Google shut down Project Mariner on May 4, 2026, ending the experimental service that could perform up to ten tasks across the web. The company redirected the feature’s underlying technology into its Gemini Agent, AI‑powered search, and other tools ahead of the May 19 I/O developer conference. Google did not comment on the decision, but the move signals a shift toward integrating agentic capabilities directly into its broader AI ecosystem. Read more →

Google DeepMind announced plans to use the long‑running space MMO Eve Online as a training ground for its next generation of artificial‑intelligence models. The lab also disclosed a minority investment in Fenris Creations, the newly renamed owner of the game. DeepMind’s CEO Demis Hassabis said the partnership will let researchers explore player‑driven dynamics in a complex virtual universe, while the investment will keep Eve Online’s development independent. Read more →

Google's DeepMind unit has acquired a minority stake in CCP Games, now rebranded as Fenris Creations, to use the long‑running space MMO Eve Online as a training ground for its artificial‑intelligence models. The multimillion‑dollar investment will let DeepMind study player behavior on isolated servers, tackling challenges such as long‑term planning and continual learning. Company executives say the partnership could also spark new gameplay experiences, while the deal follows Fenris Creations' recent purchase of the Eve IP from Pearl Abyss. Read more →

Google has introduced Multi-Token Prediction (MTP) drafters for its Gemma 4 open models, promising up to a two‑fold reduction in response time for locally run AI. The experimental feature uses speculative decoding to guess future tokens, allowing a lightweight draft model to fill idle processing cycles. Built on the same architecture as Gemini, Gemma 4 can run on a single high‑power accelerator or, when quantized, on consumer‑grade GPUs. A shift to an Apache 2.0 license also makes the models more permissive, encouraging broader adoption of edge AI. Read more →

Google has rolled out a macOS version of its Gemini AI, turning the chat tool into a hands‑on assistant that can see the screen, manipulate files and control the mouse and keyboard. The app, still in early stages, offers a shortcut for quick access and a window‑sharing mode that feeds visual context into the model. While Google has not confirmed plans for deeper computer‑use capabilities, a teardown suggests the software could soon act like Anthropic's Claude Cowork, converting unstructured data into Google Workspace documents and streamlining everyday tasks on Macs. Read more →

Google is quietly developing an AI-powered personal assistant code‑named Remy, designed to act on users' behalf around the clock. The prototype is being tested by employees inside a staff‑only version of the Gemini app, where it can monitor tasks, handle complex requests and learn preferences over time. While the company has not announced a public launch, the project signals Google’s push into the fast‑growing AI agent market, where competitors like OpenClaw, Anthropic and Meta are also racing to deliver autonomous desktop assistants. Read more →

Google is expanding its AI Search suite to surface firsthand advice from social platforms such as Reddit and other forums. The new "preview of perspectives" feature will attach quotes, community names and author handles to AI-generated answers, letting users see real‑world discussions alongside traditional results. Google says the change responds to growing demand for peer‑generated guidance, and it will also surface related topics and subscription‑based news links to help users explore a broader context. Read more →

During the high‑profile lawsuit between Elon Musk and OpenAI co‑founder Sam Altman, testimony revealed that Musk repeatedly mentioned Google DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis. Court transcripts show Musk called Hassabis "evil," worried about Google’s lead in artificial intelligence, and exchanged a series of urgent emails warning that OpenAI could not keep pace. Witnesses, including OpenAI president Greg Brockman, confirmed Musk’s obsession with the British scientist, describing it as a driving force behind strategic discussions at Tesla and beyond. Read more →

Google, Microsoft and Elon Musk's xAI have signed agreements that let the Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation evaluate their next‑generation artificial‑intelligence systems before they are released publicly. The deals, announced a day after reports that the Trump administration was weighing tighter AI oversight, call for the companies to provide models with reduced or disabled safeguards so federal analysts can probe national‑security risks. CAISI director Chris Fall said the collaborations will expand the government’s ability to measure frontier AI and protect U.S. interests. Read more →

Employees at Google DeepMind’s London lab have voted to unionize, seeking to pressure the company into halting the use of its artificial‑intelligence models for military purposes. The move, driven by concerns that Alphabet dropped its pledge against weaponizing AI, marks the latest labor action at a major AI research center. Workers asked Google’s UK and Ireland managing director to recognize the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union as joint representatives. The effort, which began in February 2025, reflects broader industry unease about AI’s role in defense and surveillance. Read more →

Around 1,500 DeepMind employees in the United Kingdom have voted to join the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union, sending a letter to Google demanding formal recognition. The union drive, sparked by the revelation of a Pentagon contract that would let the U.S. defense department use Google’s artificial‑intelligence tools, reflects growing unease among the researchers about military applications of their work, including ties to the Israeli Defense Forces. Workers are also pressing for an independent ethics board and the right to refuse projects they deem harmful. Read more →

Employees at Google DeepMind's London headquarters have voted overwhelmingly to join a union, demanding that the company halt development of AI tools for military use. The Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union seek recognition as joint representatives for roughly 1,000 staff members. Workers argue that DeepMind's technology is already being used in conflicts involving Israel and the U.S., and they want guarantees that future projects will not violate ethical or legal standards. Google has ten days to respond before formal legal steps begin. Read more →

A new Appfigures report shows that releasing image‑generation models has become the most effective way for AI mobile apps to attract users, delivering up to 6.5 times more downloads than traditional updates. OpenAI's GPT‑4o image model, Google’s Gemini Nano Banana, and Meta AI’s Vibes each sparked multi‑million install spikes, though only OpenAI turned the surge into significant consumer spending. The findings suggest visual capabilities now trump chat‑only upgrades in driving app growth, but the revenue impact remains uneven across providers. Read more →

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and NVIDIA have signed agreements to provide the U.S. Defense Department with artificial‑intelligence tools for use on classified networks, the Pentagon announced. The deals, which also include startup Reflection AI, join similar contracts already in place with xAI, OpenAI and Google. Anthropic remains the only major U.S. AI firm without a Pentagon agreement, after a dispute with the administration over safeguards on its Claude chatbot. The rapid expansion of AI in the military has sparked public backlash, as evidenced by a sharp rise in ChatGPT uninstall rates following OpenAI’s own deal. Read more →

The Department of Defense announced Friday that it has finalized classified‑use agreements with OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Elon Musk's xAI and the startup Reflection. The deals will let the Pentagon employ each company’s artificial‑intelligence tools in secure environments as it seeks to become an "AI‑first" fighting force. Anthropic, previously cleared for classified work, was left out after officials labeled its technology a supply‑chain risk and the company refused to relax red‑line restrictions on surveillance and autonomous weapons. Read more →