Google Unleashes AI & LLMs to Slash Invalid Ad Traffic by 40%.

Key Takeaway.

• Google's new AI and LLM applications have led to a 40% reduction in Invalid Ad Traffic (IVT) from deceptive practices.
• This update aims to protect advertiser budgets, support legitimate publishers, and improve overall trust in the digital advertising landscape.

Google is significantly stepping up its fight against invalid ad traffic (IVT), announcing powerful new applications of artificial intelligence, including large language models (LLMs), that have already led to a 40% reduction in IVT stemming from deceptive or disruptive practices. This major stride aims to safeguard advertiser budgets, protect publishers, and bolster trust across the vast digital advertising ecosystem.

​Invalid traffic, often described as ad activity that doesn't originate from a real person with a genuine interest, has long been a persistent challenge. It not only wastes precious ad spend for businesses but also siphons revenue away from legitimate publishers and erodes the overall integrity of online advertising. Google has historically leveraged AI in its defenses, but these latest advancements represent a new frontier in precision and speed.

​Google's Ad Traffic Quality team, in collaboration with Google Research and Google DeepMind, has introduced industry-leading defenses powered by sophisticated large language models. These advanced AI systems are designed to more precisely identify ad placements that generate invalid behaviors by deeply analyzing app and web content, specific ad placements, and nuanced user interactions.

​For instance, these new applications have dramatically improved Google's ability to review content, directly contributing to the notable 40% reduction in IVT linked to deceptive or disruptive ad serving. This means advertisers can now have even greater confidence that their campaigns are reaching real, engaged audiences, while policy violators are more effectively kept off Google's platforms.

​Beyond these cutting-edge AI innovations, Google reiterated its commitment to continually running extensive automated and manual checks to ensure that advertisers are never charged for invalid traffic, even if an ad impression mistakenly occurs. This comprehensive approach underscores Google's two-decade-long dedication to defending against evolving threats and upholding the quality of its advertising platforms.

​This update marks a critical evolution in how Google tackles ad fraud, leveraging the same advanced AI technologies that power its other services to create a cleaner and more trustworthy environment for advertisers, publishers, and users alike.

Gboard Update Brings Direct Autofill for Passwords & Credit Cards.

Gboard, Google's popular keyboard app, is rolling out a significant update that directly integrates "Autofill with Google," promising a much more seamless and convenient way to access your saved passwords and payment methods. This anticipated feature was first hinted at in Google Play Services release notes and is now starting to appear for beta users.

Currently, Gboard often suggests saved credentials, but if those suggestions don't appear, users are forced to manually open Google's Password Manager or their payment app to copy and paste information. This new integration aims to eliminate that friction entirely.

Here’s how you can start using this feature today:

1. Update your apps: Make sure you’re on Gboard beta version 15.7.5+ and Play Services 25.30+.
2. Enable Autofill: Go to Settings → System → Languages & input → Virtual keyboard → Gboard
3. Find and enable “Autofill with Google”.
4. Position the icon: You can pin this feature to Gboard’s suggestion strip for quick access.

Once enabled, users will be prompted to "Use Autofill with Google" within Gboard's settings. A new icon, distinguished by a square with an asterisk and a corner pencil, will then appear in the keyboard's shortcut grid, and can even be moved to the prominent suggestions strip for quick access.

Tapping this new Autofill icon opens a dedicated interface directly within the Gboard window, offering two clear options: "Passwords" and "Payment methods." For passwords, the system intelligently displays only the credentials relevant to the app you're currently using, streamlining the process even further. Credit and debit card autofill will, as expected, require a security code for added protection.

This "Autofill with Google" capability is being spotted by users on the latest Gboard beta (version 15.7.5.787916401) and requires Google Play Services 25.30 or newer. While not yet widely available, the relatively quick turnaround from its initial mention in Play Services notes suggests a broader rollout could be imminent.

This update is poised to significantly enhance the overall user experience, making password and payment autofill far more reliable and efficient for millions of Gboard users.

Google Introduces ‘Preferred Sources’ to Let Users Customize Search News

Key Takeaway.

• Google Search’s new Preferred Sources feature allows users to customize news results by prioritizing outlets they trust most.
• Even with preferences set, Search still surfaces a variety of credible perspectives to ensure balanced coverage.
• This update could significantly enhance visibility for smaller, niche, and local publishers in competitive news feeds.

Google is giving users a powerful new tool to personalize their news feed in Search: the Preferred Sources feature. Rolling out now in the U.S. and India, this feature aims to elevate stories from publications you trust by prioritizing them in the Top Stories section.

What Is “Preferred Sources”?

Rather than relying solely on algorithmic selections, Preferred Sources allows users to choose which news outlets they want to see more often. Once enabled, relevant articles from your chosen sources will appear more prominently in Top Stories, often marked with a star indicator. In some cases, a new dedicated “From your sources” carousel may also display content from your preferred outlets.
This rollout marks the feature’s graduation from Labs to public access in English-language Search across the U.S. and India, with more regions expected to follow.

How to Set Up Preferred Sources

1. Perform a Google Search for a current news topic.

2. Tap the star icon next to the Top Stories header.

3. Search for and select your favorite publications to include as preferred.

4. Refresh the results to see your selected outlets featured more prominently.

Users can select unlimited sources, and if they had previously opted into the feature via Google Labs, their preferences will carry over automatically.

The Preferred Sources feature gives users the ability to take back control of their news consumption by prioritizing content from providers they trust. Instead of relying solely on Google’s algorithm, users can shape their news feed to better reflect their own interests and values.

At the same time, the feature still preserves variety in the Top Stories section. Even with your preferred outlets set, other relevant publications will continue to appear alongside them, ensuring a balanced mix of perspectives.

For publishers, especially niche or local voices, Preferred Sources can be a visibility boost, helping their stories surface more frequently to readers who have actively chosen to follow them. This approach also acts as a timely countermeasure to concerns that AI-powered Search features may reduce site traffic, bringing a greater level of transparency and user agency to the news discovery process.

Recently, Google Discover added a new 'Follow' feature and content expansion.

YouTube Expands AI-Powered Search Carousel for Premium Users.

Key Takeaway.

• YouTube tests an AI-powered search carousel for faster, visual content discovery.
• Available to U.S. Premium users via YouTube Experiments.
• Designed to make video discovery faster and more visual for topics like shopping, travel, and activities.

Still scrolling endlessly for the perfect video? YouTube has just made discovery smarter and faster. The platform is rolling out its AI-powered search results carousel to even more YouTube Premium users across the U.S.—and it’s looking like a slick upgrade.

First introduced in June, YouTube Expands AI-Powered Search Carousel for Premium Usershis experimental feature appears at the very top of certain search results, especially those related to shopping, travel, or local experiences. Instead of sifting through countless thumbnails, you’ll now see a visually rich row of curated videos—each wrapped with a concise, AI-generated topic description. Think of it as your personalized highlight reel based on what you’re querying, like “best beaches in Hawaii.” YouTube’s interface becomes cleaner and more useful, cutting straight to the content you’re after.

How To Try YouTube Carousel Feature.

If you're using YouTube Premium in the U.S. on the mobile app (iOS or Android), give it a go while the feature is live through August 20—that’s the current window YouTube has opened up for wider testing. To opt in, head to your YouTube Premium New Features page and enable the carousel experiment. If all goes well, this smart search tool might roll out to more regions or even non-Premium users later on.

Steps to use Carousel Feature in YouTube:

Step 1. Open the YouTube app on your mobile device (iOS or Android).

Step 2. Ensure you're signed in to a YouTube Premium account — the carousel is currently limited to Premium subscribers in the U.S.

Step 3. Search for a topic that typically triggers the AI carousel — especially queries like shopping, travel, or “things to do in [location]”.

Step 4. Look for the AI-powered carousel at the top of the search results. It will feature:

• A large highlight video that matches your query.
• Below it, a row of curated thumbnail videos related to your topic.
• An AI-generated text snippet summarizing the search topic.

Step 5. Interact with the carousel:

• Tap the large video to play it directly.
• Tap any thumbnail to watch that specific clip.

For Viewers: You get a cleaner search experience and faster discovery, especially useful when planning trips or shopping.

For Creators: AI-powered positioning inside carousels may offer more visibility, but only if your content matches AI-curated trends.

For Marketers: Videos in travel, shopping, and local themes could see a spike in views—AI is essentially elevating heavy-hitting, relevant content.

YouTube’s AI search carousel showcases how generative tools can simplify discovery—bringing the best clips front and center, with less effort. Stay tuned, because if testing is successful, this feature could become a standard across platforms.

Add the Same File to Multiple Folders in Google Drive (Without Duplicating!)

We've all been there. You're deep into a project, a client presentation, or even just planning a family trip. You create a crucial document – let's say, your "Project Alpha Budget.xlsx." It's meticulously crafted, filled with vital numbers, and the result of hours of work.

Now, where does it belong? It's clearly a "Project Alpha" file, so it should be in your Project Alpha folder. But wait, it's also a key financial document, so it needs to be accessible from your Finance > Budgets folder. And what about the Client X > Deliverables folder, since this budget is also a key deliverable for them?

The common, almost instinctive, reaction for many Google Drive users is to copy the file. You duplicate "Project Alpha Budget.xlsx" into all three folders. Problem solved, right?

But what if there was a better way? Google Drive has a powerful feature that solves this exact problem: shortcuts. Think of it as creating a digital "alias" or "pointer" to your original file. When you interact with a shortcut, you're always working on the single, most up-to-date version of the document, no matter which folder you access it from.

In this guide, we'll dive deep into how to add the same file to multiple folders in Google Drive using these smart shortcuts, ensuring your digital workspace remains organized, efficient, and free from the chaos of duplicates.

Google Drive Shortcuts vs. Copies (Crucial Distinction).

Before we dive into the "how-to," let's clarify the fundamental difference between a shortcut and a copy in Google Drive. This understanding is key to truly organized file management.

What Exactly is a Google Drive Shortcut?

Imagine you have a single, physical book. A shortcut in Google Drive is like placing a sticky note in multiple sections of a library, each note saying, "This book is related to this topic – find it on Shelf B, Row 3." The notes themselves aren't copies of the book; they just point to its one true location.

Google Drive shortcut is a tiny pointer file that links directly to the original source file. It looks just like the original file in any folder you put it in, but it doesn't contain any of the file's data. Its sole purpose is to direct you to the one central version of that document.

Benefits of Shortcuts:

• Zero Additional Storage: Shortcuts consume negligible space.
• Always the Latest Version: Update the original file, and those changes reflect instantly across all shortcuts. You always work on the most current version.
• Seamless Collaboration: Everyone works on the same underlying document, preventing confusion and lost work.

The Problem with Creating a "True" Copy.

Conversely, when you copy a file in Google Drive, you're creating an entirely new, independent version of that file. It's like taking your physical book to a copy shop and making an exact duplicate.

Drawbacks of Copies:

• Wasted Storage: Each copy takes up full storage space.
• Version Control Nightmare: Update one copy, and the others remain outdated. Tracking the "master" version becomes a chaotic mess.
• Collaboration Headaches: Multiple independent copies make effective team collaboration nearly impossible.

How to Add the Same File to Multiple Folders in Google Drive.

Now that we understand the power and benefits of Google Drive shortcuts, it's time to put that knowledge into action. Forget the old ways of copying files; we're about to explore the smart, efficient methods that will keep your Drive organized and your files up-to-date everywhere they need to be.

Before we begin, ensure you have:

• A Google Account: You'll need an active Google account to access and use Google Drive.
• Access to Google Drive: Make sure you're logged in and can navigate your Drive (drive.google.com).
• The Original File: You'll need the file you intend to add to multiple folders readily available in your Drive. Remember, you're creating shortcuts to this original file, not duplicating it.

Let's dive into the methods!

Method 1: The "Add Shortcut to Drive" Option (The Most Common Way)

This is the most straightforward and officially recommended method by Google for adding a file to multiple folders without creating duplicates. It's accessible via the right-click context menu and offers a clear path to organizing your files.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Go to drive.google.com and find the original file you want to add to other folders. Right-click on this file to open the context menu.
2. From the menu, move to "Organize," then click "Add shortcut". A dialog box will appear. Browse through your Drive's folders and select one or more destination folders where you want the shortcut to appear.

3. After selecting your folder(s), click the "Add" button in the dialog box.

4. Navigate to the folder(s) where you added the shortcut. You'll see the file there, marked with a small arrow icon on its thumbnail, confirming it's a shortcut to the original.

Note: Deleting the file shortcut won't delete the file from the original source.

Method 2: The "Shift + Z" Keyboard Shortcut.

For those who prefer keeping their hands on the keyboard, the Shift + Z shortcut offers a remarkably fast way to create shortcuts. Simply select the original file, then press Shift + Z (on Windows/Chrome OS) or Shift + Cmd + Z (on Mac). 

A small dialog will pop up, allowing you to quickly browse and select the folder(s) where you want to add the shortcut, mimicking the functionality of the right-click menu but with less mouse movement. This method is a favorite among productivity enthusiasts for its speed and efficiency.

Deleting a Google Drive Shortcut

To delete a shortcut without affecting the original file:

1. Locate the Shortcut: Find the shortcut in any folder where you've placed it (it will have a small arrow icon on its thumbnail).
2. Right-Click and Remove: Right-click on the shortcut and select "Move to Trash" (or drag it to the Trash).

3. Confirmation: The shortcut will be moved to your Trash. The original file remains safely in its original location, and any other folders where other shortcuts to it exist. You can then empty your Trash to permanently delete the shortcut.

⚠️ Warning

If you delete the original file from its source location, all shortcuts pointing to that file will break. The shortcuts will no longer be able to open the file. When you try to click them, you'll receive an error message indicating that the original file cannot be found or has been deleted.

You cannot restore the original file by interacting with a broken shortcut. If it hasn't been permanently deleted, you must go to the owner's Trash to restore it.

Generate Background Image in Google Meet With AI.

Have you ever wished for a quick, visually appealing background in your Google Meet without hunting through images? You're in luck—Google recently rolled out a Generate Background feature in Google Meet, powered by Gemini AI.

Instead of uploading your own photos, you can now ask Google Meet to create a custom background on the fly. Simply describe what you want—like "a cozy book-lined study" or "beach at sunset"—and the AI will generate a fitting image instantly. It's a fun, creative way to personalize video calls without the hassle.

How To Generate a Background Image in Google Meet Using AI?

This feature is part of Google Workspace Labs and is rolling out gradually; it may be available only to trusted testers in some regions and languages. If you don’t see the option yet, check your Workspace Labs access and update Meet.

Note: Do not include personal, confidential, or sensitive information in prompts. Google Workspace might use responses to improve the product.

1. Open your browser and go to meet.google.com and select a meeting (or start one). 
2. At the bottom, click on the three dots, and click Background and Effects. 
3. Choose Generate a background from the visual effects panel.



4. In the prompt box, type a short, descriptive instruction. Examples:
• A cozy book-lined study with warm lighting
• Magical sunny forest glade with light rays
• Modern home office, minimal, plants, bright

Tip: include style (illustration, watercolor, photorealistic), mood (cozy, airy), and objects (desk, plants) for better results.

5. (Optional) Pick a style from the style options if available.
6. Click Create samples to generate multiple background options.



7. If you want different variants, edit the prompt at the top of the panel and click Create other samples.
   
8. Click one generated image to apply it as your background. Click Close to exit the setup.

This background image generation feature is going to be available on both Android as well as Web.

 

With Google’s AI-powered background generator in Meet, you can save time and effort by skipping the hassle of browsing endless stock image libraries or designing a backdrop from scratch—Gemini handles the creative work for you. 

Personalization is effortless, whether you’re going for a sleek, professional setting or something fun and whimsical, with near-instant customization at your fingertips. Best of all, every generated background is crafted to deliver consistent polish, with perfect lighting and framing so you always appear at your best on camera.

Gmail’s New Manage Subscriptions Feature to Cleanup Inbox.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by newsletters, promo emails, or deal alerts crowding your Gmail? Well, good news—Google just made it way easier to declutter your inbox via the new Manage Subscriptions tool.

Google officially announced the rollout of Manage Subscriptions in early July 2025. The feature provides a central hub across web, Android, and iOS, where you can view and manage all your active email subscriptions in one place.

Instead of digging through each email to find tiny unsubscribe links, this dashboard lets you:

• See who’s emailing you most frequently, with counts to show how many messages they sent in recent weeks.
• Click any sender to view their emails.
• Unsubscribe with a single click—Gmail handles the request for you.

It was rolling out gradually across regions, and now it lives in almost all regions. Follow the steps given below to check if this cool Gmail feature is available in your region or not.

🆕 See your most frequent senders in one place and unsubscribe with just a tap using the new 'Manage subscriptions' view in Gmail. Try it now → https://t.co/JRRXA47LLw pic.twitter.com/k5ZYN0c6Rc

— Gmail (@gmail) August 6, 2025

Manage Subscriptions in Gmail.

After this feature is added, you can manage all your active email subscriptions in one place. This feature is now available both on Web as well as on apps.

• On the Web: Click the hamburger menu (top-left) and select “Manage subscriptions” from the sidebar.
• On Android: Tap the menu icon, then go to Manage subscriptions, and tap Unsubscribe next to any listed sender.
• On iOS: Similar process—navigate through the menu to access the subscription dashboard.

Say goodbye to the frustrating search for tiny unsubscribe links buried at the bottom of every email. Gmail’s new subscription manager makes it easier than ever to opt out, with just a click.

All your subscriptions are now displayed in a clean, organized dashboard. Gmail even sorts them by how frequently you receive emails, making it easy to spot which ones are filling up your inbox the most.

Whether you're drowning in promotional emails or just want a fresh start, this feature is a game-changer. It puts you in full control of your inbox, helping you declutter in minutes instead of hours.

Will It Impact Email Marketing?

Yes, this feature could significantly impact how businesses approach email marketing.

With Gmail making it easier than ever to unsubscribe, users are more likely to clean out promotional emails that no longer interest them. This means marketers can no longer rely on passive subscribers lingering on their lists. The focus will shift toward quality over quantity — brands must offer real value, personalized content, and relevant updates to keep their audience engaged.

If an email feels spammy, generic, or irrelevant, it’s gone with a single click. Marketers will need to adapt by refining their strategies, segmenting their lists more thoughtfully, and creating meaningful engagement, or risk seeing their unsubscribe rates spike.