Google faces new EU investigation for AI search tools

Google has released an updated version of its Gemini deep research model on the same day that OpenAI launched its latest AI model, GPT-5.2. This simultaneous release highlights the intensifying competition between the two tech giants in the artificial intelligence sector.

Google's Nick Fox addressed the challenges faced by publishers in the evolving landscape of news content, particularly in light of the ongoing advancements in artificial intelligence. He highlighted the delays in the rollout of Personal Context, a feature aimed at enhancing user experience by providing tailored content.

The UK government is set to encourage Apple and Google to implement nudity-blocking systems on their mobile operating systems, iOS and Android, through the development of nudity-detection algorithms. This initiative aims to enhance online safety, particularly for minors, amid ongoing concerns about inappropriate content accessibility on smartphones.

Google has announced that its 'dark web report' feature, which was launched approximately a year and a half ago to help users monitor their personal information on the dark web, will be discontinued starting in February. This decision comes as part of a broader reassessment of the tool's effectiveness in providing actionable insights to users.

Google has announced it will discontinue dark web reports that previously alerted users to leaked data, citing a lack of 'helpful next steps' in these notifications. This decision marks a significant shift in how the company addresses user security concerns related to data breaches.

Resemble AI, an artificial intelligence startup, has successfully raised $13 million in funding, with notable investments from Google's AI Futures Fund, amid a rising concern over AI-related fraud in the United States.

Google has introduced an AI Mode that generates recipes by amalgamating instructions from various creators, leading to significant misrepresentation of original recipes and a decline in ad traffic for recipe writers. This has raised concerns about the impact of AI on content creators' livelihoods, with some describing the situation as an 'extinction event.'

Google has upgraded its Search Live feature with Gemini 2.5 native audio, enabling faster and more natural voice interactions within the Google app. This enhancement aims to provide users with smoother replies and hands-free assistance, improving the overall search experience.