Stay connected with the top headlines in the world of tech. From Netflix updates to Apple AI and more, we have you covered on the major news of the week. Check out this week’s blog for what’s happening from across the web!
Google Launches Native Gemini App for iPadOS With Split‑View Multitasking and AI Collaboration Tools
Google has released a dedicated Gemini iPad app, letting iPadOS users run the AI assistant natively instead of in iPhone compatibility mode. The new app supports split‑view multitasking so you can place Gemini alongside other apps, plus powerful features like Gemini Live for natural voice chats in 45+ languages, Deep Research for instant report generation, Audio Overview to summarize audio files, Canvas for collaborative document and code editing, and on‑device image‑ and video‑generation tools. Gemini now offers a homescreen widget and integration with Google Photos, and its Audio Overview function—previously English‑only—expands to 45 languages worldwide. The app is available today in every country where Gemini operates, directly from the App Store, giving iPad users a full‑featured AI assistant optimized for Apple’s larger screen.
Reddit Old Layout to Remain Online While Platform Preps AI‑Powered Upgrades
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman reassured users that the beloved old Reddit interface will “stay online as long as people are using it.” This update came after Huffman joked about shutting it down in a post outlining “Reddit’s next chapter.” Forthcoming changes include simpler subreddit creation, an updated r/popular feed, and more. In addition, there will be a shift for moderators from policing to community cultivation through new AI‑driven tools. Huffman says Reddit will ask users for minimal third‑party identity checks to confirm they are human. Likewise, anonymity will remain in place. The company is also enhancing Reddit Chat with features like allowlists as it phases out private messages.
Apple Eyes AI‑Powered Search in Safari After Talks with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity
Apple is “actively looking at” adding AI search features to Safari within the next year, senior VP Eddy Cue revealed during Google’s antitrust trial. Cue said current generative‑AI tools “aren’t good enough” but confirmed discussions with Perplexity, OpenAI, and Anthropic, stressing the need to keep provider options open. The disclosure came as Cue defended Google’s reported $20 billion annual payment to stay Safari’s default search engine, a deal now under pressure after Safari searches fell for the first time in 22 years. Apple already links ChatGPT to Siri, while Google is close to bringing Gemini to iPhone, underscoring Apple’s push to enhance Safari and protect search‑related revenue.
Sony Forms Team LFG to Build a Multiplayer Action Game Set in a New Science‑Fantasy Universe
Sony Interactive Entertainment has created Team LFG, a new internal studio spun out of Bungie to develop a team‑based multiplayer action title. The studio blends veterans behind Destiny, Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite, Roblox, and Rec Room with fresh talent, aiming to deliver an engaging live‑service experience for PlayStation. Team LFG’s first game will feature a lighthearted science‑fantasy setting and draw mechanics from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and “frog‑type” games. The project is part of Sony’s scaled‑back but ongoing push into live‑service gaming, following its 2022 Bungie acquisition and the closure of Firewalk Studios after Concord’s troubled release. No launch window has been shared, yet Sony says the goal is to create a multiplayer world players can learn, play, and master for countless hours.
Amazon Unveils Vulcan, a Touch‑Sensitive Warehouse Robot That Picks 75% of Inventory
Amazon has introduced Vulcan, an AI‑powered warehouse robot that “feels” items as it stows and picks them, handling about three‑quarters of the products stored in fabric‑lined bins. Equipped with force sensors, a slim “ruler‑and‑hair‑straightener” arm to rearrange goods, and a suction arm guided by computer vision, Vulcan can determine the right amount of pressure to avoid damage and learns from every attempt. The robot is already processing orders in Spokane, WA, and Hamburg, Germany, saving workers from ladder climbs and deep bends while flagging items it can’t manage. Amazon plans to deploy Vulcan across the U.S. and Europe over the next few years, adding to its fleet of 750,000 robots that work alongside nearly one million human employees.
Netflix Tests TikTok‑Style Vertical Video Feed to Boost Mobile Content Discovery
Netflix will begin testing a TikTok‑like vertical video feed in its mobile app “in the coming weeks.” The Netflix update will let users swipe through short clips of shows and movies. With this, Netflix users will be able to tap to watch instantly, save to their list, or share with friends via on‑screen controls. Chief Product Officer of Netflix, Eunice Kim, says the feature builds on the success of vertical scrolling on social media. Of course, this Netflix update comes after earlier tests like Fast Laughs and Kids Clips experiments. The trial, which coincides with a new Netflix TV‑app redesign, aims to make it easier for subscribers to discover their next binge.