Rapid 47% Drop In Google Play Store Apps
Google’s app marketplace has shed nearly half its titles since early 2024, in what looks like the biggest quality purge the platform has ever seen. A Surprising Stat with Big Implications Whereas at the start of last year, Google Play Store had around 3.4 million apps, according to new analysis from app intelligence platform Appfigures,…
Read MoreOpenAI Wants To Buy Chrome
OpenAI has declared its interest in buying Google Chrome (if Alphabet is forced to sell it following an antitrust ruling against the tech giant), raising major questions about the future of internet browsing, AI, and search. OpenAI’s Interest Made Clear During Antitrust Testimony Speaking during a landmark antitrust trial in Washington DC, OpenAI’s Head of…
Read MoreGoogle Unveils AI-Powered Holiday Planning Features
Google is rolling out a suite of new features (many powered by generative AI) across its core platforms to help users plan their summer holidays with greater ease and personalisation. Tools For Inspiration and Planning It appears that the update spanning Search, Maps, Lens, and Gemini, is designed to keep Google front and centre as…
Read MoreGoogle’s Fingerprinting Policy Shift Sparks Privacy Concerns
Google’s recent decision to allow device fingerprinting for advertising purposes has triggered alarm among privacy advocates, regulators, and businesses alike. What Is Device Fingerprinting? Device fingerprinting is a sophisticated tracking method that collects various data points from a user’s device (e.g. screen size, browser type, language settings, battery level, and time zone) to create a…
Read MoreGoogle Lifts AI Ban on Weapons and Surveillance
Google has revised its AI principles, lifting its ban on using artificial intelligence (AI) for the development of weapons and surveillance tools. What Did the Previous Principles State? In 2018, Google established its Responsible AI Principles to guide the ethical use of artificial intelligence in its products and services. Among these was a clear commitment…
Read MoreGoogle Combats Fake Reviews (After Investigation)
Following an extensive investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Google has agreed to implement significant changes to its processes for detecting and addressing fake reviews. To Improve Transparency and Trust This landmark development is essentially aimed at ensuring fairness for consumers and businesses in an online marketplace that’s increasingly influenced by customer…
Read MoreGoogle Proposes Antitrust Remedies
Google has filed a set of proposed remedies in its high-profile antitrust case concerning its dominance in the online search market, a case that has drawn significant scrutiny from regulators and competitors alike. Background to the Antitrust Case The case centres on allegations brought by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of…
Read MoreDOJ Calls for Google to Sell Chrome
The U.S. Department of Justice has proposed that Google divest its Chrome browser as part of efforts to break up the company’s alleged illegal monopoly in online search. The Path to DOJ’s Recommendation The DOJ’s recommendation follows a series of legal challenges aimed at curbing Google’s market dominance. For example, back in October 2020, the…
Read MoreGoogle’s ‘Shielded Email’ Privacy Feature
It’s been reported that Google is developing ‘Shielded Email’, a feature that creates temporary email aliases to protect users’ primary addresses from spam and misuse by third-party apps and services. What Is Shielded Email? Shielded Email, the feature reportedly being developed by Google, will allow users to create temporary email aliases to protect their primary…
Read MoreGoogle Fined All The Money In The World!
A Russian court has fined Google over two undecillion rubles (a 36-digit figure, i.e. a sum that’s greater than the world’s total GDP) for removing Russia’s state media channels from YouTube. Two Undecillion Rubles… And Growing! As if being initially fined more money than there is in the world isn’t enough, Russian state-owned news agency…
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