Volvo is set to become the first automaker to integrate Google’s Gemini AI chatbot into its vehicles, expanding on its longstanding partnership with the tech giant. Announced just after Google I/O 2025, the move underscores Volvo’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of in-car technology.

What Is Gemini AI and Why Does It Matter?

Gemini is Google’s next-generation AI assistant designed to offer more natural and intelligent conversations. Unlike Google Assistant, Gemini uses advanced natural language processing to better understand nuanced queries. This allows drivers to interact with their vehicle more seamlessly, whether they’re translating a phrase, navigating unfamiliar roads, or exploring their car’s manual without taking their eyes off the road.

According to Volvo, the integration is about easing the driver’s cognitive load, improving safety and convenience. You can now ask things like:

• “Translate this street sign for me.”
• “Find the nearest EV charging station.”
• “What does this dashboard light mean?”

Gemini Coming to Android Auto and Android Automotive

Google recently confirmed that Gemini will be available for Android Auto users in the coming weeks, allowing people to access the AI via their smartphones. However, cars running Android Automotive OS (branded as Google built-in) — like Volvo’s — will see Gemini integration later this year.

Volvo was among the first adopters of Android Automotive OS, and now, it’s again leading the pack by integrating Google’s newest AI technology. This means Volvo drivers and passengers will soon be able to use voice commands powered by Gemini to:

• Send messages
• Control music and entertainment
• Get real-time directions
• Ask questions using natural, conversational language

Volvo as Google’s Automotive Reference Platform

In addition to getting early access to Gemini, Volvo will serve as one of Google’s reference hardware platforms for automotive development. This status ensures that Volvo vehicles will be among the first to receive new features and updates from Google — well before they’re rolled out to the wider Android Automotive ecosystem.

“Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer ecosystem into our products first,” said Alwin Bakkenes, Head of Global Software Engineering at Volvo Cars.

“We’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.”

Volvo already offers features like built-in YouTube, high-definition Google Maps, and voice-controlled HVAC systems in its newer models. Its former performance brand, Polestar, was also the first carmaker to release a vehicle with native Android Automotive OS.

Gemini: The Future of In-Car AI

At Google I/O 2025, the company positioned Gemini as a core component of the future in-car experience. According to Ben Sagmoe, Developer Relations Engineer at Google:

“Navigation apps can integrate with Gemini using three core intent formats, allowing users to start navigation, display relevant search results, and perform voice-activated custom actions — such as reporting traffic congestion.”

As cars become more intelligent and connected, AI like Gemini is poised to play a central role in helping drivers stay focused, informed, and in control.

Google is enhancing online security with a new automated password-changing feature in Chrome, aimed at keeping user accounts safer with less effort. When Chrome’s built-in Password Manager detects a compromised password during sign-in, it will now prompt users with the option to automatically fix and update the password, without needing to manually navigate account settings.

How the Feature Works

According to Google’s Ashima Arora, Chirag Desai, and Eiji Kitamura, Chrome users will receive a prompt if a saved password is found in a known data breach. On supported websites, users can then opt for Chrome to:

• Generate a strong new password
• Automatically update the password for the account

This capability builds on existing Password Manager features like suggesting secure passwords at sign-up and flagging leaked credentials.

The goal is to minimize friction during the password update process, making it easier for users to stay secure without dropping off halfway through a manual password change.

How Websites Can Support It

To enable Chrome’s auto-change functionality, website owners can take two key steps:

1. Use the following HTML attributes:
   • autocomplete=”current-password”
   • autocomplete=”new-password”
2. Implement a well-known URL redirect:
   • Redirect https://<your-domain>/.well-known/change-password to your site’s password change page.

“It would be much easier if password managers could navigate the user directly to the change-password URL,” said Google engineer Eiji Kitamura.

This setup ensures that password managers like Chrome can reliably guide users to the correct interface for updating their login details.

Part of a Larger Shift Toward Passwordless Security

This feature comes as tech companies continue shifting toward passkeys and passwordless login systems to further reduce risk. For example, Microsoft recently announced that passkeys will become the default sign-in method for new customer accounts.

Google’s Chrome update shows a clear move toward simplifying cybersecurity for users, automating routine but essential tasks to keep accounts protected in an increasingly digital world.

A hacker has exploited a vulnerability in TeleMessage, an Israeli company that offers modified, archivable versions of encrypted messaging apps like Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp—resulting in the exposure of sensitive communications data linked to U.S. government officials and private companies, according to a report by 404 Media.

TeleMessage, which communications compliance firm Smarsh owns, enables enterprises and government agencies to retain records of messages, including voice notes, sent through otherwise end-to-end encrypted platforms. The tool is commonly used to meet regulatory requirements in sectors such as finance and government.

The breach comes shortly after revelations that former U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was using a customized version of Signal provided by TeleMessage. While there is no indication that Waltz’s or other cabinet officials’ messages were directly compromised, the hacker reportedly accessed a trove of sensitive data. This includes the contents of some archived messages, contact details of government personnel, internal login credentials for TeleMessage systems, and information linked to high-profile clients such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coinbase, and Scotiabank.

Crucially, the incident raises concerns about Telemessage’s security model. According to 404 Media, archived messages from the modified Signal client are not protected by end-to-end encryption as they are transferred to storage, leaving them potentially vulnerable to interception or unauthorized access.

Neither Smarsh nor the affected organizations, Signal, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coinbase, and Scotiabank—have publicly commented on the breach at this time.

The incident underscores ongoing challenges in balancing regulatory compliance with strong data security, especially when modifying or extending the functionality of encrypted communication platforms.

Motor Third Party (MTP) insurance is a legal requirement for all vehicle owners in Uganda. However, many drivers forget to renew their cover until they encounter a traffic stop. Fortunately, paying for MTP insurance is now easier than ever thanks to digital payment solutions that allow you to complete the process from your phone.

This guide explains how you can quickly and securely pay for your MTP insurance using MTN, Airtel, or Centenary Bank Agency Banking.

What is Motor Third Party Insurance?

Motor Third Party insurance provides protection to third parties—such as pedestrians, passengers, or other road users—in the event of an accident involving your vehicle. It’s mandatory in Uganda, and failure to have valid cover could result in penalties or legal liability for accident-related damages.

Why Switch to Digital Payments for MTP Insurance?

Previously, renewing your MTP insurance required visiting an insurance office or agent, presenting your vehicle logbook, paying in cash, and waiting for a sticker. This process was time-consuming and often unreliable, with the risk of receiving counterfeit insurance stickers.

To streamline this experience, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Ministry of Works and Transport, and telecom companies introduced a digital system. This allows drivers to make payments via mobile phones or Centenary Bank agents with instant verification and more secure documentation.

How to Pay Motor Third Party Insurance Using Your Phone

For MTN Users:

1. Dial *165#
2. Select Option 4 – Payments
3. Choose Option 5 – Fees and Taxes
4. Select Option 5 – Motor Third Party
5. Enter your vehicle details
6. Confirm and complete payment

For Airtel Users:

1. Dial *185#
2. Select Option 7 – Financial Services
3. Choose Option 3 – Insurance
4. Select Option 1 – Motor Third Party
5. Enter your vehicle details
6. Confirm and complete payment

For Centenary Bank Agency Banking:

Visit a CenteAgent and provide your vehicle registration details. The agent will enter the necessary information into the system and assist you with the payment process.

Important Note: Your Vehicle Must Be in the URA eTax System

To access this service, your vehicle must be registered in the URA eTax database. If your car is still in the old vehicle management system, you’ll need to update it.

To validate your vehicle:

1. Visit the URA website at ura.go.ug
2. Go to the “Guides” section
3. Click on “How to use e-Services”
4. Select “Motor Vehicle” and then “How to validate your motor vehicle”
5. Follow the steps to log in and update your vehicle information

What Happens After You Make Payment?

After successful payment, you’ll receive a text message with your insurance sticker number. You can then visit any licensed insurance company to print the sticker. This sticker must be displayed on your vehicle as proof of insurance.

The system is linked to the IRA database, so all issued stickers are authentic and verifiable by traffic officers and inspectors.

Advantages of Digital MTP Payments

• Fast and convenient: Pay from your phone without visiting an office
• Secure: Reduces the risk of counterfeit stickers
• Transparent: Payments are recorded and verified in real time
• Empowering: Encourages self-service and easier compliance

What to Do if You’re Stopped by Police

If your MTP insurance has expired and you’re pulled over, you can pay on the spot using your phone. Once the transaction is complete, you’ll receive a valid sticker number, which you can present as proof of renewed coverage.

Don’t Wait for a Roadblock

Currently, over 700,000 vehicles in Uganda are estimated to be operating without valid MTP insurance. Many of these drivers are unaware that they are at risk, not only legally but financially, in the event of an accident.

Ensuring your vehicle has valid insurance is a simple but important step toward safety and compliance. Thanks to the digital platform, paying for MTP insurance is faster, safer, and more reliable than ever.

Instagram has officially launched Edits, a standalone video editing app aimed at social media creators looking for a powerful yet streamlined tool to craft content for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and more. The app arrives months after Instagram first teased its development, and notably fills the gap left by ByteDance’s CapCut, which was removed from the App Store earlier this year alongside TikTok and has yet to return.

A Creator-Centric Toolset

Designed from the ground up with feedback from content creators, Edits provides a robust suite of tools for filming, editing, and enhancing videos. Users can shoot high-quality footage directly within the app, edit on a frame-accurate timeline, and apply effects like AI-powered animations and cutouts. Instagram says Edits aims to eliminate the need for juggling multiple editing apps by offering a cohesive creative environment in one place.

The app also includes features for managing the entire creative process. Users can track video ideas, organize projects, and export finished content without watermarks. Additionally, an Inspiration Feed offers trending Reels, audio clips, and performance insights to help creators stay on top of what’s resonating with audiences.

Built with and for Creators

Instagram says that since last year, it has worked closely with a community of creators to test concepts and refine the app’s design. Early testers praised the simplicity and power of the platform, and Instagram plans to continue evolving Edits based on user feedback.

What’s Next for Edits?

While the initial release is already feature-rich, Instagram has several enhancements in the pipeline. Upcoming updates will include:

• Keyframes: Allowing for precise animation of clip position, rotation, and scale
• AI-powered Modifications: To quickly adjust the tone and style of videos
• Collaboration Tools: Enabling creators to share drafts with others for feedback or co-creation
• Expanded Creative Options: More fonts, text animations, transitions, voice effects, soundtracks, and royalty-free music

Availability

Edits is now available globally as a free download on both the App Store and Google Play Store. Users can sign in using their Instagram accounts to get started.

By launching Edits, Instagram is taking a major step toward supporting the full content creation journey, from concept to publication on any platform.

By Eric Mabuza Jnr, General Manager, ITHUBA Uganda

When we launched the Uganda National Lottery just a few months ago, we didn’t simply introduce a game. We introduced a promise—a promise of fairness, opportunity, and national progress. And today, I can confidently say: that promise is already coming to life.

Every day across Uganda, I meet people whose lives are being changed not just by the thrill of winning, but by what the Lottery stands for. Take Nantamu Emmanuel, for example. A humble peasant farmer from Busowobi in Bugiri District, he bought a ticket and won a massive UGX 186 million LOTTO jackpot. He’s one of over 600,000 winners to date. And what makes this even more remarkable is that stories like his are not rare. Winners have come from Kisoro, Koboko, Lira, Mbale, Luwero, Hima—proving that the Lottery’s impact stretches into every corner of Uganda.

But here’s the thing: at ITHUBA, the company operating the Uganda National Lottery, our mission has never been just about creating winners. It’s about creating impact.

What excites me the most is that this transformation is funded not by debt or foreign aid—but by Ugandans themselves. Every UGX 600 DAILY LOTTO ticket or UGX 1,000 POWERBALL play becomes a small act of nation-building.

Having worked closely with ITHUBA in South Africa, I’ve witnessed firsthand how a National Lottery can drive real, measurable development. Over the past decade, ITHUBA has channelled more than $650 million from ticket sales into good causes —funding education, housing, healthcare, and more. Now, in Uganda, we’re applying that same proven model. The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has already identified the upcoming AFCON 2027 tournament as a flagship beneficiary of Uganda National Lottery proceeds —supporting the construction of world-class stadiums and training facilities that will uplift sport and infrastructure alike.

Of course, no National Lottery can succeed without trust. And that’s why we’ve invested heavily in systems that ensure integrity at every turn. Every game is fully digital, reducing any chance of tampering. Our operations are 100% regulated by the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB). We’ve opened regional offices in Mbarara, Mbale, and Gulu, and we’ve partnered with hundreds of agents across the country to make the Uganda National Lottery more accessible than ever before.

But transparency isn’t just about technology. It’s also about people. That’s why ITHUBA encourages responsible gaming. We believe people should play for fun and to take a chance on big wins. ITHUBA has partnered with counselling organisations to provide support when it’s needed. In Uganda, as in South Africa, we’re building a National Lottery culture that’s grounded in responsibility.

Beyond winners, beyond games, we’re seeing something even more inspiring: growth. Jobs have been created—from marketing professionals to retail agents. Small businesses are benefiting. Communities are gaining access to new resources. This is what it looks like when a National Lottery becomes more than entertainment. It becomes an economic engine.

For me personally, being part of this journey is deeply meaningful. I see our work not just as managing a National Lottery, but as helping shape the future of a nation. And I am proud that ITHUBA is doing this work with integrity, transparency, and heart.

So, the next time you buy a ticket, know that you’re not just playing for a chance to win. You’re joining a movement—one that’s transforming communities, supporting dreams, and building a better Uganda.

Now that’s something worth playing for.