Google Meet Gets a Personal AI Advisor with New 'Ask Gemini' Feature.

In a major move to enhance meeting productivity, Google is rolling out a powerful new feature for Google Meet: "Ask Gemini." This new AI-powered capability acts as a personal in-meeting advisor, helping users stay on top of discussions and get the information they need without interrupting the flow of the conversation.

How 'Ask Gemini' Works.

The "Ask Gemini" feature is integrated directly into a side panel within Google Meet. As a meeting progresses, the AI processes the meeting's live captions and can answer a variety of private, personalized prompts, such as:

• Summarizing the discussion so far: For latecomers or those who step away, a quick prompt can provide a concise summary of what has already been said.
• Catching up on what you missed: If a user was temporarily distracted, they can ask the AI to recap a specific point.
• Identifying key takeaways and action items: Gemini can analyze the conversation to pinpoint decisions made and tasks assigned, making it easier to create post-meeting follow-ups.

Unlike a public note-taking bot, the responses from "Ask Gemini" are completely private to the user who asks the question, ensuring that personal queries or recaps aren't shared with everyone on the call. The AI can also pull context from a user's other Google Workspace apps, like Gmail and Google Docs, to provide even more relevant answers.

The feature is currently rolling out to Google Workspace customers on Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Standard, Business Plus, and Business Standard plans, with more languages to be added soon. Google has confirmed that the AI processes meeting data in real-time and does not store any meeting captions or data after the call ends, ensuring user privacy.

This latest development continues Google's aggressive push to integrate its Gemini AI model across its product suite, from search and email to collaborative tools. The focus on personalized, real-time assistance aims to make virtual meetings more efficient and less draining for participants.

For more insights into how Google is changing the digital landscape, check out our recent article on the new Google Discover 'Follow' button.

Also Read: Generate Background Image in Google Meet With AI.

Google Discover's New 'Follow' Feature and Content Expansion.

Google is rolling out a significant update to its Discover feed, introducing new ways for users to customize their content and a wider variety of content types. This move is part of Google's effort to make Discover a more personalized and useful tool for staying up-to-date with your favorite creators and topics.

A More Personalized Feed with the 'Follow' Button.

The most notable new feature is the introduction of a "Follow" button for publishers and creators. This new functionality, available when you are signed in to your Google account, allows you to actively subscribe to content from your preferred sources. Unlike the old system, which relied on users telling Google what to see less of, this update empowers you to directly curate your feed's quality and relevance by choosing who you want to hear from.

Recently, in August. Google introduced ‘Preferred Sources’ to let users customize their search news.

Expanded Content Types: From Articles to Shorts.

In addition to the new 'Follow' button, Google is expanding the types of content that appear in the Discover feed. Based on user research that showed a preference for a mixed media experience, the feed will now include posts from social media platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Furthermore, Google will integrate YouTube Shorts into the feed, offering a short-form video experience directly within Discover. This change is designed to make Discover a single, convenient destination for all content from a user's favorite voices and publishers. This integration will roll out in the coming weeks.

Google Delivers New September 2025 OTA Update to Pixel 10 Series.

Google has rolled out a new over-the-air (OTA) update for its flagship Pixel 10 series. This is the second update for the series this month, and it's a testament to Google's commitment to quickly resolving user-impacting bugs and improving the overall experience on its latest devices.

While the official changelog provides a general overview, a deeper look into the update and its corresponding community reports reveals a host of crucial bug fixes and performance enhancements. This new patch, with a build number of BD3A.250721.001.E1, is a compact 31MB download that focuses on a smoother, more stable user experience.

Key Bug Fixes and Improvements.

The most significant fix in this update is the resolution of a frustrating bug that caused the screen on some Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL devices to become "fuzzy" or "snowy" for brief periods. This is a critical fix, as a reliable display is fundamental to daily phone use.

In addition to the display issue, the update also addresses several other user-reported problems:

• Android Auto & Power Button Fix: It resolves an issue where the power button would stop working in specific instances, particularly when the device was connected to Android Auto and charging via USB-C.
• In-App Browser Stability: The update includes a fix for a bug that could cause the screen to turn black when transitioning from a webpage within an in-app browser.
• General System Enhancements: The patch provides overall improvements to system stability and performance, ensuring a smoother user experience. This likely includes optimizations for the Google Tensor G5 chip to handle daily tasks more efficiently.

As part of the broader September 2025 Pixel update, other fixes and enhancements were introduced that may also be included in this specific patch:

• Improved Call Audio: A fix for issues impacting call audio quality under certain conditions.
• Camera Performance: General improvements to camera stability and performance.
• User Interface (UI) Fixes: Patches for various UI-related bugs, such as the keyboard not responding, issues with navigation gestures, and problems with the Quick Settings panel.

It is worth noting that this update is part of Google’s broader September 2025 update rollout, which includes a host of other bug fixes for various Pixel devices. These fixes cover issues ranging from improved call audio quality and general system instability to camera performance and UI-related problems, such as an unresponsive keyboard or navigation gesture bugs.

For Pixel 10 series users, this update brings much-needed relief and a clear sign that Google is listening to community feedback. It’s an essential download for anyone who has encountered these issues, ensuring a more stable and reliable experience on their brand-new device.

Google's New 'Spotlight-esque' Desktop Search App for Windows.

Google is shaking up the desktop search game with a new, experimental "Google app for Windows." This native desktop application is currently available through Google Labs and is designed to bring a powerful, unified search experience directly to your PC. It's a rare move for the company to launch a dedicated desktop app, which signals this tool's potential importance in how we interact with our computers.

The app's standout feature is its "Spotlight-esque" functionality. Simply pressing Alt + Space, a search field pops up, allowing you to search for anything instantly. This isn't just a web search, though; it’s a comprehensive tool that scans your local files, apps, and even your Google Drive. This makes finding what you need incredibly fast and efficient, eliminating the need to open multiple applications or browser tabs.

Results are presented in a clean, organized manner. The app can even provide "Knowledge Panel-esque" answers right away, similar to what you'd see in a standard Google search. From the search results, you can perform quick actions, such as launching an app, opening a website, or accessing a file or Google Drive document with a single click.

Another impressive feature is the built-in Google Lens capability. This allows you to highlight text or an image on your screen and quickly translate it or copy it, all without leaving your current application. This integration of search and utility is what makes the new Google app for Windows so compelling for users who value productivity and speed.

While this new app is a significant development, it's important to remember that it is still in its experimental phase. Currently, it's only available to a limited number of users in the US who have a personal Google Account. It requires Windows 10 or newer and is available exclusively in English. These limitations are typical for a Google Labs product, and as a blogger, you'll want to keep an eye on future updates as Google refines this promising new tool.

Android 16 to Force Themed Icons on All Apps, Bypassing Developers.

Google is making a major push for a more consistent and cohesive visual experience on Android, and this time, there's no way for app developers to opt out. The upcoming Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 and a new legal requirement in the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA) will ensure that all app icons can be automatically themed to match a user’s wallpaper and system colors.

For years, Google has encouraged developers to provide their own themed icon assets for the Material You design system, but a large number of apps have never adopted the feature. This led to a fragmented home screen experience where some icons would match the theme while others remained their original color, creating a jarring look.

Now, Google is taking matters into its own hands. The Android 16 update will use a new color-filtering algorithm to automatically generate a monochromatic version of any app icon that doesn't already have a themed variant. This ensures every icon on the home screen can seamlessly integrate with the user's chosen theme.

Credit: Android Authority

A Legal Mandate for Visual Consistency.

To back up this technical change, Google has updated its binding legal contract with all developers on the Play Store. The revised clause in the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA) now explicitly states:

"You grant to the user a nonexclusive, worldwide, and perpetual license to perform, modify color of, or add themes to, your Product icons, display (including with the color and theme modifications), and use the Product."

This legal change, which went into effect immediately for new developer accounts and takes effect on October 15, 2025, for existing ones, gives Google the authority to alter an app's icon presentation without the developer's consent, ensuring a uniform look across the Android ecosystem.

For users, this means that enabling the themed icons feature will finally result in a consistent home screen, regardless of whether a developer has provided the necessary assets. For developers, it marks a significant shift in Google's design policy, prioritizing system-wide consistency over individual branding.

Gboard’s AI Writing Tools Spotted on Pixel 8 Pro, Signaling Wider Rollout.

Google is continuing its push to bring on-device AI to more users, as the highly anticipated Gboard Writing Tools feature has been spotted on the Google Pixel 8 Pro. This suggests that the powerful AI-driven proofreading and rephrasing capabilities, previously a highlight of the newer Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series, are now making their way to older flagship devices.

The feature, which uses on-device AI to help users write more effectively, was first reported by a user running a beta version of Gboard (v15.9.1). While Google’s official support page has not yet been updated to include the Pixel 8 series, this sighting indicates that a gradual rollout is underway.

The move is particularly interesting given that a previous footnote on Google’s support page had suggested the feature would be limited to devices with "Gemini Nano v2 or higher." The removal of that footnote, combined with this new sighting, points to a broader expansion of Gemini-powered features to a wider range of hardware.

While the feature is still in the beta channel for some users, it’s a strong sign that the Pixel 8 Pro will soon join a growing list of devices that officially support this next-generation on-device AI functionality.

Google Play Points Levels Up with New Rewards and a Mini-Game in the UK.

Google is raising the stakes for its most loyal users in the UK. The company has announced that its Google Play Points rewards program is getting a significant upgrade, introducing new perks that go beyond app purchases, including exclusive merchandise and a new mini-game.

The biggest news is the introduction of a new way to redeem points: collectibles and merchandise. In a collaboration with partners like Android, YouTube, and Chrome, users will soon be able to use their hard-earned points to get their hands on exclusive apparel and accessories.

Adding to the fun, the popular "Diamond Valley" treasure hunt mini-game is finally making its way to the UK. Previously a hit in Korea, Japan, and the U.S., the game will allow players to search for diamonds to win exciting prizes, including Pixel devices, exclusive merchandise, and bonus points.

How to Play?

The game will have an early access period for Google Play Points Gold+ members, starting on November 3. These top-tier players will also receive a 500-diamond bonus to kick-start their hunt. The game will then open to all Play users on November 10. The higher a user's status in the program, the more benefits they'll unlock.

For those who haven't joined yet, getting started is easy. Simply go to the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, select "Play Points," and tap "Join for free."