Google is rolling out the ability for users to have a back-and-forth voice conversation with AI Mode, its experimental Search feature that lets users ask complex, multi-part questions. With the new Search Live integration, users can have a free-flowing voice conversation with Search and explore links from across the web. Users will be able to access the feature by opening the Google app and tapping the new “Live” icon to ask their question aloud. They will then hear an AI-generated audio response, and they can follow up with another question. The feature will be useful in instances where you’re on the go or multitasking. As you’re having the conversation, you’ll find links right on your screen if you want to dig deeper into your search. Because Search Live works in the background, you can continue the conversation while in another app. Plus, you have the option to tap the “transcript” button to view the text response and continue to ask questions by typing if you’d like to. You can also revisit a Search Live response by navigating to your AI Mode history. The custom model is built on Search’s best-in-class quality and information systems, so you still get reliable, helpful responses no matter where or how you’re asking your question. Search Live with voice also uses query fan-out technique to show you a wider and more diverse set of helpful web content, enabling new opportunities for exploration.
Google virtual try-on app lets users not only virtually “try on” outfits but also see themselves in motion while wearing them in AI-generated videos
Google launched an experimental app that lets users not only virtually “try on” outfits but also see themselves in motion while wearing them. The new Doppl app from Google Labs builds on the capabilities of the AI Mode virtual try-on feature launched in May by Google Shopping, adding the ability to turn static images into artificial intelligence-generated videos. The dynamic visuals give users “an even better sense for how an outfit might feel.” Users can generate these images and videos by uploading a full-body photo of themselves as well as photos or screenshots of the items they would like to try on. “With Doppl, you can try out any look, so if you see an outfit you like from a friend, at a local thrift shop, or featured on social media, you can upload a photo of it into Doppl and imagine how it might look on you,” Google’s post said. “You can also save or share your best looks with friends or followers.”
Google Wallet starts rolling out Material 3 Expressive redesign in Android
Google Wallet is the latest first-party app to get a Material 3 Expressive redesign on Android in a simple modernization. On the homepage, “Wallet” in the top-left corner is replaced by the app’s logo to provide a nice balance with your profile avatar on the other side. The list of pass cards is a bit larger than before, while the “Archived passes” button is placed in a pill with an accompanying icon. Lastly, a large FAB (floating action button) is in use. The Recent activity page has been updated to place everything in containers, with the first and last cards featuring more rounded corners. Overall, this is a pretty straightforward Material 3 Expressive redesign for Google Wallet. In other Google Wallet developments, the web app picker in the top-right corner of every Google website recently added a “Wallet App” shortcut to wallet.google.com.
Google’s AI Overviews which summarizes results from the web in a AI-generated text form, is now used by more than 1.5 billion users, . Circle to Search, is now available on more than 250 million devices
By Google’s estimation, AI Overviews is now used by more than 1.5 billion users monthly across over 100 countries. AI Overviews compiles results from around the web to answer certain questions and will show AI-generated text at the top of the Google Search results page. While the feature has dampened traffic to some publishers, Google sees it and other AI-powered search capabilities as potentially meaningful revenue drivers and ways to boost engagement on Search. During its Q1 2025 earnings call, Google highlighted the growth of its other AI-based search products as well, including Circle to Search. Circle to Search, which lets you highlight something on your smartphone’s screen and ask questions about it, is now available on more than 250 million devices, Google said — up from around 200 million devices as of late last year. Circle to Search usage rose close to 40% quarter-over-quarter, according to the company. Google also noted in its call that visual searches on its platforms are growing at a steady clip. According to CEO Sundar Pichai, searches through Google Lens, Google’s multimodal AI-powered search technology, have increased by 5 billion since October. The number of people shopping on Lens was up over 10% in Q1, meanwhile.
Google’s Android devices would be able to include SIM in backups in addition to contacts, call history, device settings, apps & app data, SMS & MMS, potentially making it that much easier to swap phones
Device backups currently save things such as your app list, contacts, SMS/MMS/RCS messages, call history, and some device settings as well. Combined with Google Photos for photo/video backup, that makes it easier to swap phones, especially in the case that your previous device is lost, stolen, or broken. Google is apparently looking to extend on this. New findings suggest that Android devices may soon be able to include your SIM in a device backup, potentially making it that much easier to swap phones. Google’s services would be able to “back up contacts, call history, device settings, apps & app data, SMS & MMS messages, and SIMs.” This is very likely referring to eSIM rather than a physical SIM card, but the utility here is obvious. Google is already working to make it easier to transfer an eSIM between devices, and the ability to back that SIM up would just make things all the more painless when restoring from a device you no longer have access to. There are still a lot of questions around how SIM backup on Android would work, including how carriers would be involved, but it’s a nice idea. As for when it might be implemented, that’s not remotely clear either.
Google CEO says Gemini could be added as a built-in option to iPhones this year
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said his company’s AI service, Gemini, could soon become part of Apple’s iPhone. Pichai said he is hopeful that Gemini will be added as a built-in option on Apple’s smartphone this year. Apple’s AI system, Apple Intelligence, uses its own models for most AI tasks available on the company’s phones, tablets and computers. However, the company has partnered with ChatGPT from OpenAI for integration with its Siri voice assistant and Writing Tools, a feature for creating and editing text. Pichai said he hopes that Gemini, a ChatGPT rival, will be added as an additional AI option on Apple products. He said he spoke with Apple CEO Tim Cook on the topic last year and hopes to have a deal hammered out by mid-2025. Google is in the middle of its largest AI push yet. The company has integrated AI across its product lines, with 15 of its products each having more than half a billion users now using Gemini models. AI Overviews in search have reached 1.5 billion monthly users. “We continue to see that usage growth is increasing as people learn that search is more useful for more of their queries,” Pichai said adding that AI Mode queries tend to be twice as long as those in traditional search.
Google CEO says Gemini could be added as a built-in option to iPhones this year
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said his company’s AI service, Gemini, could soon become part of Apple’s iPhone. Pichai said he is hopeful that Gemini will be added as a built-in option on Apple’s smartphone this year. Apple’s AI system, Apple Intelligence, uses its own models for most AI tasks available on the company’s phones, tablets and computers. However, the company has partnered with ChatGPT from OpenAI for integration with its Siri voice assistant and Writing Tools, a feature for creating and editing text. Pichai said he hopes that Gemini, a ChatGPT rival, will be added as an additional AI option on Apple products. He said he spoke with Apple CEO Tim Cook on the topic last year and hopes to have a deal hammered out by mid-2025. Google is in the middle of its largest AI push yet. The company has integrated AI across its product lines, with 15 of its products each having more than half a billion users now using Gemini models. AI Overviews in search have reached 1.5 billion monthly users. “We continue to see that usage growth is increasing as people learn that search is more useful for more of their queries,” Pichai said adding that AI Mode queries tend to be twice as long as those in traditional search.
Google Messages rolling out ‘Unsubscribe’ button to stop SMS and RCS spam
Google Messages is gaining a new “Unsubscribe” feature to combat spam and other unwanted SMS texts or RCS chats from business senders. “Unsubscribe” is for businesses that send “unwanted messages in Google Messages, like promotions and other non-essential content.” The new button can appear at the bottom of the chat (just above the text field) or in the conversation’s overflow menu. A sheet then slides up asking “Why are you unsubscribing?”: Not signed up, Too many messages, No longer interested, Spam, or Other. In the case of spam, there’s a “Report this sender” option. Behind-the-scenes, Google Messages sends “STOP” to the sender from your number. Afterwards, “you should no longer receive non-essential messages from that sender. Unsubscribe applies to: 1) RCS for Business messages in the United States, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. 2) SMS or MMS messages in the United States from short codes (phone numbers with 5-6 digits) and alphanumeric senders.