Google and Amazon are rolling out major new updates that will change how we get our daily news and our online shopping. This matters to you because it gives you more control over what you read on your phone and could bring super-fast deliveries right to your doorstep.
Google is introducing a "Preferred Sources" button that websites can add to their pages. When you click this button, you tell Google that you trust this site, and Google will show you more stories from them in your search results and news feeds. You will also be able to customize your Google Discover news feed by simply typing what topics you want to see more or less of in plain, everyday language.
At the same time, Amazon is expanding its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 US towns and cities by the end of 2026. These flying drones are "autonomous," which means they use smart software and cameras to fly and make safe flight decisions on their own without a human pilot guiding them. A special safety system constantly scans the sky to spot and avoid obstacles like trees, birds, or other aircraft.
These electric drones carry packages that weigh 5 pounds or less, which covers common items like medicine, food, and small electronics. Delivery usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. If you have a Prime membership, the drone delivery is free for orders over $50, and costs $2.99 for smaller orders. If you do not have a membership, it costs $4.99. The drone even scans your yard to make sure no people or pets are in the way before dropping the package.
It is clear that tech companies are working hard to make our digital and physical worlds much faster and more personalized. We will have to wait and see how these new features change our daily routines.
