Google adds social features to Gemini AI avatars

Collaborative AI content

Google is updating its Gemini AI to make personal avatars more social. This new functionality allows people to share their digital likenesses with friends so they can appear together in AI-generated images and videos.

By making these avatars social, Google is enabling a form of collaborative content creation. Users can now tag specific friends in their prompts to ensure the AI includes multiple people in a single output while maintaining character consistency.

The update aims to bridge the gap between individual AI experimentation and shared media. As reported by digitaltrends.com, this allows for a more integrated way to use personal AI identities across different social contexts.

How to build an avatar

To get started, users must create a personal avatar by providing the AI with reference material. This involves recording a short video of your face while speaking, which gives Gemini the necessary data to recreate both your appearance and your voice.

The setup process requires specific conditions for the best results. Google recommends recording in a quiet room with even, eye-level lighting that is neither too bright nor too dim. Users should avoid wearing hats, sunglasses, or anything else that covers their face during the recording.

Once the recording is finished, users can finalize the setup on their computer. After completion, the avatar can be summoned in prompts by using the @ symbol followed by the user's Google username.

Sharing and permissions

The social aspect of the tool relies on a permission-based sharing system. To include a friend, a user must go into their settings, open the Avatar section, and enter the friend's Gmail address.

The recipient will then receive an invitation to either accept or decline the request. This ensures that your digital likeness is only used by people you have explicitly granted permission to see or interact with.

Google emphasizes that users remain in full control of their data. You can grant or revoke someone's access to your avatar at any point in time, providing a layer of security for your personal likeness.

Availability and limits

While this feature expands the utility of Gemini, it is not yet available to everyone globally. The tool currently supports the English language and is restricted in certain regions.

Specifically, the feature is not available in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, or the European Economic Area. These geographic restrictions may be due to varying regional regulations regarding AI and personal data.

Additionally, there are age requirements for using these tools. You must be at least 18 years old and have a personal Google account to access the avatar creation and sharing features.

New tech for silent communication

The Subvocal Company is developing a new pair of smart glasses designed for people who need to communicate without speaking out loud. These glasses are intended to turn silent mouth movements into text, allowing for a faster way to interact with computers in public spaces like libraries or cafes.

The technology aims to solve the bottleneck of typing by providing a way to dictate content at speeds exceeding 200 words per minute. This could be particularly useful for users who want to use voice dictation tools but find it embarrassing or disruptive to speak in quiet environments.

Tracking lost TV remotes

Apple has updated its Find My app to include support for the Siri Remote, which is the official name for the Apple TV 4K remote. Previously, users were unable to track this specific device even though the iPhone could already find other accessories like AirPods or Macs.

This update makes it much easier for homeowners to locate their remotes without having to search the entire house. With iOS 27.2, the remote can now be tracked just as easily as a missing phone, solving a common frustration for many users.

Major cryptocurrency heist

A massive theft involving cryptocurrency has been linked to North Korean hackers, specifically a group known as TraderTraitor. According to the blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, the hackers managed to drain funds from Binance across 10 different blockchains in a period of roughly 20 minutes.

The total amount stolen reached a staggering $6.36 billion, making it one of the largest thefts to date. While cryptocurrency issuers and networks were able to freeze approximately $2.7 billion, the remaining stolen assets continue to pose a significant challenge for authorities.