Hello and welcome to Regulator, a newsletter for Verge readers about tech politics, political tech, and how they’re muddying the waters of Washington, DC. My birthday is this week, and if you’re not a Verge subscriber but would like to wish me a happy birthday, you should subscribe here, because that would be the best […]
OpenAI is giving users of its Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Teachers plans access to cloud-based “workspace” agents available in ChatGPT that can perform business tasks. In its blog post, OpenAI gives examples of agents like one that finds product feedback on the web and sends a report in Slack and a sales agent that can […]
“I know a bubble when I see one.” That’s what Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who led the push to create a new consumer financial regulator in the wake of the 2008 recession, told a crowd at a Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator event in Washington, DC on Wednesday. Warren warned of what she called “striking” parallels to […]
Tesla released its 2026 first-quarter financial earnings today, providing another look at the progress of Elon Musk’s $1 trillion bet to transform his company into a leader of AI and robotics. Tesla said it earned $477 million in net income on $22.4 billion in revenue in the quarter that ended in April 2026. That’s a […]
The French government agency that issues and manages national IDs, passports, and other documents announced that hackers stole the personal information of an unspecified number of citizens.
Cursor was on track to close a $2 billion funding round this week but chose to halt discussions after SpaceX offered a $10 billion “collaboration fee” and a path to a $60 billion acquisition.
Observable Space and Quantum Wave teamed up to capture data beamed back from space.
dozens of soundbars available, each system unique in its own right. This area also sees competition between both TV makers and specialized audio brands striving to produce top-notch products.
Soundbars aren’t the most economical additions to a home theater, either — generally, you should plan on spending between $300 to $500 for a midrange system that offers solid sound quality and several connection options. Nonetheless, if you’re willing to forgo some advanced features (such as Dolby Atmos spatial audio or Wi-Fi capabilities), there are a variety of budget-friendly soundbars that outperform expectations, as noted by expert reviewers at Consumer Reports (CR).
Using CR’s evaluations as a foundation, we cross-checked with additional reviews and extracted soundbars priced under $350 that deserve attention for various reasons. This process led us to compile a list of five reasonably priced soundbars that are sure to satisfy.
It’s difficult to discuss soundbars without bringing up Sonos. Initially, the audio brand focused solely on Wi-Fi music speakers, until the pivotal moment in 2013 when the Sonos Playbar debuted. Now, over ten years later, Sonos continues to produce soundbars, with its most affordable model being the $220 Sonos Ray. Consumer Reports highlighted the Ray for its sound performance and adaptability, and our associates at
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Cloud Next 2026 had plenty to offer, so we’re dissecting it.
What you should know
– This week, Google is introducing some Workspace Intelligence, outlining the agentic AI future for users during Cloud Next 2026.
– Workspace Intelligence is embedded into each app, comprehending what is important to you, which allows it to deliver it through automation.
– Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Chat are all receiving Gemini, enhanced by Workspace Intelligence updates for file generation and AI support.
Workspace aids businesses (large and small) throughout their days, and now Google is revealing significant AI-driven updates to enhance their productivity.
During the Cloud Next 2026 event, Google unveiled Workspace Intelligence as part of its agentic initiative to assist users in working more efficiently. Google states that this new method aspires to provide “real-time understanding” to your applications by consolidating your projects into an automated workflow. It asserts that Workspace Intelligence grasps the connections between your applications, projects, collaborators, and more.
This comprehension is achieved through intelligence gathering. Google claims Workspace Intelligence will “collect the information you require” from Gmail, Docs, Slides, and more, ensuring you have everything when you are engaged in your project. “Situational Awareness” relies on Gemini to identify “what’s significant to you.” This can include dates, emails, files, and similar items.
The personalization aspect emerges as the agentic AI becomes acquainted with your identity and your communication style, even grasping your work habits and formatting tendencies. While Workspace Intelligence serves as the overarching component linking all its applications, Google announced several updates for those apps.
Agentic AI for the future of work
Enhancements for the core trio—Docs, Slides, and Sheets—elevate Gemini, in addition to Workspace Intelligence. For Google Docs, Gemini’s role can create infographics using your information, make adjustments based on other comments, and “edit multiple images,” thanks to the new agentic AI upgrade. Gemini in Sheets can review your emails, documents, chats, and online data to “visualize all your information.”
Workspace Intelligence will consider your files and your organization’s visual identity to generate presentations in Slides. Google Chat introduces “Ask Gemini in Chat,” a cohesive experience designed to integrate the AI with every conversation you have with colleagues and partners. If you need help, Google indicates that you can query the AI, and its answers will be presented in the chat once it has compiled the information.
Additionally, Ask Gemini in Chat can provide a daily summary of unread messages and “urgent action items,” create new Docs or Slides, arrange meetings, and locate files for you. The company also emphasizes the new AI Inbox for Gmail, which was launched earlier in April. This innovative inbox ensures you are informed of vital emails regarding impending bill payments, appointments, and messages from “priority” contacts.
Following testing, AI Inbox is now available, but only if you’re inclined to use it. Google is providing this feature at $250 per month for Google AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S.
Android Central’s Perspective
I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll reiterate: this is where Google’s AI truly excels. The practicality of Gemini merging with Workspace Intelligence is evident when you begin to recognize a genuine work assistant. For larger organizations and individuals tasked with overseeing numerous projects, this will likely be a significant advantage. I’m uncertain about the AI attempting to produce something in my voice or my company’s branding. That seems like a potential issue, but regarding everything else? I’m on board.
