TechCrunch | Swipe Insight

Google avoids breakup but must end exclusive search deals in antitrust ruling

4 days ago

A federal judge ruled Google won't be forced to break up its search business but must stop exclusive deals limiting competition, share search data with rivals, and offer search services at standard rates. This follows a 2024 decision that Google illegally maintained a monopoly. The final judgment awaits revision by September 10 and will last six years. Appeals and related cases may continue until 2027 or 2028.

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TikTok adds voice notes and image sharing to direct messages for richer chats

6 days ago

TikTok

TikTok now allows users to send voice notes up to 60 seconds and share up to nine images or videos in DMs, both in one-to-one and group chats. Users can edit shared media but cannot send images or videos as the first message. Safety features block nude images for users aged 16-18, with an option for adults to toggle this. These updates aim to enhance interaction beyond video sharing, aligning TikTok with other social apps.

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Perplexity offers 34.5 billion to buy Google Chrome and keep it open source

25 days ago

Perplexity

Perplexity offered $34.5 billion to buy Chrome from Google, pledging to keep Chromium open source and invest $3 billion. It will keep Google as Chrome's default search engine. The bid follows DOJ's push to force Google to sell Chrome over monopoly issues. Chrome dominates with 68% market share. Perplexity's offer exceeds its $18 billion valuation and $1.5 billion raised. Perplexity also launched Comet browser and bid to merge with TikTok.

Google Chrome adds AI-powered store summaries to help US shoppers

1 months ago

AI Overviews

Google Chrome will add AI-generated store summaries for U.S. shoppers, showing store reputations on product quality, pricing, service, and returns. Available on desktop, the feature uses reviews from partners like Trustpilot and Bazaarvoice. This aims to enhance shopping safety and compete with Amazon's AI tools. Google is also developing AI agents for Chrome and expanding AI shopping features, including personalized recommendations and virtual try-ons.

Google Discover adds AI summaries risking publisher traffic decline

1 months ago

SEO

Google has launched AI-generated summaries in its Discover news feed on iOS and Android in the U.S., showing multiple publishers' logos and AI summaries for trending topics. This may reduce direct traffic to news sites, worsening publishers' concerns as search traffic and click-throughs decline. Google offers features like Offerwall for revenue but many publishers face steep traffic drops amid AI's rise.

OpenAI set to unveil new AI browser challenging Google Chrome soon

1 months ago

OpenAI

OpenAI plans to release an AI-powered web browser soon to compete with Google Chrome. Similar to Perplexity’s Comet and The Browser Company’s Dia, it aims to use AI to change how users browse, keeping some interactions within ChatGPT instead of linking to websites. The browser may feature Operator, OpenAI’s web-browsing AI agent, to offer new user experiences and direct access to user data.

Meta working to fix mass bans hitting Facebook Groups globally

2 months ago

Apple launches AI generated tags in App Store developer beta for better app discovery

2 months ago

ASO

Apple's new AI-generated tags for the App Store are in the iOS 26 developer beta but not yet on the public store or search. Apple uses AI to extract metadata from app descriptions, categories, and screenshots to improve discoverability, replacing manual keyword tagging. Developers can control AI-assigned tags, which are reviewed by humans before going live. Understanding these tags will be key for app discovery once fully implemented.

Meta to automate 90 percent of product risk assessments with AI system

3 months ago

AI Meta

Meta plans to automate up to 90% of product risk assessments for apps like Instagram and WhatsApp using AI, replacing human evaluators. This aims to speed updates by having teams complete questionnaires, with AI providing instant risk evaluations and requirements. While faster, a former executive warns it may increase risks by missing negative effects. Meta says it invests heavily in privacy and uses AI for low-risk decisions, keeping humans for complex cases.