Today’s Big Story

Are You Ready for Google’s AI Mode?

Like it or not, ‘artificial intelligence overviews’ are part of the future of search

It was less than a year ago, at its annual developer conference, when Google signaled that a dramatic change was coming to its search results. In the near future, the company said, you would “let Google do the Googling for you”: trusting the search engine to search the web on your behalf, and then summarize its findings—sparing you the need to click through and visit websites yourself.

It was an appealing proposition to Google, which would soon begin peppering the product it calls “AI Overviews” with advertisements; and for the search engine's users—many of whom have already begun to replace their traditional Google searches with queries in ChatGPT or Perplexity. But as Platformer points out, to the millions of businesses that rely on Google to send them traffic, though, the bargain appeared much worse. AI overviews offered answers good enough that many users never bothered to click a link; some businesses have suffered accordingly.

Now, there’s an even more ambitious AI search tool coming to Google. It’s called “AI Mode”, and The Verge says it’s more or less, Google’s take on those AI products. For now, AI mode is just a test. It’s only available to users paying for Google One AI Premium, and even they will have to enable it in the Labs section of Search. They say the “user experience feels a little like Gemini or any other chatbot, but you’re interacting with a Search-specific model, which means it’s more able to tap real-time data and interact directly with the web.”

This new AI mode is just the latest signal of just how important AI-generated content has become to Google Search, and how confident the company is becoming in what its models can deliver, despite its well-documented issues with rock eating and glue pizza. Of course, it’s clear that this is where we are headed: We want to ask our devices questions that need real research, further exploration and comparisons that can only be handled with advanced reasoning, thinking and multimodal capabilities.

One example TechCrunch suggested: “What’s the difference in sleep tracking features between a smart ring, smartwatch, and tracking mat?” This new AI mode can then give you a detailed comparison of what each product offers, along with links to articles that it’s pulling the information from. You could then ask a follow-up question, such as: “What happens to your heart rate during deep sleep?” to continue your search. Google says that in the past, it would have taken multiple queries to compare detailed options or explore a new concept through traditional searches.

All Eyes on Greenland

The world's biggest island to elect new government amid Trump-inspired existential crisis

When President Donald Trump first suggested buying Greenland in 2019, people thought it was just a joke. But no one is laughing now. Tomorrow, Greenlanders are going to the polls to elect a new government. In the past, few outsiders would care much how the semiautonomous territory of the kingdom of Denmark voted. These, of course, are different times.

Now there’s intense, global focus on the Arctic region, with China, Russia and the United States all seeking more control of this new melting world. President Trump told Congress last week that “one way or the other,” the United States needed to “get” Greenland. A new treaty? The 52nd state, after the United States snags Canada? Trump has not elaborated. (He’s made similar claims for the Panama Canal and Gaza.) Independence was the key issue of Greenland’s election, but experts say that Trump has changed the campaign in a serious way. The Conversation says that none of the political parties of this self-governing territory of Denmark have expressed sympathy for being part of the U.S., but all are happy to discuss future collaboration on defense.

Why are so many countries interested in Greenland right now? Well, its retreating ice cap is exposing the country’s mineral wealth and melting sea ice is opening up the once mythical Northwest Passage. Greenland sits strategically along two potential routes through the Arctic, which would reduce shipping times between the North Atlantic and Pacific and bypass the bottlenecks of the Suez and Panama canals. While the routes aren’t likely to be commercially viable for many years, they are certainly attracting attention.

Right-to-Repair Movement Grows

Laws protecting consumers’ ability to seek out independent repairs are spreading across the U.S.

The Right to Repair issue is back in the spotlight. Last week, the federal REPAIR Act was reintroduced to Congress, after stalling last fall. The reintroduction comes on the heels of new proposed federal legislation, called the SAFE REPAIR ACT, made by coalition of repairers and automakers. Both the reintroduced bill and proposed legislation center on allowing private individuals and independent shops the same access to diagnostics and tools needed to repair everything from appliances to vehicles that franchised dealers have access to.

“During the last few years, interest in repair has exploded,” Peter Mui, founder of Fixit Clinic, told NBC News. He started it as a tool share in Berkeley, California, but it’s turned into a volunteer-run group that has organized more than 1,300 repair events around the country. He attributes this cultural shift to a growing awareness about the environmental impact of e-waste as well as an understanding of their personal “right to repair”.

Historically, manufacturers (of computers, cars and other devices) have cited copyright law to claim exclusive repair rights, allowing them to sue independent repair companies while preventing consumers from finding lower-cost alternatives. But more and more states are passing laws to protect consumers’ ability to repair or modify their products instead of having to go through the manufacturer. As of right now, such right-to-repair bills had been introduced in all 50 states—and 20 state legislatures are actively debating such bills.

Josh Allen Scores a Record-Setting NFL Contract

The reigning league MVP will now be with the Bills through the 2030 season

The Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen have agreed on a new deal that will keep the quarterback in Buffalo through the 2030 season, the team announced Sunday. A league source confirmed to The Athletic that the deal is a six-year extension for $330 million, making him among the league’s highest-paid players.

According to multiple media reports, the deal also includes $250 million guaranteed, which is the largest guarantee ever given to an NFL player. Allen had four years left on his current deal, and while the deal didn't need to get done, it's easy to see why the Bills moved to reward their star QB. Allen, who won his first career MVP award, led the team to a fifth consecutive division title and back to the AFC championship game for the second time in the past five seasons. He's thrown for more touchdowns than any QB in Bills history, and he threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2024 with 12 rushing touchdowns.

Allen will carry an average annual value of $55 million per season. Only Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, with an AAV of $60 million per season, averages more. Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had the previous guaranteed record with his $230 million deal. Only Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has a deal worth more with his $450 million contract.

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