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Google has paid $2.7 billion to rehire Noam Shazeer, an AI expert who left the company in 2021. Shazeer had developed a chatbot that Google refused to release, leading him to start his own company, Character.AI. When Character.AI began to struggle, Google swooped in and made a deal to license the company's technology, with the added condition that Shazeer would return to work for Google. This move has sparked a debate about whether tech giants are overspending on AI. Shazeer's return to Google has positioned him as one of the leaders in the company's efforts to develop advanced AI technology. [Extracted from the article]

The U.S. government's antitrust case against Google's advertising business has revealed internal company concerns about its dominant role in online ad space. The Justice Department argues that Google abuses its dominance to extract anticompetitive rates from advertisers and publishers. Evidence presented includes internal communications, such as an email from YouTube's CEO in 2010 discussing the acquisition of a rival company. Google's defense argues that it is not monopolizing the industry and that the focus should be on the shift to apps, social media, and streaming services. The case will be decided by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on discussions between a United Arab Emirates investment fund and OpenAI regarding a potential investment. Topics include the details of the proposed investment, the strategic interests of the UAE fund in supporting AI advancements, and the implications of this potential partnership for both OpenAI and the broader AI industry.

Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube and a key figure in Google's rise, has passed away at the age of 56. She played a crucial role in developing the technology systems that distribute advertising dollars on the internet and led the development of Google's AdSense product. As YouTube CEO, Wojcicki oversaw the site's business model, generating billions of dollars in revenue for video creators and Google's parent company, Alphabet. She was known for her work-life balance and was an advocate for the rights of mothers in the workplace. Wojcicki is survived by her husband and four children. [Extracted from the article]

Google plans to roll out artificial intelligence (AI) search summaries on its search engine by the end of the year. The AI-powered answers will be shown to billions of people using Google's search engine, starting in the U.S. The move is seen as a way for Google to stay competitive in the internet-search business. The rollout will be closely watched to see how it affects Google's advertising sales and its relationship with online publishers. The AI summaries will be introduced in scenarios where they provide clear value, such as answering lengthy queries, while other searches will display Google's typical mix of links, ads, and webpage snippets. [Extracted from the article]

Google has announced that it will miss its end-of-year target for eliminating third-party cookies in its Chrome web browser. The company cited challenges in reconciling feedback from the industry, regulators, and developers as the reason for the delay. The changes are significant for the $600 billion online advertising industry, as Chrome is a major gateway for reaching consumers. The U.K.'s privacy regulator has expressed concerns that Google's proposed changes do not go far enough, and the company now plans to begin phasing out cookies in 2025 if it receives approval from U.K. regulators. [Extracted from the article]

Google's proposed replacements for cookies, known as Privacy Sandbox, have been criticized by the U.K. privacy regulator for not adequately protecting consumer privacy. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) stated in a draft report that the technology leaves gaps that can be exploited to undermine privacy and track users across different sites. The ICO's concerns have been shared with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is overseeing Google's efforts to eliminate cookies in its Chrome browser. The pushback from the ICO could potentially delay Google's timeline for deprecating cookies. [Extracted from the article]

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has called for a reset after the company fired 28 employees who protested against its cloud-computing contract with the Israeli government. The employees were involved in sit-in protests at Google's offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California, and were found to have violated company policies by taking over office spaces, defacing property, and impeding the work of other employees. Pichai emphasized the need to enforce workplace policies and focus on work rather than engaging in disruptive issues or political debates. The protests were organized by a group called No Tech for Apartheid, which accused Google of valuing its contract with the Israeli government more than its own workers. The episode highlights how tech companies are trying to limit internal unrest and maintain business efficiency. [Extracted from the article]

Apple is seeking external partnerships to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) efforts. The company has engaged in discussions with Google, Cohere, and OpenAI to potentially utilize their AI technology for its mobile features. Apple's interest in external collaborations suggests that it may not have developed internal AI tools as advanced as its competitors. The company aims to incorporate generative AI features into its upcoming iPhone operating system, iOS 18, and is focusing on applications such as autocomplete email messages, a more robust Spotlight search function, photo editing, and an advanced version of Siri. Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, has emphasized the company's investment in generative AI, and Apple has been working on its own internal AI tools under the leadership of John Giannandrea. A partnership with Apple would benefit Google's AI initiatives, particularly its Gemini technology, which aims to compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, Gemini has faced controversy for producing ahistoric images and refusing to generate depictions of white people. [Extracted from the article]

Waymo, the self-driving car startup owned by Google's parent company, has started testing driverless rides on freeways in Phoenix. This is a crucial step for the industry, as enabling cars to take freeway routes can cut ride times in half and help companies scale operations. Freeway rides would be most useful for ferrying passengers to and from airports and driving in cities with dense freeway networks. Waymo views Los Angeles as a potentially $2 billion market and has gained approval to start charging for driverless rides on freeways in the Bay Area and parts of Los Angeles. The rollout on freeways in Phoenix has largely been without trouble, and Waymo is limiting its driverless rides to employees for now to work out any issues before expanding to the public. [Extracted from the article]

Google's push into artificial intelligence (AI) with its chatbot Gemini has caused controversy. Users were angered by the chatbot's production of ahistoric images and its blocking of requests for depictions of white people. The controversy expanded to include backlash against the chatbot's responses to philosophical questions. Critics, including Elon Musk, have raised concerns about Gemini's responses. Google has acknowledged the issues and stated that it is working to address them. The incident highlights the challenges of trust and bias in AI models. [Extracted from the article]

Google is launching a subscription plan for its chatbot, Gemini Advanced, charging $19.99 per month. This move comes after the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's subscription chatbot. Gemini Advanced aims to profit from the growing interest in AI services that generate novel text and images. Google's parent company, Alphabet, has been diversifying its revenue streams beyond advertising, and the company's annual subscription revenue reached $15 billion. The price for Google's chatbot is comparable to offerings from Microsoft and OpenAI, as well as smaller startups. Elon Musk's X also introduced a premium subscription for its chatbot in December. Google's chatbot, initially called Bard, struggled to compete with ChatGPT's popularity. The Gemini chatbot will be available as a stand-alone app for Android and within the Google app on iPhones. [Extracted from the article]

Google's parent company, Alphabet, reported a 4% drop in stock price despite a rebound in sales. While advertising sales fell short of expectations, the company saw strong growth in other areas of its business. Google's ad revenue increased by 11% from the previous year, marking a turnaround from the pandemic-induced drop in ad revenue. The company's cloud-computing business also saw a 26% increase in sales. Alphabet plans to continue cost-cutting measures and invest in artificial intelligence systems. Overall, the company reported a 13% increase in revenue for the fourth quarter. [Extracted from the article]

Samsung has unveiled its latest flagship phones, the Galaxy S24, which heavily incorporate generative artificial intelligence (AI) features. These features include real-time translation, improved photo quality, and the ability to trigger searches by circling images and text on the phone. While Samsung is not the first to introduce generative AI in smartphones, its focus is on creating features that bring meaningful benefits to users. The release of the Galaxy S24 devices is crucial for Samsung, as it aims to regain its position as the top smartphone maker after losing ground to Apple. The initial generative AI features in smartphones may not be compelling enough to drive market demand, but they offer the potential for novelty and device upgrades in the future. Samsung is expected to account for half of the approximately 100 million smartphones equipped with generative AI capabilities to be shipped this year. Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Vivo are also expected to contribute, while it is assumed that iPhones will not have generative AI functions this year. The Galaxy S24 phones come in three variants and will be available in major markets starting from January 31. [Extracted from the article]

Google has laid off hundreds of employees in various divisions, including those working on the Assistant program, hardware, and internal software tools. The exact number of layoffs is unknown. The company stated that it is responsibly investing in its priorities and helping those affected to find other roles internally. This move comes as Google aims to focus on artificial intelligence development and reduce spending. Last year, Alphabet, Google's parent company, cut 12,000 jobs, or about 6% of its staff. [Extracted from the article]

Perplexity, a startup aiming to challenge Google's dominance in web search, has received backing from Jeff Bezos and venture capitalists who believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionize online information retrieval. With fewer than 40 employees, Perplexity's "answer engine" is used by approximately 10 million people each month. The company recently raised $74 million in funding, valuing it at $520 million. Perplexity differentiates itself by providing direct answers to search queries using AI advancements, rather than presenting website links. While it serves only a fraction of Google's user base, Perplexity has gained popularity among tech workers interested in generative AI. The startup plans to reduce costs and study user query patterns to potentially expand its reach in the future. [Extracted from the article]

Google is implementing changes to how companies track users online by eliminating cookies, a technology used by advertisers to target users with relevant ads. The changes, which will be rolled out gradually, have been met with resistance from marketers, advertising-technology companies, and web publishers who feel that Google has not adequately prepared the market for the transition. While Google's efforts aim to improve user privacy, some industry executives believe that the elimination of cookies will have a negative impact on the overall value of online advertising. [Extracted from the article]

Google's AI-powered search tool, called "Search Generative Experience," is being tested on approximately 10 million users. This has raised concerns among news publishers who heavily rely on Google for traffic. The integration of AI into search engines threatens to decrease publishers' traffic and revenue, as AI-powered search results often provide full answers to users' queries without requiring them to click on links to publishers' sites. Publishers estimate that they could lose between 20% and 40% of their Google-generated traffic if this AI search tool is widely implemented. Publishers are seeking reassurances from Google and are advocating for payment for their content used in AI training. [Extracted from the article]

Google has lost an antitrust case brought by Epic Games, the maker of the popular game Fortnite. The San Francisco jury found that Google had maintained monopoly power by engaging in anticompetitive conduct. Epic Games alleged that Google used its dominant position to extract excessive profits from app developers. The verdict is seen as a win for app developers and consumers, as it demonstrates that Google's app store practices are illegal and abuse its monopoly power. Google plans to appeal the decision. [Extracted from the article]

Google has announced the development of a new artificial intelligence (AI) system called Gemini, which is said to be more powerful than any currently on the market, including OpenAI's ChatGPT. Gemini is designed to improve the audio and video capabilities of Google's AI chatbot, Bard, and will also be used to power other AI programs and mobile-phone features. Google plans to release a less sophisticated version of Gemini called Gemini Pro, as well as a more advanced version called Gemini Ultra, which outperformed OpenAI's GPT-4 on industry benchmarks. The release of Gemini comes at a time of turmoil for OpenAI, suggesting that the AI industry's pecking order is still unsettled. [Extracted from the article]

Google and Microsoft are engaged in a renewed conflict as they trade accusations in an antitrust trial. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified that Google's business deals have hindered Microsoft's search engine and accused Google of using similar tactics to block competitors in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Google has countered by pointing out Microsoft's efforts to promote its Bing search engine on Windows computers. The escalating conflict between the two tech giants is expected to impact the future of AI, as both companies have heavily invested in the technology. [Extracted from the article]

Google is facing a legal challenge in which Fortnite-maker Epic Games alleges that the search giant used its dominant position to exploit app developers. This trial is the second part of Epic's battle against major mobile software providers, following a previous case against Apple. The lawsuit against Google focuses on agreements the company made with manufacturers of Android-powered phones. Google is also facing other legal challenges, including an antitrust case and a lawsuit targeting its advertising technology business. The trial is expected to last until December and could potentially impact competition in the digital economy. [Extracted from the article]

Google CEO Sundar Pichai testified in a high-stakes antitrust trial, defending the company against accusations of unfair dealings with Apple. Pichai described a relationship with Apple filled with tension and moments of mistrust, but also compromises to maintain their partnership. The trial centers around Google's dominance in internet search and whether it is a result of anticompetitive agreements. Pichai discussed the contract between Google and Apple that makes Google the default search engine on Apple's Safari web browser, stating that there was fierce competition between the two companies at the time. The trial could potentially lead to major changes in Google's search engine. [Extracted from the article]

Google has committed to investing up to $2 billion in Anthropic, an artificial intelligence startup. This investment follows Amazon's commitment to invest $4 billion in the company. Google has already invested $550 million in Anthropic earlier this year. The investment reflects the growing interest among tech giants in aligning themselves with promising startups in the AI field. Anthropic has also signed a multiyear deal with Google Cloud worth over $3 billion. The founders of Anthropic left OpenAI two years ago and have been in competition with OpenAI to secure training resources and backers. [Extracted from the article]

Google's parent company, Alphabet, reported third-quarter revenue of $77 billion, marking the third consecutive quarter of accelerating growth for the search giant. However, the company disappointed investors with relatively weak cloud-computing sales, which grew at a slower rate than expected. The advertising division, on the other hand, experienced a boost in revenue, driven by an increase in ads placed next to search results and on YouTube. Google continues to invest heavily in developing artificial-intelligence services, but faces stiff competition in the cloud-computing market. [Extracted from the article]

The landmark antitrust case against Google is ongoing, with the Justice Department presenting its last scheduled witness this week. One key moment in the trial involved an email from Google CEO Sundar Pichai in 2007, expressing concerns about Google being the only search engine on Apple's Safari browser. Another key moment came when a former Google employee explained how Google's agreement with Apple locks out competition by leveraging default settings on smartphones. The trial also revealed details about Microsoft's attempts to get its Bing search engine on Apple devices. Google is expected to argue that its search engine is elevated by Apple and others because it is a better product. Additionally, a Google executive testified that the company can raise advertising prices without major consequences. An expert witness for the Justice Department testified that users' ability to opt out of default search engines does not significantly reduce Google's market dominance. In Europe, offering users a choice of search engines has allowed rivals to compete with Google, but this has not happened in the U.S. due to Google's dominance and default agreements. [Extracted from the article]

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified in the U.S. antitrust case against Google, stating that Google used unfair tactics to hinder Microsoft's Bing search engine. Nadella supported the Justice Department's claim that Google solidified its dominance in internet search through agreements with Apple, making Google the default search engine on Apple's Safari web browser. Nadella argued that Google's market share and default agreements create a "vicious cycle" that reinforces its monopoly. He also expressed doubts about the ability of artificial intelligence to significantly reshape the search engine market. The trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, could potentially result in Google being broken up or ordered to make other business changes. [Extracted from the article]