Perplexity AI has launched its Comet browser for mobile, taking on Google in the Android ecosystem. Perplexity says it will soon release an iOS app as well. The AI-powered Comet browser debuted in July on a limited basis for Mac and Windows desktops, followed by a wider release in October. The Comet browser uses Perplexity’s AI-powered search engine to answer questions, either typed or posed conversationally, and lets users mention specific tabs or can focus on open tabs. It can also agentically complete tasks. Perplexity hasn’t disclosed Comet usage figures, but says manufacturers are already requesting to include Comet on-device. Continue reading Perplexity’s AI-Powered Comet Browser Now Live on Android

OpenAI is live with a retail companion it calls “shopping research” that helps consumers find viable purchase options based on detailed requirement parameters. Trained on a version of GPT‑5 mini, it can query on a virtually unlimited list of discovery constraints, sourcing only from “reliable retailers.” “Results are organic and based on publicly available retail sites,” OpenAI says, indicating there are no advertiser-boosted entries — not yet, anyway. Available on iOS, Android and the Web for logged-in ChatGPT users on the Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans, OpenAI is making nearly unlimited usage available to all plans through the holidays. Continue reading OpenAI Continues Push into Retail with ‘Shopping Research’

Two months after its launch, Meta Platforms is overhauling its Horizon Hyperscape Capture app, moving the rendering process from the cloud to on-device for lower latency and mobility. Hyperscape Capture, unveiled at Meta Connect in September, lets you use a Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S headset to scan and generate a real-world 3D environment — like your office or living room — to share as a photorealistic VR replica. Rather than cloud-rendered captures that were accessible solely within the app, Hyperscape Capture can now generate a Hyperscape as a Horizon Worlds destination — with audio. Continue reading Meta Updates Its Horizon Hyperscape with 3D World Capture

Google is adding Deep Research to its AI-powered writing and research assistant NotebookLM, adding agentic capabilities that transform it to an autonomous research agent that can find and evaluate information on its own. Previously NotebookLM was limited to retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). Now, led by your questions, Deep Research browses hundreds of websites, refining its search as it learns, generating within minutes an organized, source-grounded report that can be added to your notebook. Google is also adding support for more file types, including photos — allowing you to upload snapshots of notes — Google Sheets and Microsoft Word documents. Continue reading Google Adds Deep Research, New File Types to NotebookLM

As promised last month, Google Photos is getting AI enhancements powered by Gemini’s top-rated image editing model Nano Banana. Users can now open a photo, select “Help me edit” and type “Remove Riley’s sunglasses, open my eyes, make Engel smile and open her eyes” to quickly doctor a shot. Photos will draw on images from your private library of “face groups” to generate “personalized, accurate edits of people in your photo library,” Google says. The company is also introducing a new “Ask” button to get information about photos and make requests and expanding natural language instruction. Continue reading Gemini’s Nano Banana Image Editor Added to Google Photos

Mozilla is the latest entry in the AI browser space with AI Window, an opt-in feature within Firefox that lets you chat with an AI assistant and get help while you browse. The company is currently taking sign-up requests for those who want to try it out and provide feedback. “Browsers made by AI companies ask you to make a hard choice — either use AI all the time or don’t use it at all,” Mozilla says, emphasizing a more fluid approach that lets users switch from the classic Firefox to a more “personalized experience” with AI Window. Continue reading Mozilla Adds AI Opt-In for Firefox, Emphasizing User Choice

A year after launching its ultra-low-price digital shopping destination Haul as a tab on its website and app, e-commerce giant Amazon is launching a standalone app called Amazon Bazaar that sells the same inventory. The Amazon Bazaar standalone will initially bow in 14 additional territories, bringing the total availability of the company’s ultra-low-priced inventory to 25. Haul sells a wide range of fashion, home goods, and lifestyle products, most priced under $10, and some as low as $2. The app has helped Amazon compete with Chinese bargain sites Shein, Temu and TikTok Shop. Continue reading Low-Price Retail App Amazon Bazaar Launches in 14 Regions

Amazon Music announced a new beta feature called “Fan Groups” that enables users to build their own communities for sharing information and opinions about their favorite music genres and artists. The feature, testing now in Canada on iOS and Android, encourages music fans to listen to songs shared within the groups and interact via chat threads and user posts, while driving new music discovery in the process. Artists will also have the ability to join groups, providing an opportunity to share exclusive content and interact directly with their fans. “The new destination transforms music listening into an interactive community for fans without having to leave the app,” explains Amazon. Continue reading Amazon Music Touts Community with ‘Fan Groups’ Beta Test

Amazon’s generative AI voice assistant Alexa+ is coming to the Amazon Music mobile app for iOS and Android for customers across all subscription tiers in Alexa+ Early Access. Alexa+ was announced in February at Amazon’s Devices & Services event, and began rolling out in early access in the spring. It is reported to now have more than a million users. Customers were able to get early access by registering for it on the Amazon website or purchasing a compatible product. Adding generative AI to Amazon Music is seen as a competitive move following Spotify’s October integration with OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT. Continue reading Alexa+ for iOS and Android Now Available for Amazon Music

Amazon wants to save customers time shopping by helping them reach an informed decision more quickly using AI. The new “Help Me Decide” feature aims to pair people with the right product “with the tap of a button” that produces “one clear recommendation.” This includes an explanation of why the product is right for you “based on your specific needs and preferences,” ascertained via analysis of your browsing history. If you’ve been perusing similar products but haven’t yet purchased, the “Help Me Decide” button will appear at the top of the product detail page. It can also be accessed by tapping “Keep shopping for” on the homepage if you want to pick up where you left off in a previous browsing session. Continue reading Amazon: ‘Help Me Decide’ Uses AI to Help Shoppers Choose

OpenAI has launched Atlas, a free web browser that uses ChatGPT as its search engine and integrates with the company’s other products. Initially released for Apple’s macOS, OpenAI says support for Windows, Android and iOS is coming soon. News that OpenAI was developing the product surfaced in April as part of the Google antitrust trial, where OpenAI executive Nick Turley testified the company was interested in buying Chrome. Now the ChatGPT Atlas browser is available for download, challenging Chrome and others. Rather than type queries, people can chat with Atlas, something Chrome and Perplexity’s new Comet browser also allow. Continue reading OpenAI Enters Browser Market with Launch of ChatGPT Atlas

Snapchat is developing a virtual 3D world where users can adopt Bitmoji avatars and socialize in an immerse digital environment. Called “Bitmoji Plaza,” the digital town center will live in the web version of the Snapchat app. The move shows Snap Inc. expanding its horizons and potentially setting up for other virtual worlds in preparation for the 2026 release of the company’s consumer AR glasses. While a Bitmoji world is an elementary transition to the metaverse, Snap is also expanding the use of Bitmoji stickers with a new app that lets Android and iOS users add them to messages. Continue reading Bitmoji Plaza: Snapchat Is Launching Virtual World on the Web

Apple has reportedly developed a ChatGPT-like iPhone app for internal use in testing its AI overhaul of Siri. Apple’s AI unit is using the app to assess new features for its famous conversational assistant, putting it through its paces for tasks like sifting through personal data, including documents, audio and emails, and performing actions including photo and video editing, according to reports. Called Veritas, Latin for “truth,” the developmental software is garnering attention as a pivotal tool in Siri’s highly anticipated AI makeover, expected to make its public debut next year. Continue reading Apple Creates an AI Chatbot to Help Train the Next-Gen Siri

Google has launched its Gemini-powered AI search tool Search Live in the United States. The mobile integration for iOS and Android can look at the world through your phone’s camera and respond to questions conversationally, in real time, while also offering helpful Web links for a deeper dive. “Just open the Google app and tap the new Live icon under the search bar,” Google explains. Camera sharing will be activated by default and the app also accepts video input. If you’re already pointing your camera with Google Lens, you can select the Live option at the bottom of the screen. Continue reading Google Launches Conversational ‘Search Live’ for U.S. Mobile

Google is rolling out “Gemini in Chrome” to U.S. Mac and Windows desktop users. Business users will get it in the weeks to come, as will Android and iOS mobile devices. The immediate change integrates “Google AI into Chrome across multiple levels so it can better anticipate your needs, help you understand more complex information, and make you more productive when you browse the web.” There are a number of safety features that leverage AI to combat scams and handle things like automatic password resets. And Gemini in Chrome will soon be able to recall websites previously visited without requiring you to scroll through your browsing history. An agentic browsing assistant is also in the works. Continue reading Google Adds Gemini AI Assistant to Chrome Browser in U.S.