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Google is giving Workspace users a way to access “Gems” — customizable versions of its Gemini AI assistant that specialize in specific tasks — without opening the Gemini app. Gems are now available directly in the side panel of Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drive, and Gmail, allowing users to access custom chatbots they’ve created or a selection of pre-made offerings without switching between apps.
“Gems can help you further leverage the power of Gemini in a way that’s customized to your needs more efficiently by minimizing repetitive prompting,” Google said in its announcement.
Gemini users can curate versions of the chatbot to be an “expert” in particular tasks they regularly require, such as brand-tailored copywriting or revising for exams. Users can also upload their own files into Gems to provide them with task-specific context and resources. Otherwise, Google provides pre-made Gems for things like text editing, writing code, creating sales pitch ideas, and more.
According to Google, some examples of how Workspace users can utilize Gems include:
• Leverage a copywriting Gem to create posts and content tailored to your target audience, pre-loaded into the Gem.
• Create a Gem that helps with sales interactions that is grounded on information for a specific company, prospect, or industry.
• Leverage an “assistant gem” tailored to your job role to help provide more relevant summaries for you and content for internal communications.
• Leverage a Gem designed to help pressure test content from a certain persona (e.x C-Suite or CEO) to help you create the most compelling message.
Gems were previously only available in the Gemini app. Custom Gems can’t be created directly in Workspace apps, but users can do so by either heading to gemini.google.com/gems/create or tapping the “Create a new Gem” option in the Workspace side panel. Workspace capabilities like @-mentioning and accessing files/folders are supported by both custom and pre-made Gems.
The Gems update is available to all Google Workspace users who can access Gemini in Workspace app side panels. It started rolling out on July 2nd, but Google says it may potentially take “longer than 15 days” to appear.
If you want to get a head start on back-to-school shopping — or upgrade your Apple gear — there are already some great deals worth exploring ahead of Amazon Prime Day. From tablets to smartwatches, the early deals are already starting to trickle in. Prices might drop even further during Amazon’s four-day sales event, sure, but gadgets like the latest iPad Air are already matching their all-time low, giving you a solid chance to save before the four-day shopping event officially kicks off on July 8th. Even better, you don’t need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of the current deals, as retailers other than Amazon are offering the same discounts across the board.
Below, we’ve gathered the best discounts across a variety of categories to make your shopping easier. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve also included notes on historical pricing trends, so you can see how they stack up against previous deals. We’ll be updating this guide as Prime Day approaches, too, so be sure to bookmark this page or keep an eye on all of our daily deals coverage.
The best earbud and headphone deals
Apple EarPods (USB-C)
Where to Buy:
- You can buy the latest AirPods Max for $479.99 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, which is $30 shy of their all-time low. The luxe over-ear headphones offer great sound with support for lossless audio, and their active noise cancellation comes close to matching top-tier alternatives from Sony and Bose. They also feature a remarkably natural-sounding transparency mode, deep integration with other Apple devices, and up to 20 hours of battery life with ANC turned on. Read our original review.
Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen) with USB-C charging case
Where to Buy:
- If you don’t need active noise cancellation, the Beats Solo 4 are also on sale for around $129.95 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is $30 shy of their best price to date. The comfortable headphones build upon the prior model with better, bass-rich sound and support for spatial audio. They also now offer lossless audio via USB-C and an extended battery life of 50 hours. Read our review.
The best iPad and MacBook deals
11-inch iPad Air M3 (128GB, Wi-Fi)
Where to Buy:
- You can buy the latest iPad with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart starting at $299 ($50 off), which matches its best price to date. The 11th-gen model is a pretty minor upgrade over the 2022 iPad with twice as much base storage and an A16 Bionic chip, which, while faster, doesn’t support any of Apple’s AI-based Apple Intelligence feature. Read our review.
- The M4-powered MacBook Air 13 is available at Amazon and Best Buy with a 10-core CPU, eight-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage starting at just $849 ($150 off), which is $50 shy of its all-time low. The latest Air is faster than its predecessor thanks to the addition of Apple’s newer M4 chip, and now offers double the base RAM at 16GB. It also features a sharper 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam and supports two external displays with the lid open, making it even better for multitasking. Read our review.
2024 iPad Mini
Where to Buy:
- If you prefer the 15-inch Air, the entry-level configuration with the M4 chip, a 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage is down to its all-time low of $1,049 ($150 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The larger Air is identical to its smaller sibling, only it features a better six-speaker sound system and comes with the option of either a 35W Dual USB‑C Port Compact Power Adapter or a 70W USB‑C Power Adapter.
The best Apple Watch deals
Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS)
Where to Buy:
- You can buy the latest 40mm, GPS-enabled Apple Watch SE at Amazon and Walmart for $189, which is $40 shy of its best price to date. Apple’s entry-level wearable is great for tracking the essentials, including your heart rate and sleep quality, and offers fall/crash detection, Apple Pay, and other conveniences. While it lacks the Series 10’s temperature sensor, EKG, and depth tracking, the SE still delivers excellent value if you don’t need advanced health features. It will also support the next iteration of watchOS, watchOS 26, when it arrives in the fall with its new wrist flick gesture and AI-powered “Workout Buddy.” Read our review.
Airtags and other miscellaneous deals
Apple MagSafe Charger (2m)
Where to Buy:
- The Apple Pencil Pro is down to $99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Target, which is $10 shy of its all-time low. Apple’s premium stylus packs in advanced creative features missing from the entry-level USB-C model, including pressure sensitivity and a “Barrel Roll” gyroscope, which lets you rotate the stylus as you draw to quickly adjust the angle of your digital pen or brush. It also comes with wireless charging, Find My support, and squeeze gestures that let you control smart home devices. That being said, it’s only compatible with the latest iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and M2 or M3 iPad Air models.
MLS Season Pass
Where to Buy:
- Anker’s MagGo Wireless Charging Station (Foldable 3-in-1) is available for an all-time low of around $82 ($28 off) at Amazon and directly from Anker (with code WS24EP9P3P0F). The Qi2-certified charger can deliver up to 15W of power to compatible iPhone models while simultaneously charging a pair of AirPods and an Apple Watch. Its foldable, lightweight design also makes it convenient for travel or keeping your nightstand clutter-free.
Apple AirTags (four-pack)
Where to Buy:
- You can buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Pad) at Amazon for $22.99 ($7 off), which is $3 shy of its all-time low. Anker’s Qi2-certified charging pad can deliver up to 15W of power to MagSafe-compatible iPhones, including the newer iPhone 16 models. It also comes with a five-foot cable; however, you will still need to supply your own AC adapter unless you spring for the $25.99 bundle.
Update, July 2nd: Adjusted pricing / availability and added several new deals, including those for the Apple Pencil Pro, Apple’s EarPods, and the AirPods Max.
Racist videos that appear to be created with Google’s AI video generation tool Veo 3 have raked in millions of views across TikTok, according to findings from the nonprofit media watchdog Media Matters. The AI-generated videos uncovered by the organization are filled with racist tropes, many of which target Black people.
Media Matters determined that the videos — one of which received 14.2 million views — were generated with Google Veo 3 because of the “Veo” watermark in the corner of the clips. Some users also listed hashtags, captions, or usernames pertaining to Veo 3 or AI, according to Media Matters. Each clip found by the organization lasted just eight seconds, or was “composed of multiple clips each lasting no more than 8 seconds,” which tracks with Veo 3’s eight-second limit.
Veo 3, launched by Google in May, allows users to generate AI video clips and audio with just a text prompt. On its website, Google says it will “block harmful requests and results.” TikTok’s rules similarly state that “hate speech and hateful behavior has no place on TikTok,” and that the platform “will not recommend content that contains negative stereotypes about a person or group with a protected attribute.”
“We proactively enforce robust rules against hateful speech and behavior and have removed the accounts we identified in the report, many of which were already banned prior to the report publishing,” TikTok spokesperson Ariane de Selliers said in a statement to The Verge.
The Verge found some of the videos highlighted by Media Matters were also on YouTube but with fewer views, while Wired also discovered similar, racist AI-generated videos on Instagram. Other videos found by Media Matters contain antisemitic content and racist depictions of immigrants and Asian people.
Google didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Update, July 2nd: Added a statement from TikTok.
Microsoft’s layoff of roughly 9,000 employees is continuing to have downstream effects at the company’s subsidiaries. Aftermath reports that as many as 100 developers at Blizzard have been impacted, and as a result the studio is winding down development on its mobile tower defense game Warcraft Rumble.
In an announcement, Blizzard wrote that while the game will not be abandoned entirely, the company will cease development on any new content. “Moving forward, we’ll continue supporting Rumble with updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes, but no new content. ”
Blizzard continued, saying Rumble, “struggled to find its footing relative to our ambition for its long-term success.” And while its developers worked to respond to player feedback that, “ultimately wasn’t enough to put the game on a path to sustainability.”
Warcraft Rumble was the first mobile focused game in the Warcraft Universe. It launched in 2023 after nine years in development and was originally one of two mobile games Blizzard was working on, the other being Blizzard’s take on Pokémon Go. That game was never officially announced by Blizzard and cancelled sometime in 2022. Warcraft Rumble joins a handful of other Blizzard games in development stasis along with Starcraft II and Heroes of the Storm.
Earlier today, Xbox also announced that it was cancelling the Rare-developed Everwild, as well as the Perfect Dark remake, while shuttering The Initiative, the studio making it.
A mandatory update for Google’s mid-range Pixel 6A phones is coming next week that is meant to reduce the risk of the battery overheating on some devices. According to a support page post, Google is issuing the mandatory Android 16 update starting July 8 to all Pixel 6A devices. However, only users with “Impacted Devices” will see any effect on their battery.
Announced earlier this month, the update will reduce the battery capacity on affected phones after they reach 400 charging cycles, Google’s Alex Moriconi told The Verge. The move comes after at least two people reported their Pixel 6As catching fire.
Google says affected users will get a notification when the phone has completed 375 cycles, giving them a heads-up that the new battery management features will be activated soon. Once these management tools are in effect, the battery won’t last as long between charges.
According to Google, users may see other changes, “like reduced charging performance or short-term changes to how the battery-level indicator on your phone shows your battery capacity as your phone learns its revised battery capacity.” It’s not clear why some Pixel 6A phones are affected and others aren’t, but if yours is, Google is offering free battery replacement — you can check here to see if you’re eligible.
The company has already dealt with a similar issue on the Pixel 4A, offering owners a free battery replacement or a $100 credit towards a new phone. It currently has an extended repair program for battery swelling issues on the Pixel 7A.
On July 2nd, Microsoft announced sweeping layoffs affecting as many as 9,000 employees, and they had a big impact on the company’s Xbox studios. Microsoft canceled Perfect Dark from The Initiative and closed the studio. Rare’s Everwild, announced in 2019, was canceled, too. And Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios will lose more than 70 employees.
“We must make choices now for continued success in future years and a key part of that strategy is the discipline to prioritize the strongest opportunities,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said in a memo to employees. “We will protect what is thriving and concentrate effort on areas with the greatest potential, while delivering on the expectations the company has for our business. This focused approach means we can deliver exceptional games and experiences for players for generations to come.”
A rumor was circulating that Spencer was planning to retire after Microsoft launched its next generation of Xbox, but the company tells The Verge that Spencer isn’t retiring as the chief of Xbox “anytime soon.”
Here’s all of our coverage of the layoffs.
- Blizzard is winding down support for its Warcraft mobile game
- The president of ZeniMax Online Studios is leaving.
- Microsoft’s Xbox cuts have hit key areas.
- Phil Spencer isn’t retiring as the chief of Xbox ‘anytime soon’
- Microsoft cancels its Perfect Dark and Everwild Xbox games
- Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport developer hit hard by Xbox cuts
There's always a reason why universal USB-C ports don't "just work" like you'd expect. In the early days, it was incompetence or naiveté. Later, manufacturers often cheaped out. But in the case of Nintendo's Switch 2, it appears to be intentional.
With the Nintendo Switch 2, it should be easy to plug your new, more expensive console into video glasses or TVs when you're traveling away from home. USB-C makes it so. But Nintendo has intentionally broken the Switch 2's compatibility with those devices, using a new encryption scheme and some form of dedicated encryption chip, two accessory manufacturers tell The Verge.
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Microsoft says that Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO and the head of Xbox, isn’t retiring “anytime soon.” The company has responded to rumors of Spencer’s retirement, which have spread online today following Microsoft’s major layoffs.
“Phil is not retiring anytime soon,” says Kari Perez, head of Xbox communications, in a statement to The Verge. The denial comes after Call of Duty leaker GhostOfHope claimed “Phil Spencer will be retiring from his role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming after the launch of the next generation Xbox” and that Xbox president Sarah Bond would be taking over as CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
While Microsoft’s comment doesn’t address the rumor fully, it makes it clear Spencer isn’t retiring imminently. Separately, Microsoft communications chief, Frank Shaw, took to X to claim that at least part of the rumor was made up.
Spencer originally assumed leadership of the Xbox division in 2014, a promotion from his role as the boss of Microsoft Studios. As the boss of Xbox, he’s overseen many big initiatives, including the launch of the Xbox Series X / S, a huge push into Xbox Game Pass, acquisitions of major companies like Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax Media, bringing more Xbox games to platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
While Spencer isn’t retiring anytime soon, Microsoft is continuing its big cuts today that have affected Xbox studios and employees. Perfect Dark and Everwild have been cancelled, while Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios will be letting go of more than 70 staffers. Zenimax Online Studios also reportedly canceled a new MMORPG codenamed Blackbird that had been in the works since 2018.
Banks are facing renewed pressure to protect their customers from scams on Zelle, the payment network owned by JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Capital One, and other big banks. In letters to the banks, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) asked them how often their customers report Zelle scams that originate from social media.
Last year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase over claims they “rushed” Zelle’s launch in 2017 and failed to protect customers from “widespread fraud,” which resulted in more than $870 million lost to scams. In an attempt to protect its customers, Chase began blocking Zelle payments over social media, where scams often show up, last February. The CFPB dropped its Zelle lawsuit in March after President Donald Trump’s administration began dismantling the agency.
“Banks, including JPMorgan Chase, have historically failed to protect consumers from Zelle fraud and scams,” the letters state. “According to the CFPB’s lawsuit, for example, since Zelle was created, the banks that run the payment service have not meaningfully improved their ability to detect and prevent fraud or increased their reimbursements to customers defrauded on Zelle to match the increase in fraud rates.”
Without the support of the CFPB, the three lawmakers are now taking matters into their own hands. They asked the banks that own Zelle, which they claim is “associated with significant scams and fraud,” if they have noticed any broader trends of fraud on the payment platform, such as whether they come from social media or another source. The lawmakers are also pressing the banks for their policies on reimbursing customers who fall victim to scams on Zelle and other peer-to-peer payment networks. The banks have until July 14th to respond.
“Zelle is leading the fight against scams and fraud and has industry-leading reimbursement policies that go above and beyond the law,” Zelle spokesperson Eric Blankenbaker said in a statement to The Verge. “The misguided attacks by the previous leadership of the CFPB would have emboldened criminals, cost consumers more in fees, stifled small businesses and made it harder for thousands of community banks and credit unions to compete.”
Update, July 2nd: Added a statement from Zelle.
Amazon’s next Prime Day event hasn’t officially kicked off yet, but as usual, the retailer has already dropped a selection of early deals ahead of its four-day sale that begins July 8th. While steeper discounts will surely arrive shortly, many of the current offers are already worth considering, especially if you’re a Prime member looking to score a deal on one of Amazon’s own devices or services. Most of these offers are exclusive to Prime members; however, some retailers are price-matching Amazon’s deals, meaning non-members can still take advantage of some of the same savings.
From record lows on security gear and power stations to a solid deal on what’s already an affordable streaming device, here are our top picks.
We’ll be updating this guide over the next week as new deals drop, so be sure to check back if you want to stay on top of the latest deals. We also suggest bookmarking our main Prime Day hub for additional tips and insights into what is likely going to be one of the biggest shopping events of the year.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
Where to Buy:
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023)
Where to Buy:
Amazon Fire TV Cube (third-gen)
Where to Buy:
- Amazon’s Luna Controller is on sale for $39.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, which matches its best price to date. Although it was built primarily for Amazon’s cloud-gaming service, the gamepad offers support for both Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, rendering it compatible with Android phones, Apple products, Fire TV devices, and PCs. It also integrates with Alexa, allowing you to issue voice commands directly through the controller when paired with a Fire TV device.
- Samsung’s 2TB T9 portable USB-C SSD is currently $169.99 ($130 off), its lowest price in over a year, at Amazon. The drive can read and write data at up to 2,000Mbps when connected to a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port. The T9 has substantially faster data transfer speeds than an external spinning hard drive (it’s more reliable, too, since it has no moving parts). The drive is fast enough to store an uncompressed stream of 4K Pro Res video at 60 frames per second directly from an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Amazon has also discounted the 4TB model to $319.99 ($230 off) if you need more space.
Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series
Where to Buy:
Amazon Echo Show 8 (third-gen)
Where to Buy:
- Right now, Black & Decker’s dustbuster furbuster is available for $79.99 ($20 off) — one of its best prices to date — from Amazon, Lowe’s, and Black & Decker. The excellent handheld vacuum cleaner comes with a motorized pet brush with rubber bristles, which won’t get caught when you’re picking up hair. You can also use its extra-large, retractable crevice tool to clean tall places, or push the vacuum’s so-called “powerboost” button to maximize its suction power for dirt or hair that’s stuck deep within carpeting.
- If you want cleaner floors, you can pick up Shark’s AV752 IO Robot Vacuum for $179.99 (about $70 off) at Amazon, which is one of the better prices we’ve seen as of late. The budget robovac uses three brushes to clean your floors and has sensors to avoid obstacles, including stairs, and it’s thin enough to fit beneath furniture. It can run for up to two hours per charge, and you can schedule cleanings using the SharkClean app, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant.
Echo Pop
Where to Buy:
Amazon Echo Frames (2023)
Where to Buy:
Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor
Where to Buy:
- You can buy a Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam with a Ring Pet Tag for $44.99 ($44.99 off) at Amazon, which is a new low price. Ring’s Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam rotates 360 degrees on a motorized base, which you can control via the Ring app. The wired 1080p camera also offers a physical privacy cover — just like the second-gen Ring Indoor Cam — along with support for video and color night vision, two-way talk, motion detection, and a built-in siren. The Ring Pet Tag, on the other hand, attaches to your pet’s collar and links to a digital profile anyone can access via a QR code.
- The Alexa Voice Remote Pro is now available for just $24.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, marking its lowest price to date. The backlit remote features a built-in remote finder, allowing you to quickly locate it using either Amazon’s Fire TV app or a compatible smart speaker. It also features customizable shortcut buttons that you can program to instantly launch your favorite apps, as well as compatibility with most Fire TV streaming devices and smart TVs. Read our review.
Amazon Echo Hub
Where to Buy:
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty air purifier
Where to Buy:
- Right now, Amazon is offering three free months of Kindle Unlimited, which normally runs $11.99 a month. The subscription gives you access to more than four million e-books, along with thousands of audiobooks and digital magazines. Just remember to cancel our subscription before the trial period ends if you don’t want to be automatically charged at the end of the limited window.
- You can pick up iRobot’s Roomba Plus 405 (G181) for $399.99 ($400 off), its lowest price ever, at Amazon. The robot vacuum / mop hybrid sucks up debris and uses a side brush to clean edges and corners of your room before its pair of spinning mop pads clean stuck-on gunk. The 405 plans the most efficient route by mapping your home using lidar sensors, and you can adjust which rooms or areas it cleans using the Roomba Home app. The app also allows you to set a cleaning schedule or select a cleaning mode. After cleaning, the robovac can automatically return to the included charging base and deposit debris and dirty water inside the dock (in separate reservoirs, of course).
Bird Buddy Pro
Where to Buy:
Jackery Explorer 1000 V2
Where to Buy:
- The second-gen Echo Buds are down to $44.99 ($95 off) at Amazon, matching the lowest price we’ve seen on the model with the wireless charging case. The wireless earbuds can last up to five hours with active noise cancellation enabled, and you can summon music, podcasts, or Audible audiobooks hands-free using Alexa. Alternatively, Siri and the Google Assistant can be accessed by tapping the buds when they’re connected to an Apple or Android device. The buds are IPX4 rated, too, meaning you can sweat without ruining them. Read our review.
2024 Kindle Paperwhite (refurbished)
Where to Buy:
Update, July 2nd: Adjusted pricing / availability and added several new deals, including those for the Amazon Echo Pop and Coway’s Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty air purifier.