Google AI

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, a research initiative to place machine learning infrastructure in orbit, harnessing solar power and the space environment to run AI workloads. Google Research published details of the plan, and the announcement is drawing significant attention from the tech community, with debate focusing on its feasibility, costs, and what it means for the future of AI data centers.

Cal Newport argues it is time to formally investigate the leading AI labs, questioning whether their rapid development of powerful models is being properly scrutinised. The piece has sparked active debate among technologists about oversight, safety claims, and whether companies like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic should face independent examination of their practices.

Google is preparing to launch an experimental satellite into orbit, marking the first move by a major technology company toward building AI data centers in space. The project signals how Big Tech firms are looking beyond Earth to find power and cooling capacity for energy-hungry artificial intelligence systems. The announcement, reported by the New York Times, has drawn wide attention to the feasibility of orbital computing infrastructure.

Google is pushing back against a European Union effort that would require it to open Android to rival AI assistants. The dispute forms part of ongoing enforcement of the EU's Digital Markets Act, under which Brussels has pressed the company to give competitors greater access to its dominant mobile platform. Google argues the changes would harm user security and privacy, while regulators see them as key to fair competition in the fast-moving AI market.

Google is appealing European Union regulatory demands concerning access to Android's AI features and the sharing of search data with rivals. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the company is contesting requirements imposed under EU digital competition rules, arguing over how its Android platform and search data should be opened to third parties. The appeal sets up a fresh confrontation between the tech giant and European regulators.

Memory module maker Netlist has asked US authorities to ban imports of Micron chips used in AI computing systems built for Google and Nvidia, escalating a long-running patent dispute between the two companies. The request, if granted, could disrupt supply chains for high-performance memory components central to the AI boom. Industry watchers are tracking whether trade officials will intervene in a case with wide implications for the semiconductor sector.

A new AI-powered government website has been launched using Google's Gemini and xAI's Grok models, according to Trump official Gebbia, as reported by CNBC. The announcement ties prominent commercial AI systems directly to public government services, and is drawing attention to the administration's push to embed artificial intelligence in federal operations and the questions it raises about vendors and oversight.

Memory chip maker Netlist has asked US authorities to ban imports of Micron chips used in AI computing systems built for Google and Nvidia, escalating a patent dispute between the two companies. The request, reported by Idaho Business Review, could disrupt supply of high-bandwidth memory components central to the AI hardware boom if trade officials act on it.

Google is moving to develop data centers in space, aiming to run AI computing infrastructure on satellites that can harvest solar energy around the clock. The project, reported by the New York Times, signals a new frontier in the AI infrastructure race, as tech companies seek alternatives to land, power and cooling constraints on Earth.

Google is contesting European Union orders that would compel the company to disclose information about its AI systems and search-engine operations. The move escalates a long-running standoff between the tech giant and Brussels regulators, who have been pressing for greater transparency into how Google's core products work. The challenge marks a new flashpoint in the broader dispute over Big Tech's power and Europe's regulatory reach.

SpaceX is reportedly exploring renting out AI computing capacity as a potential new business line beyond rocket launches and Starlink. The move would put the company in competition with cloud giants like Amazon, Microsoft and Google in the fast-growing market for AI data-center compute. It would build on SpaceX's satellite and launch infrastructure to serve the surging demand for processing power.

Mona, an AI startup, has raised $3.5 million in new funding, according to a report by FinSMEs. The news has drawn searches around former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who is widely known for backing early-stage artificial intelligence ventures. Details on who led the round or what Mona plans to do with the capital were not provided in the report.

Adobe has quietly added an experimental prompt-to-edit tool powered by Google's Nano Banana image model to Lightroom, letting photographers regenerate images from text instructions inside the photo editor. The feature is drawing attention from photography communities, with debate expected over how generative editing fits into traditional RAW workflows.

Google is moving AI chips into space as part of a push toward orbital data centers, a direction also championed by Elon Musk as a way to reshape computing infrastructure. The idea is to run AI workloads on satellites powered by solar energy, reducing terrestrial energy and cooling demands. The overlap of two major tech players pursuing the same vision has put orbital data centers back at the center of industry debate.

OpenAI has introduced new features that compete directly with the traditional app store model, according to TechCrunch. The move suggests OpenAI wants users to access apps and services through its AI products rather than through platforms like Apple's App Store or Google Play. The report is drawing attention in tech circles, where observers are weighing what this means for platform gatekeepers and mobile software distribution.

Memory module maker Netlist has asked US authorities to ban imports of Micron chips used in AI computing systems built by Google and Nvidia, according to a Reuters report. The request escalates a long-running patent dispute between the two memory companies. An import ban could disrupt supply chains for advanced AI hardware, drawing attention across the semiconductor industry.

The McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 team has posted a social media message referencing Google's Gemini app, using a handshake emoji that suggests a partnership or collaboration. The short post, shared on the team's official account with no further explanation, has prompted speculation about what role Gemini or Google's AI technology might play with the squad. No further details have been released by either McLaren or Google.

Google Threat Intelligence Group reported this week that adversaries are moving beyond basic prompting into agentic workflows and AI-enabled automation. The finding suggests cyber attackers are now deploying autonomous AI systems to carry out parts of their operations, not just relying on simple AI queries. Security professionals are sharing the report as a signal that AI-driven threats are escalating.

Google has completed a full rollout of voice chat in Gemini Notebook for Google AI Pro subscribers, according to a Japanese tech blog covering Android and Gemini news. The feature lets users hold spoken conversations with the AI notebook assistant, and it is now available across both Android and iOS platforms.

A wave of new AI assistant launches is drawing attention, with Microsoft, Meta, Google and xAI each releasing products — Microsoft Autopilot, Meta Muse, Google Gemini Spark and Grok Bot — and OpenAI now joining with a tool called Dots. Commenters say the entire industry is rushing to stake out ground in the assistant space, with competition between the big AI players intensifying week by week.