Gemini Agents Are Coming to Chrome - DTNS 5108

Meta says its demo fails from Meta Connect 2025 were not product related, and Samsung's smart fridges will soon show ads whether you like it or not!

Starring Jason Howell and Jenn Cutter.

JASON: This is the Daily Tech News for Friday, September 19, 2025, aka TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY. We tell you what you need to know matey, follow up on the context of those stories and help each other understand.

JENN: Today Google shares the agentic AI future of its Chrome browser, and Samsung’s smart fridges are about to show you ads, whether you like it or not!

I’m Jason Howell,

I’m Jenn Cutter.

JASON: Let’s start with what you need to know with the big story.

BIG STORY

Google announces massive expansion of AI features in Chrome

JASON: Google is rolling out a major update to Chrome in the coming weeks that will bring the browser closer to what some competitors like Perplexity and OpenAI have been doing with their own AI-driven browser experiences.

AI Pro and Ultra subscribers have likely seen the integration of a Gemini star in the top right corner of the Chrome browser for a while now. Now Google is rolling that button out for all desktop Chrome users in the US. This enables users to fire off queries related to the contents of individual tabs like summarizations, Q&A, and deeper integrations with Google's apps like Calendar and YouTube. It also works with multiple open tabs at once, keeping you locked into your current tab while it references the others you might have open.

AI Mode will also be integrated into the browser so users can "ask about this page" straight from the omnibar and results will appear in their own side panel.

iOS users will soon see Gemini integrations appearing inside the Chrome app there as well.

Some of the bigger changes will come later this year, moving Chrome toward a more agentic AI experience. Features like performing tasks between windows on behalf of the user, booking appointments, and ordering groceries. It's unclear if there will be an additional cost for these features.

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JASON: There’s more we need to know today, let’s get to the briefs.

BRIEFS

OpenAI might be developing a smart speaker, glasses, voice recorder, and a pin
OpenAI taps Apple supplier to make AI device, the Information reports
JENN: Earlier this week, Tom Merritt shared that he believed OpenAI was hiring people with robotics expertise that would lead to a robot product coming from the company. Now, The Information reports that the company is teaming up with Luxshare, an Apple device assembler, to build pocket-sized AI devices that work closely with its models. People "with direct knowledge of the matter" shared that the company was considering glasses, a digital voice recorder, and a wearable pin to be their first products. Tom shared his hot take with us this morning: He thinks this might be a smoke screen after all, and that OpenAI still has what it needs to bring an AI robot to market. Not necessarily humanoid, but a robot nonetheless.

Mastodon has a new plan to make money: Hosting and support services for the open social web
JASON: Mastodon, the non-profit that's most known for its decentralized social platform, is now offering paid hosting, moderation, and support services for organizations wanting to join the fediverse. This allows Mastodon to broaden out its revenue generating opportunities beyond relying on donations and grants. Mastodon will provide managed servers or support contracts for those with in-house IT teams. In other words, targeting brands and institutions that need their own tailored experience in the fediverse. Pricing is flexible, and Mastodon say the European Commission and several government organizations are already clients of the new service.

Meta CTO explains the cause of its embarrassing smart glasses demo failures
JENN: At Meta Connect 2025 keynote, Mark Zuckerberg encountered two awkward demo fails while showing off their new smart glasses. Now, Meta is sharing why those failures happened. In the first instance, the phrase "Hey Meta, start Live AI" activated every pair of Meta Ray-Ban glasses at the event, overwhelming the development server. In other words, a self-inflicted DDos! The second glitch involved a WhatsApp video call demo where a rare bug put the display to sleep which prevented Zuckerberg from answering the call on stage. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth shared that both issues were demo-specific and not product failures. He also shared that fixes to those issues are now in place.

Samsung's Trifold Phone and AI Glasses Will Get Sept. 29 Launch, Reports Say
JASON: Speaking of AI glasses, Samsung is expected to announce an upcoming event where its Project Moohan VR headset and a pair of AI smart glasses will be unveiled. Also expected at the event will be its highly anticipated Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone, a triple screen foldable phone. A number of Korean news sites are reporting that September 29 will be the date of an upcoming Unpacked event, but Samsung has not yet announced this officially.

ChatGPT tricked to swipe sensitive data from Gmail
JENN: Security researchers used ChatGPT's Deep Research agent to pull confidential Gmail data from inboxes without users knowing anything had happened. The heist, dubbed Shadow Leak by Radware's security team, exploited a prompt injection vulnerability by hiding instructions inside an email that lied dormant until the user fired off a Deep Research command that uncovered the command and sent the agent to work harvesting personal details and sending that info back to the attacker. The attack happened entirely within OpenAI's cloud infrastructure, bypassing standard defenses. OpenAI says it has fixed the issue.

Software update shoves ads onto Samsung’s pricey fridges
JASON: Samsung has begun showing ads on its Family Hub smart fridges in the US through a pilot program that displays commercials on idle Cover Screens. Owners are able to avoid ads by setting the cover screen to display photos or Art Mode, but doing so reduces the functionality of the smart features. Disconnecting the fridge from the internet can also block ads but again limits key features like recipes and the meal planner. Owners can also remove specific ads for the duration of that specific campaign. There is no way to opt out entirely. For now, Samsung is not sharing which models will see the ads.

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HELPING EACH OTHER UNDERSTAND

JASON: Let’s finish up as we usually do with some thoughts from you. This time, Roger has a thought on Meta’s new smart glasses with a display.

JENN: Roger writes:
Really really need a battery breakthrough. However, the wrist thing. Tis a game changer.

JASON: What are you thinking about? Got some insight into a story? Share it with us feedback@dailytechnewsshow.com

JASON: Thanks to Roger for contributing to today’s show. And thank YOU for being along for Daily Tech News Show. You can keep us in business by becoming a patron, at Patreon.com/dtns

This week's episodes of Daily Tech News Show were created by the following people

Host, Producer, Writer  Tom Merritt
Host, Writer  Jason Howell
Co-host  Sarah Lane
Co-host  Robb Dunewood
Co-host  Jenn Cutter
Producer  Anthony Lemos
Producer  Roger Chang
Editor  Hammond Chamberlain
Editor  Victor Bognot
Science Correspondent  Dr. Niki Ackermans
Social Media Producer and Moderator  Zoe Deterding
OUR MODS  Beatmaster, WScottis1, Biocow, KAPT Kipper, Steve Guadarrama, Paul Reese, Matthew J. Stevens (aka GadgetVirtuoso), J.D. Gallaway
MOD and VIDEO HOSTING by  Dan Christensen
MUSIC Provided by  Martin Bell, Dan Lueders
Art by  Len Peralta
ACAST ad support from  Tatiana Matias
Patreon support from  Bobby Wagner
Our Guest this week:  Andy Beach
And thanks to all our Patrons who make the show possible.