➀ YouTube intensifies ad-blocking countermeasures, closing loopholes used by browsers like Firefox and ad-blocking extensions;

➁ Users now face blocked video playback unless allowing ads, sparking renewed privacy concerns and EU legal challenges;

➂ Regional inconsistencies persist in ad-blocker effectiveness, hinting at an ongoing cat-and-mouse game between Google and developers.

➀ Google Search's market share fell below 90% in late 2024 for the first time in a decade, with fluctuations persisting into 2025;

➁ Elon Musk claims AI tools like Grok will render traditional search engines obsolete, highlighting concerns about SEO manipulation and sponsored results in current search platforms;

➂ While AI-driven answers offer convenience, challenges include hallucination risks, monetization pressures, and unresolved intellectual property disputes that may undermine AI's long-term reliability.

➀ A lawsuit has been filed against Google for allegedly collecting personal data on students across the country using mandatory Chromebook usage in schools.

➁ The lawsuit claims that Google has been using the data to build student profiles for marketing purposes without consent.

➂ The case highlights concerns about the lack of parental consent and the potential constitutional violation of data acquisition.

➀ Wiz, a cybersecurity provider for cloud-based businesses, has been acquired by Google for $32 billion after rejecting a $23 billion offer last July.

➁ Wiz offers cloud-agnostic security solutions by supporting multiple cloud providers including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud.

➂ Wiz was founded by a team that previously sold a company, Adallom, to Microsoft for $320 million.

➀ Android 16 Beta 3 seems to address a long-standing Pixel limitation by keeping the fingerprint scanner active when the screen is off.

➁ Users no longer need to wake the screen first before unlocking their device with their fingers.

➂ The new setting can be enabled by navigating to Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock, and toggling Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock on.

➀ Achieving design rule compliance and optimal electrical performance in advanced semiconductor designs is crucial for minimizing design iterations and ensuring product reliability.

➁ Siemens Digital Industries Software's Calibre DesignEnhancer (DE) provides analysis-based EMIR solutions that enhance power integrity and reduce IR drop.

➂ Both Google and Intel utilized Calibre DE to address IR drop issues, demonstrating significant improvements in power grid robustness and electrical performance.

➀ Google has released the third beta version of Android 16 with new features like broadcast audio support, text outlining, and testing apps with LNP (Local Network Protection).

➁ This update is available only for developers on Pixel devices and is meant for early testing and feedback.

➂ The Android 16 system is scheduled for release in the second quarter of this year.

➀ The EC has charged Google with favoring its own services over rivals in its searches and ordered Apple to further open iOS to rivals’ connected devices.

➁ The EC argues that it is merely enforcing the terms of the 2022 Digital Markets Act.

➂ Many see this as the EC throwing down the gauntlet to the new US administration, which has threatened to impose tariffs on countries imposing fines on US digital services companies.

➀ Google's Pixel 9a has already received reviews and performance benchmarks before its official launch;

➁ The phone shows incremental improvements in design and performance while cutting costs;

➂ Reviewers were impressed with the fluidity and optimized feel of the 9a, along with the same Pixel camera magic.

➀ Google has released a fix for the issue with older Chromecast dongles that were bricked or deprecated.

➁ The issue affects both second generation Chromecast streaming devices and Chromecast Audio dongles released in 2015.

➂ Users received 'Untrusted device' error messages when attempting to cast.

➀ Google's second generation Chromecast owners are experiencing issues with casting;

➁ Error messages suggest firmware update or authentication issues;

➂ Google has not officially commented on the issue, but users are sharing workarounds.

➀ Despite concerns over AI-generated science, Google is confident in AI's role in scientific research and has unveiled an 'AI co-scientist' tool built on Gemini 2.0.

➁ The tool aims to address time constraints in scientific discoveries and work alongside human scientists, not as a substitute.

➂ The AI has shown promising results in solving antibiotic-resistant pathogens and identifying new drug uses for myeloid leukemia.

➀ Google has released the second beta of Android 16, its latest mobile operating system.

➁ The update includes camera enhancements, custom graphical effects, and motion capture.

➂ UltraHDR image support is added, with embedded gainmap similar to the existing UltraHDR JPEG format.

➀ A massive 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 monitor is on sale for $769.99 at Amazon (save $230). It features a 1000R curvature, 5120x1440 resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and HDR support.

➁ Dell S23422DWG, Samsung Odyssey G55C, and Apple Studio 5K Display are also on sale.

➂ Google Pixel 9 Pro family is available with $200 discounts, including the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

➀ Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt expressed concerns about AI being weaponized for terror, emphasizing the risk of misuse by terrorists or rogue states.

➁ Schmidt highlighted the possibility of AI being used to create biological weapons, cyberattacks, or other forms of mass destruction.

➂ Despite his fears, Schmidt agrees that over-regulation could stifle innovation in the AI sector.

➀ Google has officially released the Gemini 2.0 series of AI models, including Gemini 2.0 Flash, Gemini 2.0 Pro (Experimental), and Gemini 2.0 Flash-Lite.

➁ The launch is in response to the competition from Chinese firm DeepSeek and other competitors like OpenAI.

➂ The new models highlight advancements in high-frequency tasks, coding, complex reasoning, and long-context understanding.

➀ Google has confirmed that it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America based on official government sources.

➁ The renaming is part of an executive order issued by President Trump, which includes a 30-day deadline for the change.

➂ Google will display the official local name and the new name to different user groups.

➀ Perplexity AI has launched an Android app called 'Perplexity Assistant' that offers comprehensive sourced answers with a research-focused approach.

➁ The app assists with daily tasks like booking dinner, finding a song, and calling an Uber.

➂ Perplexity Assistant competes with other AI assistants like Google Gemini, showcasing similar capabilities but with unique features.

➀ Researchers from Google DeepMind and the London School of Economics and Political Science conducted tests on large language models (LLMs) to evaluate if they could experience pain or pleasure.

➁ The tests were inspired by experiments involving electrocuting hermit crabs to observe their behavior.

➂ The results showed that some AI models, like Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro, avoided pain and sought pleasure, but this does not necessarily indicate sentience.