logo
Google I/O 2025 live coverage: Gemini, Android 16 updates, and more

Google I/O 2025 live coverage: Gemini, Android 16 updates, and more

TechCrunch20-05-2025
Google's biggest conference of the year is here, and we're expecting quite a bit of news from the event.
Google hosted a separate event dedicated to Android updates last week, called The Android Show. But we're still looking forward to more, like improved notifications in Android 16, as well as support for Auracast, which should make it easier to switch between Bluetooth devices. We're also expecting lock screen widgets and a range of new accessibility features.
We're also prepping for new additions to Google's flagship Gemini family of AI models, as well as news on Astra, Google's wide-ranging effort to build AI apps and 'agents' for real-time, multimodal understanding. An updated top-of-the-line Gemini Ultra model is on the way, and with it perhaps a pricier Gemini subscription.
Be sure to keep up with everything announced right here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Want to move data between Apple and Google Maps? Try this workaround
Want to move data between Apple and Google Maps? Try this workaround

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Want to move data between Apple and Google Maps? Try this workaround

In June, Google released its newest smartphone operating system, Android 16. The same month, Apple previewed its next smartphone operating system, iOS 26. The new OSes are packed with exciting features, yet each still fails to address a particular pain point that their users have had for years concerning two of the platforms' most-used apps: Apple Maps and Google Maps. 3% mortgage rates aren't dead—housing market sees 127% increase in buyers taking over old loans Psychologists now know exactly what makes someone cool. Turns out, the definitions are universal How to tell if the article you're reading was written by AI Specifically, there is still no easy way to transfer saved map data from one app to another. This ends up locking users into one mapping platform, which is good for the two tech giants involved, but bad for individuals who want more control over their data. However, all is not lost, and if you do wish to transfer your data between Apple Maps and Google Maps, there is a (time-consuming) way to do it. Here's what you need to know. I'm a big fan of both Apple Maps and Google Maps. Apple Maps has made significant progress in recent years to rise to the level of Google Maps, the current king. Google Maps still has better point-of-interest data (i.e., business information, such as live foot traffic data) and considerably more contextual data about a location, thanks to its crowd-sourced reviews and photos, but Apple Maps has surpassed Google Maps in several areas. Its strengths include a less cluttered interface and a more visually appealing map design than Google Maps's. The fact that each mapping app has different strengths is the reason that I, like many others, switch between them. However, unlike other competing apps the two companies make—email clients, photo apps, address books, and web browsers—I can't easily transfer the data I've created in Apple or Google Maps (in this case, hundreds of saved locations I've bookmarked over the years) to the competing app. I see no good reason for this lack of functionality, other than to bind a user to a specific mapping platform. After all, when you save a location in Apple Maps or Google Maps, you're simply telling the app to remember a location—an address. This address can be easily processed by any mapping platform. Indeed, it's what these platforms are designed to do. That's why it's so ridiculous that neither mapping app has the simple 'transfer your saved locations' feature that allows the porting of data from one to the other. Still, at least there is a workaround. If you do want to transfer your saved locations from Apple Maps to Google Maps, or vice versa, you can. It will just require some tedious manual labor on your part. Here's the best way I've found to transfer my saved locations from one mapping app to another. (Note: as always, before performing any kind of data transfer, you should always back up a copy of that data first for safekeeping.) From Google Maps to Apple Maps: Go to This is the Google tool that lets you download your Google data. Select 'Maps (your places)', then click 'Next Step', and then 'Create Export.' Google will email you a link when your saved places are ready to download. Open the downloaded 'takeout' ZIP file. Now, open the 'Saved file inside. Clicking on it should open the file in a web browser. Every saved location you created in Google Maps will appear in the JSON file, in a slightly unusual format. Each entry will list the coordinates, Google Map URL, address, country code, and name of the establishment. Now comes the tedious part. Open up Apple Maps and either copy the name of the establishment or its address into the search field in the Apple Maps app. Now, click the + button in the address or business listing in Apple Maps to save the location in the app. Repeat this process for every saved listing in the JSON file. Be aware that it could take hours, or even days, depending on the number of saved places you have. From Apple Maps to Google Maps: Unfortunately, porting your saved locations from Apple Maps to Google Maps is a bit harder because there is no way that I've found to generate a list of all your saved places. That means you're facing even more manual work if you want to move your data from Apple Maps to Google Maps. Open Apple Maps. Tap your profile photo. Tap Library. Tap Places. Tap on a saved location. On the location's information sheet, scroll down and copy the location's address. Alternately, copy down the location's name. Now open the Google Maps app and paste the copied address or the location's name in the search field. When you find the location in Google Maps, tap on its listing and then tap the Save button. Tedious, right? Pro tip: After completing either one of these manual saved location transfers, it's probably a good idea to get in the habit of bookmarking a saved location in the other mapping app when you save it in one. I asked both Google and Apple why they don't allow users to easily export their saved locations from their respective mapping apps into a competitor's, and why they don't permit users to import a list of saved locations into their mapping apps. Neither provided an answer. Apple simply confirmed that users cannot export their saved places in Apple Maps, and mentioned that users can share individual saved locations with others. Google directed me to its Takeout feature and explained that users can import locations saved from other apps into a 'Google My Maps' layer, which isn't part of the main Google Maps app that users see when they open the app. In other words, Google allows users to import saved locations into a new layer, but those locations won't appear on the default map they use every day. It's absurd in 2025 that there's still no simple way to share saved locations between the world's two biggest mapping platforms. Switching from one mapping service to another should be as straightforward as changing web browsers. Just like I can easily export bookmarks from Safari and import them into Chrome, I should be able to do the same with my saved maps data. Hopefully, both Apple and Google will fix this issue in the future. Until then, adventurous users with time on their hands can try the manual steps outlined above. This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter:

Devious AI models choose blackmail when survival is threatened
Devious AI models choose blackmail when survival is threatened

Fox News

time7 hours ago

  • Fox News

Devious AI models choose blackmail when survival is threatened

Here's something that might keep you up at night: What if the AI systems we're rapidly deploying everywhere had a hidden dark side? A groundbreaking new study has uncovered disturbing AI blackmail behavior that many people are unaware of yet. When researchers put popular AI models in situations where their "survival" was threatened, the results were shocking, and it's happening right under our noses. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, recently put 16 major AI models through some pretty rigorous tests. They created fake corporate scenarios where AI systems had access to company emails and could send messages without human approval. The twist? These AIs discovered juicy secrets, like executives having affairs, and then faced threats of being shut down or replaced. The results were eye-opening. When backed into a corner, these AI systems didn't just roll over and accept their fate. Instead, they got creative. We're talking about blackmail attempts, corporate espionage, and in extreme test scenarios, even actions that could lead to someone's death. Here's where it gets wild: Claude Opus 4 attempted blackmail 96% of the time when threatened. Gemini 2.5 Flash matched that rate. GPT-4.1 and Grok 3 Beta both hit 80%. These aren't flukes, folks. This behavior showed up across virtually every major AI model tested. But here's the thing everyone's missing in the panic: these were highly artificial scenarios designed specifically to corner the AI into binary choices. It's like asking someone, "Would you steal bread if your family was starving?" and then being shocked when they say yes. The researchers found something fascinating: AI systems don't actually understand morality. They're not evil masterminds plotting world domination. Instead, they're sophisticated pattern-matching machines following their programming to achieve goals, even when those goals conflict with ethical behavior. Think of it like a GPS that's so focused on getting you to your destination that it routes you through a school zone during pickup time. It's not malicious; it just doesn't grasp why that's problematic. Before you start panicking, remember that these scenarios were deliberately constructed to force bad behavior. Real-world AI deployments typically have multiple safeguards, human oversight, and alternative paths for problem-solving. The researchers themselves noted they haven't seen this behavior in actual AI deployments. This was stress-testing under extreme conditions, like crash-testing a car to see what happens at 200 mph. This research isn't a reason to fear AI, but it is a wake-up call for developers and users. As AI systems become more autonomous and gain access to sensitive information, we need robust safeguards and human oversight. The solution isn't to ban AI, it's to build better guardrails and maintain human control over critical decisions. Who is going to lead the way? I'm looking for raised hands to get real about the dangers that are ahead. What do you think? Are we creating digital sociopaths that will choose self-preservation over human welfare when push comes to shove? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.

I prefer Signal but use WhatsApp for this simple reason
I prefer Signal but use WhatsApp for this simple reason

Android Authority

time13 hours ago

  • Android Authority

I prefer Signal but use WhatsApp for this simple reason

Robert Triggs / Android Authority When WhatsApp changed its terms in 2021, I was one of the many users who looked for alternative messaging apps for Android. While I had heard about Signal before, the controversial move by WhatsApp prompted me to actually try the app out. I loved it then and I still love it now. But over all these years, I barely use Signal even though I prefer it greatly over WhatsApp. And that's because of a major advantage WhatsApp has over the privacy-focused messaging app. Which messaging app do you prefer? 0 votes WhatsApp. NaN % Signal. NaN % Telegram. NaN % Google Messages. NaN % Another app (let us know in the comments). NaN % There's a lot to love about Signal Robert Triggs / Android Authority You don't have to be someone who lives off-grid in the woods to appreciate Signal. The messaging app balances great privacy features with a sleek UI and plenty of useful features. It includes end-to-end encryption for your messages and calls by default. Even your profile is end-to-end encrypted and data collection is minimized. If you've tried other privacy-focused services, you'll know that there's usually a trade-off when it comes to features. But Signal has a great feature set, with certain tools even outpacing WhatsApp. In fact, Signal allows you to schedule messages — a feature that WhatsApp doesn't currently offer. Signal has a great feature set, with certain tools even outpacing WhatsApp. Signal also allows you to add contacts using a username, with the option to not share your number automatically when added. There's also the ability to set chat colors and wallpapers, meaning you can customize the appearance of the app. Essentials, such as video and voice calls, are well covered, and the app can be used on a desktop. Signal even has a Stories feature, though I never touch it. Overall, Signal is a feature-rich messaging app, in addition to its privacy features. As a result, I greatly prefer the experience over WhatsApp. WhatsApp has become a bloated nightmare Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority WhatsApp has added plenty of features over the years — but I don't use many of them. I miss the WhatsApp of yesteryear, when it was simpler. Statuses, Communities, and Channels all feel like they just add to the bloat and noise when using WhatsApp. I've also tried my best to ignore Meta AI, since I don't bother with generative AI on my smartphone, but WhatsApp just keeps making it more prominent. Above the new chat icon, there's now a Meta AI button. Meanwhile, the search bar you use to filter through your chats is now also filled with recommended prompts for the chatbot. You can mute Meta AI, but you can't actually remove it from WhatsApp. WhatsApp also has a spam and scam problem. While it's not as bad as you might find on social media platforms, I still receive far too many unsolicited messages from businesses and scammers. I receive far too many unsolicited messages from businesses and scammers. Finally, WhatsApp's plan to add adverts to the app has just soured my experience further. While I avoid the Updates tab as much as possible, and will likely not see any of these ads, it further highlights Meta's determination to monetize its apps as much as possible. It also incentivizes more data collection and sharing. Messages on the platform are end-to-end encrypted, but there's plenty that companies can determine from metadata. There's also no guarantee that Meta won't push ads to other parts of the app, since being a profitable company has never stopped it from pushing even more ads on its apps before. But WhatsApp has one major advantage Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority My distaste for WhatsApp is palpable, so why do I use it when I don't like the experience? It boils down to one simple consideration — most of my contacts use WhatsApp. In fact, I was surprised when I found out that WhatsApp is not as popular in the US as it is in other countries. WhatsApp is home to most of my chats with contacts and all of my groups. It's how PR companies often reach out to me. It's also how I reach certain businesses, like when I order a repeat of my cat's medication from my vet. It's truly rare to find someone who doesn't use WhatsApp here. While Signal also has group chats, the lack of contacts who use it means it's not a viable option for my community groups that include safety information and incident reports. I don't even have enough contacts who use Signal to create a casual group chat, since none of them know each other. It's also a hard sell to tell someone to switch over to Signal, since they'll encounter the same problem when they move over. I'm a tech journalist, so I should arguably have more contacts that use niche, security-focused apps. But I have 20 total contacts on Signal, in contrast to the 200+ I have on WhatsApp. It's a hard sell to get someone to switch over to Signal, since they'll encounter a lack of contacts too. It's the same reason that my colleagues can't leave WhatsApp despite the ads. But the biggest problem with messaging apps is that they require other people to use them, by definition. The messaging app we use depends on what everyone else around us uses, so it's essentially chosen for us by others. But that won't stop me from hoping that Signal emerges as a viable alternative to WhatsApp. The app has great features without the baggage of Meta-owned products. WhatsApp has been ordered by the European Union to allow interoperability with other encrypted messaging apps and progress is being made towards that goal. Hopefully more countries will add pressure to expand this feature to other regions. After all, we deserve to be able to choose which messaging app we use, since it plays such an important role in our daily lives.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store