Google Lens has launched a feature for iPhone users that allows screen searches in Chrome and the Google app using gestures like drawing or tapping, eliminating the need for screenshots or new tabs. Additionally, AI Overviews will be more frequent in Lens results, providing insights on unique images without needing a specific question. These updates are rolling out globally this week for iOS apps and will soon be available on Chrome.
Google Ads has introduced new features to help advertisers create engaging lifestyle imagery. These include generative AI for images of adults, asset audience recommendations, and testing for Performance Max campaigns. Imagen 3 enables image generation from text prompts while following strict guidelines. Advertisers can customize prompts and provide feedback on generated images. New asset testing capabilities will evaluate the effectiveness of creative assets.
Get the most out of your Google Analytics data with Marketing Auditor – a powerful tool that helps you uncover and fix errors in minutes. Generate white-label reports packed with actionable insights and a customized action plan to optimize your analytics setup effortlessly. Customize reports with professional themes or your branding, and export them in editable formats like PowerPoint or Google Slides.
Google has updated its people chips in Google Sheets, introducing bulk conversion for email data and new formatting options. Users can now convert email data into people chips with one click. New formats include default display name, last name first, and email address. The rollout varies: Rapid Release domains have immediate access, while Scheduled Release domains will begin rollout on February 18, 2025. Users can access features by typing "@" for quick use.
Google can now sell e-books and audiobooks directly through its iOS app, Google Play Books. Users can click a new “Get book” button in the app, which directs them to the Google Play website for purchases. This change simplifies buying books in the app, which has long allowed access to Google Play Books across devices. Additionally, users can share books via Google Play Family Library and create a digital collection accessible on various platforms.
Google’s Gemini AI chatbot can now tailor answers based on previous conversations. It can summarize past chats and recall shared information, helping users avoid repeating details. This feature allows users to build on discussions. Users control their chat history and can review or delete it. The rollout starts for Gemini Advanced subscribers via Google One AI Premium Plan in English, with plans for more languages and Google Workspace customers to follow.
Whisk, a Google Labs experiment, is expanding to over 100 new countries. Since its launch in December, users in the U.S. have enjoyed creating images using prompts to visualize ideas. Now, users in other countries can drag and drop images for their desired subjects and styles. Whisk uses Gemini for detailed captions and Imagen 3 for image generation. This tool promotes rapid visual exploration and unique digital art creation. Users can try Whisk at labs.google/whisk.
Google announced improvements to search speed via the Speculation Rules API, enhancing user experience by prefetching and prerendering results. It now prefetches the first two search results while ensuring privacy with features like anonymous IP usage. Tests showed significant loading time reductions. Prefetching extends to more results when users hover over links. Currently available on Chrome and Edge, Google aims for broader adoption and future enhancements.
Google's I/O developer conference is set for May 20th and 21st, 2025, with online access and livestreamed sessions. There will also be an in-person event at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. This announcement follows a puzzle game that hinted at the date. The conference coincides with Microsoft's Build event. The previous I/O in May 2024 featured major AI announcements and new products like the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.
Google has announced performance upgrades to Google Sheets, enhancing speed for formulas, pivot tables, and conditional formatting. The update includes a 50% increase in data pasting speed, a 50% improvement in filter condition setup, and a 30% faster data loading for existing spreadsheets. These upgrades follow a previous update that doubled calculation speed, benefiting data analysts, campaign managers, and small business owners.
