Google Play Store Gets Help from Gemini to Find Apps.

Google is rolling out a significant update to its Play Store, integrating its powerful Gemini AI to transform how users discover and find new applications. This new feature moves beyond the traditional keyword-based search, offering a more intuitive and conversational way to navigate the vast catalog of apps.

The update introduces thematic search suggestions that leverage Gemini's understanding of natural language. Instead of having to know the exact name of an app, users can now use a broad phrase or a goal-oriented query, such as "games to play with friends," "apps for mindfulness," or "boost productivity." The AI then provides a curated, more relevant list of applications that fit the user's intent.

Credit: AndroidPolice

This change is particularly beneficial for new Android users or those who may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available on the Play Store. It provides a helpful guide, providing context-aware recommendations that simplify the discovery process. For instance, a user looking to improve their daily routine could search for "morning routine apps" and receive a list of highly-rated alarm clock, habit tracker, and meditation apps, rather than having to search for each type of app individually.

The rollout is currently underway for users in the U.S., with plans to expand to other regions in the near future. This integration of Gemini into the Play Store is another step in Google’s broader strategy to weave its AI capabilities into its core products, making them smarter, more personal, and ultimately, more helpful to the end user.

Google.org 2025 Impact Report Highlights $6 Billion in Funding.

A new report from Google.org reveals the significant impact of the company's philanthropic arm over the past two decades, detailing nearly $6 billion in funding to support a variety of global organizations since its inception in 2004. The 2025 Impact Report showcases a strategic approach to philanthropy, emphasizing the use of technology, particularly AI, to accelerate progress.

A key finding from the report highlights the transformative effect of AI on the organizations Google.org supports. According to the data, these groups have been able to reduce the time required to achieve their goals by over two-thirds and cut their operational costs by half, demonstrating the immense potential of AI as a tool for social good.

The report breaks down Google.org's efforts into several core areas, each with a focus on creating meaningful societal change:

• Knowledge, Skills, and Learning: The report notes that 4.1 million people have been trained for high-demand, high-paying jobs, underscoring Google.org's commitment to bridging the skills gap and fostering economic opportunity.
• Scientific Progress: Google.org has played a significant role in advancing research, providing over 16,000 research awards and funding more than 1,700 universities and research institutions worldwide.
• Stronger Communities: The report details how organizations supported by Google.org have assisted over 140 million people in times of crisis, from natural disasters to humanitarian emergencies, showcasing a dedication to global resilience and support.

Overall, the 2025 Impact Report solidifies Google.org's role in empowering non-profits and other organizations by providing not just funding, but also the technological resources necessary to scale their impact and create a more equitable and prosperous world.

Google Maps Update Brings Sleek New M3 Expressive Design.

Google is rolling out a new design for its Maps application, featuring an "M3 Expressive" update that introduces a more streamlined and modern interface. This change aims to improve user experience with a focus on consistency and ease of use, particularly for one-handed navigation.

The most notable change is the repositioning of the action carousel for features like Directions, Start, and Ask Gemini. This carousel is now permanently docked at the bottom of the screen, providing a consistent layout. Other changes include a new position for the top tabs (Overview, Reviews, Photos), which are now located above the image previews.

The update also incorporates several visual tweaks to modernize the app's look and feel. The information displayed under the place name, including ratings and distance, has been subtly adjusted. The use of Material 3 Expressive containers replaces the faint line separators in the description and address fields, giving the page a cleaner, more cohesive appearance. Additionally, all buttons have been updated to a pill shape, aligning with Google's broader design language.

This update is currently being seen in the latest beta version of Google Maps, version 25.37.x. The changes reflect a continued effort by Google to refine its most popular apps, ensuring they are both visually appealing and functionally intuitive for the modern user.

Also Read:

• Google Phone App on Wear OS Gains M3 Expressive.
• Gmail for Android Gets a Fresh Look with Material 3 Expressive Redesign.
• Chrome for Android Gets a Material 3 Makeover with Expressive Redesign.

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.