News Digest — 2026-07-17

Top Stories

Google ordered to open Android and Search to rivals in Europe

The Verge AI · 2026-07-16

The European Union has mandated that Google grant rival AI assistants and search engines access to key Android and Search data to comply with its Digital Markets Act. The company must begin sharing search data by January 2027 and implement Android changes by July 2027, marking a significant shift in its platform control and potentially reshaping the competitive landscape in digital services.

The Download: OpenAI unveils GPT-Red and heat pumps rise in the US

MIT Tech Review AI · 2026-07-16

OpenAI has introduced GPT-Red, a large language model designed to perform red-teaming and enhance the safety of its other models by identifying potential vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, heat pump sales in the U.S. have surged, doubling over the past 15 years and outpacing natural-gas furnaces in the first quarter of 2026, partly due to new tax incentives.

Computer cops

The Verge AI · 2026-07-16

AI technologies such as facial recognition, automated license plate readers, and report-writing tools are being promoted to police departments at major conferences, raising concerns about automation in critical legal processes. These tools, while marketed as efficient, may impact individuals' lives by influencing policing decisions and reducing human oversight in routine tasks.

Google Vids now lets you star in your own AI videos

TechCrunch AI · 2026-07-16

Google has updated its Google Vids platform to allow users to create AI-generated videos using a digital avatar based on their selfie and voice. The update integrates Gemini Omni, enabling video creation from text and images, background swaps, lighting fixes, and step-by-step editing. The feature expands Vids' role beyond workplace presentations into a broader video creation tool with potential competition in the AI video space.

Roblox launches an AI-powered game-creation feature in its mobile app

TechCrunch AI · 2026-07-16

Roblox has launched an AI-powered game-creation feature called 'Build' in its mobile app, enabling users to generate basic games from text prompts without programming skills. The feature uses a combination of open-source and proprietary AI models to create game elements like environments, characters, and sound, but has sparked concerns about declining game quality and increased competition from AI-generated content. Roblox plans to address these concerns by ranking AI-generated games based on player retention.

Technology

Google is renaming NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook

The Verge AI · 2026-07-16

Google has renamed its AI note-taking app NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook, enhancing its integration with the Gemini AI platform and Google Search. The update includes new features like code execution on secure cloud computers, initially available to business customers and soon to Pro users.

New York governor says she’s using AI to analyze ‘every single rule’ in the state

The Verge AI · 2026-07-16

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that her administration is using AI to analyze all state regulations, identifying outdated laws such as a $25 dog hunting fee and midnight work permits for pregnant individuals. The AI review, completed in a few months, would have taken five years manually, allowing for faster policy updates. This initiative comes alongside a moratorium on new hyperscale data centers in the state to address environmental and cost concerns.

World

Claude can now use your 1Password credentials for you

The Verge AI · 2026-07-16

1Password has launched a new browser integration for Claude that allows the Anthropic chatbot to access stored security credentials like usernames and passwords. The 1Password for Claude feature means that users can authorize Claude to complete multi-step tasks like booking travel and managing online accounts on their behalf without having to manually input their login […]