News Weekly: Google rebrands Bard, Gemini arrives in Canada, and more

This is Android Central’s News Weekly, your go-to supply for a concise roundup of the week’s most vital tech tales. This is the place we delve into the highest headlines that present the newest developments and improvements contributing to the digital panorama. This week, we discuss Google rebranding Bard to Gemini, Gemini making its solution to Canada, a pilot program to detect monetary fraud apps, a function that confirmed up surprisingly with the brand new Android Beta replace, and a sneak-peek at an alleged Pixel Fold 2.Google ditches ‘Bard'(Image credit score: Google)Google has determined to exploit the Gemini Era idea by letting go of Bard and rebranding its AI chatbot as Gemini this week. When you entry Google’s chatbot from the online or by way of the brand new cellular app, you may see new Gemini branding with the identical UI under it. Google needs its AI options to be all-encompassing beneath one umbrella  — Gemini.The new cellular app will enable customers to do a lot of what they will already do with Google Assistant, probably signaling a shift away from Google Assistant.”For the past year, Bard has been the best way for people to directly experience and collaborate with our AI models,” stated Sissie Hsiao, Google’s vp of Gemini Experiences and Assistant. “Gemini represents our most capable family of models. So, to reflect the advanced technology at its core, Bard will now simply be called Gemini.”Along with Gemini, the corporate can be launching Gemini Advanced, out there with Ultra 1.0, beginning at present as a part of a brand new Google One AI Premium subscription costing $20 a month. Google’s placing the ‘Eh’ in AI (Image credit score: Google)Pun meant! After what felt like a century however was a 12 months, Google is lastly increasing its AI chatbot Gemini to Canada. Starting February 8, Gemini will likely be out there in English and Quebecois French, together with 40 different languages worldwide, through the Gemini web site. “So we know that Canadians have been waiting for this moment with anticipation, and I can tell you that we’ve been working really hard as a team to make it happen on a personal level,” stated Jules Walker, product supervisor for Gemini Experiences. While we’re not positive why Google took so lengthy to carry Gemini (previously Bard) to Canada, a number of speculations recommend that this could possibly be as a result of soured relationship between the corporate and the Canadian Government as a consequence of the Online News Act (Bill C-18).Walker stated that addressing the problems relating to the C-18 invoice has paved the best way for Google to launch Gemini in Canada, along with consulting consultants, policymakers, and regulators throughout the completely different sectors.While of us within the U.S. get to check out the Gemini app, Canadians have to attend a bit extra. New program to protect Android customers from Phishing(Image credit score: Jay Bonggolto / Android Central)We see quite a lot of phishing scams doing the rounds currently, be it an electronic mail hyperlink or an SMS asking you to make a fee to a sure web site or apps that sneakily take your knowledge and infrequently exploit the customers. Earlier this week, Google launched a pilot program to fight monetary fraud by stopping the sideloading of apps to deal with monetary fraud points affecting Android customers. The safety function will likely be progressively launched to Android customers in Singapore within the coming weeks, and if all goes effectively, we are able to count on a wider rollout afterward.Google, together with Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency, is making an attempt to create an added layer of safety from Android apps that ask for permissions, usually exploited in phishing assaults. It will function a real-time verify on 4 key permissions, reminiscent of studying and receiving SMS messages, accessibility service, and notification listening service. This safety improve comes as part of Google Play Protect.Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 with a shock AI trick(Image credit score: Android Central)The new Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 (construct AP21.240119.009) rolled out to eligible units on Wednesday, February 7. With this replace, beta testers can now take a look at the Circle to Search function, not too long ago launched for Google Pixel 8 customers with the brand new function replace. This circle-to-search function stays unique to the Pixel 8 collection. However, with the newest QPR launch, all eligible units within the beta program will get to try it out. Users with a Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Fold, or Pixel Tablet are in for a shock. This replace will roll out within the subsequent few days; nonetheless, if you wish to try it out proper now, you possibly can be a part of the Android Beta Program, and in your Pixel’s Settings, head over to System, then faucet System replace to put in it.Pixel Fold 2 leak spilled the beans on the machine’s appears to be like(Image credit score: Android Authority)This week additionally noticed what would be the first main Pixel Fold 2 leak. Android Authority has allegedly obtained a photograph of the Pixel Fold 2, which reveals adjustments to the cellphone’s rear panel. In the picture, we observed that the machine’s digital camera shelf reveals a sq. as an alternative of a horizontal bar. The Fold 2’s cameras are stacked in two small pill-shaped rows, with its LED flash nestled on the high proper. Allegedly, the island might host 4 sensors: a major wide-angle lens, an ultrawide lens, a periscope telephoto lens, and an “unknown” fourth sensor. The hypothesis is that this fourth sensor could possibly be the temperature sensor the Pixel 8 Pro options.An unnamed supply advised Android Authority that the machine’s “cover screen is narrower” and the interior show’s facet ratio “is closer to a square.”Continuing internally, the supply states the Pixel Fold 2’s prototype unit contains a “display cutout” within the high proper nook of its show for the digital camera. How it might look wasn’t detailed.There have additionally been speculations about Google giving up the Tensor G3 for the Fold 2 in favor of a more recent shipset. However, solely time will inform if any of those rumors maintain true. Those are a number of the greatest tales from this week. Meanwhile, listed here are another tales from which might be price catching up on: