Google is so eager for your app code that it's prepared to compensate you for it.

      Google has been discreetly contacting Android developers with an offer to purchase access to their code. According to a report from 404 Media, the company has sent emails to a select group of Google Play developers, inviting them to participate in what it describes as a “confidential content offer pilot.”

      The email presents this as a chance to increase earnings, informing developers that they can “get paid for sharing the code behind your apps, as well as your archived projects.” Google assures that developers will keep their intellectual property rights and that the license will be non-exclusive.

      So, what is Google's actual interest in this code?

      The report indicates that the email does not explicitly mention artificial intelligence, but a hidden link leads to a page called “partnerships to enhance our AI products.” This page reveals that Google is willing to pay for “non-public content in various media formats” to enhance its AI models.

      Connecting the dots is relatively straightforward. Google’s AI model, Gemini, excels at generating images and text but has been lagging in AI coding tools, while Anthropic has seen significant success with Claude Code, resulting in a valuation surpassing that of OpenAI.

      OpenAI has also introduced its own Codex app targeted at developers. At the recent Google I/O event, the company highlighted its Antigravity 2.0 IDE, which can create entire apps.

      It appears that Google is looking to train its AI on real code to enhance its coding capabilities, allowing it to compete with offerings like Claude Code and ChatGPT’s Codex. Purchasing actual code from developers could serve as an efficient shortcut to bridging that gap.

      Is there anything problematic about this?

      Although the long-term effects may be negative for developers, Google’s approach is not necessarily wrong. At the very least, it is preferable to training AI using countless books and online materials without obtaining permission, a practice many AI firms have engaged in.

      Developers maintain their intellectual property, the license is non-exclusive, and they receive payment. However, the lack of clarity in the email is notable. Presenting an AI data acquisition initiative as a straightforward “revenue opportunity” without any mention of AI seems to suggest that Google hopes developers won't inquire too deeply.

      Rachit is an experienced tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering the consumer technology scene.

      OpenAI is enhancing ChatGPT's ability to remember details about your life, improving chat relevance.

      OpenAI's new memory system, which it refers to as "dreaming," learns from your chat history automatically and keeps that information updated over time. Although ChatGPT has had the capability to remember details about users during interactions, maintaining those memories accurately over time has been a consistent challenge. OpenAI is now introducing a revamped memory feature, marking the most significant update since the feature was first launched in 2024.

      How the new system operates

      Brave Origin is a minimalist browser that eliminates all unnecessary features, but you must pay $60 for this simplicity.

      Brave Origin removes the crypto wallet, AI assistant, rewards program, and more for a one-time fee of $59.99. However, critics argue that these features can already be disabled for free.

      Brave initially built its reputation as a slim, privacy-centric alternative to Chrome, but it has accumulated features like a crypto wallet, AI assistant, news feed, and rewards program over time. In response to user dissatisfaction with this added complexity, the company has released a simplified version called Brave Origin. However, free access is only available to Linux users.

      What’s included and what’s removed

      Google will scan your Gmail inbox if requested while working in Drive.

      Google’s AI now reviews your work emails so you don’t have to.

      Google is expanding Gemini's functionality within Workspace by enabling users to import Gmail conversations directly into Ask Gemini in Drive. This gives its AI assistant greater access to emails, documents, and folders, creating a more integrated workspace experience.

      This feature, which is now generally available for eligible Google Workspace and Google AI subscribers, aims to assist users in asking more complex questions while using Google Drive. Instead of manually toggling between Gmail and Drive to collect information, users can now input entire Gmail threads into Gemini, along with files and folders, to receive context-aware responses.