Google’s AI Mode search can now answer questions about images
Google's AI Mode can now understand images as part of your searches.
Ryan Whitwam
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Ryan Whitwam
Senior Technology Reporter
ryan.whitwam@arstechnica.com
Ryan Whitwam is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering the ways Google, AI, and mobile technology continue to change the world. Over his 20-year career, he's written for Android Police, ExtremeTech, Wirecutter, NY Times, and more. He has reviewed more phones than most people will ever own. You can follow him on Bluesky, where you will see photos of his dozens of mechanical keyboards.
Recent stories by
Ryan Whitwam
Gemini “coming together in really awesome ways,” Google says after 2.5 Pro release
Google's Tulsee Doshi talks vibes and efficiency in Gemini 2.5 Pro.
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DeepMind has detailed all the ways AGI could wreck the world
DeepMind says AGI could arrive in 2030, and it has some ideas to keep us safe.
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Feeling curious? Google’s NotebookLM can now discover data sources for you
NotebookLM can do the legwork for you now.
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Google shakes up Gemini leadership, Google Labs head taking the reins
With fresh leadership, Google aims to create new products based on Gemini.
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Apple enables RCS messaging for Google Fi subscribers at last
Apple only supported RCS on the big three carriers in the first iOS18 releases.
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Gemini is an increasingly good chatbot, but it’s still a bad assistant
Op-ed: Google's generative AI is not ready to serve as your virtual assistant.
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Google’s new experimental Gemini 2.5 model rolls out to free users
Google's improved AI model is now available for free, but usage is limited.
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Google discontinues Nest Protect smoke alarm and Nest x Yale lock
Google continues backing away from smart home hardware.
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Google solves its mysterious Pixel problem, announces 9a launch date
Google has sorted out its Pixel problems and will begin the 9a rollout on April 10.
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Corning’s new ceramic glass might save your next phone from disaster
Gorilla Glass Ceramic will appear on its first phone in the coming months.
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Google announces Maps screenshot analysis, AI itineraries to help you plan trips
Google wants to help you get away this summer with, you guessed it, AI.
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Google makes Android development private, will continue open source releases
Google says this change will simplify things for developers and OEMs.
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Gemini 2.5 Pro is here with bigger numbers and great vibes
Google's new "thinking" model is ready to think for you.
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No cloud needed: Nvidia creates gaming-centric AI chatbot that runs on your GPU
Nvidia G-Assist has limited functionality right now, but it runs locally.
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Apple barred from Google antitrust trial, putting $20 billion search deal on the line
Google's sizeable payments for Safari defaults could be ending.
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Oops: Google says it might have deleted your Maps Timeline data
Google Maps switched to local-only Timeline storage in December.
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Italy demands Google poison DNS under strict Piracy Shield law
A lawsuit claims Google has not blocked football streams as required in Italy.
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Apple reportedly planning executive shake-up to address Siri delays
Apple is looking to right the ship after key Siri features delayed to 2026.
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Apple and Google in the hot seat as European regulators ignore Trump warnings
Apple will have to open iOS up more, and Google could face steep fines.
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Meager 8GB of RAM forces Pixel 9a to run “extra extra small” Gemini AI
Some of Google's coolest AI features don't work on the 9a.
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Google reveals Pixel 9a, with the largest battery ever in a Pixel
Google's new budget smartphone will arrive in April.
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Gemini gets new coding and writing tools, plus AI-generated “podcasts”
Gemini is absorbing features from one of Google's coolest AI products.
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Why wait? Google is already dismantling Assistant as it switches to Gemini.
Assistant is becoming less helpful as Google "prioritizes" experiences.
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End of Life: Gemini will completely replace Google Assistant later this year
Google promises more details on the move to Gemini in the coming months.
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Google joins OpenAI in pushing feds to codify AI training as fair use
Google says it just wants "balanced" copyright rules.
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Google has a fix for your broken Chromecast V2 unless you factory reset
Just keep your Chromecast plugged in, and it should come back to life.
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Google’s Gemini AI can now see your search history
Gemini can do more with your data if you let it.
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Google is bringing every Android game to Windows in big gaming update
Google has big plans for gaming in 2025.
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Google’s Gemma 3 is an open source, single-GPU AI with a 128K context window
Gemma 3 is optimized to run on almost anything, from powerful GPUs to a smartphone.
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Google’s 10-year-old Chromecast is busted, but a fix is coming
The 2nd-gen Chromecast stopped working this week, but it's not over yet.
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Gmail gains Gemini-powered “Add to calendar” button
The latest Gemini integration starts rolling out today for premium AI subscribers.
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DOJ: Google must sell Chrome, Android could be next
Google says government proposals would "harm America’s consumers."
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Bad vibes? Google may have screwed up haptics in the new Pixel Drop update
Google didn't mention any changes to haptics prior to the Pixel Drop.
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No one asked for this: Google is testing round keys in Gboard
A lot of Gboard beta users are suddenly remembering they joined the beta.
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You knew it was coming: Google begins testing AI-only search results
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