All posts tagged: search

How to avoid garbage news on Google Search

How to avoid garbage news on Google Search

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletterđź’ˇ Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. When you search Google for something topical, you might see a cluster of headlines from news outlets, reporting breaking stories related to your search query. If you want to focus on those results, you can click to see More news, or navigate to the News tab at the top of the screen. How these news sources are chosen depends on a variety of signals and factors—just the same as any other Google results—but you now have the ability to set “preferred” sources that will always show up first. Maybe you want more New York Times and less CNN, or vice versa—Google will let you pick your favorites (which hopefully include Popular Science). This can also help you surface content from news sources you wouldn’t otherwise see in Google, like a local website covering your area. How to set preferred sources Setting preferred sources on Google. Screenshot: Google If you run a Google search on the web for something in …

Google Search Is Becoming Something Fundamentally Different. Here’s What That Looks Like

Google Search Is Becoming Something Fundamentally Different. Here’s What That Looks Like

Published by skeptic

Google Search doesn’t look like Google Search anymore, and at I/O 2026, the company leaned into that fully. The annual developer conference held this week in Mountain View, California, served as the most explicit statement yet of where Google is taking its flagship product: away from the blue-link model it perfected over 25 years and toward something closer to a conversational AI agent.  The announcements ranged from Gemini 3.5 Flash becoming the new default engine behind AI Mode globally to a complete reimagining of the search box itself, described by Google as the biggest upgrade to that interface in over two decades. Until now, AI has shown up in Google Search in the form of its so-called AI Overviews and in a separate AI Mode that feels more like talking to the Gemini chatbot. A new interface will instead adjust to match the tone and results of your search query — including an “intelligent search box” that lets you ask longer, more complex questions. Here’s what’s coming to Search from Google I/O. AI updates coming to Search Google Robby Stein, Google’s …

Google Search Gets a Massive AI Upgrade With Gemini 3.5

Google Search Gets a Massive AI Upgrade With Gemini 3.5

Published by skeptic

Google has introduced a new update to its search platform, incorporating advanced AI-powered features designed to enhance how users interact with information online. One of the most notable additions is the conversational search mode, which allows for a natural, dialogue-like interaction with search queries. Instead of starting over with each new question, you can refine your search or ask follow-up questions within the same thread, creating a more fluid and intuitive experience. The AI Advantage explores how these updates aim to make search more dynamic and personalized, while still preserving the option to use traditional search methods for those who prefer them. Dive into this overview to understand how these changes can impact your daily search habits. You’ll gain insight into the dynamic search box that adapts to complex queries, the plus button that unlocks new functionalities like image uploads and the integration of personal apps for tailored results. Whether you’re planning a trip, researching a technical topic, or managing your digital life, this guide breaks down the practical applications of Google’s latest features, helping …

Google Appeals Antitrust Ruling, Says Apple Chose Its Search Engine ‘Fair and Square’

Google Appeals Antitrust Ruling, Says Apple Chose Its Search Engine ‘Fair and Square’

Published by skeptic

Google today appealed a 2024 ruling that found it violated antitrust law by paying to be the default search engine on iPhones. In a filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Google said the district court made an error when concluding that Google’s search success was due to anything other than competition on merit. Google suggested it surpassed competition through better innovation, more investments, and “just working harder,” which is why Apple chose Google Search as its default search option on Apple devices. Whether or not Google has monopoly power, Google did nothing that “harm[ed] the competitive process.” It did not impede its rivals’ opportunity to make—or Apple’s and Mozilla’s ability to choose—a better offer. Indeed, there is no finding—or even any evidence—that Google’s customers would have chosen a rival, even in the absence of the challenged agreements. Google just prevailed in the marketplace fair and square. The filing points out that Apple was free to distribute and promote rival search engines, with Google highlighting the alternative browser options that Apple …

Remains found in search for missing Netflix actor police fear was murdered

Remains found in search for missing Netflix actor police fear was murdered

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The remains of Canadian actor Stewart McLean have been found in the Lions Bay area of British Columbia, police say. His death is being investigated as a homicide, according to Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). McLean, who was 45, recently appeared as a barfly in an episode of the hit Netflix series Virgin River. He had had not been seen since May 15. The Edmonton-born actor was last seen at his home in Lions Bay, British Columbia, according to reports. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Squamish subsequently received a missing person report May 18. RCMP turned the case over to IHIT on May 20. In a statement to The Independent, Cpl. Esther Tupper of IHIT said: “As the investigation continues to unfold, homicide investigators are working to collect and analyze evidence, review CCTV footage and conduct interviews to …

Ask AI or just Google it? Google makes a big change to a little search box : NPR

Ask AI or just Google it? Google makes a big change to a little search box : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai speaks during the tech titan’s annual I/O developers conference on May 14, 2024, in Mountain View, California. Google on Tuesday said it would introduce AI-generated answers to online queries made by users in the United States, in one of the biggest updates to its search engine in 25 years. GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption toggle caption GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP via Getty Images/AFP Stay up to date with our Up First newsletter sent every weekday morning. MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Google is changing what it means to Google. The company this week announced significant changes to its search box — that austere, single-line input field on its homepage that has been the world’s most popular entry point into the web for around two-and-a-half decades. The new version looks similar to the old one-line text box, but it’s dynamic, expanding with longer queries. Users can also drop videos, pictures and files into it for what Google calls “multimodal” search. Behind the scenes, a bigger shift is under way. Google is merging …

Even If You Hate AI, You Will Use Google AI Search

Even If You Hate AI, You Will Use Google AI Search

Published by skeptic

It’s been 17 years since I sat in on the iconic weekly search quality meeting in the Ouagadougou conference room at Google’s Mountain View campus. That Thursday morning, around three dozen engineers, product managers, and executives sat at a table or sprawled on the floor to discuss why certain search queries or categories didn’t yield a perfect result and to suggest fixes. In 2010 those meetings led Google to make 550 changes to its search algorithm, a number that seemed impressive at the time. That memory seems like a tintype. At Google’s I/O developer conference this week, a keynote speaker—head of search Liz Reid—officially down-ranked good old-fashioned search to virtual oblivion. This was a continuation of a process that began two years ago, when Google introduced “AI Overview,” its summaries that sit at the top of its search results page and literally lurk over the famous “10 blue links.” By then those links had already been degraded, so that all too often the most relevant ones were buried beneath aggregators, spam, and Google’s own shopping …

‘Ask YouTube’ brings AI-powered conversational search to video, adds Gemini Omni to Shorts

‘Ask YouTube’ brings AI-powered conversational search to video, adds Gemini Omni to Shorts

Published by skeptic

Google is completely revamping its search experience, and that doesn’t stop at YouTube. Like the rest of Google, YouTube’s search bar is getting infused with AI tools like “Ask YouTube,” a feature that is supposed to give users a more sophisticated search experience. “With Ask YouTube, you can ask more complex search queries, such as wanting tips on how to teach your kid to ride a bike, or finding creator reviews of cozy games to play before bedtime,” the company explained. “You can even ask follow-up questions to continue refining what you’re looking for.” YouTube will compile both Shorts and long-form videos and generate a response. Premium subscribers in the U.S. on desktop can start using this feature now through YouTube’s optional Premium offerings to test new tools. Image Credits:Google The company also announced that it is adding Gemini Omni, Google’s new AI video model, to YouTube Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app. “Remixing with Omni delivers a fresh way for users to create and build on each other’s imagination,” YouTube wrote in a …

Google Search is getting a complete AI overhaul — here’s what’s actually changing

Google Search is getting a complete AI overhaul — here’s what’s actually changing

Published by skeptic

Summary On May 19, Google announced massive changes to Search, centered around deep AI integration. The reimagined Search box expands and offers AI-driven suggestions, along with the ability to drag-and-drop files, images, and Chrome tabs to add context. You’ll also be able to create custom agents and even have Search code a custom app for you, right from the Search box. At Google I/O on May 19, the search giant announced a slew of AI-powered updates to its core search product, including what it’s calling the Search box’s “biggest upgrade in over 25 years.” What’s new with Google Search? A powerful new model for AI Mode — and the rest of Search, too Google has updated AI Mode to use Gemini 3.5 Flash, its latest Flash model. Prior to today, Search was primarily using Gemini 2.5, with occasional switches to 3.1 Pro for more complex tasks. The bump to 3.5 Flash is significant — it’s not just (much) faster, but also more capable. Gemini 3.5 Flash is the default in AI Mode globally starting May …

Everything Announced at Google I/O 2026: Gemini, Search, Smart Glasses

Everything Announced at Google I/O 2026: Gemini, Search, Smart Glasses

Published by skeptic

Much weirder is voice editing in Google Docs, in a new feature called Docs Live. By describing with your voice what you want to write, an agent will dictate your words, generate text, pull in citations from the web, and aim to turn your stream-of-consciousness wishes into a coherent document. (Reminder: All this stuff may eventually have ads.) For Gemini power users, Google is creating a new subscription tier, the AI Ultra plan, for $100 a month. It is also dropping the price of its top Gemini AI Ultra from $250 a month to $200. Gemini Omni Google announced Gemini Omni, an AI video generator akin to Sora 2. That was OpenAI’s generator that let you deepfake yourself but was eventually killed by the company. Google’s approach is building out a far more realistic video generator that can incorporate real video and extrapolate all manner of AI-powered weirdness on top of that. Google is eager for you to turn Omni’s eye on yourself, putting your face front and center. As such, selfie videos can be …