๐ Revamping Google Search, Tech Titans Embrace Dystopia, Android Expands with Kotlin
Midweek Briefing: Keep up with our comprehensive coverage on the dynamic intersections of technology and AI.
Todayโs pick
It's the End of Google Search As We Know Itย
For tech CEOs, the dystopia is the point
Android Support for Kotlin Multiplatform to Share Business Logic Across Mobile, Web, Server, and Desktop Platforms
Meta is shutting down Workplace, cutting back enterprise ambitions
Android apps will soon let you use your face to control your cursor
Letโs dive in
It's the End of Google Search As We Know It.
By Lauren Goode via WIREDย
Google Search is undergoing a major overhaul to become more AI-driven, aiming to provide more personalized and summarized responses directly in search results, moving away from the traditional blue link format.
Liz Reid, the new head of Google search, unveiled these changes at the I/O developer conference, emphasizing a shift towards using the Gemini AI model to enhance search efficiency and relevance.
The new AI features will generate automatic summaries and offer categorized search options, potentially reducing the volume of traditional search engine use and impacting how web content is consumed and monetized.
๐: My story on the end of Google Search as we know it, what one source called "a change in the world order." - Lauren Goode (@LaurenGoode)
For tech CEOs, the dystopia is the point.
By Brian Merchant via Blood in the Machine
Tech CEOs, like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, often use dystopian narratives from sci-fi films and books as marketing tools, framing their products as solutions to apocalyptic scenarios.
Products such as OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o and Zuckerberg's metaverse are marketed to create a sense of protagonist empowerment, despite the potential societal harm these technologies might bring.
The article criticizes the tech industry's use of dystopian fiction as aspirational branding, urging a reevaluation of how these narratives influence product development and societal impacts.
๐: Why would Sam Altman actively compare his new product to Her, a film that condemns AI as harmful to human society? Because to him, and many tech CEOs, the dystopia is the point. 'Useful dystopias' like this help position and market their products - Brian Merchant (@bcmerchant)
The best way to reach new readers is through word of mouth. If you click THIS LINK in your inbox, itโll create an easy-to-send pre-written email you can just fire off to some friends.
By Maru Ahues Bouza via Android Developers Blog
Android announces support for Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP), enabling developers to share business logic across multiple platforms including mobile, web, server, and desktop, enhancing productivity and app quality.
The Google Workspace team is utilizing KMP in apps like Google Docs for Android, iOS, and Web, proving its effectiveness and scalability for cross-platform development.
Future enhancements include expanding Jetpack libraries support for KMP, improving Kotlin/Native build and runtime performance, and increasing KMP integration in Android Studio and other development tools.
๐: Google now officially supports Kotlin Multiplatform! - Jim Sproch (@JimSproch)
Meta is shutting down Workplace, cutting back enterprise ambitions.
By Ingrid Lunden via TechCrunchย
Meta is discontinuing its enterprise communication platform, Workplace, transitioning its focus towards AI and metaverse technologies, with full service cessation planned for May 2026.
Workplace customers are advised to migrate to Zoom's Workvivo, as Meta partners with Zoom to support customer transitions, offering the service for free starting September 2025 until its shutdown.
The decision to shut down Workplace, despite its initial role as a strategic asset, reflects Meta's strategic shift and the challenges of competing with platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
๐: I hate to say โI told you soโ* but I predicted Workplace would shut down by year end. * this is a lie, I love nothing more than being right - Sharon O'Dea (@sharonodea)
Android apps will soon let you use your face to control your cursor.
By Sheena Vasani via The Vergeย
Google has released the code for Project Gameface as open-source, allowing Android developers to integrate facial gesture controls for app cursors, initially designed for hands-free gaming.
The technology uses the deviceโs camera to track facial expressions and head movements, enabling intuitive controls such as opening the mouth or raising eyebrows to interact with apps.
Originally inspired by quadriplegic streamer Lance Carr, Project Gameface aims to enhance accessibility across various settings, including work and education, beyond its initial gaming focus.
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