What’s happening Google’s natural language AI is smart enough to define jokes. Why it matters The ability to understand the nuances of human language will lead to better and more natural interactions with machines. What’s next Google wants to educate people about the benefits of these kinds of AI smarts through upcoming devices like its …

Now playing: Watch this: Google Updates Conversational AI at I/O 6:49 James Martin/CNET Google on Wednesday used its annual developers conference to demonstrate its commitment to protect people from cyberthreats, as well as provide more options for users to anonymize themselves in its world-leading Search product. Among the most important projects is the search giant’s promise to bring password-less technology …

Match Group, the company that operates dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid, has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the internet giant of forcing it to use the Google Play Store’s billing system, paying royalties for subscription transactions. The lawsuit, which was filed Monday in federal court in California, accuses Google of violating federal and state antitrust laws. …

More than two years after the phone’s sophomore launch, new leaked images suggest that a third-generation Motorola Razr is in the works with a design that takes some influence from the original Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.  The new Razr is supposedly code-named Maven, according to reliable tipster Evan Blass and 91mobiles. The design seems to ax the single circular camera bump from …

With the success of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, rumors have been fluttering about a potential Google Pixel Fold. Though the phone had been rumored to come out in late 2021 or mid-2022, Google had apparently pulled the plug. A new rumor now says the device is back from the dead. The news comes by way of reliable display …

Google is giving people more control over the ads they see. The search giant said Thursday that it’s expanding its list of “sensitive categories” available in users’ ad control settings, letting them choose to block ads related to pregnancy, parenting, dating and weight loss.  These ads will only be restricted on YouTube and the Google Display Network for now. Google …

Google Search caught six times more spam sites in 2021 than it did in 2020, according to a Webspam report published by Google on Thursday. The Alphabet subsidiary lauded its AI-based spam-prevention system called SpamBrain, which it said has helped keep “more than 99% of searches spam-free.” SpamBrain has helped prevent users from clicking to harmful sites that might inject …

It’s now easier to find the best Chrome extensions thanks to new badges Google is currently rolling out.  In a blog post Wednesday, Google said that both the Featured badge and the Established Publisher badge will help give users assurance in extensions they’re installing on to Chrome. The Featured badge will be given to extensions that follow Google’s technical best …

In an effort to lure iPhone users away, Google is rolling out its Switch to Android app in the Apple App store.  The app helps users more easily migrate data — think photos, videos and contacts — from an iPhone to Google’s Pixel phones, without the need for a cable when making the switch. Google will add support for other …

Google said Thursday that it’s rolling out a new tool called Multisearch that allows people to search with a combination of photos and text. This feature uses artificial intelligence to help people find what they’re looking for through more intuitive means. For example, you might want to learn how to take care of a rose but may not know the …