Google announced its new design language in May. Material 3 Expressive redesigns have been rolling out to Google apps since then, but the Pixel 10 launch really kicked things off.
https://9to5google.com/2025/08/24/google-material-3-expressive-redesign/
Starting next year, app installs on certified Android devices will be possible only if the developer has been verified by Google. The company compares the move to an "ID check at the airport," and says it is intended to tackle malicious actors who impersonate developers and their brand image to trick users into downloading fake apps.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-to-block-sideloading-of-apps-from-unverified-developers
Experts say that many of the AI industry’s design decisions are likely to fuel episodes of AI psychosis. Many raised concerns about several tendencies that are unrelated to underlying capability.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/25/how-chatbot-design-choices-are-fueling-ai-delusions-meta-chatbot-rogue/
In a move reminiscent of Facebook’s early days, TikTok is launching a new feature that allows college students to find and connect with others on their campus. The feature, called Campus Verification, lets users add their college campus to their TikTok profile and browse a list of students at their school.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/19/tiktoks-latest-feature-lets-college-students-find-and-connect-with-classmates/
Back in April, Notion launched its AI-centric email client on the Mac. Four months later, Notion Mail has arrived on iOS. The app uses AI to help sort incoming messages automatically. Users can tell the system which types of emails matter most, and it will label and organize them accordingly.
https://9to5mac.com/2025/08/18/notion-mail-iphone/
Meta's display-equipped smart glasses may launch next month and cost less than previous estimates, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The wearable, codenamed Hypernova, has been rumored for some time. It is expected to be a high-end version of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, with a small display at the bottom of the right lens. The display will only be visible to the wearer, and it can be controlled using a wrist accessory called Ceres—something Meta first teased in 2022.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/metas-smart-glasses-with-built-in-display-may-launch-next-month
Linktree, the popular link-in-bio service used by millions of creators and businesses, has been inaccessible in India for several days — and its sudden disappearance from the Indian web remains a mystery, even to the Australian startup itself.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/18/linktree-goes-dark-in-india-and-the-company-isnt-sure-why/