Google Flights Unveils AI-Powered "Flight Deals".

Gone are the days of endless tab-hopping and meticulous date adjustments to find the perfect flight deal. Google is revolutionizing travel planning with the launch of "Flight Deals," a new AI-powered search tool seamlessly integrated within Google Flights. Designed specifically for flexible travelers whose top priority is saving money, this innovative feature promises to simplify the quest for affordable airfare.

How AI Transforms Your Flight Search.

At its core, "Flight Deals" leverages Google's advanced AI to understand the nuances of your travel preferences through natural language queries. Instead of rigid date and destination inputs, you can now describe your ideal trip as if you're talking to a friend. For instance, you could search for:

• Week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop.
• 10-day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder.
• Romantic weekend getaways.
• See the cherry blossoms in Japan.

The AI then processes these conversational inputs, identifies matching destinations, and taps into real-time Google Flights data from hundreds of airlines and booking sites. This intelligent approach helps uncover the best bargains available, even suggesting destinations you might not have previously considered. The results are optimized for savings, highlighting flights that are cheaper than usual.

Beyond Filters: A More Intuitive Planning Experience.

This new tool complements the existing Google Flights experience, which will continue to operate and receive updates. "Flight Deals" offers a more fluid and less prescriptive way to explore travel possibilities, bridging the gap between your abstract travel ideas and concrete flight data. It's particularly beneficial for those who prioritize budget and flexibility over a fixed itinerary.

In addition to "Flight Deals," Google Flights is also adding a new option for users in the U.S. and Canada to exclude basic economy fares from their search results, providing more control over comfort and amenities.

Rollout and Availability.

"Flight Deals" is currently in its beta phase and is rolling out over the next week to users in the United States, Canada, and India. There's no opt-in required; users can access the new feature directly via the dedicated "Flight Deals" page or through the top-left menu within Google Flights. Google is actively gathering feedback during this beta period to further refine how AI can enhance the travel planning process.

This update represents Google's ongoing commitment to integrating AI across its products, making complex tasks like finding cheap flights more accessible and intuitive for everyone. Get ready to explore more, save more, and travel smarter with the power of AI at your fingertips.

Google Keep for Android Gains Essential "Sort" Feature for Enhanced Organization.

Key Highlights.

• Google Keep for Android now allows users to sort notes by "Custom," "Date created," or "Date modified."
• This update significantly enhances the ability to manage and find notes within the app, especially for large note collections.
• The sorting capability is currently rolling out to Google Keep on Android (v5.25.312.00.90) via a server-side update.

Google Keep, the minimalist note-taking app beloved for its simplicity and cross-platform syncing, is finally rolling out a long-awaited "Sort by" feature for its Android application. This significant quality-of-life improvement addresses a persistent user request, allowing for much more efficient organization and retrieval of notes.

Previously, Google Keep primarily relied on a reverse chronological order or manual dragging for note arrangement, which could become cumbersome for users with extensive note libraries. The introduction of dedicated sorting options marks a substantial step towards providing users with greater control over their digital thoughts.

New Sorting Options to Tame Your Notes.

The new "Sort by" capability can be found conveniently located within the search bar, next to the existing single or multi-column feed switcher icon. Tapping this new icon reveals a bottom sheet with clear sorting choices:

• Custom: This is the default setting and maintains your manually arranged order (notes can still be dragged and dropped).
• Date created: Organizes notes based on when they were originally made, from newest to oldest or vice-versa.
• Date modified: Sorts notes by their last edited date, keeping your most recently updated thoughts easily accessible.

When a date-based sorting option is active, the sort icon in the search field will visually indicate that it is active, making it clear how your notes are currently organized. Google Keep also intelligently remembers your "Custom" order, so you can always revert to your preferred manual arrangement after using the date-based sorting.

Credit: Google

A Gradual Rollout and Platform Availability.

This highly anticipated feature is rolling out widely to Android users on Google Keep version 5.25.312.00.90, though it appears to be a server-side update, meaning availability may vary even for users on the correct app version. While Android is receiving this update first, there is no immediate confirmation on its rollout to iOS or the web client at this time. The feature also integrates seamlessly with the Material 3 Expressive design language, which many users are beginning to see in the app.

This update transforms Google Keep from a simple dumping ground for thoughts into a more powerful and manageable organizational tool, especially for those juggling a large number of notes and lists.

Google Wallet Streamlines Pixel Payments with New Quick Access Overlay

Key Highlights.

• Quick Access Overlay: Google Wallet introduces a new card carousel overlay for Pixel devices via the double-tap power button, enabling faster payments.
• Seamless User Experience: Pay with a different card instantly without fully opening the Wallet app, then quickly return to your previous activity.
• Gradual Rollout: The feature is arriving on Pixel phones running Android 16 and Wallet v25.31, indicating a staged deployment.

Google is rolling out a significant quality-of-life improvement for Pixel users, introducing a new, intuitive overlay for Google Wallet that enhances the speed and convenience of contactless payments. This update, observed on devices running Android 16 and Google Wallet version 25.31, streamlines access to your payment cards directly from a double-tap power button gesture.

For a long time, Pixel users could customize the double-press power button gesture to launch the full Google Wallet app. While useful, this meant navigating the entire application just to select a different card for payment. The new overlay revolutionizes this process by presenting a card carousel directly above your current screen, featuring a subtly blurred background.

This "hold to reader" NFC animation and quick card selection is a game-changer for users who frequently switch between different cards or need to pay rapidly without fully leaving their active application. After the transaction is complete, the overlay dismisses, allowing users to seamlessly return to what they were doing previously. A convenient "Open Wallet" shortcut is also provided at the bottom for those who need to access more in-depth Wallet features.

The feature appears to be rolling out gradually, as not all Pixel devices have received it yet. It's tied to Android 16 and requires Google Wallet version 25.31, along with the latest Play services (beta). Early reports indicate it's appearing for users with Pixel 9 Pro Fold devices running Android 16. This new overlay is reminiscent of a similar quick access feature seen in previous Android versions, indicating Google's continued focus on optimizing payment flows.

This update reinforces Google's commitment to making digital payments on Pixel devices not just secure, but also incredibly efficient and user-friendly.

Google Gemini Boosts User Privacy with New Temporary Chats & Enhanced Data Controls.

Key Points.

• New Temporary Chat Mode: Engage with Gemini in sessions that won't be saved to your history or used for personalization, ensuring enhanced privacy.
• Balanced Personalization: Gemini can now offer more tailored responses based on your saved chat history, while giving you the choice for private, unsaved conversations.

Google is rolling out a significant update to its Gemini AI chatbot, introducing a highly anticipated "Temporary Chats" feature alongside more robust personalization options and expanded privacy controls. This move empowers users with greater command over their conversation history and how their data is used, addressing key privacy considerations in the evolving AI landscape.

Historically, AI chatbots often save conversation history to improve performance and personalize future interactions. While beneficial for continuity, this approach raises concerns for users who prioritize privacy. Google's new Temporary Chats directly tackles this by allowing users to engage with Gemini in sessions that will not be saved in their Gemini Apps Activity, nor will these specific conversations be used to personalize future responses.

Introducing Gemini's Temporary Chats.

When a temporary chat is initiated, it functions as a clean slate, ensuring that any sensitive or one-off queries remain ephemeral. This offers peace of mind for users discussing private topics or conducting quick, isolated tasks without a permanent record. It's important to note that certain advanced features that rely on persistent activity, such as personalized responses based on past interactions or integrations with other Google services (like Workspace), will not be available in temporary chat mode.

For users who prefer a more personalized experience, Gemini is also enhancing its ability to learn from past chats (when chat history is enabled). This allows the AI assistant to provide more tailored and relevant responses over time, becoming an even more proactive and powerful tool the more you interact with it. Just as Gemini adapts to your conversational style, you can also easily customize its interface by learning how to change language in the Gemini app, ensuring your entire experience is tailored to your preferences. 

How Temporary Chats Work?

Complementing these features are new, more granular privacy settings. Users now have increased control over their Gemini Apps Activity, including options to:

• Review and delete past conversations.
• Adjust auto-delete settings for their activity, allowing them to choose shorter or longer retention periods, or turn off saving entirely.
• Manage location permissions and other data access directly from within the Gemini app or associated Google Account settings.

These updates underscore Google's ongoing commitment to user control and data privacy within its experimental generative AI offerings. By providing clear choices and ephemeral chat options, Gemini aims to build greater trust and flexibility for its growing user base.

Read more - 

• Create Storybooks using Gemini.
• Gemini Drops Feed to Centralize AI Tips and Updates.

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.