Code snippets within the Google app have revealed that the company is working on a version of its Gemini AI model for kids. It looks like this model would help kids with their homework and generate stories.
Android Authority found this code during an APK teardown, and the following strings make it pretty clear what’s going on:
Google hasn’t announced anything about this publicly, so we have no idea how far along the development is or how likely it is to get launched. The strings also include a data usage disclaimer written in simple language, clearly aimed at younger readers:
Since the strings don’t allude to any new abilities — Gemini can already help with homework and generate stories — the main feature of this new model will likely be parental controls. It would also make sense if the model was pre-trained on special prompt and response pairs aimed at children. This would help it respond better to childlike language and make sure its own responses are written in a child-friendly way.
It might also have different rules compared to other Gemini models, dictating what kinds of topics it should avoid and what kinds of prompts it should refuse. Gemini already has some guardrails in place for teen users, detailed on its safety page, but younger children will likely require even more safeguards.
We don’t know yet if this version of Gemini will be packaged as its own product, but one of the strings mentions “Assistant Scrappy” — could this be some kind of persona or name for the model? Or does it just mean something technical that I’m not aware of? We don’t have any answers yet, but Google has been launching new features for Gemini at break-neck speed lately, so maybe we’ll find out soon.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.