Tag Archives: Google

general

X, Grok Takedown: Senators Ask Apple, Google to Remove Apps Due to ‘Sickening’ Content Generation

Leave a comment

**US Senators Demand Apple and Google Remove X and Grok Apps Over AI-Generated Inappropriate Content**

X and Grok are facing serious scrutiny as three United States Senators have called for the immediate removal of these platforms from Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Senators Ron Wyden, Edward J. Markey, and Ben Ray Luján jointly issued a press release announcing that they have sent a formal letter to both Apple and Google, urging them to take down the X and Grok apps.

The senators’ concerns stem from claims that the AI tools used by X and Grok have been exploited to generate “nonconsensual sexualized images of women and children at scale.” Recently, there has been growing alarm over a surge of inappropriate content spreading on X, attributed to the misuse of its AI content generation capabilities.

According to the senators, these AI-generated images often use likenesses of “real, private citizens,” depicting terrifying scenarios involving women being “sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.” In their letter addressed to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the senators warned:
“Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would make a mockery of your moderation practices.”

They further emphasized that failing to act would undermine Apple and Google’s public and legal claims that their app stores provide a safer user experience compared to allowing users to download apps directly to their devices.

The senators also highlighted the tech giants’ ability to respond swiftly to violations of app store policies, citing the recent removal of the ICEBlock app—an app notorious for tracking federal and law enforcement officials—as an example of decisive action.

### ‘Sickening’ Content Generated by X and Grok AI

The letter specifically condemns X’s Grok AI tool for producing “sickening” content that sexualizes real individuals, particularly women and children, without their consent. The senators categorize this content as not only unethical but also illegal, potentially constituting child sexual abuse material.

They assert that this issue has persisted for quite some time. Referencing recent research, the senators noted that an archive of Grok-generated images reportedly contains nearly 100 possible child sexual abuse materials dating back to August. The archive also includes many other nonconsensual nude depictions of real people subjected to torture and worse.

### Elon Musk’s Role Under Fire

The senators did not spare Elon Musk, owner of X and founder and CEO of xAI. They claim Musk has “encouraged” this harmful behavior by publicly acknowledging the inappropriate use of X’s AI content generation tools. The letter further alleges that Musk’s reaction—using “laugh-cry emojis” in response to some of these posts—demonstrates a troubling disregard for the severity of the situation.

As the call for app removals gains traction, Apple and Google face mounting pressure to enforce their policies and protect users from the dangers posed by AI-generated harmful content on these platforms.
https://www.techtimes.com/articles/313944/20260109/x-grok-takedown-senators-ask-apple-google-remove-apps-due-sickening-content-generation.htm

general

Maine’s Platner: ‘If I Had My Way’ Google and Palantir ‘Wouldn’t Exist’

Leave a comment

WINDHAM, Maine-Senate candidate Graham Platner (D., Maine) said Google and Palantir “wouldn’t exist” if he had his way. “If I had my way, we would break all these companies up. Palantir wouldn’t exist. Google wouldn’t exist,” Platner said Saturday during a town hall in the southern Maine town of Windham. “We could have regulated this nonsense in a way that . would make sure that we’re doing it in a fashion that’s going to benefit workers and not just people in power.” Platner accused the companies of using personal data to fuel corporate profits and societal division. “All of your data does not belong to you. All of our data is used against us daily. Figuring out how to fleece us of money, how to keep us angry at each other. The only way that that changes, in my personal opinion, is policies that don’t allow that to happen. We’re not going to beat them on their terms. We’ve got to build our own weapons. We’ve got to build our own ability to fight back,” he continued. “We’ve got to do it, frankly, using the old fashioned ways, which is connecting, winning elections, building secondary power, getting structural power again, and then using that into the tax code, using the monopoly law, however we want to do it. That’s how we’re going to have to go about it.” Those remarks are Platner’s most aggressive to date on big tech. He has, however, said more broadly that he wants to break up monopolies and use the tax code “to get back money that was stolen from the working people. I want to go after companies that have stolen from the American people for decades at this point and accrued all of the wealth at the upper echelons,” Platner said during a Nov. 15 event. Platner’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
https://freebeacon.com/democrats/maines-platner-if-i-had-my-way-google-and-palantir-wouldnt-exist/

general

Google set to face fresh EU probe over news ranking system

Leave a comment

**European Commission Launches New Antitrust Investigation Into Google Under the Digital Markets Act**

The European Commission is preparing to begin a new antitrust investigation into Google under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This probe will focus on how the company ranks news publishers in its search results.

The investigation stems from complaints by European news publishers who allege that Google unfairly demotes outlets that include “third-party” promotional content, such as sponsored articles or paid editorial pieces. Publishers argue that this type of content is essential to their revenue models.

### The EU Brings Charges Against Google

Critics, including various news industry groups, claim that Google’s practice gives an unfair advantage to publishers without such promotional content and stifles competition in the digital advertising space. The EU’s probe alleges that the American tech giant is violating the DMA, legislation designed to prevent large “digital gatekeepers” from unfairly disadvantaging other businesses operating on their platforms.

If Google is found to have violated the DMA, it could face fines of up to 10% of its global turnover—potentially amounting to billions of euros—along with orders to change its algorithms or business practices.

### Ongoing Investigations and Recent Fines

Google is already under multiple DMA investigations in the EU. These include probes into whether its search engine favors its own services over competitors and whether it obstructs developers from redirecting consumers to offers outside its app store.

This new investigation comes just two months after the European Commission fined Google €2.95 billion for its search advertising practices. That penalty even prompted then U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten additional tariffs against Europe.

Google has publicly defended its ranking systems as neutral and based purely on user relevance.

Meanwhile, the news has generated buzz among some observers who welcome the move as a step toward leveling the playing field against Big Tech dominance.

### Google Faces Additional Lawsuit Over Gemini AI Privacy Concerns

At the same time as it fights the antitrust allegations, Google is also being accused in a lawsuit of using its Gemini AI assistant to unlawfully spy on the private communications of users of Gmail’s instant messaging and videoconference programs.

Previously, users had the option to enable Google’s Gemini AI in Gmail, Chat, and Meet. However, in October, the Alphabet Inc. unit reportedly “secretly” activated Gemini for all those applications. This meant it could collect private user data “without the users’ knowledge or consent,” according to a complaint filed late Tuesday in federal court in San Jose, California.

While the company does not prevent users from turning off Gemini, the AI tool’s deactivation requires navigating Google’s privacy settings—something many users may not be aware of, claims the proposed class-action lawsuit.

If users do not take this step, Google allegedly uses Gemini to “access and exploit the entire recorded history of its users’ private communications, including literally every email and attachment sent and received in their Gmail accounts,” according to the complaint.

### Legal Implications

The lawsuit alleges that Google is violating the California Invasion of Privacy Act, a 1967 law that prohibits surreptitious wiretapping and recording of confidential communications without the consent of all involved parties.

—

*Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community limited to 1,000 members.*
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/google-set-to-face-fresh-eu-probe-over-news-ranking-system/

general

Google Photos Gets Nano Banana, More

Leave a comment

Google has announced a major update to Google Photos, bringing exciting improvements across Android, iPhone, and the web versions of the service.

“AI features in Google Photos already help you do more with your memories: Edit photos with a simple ask, get creative and reimagine images in new styles, search and ask complex questions and so much more,” says Google senior director Yael Marzan. “And now, we’re improving our AI-powered tools and adding new ones including multiple features powered by Gemini’s top-rated image editing model, Nano Banana.”

Here’s what’s new:

**AI-Powered Photo Editing**

This new feature lets you use a prompt to describe how you want to edit a photo, and Google Photos will make it happen automatically. This is a classic use case for AI, saving you time by accomplishing tasks without needing to master complex editing tools.

**Ask Photos**

Already available on Android, this handy feature is now rolling out on iPhone alongside the redesigned photo editor. It lets you edit photos using your voice, simple gestures, and one-tap suggestions. Ask Photos is now available in over 100 countries and supports 17 new languages, making it more accessible than ever.

**Nano Banana**

Google’s impressive photo-to-video model, Nano Banana, is now integrated into Google Photos. This allows you to transform still images into short videos, adding a dynamic element to your photo memories.

**AI Templates**

On Android in the U.S. and India, Google Photos now offers a “Create with AI” section that provides ready-made templates to help you get started quickly, without having to come up with your own creative prompts.

“These new templates are powered by Nano Banana and will help you create images instantly based on popular edits,” Google explains. Examples include prompts like “put me in a high fashion photoshoot,” “create a professional headshot,” or “put me in a winter holiday card.”

With these updates, Google Photos continues to enhance the way you can interact with and creatively reimagine your photos using cutting-edge AI technology.
https://www.thurrott.com/music-videos/google-photos/329487/google-photos-gets-nano-banana-more

business, science, technology

Google Project Suncatcher plans to build space-based solar-powered AI infrastructure systems

Leave a comment

This week, Google revealed detailed plans for an ambitious initiative to build “scalable ML compute systems” in space. Dubbed **Project Suncatcher**, the company aims to research and develop facilities for its AI TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) systems outside of Earth’s atmosphere. The primary goal is to harness the sun’s solar energy more directly, addressing the growing power requirements of its expanding AI infrastructure.

In an extensive blog post outlining the details and intentions of Project Suncatcher, Google shared additional insights from CEO Sundar Pichai. As part of this initiative, Google will collaborate with Earth-imaging company Planet to launch two prototype satellites by 2027.

Inspired by a history of moonshot projects — from quantum computing to autonomous driving — Project Suncatcher explores the possibility of building scalable machine learning compute systems in space. By tapping into the vast and largely untapped solar power available beyond Earth, the project aims to harness energy at levels far exceeding terrestrial capabilities. The sun emits more power than 100 trillion times humanity’s total electricity production, presenting an enormous opportunity to fulfill the energy demands of AI technology.

This ambitious project seeks to address a persistent and increasingly urgent problem in AI development: the high cost and environmental strain of powering these advanced systems. The energy demands of AI have grown so significant that environmental groups have criticized companies like xAI for the impact their facilities have on local environments and power supplies — notably in Memphis, Tennessee.

Project Suncatcher represents Google’s effort to pioneer a sustainable and scalable path for powering AI, pushing the boundaries of technology beyond our planet while addressing critical energy challenges here on Earth.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146711/google-project-suncatcher-sundar-pichai-ai-solar-energy

general

Small Modular Reactors: Why Governments And Tech Giants Are Embracing SMRs

Leave a comment

**Small Modular Reactors: De-Risking Nuclear Energy Through Factory Production**

Small modular reactors (SMRs) promise to reduce cost overruns and delays traditionally associated with nuclear power projects by utilizing factory production methods. This innovation is attracting significant attention from major technology companies and governments alike.

Tech giants are actively investing in the development and deployment of SMRs. Google has partnered with Kairos Power, Amazon has invested in X-energy, and Microsoft has secured output from a recently restarted nuclear reactor. Such collaborations highlight the growing confidence in SMRs as a key component of future energy systems.

Governments view SMRs as essential for enhancing energy security while meeting climate commitments. According to an analysis by Arthur D. Little, SMRs must achieve levelised costs of electricity (LCOE) between €52 and €119 per megawatt-hour to compete with other baseload energy sources under current market conditions.

As the world strives to reach net-zero carbon targets, a constant and reliable electricity supply is critical. While renewable energy sources provide part of the solution, their intermittency remains a challenge. Nuclear reactors produce electricity consistently, irrespective of weather conditions, and emit significantly lower carbon emissions compared to hydrocarbon-based power generation.

Traditional nuclear plants, however, have faced challenges such as high upfront costs and construction delays. SMRs offer a promising alternative by potentially overcoming these obstacles through modular, scalable production techniques.

—

*About Edison Investment Research*
Edison Investment Research is a global investment research and advisory company with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. At the heart of Edison lies a world-renowned equity research platform backed by deep multi-sector expertise. Our research is widely read by international investors, advisors, and stakeholders.

Edison Advisors leverages this core research platform to provide differentiated services, including investor relations and strategic consulting.

—

**Recommended For You**
[Insert relevant articles or links here]
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4838939-small-modular-reactors-why-governments-tech-giants-are-embracing-smrs?source=feed_all_articles

business, economy, finance, technology

Google (GOOGL) Q3 2025 earnings results beat revenue and EPS expectations

Leave a comment

Markets have closed for the day, and Google (GOOGL) has released its latest quarterly earnings report. In Q3 2025, the tech giant surpassed expectations by beating both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) estimates.

For the first time in the company’s history, Google earned over $100 billion in a single quarter. The company reported revenue of $102.3 billion, exceeding the anticipated $99.96 billion. Additionally, Google posted an EPS of $2.87 per share, outperforming the analyst expectation of $2.26 per share.

CEO Sundar Pichai provided a statement in the earnings release, highlighting the company’s strong performance and growth.

Following the double beat on revenue and EPS, Google’s stock saw significant movement after hours. The stock price rose from $274.57 at market close to as high as $290.53.

In addition to Google, other tech giants Meta and Microsoft also shared their quarterly earnings reports today, contributing to an eventful earnings season.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146572/google-q3-2025-earnings-results

business, economy, finance, technology

AMD Stock Surges on IBM Quantum Partnership and Major AI Deals

Leave a comment

**AMD Stock Surges Nearly 8% Following IBM Quantum Computing Collaboration**

AMD shares jumped nearly 8% after reports that IBM successfully ran a quantum error correction algorithm on AMD’s field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chips. This breakthrough marks a significant step as IBM plans to launch a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029 using AMD’s technology. IBM confirmed the news to CNBC, and the related research paper is slated for publication next week.

The announcement highlights the growing partnership between AMD and IBM, first established in August, aimed at advancing quantum computing capabilities. IBM described this development as a milestone toward scaling quantum computers without relying on expensive GPU clusters, a notable achievement in quantum technology.

### Quantum Computing Industry Gains Momentum

Quantum computing leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to tackle problems beyond the reach of traditional computers. Alongside IBM and AMD, industry giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are actively developing their own quantum computing technologies. Notably, Google unveiled its Willow chip, and Microsoft introduced its first quantum chip last year.

Following the IBM-AMD news, shares of other quantum computing companies including D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and IonQ also experienced gains. Meanwhile, the Trump administration denied reports alleging negotiations to acquire stakes in quantum firms.

### AMD Hits New Heights with Record Stock Performance

AMD stock reached an all-time high of $243.11 on October 24, 2025, reflecting a 90% increase year-to-date. The company’s market capitalization now exceeds $381 billion.

Earlier in October, AMD announced major AI partnerships, securing contracts to supply GPUs to OpenAI and Oracle:

– **OpenAI:** AMD will provide GPUs supporting 6 gigawatts of computing capacity.
– **Oracle Cloud:** Deployment of 50,000 MI450 Instinct GPUs set to begin in Q3 2026.

These agreements are expected to generate tens of billions in annual revenue, with cumulative sales potentially surpassing $100 billion, according to company statements. AMD’s CFO, Jean Hu, emphasized that the OpenAI deal alone should deliver tens of billions in revenue over time.

### Strong Financial Results and Future Outlook

In Q2 2025, AMD reported revenue of $7.69 billion, up 32% year-over-year. The company issued guidance for approximately $8.7 billion in revenue for Q3 2025, aiming for full-year sales close to $33 billion.

AI-related products now constitute 21% of AMD’s total revenue, while data center revenue reached $3.2 billion with 14% growth. CEO Lisa Su attributed the company’s robust performance to successful product rollouts and strategic partnerships.

Despite facing a $1.5 billion revenue headwind in 2025 due to U.S. export restrictions on AI chip shipments to China, AMD maintains strong momentum. The stock currently trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 140.52. Approximately 60-65% of analysts rate AMD as a “Buy,” with a consensus price target of $249.92.

—

AMD’s collaboration with IBM and major AI deals position the company as a key player in both quantum computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, paving the way for sustained growth and innovation in the semiconductor industry.
https://coincentral.com/amd-stock-surges-on-ibm-quantum-partnership-and-major-ai-deals/

business, internet, judiciary, law, technology

Supreme Court denies Google’s appeal, upholds Play Store reform order

Leave a comment

**Supreme Court Denies Google’s Appeal, Upholds Play Store Reform Order**

*By Mudit Dube | Oct 07, 2025, 10:30 AM*

—

**Overview**

The US Supreme Court has declined Google’s request to stay a lower court’s order that mandates significant changes to its Play Store. This decision comes as Google prepares to appeal a lawsuit ruling filed by Epic Games, the developer of the popular game Fortnite.

—

**Injunction Details**

The injunction was issued last year by US District Judge James Donato. It requires Google to allow users to download rival app stores within the Play Store and make Play Store’s app catalog available to competitors. However, these changes will not take effect until July 2026.

Additionally, the judge ruled that Google must permit developers to include external links in their apps. This would enable users to bypass Google’s billing system.

—

**Background of the Legal Battle**

Epic Games filed the lawsuit against Google in 2020, accusing the tech giant of violating antitrust laws through its restrictive app store policies. Epic won a jury trial in San Francisco in 2023, and the July ruling was subsequently upheld by a federal appeals court.

Google has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The company called Judge Donato’s order unprecedented, warning that implementing the changes could cause reputational harm, introduce safety and security risks, and potentially place Google at a competitive disadvantage.

—

**Google’s Appeal Strategy**

In its Supreme Court filing, Google highlighted that the mandated changes could impact over 100 million US Android users and 500,000 developers. The company intends to file a full appeal with the Supreme Court by October 27, which could lead the justices to take up the case during their current nine-month term.

—

**Epic Games’ Position**

Epic has accused Google of using “flawed security claims” as a pretext to maintain control over Android devices. The developer urges the Supreme Court to let Judge Donato’s injunction take effect, arguing that consumers and developers would benefit from increased competition, more choices, and lower prices.

—

**Appeals Court Ruling**

In July, a three-judge panel from the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction. The panel noted that Epic’s lawsuit was “replete with evidence that Google’s anticompetitive conduct entrenched its dominance” in the app store market.

—

**What’s Next?**

As the legal battle continues, industry observers are closely watching to see how the Supreme Court will handle Google’s full appeal later this month, which could dramatically reshape the Android app ecosystem.

—

*Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/supreme-court-rules-against-google-forcing-play-store-policy-overhauls/story

business, internet, judiciary, law, technology

Supreme Court denies Google’s appeal, upholds Play Store reform order

Leave a comment

**Supreme Court Denies Google’s Appeal, Upholds Play Store Reform Order**

*By Mudit Dube | Oct 07, 2025, 10:30 AM*

—

**Overview**

The US Supreme Court has declined Google’s request to stay a lower court’s order mandating major changes to its Play Store. This decision comes as the tech giant prepares to further appeal a ruling in a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer of the popular game Fortnite. The original July ruling was upheld by a federal appeals court.

—

**Details of the Injunction**

The injunction, issued by US District Judge James Donato last year, requires Google to allow users to download rival app stores within its own Play Store ecosystem. Additionally, Google must make the Play Store’s app catalog available to competitors. However, these provisions are not set to take effect until July 2026.

Judge Donato also ruled that Google must permit developers to include external links in their apps. This change will allow users to bypass Google’s billing system, marking a significant shift in Google’s app store policies.

—

**Background of the Legal Battle**

Epic Games filed the lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging that Google’s restrictive app store rules violated antitrust laws. The company won a jury trial in San Francisco in 2023, a verdict that has since been upheld.

Google denies any wrongdoing. The company has described Judge Donato’s order as unprecedented, warning that it would cause reputational harm, pose safety and security risks, and place Google at a competitive disadvantage if implemented.

—

**Google’s Appeal Strategy**

In its Supreme Court filing, Google emphasized that the mandated changes would have profound implications for over 100 million US Android users and 500,000 developers. The company plans to submit a full appeal to the Supreme Court by October 27, potentially prompting the justices to take up the case during their current nine-month term.

—

**Epic Games’ Position**

Epic Games has accused Google of leveraging “flawed security claims” to justify its control over Android devices. The developer urges the Supreme Court to allow Judge Donato’s injunction to take effect so that consumers and developers can benefit from increased competition, more choices, and lower prices.

—

**Previous Court Rulings**

In July, a three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction. The panel noted that Epic’s lawsuit contained substantial evidence demonstrating how Google’s anticompetitive conduct entrenched its market dominance.

—

**Conclusion**

The Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the injunction marks a critical moment in the ongoing legal battle over the future of Google’s Play Store. With significant changes set to roll out by mid-2026, the case remains a key point of contention around competition and control in the mobile app market.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/supreme-court-rules-against-google-forcing-play-store-policy-overhauls/story