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Tag: Google

  • Google Gemini Latest Update: Check What New It Brings |

    New Delhi: Google has introduced a new feature for its AI-powered chatbot, Gemini, offering users more control over the responses generated by the bot. This feature allows users to modify specific portions of text within the response, providing a more tailored experience.

    In the latest update, users can now select and adjust particular parts of the text generated by Gemini. This feature empowers users to make changes to the response's content, and length, or completely remove certain sections. (Also Read: Good News For Job Seekers! Elon Musk's Firm

    Initially available in English on the Gemini web app, this feature enhances the precision of response tuning. (Also Read: India AI Mission: Check 8 Key Components Of Cabinet's Newly Launched Plan)

    Editing Process

    Google described the new feature as a more precise way for users to fine-tune Gemini's responses. By simply selecting the portion of text they want to modify and providing instructions, users can obtain an output that aligns more closely with their preferences.

    Creative Control

    Explaining the motivation behind the feature, Google emphasized its commitment to providing users with greater control over their creative process.

    This new functionality allows users to iterate on content and ideas within the context of the original response, fostering a more collaborative and customizable experience.

    Editing Options

    After generating a response, users can highlight any part of the text and access editing options by hovering over a pencil icon with the Gemini logo.

    The options available include 'Regenerate,' 'Shorter,' 'Longer,' and 'Remove,' each serving a specific purpose to modify the selected text as per the user's preference.

    User-Friendly Interface

    The interface is designed to simplify the editing process, allowing users to seamlessly adjust the length or content of the response with just a few clicks. Users can also add prompts to further customize the selected text as needed.

  • We Continue To Maintain Our Stand On Google Charging Up To 26 Pc Fee: Startup Founders |

    New Delhi: After the government's intervention, Google has reinstated all the delisted apps of Indian developers, but startup founders on Wednesday said that they will continue to oppose the tech giant imposing a fee of 11 to 26 per cent on in-app payments.

    Last week, Google delisted some of the apps by major Indian digital companies, including Matrimony.com, Naukri.com, Shaadi.com, and others from the Play Store. Some startup founders then met Union IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar to discuss the issue, and said that the government had assured them support. (Also Read: Instagram, Facebook Outage Results in Mark Zuckerberg's $3 Billion Loss)

    Thanking the ministers, BharatMatrimony CEO Murugavel Janakiraman, in a statement to IANS, said: “We continue to maintain our stand that 11 to 26 per cent for payment gateway is unreasonable and selective for digital apps, while Google offers the same service for all digital companies.” (Also Read: OpenAI Claims Elon Musk Wanted 'Absolute Control' Over Company)

    Applications from companies like Altt, Stage, and Aha streaming platforms, Truly Madly and Quack Quack dating apps, Kuku FM audio content platform, and FRND social networking app were also delisted by Google. “Google charging up to 26 per cent of the app's revenue, represents a significant financial burden for app developers,” Co-Founder & CEO of TrulyMadly, Snehil Khanor, said.

    “We will establish a forum comprising app developers and Google representatives. This forum will facilitate ongoing dialogue aimed at reaching a resolution within the next 100-120 days,” he added.

    During the ADIF (Alliance of Digital India Foundation) conference, the founders told reporters that their business dropped by around 40 per cent on the second day after their apps were delisted.

    “The government has consistently demonstrated its support for the startup ecosystem, which is pivotal for realizing the ambitious Digital India vision. As digital startups continue to innovate and drive growth, we trust that the government's support will be steady,” said Prateek Jain, Associate. Director, ADIF

    Jain also said that they are hopeful for a swift and favorable consideration of the pending case with the CCI (Competition Commission of India), which will be a significant step forward for the digital economy.

  • Google Agrees To Reinstate Delisted Indian Apps On Play Store After Govt Intervention |

    New Delhi: Google has agreed to reinstate all the delisted apps of Indian companies on its Play Store after government intervention facilitated dialogue to resolve a dispute over service fee payments.

    Telecom and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who brought Google and the startups to the negotiating table, stated that the US tech giant has been supporting India's technology development journey.

    “Google and the startup community have met with us, and we have had very constructive discussions… Google has agreed to list all the apps,” he said. On Friday, Google removed apps from a dozen developers, including popular ones by Matrimony.Com and the job search app Naukri, for non-compliance with its in-app payment guidelines.

    As the government strongly objected to the removal, calling it unacceptable, Google began restoring some apps on Saturday, provided they agreed to comply with its guideline to pay a fee of 11-25 percent on in-app payments or conduct financial transactions outside of the app. (Also Read: Lava Blaze Curve 5G With Curved Display Launched In India At Rs 17,999; Check Price, Specs)

    Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Information and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar held multiple rounds of discussions with Google and the app owners on Monday in an attempt to find a solution to the crisis, which some labeled as a dark day for the internet.

    On Tuesday, Vaishnaw announced that Google has agreed to restore the status from Friday morning, i.e., pre-delisting. “We believe Google and the startup community will be able to come to a long-term solution in the coming months,” he said, indicating that the two sides will now sit down and resolve the issue of the levy of service charges.

    India is the world's largest consumer internet market for tech giants like Meta and Google. With the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government effectively using its geopolitical clout, they cannot afford to ignore the Indian market or act aggressively towards it.

    A day after Google delisted the apps, Vaishnaw revealed the government's stance in an interview with PTI when he said the removal was unacceptable and that “startups will get the protection they need.”

    The government subsequently called for a meeting on Monday to resolve the issue. At the heart of the problem is Google's in-app fee. While Google claims the fees help develop and promote the Android and Play Store ecosystem, startups argue that the tech giant is forcing them to use its payment system and pay a fee, failing which they are being offloaded by the Play Store. (Also Read: Apple Launches Refreshed MacBook Air Models With M3 Chipset In India; Check Price, Features)

    The Competition Commission of India had previously ordered Google not to mandatorily enforce an earlier system of charging 15-30 percent. Google then imposed a fee of 11-26 percent on in-app payments. It removed the apps that weren't paying the fee after the Supreme Court did not provide interim relief to the companies behind these apps in their battle against the search giant's platform fees.

    While removing the apps, Google stated on Friday that some Indian companies had chosen not to pay for the “immense value they receive on Google Play.”Among the worst affected by the removals is Matrimony.Com, which has seen more than 140 of its apps being dropped from the Play Store. Other removed apps included Balaji Telefilms' Altt (formerly ALTBalaji), audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack, and Truly Madly.

    Info Edge saw its job search app Naukri and real estate search app 99acres removed, but they were back the next day when it moved to Google's consumption model, where any payment made is conducted outside of the app.

    Google had briefly removed the popular payments app Paytm from its Play Store in 2020, citing policy violations. This led to widespread industry outcry, with startups joining hands to mount legal challenges against the tech giant. They even joined forces to launch their own app store.

  • Google Play Store: 8 out of 10 Indian Companies Return After Compliance With New Policy |

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  • Ashwini Vaishnaw's BIG Statement On Google-Indian Startups Row, Says… |

    New Delhi: Taking a strong view of Google pulling out some apps from its Play Store, the government on Saturday said delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted and that the tech company and the startups concerned have been called for a meeting next week. In an interview to PTI, IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the startup ecosystem is key to the Indian economy and their fate cannot be left to any big tech to decide.

    The minister's comments assume significance as Google on Friday began removing some apps, including popular matrimony apps, from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments, even as apps and well-known startup founders cried foul. (Also Read: Google Responds To Criticism By Reinstating Shaadi.com, Naukri, And Other Apps On Play Store)

    Taking a serious view of the issue, Vaishnaw said: “India is very clear, our policy is very clear…our startups will get the protection that they need.” The minister said the government will be meeting Google and app developers who have been delisted, next week, to resolve the dispute. (Also Read: Google Faces Backlash For Removing Indian Apps From Play Store Amid Fee Dispute)

    “I have already called Google…I have already called the app developers who have been delisted, we will be meeting them next week. This cannot be permitted..This kind of delisting cannot be permitted,” Vaishnaw asserted.

    Stating that India has built a strong startup ecosystem of over one lakh startups, and more than 100 unicorns from scratch in a matter of 10 years, the minister said the energy of youth and entrepreneurs must be channelised fully and “cannot be left to the policies of any big tech.”

    “I will be telling Google…Our entrepreneurial energy…startups, look at the whole startup India programme, 10 years back we had practically nothing and today we have more than 1,00,000 startups, more than 100 unicorns… This is something…the energy of our youth, the energy of our entrepreneurs, energy of our talented people that has to be channelised fully well, it cannot be left to the policies of any big tech,” Vaishnaw said.

    On Friday, Google said 10 companies in the country, including “many well-established” ones had avoided paying fees despite benefiting from the platform and Play Store, and proceeded to delist some apps.

    It did not name the firms but a search of Play Store on android phones did not give results for matrimonial apps such as Shaadi, Matrimony.com and Bharat Matrimony. Balaji Telefilms' Altt (formerly ALTBalaji), audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack, Truly Madly also disappeared from Play Store.

    Separately, Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said he has been flagging the concerns around dominance of Google stifling competition and startups. The government, he said, has to find if the current issue “trespasses” into the “abuse and misuse” of dominance category.

    “I have raised concerns on the dominance of Google in the past, it controls more than 90 per cent of the app ecosystem in India, the fact that they are a vertically integrated large company, we are concerned that their dominance does stifle competitions and startups , and it can be misused against startups, and there are some legitimate concerns that the government has,” Chandrasekhar said.

    The government and court has to look whether this particular incident trespasses into that territory of abuse and misuse, he added. The raging dispute is over Google imposing a fee of 11 to 26 per cent on in-app payments after anti-competition body CCI ordered scrapping of an earlier system of charging 15 to 30 per cent.

    Google went ahead to remove the apps not paying the fee after the Supreme Court did not provide interim relief to companies behind these apps in their battle against the search giant's app marketplace fee.

    While Bharat Matrimony founder Murugavel Janakiraman described the move as “dark day” for the Internet in India, Kuku FM Co-founder Vinod Kumar Meena in a statement had said that Google was behaving like a 'monopoly'.

    Quack Quack Founder Ravi Mittal said the company would comply with rules to get back on the marketplace. Google previously sent notices of Play Store violations to Matrimony.com, which runs app BharatMatrimony, and Info Edge, which runs a similar app, Jeevansathi.

    Info Edge (India) Ltd on Saturday said its apps, including naukri.com, 99 acres.com, and shiksha.com have been removed from Google Play Store but within hours stated that some of them have been restored.

    “Many of the Info Edge apps are back on the play store. An effort very well led by (company MD and CEO) Hitesh and the entire Info Edge team. People were up all night for this. Great crisis management,” Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani said in a post on

    On Friday, Bikhchandani had emphasized on the need of an app store/ play store that is a part of Digital Public Infrastructure. “Indian companies will comply – for now. But what India needs is an App Store/ Play Store that is a part of Digital Public Infrastructure – like UPI and ONDC. The response needs to be strategic,” he had said.

    Bikhchandani had claimed that Info Edge had cleared all pending Google invoices in a timely manner and was compliant with its policies. IAMAI – an industry association that represents some of the largest Indian startups as well as international firms – condemned the removal of apps and had urged Google to reinstate delisted apps.

  • Google Removes Some India Matrimony Apps, Executive Calls Move ‘Dark Day’ |

    New Delhi: Google began removing the apps of 10 companies in India on Friday, including some popular matrimony apps such as Bharat Matrimony, in a dispute over service fee payments, potentially sparking a showdown with startup firms.

    The dispute centers on efforts by some Indian startups to stop Google from imposing a fee of 11 percent to 26 percent on in-app payments, after the country’s antitrust authorities ordered it to dismantle an earlier system of charging 15 percent to 30 percent. (Also Read: BIG Bonanza To Farmers Ahead Of Kharif Season! Center Clears Rs 24,400 Crore Fertilizer Subsidy)

    But Google effectively received a go-ahead to charge the fee or remove apps after two court decisions in January and February, one by the Supreme Court, not to give any relief to startups. (Also Read: Bill Gates And PM Modi Meeting: Did You Know Their Topic Of Discussion? Check Here)

    Matrimony.com dating apps Bharat Matrimony, Christian Matrimony, Muslim Matrimony and Jodii were deleted on Friday, company founder Murugavel Janakiraman said, describing the move as a “dark day of Indian Internet”.

    “Our apps are getting deleted one by one”.

    The unit of Alphabet Inc has sent notices of Play Store violations to Indian companies Matrimony.com, which runs the app BharatMatrimony, and Info Edge, which runs a similar app, Jeevansathi.

    Both companies are reviewing the notice and will consider the next steps, their executives told Reuters. Shares of Matrimony.com fell as much as 2.7 percent after the Reuters report, before paring losses, while Info Edge dropped 1.5 percent.

    Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani said it had cleared all pending Google invoices in a timely manner and was compliant with its policies.

    In a blog post, Google said 10 Indian companies had chosen for an extended period of time not to pay for the “immense value they receive on Google Play”. It did not identify the firms.

    “For years, no court or regulator has denied Google Play’s right to charge,” the company said on Friday, adding that the Supreme Court on Feb. 9 also “refused to interfere” with its right to do so.

    Google’s app removal could anger the Indian startup community which has been protesting many of the US giant’s practices for years. The firm, which denies any wrongdoing, dominates the Indian market as 94 percent share of phones are based on its Android platform.

    Google says its fee supports investments in the app store and the Android mobile operating system, ensuring free distribution, and covering developer tools and analytic services.

    Just 3 percent of the more than 200,000 Indian developers who use the Google Play platform are required to pay any service fee, it added.

  • MWC 2024: What To Expect From Google, One Plus, Samsung And More At Barcelona |

    New Delhi: The 2024 edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show is slated to be held in Barcelona, ​​Spain, from February 26 to 29. Anticipated as one of the largest gatherings yet, this mega event promises to unveil cutting-edge. advancements in mobile technology, drawing tens of thousands of leaders from the tech and telecom industries worldwide.

    This year, AI is poised to take center stage, permeating device launches and network enhancements. With giants like Google and Samsung integrating AI into their smartphones, other manufacturers are likely to follow suit, showcasing their own AI capabilities.

    Furthermore, telecom operators such as Verizon and Ericsson will demonstrate AI-driven optimizations within 5G infrastructure. The intersection of AI and personal computing devices, spanning smartphones, headsets, and wearables, will be a primary focus, offering attendees a glimpse of a myriad of innovative products. (Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 Launched In India With Up To 13-Day Battery Life; Check Price, Specs)

    Let’s Unwrap Expected Announcements From Companies At The MWC Show Floor:

    Google:

    Google is set to showcase an innovative booth experience at MWC. Although no new hardware announcements are expected, there might be potential Android-related revelations. Last year, Google featured a feature drop focusing on Drive, Keep, and more.

    OnePlus:

    OnePlus confirmed that it will be launching its second-generation smartwatch dubbed the OnePlus Watch 2 at MWC. Although OnePlus might not flaunt a concept smartphone this year, they have a history of showcasing quirky concept versions of their devices at MWC.

    Motorola:

    Motorola is rumored to display a bendable device that can be worn like a bracelet at MWC. However, details about the launch of this as a real product remain unconfirmed.

    Samsung:

    Samsung might offer a closer look at the Galaxy Ring or any new offerings from other brands in the smart wearables category. This could spark a new trend in smart wearables like rings, necklaces, or even smart nose piercings.

    Honour:

    Honor, fresh from unveiling the thinnest foldable device, is gearing up for the global launch of the Magic 6 Pro. (Also Read: Google Pay Introduces Paytm’s Soundbox Rival ‘SoundPod’ In India: Check Key Features)

    Xiaomi:

    Xiaomi will bring the global launch of the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro to MWC. They have already introduced their flagship models in China. The recently launched Xiaomi 14 Ultra is expected to make a stage appearance, offering a sneak peek into its capabilities. (With Inputs From IANS).

  • Former Google Employee Makes Shocking Allegations, Says ‘Did Not Get Promotion Due To Skin Colour’

    New Delhi: A former Google employee, Shaun Maguire, recently took to social media platform

    Allegations Of Discrimination

    According to reports from the New York Post, Maguire, who worked at Google’s Mountain View headquarters from 2016 to 2019, made these allegations following an incident referred to as the “Gemini fiasco.” He stated that his denial of promotion was due to being a white man. (Also Read: Google Pay Introduces Paytm’s Soundbox Rival ‘SoundPod’ In India: Check Key Features)

    Public Poll And Response

    Prompted by a poll on December 16, 2023, Maguire decided to make his allegations public. A significant majority, 91 percent, of voters supported his decision to share his story. (Also Read: 6 Fresh IPOs Coming This Week: Check Details Of Offerings Opening For Subscription Next Week)

    Should I go public with the story about the time I was told I couldn’t be promoted for being a white man? — Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) December 16, 2023

    Elon Musk, owner of the platform, responded to Maguire’s claims, noting that such instances of discrimination appeared to be widespread in recent years.

    This is incredibly widespread in recent years — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2023

    Revelation Goes Viral

    Over a month after the poll, Maguire revealed his experiences publicly. His posts quickly gained traction on social media, garnering over 10.3 million views on X.

    In his posts, Maguire criticized Google, describing the company as “an absolute trash can dumpster fire.” He mentioned that Google denied the allegations and expressed disappointment that the company had not reached out to hear his side of the story.

    Calls For Change

    Despite his posts’ attention, Maguire stated that he did not seek compensation but rather urged Google to address the issues, especially as it continues to lead in AI technology.

    Google is denying this happened but nobody from the company has reached out to me for my side of the story.

    Honestly, pathetic

    I don’t want any compensation

    I just want you to fix these problems, especially if you’re going to lead in AI https://t.co/0I7bmWmPIu — Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) February 24, 2024

    He shared a quote attributed to a Google official who allegedly told him, “I can’t promote you right now because I have a quota. My hands are tied.” This quote, according to Maguire, exemplified the discrimination he faced.

    FYI this was just my teaser story… not even close to the worst of it https://t.co/MGCh5qZLYC — Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) February 23, 2024

    Reactions

    Elon Musk echoed Maguire’s sentiments, stating that he had heard similar stories numerous times before. Maguire mentioned that several former Google colleagues reached out to him with similar experiences and evidence. His posts have sparked reactions from other former Google employees on

  • Google Pauses Gemini’s People Image Feature After Anti-‘Woke’ Backlash |

    New Delhi: Google has paused the image-generation function of its Gemini AI chatbot following a string of controversies. The company, acknowledged that Gemini had provided “incorrect representations in certain historical contexts” and assured users that an enhanced version of the feature would be released shortly.

    In a statement on the Gemini’s AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And that’s generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But it’s missing the mark here.”

    Images produced by Gemini spread across social media recently, leading to widespread ridicule and anger. Some users criticized Google, claiming that the company prioritizes being “woke” over truth or accuracy.

    Some of the images that drew criticism included a portrayal of four Swedish women, none of whom were depicted as white, as well as scenes featuring Black and Asian soldiers dressed as Nazis.

    “It’s embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist,” Debarghya Das, the engineer who founded the enterprise search startup Glean, shared on X platform a post containing several images created by Gemini.

    It’s embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist pic.twitter.com/4lkhD7p5nR — Deedy (@debarghya_das) February 20, 2024

    The challenges faced by AI models, such as overlooking people of color and perpetuating stereotypes underscore the need for continual improvement and ethical considerations in AI development.

    Google’s efforts to keep pace with competitors like OpenAI since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 have been accompanied by setbacks in the rollout of its AI products. Instances like the apology issued last year for inaccuracies in its AI chatbot Bard’s demonstration highlight the ongoing complexities in AI technology.

  • ‘Gmail Is Here To Stay’: Google Clarifies After Fake Note Claims App’s ‘Shutting Down’ |

    New Delhi: Clarifying the rumors that created havoc among users that Google is shutting down Gmail, the tech giant on Friday took to social media platform

    There was a viral post on X recently that caused concern among netizens. (Also Read: Redmi Issues Warning Regarding Liquid UV Screen Protectors For Curved Displays)

    The post claimed that Gmail was going to be shut down. It included a screenshot of an email from Google titled ‘Google is sunset Gmail’, which quickly spread across the internet. This caused panic as people feared that Gmail might cease to exist entirely. (Also Read: Google Pauses Gemini’s People Image Feature After Anti-‘Woke’ Backlash)

    “After years of connecting millions worldwide, enabling seamless communication, and fostering countless connections, the journey of Gmail is coming to a close. As of August 1, 2024, Gmail will officially be sunsetted, marking the end of its service,” the message. reads.

    “This means that as of this date, Gmail will no longer support sending, receiving, or storing emails. The decision to sunset Gmail has been made with careful consideration of the evolving digital landscape and our commitment to providing high-quality, innovative solutions that meet the needs of our users,” it added.

    The post generated significant controversy among Gmail users, with over 4 million views of the screenshot. However, some individuals suspected it was a forged document or a hoax.

    Google only modified the default Gmail view, which was previously ‘basic HTML’, to a new and more colorful one. This change occurred in January 2024.