Tech Trends 📰

Google rolls out its new Veo 3 video-generation model globally | TechCrunch

Google has globally launched its Veo 3 video-generation model in over 159 countries.. The feature is available only to paying subscribers of Google’s AI Pro plan.. Users are limited to generating up to three videos per day using Veo 3.. Veo 3 allows users to create videos up to eight seconds long using text prompts.. Google is also working on adding image-to-video generation capabilities to its Gemini platform..

Google Chrome Updates To Stop On August 5 For 300 Million Android Users

Google will stop updating the Chrome browser on Android 8 and 9 devices starting August 5, 2025 — affecting around 300 million users worldwide.. Chrome version 138 will be the last one supported on Android 8.0 and 9.0. To keep getting updates and security fixes, users must upgrade to Android 10 or newer.. Google shared instructions to help users check and update their Android version using the device’s Settings > System > Software Update menu.. Chrome will still work on older devices, but without updates, users will be vulnerable to security threats and future bugs.. Security experts strongly advise users to update their Android version or switch to a secure browser, as doing nothing increases the risk of attacks..

DeepSeek faces ban from Apple, Google app stores in Germany

Germany has asked Apple and Google to remove the DeepSeek AI app from their app stores, claiming it illegally sends users’ personal data to China.. The German data protection commissioner said DeepSeek failed to prove that user data stored in China is protected to EU standards.. DeepSeek has already faced bans in Italy and on government devices in the Netherlands, with Belgium and Spain also raising concerns.. The app’s privacy policy confirms it stores requests and uploaded files on servers in China, which raises national security worries.. U.S. lawmakers are also planning to ban the use of Chinese-developed AI models like DeepSeek in government agencies, especially after reports of its links to China’s military and intelligence..

As AI kills search traffic, Google launches Offerwall to boost publisher revenue | TechCrunch

Google has launched Offerwall, a new feature in Ad Manager that helps publishers earn revenue through options like micropayments, surveys, watching ads, and newsletter sign-ups, as traditional search traffic declines due to AI.. The Offerwall uses AI to decide when to show options to users, though publishers can set their own rules for when it appears.. Offerwall is free to use and was tested for over a year with 1,000 publishers; it integrates directly with Google Ad Manager and allows branding customization.. Google is partnering with third-party provider Supertab to allow visitors to pay for temporary content access, including options for subscriptions and content personalization.. During testing, publishers using Offerwall saw average revenue increases of 5% to 15%, with India’s Sakal Media Group reporting a 20% boost and 2 million extra impressions in just three months..

Google launches Doppl, a new app that lets you visualize how an outfit might look on you

Google has launched a new experimental app called Doppl that allows users to visualize how different outfits would look on them using AI.. Users upload a full-body photo of themselves and can then try on outfits virtually by using images or screenshots of clothing they find online or in-person.. The app creates an AI-generated image of the user wearing the selected outfit and can even generate short videos to show how the clothing might look in motion.. Doppl builds on Google Shopping’s virtual try-on tools but focuses on animating the clothes onto the user’s own body instead of generic models.. Currently available in the U.S. on iOS and Android, Doppl is a Google Labs experiment and may have limitations in accurately showing fit and clothing details..

Google unveils Gemini CLI, an open source AI tool for terminals | TechCrunch

Google has launched Gemini CLI, an open-source AI tool that allows developers to interact with Gemini models directly from their terminal for tasks like code explanation, debugging, and feature generation.. Gemini CLI runs locally and integrates with developers’ codebases, offering natural language capabilities and supporting other tasks like video creation, research reports, and real-time search.. It’s open-sourced under the permissive Apache 2.0 license to encourage community contributions and developer adoption on GitHub.. Google provides generous usage limits: 60 model requests per minute and 1,000 per day for free users, about twice the average usage rate.. While the tool enhances developer productivity, studies and surveys show concerns about AI coding tools' reliability, with only 43% of developers fully trusting their accuracy..

Chrome for Android now lets you move the address bar to the bottom, too | TechCrunch

Google Chrome for Android now allows users to move the address bar to the bottom of the screen for easier mobile use, following a similar design introduced by Apple in iOS 15.. The feature gives users the option to choose the address bar’s location rather than enforcing the change, offering more customization.. To move the address bar, users can either long-press on it and select the bottom placement or change the setting from the Chrome Settings menu.. The change is meant to improve usability by placing the bar closer to the user’s fingers while holding the phone.. Google’s approach avoids the backlash Apple received in 2021 by making the bottom address bar optional rather than default..

Microsoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety feature

Microsoft’s Family Safety feature has been blocking Google Chrome from running on Windows since June 3, 2025, affecting users for over two weeks.. The issue only impacts Chrome, while other browsers like Firefox and Opera are unaffected; renaming Chrome.exe has been a temporary workaround.. The bug is linked to the “filter inappropriate websites” setting in Family Safety, which must be disabled to allow Chrome to run — though this removes web filters for children.. Microsoft has yet to publicly acknowledge or provide a timeline for a fix; Chrome engineers say affected users must contact Microsoft for guidance.. While likely a bug, Microsoft has a history of using aggressive tactics to push users toward its Edge browser over Chrome..

Google Search Live feature: What is it, where is it available, plus full details

Google has launched Search Live, a voice-activated feature for its iOS and Android app, allowing users to conduct searches and follow-up conversations hands-free.. The feature is part of Google’s AI Mode initiative and is currently available only in the United States through Google Labs.. Search Live enables users to speak directly with Google Search, get spoken answers, switch between voice and text with Transcript, and access past conversations through searchable history.. Though similar to Google’s Gemini Live tool, Search Live uses a custom version of the Gemini AI model optimized for voice interactions, with camera input integration planned for future updates.. The overlapping functions between Search Live and Gemini Live have caused user confusion, and Google has yet to announce a global release date..

Google Enhances Gemini Code Assist with New Features and Integration

Google has upgraded Gemini Code Assist with the Gemini 2.5 Pro AI model, improving code suggestions and understanding of user context.. The platform’s code generation, transformation, and review features (including GitHub integration) have been significantly enhanced.. Two new personalization tools have been added: Custom Commands for task shortcuts and Rules to enforce project-specific coding standards.. The chat interface now allows users to include entire folders, manage multiple sessions, and resume past chats with saved history.. Gemini Code Assist remains free for individual users, while offering an enterprise version with advanced capabilities..

Google is shutting down Android Instant Apps over ‘low’ usage

Google is shutting down Android Instant Apps in December 2025 due to low usage.. Instant Apps, launched in 2017, allowed users to try apps without installing them.. Developers could use this feature to give users instant access via a link, offering a demo-like experience.. The shutdown was first spotted in Android Studio, showing that Google Play Instant APIs will stop working.. Google confirmed the removal is because developers are now using other tools like AI-powered app highlights..

Google’s AI search features are killing traffic to publishers | TechCrunch

Google’s AI Overviews and chatbots are reducing traffic to news websites.. Users get answers directly from AI, so they click fewer links to publishers.. The New York Times' search traffic dropped from 44% to 36.5% in three years.. Some publishers are now making deals with AI firms to earn revenue.. Publishers say the industry must quickly adapt its business model to survive..