Google

Google’s been absorbing Fitbit at a steady rate over the 18 months or so and now, it’s also retiring the OG Fitbit Twitter — er, X — account. It’s not at all surprising, but something about this really underscores that Fitbit is Google now.

Last week, Judge Donato ruled that Google would have to open up Android to third-party app stores starting November 1st — but Google immediately filed an appeal and asked for an emergency stay.

Now, the judge will hear Google’s motion on October 18th. If he grants it, it could be years until Google makes changes, even if higher courts agree with his ruling.

According to Google, the deal will help “unlock the full potential of AI for everyone”:

The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies that are powering major scientific advances, improving services for businesses and customers, and driving national competitiveness and economic growth. This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone.

After announcing it last month, Google seems to have rolled out Google TV’s AI wallpapers, 9to5Google reports.

According to a Google TV support page, the option lives under Settings > System > Ambient Mode > Custom AI Art. Click on “Create new...” and then describe the image you want, use a template, or choose “Inspire me” and Google TV makes one for you.

Here’s what the tool will do, according to Fitbit:

The first lab, an insights explorer, uses Google’s Gemini models and will test the ability of AI to understand users’ health and wellness questions and give personalized answers about some Fitbit data types. For example, you could receive interesting explanations about how your activity impacts your sleep, with a chart that helps you visualize the connection.

Fitbit Labs is an opt-in program available to “select users.”

Mosseri, who now heads up Instagram, talked a bit about the project in response to a post from our EIC Nilay Patel about the HTC First.

If you want to do some time-traveling, check out Dieter Bohn’s review from 2013.

If you thought standard-issue ad tech was a little weird and creepy, get ready for the future: platforms letting marketers use all their data to make an infinite number of AI-generated ads specifically targeted to individual viewers. Digiday reports on TikTok’s Smart+, which competes with similar offerings from Meta and Google:

Marketers can let TikTok’s AI handle the heavy lifting — building and delivering ads to drive conversions, leads, or app downloads. […] The pitch is all about simplicity and speed — no more weeks of guesswork and endless A/B testing, according to Adolfo Fernandez, TikTok’s director, global head of product strategy and operations, commerce.

Super normal, everyone! No potential issues here!

Following a final ruling that says Google will have to open up the Play Store to third-party marketplaces, Google reaffirmed its plans to appeal the decision.

At the same time, Google is also asking the court to pause Epic Games’ requests to distribute rival app stores and adjust its payment system. Apple was granted a reprieve during its Epic legal battle last year.