How to watch Ice Hockey World Championships for free. Live stream Canada vs. Norway in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free.
The Growing Influence of Gemini in Google Services Sparks Worries
Google is increasingly determined to incorporate AI into all of its offerings.
Once again at I/O, Google highlighted AI and discussed how agentic AI will liberate us from boring tasks to the point where we’ll have so much leisure time that we’ll be at a loss for how to spend it. However, there’s a catch — current AI technology is far from being effective.
I enjoy using Google’s services; I established my Gmail account nearly 20 years ago, I’ve accumulated 11 years of images and videos in Photos, and I have crucial documents stored in Drive — a significant portion of my online presence is closely tied to my Google account.
I was comfortable with the compromises that came with it; I had no issues with sharing my information with Google when it simply used that data to show me targeted advertisements. That’s changed with AI. With Google utilizing personal data to train AI models — supposedly to offer personalized insights — I’m cautious about how much of my information is being harvested into Gemini. Fortunately, it’s relatively simple (for the time being) to restrict Gemini’s access to Drive, Photos, Gmail, and other services. I accomplished this by turning off Gemini’s logging; go to your Google account settings and switch Gemini Apps Activity to off.
While ignoring Gemini is manageable at the moment, Google is determined to place that frustrating sparkle icon nearly everywhere. I encounter an Ask Gemini button in Chrome, it’s ubiquitous in Gmail (I really don’t need to summarize a 100-word email!), and inexplicably, it’s integrated into Google Photos (which had perfectly functional metadata-based search), and Maps is now getting Gemini too.
Google also demonstrated how Docs Live serves as a “thought partner and co-writer” when you’re “rambling a stream of consciousness or brainstorming an idea.” Umm, no thanks. I understand that AI is currently the ultimate trend, and Google is ideally suited to take advantage of it — the search behemoth already possesses vast amounts of data from billions of users, making it logical to utilize that for training its models. But I have no interest in this, and although I acknowledge that these features may be beneficial for drafting documents or writing formal emails, I fail to see any value in the numerous new Gemini features being introduced to Docs, Gmail, or even Keep. I don’t want to converse with Keep to sort my thoughts — that’s where I go to create endless to-do lists.
All I hoped for was for Google to implement any substantial modifications to Search, but instead, we received a comprehensive AI overhaul that fails to tackle existing problems plaguing Google’s flagship product. The quality of search has deteriorated to such a degree that it has become riddled with SEO spam — especially in India. Google is aware of this, which is why it started prominently displaying Reddit and Quora results on the page, seemingly to combat spam.
As brands increasingly promote these AI tools and make them harder to overlook, I recall a post discussing education in the era of generative AI. It elaborates on how LLMs have simplified coursework to an extent where the “process of doing the work” is eliminated. This led me to reflect on how a bit of friction is necessary, even in trivial tasks. Whether it’s tidying up digital files (a Sunday morning chore I’ve performed for nearly a decade), organizing bills, maintaining subscriptions, or sorting photos and videos, there’s a sense of achievement I feel when completing these tasks, and I don’t want AI to remove that challenge.
Look, I’ll concede that Google did a respectable job outlining its AI agenda; Gemini Spark, Omni, Daily Brief, and Universal Cart all relate to what the company has been pursuing over the past year, making it a natural progression for the chatbot. I understand that these features have real utility, but I don’t feel any inclination to use any of them, and I don’t foresee that changing in the near future.
In SpaceX’s IPO, Elon Musk is a Risk Factor
The SpaceX IPO is here, and it’s more than just an historic public offering that could make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. It also reveals more ways in which Elon Musk’s companies interact and overlap with each other, shuffling money around in ways that are often difficult to keep track of. This is evident […]
Hints and Answers for NYT Strands – May 21, 2026
The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.
Today’s NYT Connections Hints: Clues & Answers for May 21, 2026
Connections is a New York Times word game that’s all about finding the “common threads between words.” How to solve the puzzle.
Adobe Photoshop Upgrade Brings On-Device AI Processing with Restrictions
Adobe has launched Photoshop version 27.7 today, unveiling an on-device AI model for the Remove tool, which comes with notable hardware specifications.
### On-device processing limited to more powerful Macs
The major feature of Adobe Photoshop 27.7 is the newly introduced on-device AI model for the Remove tool. This capability permits users to eliminate objects without depending on cloud processing, allowing for local edits post model download. Users can control the model by downloading, cancelling, or uninstalling it whenever needed, with automatic compatibility checks prior to download. Furthermore, users have the option to toggle between cloud and on-device processing.
This local processing function is advantageous for users lacking an active internet connection and boosts privacy as data remains on the device for processing.
Nevertheless, the local AI processing necessitates specific hardware configurations. As stated by Adobe, the minimum requirements include:
| Component | Minimum hardware requirements |
|——————–|————————————————–|
| Processor | Apple silicon Mac with M1 Pro or later |
| Memory (RAM) | 24 GB or more |
| Operating system | macOS Tahoe (version 26.4) or later |
If a Mac fails to meet these criteria, the Device option will not be available, leaving users with the cloud-based version of the Remove tool.
### Additional Features in Photoshop 27.7
In addition to the Remove tool, numerous other features have been added:
– **Photoshop desktop and Firefly Boards integration**: Users can directly share Photoshop documents to Firefly Boards, making moodboarding and comparing AI-generated variations easier.
– **Ungating premium generative AI features**: Eligible subscribers now enjoy broader access to premium generative AI features, with existing generative credits able to be used across both standard and premium features.
– **Unified Account Menu in the Edit workspace**: Users can check and manage their Adobe account and subscription information directly from the Edit workspace via the new Unified Account Menu.
For further details on the updated Remove tool in Adobe Photoshop version 27.7, [follow this link](https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/repair-retouch/remove-objects-fill-space/remove-tool-minimum-and-recommended-hardware-requirements.html).
ACSI Report: Samsung Exceeds Apple in Mobile Phone Satisfaction; Apple Watch Holds Leading Position in Wearable Devices
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has published its newest Telecommunications, Cell Phone, and Smartwatch Study, providing insights into customer contentment for prominent brands, including Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch.
### iPhone Declines by a Point, Apple Watch Remains Unchanged
Apple has consistently stressed the importance of high customer satisfaction as a crucial measure of its product quality. In recent earnings calls, CEO Tim Cook pointed out remarkable satisfaction ratings, including a 99% satisfaction rate for the iPhone 17 in the U.S. However, the findings from the ACSI reveal a different scenario.
The study, which gathered responses from 26,963 customers between April 2025 and March 2026, shows that Apple’s iPhone satisfaction fell from 81 to 80, while Samsung held onto its top position with a score of 81. The overall satisfaction rating for the cell phone category rose by 1% to 79.
Significantly, the study added metrics for AI feature performance, which scored 85, signifying a transition of AI from being a novelty to a practical asset for consumers.
When analyzing specific model types, Samsung outshone Apple in the flagship category with scores of 84 versus 82. Conversely, Apple outperformed Samsung in the legacy/other category, achieving a score of 79 compared to Samsung’s 78. In the foldable segment, Samsung led with a score of 80, followed by Google at 72 and Motorola at 70.
In the smartwatches category, Apple and Samsung both scored 80, with Apple’s score unchanged from the prior year, while Samsung’s rating dipped from 83. Overall satisfaction in this category remained stable at 77, with strong ratings in aspects such as app connectivity, fitness tracking usability, and website satisfaction, each scoring 83.
For those seeking a more comprehensive analysis, the complete ACSI report can be found [here](https://theacsi.org/news-and-resources/press-releases/2026/05/19/press-release-telecommunications-cell-phone-and-smartwatch-study-2026/).
TCL Google TV Users Might Get a Complimentary Visual Enhancement
always utilize on your smart TV if it’s accessible. This is due to its capability to automatically modify video configurations to align with the authentic visual interpretation that the original filmmakers intended. You can genuinely witness what Spielberg or Nolan imagined while creating a movie.
However, this isn’t the sole new feature being introduced. Certain TVs are also receiving bug fixes, support for wireless subwoofers, in addition to compatibility with IMAX Enhanced DTS:X audio on Disney+. The software update version is v643, and it will be delivered over-the-air to televisions scheduled to receive it. A few models in line for the update include the TCL X11K, C8K (QM8K), C7K (QM7K), X955 (QM851G), C855, C955, and additional choices that cater to minimalists.
As reported by FlatpanelsHD, this encompasses models from 2023 to 2025 featuring the Pentatonic 700 chip. The latest models from 2026 already come with the update pre-loaded, including bug fixes and new functionalities. The release will occur gradually, with some users already noticing the modifications. Overall, TCL tends to provide solid support for its TVs through software updates. Nonetheless, Roku and TCL are currently facing legal action related to “software defects,” although Roku devices deliver a distinctly different experience right out of the box.
Always a smart move to check for software or firmware updates
SpaceX IPO Filing Focuses on AI Investments, Starship Aspirations, and Elon Musk
SpaceX has finally made the contents of its IPO filing public, weeks ahead of what is expected to be the largest IPO ever and one that will make Musk the CEO, CTO, and Chairman of the board.
Modern Distributed Applications featuring Stephan Ewen
A major challenge with creating distributed applications is achieving resilience, reliability, and fault tolerance. It can take considerable engineering time to address non-functional concerns like retries, state synchronization, and distributed coordination. Event-driven models aim to simplify these issues, but often introduce new difficulties in debugging and operations. Stephan Ewen is the Founder at Restate which
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