Google TV is now introducing a new way for some users to stay updated with the news through a feature called “Quick News.” This was first shown at the big tech event, CES, this month.

“Quick News” is all about bringing the day’s big news stories right to your TV. It uses Gemini, an AI tool, to make short summaries of news and find related videos, mostly from YouTube.

Here’s how Google describes it on their support page:

With Gemini’s help and some human checking, “Quick News” gives you a quick look at the top news stories and shows related YouTube videos from sources you can trust. The news updates throughout the day to keep you in the loop.

Right now, not everyone can use this feature. Google is only letting some Google TV users in the US try it out this week. You’ll find “Quick News” on the “For You” page of Google TV.

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Today, Google made a big announcement at the Galaxy S25 launch, focusing on the new AI features coming to Pixel 9 phones.

If you have a Pixel 9, or are thinking about getting one, you’ll be excited to know about the fresh updates. The Google Store now has a banner that says, “New Gemini Live and Circle to Search features for Pixel 9.”

The star of the show is Gemini Live, which lets you talk about the photos, files, and videos on your phone. Here’s how it works:

• Images: You can add a photo to your chat with Gemini Live, and it will give you info or advice about it, or even help fix issues on the spot.
• Files: Share a document, and Gemini Live can talk through it with you.
• Videos: Discuss YouTube videos, getting explanations and insights in real time.

The updated Gemini interface lets you snap a new photo or pick one from your gallery. You can also ask questions about what’s on your screen, like PDFs or videos. After you upload something, you see a “Talk Live about this” button, which leads you straight into a conversation with Gemini Live, with your content highlighted in a cool blue/purple color.

These features are starting to roll out today for the Pixel 9 series, along with the Galaxy S24 and S25. They’ll come to older Pixel models like the Pixel 6 soon.

Google also teased Project Astra, which will add screen sharing and live video streaming to Gemini in the coming months. Plus, they’re rolling out Deep Research for Gemini Advanced users on mobile, following its web debut last month.

Right now, you can use Gemini to handle multiple tasks at once, like asking for lunch recipes and saving them to Google Keep, or sharing activity ideas with friends via Google Messages.

Beyond Gemini, there’s Circle to Search, which gives you quick AI insights on whatever you circle on your screen, whether it’s a place, an image, or a URL. This feature also makes it easy to call, email, or browse with just one tap. The new design for Circle to Search looks clean, with all options in a handy pill-shaped box, though it’s not fully available yet.

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Gboard, the popular keyboard app for Android, has just gotten a fresh update. This update brings new, more expressive hand emojis to your fingertips.

Unlike Apple’s emojis, which have a kind of toy-like appearance, Google prefers emojis that are more fun and lively. This update focuses on making hand emojis easier to understand and more expressive.

If you’ve recently updated to the Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3, you’ll notice these changes right away. But even if you haven’t, you might still see them because Google is rolling out these new designs to more users, including those on the Android 16 Developer Preview.

The new emojis have sharper outlines and shadows, making each hand gesture stand out more. Some fingers have been reshaped to make it clear what each emoji represents. For example, the “pinch” emoji now looks more like a real hand, with better-defined knuckles.

These changes make the emojis easier to understand, helping you express yourself more clearly when you chat or text.

However, if you’ve made custom emojis using Gboard’s emoji kitchen, don’t worry – your creations remain unchanged for now, though this might shift as the update spreads to more users.

So, next time you use Gboard, check out the new hand emojis and see how they bring a bit more life to your conversations!