Google's "AI Mode" Expands to More Languages.

Google has announced a major expansion of its "AI Mode" in Search, bringing the powerful, AI-driven experience to millions of new users worldwide. The feature, which was previously only available in English, now supports five new languages: Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese.

This update represents a significant step in Google's mission to make its most advanced AI capabilities globally accessible and locally relevant. According to Google, this goes beyond simple translation, as the company has leveraged a custom version of its Gemini 2.5 model to ensure a "nuanced understanding of local information."

What is AI Mode?

AI Mode is a new tab within Google Search designed to handle complex, multifaceted queries that would typically require multiple searches. It uses a "query fan-out" technique to issue multiple related searches concurrently across various subtopics and data sources. This method allows it to provide comprehensive, AI-based answers that offer greater breadth and depth of information than a traditional search.

The feature is particularly helpful for exploratory questions, such as planning a trip, finding local recommendations, or understanding complex topics. It also offers conversational follow-up questions, similar to what users have come to expect from Gemini and AI Overviews.

Impact and Future Outlook.

The expansion to these new languages comes shortly after Google made AI Mode available in over 180 countries and territories. This rapid rollout underscores the feature's importance to Google's future strategy. Google has claimed that AI Overviews and AI Mode are driving more queries and quality clicks to websites, despite some concerns from publishers about a potential drop in traffic.

With this expansion, Google is making it clear that AI-powered search is here to stay and will continue to evolve, reaching an ever-growing global audience.

Also Read:

• Google Adds AI Mode Shortcut to Android Search Widget.
• Google Brings Live Camera Input Into Search AI Mode.

How To Create Cinematic Photos in Google Photos.

Have you ever looked at a still photo and wished you could feel the moment all over again? With Google Photos, you can. The Cinematic photos feature breathes life into your static pictures by adding a subtle, three-dimensional motion effect. It's a simple way to transform your favorite memories into something magical, without any advanced editing skills. 

This guide will walk you through exactly what cinematic photos are, which photos work best, and a step-by-step tutorial to create your own.

What Are Cinematic Photos?

A Cinematic photo isn't a video, but it looks like one. Using sophisticated machine learning and artificial intelligence, Google Photos analyzes a flat, 2D image and creates a 3D representation of the scene. It identifies the main subject, like a person, pet, or landmark, and separates it from the background. 

Once the layers are separated, Google Photos animates a virtual camera, creating a smooth panning effect. This gives the illusion of depth and movement, making the subject "pop" from the background and turning your simple photo into a short, dynamic video clip.

How to choose the Right Photo for Cinematic?

Not every photo is a good candidate for this effect. The best cinematic photos come from images that have a clear subject and a distinct background. Here's what to look for when choosing your photo:

• Clear Subject Separation: Photos where the main subject is clearly separated from the background will work best. Think of a portrait of a person standing against a wall or a tree in a field.
• Good Depth: Photos taken with "Portrait Mode" or those with a natural depth of field are often ideal. The more the camera can understand what's close and what's far away, the better the final result.
• Simple Backgrounds: Images with busy or complex backgrounds can sometimes confuse the AI, leading to less-than-perfect results. A photo with a simple background will yield a cleaner, more striking cinematic effect.

How To Create a Cinematic Photo?

You can either wait for Google Photos to automatically create a cinematic photo for you (it often does this for your "Memories") or create one yourself. Here's how to do it manually. You can also remove unwanted objects from your photo before creating a Cinematic video out of it.

Step 1: Open Google Photos and Select a Photo.

Launch the Google Photos app on your smartphone or tablet. Browse through your photo library and tap on the picture you want to transform into a Cinematic photo. For the best effect, choose a photo where the subject is clear and well-separated from the background.

Step 2: Open the Options Menu.

Once the photo is open, look at the top-right corner of the screen. Tap the three-dot menu icon to view more options for that photo.

Step 3: Choose the “Create” Option.

From the list of options that appear, tap on Create. This option is represented by a brush icon. Tapping it will open a creation panel at the bottom of your screen.

Step 4: Select “Cinematic Photo”.

In the Create new panel, you will see different creative tools. Scroll if needed and choose the option labeled Cinematic photo (usually the last one in the list). This tells Google Photos to start generating the effect.

Step 5: Wait for the Cinematic Video to Generate.

Google Photos will automatically analyze your chosen photo and apply motion effects using AI. After a few seconds, it will create a short 7-second Cinematic video that gives your picture a smooth 3D-style camera movement.

Step 6: Preview and Save the Cinematic Photo.

When the video is ready, it will play on your screen so you can preview it. If you like the result, simply tap the Save button. The Cinematic photo will then be stored in your Google Photos library as a video file.

Google Photos’ cinematic feature is a fantastic example of how AI can enhance our daily lives. It offers a simple, powerful way to take your favorite photos from static snapshots to captivating, living memories. By using this guide, you can start creating your own stunning cinematic photos today, adding a touch of movie magic to your personal photo gallery.

Gemini App is Allowing User to Upload Audio Files.

Google has rolled out a highly-requested "quality-of-life" improvement for its Gemini app, introducing the ability for users to upload audio files on the web, as well as on Android and iOS devices. This new feature significantly enhances Gemini's capabilities by allowing it to process and understand spoken content from external sources.

The process for uploading audio is straightforward and consistent across platforms. Users can access the feature by tapping the "plus" menu and selecting "Files" on their mobile device or "Upload files" on the web. The tool supports popular audio file formats, including MP3, M4A, and WAV, making it versatile for a wide range of uses.

Subscription Tiers and Audio Length.

Google has implemented a tiered system for audio length based on a user's subscription status:

• Free Users: Can upload audio files with a total length of up to 10 minutes. This is perfect for quick transcriptions, summarizing short meetings, or processing voice notes.
• Google AI Pro / Google AI Ultra Subscribers: Have a much larger capacity, allowing them to upload audio files up to 3 hours in length. This is ideal for professionals, students, and anyone needing to transcribe or analyze longer-form content like lectures, interviews, or podcasts.

This feature opens up a world of possibilities, from easily transcribing lectures for students to summarizing long interviews for journalists, making Gemini an even more powerful tool for productivity.

Also Read:

• Google Gemini Rolls Out Temporary Chats Option.
• Gemini App Gets a Major Upgrade with the Nano-Banana AI Model.

European Union Fines Google €2.95 Billion for Adtech Abuses.

The European Commission has levied a massive €2.95 billion ($3.5 billion) fine against Google, marking the fourth time the tech giant has been sanctioned by the EU's top antitrust regulator. The decision follows a multi-year investigation that concluded Google illegally abused its dominant position in the online advertising technology (adtech) market to the detriment of competitors, publishers, and advertisers.

The Heart of the Matter: Abusing Dominance.

The European Commission’s investigation, which began in June 2021, found that Google engaged in a series of "self-preferencing" practices. The company, which is a key player at every stage of the adtech supply chain, was found to have systematically favored its own ad exchange, AdX, over rival services.

Key findings of the investigation include:

• Information Asymmetry: Google allegedly gave its own ad exchange, AdX, an informational advantage in auctions, allowing it to beat competing bids.
• Discouraging Competition: The Commission found that Google's ad-buying tools actively avoided placing bids on competing ad exchanges, thereby reinforcing the central role of AdX and allowing Google to charge higher fees.
• Dominant Position: The investigation confirmed that Google holds a dominant position in two key adtech markets: publisher ad servers with its service "DFP," and programmatic ad buying tools with "Google Ads" and "DV360."

The EU executive vice-president, Teresa Ribera, stated that Google's behavior was "illegal under EU antitrust rules" and harmed all parties in the digital advertising ecosystem, from publishers who received lower revenues to advertisers who faced higher costs.

Beyond the Fine: A Demand for Change.

In addition to the financial penalty, the European Commission has ordered Google to cease its illegal practices and to implement measures that will resolve its "inherent conflicts of interest" within the adtech supply chain. Google has been given 60 days to propose a viable plan. 

The Commission has also warned that if Google fails to come up with a sufficient remedy, it will not hesitate to impose "strong remedies," including the potential for structural changes, such as forcing a divestment of parts of its adtech business.

Google’s Response and International Ramifications.

Google has publicly stated that it disagrees with the decision and plans to appeal. The company's global head of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, said the fine was "unjustified" and that the required changes "will hurt thousands of European businesses by making it harder for them to make money."

This ruling is not an isolated event. It mirrors a similar case brought against Google by the U.S. Department of Justice, with a remedies trial set to begin in the coming weeks. The EU's finding that Google abused its dominance could prove to be an important factor in the US proceedings.

The decision has also drawn a sharp reaction from President Donald Trump, who criticized the fine as "very unfair" and threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs against the EU.

This decision serves as a clear signal from the European Union that it is committed to reining in the power of Big Tech and ensuring fair competition in the digital economy.

Google's New Nest Cams and Doorbells with 2K and Gemini Spotted in Stores.

Google's next generation of smart home security devices appears to be arriving sooner than expected. The new Nest Cam and Doorbell models, distinguished by "2K" and "with Gemini" badges on their packaging, have been spotted in retail stores ahead of their anticipated official announcement on October 1.

The new product names are expected to be the Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd Gen), Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd Gen), and Nest Doorbell (wired, 3rd Gen). While the physical designs of the cameras remain largely unchanged from the 2021 models, Google is introducing new color options, including a vibrant red.

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The most notable changes are highlighted on the packaging. The "2K" designation points to a significant upgrade in video resolution, promising clearer and more detailed footage. The "with Gemini" badge suggests that these devices will leverage Google's latest AI models to provide enhanced features, such as more intelligent object recognition, improved activity detection, and more nuanced alerts.

The early appearance of these products in stores indicates that they will be available for purchase immediately following the October 1 announcement, which is sure to excite consumers and smart home enthusiasts alike. This is a significant step for Google's Nest lineup, bringing higher resolution and advanced AI capabilities to its core security products.

Google Keep Reminders are Moving to Google Tasks.

For years, Google has been working to unify its diverse suite of productivity tools. The latest and most significant step in this effort is the long-awaited migration of Google Keep reminders to Google Tasks. This change aims to make Google Tasks the central hub for all your to-dos across the Google ecosystem, from Gmail and Calendar to Assistant and now, Keep.

The Background: A Long Time Coming.

The integration of reminders has been a gradual process. Back in 2023, Google first announced that it would migrate reminders from Google Calendar and Assistant to Google Tasks. The company later confirmed that Keep reminders would also be part of this consolidation. While the full migration has been pending, Google has provided more concrete details on what to expect.

The transition is set to occur in the second half of 2025, with new reminders created in Keep being automatically saved as tasks in the Google Tasks app.

What This Means for You.

• One Hub for All Your To-Dos: The biggest change is that Google Tasks will become the single, unified solution for managing your to-dos. You will be able to view, edit, and complete reminders created in Keep, as well as those from Calendar and Gemini, all in one place.
• Keep is Still Relevant: You will still be able to create new reminders directly within the Google Keep app. The key difference is that these reminders will be saved to Tasks, and their notifications will be handled by either the Google Tasks or Google Calendar app.
• The Loss of Location-Based Reminders: A notable change is the discontinuation of location-based reminders within Google Keep. This feature will not be carried over to Google Tasks. While any existing location data will be added to the task's description, you will no longer receive notifications based on your physical location.
• Badge for Keep Reminders: To help you distinguish them, reminders that originated in Keep will be badged as "From Keep" within the Google Tasks and Calendar apps.
• Where to find Your Reminders: Once the migration is complete, you will find your reminders in the Tasks calendar within Google Calendar and in the Google Tasks app itself.

This move reinforces Google's strategy to streamline its productivity suite and make Google Tasks the central, cross-platform to-do manager. For Keep users, this is a significant update that will change how they manage their reminders, consolidating their workflow into a single, more powerful system.

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

Erase Unwanted Objects From Photo Using Google Photos.

Have you ever taken a great photo, only to realize later that an unwanted object, like a stray person, a power line, or a piece of trash that is ruining the shot? It’s a common frustration, but it doesn't have to be the end of the road for your perfect picture.

Thanks to the Magic Eraser feature in Google Photos, you no longer need expensive or complicated software to fix your images. This powerful and easy-to-use tool lets you effortlessly remove distractions with just a few taps, transforming your photos from almost-perfect to absolutely flawless.

Google Photos Magic Eraser: What It Is & How It Works.

The Google Photos Magic Eraser is an AI-powered editing tool designed to make unwanted distractions in your photos simply disappear. Unlike traditional photo editing, which might require a steady hand and complex software, Magic Eraser is built for simplicity. It's an intelligent solution that lets you quickly and easily clean up your pictures.

So, how does it accomplish this? The core of Magic Eraser is its advanced artificial intelligence. When you activate the tool, the AI scans your image to identify elements that might be distracting, such as people, power lines, or objects in the background. It then uses a sophisticated technique called "in-painting." 

This process involves analyzing the surrounding pixels, textures, and colors to intelligently fill in the space where the unwanted object was, creating a seamless and natural-looking result.

How To Use Magic Eraser in Google Photos?

Prerequisite

The Magic Eraser feature is now available for free on all devices running the Google Photos app, both on Android and iOS. You must have the latest version of the Google Photos app installed and a stable internet connection for the AI processing to work.

Here’s how to use Magic Eraser to remove unwanted objects from your photos, a process that is largely the same for both Android and iOS devices.

1. Open the Google Photos App and select the photo you want to edit.
2. At the bottom of your screen, you'll see a row of icons. Tap the "Edit" icon (it looks like a series of sliders).
   
   
   
3. Simply use your finger to circle or brush over the unwanted object you want to erase and click on the "Erase" icon that appears on the screen.
   
   
   
4. Once the object is removed, you can click on undo and redo to see the exact difference between the before and after image.
   
   
   
5. Once you are satisfied with the result, tap "Done." The app will then give you the option to "Save as Copy," to keep your original photo untouched.
   
   
   

Note: The Magic Eraser is very good, but sometimes it may leave behind a small residue or an imperfect patch. If this happens, you can simply zoom in and circle or brush over the area again to refine the result.

Google Photos Magic Eraser is Better Than Similar Editors.

While many apps now offer a way to erase objects, Google Photos' Magic Eraser stands apart with its unique combination of convenience and intelligent design. It's not just another editing tool; it's a seamless part of the app where you already store your memories. And more importantly is free for all Google Photos users.

This integration means you can fix a photo the moment you see it, without the hassle of downloading, paying for, or learning a new app. The feature is also powered by Google's advanced AI, which goes beyond simple blurring. 

It intelligently analyzes your photo's content, filling in the erased area with realistic details to create a flawless and natural-looking result. This makes professional-quality edits simple and accessible for everyone, turning an otherwise complicated task into a quick, effortless fix.

Conclusion.

In a world filled with countless editing apps, Google Photos’ Magic Eraser distinguishes itself not just with its powerful AI but with its commitment to user-friendly design. It takes a complex, frustrating problem of removing unwanted objects from a photo and offers a solution that is both incredibly effective and remarkably simple.

Also Read: Google Photos Rolls Out AI Tools to Animate Images and Add Artistic Effects.