Google unveils Intelligent Eyewear, TPU 8tx, TPU 8i Max and Pixel Tag

Gentle Monster’s AI-powered smart glasses arrive for pre-order

Gentle Monster will open pre-orders for its Intelligent Eyewear on November 12, 2026, with a December 2026 launch. The smart glasses run on Google’s Android XR platform and mark the company’s latest effort to compete with Meta’s smart glasses and revive the Google Glass concept. Google has partnered with eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, as well as Samsung, to develop the product. However, Google itself has not confirmed the pre-order or launch dates.

The announcement includes a short film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Joaquin Phoenix. Gentle Monster says the full film will debut in mid-November 2026. The eyewear will offer an audio-first, display-free experience with access to Google’s Gemini AI, positioning it as a tool for mixed and augmented reality applications across devices like the Samsung Galaxy XR and Xreal Aura.

The Intelligent Eyewear project reflects Google’s strategy to integrate technology with premium branding, aiming to mitigate potential backlash by associating the product with established fashion and design partners. This approach mirrors Meta’s earlier efforts to package tech within desirable consumer brands.

Google’s Holiday 100 gift guide reveals 2026’s hottest products

Google released its 2026 Holiday 100 gift guide, highlighting the year’s most-searched products. The list includes trending items like air fryers (up 60% in searches), LED face masks (up 75%), fitness trackers (up 155%), and portable ring lights (up 275%). Nostalgic products such as turntables and board games also saw significant interest, as did creator-focused tools like podcast microphones and instant cameras.

Mashable’s staff recommendations align with Google’s list, featuring products like the Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask, Eufy Robot Vacuum C28, and Newmowa clip-on selfie light. The guide underscores shifting consumer trends, particularly the growing demand for home appliances, beauty tech, and creator economy tools.

The surge in searches for fitness trackers and robot vacuums suggests a continued focus on health and convenience, while the popularity of instant cameras and turntables points to a resurgence of analog nostalgia.

Google expands TPU lineup with security and memory-focused chips

Google introduced two new chips in its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) family: the TPU 8tx and TPU 8i Max. Both are part of the eighth-generation TPU lineup unveiled in April 2026 and target distinct AI workloads.

The TPU 8i Max doubles the compute power, SRAM, and high-bandwidth memory of its predecessor, the TPU 8i. It is designed for memory-intensive tasks, such as handling ultra-large context windows—including the 1 million-token industry standard supported by Google’s Gemini frontier model. This makes it suitable for enterprises running complex AI applications that require processing vast amounts of data.

The TPU 8tx is optimized for secure and confidential inference, catering to governments and regulated industries. It includes a secure enclave built into the hardware layer, ensuring sensitive data and model weights remain protected even during active use. This chip pairs training-grade compute with fast inference, enabling organizations to fine-tune models and train AI agents without migrating data between clusters, reducing exposure to leaks.

Google shipped four TPU systems in 2026, a first for the company. The expansion reflects its shift from treating TPUs as internal tools to marketing them as a competitive platform for external customers. Nearly 100 companies, including Apple, Meta, and Oracle, now use Google’s TPUs, contributing to the growth of Google Cloud, which generated $30.7 billion in revenue for the quarter ending September 30, 2026.

Google rolls out Pixel Tag, its answer to Bluetooth trackers

Google launched the Pixel Tag, a Bluetooth item tracker priced at $29 in the US, £29.99 in the UK, and AU$49 in Australia. A four-pack is available for $99, £99, and AU$169, respectively. The device weighs 11.8g and features an IP67 rating for water resistance.

The Pixel Tag supports Ultra Wideband (UWB) for precise tracking and is compatible with all Android phones running Android 9 and above. It offers features like sound alerts, crowdsourced location tracking via Google’s Find Hub network, and customizable notifications for lost items. Users can also share location data with airlines or other Google account holders.

The Pixel Tag competes with Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag 2 and Motorola’s Moto Tag 2. While Samsung’s tracker is limited to Samsung phones, the Moto Tag 2 is unavailable in Australia. Both competitors may offer better battery life, but the Pixel Tag’s UWB support and broader compatibility give it an edge for Android users. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy SmartTag 3, expected in 2027, will add iOS compatibility.

Gemini 4 Carbon debuts for enterprise and scientific research

Google made Gemini 4 Carbon, its most advanced AI model, widely available in Google AI Studio and Gemini for business. The model is designed for complex tasks like multi-step coding, debugging, and scientific research, including protein structure prediction. It has already helped uncover zero-day vulnerabilities and is being offered to 10,000 scientists for free for six months to assist in research.

Gemini 4 Carbon outperformed competitors on benchmarks like the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index but showed a higher hallucination rate in knowledge tests. Google is also offering a cybersecurity-focused version of the model, restricted to vetted defenders through its Fairwind programme. The public version blocked 99% of attack attempts in red-team tests.

The model is available to Google AI Ultra subscribers for $100 per month and to developers at $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. Prices will double after an introductory period. Gemini 4 Carbon complements Gemini 4 Argon, which remains better suited for ordinary software engineering and office tasks.

Google adds Maps to AI Studio and tweaks Gmail’s unsend feature

Google’s AI Studio now integrates Google Maps Platform, allowing developers to embed maps, location search, and routing features into apps built using Gemini prompts. A free demo key enables up to 100 API calls per day without requiring a credit card, though production apps require a paid billing account with standard Maps pricing.

The free demo key, originally introduced in November 2025, is now automatically set up in AI Studio. This move simplifies app development, contrasting with Apple’s stricter approach to AI-built apps. Developers can also migrate projects to Antigravity, Google’s agent coding tool.

Gmail’s unsend feature received minor updates. Users can now extend the default five-second window to 30 seconds via settings, though recipients are not notified if an email is unsent. The feature delays dispatch rather than retracting sent emails.

Gemini now converts handwritten notes into editable documents

Google’s latest Gemini upgrade introduces a feature for converting handwritten notes into polished PDFs and editable documents. Users can upload handwritten notes and ask Gemini to transform them into structured formats directly within the platform.

While the feature retains key content, it may introduce minor inaccuracies, such as unnecessary citation markers or simplified wording. Gemini allows users to preview, edit, and refine documents without repeatedly downloading new versions, streamlining workflows for students, professionals, and anyone digitizing handwritten notes.

The feature complements Gemini’s existing document creation and editing capabilities, making the platform more versatile for productivity tasks.

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