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Independent Turkish News Websites Threatened by Google’s Algorithm Changes

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Several independent media outlets in Turkey are facing potential closure due to significant changes made to Google’s algorithms, which have drastically reduced the reader traffic to their websites. According to a joint statement from the affected outlets, since the end of January 2025, Google’s updates have largely eliminated the traffic that was previously directed to them through Google’s “Discover” and “News” tools. This decline in traffic has severely impacted their financial sustainability.

Independent news outlets such as T24, Medyascope, Diken, and Birgun have expressed concern that these changes not only harm their businesses but also limit the public’s access to news. The outlets have announced plans to take legal action in response, aiming to protect their corporate rights, the work of their employees, and the support of their readership, which they claim has been unfairly affected by the changes. They are also seeking legal recourse from both local and international legal bodies, including Turkey’s Competition Authority.

A spokesperson from Google responded, stating that the recent algorithm changes were not targeted at individual websites. Instead, the adjustments were made to improve the overall search experience. “We don’t and would never manipulate search results, modify our products, or enforce our policies to promote or disadvantage any particular viewpoint,” the spokesperson said.

Turkey ranks 158th out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. The group noted that with 90% of Turkey’s media under government influence, the public has increasingly relied on independent news sources for accurate and critical information. However, these outlets are heavily dependent on Google revenues, as private companies are often reluctant to advertise on independent media websites.

Amidst these challenges, Gazete Duvar, another independent news outlet, announced its closure on Wednesday, attributing the decision to revenue losses caused by the changes in Google’s algorithms, compounded by the economic pressures of inflation.

Google Introduces New AI Models for Rapidly Growing Robotics Industry

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Google, the parent company of Alphabet, unveiled two new AI models on Wednesday, designed specifically for the rapidly advancing robotics industry. These models, based on Google’s Gemini 2.0 framework, aim to accelerate the development of robots across various sectors, especially in industrial settings.

The robotics field has experienced significant progress in recent years, with AI-driven advancements enabling faster commercialization of robots for tasks in factories and warehouses. Google’s new models are tailored to meet the growing demand for smarter robots capable of performing complex tasks.

The first model, Gemini Robotics, integrates vision, language, and physical action, enabling robots to interact with their environment through physical output. The second model, Gemini Robotics-ER, provides robots with a deeper spatial understanding, allowing them to reason and run programs with greater autonomy, expanding their capabilities.

These models cater to all types of robots, including humanoids and industrial robots, which are increasingly being adopted in warehouses and factories. Google emphasized that its AI models are designed to help startups reduce costs and speed up product development, which is crucial in a market where robotics innovation is moving quickly.

Google’s AI models have been tested on its ALOHA 2 bi-arm robotics platform but are versatile enough to be customized for other robots, such as Apptronik’s Apollo humanoid robot. Apptronik recently raised $350 million to scale production of its AI-powered robots, with Google participating in the funding round alongside other investors.

Though Google once owned the robotics firm Boston Dynamics, known for its advanced robot designs, it sold the company to SoftBank Group in 2017. However, the launch of these new AI models shows Google’s continued interest and involvement in the robotics space.

UK Antitrust Body Raises Concerns Over Apple and Google’s Mobile

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Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised concerns about the state of competition in the mobile browser market, dominated by Apple and Google. The CMA’s independent inquiry group published a final report supporting its decision to open an investigation into the sector in January, stating that the market was not functioning well for consumers or businesses.

The majority of the report’s concerns were focused on Apple’s Safari browser, particularly its policies surrounding internet access on Apple devices. In response to provisional findings published in November, the CMA launched an investigation under its expanded powers to assess whether Apple and Google hold “strategic market status” (SMS) in mobile ecosystems, a broader focus than just the browser market.

The CMA suggested that if either company were designated with SMS status, it could lead to regulatory interventions, such as improving the ability of competitors to offer new features. Apple responded, stating that it prioritizes user trust and believes the remedies proposed would harm privacy and security. The company expressed concerns about the report and pledged to continue constructive dialogue with the CMA.

Google defended its position, highlighting that the Android ecosystem’s openness has expanded choice and lowered costs, which it claims democratizes access to smartphones and apps. Google also pledged to work collaboratively with the CMA to create a regulatory environment that fosters innovation.

The report revealed that Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome browsers dominate the mobile browser market, with Safari accounting for 88% of browser usage on Apple devices and Chrome holding 77% of the market on Android devices in 2024. Margot Daly, chair of the independent inquiry group, emphasized that the lack of competition in the browser space was stifling innovation and welcomed the CMA’s action to explore SMS investigations into the two tech giants.

The CMA expects to complete its SMS investigations later this year.