Tag: Google

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Technology

Gmail users may soon change email IDs

Google is preparing to roll out a much-requested feature that will allow users to change their Gmail email address without creating a new account. For years, Gmail users who disliked their old or unprofessional usernames had no option but to open a fresh account and manually shift emails, files, and contacts. That may soon change.

According to reports, Google is testing a feature that lets users edit the username part of their Gmail address, the text before “@gmail.com”, while keeping the same Google account. This means users can modernise or professionalise their email ID without losing access to Gmail, Google Drive, Photos, YouTube, or other linked services.

Once the feature is enabled, users will be able to select a new Gmail ID through their account settings, subject to availability. Importantly, all existing emails, files, subscriptions, and settings will remain unchanged. The account itself stays the same,  only the visible email address is updated.

Google plans to retain the old Gmail address as an alias. Emails sent to the old address will still be delivered to the inbox, ensuring users do not miss messages from contacts who are unaware of the change. Users will also be able to sign in using either the old or new email address.

However, the feature will come with clear limits. Users are expected to be allowed to change their Gmail ID once every 12 months, with a maximum of three changes per account. The old username will not be released for use by others, helping prevent misuse or impersonation.

The update is especially useful for people who created Gmail accounts many years ago using casual, nickname-based, or outdated IDs and now want a more professional digital identity. It is also helpful for users who have undergone name changes or want consistency across platforms.

Google has not yet announced an exact global rollout date. The feature is expected to appear gradually and may first reach select regions and users. Gmail users are advised to check their account settings periodically for the new option as testing expands.

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Technology

Google launches Pixel upgrade program in India

Google has launched the Pixel Upgrade Program in India, making it easier for people to buy and upgrade Pixel smartphones. The program is available until 30 June 2026 through selected stores and online partners. Customers can buy eligible Pixel phones on a 24-month no-cost EMI plan, starting at just ₹3,333 per month.

The program covers Pixel 10 series models, including Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Payments and upgrades are handled through partners like Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, and Cashify, which also takes care of buybacks.

Once enrolled within 30 days of purchase, customers can upgrade to a newer Pixel device after paying at least nine monthly instalments and before completing the fifteenth. When upgrading, Cashify buys back the old phone, and the remaining EMI balance is cleared, letting the customer start a new 24-month EMI plan for the new device without extra charges.

The program also gives exchange bonuses up to ₹7,000, depending on the old phone’s value. New Pixel buyers get free trials of Google services. For example, Pixel 10 Pro users receive one year of Google AI Pro, six months of Fitbit Premium, and three months of YouTube Premium, while Pixel 10 users get trials for Google One Premium (2TB), Fitbit Premium, and YouTube Premium.

Google says this program is designed to make premium phones more affordable and provide an easy way to upgrade every year. By spreading the cost over time and offering buyback and bonus services, the program gives customers more flexibility and convenience.

This initiative is part of a growing trend of subscription-style phone access in India, allowing people to enjoy the latest devices without paying the full price upfront. It also encourages users to stay in the Pixel ecosystem with perks and yearly upgrades, making high-end smartphones more accessible to a wider audience.

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Corporate

Andhra allots 480 acres for Adani–Google AI data centre

The Andhra Pradesh government has approved the allotment of 480 acres of land to Adani Infra (India) Pvt. Ltd. for setting up a major AI and cloud data-centre project linked to Google. The land parcels are spread across Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts and will be used to build a 1-gigawatt (1 GW) data-centre campus, one of the largest of its kind in India.

The project will be developed by Raiden Infotech India Pvt. Ltd., a company associated with Google. It plans to create a high-capacity data-centre ecosystem capable of supporting advanced AI computing, global cloud services and large-scale digital applications. The facility will be built to the same international standards followed by Google’s global data-centre network, ensuring world-class reliability and performance.

According to official estimates, the overall investment connected to the project is expected to be around ₹87,500 crore over multiple phases. The State government is also offering incentives worth roughly ₹22,000 crore, spread over several years, to support the development of the high-energy, high-capacity data-centre cluster.

Once completed, the 1 GW data centre will require enormous power resources. Officials noted that its full-capacity electricity consumption could be equivalent to nearly half of Mumbai’s annual energy use, highlighting the scale and complexity of the infrastructure planned. This will also require significant upgrades to local power supply systems, connectivity, and green-energy options.

The government said the project will be a major boost to Andhra Pradesh’s position as an emerging technology and digital-services hub. Visakhapatnam, already being developed as the Executive Capital of the State, is expected to benefit from related infrastructure development, job creation and new opportunities for technology companies.

Senior officials believe the project will attract further investments in AI, cloud computing, semiconductor research and advanced data-storage solutions. The presence of a global-standard data centre is also expected to support start-ups, research institutions and digital-first companies looking to build products in India.

With this land allotment, Andhra Pradesh hopes to establish Visakhapatnam as one of the leading centres for AI-driven digital infrastructure in the country, strengthening its long-term economic and technology goals.

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Leaders

Google and Accel partner to boost India’s AI startups

Google and global venture capital firm Accel have come together to support a new wave of early-stage AI startups in India. Their partnership is designed to help young founders who are still at the idea or prototype stage but have the passion and potential to build meaningful AI products.

Under this initiative, selected startups can receive up to $2 million in funding, shared between Google’s AI Futures Fund and Accel’s Atoms programme. For many first-time entrepreneurs, this kind of early backing can be the difference between a dream that stays on paper and a product that reaches the market.

But the help goes far beyond money. Young founders often struggle with access to powerful computing resources, which are essential for training and testing AI models. To bridge this gap, Google will offer $350,000 worth of compute credits, along with access to its newest AI technologies, including Gemini and DeepMind models. This gives small teams the same high-end tools used by global AI companies.

The selected startups will also receive close mentorship from Google engineers, product leaders and Accel’s investment team. This support will help founders refine their ideas, build stronger products and learn how to take them to market. For many entrepreneurs, this kind of guidance can be more valuable than the funding itself.

This partnership comes at a time when India’s AI ecosystem is rapidly expanding. Google for Startups recently launched a hands-on programme called “Prompt to Prototype” to help early-stage founders learn to build with AI. More than 150 young companies also participated in Google’s AI Day for Startups, showing the excitement and hunger among India’s new generation of builders.

Global tech giants are also paying attention. Nvidia has joined India’s Deep Tech Alliance, and companies like OpenAI, Anthropic and Perplexity are strengthening their presence in the country. They see India not just as a big market, but as a place where talented engineers and creative problem-solvers can build world-class AI products.

Through this collaboration, Google and Accel hope to inspire India’s youngest AI minds to think big, experiment boldly and build solutions that can impact millions, both in India and around the world.

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Technology

Google unveils Nano Banana Pro image AI

Google has launched Nano Banana Pro, a refreshed and more powerful version of its viral image-generation tool, and this time, it’s backed by the company’s newest Gemini 3 engine. What began as a fun internet trend has now evolved into a serious creation tool, blending accessibility with near-professional capabilities.

At the heart of the upgrade is better understanding. Thanks to Gemini 3, Nano Banana Pro can now interpret complex prompts, recognise context more accurately and generate images with improved realism. Text inside visuals, often a pain point for AI models, now appears much cleaner, supporting multiple languages with far fewer distortions.

Users also get far greater creative control. The model supports 2K and 4K image generation, offering crisp detail for posters, product shots, teaching material or social media visuals. New camera-style features let users adjust lighting, depth, focus and colour tone, giving them the feel of working with a lightweight digital studio.

One standout upgrade is its ability to blend multiple images and objects,  up to 14 in a single frame, and even keep characters consistent across shots. For designers, educators, storytellers or marketers, this means smoother workflows and more reliable AI-assisted content creation.

Another major shift is its real-time connection to Google Search, making the model better at producing images based on current data or up-to-date references. For a tech tool born out of a social media trend, this marks a move into practical, everyday utility.

The Pro version will be available via the Gemini app, NotebookLM, Google Workspace, Search AI mode, and through developer APIs. Google continues to emphasise responsible AI use — every output carries invisible SynthID watermarks, with visible ones applied depending on subscription level.

Slower processing speeds compared to the original Nano Banana are expected, but the trade-off is clear: more power, more control and more possibilities.

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Corporate

Google to invest $40 billion in Texas

Google has announced a massive $40 billion investment in Texas to expand its artificial intelligence and cloud computing capacity by 2027. The multi-year plan marks one of the company’s biggest infrastructure commitments in the US and positions Texas as a major hub for its next phase of AI growth.

The investment includes building three new data center campuses across West Texas, one in Armstrong County and two in Haskell County. One of the Haskell sites will be developed alongside a solar and battery storage facility, reflecting Google’s push to power AI infrastructure with cleaner energy. The company will also scale up its existing data center operations in Midlothian and the Dallas–Fort Worth region.

As AI workloads surge, Google is also focusing on securing long-term power supply. The company plans to add over 6,000 MW of new energy capacity through partnerships with energy developers. In addition, it has launched a $30 million Energy Impact Fund to support energy-efficiency and community projects across Texas.

To meet rising demand for skilled labour, Google will support electrical training programmes statewide, aiming to prepare more than 1,700 electrician apprentices by 2030. The company expects the investment to generate thousands of jobs over the next few years.

CEO Sundar Pichai said the Texas build-out will “power the new era of AI innovation,” while Texas Governor Greg Abbott welcomed the project as a major vote of confidence in the state’s business environment.

The move comes as global tech giants race to expand data center capacity to support AI models, cloud services, and advanced computing needs. While the scale of the investment highlights Texas’s growing importance in the AI economy, it also raises questions around energy consumption, environmental impact, and long-term sustainability.

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