Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features.

Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features.

      Google's new short-form video feed and conversational search feature aim to simplify and expedite the process of finding the right app.

      Google is enhancing app and game discovery on Google Play with several new features announced at I/O 2026, which significantly utilize AI and short-form video.

      Discovery beyond the store

      The most significant change is Google Play’s integration with the Gemini app. In the upcoming weeks, Google will facilitate app discovery in the Gemini app on Android and the web, linking apps and games to Gemini users.

      Later this year, Gemini will begin showcasing over 450,000 movies and TV shows, as well as options for streaming live sports, and will directly link users to app content. This initiative demonstrates how Google intends for Gemini to serve as a discovery platform for apps, games, and other Google Play content.

      New ways to browse on Play

      Google is launching Play Shorts, a short-form video feed integrated into its app store. This full-screen, portrait video feed will allow users to quickly preview an app’s appearance, experience, and functionality. Play Shorts is being rolled out to users in the US and select developers, with plans for broader availability in the future.

      On the search front, Google is debuting Ask Play, a conversational AI feature for app discovery. The company states that Ask Play comprehends the complete context of a user’s inquiry and adjusts to follow-up questions to suggest the appropriate app. A supplementary feature called Ask Play highlights will provide users with a brief overview of complex searches directly on the search results page.

      Google is also enhancing its Play Games Sidekick overlay with new social features, enabling players to check which friends are playing the same game and track their progress, with a global rollout anticipated this summer.

      These updates to Play are part of Google’s broader strategy to extend the store’s accessibility beyond its immediate interface, particularly as AI assistants are increasingly where users begin their searches for new apps, games, and content.

      Pranob is an experienced tech journalist with over eight years of covering consumer technology. His work has been…

      Discord calls finally achieve end-to-end encryption, but direct messages aren't included

      Discord has spent three years developing one of the most comprehensive cross-platform encryption systems ever introduced, but it doesn’t extend to the most fundamental communication aspect of the app.

      Discord has just concluded a project initiated in 2023, and while the outcome is genuinely notable, there’s a significant caveat. As of early March 2026, all standard voice and video calls on Discord are now end-to-end encrypted (E2EE), with the feature enabled by default—no need for users to toggle any settings. The encryption utilizes DAVE, Discord’s proprietary open-source protocol.

      YouTube receives Gemini Omni for free, but its top AI search features remain paywalled

      At Google I/O 2026, YouTube users were presented with a complimentary AI-driven creative studio while also facing a paywalled search upgrade.

      During I/O 2026, Google restructured two of YouTube’s essential experiences entirely, resulting in genuinely valuable updates. First, YouTube search will feature a new capability called Ask YouTube, resembling AI Mode but tailored for the extensive collection of videos on the platform. Additionally, Gemini Omni, Google’s “create anything from anything” tool, will be accessible in the YouTube Shorts Remix and Create app, marking a significant development for creators. However, while Omni remains free for the time being, Ask YouTube is restricted by a paywall.

      Apple Sports is set to track every World Cup heartbreak live

      Apple's free sports app has just added a World Cup mode.

      Apple Sports is undergoing a significant expansion, timed perfectly for football enthusiasts. Apple has announced that its free sports app for iPhone is now available in over 170 countries and regions, having added more than 90 new markets. The key highlight is a new set of features tailored for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The company is making adjustments to attract a much broader audience for a tournament that will be central to the sports calendar.

Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features. Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features. Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features. Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features. Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features. Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features. Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features. Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features.

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Google Play is introducing app previews similar to TikTok and incorporating AI-driven search features.

Google has announced the integration of Google Play with the Gemini app, which will enhance app and content discovery. The company has also introduced Play Shorts, a short video feed for exploring apps, along with Ask Play, a conversational AI search feature that assists users in finding the appropriate apps.