive Doug Garr as the watchdog’s interim chairman prompted denials from Business Secretary Justin Madders regarding government favoritism towards big tech.
A Google spokesperson informed CMA that the company’s investments in combating fraudulent content allow them to block millions of fake reviews annually. Collaboration with regulators globally remains an ongoing effort to tackle fake content and malicious actors.
In new research Published in Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, researchers from Borås University, Lund University, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found a total of 139 papers suspected of exploiting ChatGPT or similar large-scale language modeling applications. Of these, 19 were published in indexed journals, 89 were published in non-indexed journals, 19 were student papers in university databases, and 12 were research papers (mostly in preprint databases). Health and environment papers accounted for approximately 34% of the sample, with 66% of them published in unindexed journals.
A rain of words in dubious full-text papers fabricated by environment and health-related GPTs. Image credit: Haider others., doi: 10.37016/mr-2020-156.
Using ChatGPT to generate text for academic papers has raised concerns about research integrity.
Discussion about this phenomenon is ongoing in editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and social media.
There are currently several lists of papers suspected of exploiting GPT, and new papers are being added all the time.
Although there are many legitimate uses of GPT for research and academic writing, its undeclared uses beyond proofreading may have far-reaching implications for both science and society, especially the relationship between the two.
“One of the main concerns about AI-generated research is the increased risk of evidence hacking, meaning that fake research could be used for strategic manipulation,” said Björn Ekström, a researcher at the University of Boras.
“This could have a tangible impact, as erroneous results could penetrate further into society and into more areas.”
In their research, Dr. Ekström and his colleagues searched and scraped Google Scholar for papers containing specific phrases known as common responses from ChatGPT and similar applications with the same underlying model. Unable to access real-time data.
This facilitated the identification of papers whose text may have been generated using generative AI, resulting in a search of 227 papers.
Of these papers, 88 papers were written with legal and/or declared uses of GPT, and 139 papers were written with undeclared and/or fraudulent uses.
The majority of problematic papers (57%) dealt with policy-relevant subjects that are likely to impact operations (i.e., environment, health, computing).
Most were available in multiple copies on different domains (social media, archives, repositories, etc.).
Professor Jutta Haider from Borås University said: “If we cannot trust that the studies we read are genuine, we run the risk of making decisions based on misinformation.”
“But this is as much a media and information literacy issue as it is a scientific misconduct issue.”
“Google Scholar is not an academic database,” she pointed out.
“Search engines are easy to use and fast, but they lack quality assurance procedures.”
“This is already a problem with regular Google search results, but it becomes even more of a problem when making science more accessible.”
“People's ability to decide which journals and publishers publish high-quality, reviewed research is critical to finding and determining what is trustworthy research, and is important for decision-making and opinion. It is very important for formation.”
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Jutta Haider others. 2024. GPT Fabricated Scientific Papers on Google Scholar: Key Features, Pervasiveness, and Impact on Preemptive Attacks of Evidence Manipulation. Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review 5(5);doi: 10.37016/mr-2020-156
Google and Microsoft each contributed $1 million to President Donald Trump’s Inaugural Fund, along with companies like Amazon, Meta, OpenAI, and Uber.
“Google is supporting the 2025 Inauguration with a live stream on YouTube and a direct link to the homepage. We are also donating to the inaugural committee,” said Google Government Affairs & Public Policy global head Karan Bhatia in a statement to the Guardian on Thursday.
Google made the donation on Monday, as reported by CNBC. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda mentioned that the company had previously donated to the Inauguration Fund and hosted a livestream of the inauguration.
Microsoft confirmed its $1 million donation to President Trump’s inaugural fund in a statement to Bloomberg on Thursday. The company had also donated to Trump’s 2017 inauguration and Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration.
Many other major companies made significant donations to President Trump’s inaugural fund last month, including Toyota, Uber, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI.
These donations helped raise funds for President Trump’s inaugural committee, which received a $170 million donation. This appears to be an attempt by tech giants to gain favor with President Trump for his second term in office.
President Trump’s relationship with big tech companies has been contentious, but as his inauguration approaches, there seems to be a shift in tone from both parties.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai criticized the January 6 riot and praised President Trump’s victory. President Trump also noted a change in attitude towards him from various tech companies.
Mark Zuckerberg of Meta Inc. announced changes in the company’s approach to fact-checking and censorship, aiming to reduce censorship and recommend more political content across their platforms.
Experts believe that contributing to Trump’s inauguration is a way for tech companies to gain support from the new administration and avoid being targeted by President Trump in the future.
The UK’s data protection regulator has condemned Google for enabling advertisers to track customers’ digital “fingerprints,” expressing concerns about the difficulty of blocking online surveillance technology even for privacy-conscious users, calling it “irresponsible.”
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK stated that this practice undermines consumer control and choice regarding data collection and usage. Google’s decision to introduce this method creates expectations for a privacy-focused internet, deviating from current standards.
Fingerprinting involves gathering unique signals from a device’s software or hardware to identify a user or device, similar to an advanced form of cookies.
Data watchdogs note that fingerprinting is challenging to detect and block, making consent more difficult compared to cookie notifications often encountered while browsing the web.
Google recently announced its entry into the rapidly expanding Connected TV (CTV) advertising space, emphasizing the need for brands to effectively target desired audiences while also improving customer privacy.
In a statement in 2019, Google acknowledged the lack of control users have over their fingerprint data compared to cookies, labeling this practice as user-choice infringing and wrong.
Stephen Almond, Executive Director of Regulatory Risk at the ICO, emphasized that companies must adhere to legal and transparent deployment of advertising technology, warning of potential action from the ICO if guidelines are not followed.
The ICO asserts that fingerprinting is an unfair method of online tracking which compromises user choice and control over data collection.
Google indicated it will engage in further discussions with the ICO regarding its policy change.
A Google spokesperson mentioned that privacy-enhancing technology enables partners to succeed on emerging platforms such as CTV without compromising user privacy. They reaffirmed the commitment to providing users with the choice of personalized ads and promoting responsible data use across the industry.
A man was seen loading white bags into the back of a red Rover car in a deserted street in northern Spain.
The Google Maps camera captured a suspicious moment in the village of Tahueko in October, which later led to the arrest of two men who disappeared the previous year.
In November 2023, a Cuban national living in Spain was reported missing, sparking an investigation by the police, as reported by El Pais newspaper.
Suspicion arose after the missing man’s relatives received texts from his phone indicating a change in plans, leading to the involvement of the police.
The investigation focused on the man’s former partner and another individual, resulting in the arrest of a couple in connection with his death and disappearance.
Police praised the role of Google Maps in providing crucial evidence for solving the crime, emphasizing the images that were captured during the investigation.
Residents of Tahueco mentioned seeing the images on Google Maps but did not attach much significance to them initially.
Measuring just 4cm square, Google has developed a computing chip with unprecedented speed. In just five minutes, this chip can complete tasks that would take conventional computers 10 billion years to finish – a mind-boggling number surpassing the age of our universe.
The chip, named Willow, is the size of an After Eight Mint and could revolutionize drug development by accelerating the experimental phase. Recent advancements suggest that within five years, quantum computing will transform research and development across various industries.
Willow boasts fewer errors, enhancing the potential of artificial intelligence. Quantum computing leverages matter existing in multiple states simultaneously to make vast calculations beyond previous capabilities, expediting advancements in medicine and technology.
However, concerns remain about security vulnerabilities posed by quantum computing – the ability to breach even the most robust encryption systems.
Google Quantum AI, alongside other entities like Microsoft, Harvard University, and Quantinum, is working on harnessing quantum mechanics for computing. Overcoming challenges in error correction has paved the way for significant speed enhancements and groundbreaking developments.
Quantum processors are evolving rapidly, surpassing traditional computers and unlocking new possibilities for quantum computations. The potential for quantum computers to exist in multiple states simultaneously promises remarkable capabilities across various fields.
Dr Peter Leake, Research Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Quantum Institute and founder of Oxford Quantum Circuits, acknowledges the rapid advancements in quantum computing technology. While applauding Google’s progress in error correction, he highlights the need for practical applicability in real-world scenarios.
As quantum computing approaches practical implementation, collaboration across various fields becomes crucial to navigate challenges and harness the full potential of this groundbreaking technology.
Google is facing challenges. According to my colleague Dan Milmo, the U.S. Department of Justice is looking into Google’s structure and business practices, including the potential sale of its Chrome browser to break its monopoly on Internet search. This comes after a court ruling finding Google in violation of antitrust laws for monopolizing search services. The Justice Department’s proposal is straightforward: Google should sell Chrome. As for Android, two options have been proposed: sell it or agree to government oversight.
Both demands present a significant challenge to Google’s advertising business, and could have severe consequences for the company.
In a blog post, Kent Walker, Google’s chief legal officer, criticized the Justice Department’s proposal, calling it “staggering,” “extreme,” and “unprecedented government overreach.” Google plans to submit its own proposal and appeal the court ruling. However, Walker’s response was somewhat exaggerated, referring to the requirement for two selection screens to access Google Search on Pixel smartphones as comically histrionic.
The Justice Department aims to increase competition by exposing Google to competition, denying the benefits of any legal violation, and preventing Google from dominating markets in the future.
Google’s advertising business relies heavily on its search service, with Chrome being a key component as the most popular browser globally. Losing Chrome would have a significant impact on Google’s advertising revenue. The debate also touches on U.S. leadership in the tech industry, with Google arguing that selling Chrome could undermine it.
There’s also talk of potentially selling Android, which plays a crucial role in data collection for advertising. The government could impose surveillance on Android, impacting Google’s business operations. The potential changes raise questions about the future aesthetic and control of smartphone operating systems.
Without Chrome, Google would lose a vital market, particularly in the education sector where Chromebooks are widely used in schools. Chrome OS is designed for web-based tasks, influencing user preferences towards Google products in the future.
If Google manages to retain Chrome, it may still need to reconsider its search engine default agreements, including the $20 billion contract with Apple. The company could be forced to adjust or terminate these contracts as part of the proposed remedies.
Review
Elon “First Buddy” Musk and his Sidekick Debut, Doge
Elon Musk and Donald Trump in October. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
A recent development saw Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy appointed as heads of the Ministry of Government Efficiency, known as Doge, although it’s not an official government department. Musk has given it a governmental status on Twitter. They are advisors to President Trump and plan to use executive actions to reform non-governmental government agencies. Their approach focuses on efficiency but lacks detailed plans.
Musk and Ramaswamy target cost-cutting, aiming to eliminate programs that lack congressional approval. However, their approach faces criticism for potential repercussions such as cutting medical care for military veterans. Despite their intentions, the implementation of their ideas remains uncertain.
U.S. prosecutors have told a judge that Alphabet Inc.’s Google should take steps to end its monopoly on Internet search by selling off its Chrome browser and sharing data and search results with competitors.
This would result in a decade of heightened regulation for Google, as ruled by a Washington federal court that found the company maintained an illegal monopoly on online search and related advertising.
Google currently controls about 90% of the online search market.
In a court filing, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) stated, “Google’s illegal conduct not only deprived competitors of important distribution channels but also hindered their entry into these markets through new and innovative ways, eliminating potential distribution partners.”
The recently filed court papers further detail the U.S. government’s plan to break Google’s monopoly, which Google considers radical and harmful to American consumers and businesses.
Google intends to appeal the proposal.
The Justice Department’s demands include prohibiting Google from rejoining the browser market for five years and potentially requiring the sale of its Android mobile OS if competition is not restored through other means.
Additionally, the department seeks to prevent Google from acquiring or investing in search rivals, query-based artificial intelligence products, or advertising technology.
The Justice Department and a group of states have asked U.S. District Judge Amit to terminate Google’s exclusive contracts paying Apple and other device vendors to make its search engine the default option on tablets and smartphones.
Google will have an opportunity to present its counterproposal in December, with a trial scheduled for April, subject to potential interference by President-elect Donald Trump and the Justice Department’s incoming antitrust chief.
The probability that one word follows another can be used to create watermarks for AI-generated text.
Vikram Arun/Shutterstock
Google uses artificial intelligence watermarks to automatically identify text generated by its Gemini chatbot, making it easier to distinguish between AI-generated content and human-written posts. This watermarking system could help prevent AI chatbots from being exploited for misinformation and disinformation, as well as fraud in schools and business environments.
Now, the technology company says it is making available an open-source version of its technology so that other generative AI developers can similarly watermark output from their large-scale language models. I am. Pushmeet Kohli Google DeepMind is the company's AI research team, combining the former Google Brain and DeepMind labs. “SynthID is not a silver bullet for identifying AI-generated content, but it is an important building block for developing more reliable AI identification tools,” he says.
Independent researchers expressed similar optimism. “There is no known way to reliably watermark, but I really think this could help detect some things like AI-generated misinformation and academic fraud,” he said. I say. scott aaronson at the University of Texas at Austin, where he previously worked on AI safety at OpenAI. “We hope that other leading language modeling companies, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, will follow DeepMind’s lead in this regard.”
In May of this year, Google DeepMind announced Google announced that it has implemented the SynthID method for watermarking AI-generated text and video from Google's Gemini and Veo AI services, respectively. The company recently published a paper in the journal nature SynthID generally performs better than similar AI watermarking techniques for text. The comparison involved evaluating how easily the responses from different watermarked AI models were detectable.
In Google DeepMind's AI watermarking approach, as a model generates a sequence of text, a “tournament sampling” algorithm subtly moves it toward selecting “tokens” of specific words that are detectable by associated software. Create a statistical signature. This process randomly pairs candidate word tokens in tournament-style brackets. The winner of each pair is determined by which one gets the highest score according to the watermark function. Winners advance through successive tournament rounds until there is one round remaining. The “layered approach” “further complicates the potential for reverse engineering and attempts to remove watermarks,” it said. Yellow Furong at the University of Maryland.
It said a “determined adversary” with vast computational power could remove such AI watermarks. Hanlin Zhang at Harvard University. But he said SynthID's approach makes sense given the need for scalable watermarking in AI services.
Google DeepMind researchers tested two versions of SynthID that represent a trade-off between making watermark signatures easier to detect in exchange for distorting the text typically produced by AI models. They showed that the undistorted version of the AI watermark continued to work without noticeable impact on the quality of the 20 million text responses Gemini generated during live experiments.
However, the researchers also acknowledged that this watermarking works best on long chatbot responses that can be answered in a variety of ways, such as composing an essay or an email, as well as on math or coding questions. The response to this has not yet been tested.
Google DeepMind's team and others have stated the need for additional safeguards against misuse of AI chatbots, and Huang similarly recommended stronger regulation. “Requiring watermarks by law addresses both practicality and user adoption challenges and makes large language models more secure to use,” she says.
The U.S. government may seek court intervention to break up Google and challenge its monopoly in the internet search market.
According to court documents filed by the Justice Department, Google is considering implementing “structural remedies” that would restrict the use of products like Chrome, Android, and Play. The government believes this would provide Google with an unfair advantage over its competitors.
Additional measures being considered include prohibiting Google from paying to have its search engine preinstalled on devices like smartphones.
Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., has objected to the lawsuit, arguing that it represents government overreach at the expense of consumers.
The lawsuit stems from a previous court ruling in August which found Google in violation of antitrust laws for building an illegal monopoly in the search market. The Justice Department is pursuing further actions to challenge Google’s dominance.
The filing alleges that Google’s actions have harmed users and emphasizes the need to restore competition in a market crucial to Americans.
The proposed remedies could prevent Google from using its search-related products, such as Chrome, Play, and Android, to gain an advantage over competitors through new search features like Artificial Intelligence.
Furthermore, Google may be prohibited from paying major phone companies to make Chrome the default browser on their devices, a practice that has cost the company billions.
Google’s vice president of regulation criticized the Justice Department’s proposals, warning of potential harm to consumers, businesses, and developers.
The second antitrust trial between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice commenced on September 9, with a federal judge in Virginia listening to opening arguments regarding whether the tech giant unlawfully monopolized the digital advertising sector. This trial carries significant implications for the tech industry, online publishers, and Google’s primary revenue stream.
This much-anticipated trial represents the second major U.S. antitrust case against Google, following a recent landmark ruling that found the company guilty of monopolizing the online search market illegally. Contrary to the previous case, the Justice Department is now seeking specific measures to compel Google to divest parts of its business and sell some of its advertising technology.
The Department of Justice’s second lawsuit, submitted in January 2023, targets Google’s Ads initiative, focusing on the company’s acquisition and utilization of digital advertising technology. The case revolves around Google’s role as an intermediary for website operators seeking to monetize through advertising, enabling them to sell ad space on their sites and connecting advertisers with potential customers, with Google retaining a significant portion of the ad revenue.
The Department of Justice argues that Google’s control over various aspects of digital advertising results from strategic acquisitions, culminating in a monopoly over the industry. The case delves into Google’s acquisitions of DoubleClick, Invite Media, and AdMeld, which allegedly granted the company dominance over both supply and demand in online advertising and intermediary exchange points.
During the trial, the Justice Department alleges that Google’s actions constitute anti-competitive behavior through exclusionary practices and acquisitions, leading to an illegal monopoly. Google’s defense maintains that its business model aligns with industry practices and that the Justice Department’s allegations stem from outdated perceptions of the digital advertising landscape.
Britain’s competition watchdog has accused Google of anti-competitive behavior in the market for buying and selling advertising on websites, following similar investigations in the US and EU.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had found that Google had “abused its dominant position” in online advertising, to the detriment of thousands of UK publishers and advertisers.
The CMA said that while the majority of publishers and advertisers use Google’s advertising technology services to bid for and sell advertising space, Google is preventing its rivals from offering a competitive alternative.
Regulators are focusing on Google’s role in three areas: owning two tools for buying ad space, running an advertising platform that allows publishers to manage their ad space online, and managing AdX, an ad exchange that brings together advertisers and publishers in a way that matches buyers and sellers in the stock market.
“The CMA is concerned that Google is actively using its dominance in this sector to favor its own services,” the watchdog said. “Google is putting competitors at a disadvantage and preventing them from competing on a level playing field to offer publishers and advertisers better, more competitive services that will help them grow their businesses.”
In its interim findings published on Friday, the CMA found that Google abused its dominant market position by using its own buying tools and inventory tools for publishers to bolster its own ad trading position and protect it from competition since 2015. The CMA also alleged that Google blocked rival ad inventory tools (called publisher ad servers) from effectively competing with its own product, DoubleClick for Publishers.
The CMA will consider Google’s response before making a final decision.
Regulators can impose fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover depending on the severity of the violations, and can also issue legally binding directions to end the violations.
In a statement, Google said the CMA’s arguments were “flawed”.
“Our ad tech tools help websites and apps fund their content and help businesses of all sizes effectively reach new customers,” said Dan Taylor, Google’s vice president of global advertising. “At the heart of this lawsuit is a misinterpretation of the ad tech sector. We disagree with the CMA’s position and will respond accordingly.”
The U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission are also investigating Google’s ad tech activities: In June 2023, EU regulators said Google may have to sell parts of its ad tech business to address concerns, while the U.S. Department of Justice is set to accuse Google in court on Monday of monopolizing the ad tech market.
Last month, a federal court ruled that Google was illegally monopolizing the internet search market, a decision that could lead to a partial breakup of the company’s business.
The Justice Department is weighing various options, including the breakup of Alphabet Inc.’s Google, with a reported market capitalization of approximately $2 trillion, following a court ruling that tech giants monopolized the online search market illegally. The New York Times and Bloomberg News.
According to reports, one of the potential remedies frequently discussed by Justice Department lawyers is the sale of the Android operating system.
Authorities are also reportedly exploring options such as forcing the sale of Google’s search advertising program, AdWords, and its Chrome web browser.
A spokesman for the Justice Department stated that they are assessing the court’s decision and will determine the appropriate next steps in compliance with the court’s directives and applicable antitrust laws.
No decision has been made yet, as per a spokesman, and Google declined to comment. Google intends to appeal the ruling and faces a separate antitrust trial filed by the Department of Justice next month.
Other potential measures being considered by the Justice Department include mandating Google to share data with competitors and implementing safeguards to prevent unfair advantages with its AI products, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In the recent trial outcome, it was revealed that Google had paid over $26 billion in 2021 to secure agreements with companies like Apple to maintain its search engine as the default option on Safari, leading to monopoly allegations and anti-competitive practices, as ruled by the judge.
Following the judge’s ruling, rival search engine DuckDuckGo proposed banning exclusive agreements of this nature.
The ruling, issued last week, found Google in violation of antitrust laws and spending billions to establish an illegal monopoly that cemented its position as the global default search engine. This ruling marks a significant win for federal regulators challenging the dominance of tech giants in the market.
In the last four years, federal antitrust regulators have sued Meta Platforms Inc., Amazon.com Inc., and Apple Inc. for allegedly maintaining monopolies unlawfully.
In 2004, Microsoft reached a settlement with the Department of Justice over claims that it compelled Windows users to use its Internet Explorer web browser.
Google, the creator of Android, is set to release a range of new devices including smartphones, smartwatches, and earbuds featuring advanced AI technology like Gemini Live. This move is aimed at surpassing competitors like Apple and Samsung.
The new Pixel products unveiled at the event in California showcase Google’s commitment to integrating AI into its devices, showcasing their superiority over the competition.
Pixel 9 Series
The Pixel 9 Pro is Google’s first “pro” phone with a smaller screen size. Photo: Google
The new Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL feature Google’s advanced Tensor G4 chip with a faster AI processor, setting them apart from their competitors.
An exciting new AI feature, Gemini Live, promises natural conversations with AI assistants, reminiscent of sci-fi movies like Iron Man’s Jarvis.
Other notable features include the Pixel Studio image generator and the camera’s “Add Me” function, merging two consecutive images to include the photographer in group photos.
The Pixel 9 comes with a 6.3-inch screen and dual-camera system, the Pixel 9 Pro adds a telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL features a 6.8-inch screen similar to last year’s model.
The “Pro” smartphones are direct competitors to Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro series, offering similar features and a year of access to Gemini Advanced.
All models include two years of free satellite SOS messaging in the U.S., akin to Apple’s latest iPhones.
Prices for the Pixel 9 start at £799, the 9 Pro XL at £1,099, and the 9 Pro at £999, available for shipping in August and September.
Pixel 9 Pro Foldable
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is equipped with a large foldable screen. Photo: Google
Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts a thinner, lighter design with an 8-inch flexible internal screen and a 6.3-inch external screen.
Featuring the Tensor G4 chip and advanced AI capabilities, the Pro Fold surpasses its predecessor and rivals other foldable phones on the market.
With 5x optical zoom, the triple camera system outperforms competitors like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, offering innovative features like “Made You Look” animations.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is priced at £1,749 and will be available for shipping in September.
Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2
The Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer advanced AI technology. Photo: Google
Google also revealed new accessories including the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2. The smartwatch features improved health and fitness tracking, longer battery life, and advanced health monitoring capabilities.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer enhanced noise cancellation and support for Gemini Live, allowing users to interact naturally with their AI assistant.
The Pixel Watch 3 is priced at £349 and the Pixel Buds Pro 2 at £219, set to ship in late September.
Google was found to have created an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising by a federal court in a landmark antitrust lawsuit brought against it by the Department of Justice. This ruling will significantly impact Google’s operations and how people engage with the internet’s most popular websites.
The court specifically concluded that Google violated antitrust laws through exclusive agreements with device manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, paying them billions to ensure that Google products were the default search engine on their devices. These agreements allowed Google to establish a search monopoly and stifle competition unfairly.
The implications of this ruling will depend on what actions are taken next. It could lead to substantial changes in how Google conducts its business or potentially be weakened through the appeals process. The outcome will also have broader implications for how regulators address big tech companies and alleged monopolies.
Here’s what to expect following this decision.
Google may be compelled to alter its search practices
The U.S. v. Google ruling did not specify remedies for Google’s monopoly on internet search, and the Justice Department did not seek penalties in its lawsuit. A separate trial will determine the remedies the government may impose on Google, which could range from contractual adjustments to a potential breakup of the company.
Judge Mehta could rule that Google is prohibited from entering exclusive search agreements, allowing it to be the default search engine if chosen by device manufacturers without the need for costly payments. Apple and Samsung have yet to comment on the ruling. Mozilla, reliant on Google payments, could face significant financial impact.
Judge Mehta may also consider options like browser choice screens seen in Europe to enhance competition. A harsher ruling could mandate the separation of Google’s search service from the rest of its operations and impose fines on antitrust violations.
Google intends to appeal the decision
Google rejected the court’s ruling and plans to appeal, initiating a legal battle with the Justice Department that could delay any repercussions for the company. Throughout the trial, Google maintained its superior product argument.
Past legal precedent suggests that a large technology company like Google may challenge an antitrust ruling successfully. Microsoft, in a similar case, managed to overturn key aspects of an antitrust decision against it through appeals.
Google has not disclosed its appeal timeline or response strategy following the ruling.
New Antitrust Lawsuit Looms
In addition to the current case, Google faces a forthcoming antitrust lawsuit concerning its digital advertising practices, alleging monopolistic behavior and stifling competition in that area.
This second lawsuit targets Google’s dominant position in the digital advertising industry, threatening a substantial revenue stream for the company. Google refutes the allegations and views the legal action as an attempt to gain unfair advantages.
On Monday, a federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws while establishing its dominant position in the internet search industry. This ruling could have significant ramifications for how people engage with the internet.
Judge Amit Mehta determined that Google had breached Section 2 of the Sherman Act, a US antitrust law, by monopolizing search services and advertising.
The ruling declared Google a monopoly that had used its dominance to maintain its grip on the market. It is a major antitrust ruling that comes after a case involving the Justice Department and one of the world’s largest companies.
The trial, which started in September last year, concluded without a jury after an extensive period of deliberation by Judge Mehta. The ruling highlighted the importance of the case for both Google and the general public.
Google’s international operations president, Kent Walker, announced plans to appeal the decision, emphasizing aspects of the ruling that praised Google’s search engine while denouncing its accessibility to competitors.
Judge Mehta described the trial as “remarkable” and commended the quality of the legal teams on both sides. The ruling was hailed as a historic victory for the American people by US Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The ruling highlighted Google’s distribution agreements with companies like Apple and Samsung to make it the default search engine on their devices, giving Google an unfair advantage over competitors. The ruling did not specify the penalties Google might face for violating antitrust laws.
Google’s defense argued that the company serves consumers better than its rivals like Microsoft’s Bing. The trial also raised concerns about Google’s record-retention policies and the deletion of internal communications.
New York Attorney General Letitia James celebrated the ruling as a victory against unchecked corporate power. The tech giant still faces another antitrust lawsuit later this year focusing on its advertising practices.
Google has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the ruling.
Four years Recently, Google mistakenly included details about my restaurant business, including my phone number and address, in their “How to contact Google” search results. In the UK”.
At first, I only got a few calls from people trying to get in touch; now I get 300. I have over 130 voice messages left, including ones that arrive on my personal cell phone once a week, as well as messages and letters.
I feel obligated to answer every phone call because it could be a potential client. This situation has left me exhausted, anxious and has turned running my business into a nightmare. I have tried to contact Google multiple times but have not heard back from anyone.
D.I., London
You want customers to find your restaurant on Google, not Google, and this listing error has caused years of unnecessary harassment.
When I first contacted Google, they advised me to use the “Feedback” button that appears at the bottom of the search results. When I suggested this, they wearily replied that they had tried this many times with no success. So I contacted Google again, and this time they looked into it.
“We analyzed the issue and took action in accordance with our search policies. This phone number will no longer appear in this search,” Google said in a statement.
I am relieved that the calls from Google have finally stopped and I am grateful for my help, but I would have liked at least an apology for the inconvenience.
Letters are welcome but we cannot respond individually. Please email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or post to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime telephone number where you can be reached. Submission and publication of all letters are subject to our terms and conditions.
Google states that nearly 66% of jobs in the UK could be “augmented” by AI, with only a small percentage of jobs at risk of complete elimination. The company emphasizes the importance of supporting workers to utilize AI technology to improve efficiency rather than fearing job loss.
Debbie Weinstein, managing director of Google UK, highlights the low adoption rate of AI tools in workplaces and emphasizes the need for people to feel confident and capable in using these technologies to unlock their full potential.
Research commissioned by Google from think tank Public First reveals that 61% of UK jobs will be significantly impacted by AI, with only 31% remaining unaffected by the technology. Certain industries like social care, transportation, and accommodation and food services, which involve complex physical labor, are less likely to be automated.
Public First estimates that only a few jobs will become obsolete due to AI, with the majority of jobs expected to be enhanced instead. Google has partnered with various organizations to introduce AI technologies in a way that enhances worker capabilities without replacing them.
The government is also supporting the adoption of AI across the economy to drive growth and provide new opportunities for workers. Minister for AI, Feriel Clarke MP, emphasizes the importance of AI skills training to help workers thrive in the changing job market.
Public First predicts that full adoption of AI over the next six years could bring significant economic benefits to the UK, with an annual growth rate of 2.6% driven by technology alone. Google claims that using generative AI could save the average UK worker 100 hours a year, marking the biggest improvement in productivity since the introduction of Google Search.
Despite some controversies surrounding AI tools like Gemini AI, Google continues to invest in AI products and features to enhance user experiences. The company aims to revamp Google search with AI Briefs, although this has faced criticism for potentially reducing traffic to publisher sites.
AI could help us predict the weather more accurately
LaniMiro Lotufo Neto/Alamy
Google researchers have developed an artificial intelligence that they say can predict weather and climate patterns as accurately as current physical models, but with less computing power.
Existing forecasts are based on mathematical models run by extremely powerful supercomputers that deterministically predict what will happen in the future. Since they were first used in the 1950s, these models have become increasingly detailed and require more and more computer power.
Several projects aim to replace these computationally intensive tasks with much less demanding AI, including a DeepMind tool that forecasts localized rainfall over short periods of time. But like most AI models, the problem is that they are “black boxes” whose inner workings are mysterious and whose methods can’t be explained or replicated. And meteorologists say that if these models are trained on historical data, they will have a hard time predicting unprecedented events now being caused by climate change.
now, Dmitry Kochkov The researchers, from Google Research in California, and his colleagues created a model called NeuralGCM that balances the two approaches.
Typical climate models divide the Earth's surface into a grid of cells up to 100 kilometers in size. Due to limitations in computing power, simulating at high resolution is impractical. Phenomena such as clouds, turbulence, and convection within these cells are only approximated by computer codes that are continually adjusted to more closely match observed data. This approach, called parameterization, aims to at least partially capture small-scale phenomena that are not captured by broader physical models.
NeuralGCM has been trained to take over this small-scale approximation, making it less computationally intensive and more accurate. In the paper, the researchers say their model can process 70,000 days of simulations in 24 hours using a single chip called a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU). By comparison, competing models, called X-Shield A supercomputer with thousands of processing units is used to process the simulation, which lasts just 19 days.
The paper also claims that NeuralGCM performs predictions at a rate comparable to or better than best-in-class models. Google did not respond to a request for an interview. New Scientist.
Tim Palmer The Oxford researcher says the work is an interesting attempt to find a third way between pure physics and opaque AI approximations: “I'm uncomfortable with the idea of completely abandoning the equations of motion and moving to AI systems that even experts say they don't fully understand,” he says.
This hybrid approach is likely to spur further discussion and research in the modeling community, but time will tell whether it will be adopted by modeling engineers around the world, he says. “It's a good step in the right direction and the type of research we should be doing. It's great to see different alternatives being explored.”
Three years ago, Google launched an ambitious plan to address climate change, aiming to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2030. This goal entails not emitting more climate-affecting gases into the atmosphere than it removes.
However, a recent report released by Google indicated that it is far from reaching this objective. Emissions are projected to increase by 13% in 2023 compared to the previous year and have surged by 48% since the base year of 2019.
The company attributes last year’s emission growth to electricity-intensive agriculture. The burning of coal or natural gas for electricity production releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, contributing to global warming and more extreme weather events.
Despite being a leader in climate change initiatives, Google faces challenges in meeting its net-zero target. Experts suggest that the rapid expansion of data centers, which require significant energy and resources, could hinder the transition to clean electricity and exacerbate climate change.
To address these issues, Google’s chief sustainability officer, Kate Brandt, emphasized the need for continued evolution and innovation in the company’s approach. She acknowledged the uncertainties surrounding the environmental impact of AI and the importance of partnering with cleaner companies and investing in sustainable practices.
Ultimately, achieving a net-zero goal by 2030 will require concerted efforts and collaboration across industries to accelerate the transition to clean energy sources and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Google’s commitment to using renewable energy and implementing energy-efficient practices in its data centers and offices is a step in the right direction. However, there is a need for ongoing improvement and collaboration to address the challenges posed by climate change.
A group of current and former employees from prominent artificial intelligence companies has published an open letter. The committee warned of inadequate safety oversight within the industry and called for better protection for whistleblowers.
The letter, advocating for a “right to warn about artificial intelligence,” is a rare public statement about the risks of AI from employees in a usually secretive industry. It was signed by 11 current and former employees of OpenAI and two current and former Google DeepMind employees, one of whom previously worked at Anthropic.
“AI companies have valuable non-public information about their systems’ capabilities, limitations, safeguards, and risk of harm. However, they have minimal obligations to share this information with governments and none with the public. We cannot rely on companies to share this information voluntarily,” the letter stated.
OpenAI defended its practices, stating that they have hotlines and mechanisms for issue reporting, and they do not release new technology without proper safeguards. Google did not respond immediately to a comment request.
Concerns about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence have been around for years, but the recent AI boom has heightened these concerns, leading regulators to struggle to keep up with technological advancements. While AI companies claim to be developing their technology safely, researchers and employees warn about a lack of oversight to prevent AI tools from exacerbating existing societal harms or creating new ones.
The letter also mentions a bill seeking to enhance protections for AI company employees who raise safety concerns. The bill calls for transparency and accountability principles, including not forcing employees to sign agreements that prevent them from discussing risk-related AI issues publicly.
In a recent report, it was revealed that companies like OpenAI have tactics to discourage employees from freely discussing their work, with consequences for those who speak out. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized for these practices and promised changes to exit procedures.
The open letter echoes concerns raised by former top OpenAI employees about the company’s lack of transparency in its operations. It comes after recent resignations of key OpenAI employees over disagreements about the company’s safety culture.
Google announced on Thursday that it is updating the summaries of search results generated by artificial intelligence. Check out their blog post here. The company acknowledged issues with the feature, such as providing strange or inaccurate answers, and plans to limit searches that return AI-generated summaries.
Liz Reid, Google’s head of search, stated that the company has implemented restrictions on the types of searches that trigger AI Overview results, specifically excluding satire or humorous content. Google has also addressed a few cases where AI Overviews violated content policies, which occurred in a small fraction of searches.
Google introduced the AI Overview feature in the US this month, but it quickly encountered problems with misinterpreting information and using sources like The Onion and Reddit for generating answers. This led to widespread mockery and the creation of memes highlighting the tool’s failures.
Despite Google’s initial promotion of the AI Overview feature as a key part of integrating artificial intelligence into its services, the company faced criticism due to its errors. This follows a previous incident earlier this year where Google’s AI tool inserted people of color into historical images incorrectly.
In a blog post, Google explained the issues with AI Overviews, attributing errors to missing information from rare or unusual searches. The company denies deliberately manipulating the feature to produce inaccurate results.
Despite some of the viral posts originating from quirky searches, there were also concerning examples, such as an AI-generated summary perpetuating a false conspiracy theory about Barack Obama. Google has made technical improvements to address these issues.
Experts in artificial intelligence point out that Google’s AI Overview issues are indicative of broader challenges, including the reliability of AI in assessing factual accuracy and the risks of automating access to information.
Google states that user feedback indicates satisfaction with search results thanks to the AI Summary feature, but the long-term effects of the company’s AI tool changes remain uncertain. Concerns have been raised by website owners about potential impacts on traffic and revenue, as well as researchers worried about Google’s increasing control over online information.
The collaboration is focused on addressing key Web3 challenges through data-driven insights, AI-powered development tools, and zero-knowledge proofs.
SuiThe layer-1 blockchain and smart contract platform created and launched by the core research team responsible for building Facebook’s Libra and Diem projects is working with Google Cloud to support the future of Web3 through a partnership with Mysten Labs. I am. This joint effort will focus on enhancing security, scalability, developer tools, and user experience across a variety of Web3 and AI-powered applications.
Key initiatives of this partnership include:
Data-driven dApps
By integrating Sui’s blockchain data into the BigQuery public dataset, Google Cloud strengthens its commitment to the Sui development ecosystem, providing developers with powerful analytical tools, new insights and innovative dApps. unlocked the potential of
Development using AI
Sui used Vertex AI, Google Cloud’s generative AI platform, and trained it in the Move programming language to help Web3 developers debug and extend code generation.
Mysten Labs uses Google Cloud’s AI and cloud capabilities to create a new AI-based code audit tool. This tool identifies security vulnerabilities in Rust, Move, Typescript, and Solidity, enhancing security efforts to quickly identify and remediate vulnerable code.
Seamless user experience
Sui’s zkLogin technology is already demonstrating the potential of this collaboration, as it bridges some of the gap between traditional (Web2) and decentralized (Web3) applications. zkLogin is a basic cryptographic primitive that uses OAuth credentials from Google and other trusted Web2 platforms to enable frictionless authentication of crypto wallets and dApps on Sui.
Robust and scalable infrastructure
Sui leveraged Google Cloud’s globally scalable infrastructure to enhance network security and high transaction throughput. This integration ensures high performance and seamless scalability.
said Evan Cheng, CEO and co-founder of Mysten Labs. “Working with Google Cloud allows us to accelerate the development of secure, scalable, and user-centric Web3 experiences.” “Google Cloud’s infrastructure and cutting-edge AI capabilities complement Sui’s unique technological strengths. We enable developers of all types to create next-generation decentralized applications on Sui.”
Amit Zaveri, Vice President, General Manager, and Head of Platforms, Google Cloud. “Sui’s advanced blockchain technology and commitment to a user-friendly experience make Sui a valuable collaborator for Web3 and Web2 developers to deliver innovative applications that are easy to adopt. Masu.”
Google Cloud is also committed to supporting the Sui developer community. Web3 startup program. The initiative will provide resources such as Google Cloud credits, access to his Discord channel with Web3 experts, foundation grants, and global events, all of which will accelerate the development of innovative applications at Sui. It is designed to.
About Sui
Sui is a first-of-its-kind Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform designed from the bottom up to make digital asset ownership fast, private, secure, and accessible to everyone. An object-centric model based on the Move programming language enables parallel execution, sub-second finality, and rich on-chain assets. With horizontally scalable processing and storage, Sui supports a wide range of applications at low cost and unmatched speed. Sui is a step-function advancement in blockchain and a platform that allows creators and developers to build amazing user-friendly experiences. learn more: https://sui.io
About Misten Lab
Mysten Labs is a team of leading experts in distributed systems, programming languages, and cryptography, and its founders were senior executives and lead architects of pioneering blockchain projects. Mysten Labs’ mission is to create the foundational infrastructure for Web3. learn more: https://mystenlabs.com
About Google Cloud
Google Cloud is a new way to the cloud, offering AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud provides a powerful, fully integrated, and optimized AI stack with unique global infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platforms, and AI-powered applications to transform your organization. We support. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories rely on Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.
contact
global communication manager Lexi Wangler Misten Institute lexi.wangler@mystenlabs.com
Google has agreed to destroy billions of records to settle a lawsuit alleging that it secretly tracked the internet usage of people who appeared to be browsing privately in incognito mode on its Chrome browser.
Users claim Google’s analytics, cookies and apps allow Alphabet’s division to improperly track people who set Google’s Chrome browser to “incognito” mode and other browsers to “private” browsing mode.
They say this will allow Google to learn about their friends, favorite foods, hobbies, shopping habits, and “the most intimate and potentially embarrassing things” they search for online, making it “a treasure trove of unexplainable information.”
The terms of the settlement were filed Monday in federal court in Oakland, California, and must be approved by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The class action lawsuit began in 2020 and targets millions of Google users who used private browsing after June 1, 2016.
Under the settlement, Google will update its disclosures about what it collects during “private” browsing, a process that has already begun. Also, a secret user will be able to block third-party cookies for her five years.
“As a result, Google will collect less data from users’ private browsing sessions, and Google will derive less profit from that data,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs valued the deal at more than $5 billion, with a maximum of $7.8 billion. Users will not receive damages, but may sue individually for damages. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Google supports final approval of the settlement, but disagrees with the plaintiffs’ “legal and factual findings,” according to court documents.
“There are limits to how strongly you can market the Secret Service,” Lorraine Twohill, Google’s chief marketing officer, wrote in a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai in 2019. is not truly private, requires very vague and risk-averse language, and is likely to be more damaging.”
David Boies, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the settlement is “an historic step in demanding honesty and accountability from powerful technology companies.”
A tentative settlement was reached in December, and a trial was scheduled for February 5, 2024. Terms were not disclosed at the time. Plaintiffs’ lawyers will now ask Google to pay unspecified legal costs.
The company has faced similar lawsuits before. In 2022, the Texas attorney general sued the company, alleging that “Incognito mode, or ‘private browsing,’ is a web browser feature that indicates to consumers that Google does not track their search history or location information.”.
A recent report accuses Meta and Google of obstructing information about abortion and reproductive health in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
MSI Reproductive Choices and the Center to Combat Digital Hate claim that while these platforms restrict advertising for local abortion providers, they don’t limit public access to reproductive health care, leading to the spread of damaging misinformation.
Mehta has agreed to review the findings of the report.
MSI, operating in 37 countries, has had ads containing sexual health information rejected or removed by the platforms.
MSI Ghana and Vietnam reported that their ads promoting reproductive health content were removed or flagged as violating community guidelines.
Whitney Chinogwenya, Global Marketing Manager at MSI, expressed concerns about the censorship of reproductive health content on social media platforms like Facebook, which many women rely on for information.
MSI Mexico faced removal of a Facebook post promoting legal abortion services despite the recent decriminalization of abortion in some states.
The report highlighted Meta’s inaction against anti-abortion misinformation and misleading content about abortion procedures.
The report also revealed fake MSI pages on Facebook that exploit the organization’s reputation for various malicious purposes.
MSI clinics in Ghana were targeted by disinformation campaigns on messaging platforms.
MSI Ghana Advocacy stresses the importance of fact-checking systems on digital platforms to promote accurate reproductive health information.
The report, compiled from interviews and evidence from MSI teams in several countries, aims to raise awareness among digital platforms about their responsibilities.
Meta and Google responded to the report’s allegations, with Meta emphasizing its policies against false information and Google denying any inconsistent enforcement on its platforms.
Both companies stated their commitment to ensuring accurate and compliant advertising on their platforms.
French regulators have fined Google €250m (£213m) for breaching agreements with media companies regarding online content reproduction.
The competition watchdog in France announced the fine on Wednesday, citing violations related to intellectual property rules concerning news media publishers. Regulators also raised concerns about Google’s AI services.
According to authorities, Google’s AI-powered chatbot Bird (now called Gemini) trained on content from publishers and news agencies without their knowledge. This action led to the fine.
The watchdog stated that the fine was for failing to fulfill commitments made to Google in 2022, accusing Google of not negotiating in good faith with news publishers for compensation for using their content.
As part of the settlement process, Google has agreed not to dispute the facts and is proposing corrective measures to address the shortcomings highlighted by the authorities.
The EU created “neighboring rights” copyright to enable print media to claim compensation for their content usage. France has been at the forefront of this issue, enacting laws to protect publishing rights against tech giants that monetize news content without sharing revenue.
The recent fine is a result of a copyright dispute in France over online content, initiated by complaints from leading news organizations and the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) in 2019.
Google’s AI chatbot Bird was criticized for using content from media outlets without permission, impacting fair negotiations between publishers and Google.
Amid efforts to protect content scraping by AI services without consent, Google has faced fines for not adhering to commitments and fair negotiation practices with publishers.
Google responded by highlighting its agreements with over 280 French news publishers under the European Copyright Directive. The company stated its commitment to constructive cooperation with publishers to connect people with quality content sustainably.
The statement emphasized the need for collaborative efforts with publishers but also expressed challenges in navigating regulatory changes. Despite the fine, Google aims to move forward positively in the content ecosystem.
When Apple’s first iPhone was released in 2007, all of its apps were created by Apple.
According to his biography by Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs was reluctant to allow apps from third-party developers on the iPhone. He eventually succumbed to pressure with the launch of his App Store in 2008. However, the company wanted to maintain strict control over what was allowed on the platform: email. 2021 release schedule revealed.
The case, which will be heard over the next five months in Melbourne’s Federal Court, will center on Apple’s control over its empire. At the same time, Google, which has prided itself on having a more open ecosystem than Apple, will have its practices tested.
Two cases in Australia’s Federal Court were adjourned in April 2021, pending the outcome of a similar case in the United States. Epic Games, the maker of the popular game Fortnite, has spent the past three years in a global legal battle against Apple and Google, alleging abuse of market power over their app stores.
Fortnite announced a deal with Google in 2020 after Epic Games offered its own in-app payment system that bypasses the one used by the platform and reduced the fees Apple and Google receive on in-app payments. Removed from Apple’s app store.
Epic lost a 2021 antitrust lawsuit against Apple, but won a lawsuit against Google late last year. Although the Australian cases were initially separate, they are now integrated into one monolith. Judge Jonathan Beech decided to hear the two cases and a related class action at the same time to avoid duplication of witness evidence.
David and Goliath?
In an Australian lawsuit that originally began in 2020, Epic Games argued that Apple’s control over in-app purchases and Apple’s actions in banning the Fortnite app were an abuse of market power, and that it significantly reduced competition in app development. He claimed to have lowered it. The company also claims that Google has harmed Australian app developers and consumers by preventing them from distributing apps and choosing in-app payments on Android devices.
As with mobile phone operating systems, the litigation between Apple and Google has many similarities, but there are also important differences. Apple’s iOS and App Store are completely closed and controlled by Apple. This means that if you have an app on your phone and a payment is made through that app, it has to go through Apple.
Similar rules apply to the Play Store in Google’s Android operating system, but Google also allows apps to be “sideloaded,” or installed directly onto a phone without using the app store. It also allows phone manufacturers like Samsung to have their own app stores. Fortnite is still available on Android, but only through sideloading or the Samsung Store.
Companies charge fees for transactions in their app stores. In Google Play, he charges a commission of 15% for the first million dollars a developer earns each year, and above that he increases to 30%. If an Apple developer’s revenue in the previous year was less than $1 million, he would pay a 15% fee, but if it was more than that, he would pay a 30% fee.
Fees are common in the industry, with Epic’s own store charging developers a 12% fee.
Epic argues that it should be able to offer its store as a competitor to Apple’s store, and that it should also be able to offer alternative payment options within its official game store apps.
Google claims to be more open than the Apple App Store, but it was this openness that hurt the tech company in the US lawsuit. The jury found that tying the Google Play Store to in-app payments was illegal and that the company had entered into anti-competitive agreements with some developers to keep their apps on the Play Store.
In the Apple case, the judge took a narrower view, considering mobile game transactions specifically rather than app stores as a whole. The judge found that Apple is not a monopoly and is in competition with Google and other companies. The judge also upheld Apple’s concerns about the security implications of opening the App Store and sided with the company’s pursuit of intellectual property royalties through in-app payments.
Apple is expected to file a similar lawsuit in Australia. The company believes there is little difference between the cases and that the principles underlying Australian competition law are similar to US antitrust principles.
Apple sees Epic not as David the Goliath, but as a multibillion-dollar company seeking more profits at the expense of iPhone users’ safety.
Google claims that it not only offers customers a choice in the app store, but also offers alternative options for developers to sell their content outside of Google Play. It also points to permissions that allow sideloading of apps while maintaining user security, which Epic claims it is trying to water down.
“It’s clear that Android and Google Play offer more choice and openness than other major mobile platforms, and are a good model for Australian developers and consumers,” Google’s Government Affairs statement said. Vice President for Public Policy Wilson White said in a post this week. .
“We continue to have a right to sustainable business models that keep our users safe, grow our businesses in partnership with developers, and keep the Android ecosystem thriving and all Australians healthy. We will vigorously defend it.”
Apple forced to make changes to EU App Store
Initial submissions will last two weeks, followed by three months of evidence from fact witnesses and experts, followed by two weeks of final submissions, ending in mid-July.
Witnesses expected to testify include Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, who is in Melbourne for the hearing, as well as key executives from Apple and Google.
A concurrent class action lawsuit on behalf of Australian developers and consumers will fail if Epic’s lawsuit fails.
The case is unlikely to be resolved by the end of the year, and Beach is not expected to issue a verdict within six months, after which it could be appealed.
Whether or not Epic wins the battle, Apple and Google may ultimately lose the app store war. Apple has been forced to implement changes to its App Store in the European Union, including allowing alternative payment options and marketplaces, under the Digital Markets Act. As a result, Apple last week reinstated Epic’s developer account in the EU.
Epic says Apple’s implementation of these changes is incomplete, but other governments, including Australia, may follow suit.
Google and XPRIZE are launching a $5 million competition to create a quantum computer that could actually benefit society. It’s already known that quantum computers can perform certain tasks faster than classical computers, ever since Google first claimed the quantum benefits of its Sycamore processor in 2019. However, these demonstration tasks are simple benchmarks and have no real-world applications.
“There are a lot of fairly abstract mathematical problems for which quantum computers can prove to provide very significant speedups,” he says. Ryan Babush Google. “However, much of the research community is less focused on adapting more abstract quantum acceleration to concrete real-world applications, or on trying to figure out how quantum computers can be used. I didn’t.”
To this end, Google and the XPRIZE Foundation are inviting researchers to come up with new quantum algorithms as part of a three-year competition. The winning algorithm could potentially solve an existing problem, such as finding a new battery electrolyte that significantly increases storage capacity, but it doesn’t have to actually solve the problem, Babush said. Instead, researchers only need to demonstrate how the algorithm is applied and detail the exact specifications of the quantum computing required. Alternatively, competitors could demonstrate how existing quantum algorithms can be applied to real-world problems that have not been considered before.
The award examines how big an impact an entrant’s algorithm can have, whether it tackles problems similar to those outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and how well it can be done on available machines. They will be judged on a variety of criteria, including feasibility. Now or in the near future.
The $5 million prize pool consists of a $3 million grand prize to be split between up to three winners, $1 million to five runners-up, and $50,000 each to the 20 semi-finalists. .
The award could help shift the focus of quantum computing researchers from technical definitions of quantum benefits, such as those demonstrated by Google and IBM, to real-world applications, it said. Nicholas Quesada At the Polytechnic University of Montreal, Canada. “[The prize is] “We realized clearly that this is a very important issue,” Quesada said. “We need to think about what we’re going to do with quantum computers.”
But finding socially beneficial quantum algorithms requires a deeper understanding of how quantum computers work, including how they deal with noise and errors, he said. bill fefferman at the University of Chicago. The award does not address this fundamental aspect of building quantum computers, he says.
“I’m generally very optimistic that we’ll find an algorithm that’s really useful,” Pfefferman says. “I’m not very optimistic that within the next three years we’ll be able to discover those algorithms and implement them on the current hardware that’s going to exist.”
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is facing a 2.1 billion euros ($2.3 billion) lawsuit from 32 media groups, such as Axel Springer and Schibsted. The media groups are alleging losses due to Google’s practices in digital advertising.
The lawsuit comes as antitrust regulators are tightening the grip on Google’s advertising practices. It was initiated by publishers from various European countries like Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and more, accusing Google of creating a less competitive market due to its illegal conduct.
The media companies’ lawyers, Geradin Partners and Steck, stated that the losses incurred by the publishers could have been avoided if Google hadn’t abused its dominant position. This could have led to higher advertising revenues for the media companies and lower fees for ad tech services, ultimately benefiting Europe’s media landscape.
The lawsuit is supported by previous actions taken against Google, such as the French competition authority’s fine in 2021 and the European Commission’s complaint last year. Analysts predict that Google may need to adjust its practices and pricing due to increased regulatory scrutiny.
A spokesperson for Google dismissed the lawsuit as “speculative and opportunistic,” emphasizing the company’s collaboration with European publishers to enhance their advertising tools.
Despite Google’s disagreements with antitrust violations, publishers worldwide have expressed concerns about Big Tech’s dominance in advertising and the subsequent decline in their revenue share. Google remains the leading digital advertising platform globally.
The group of media companies chose to file the lawsuit in Dutch courts, citing the country’s reputation for handling antitrust claims effectively in Europe. Companies like Krone, DPG Media, TV2 Danmark A/S, and others are part of the collective seeking legal action against Google.
The CEO of Google expressed concern over some responses from the company’s Gemini artificial intelligence model, calling them “unlikely” and pointing out issues such as depicting German World War II soldiers as people of color. He described this bias as “totally unacceptable.”
In a memo to employees, Sundar Pichai acknowledged that images and text generated by modern AI tools were causing discomfort.
Social media users highlighted instances where Gemini image generators depicted historical figures of different ethnicities and genders, including the Pope, the Founding Fathers, and Vikings. Google suspended Gemini’s ability to create people images in response.
One example involved Gemini’s chatbot responding to a question about negative social impacts, leading to a discussion about Elon Musk and Hitler. Pichai addressed this issue, calling the responses upsetting and indicative of bigotry.
Viking AI image Photo: Google Gemini
Pichai stated that Google’s teams were working to improve these issues and have already made significant progress. AI systems often generate biased responses due to training data issues, reflecting larger societal problems.
Gemini’s competitors are also working on addressing bias in AI models. New versions of AI generators like Dall-E prioritize diverse representation and aim to mitigate technical issues.
Google is committed to making structural changes and enhancing product guidelines to address biases. Pichai emphasized the importance of providing accurate and unbiased information to users.
Elon Musk criticized Google’s AI programs, pointing out the bias in generated images. Technology commentator Ben Thompson called for a shift in decision-making at Google to prioritize good product development.
The emergence of generative AI platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT presents a competitive landscape in AI development. Google’s Gemini AI chatbot, formerly known as Bard, offers paid subscriptions for enhanced AI capabilities.
Google DeepMind continues to innovate in AI, with breakthroughs like the AlphaFold program for predicting protein structures. The CEO of DeepMind acknowledged the need to improve diversity in AI-generated images.
Google has temporarily blocked a new artificial intelligence model that generates images of people after it depicted World War II German soldiers and Vikings as people of color.
The company announced that its Gemini model would be used to create images of people after social media users posted examples of images generated by the tool depicting historical figures of different ethnicities and genders, such as the Pope and the Founding Fathers of the United States. announced that it would cease production.
“We are already working to address recent issues with Gemini's image generation functionality. While we do this, we will pause human image generation and re-release an improved version soon. “We plan to do so,” Google said in a statement.
Google did not mention specific images in its statement, but examples of Gemini's image results are widely available on X, along with commentary on issues surrounding AI accuracy and bias. 1 former Google employee “It was difficult to get Google Gemini to acknowledge the existence of white people,” he said.
1943 illustration of German soldier Gemini. Photo: Gemini AI/Google
Jack Krawczyk, a senior director on Google's Gemini team, acknowledged Wednesday that the model's image generator (not available in the UK and Europe) needs tweaking.
“We are working to improve this type of depiction immediately,” he said. “His AI image generation in Gemini generates a variety of people, which is generally a good thing since people all over the world are using it. But here it misses the point.”
We are already working to address recent issues with Gemini's image generation capabilities. While we do this, we will pause human image generation and plan to re-release an improved version soon. https://t.co/SLxYPGoqOZ
In a statement on X, Krawczyk added that Google's AI principles ensure that its image generation tools “reflect our global user base.” He added that Google would continue to do so for “open-ended” image requests such as “dog walker,” but added that response prompts have a historical trend. He acknowledged that efforts are needed.
“There's more nuance in the historical context, and we'll make further adjustments to accommodate that,” he said.
We are aware that Gemini introduces inaccuracies in the depiction of some historical image generation and are working to correct this immediately.
As part of the AI principles https://t.co/BK786xbkeywe design our image generation capabilities to reflect our global user base and…
Reports on AI bias are filled with examples of negative impacts on people of color.a Last year's Washington Post investigation I showed multiple examples of image generators show prejudice Not just against people of color, but also against sexism. Although 63% of U.S. food stamp recipients are white, the image generation tool Stable Diffusion XL shows that food stamp recipients are primarily non-white or dark-skinned. It turned out that there was. Requesting images of people “participating in social work” yielded similar results.
Andrew Rogoiski, from the University of Surrey's Institute for Human-Centered AI, said this is “a difficult problem to reduce bias in most areas of deep learning and generative AI”, and as a result there is a high likelihood of mistakes. said.
“There is a lot of research and different approaches to eliminating bias, from curating training datasets to introducing guardrails for trained models,” he said. “AI and LLM are probably [large language models] There will still be mistakes, but it is also likely that they will improve over time. ”
Google will inform publishers quietly that it has removed websites from search results under Europe’s “right to be forgotten” rules, following a Swedish court ruling that the search engine applies globally. Stopped.
Previously, when an individual requested that records about them be deleted under EU data protection law, Google would notify the publisher of the original article.
Media companies, including the Guardian, are largely exempt from regulation, but links to journalistic content can be removed from databases such as search engines.
Currently, Google only notifies publishers that a URL has been removed, without providing details about what or why.
As a result, journalists are unable to identify situations in which the right to be forgotten is being misused to obscure legitimate reporting about serial offenders, hampering their ability to challenge the most serious rights violations.
A Google spokesperson said: “We have introduced a new approach to notifications following a decision by the Swedish Data Protection Authority. It came into force.”
“Although we did not agree with this decision at the time, it is binding and supports EU-wide regulatory guidance. We have therefore made strong efforts to comply with it. Ta.”
One of the changes introduced by the GDPR in 2016 was to ensure that EU national court decisions on data protection set precedent across the bloc.
A Swedish court ruled in December that notifying webmasters that search engines have removed links to their content is itself a violation of the privacy of people who have requested the right to be forgotten.
“Thus, the Administrative Court found that once Google granted the deletion of search results, the interests of individuals in privacy and effective protection of personal data generally outweighed Google’s interests. [sic] Send a message to the webmaster, concludes. according to International Association of Privacy Professionals.
Upheld a 50 million Swedish kronor (£3.8 million) fine against search engines for failing to remove URLs they were asked to remove from their lists.
Within weeks of the first judgment in May 2014, which ruled that the right to be forgotten applied to Google, six Guardian articles were removed from the European version of the search engine.
Three of the charges related to now-retired Scottish Premier League referee Dougie McDonald, who was found to have lied about his reasons for awarding penalties in a football match in 2010. . Others included his 2002 article about a lawyer facing a fraud trial and his 2011 article about a French office worker who makes his art Post-It Notes.
Over the next five years, the search engine received about 1 million unique forgotten requests, and even though more than half were rejected, it still removed about 1.5 million unique URLs.
Google and the Environmental Defense Fund on Wednesday announced a partnership to uncover the sources of climate-warming emissions from oil and gas operations that will be detected from space by a new satellite.
MethaneSAT is scheduled to launch next month and is one of several satellites being deployed to monitor methane emissions around the world to identify the main sources of the invisible but powerful greenhouse gas. There is one. The partnership is led by EDF, the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard University and others.
Data from the satellite will be available later this year, and Google Cloud will provide the computing power to process the information.
Google also announced that it will use artificial intelligence to map oil and gas infrastructure by identifying components such as oil tanks. MethaneSAT emissions data is overlaid with Google Maps to help you understand which types of oil and gas equipment are most likely to leak.
This information will be made available through Google Earth Engine, a geospatial analytics platform, later this year. Earth Engine is free to researchers, nonprofit organizations, and news organizations.
The satellite image above shows a map of points, correctly identified as oil well pads. Google used satellite and aerial imagery to apply AI to detect infrastructure components. Well pads are shown in yellow, oil pump jacks in red, and storage tanks in blue. Google
“For energy companies, researchers, and the public sector, it's generally helpful to predict methane emissions in the most sensitive components,” Yael Maguire, Google's vice president of geographic sustainability, said on a call with reporters. “We believe this information is extremely valuable for mitigation efforts.”
The launch comes as governments crack down on short-lived sources of greenhouse gases and more than 50 major state-owned and independent oil and gas operators, from ExxonMobil to Saudi Aramco, pledge to reduce methane leakage to near zero at the COP28 climate change summit. This was done amid a promise to reduce the number of By the end of this decade.
The United States is one of the largest emitters of methane and has proposed enforcement measures to stop leaks from oil and gas operations. A new rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will allow the public to report large methane leaks to federal regulators if they have access to methane detection technology.
Alphabet shares experienced a more than 5% drop in after-hours trading on Tuesday due to the tech giant’s shortfall in key advertising sectors, despite narrowly surpassing overall revenue estimates for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Google’s parent company disclosed that advertising revenue fell short of forecasts at $65.52 billion compared to $65.8 billion, but the overall revenue exceeded expectations at $86.31 billion versus $85.36 billion. This marked a 13% increase from the previous year.
The chief financial officer of Alphabet described the company’s results as “very strong,” emphasizing the surpassing of overall revenue expectations. “We remain committed to permanently restructuring our cost base while making investments to support growth opportunities,” she stated.
The response to the report was subdued after Google’s parent company laid off 1,000 employees in January. CEO Sundar Pichai announced at the end of the month that the company will refocus on “investing in key priorities,” particularly in the artificial intelligence elements integrated into Google’s flagship products, in 2024, and hinted at further job cuts.
Investors expressed encouragement Analysts believe that the recent job cuts may reflect prudent cost-cutting efforts amidst rising interest rates. However, the impact of the layoffs is evident, with Porat stating that severance pay in the first quarter of 2024 is expected to be $700 million. Alphabet recorded $2.1 billion in severance-related expenses and $1.8 billion in severance-related expenses in 2023, freeing up office space.
Despite the overall advertising downturn, Alphabet announced that YouTube ad revenue reached $9.2 billion, exceeding analysts’ predicted $9.16 billion and a significant increase from the same period in 2022.
CEO Sundar Pichai, in a statement accompanying the earnings call, expressed Alphabet’s pleasure with “the growing contribution from YouTube.” He also highlighted the company’s digital subscription services, including YouTube and cloud storage service Google One, achieving $15 billion annually.
“The significant growth in our subscription revenue over the past few years demonstrates the ability of our team to deliver high value-added services and provides a strong foundation on which to build,” he stated. Ta.
Like many other companies in the technology industry, Alphabet is aiming to take advantage of the AI boom, with the mention of the word “AI” occurring more than 70 times in Tuesday’s earnings call. Pichai outlined the company’s plans to integrate its new AI model Gemini across various products, including search, advertising, and cloud.
Alphabet’s emphasis on AI comes as the company seeks to diversify its revenue streams. Its core search advertising business has stalled, and it faces growing antitrust litigation threats. The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging a monopoly on digital advertising technology. A judge’s ruling in January confirmed that the company will be forced to stand trial for charges brought by multiple states regarding advertising market dominance. The company also faced an antitrust case last year related to its dealings with other technology companies, including payments to Apple of about $18 billion annually to keep Safari’s default search engine.
“Google could have its toughest year yet as antitrust threats loom and the death knell sounds for third-party cookies,” stated Evelyn Mitchell Wolf, a senior analyst at Insider Intelligence. “We need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that something may happen.”
Google made a promise in July 2022 to remove location data of users who visited abortion clinics. However, little progress has been made in fulfilling this promise. This move would make it more difficult for law enforcement to use this information to investigate and prosecute people seeking abortions in states where abortion is banned or restricted. Recent research shows that Google still retains location history data in 50% of cases.
Google originally made this promise shortly after the Supreme Court’s decision to end federal abortion protections. The company stated it would remove entries for locations considered “private” or sensitive, including “health care facilities such as counseling centers, domestic violence shelters, and abortion clinics.” However, as of now, there has been no implementation of this policy. A study conducted by tech advocacy group Accountable Tech found that Google does not mask location data in all cases, even after claiming to prioritize user privacy and implement changes to its location retention policy “as promised” in early 2022.
Accountable Tech’s latest study revealed that while Google’s location retention rates had improved slightly, the company was still not deleting location history in all cases as promised. Google Maps’ Director of Products, Marlo McGriff, disputed this finding and stated that any claims of non-compliance are false.
Researchers used her latest Android device to guide her to an abortion clinic and tested what location data it stored about her trip in the latest study. The study also found that Google still holds data on the location search queries and other criminal data as well, from emails to Google search data. Law enforcement’s use of reverse search warrants and geofence location warrants have raised new concerns about user data privacy.
Recently, Google announced plans to change the way it stores location history data for all its users. This change includes storing location data on users’ devices by default and encrypting and deleting all location data backed up to Google’s cloud storage after three months. However, Accountable Tech remains skeptical of Google’s promises to protect location data, based on its history of unfulfilled commitments.
Google has laid off hundreds of employees across its hardware, voice assistant, and engineering teams as part of its cost-cutting measures.
Google said in a statement that the job cuts are aimed at “responsibly investing in our biggest priorities and important opportunities for the future.”
“Some teams continue to make these types of organizational changes, including the elimination of some roles globally,” the paper said.
Google previously announced it would eliminate hundreds of roles across its engineering, hardware, and Assistant teams, with most of the impact hitting the company's augmented reality hardware division. The job cuts follow pledges by executives at Google and its parent company Alphabet to cut costs. A year ago, Google announced it would lay off 12,000 people, or about 6% of its workforce.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the Alphabet union described the layoffs as “another unnecessary layoff.”
“Our members and teammates work hard every day to build great products for our users, and our company cannot continue to lay off our colleagues while making billions of dollars every quarter.” the union wrote. “We will not stop fighting until our jobs are safe!”
Google achieved record growth in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, but its expansion has slowed over the past year, forcing it to adjust its business forecasts.
It's not the only technology company in this boat. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has cut more than 20,000 jobs. In December, Spotify announced it would lay off 17% of its global workforce in 2023, the music streaming service's third round of layoffs, in a bid to cut costs and improve profitability.
Earlier this week, Amazon laid off hundreds of employees in its Prime Video and Studios divisions. The company also plans to lay off about 500 employees who work at live streaming platform Twitch. Amazon has cut thousands of jobs following a surge in hiring during the pandemic. In March, the company announced plans to lay off 9,000 employees, in addition to the 18,000 employees it announced in January 2023.
Google is currently in fierce competition with Microsoft, with both companies trying to take the lead in the field of artificial intelligence. Office software giants are ramping up their artificial intelligence offerings to rival Google. In September, Microsoft introduced its Copilot feature for business customers to integrate artificial intelligence into products such as search engine Bing, browser Edge, and Windows.
The emergence of ChatGPT in 2023 has been so significant that even those who are not typically online or technologically savvy are familiar with its existence. However, as OpenAI continued to develop its AI tool, competitors also began to emerge.
Shortly after launching ChatGPT, Google announced its own competitor called Bard. Bard is capable of doing everything that ChatGPT can, but with the backing of the world’s largest search engine.
Now, Google is taking another step forward with a new project called Google Gemini, which appears to have already surpassed ChatGPT. However, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Google will surpass ChatGPT to become the top AI in 2024?
What is Google Gemini and how does it work?
OpenAI’s well-known tool is ChatGPT, which is powered by GPT-4, a large-scale language model that uses images, text, context, and other factors. For Google, Gemini serves a similar role to GPT-4, functioning as an engine that runs AI programs.
Gemini was built from the ground up and leverages teams across Google to generalize and understand various forms of content. It was trained on a large dataset that includes books, articles, code repositories, music, audio recordings, and other media. This data is processed into a format that is efficiently understood by Gemini, enabling the model to learn relationships between different terms and media, and how to respond to prompts, questions, and suggestions.
How to try Google Gemini for free
There are currently two ways to test Google Gemini, with the most accessible option being through Google Bard, which has been built on a test version of Gemini. An alternative way is to access Gemini through features integrated with Google Keyboard and the Recorder app on a Google Pixel 8 Pro.
What can Gemini do?
Google has been showcasing Gemini’s capabilities, demonstrating its ability to understand, answer questions, and perform various tasks. While impressive, some of these demonstrations are curated, making it difficult to gauge their real-world performance. Gemini can interact with different forms of digital content, from images to videos, and is capable of making connections between different words and images.
Google Gemini vs. GPT-4: Which is better?
Gemini has been touted as outperforming GPT-4 in various categories used to test model knowledge and reasoning. However, these impressive statistics have been verified by Google itself, leaving room for questions about Gemini’s real-world performance. Google plans to release different versions of Gemini, each with varying levels of intelligence and functionality, similar to OpenAI’s GPT model.
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