Google rolls out fix after app update causes battery draining and overheating issues for Pixel 6 & 7 users

Google app update causes battery draining and overheating issues for Pixel users, but Google quickly rolls out a fix while introducing new image search features to combat misinformation.

Google’s recent update to the Google app has reportedly led to severe battery draining and overheating problems for Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series users. Several users took to online forums to express their concerns about the issues, reminiscent of a previous bug that affected haptic feedback on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro models. Google promptly addressed the situation, pausing the update and implementing a patch to resolve the bugs.

According to a report from 9to5Google, Google acknowledged that the battery draining and overheating problems resulted from a “backend change” in the Google app, affecting a subset of Android devices. The company swiftly rolled out a fix for the issue, which is a server-side update that does not require manual installation. Users impacted by the problem should observe their Pixel devices returning to normal behavior immediately.

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In addition to addressing the app update issue, Google is introducing two new image search features to combat the spread of misinformation facilitated by increasingly realistic AI-generated fakes. The first feature, called “About this image,” provides users with information about when an image was indexed by Google, its original source, and where else it has appeared online. By offering this contextual information, Google aims to help users identify the authenticity and origin of images.

Furthermore, Google announced its commitment to labeling all AI-generated images produced by its tools as such. Collaboration with websites and services like Midjourney and Shutterstock ensures consistent labeling across distributed files. This initiative intends to provide users with clear indicators of AI-generated content in search results, enhancing transparency and combating the potential misuse of AI-generated visuals.