Google Vids announced that AI avatars are now available to free users, expanding its Workspace video creation tool to 7 million monthly users. The AI avatars can be "re-scripted" and come with a gallery of high-quality options or custom generation using Nano Banana 2. Free users receive 10 video generations per month, with a global expansion planned for this summer. The feature allows for emotion steering and fine-tuning of avatars, with additional features for paid users including [...]

Google has launched its new Home Speaker, the company's first smart speaker built for the Gemini era, starting at $99.99. The speaker features an underglow light ring, improved audio quality with 360-degree sound, and a larger driver for stronger bass. It is designed to understand natural conversations and complex requests, allowing users to issue multiple commands at once. The speaker will be available for pre-order and will begin shipping on June 25, with four color options available. [...]

Google has released the stable version of Android 17, following months of testing and beta releases. The update focuses on improving productivity, entertainment, security, and safety across devices. Eligible Pixel devices will start receiving the update beginning today, with a phased rollout continuing throughout 2026. Android 17 introduces features such as App Bubbles, Screen Reactions, and improved gaming on foldable devices, as well as several new safety and security improvements.

Google's Phone app on Wear OS has received a Material 3 Expressive redesign, modernizing its interface. The app now opens to a Recents feed with Dynamic Color, and features large buttons for contacts and the dialer. The Dialpad has also been updated with Material 3 Expressive containers and theming. This redesign is available on Wear OS 6 and 7, with version 165 of the Phone by Google app. The Contacts app has also been updated, with new [...]

Google has taken down a major AI scam ring called "Outsider Enterprise," accusing the group of using its Gemini AI and other services to fuel a massive phishing operation. The operation, which targeted over 9,000 phony websites and over a million scam URLs, resulted in almost 55,000 reported spam texts and 2.5 million malicious messages sent to Android devices. Google estimates hundreds of thousands of people have been impacted, with financial losses in the millions of dollars.

Gemini, the default Android Assistant, is experiencing issues with call functionality on Android and Android Auto. Some users have reported being unable to make calls via voice commands, with an error message appearing on their phone. The problem is not limited to Android Auto and may be related to a Gemini or Google app update. Switching back to Google Assistant seems to resolve the issue temporarily, but a long-term solution is yet to be found.

A future update for Google Chrome, reportedly version 150 or 151, is expected to remove Manifest V2 support entirely, affecting several popular ad-blocking extensions, including uBlock Origin. This change is a result of Google's transition to a new browser extension framework, Manifest V3, which limits advanced filtering techniques used by older ad blockers. While extensions built for Manifest V3 will continue to function, legacy ad blockers will stop working once Manifest V2 support is removed.