Google announces next generation of AI technology amid antitrust woes

Google revealed another wave of artificial intelligence (AI) on Wednesday that is designed to tackle more of the work and thinking done by humans.

The next generation of Google's AI is being packaged under Gemini, which was unveiled a year ago.

Google is framing its release of Gemini 2.0 as a springboard for AI agents built to interpret images shown through a smartphone, perform a variety of tedious chores, remember the conversations consumers have with people, help video game players plot strategy and even tackle the task of doing online searches.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai predicted the technology contained in Gemini 2.0 will “understand more about the world around you, think multiple steps ahead and take action on your behalf, with your supervision," in a blog post.

It's a similar goal being pursued by rivals such as ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and industry powerhouse such as Microsoft with a variety of similar tools on its Windows software.

Features available

A lot of Google's latest AI technology will initially be confined to test groups and subscribers who pay for Gemini Advanced, but some features will be made available through its search engine and mobile apps.

Google is planning wider releases next year that will include the technology popping up in its smorgasbord of free products, including its Chrome browser, digital maps, and YouTube.

Besides trying to outshine OpenAI and other ambitious startups, Google is also trying to stay a step ahead of Apple as it begins to blend AI into its latest iPhones and other devices.

Google's antitrust woes

The advances come even as the US Justice Department is trying to break up the tech company to prevent further abusive practices by its dominant search engine, which was declared an illegal monopoly by a federal judge earlier this year as part of a landmark antitrust case.

If the US Department of Justice gets its way, Google will be forced to sell or spin-off Chrome as part of its punishment for deploying its search engine in ways that stifled competition and potential innovation.

Google has ridiculed the Justice Department's proposal as “overly broad” and vowed to resist any attempt to break up the company during federal court hearings scheduled to begin in Washington DC next spring.

Even if those proceedings culminate in a court order mandating a breakup, Google could still appeal in a process that could take years to resolve while it continues its AI expansion.

“I can’t wait to see what this next era brings,” Pichai wrote in his blog post, signalling the company doesn't believe it will be deterred by regulators.