Gmail will shut down the 'Send as' feature for external accounts starting in January 2027

Google announced on Thursday (06) a new development phase for Google Maps, introducing features based on artificial intelligence. These tools aim to assist users with various tasks, such as ordering meals, finding accommodations, and discovering events.

This update enhances the 'Ask Maps' feature, enabling it to understand more complex requests. The innovation was presented by Google and combines Gemini capabilities with internal Maps data, resulting in more customized responses. The company stated that these new functions are already available in several markets, including Brazil, as well as other regions.

With this improvement, the application transcends its primary function as a mere location finder, starting to assist in executing specific steps of activities. This reduces the need for the user to constantly switch between different services during the planning process.

Among the additions is the ability to place food orders using natural language commands. The user can specify their preferences, dietary restrictions, and pickup point, while the system locates suitable restaurants along the route and compiles the order on partner platforms for the purchase to be completed.

The feature has also been expanded to accommodation searches. Instead of applying multiple filters manually, the individual can simply describe the desired hotel profile—such as location, price range, ambiance characteristics, and proximity to certain points—allowing Maps to find options that fit the criteria.

Additionally, the tool offers support in identifying nearby events and activities. Suggestions can take into account the user's declared interests, presenting options such as concerts and local attractions, including information on how to purchase tickets, when available.

According to Google, these functionalities represent a transformation in the operation mode of 'Ask Maps,' which now executes parts of the tasks instead of just providing answers. The technology processes the request, consolidates relevant information, and triggers actions in integrated services.

Another launched feature is 'Personal Intelligence,' which allows linking 'Ask Maps' to Gmail. This enables responses to consider data such as future appointments and travel reservations. This integration is optional and requires user authorization. When activated, the tool can use Gmail data to suggest activities near a stay, for example, or assist in planning travel related to appointments.

Google also mentioned plans to extend this integration in the future to other applications, such as Google Calendar. Furthermore, users who keep their activity history active can resume previous conversations held in Maps without having to restart the planning.

The update also brings real-time information about public transport. A new mechanism allows monitoring changes in bus, train, subway, and ferry lines, including potential delays or alterations during the journey.

Another novelty involves user collaboration in updating Maps data. Artificial intelligence now assists in sending suggestions about establishments, being able to extract information from images, such as times displayed on signs, before forwarding the change for analysis. Google emphasized that the contributions of hundreds of millions of users are crucial for keeping the service updated, and that all suggestions go through verification systems before being published.

Researchers have successfully applied artificial intelligence (AI) for the first time to design viruses that do not exist in nature and demonstrated their ability to replicate. This breakthrough, described in an article published in the journal Science on Thursday (the 6th), may open new possibilities in medicine and biotechnology, but it also heightens concerns about using AI to create dangerous biological agents.

The experiments were conducted by scientists from Arc Institute in California (USA). Instead of simply reproducing known viruses, as had been done for decades, the team trained an AI model to recognize patterns in the DNA of millions of organisms and then, based on this knowledge, generate previously unseen genetic sequences.

After synthesizing these sequences in the laboratory, researchers introduced them into bacteria. Some of these bacteria began producing viruses never before observed in nature. In total, 16 AI-created viruses proved viable and were able to infect other bacteria.

Patrick Guy, a synthetic biologist from the University of Manchester (UK), who was not involved in the study, stated in an interview with The New York Times that 'this is an important milestone.' After additional training focused on this virus and about 15 thousand close variants, the Evo system was able to generate approximately 700 thousand potential versions of its genome. Scientists selected the 285 most promising sequences, synthesized the corresponding DNA, and conducted laboratory tests.

Most of the sequences generated by AI did not lead to the formation of functional viruses. Nevertheless, researchers observed clear areas between bacteria on some culture dishes—a classic sign of host cell lysis by viruses. As a result of the experiments, 16 genomes designed by Evo yielded viable viruses.

According to the researchers, some of these viruses achieved faster replication than the natural Phi X-174. Oliver Crook, a protein chemist from Oxford University (UK), who also did not participate in the study, noted that this proves that AI-created viruses 'are not just weakened versions of something that already exists.' He also emphasized that these new variants remain very similar to natural viruses and follow known biological principles.

The authors believe that this technology could accelerate the development of tools for biotechnology and medicine. Modified viruses are already used in many research and gene therapy studies, acting as carriers for delivering genes into human cells. If this approach proves successful with other viral families, researchers hope that AI models can help create more effective vectors for such treatments.

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Despite the scientific potential, the study has once again raised biosecurity questions. Experts warn that systems capable of designing genomes could potentially be used in the future to develop more dangerous biological agents.

Maurice Hanke from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, who was not involved in the work, asserts that governments and scientific organizations have not yet developed sufficient mechanisms to track the pace of AI development in the biological sphere. He points to a 'huge gap.' According to him, such a model could theoretically receive instructions to design more contagious or more lethal versions of known viruses.

Those responsible for the study state that they have taken measures to mitigate this risk. The Evo model did not receive information about viruses capable of infecting humans, nor about viruses affecting animals, plants, or fungi. Thus, the model is incapable of generating genomes of potentially human-dangerous viruses.

Brian Hee, a biocomputational biologist from Stanford University (USA) and one of the study's authors, stated: 'We wanted to be extremely careful.' Hanke highly praised this decision but noted that it was made at the initiative of the scientists themselves, without official directives.

Last week, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a new policy aimed at restricting high-risk research that could make biological agents more dangerous. However, according to the agency itself, research conducted exclusively in a computational environment—such as generating viral DNA using AI—is not prohibited by this policy, provided it does not involve organisms already classified as threats.

For Hanke, the question remains how to assess the risks associated with previously unseen viruses created by AI. He asked: 'What is the risk of what we have never seen before?'