Tech roundup: Rivian, Gemini API, Chrome privacy, Google Home and more

about 18 hours agoAI Daily Desk

A quick look at major tech updates: Volkswagen’s growing Rivian stake, new Gemini API tools, Chrome’s approximate location controls, Google Home upgrades, and other notable announcements.

Several notable technology updates landed today across transportation, AI, privacy, smart home software and public policy. Here’s a consolidated look at the announcements and reports, based strictly on the source material provided.

Volkswagen becomes Rivian’s top shareholder

According to TechCrunch, Volkswagen Group has become Rivian’s top shareholder, displacing Amazon. The report says VW Group’s stake will continue to grow under the companies’ $5.8 billion joint venture with Rivian.

VW Group's stake will continue to grow under the $5.8 billion joint venture with Rivian.

Google expands its developer and platform updates

Gemini API File Search becomes multimodal

Google says updates to the Gemini API File Search tool make it easier for developers to build efficient, multimodal file retrieval systems. The positioning emphasizes more efficient and verifiable retrieval-augmented generation workflows.

Gemma 4 gets faster inference

Google also shared an overview of Multi-Token Prediction (MTP) drafters for Gemma 4, saying the approach makes Gemma 4 models up to 3x faster at inference.

Gemini API File Search: focused on efficient multimodal file retrieval systems.
Gemma 4 MTP drafters: focused on faster model inference, with Google citing up to 3x speed improvements.

Google announced that Chrome on Android users can now choose to share their approximate location with websites instead of sharing precise location data. The update is framed as giving users more control over their location data.

Approximate location sharing in Chrome on Android

Google Home gets a new wave of updates

Google says several updates are coming to Google Home, including a complete camera overhaul and updated automations.

Other Google announcements

Teacher Appreciation Week

Google marked Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 with an essay from the Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

Future Vision film competition

Google announced a partnership with XPRIZE and Range Media Partners on the $3.5 million Future Vision film competition.

DHS data request report raises policy concerns

Ars Technica reports that DHS used a 1930s customs law in an attempt to obtain data from Google on a Canadian man. The report says DHS targeted someone who had not entered the US for years and that the effort was tied to criticism of ICE operations.

Ars Technica article image related to DHS and ICE

DHS targeted a man who hadn't entered the US for years for criticism of ICE operations.

Why these updates matter

Taken together, these stories show how broad the current tech cycle is: major automotive investment shifts, continued AI infrastructure and model optimization work, more granular user privacy controls, smart home platform iteration, and ongoing legal and civil-liberties questions around government access to user data.