Google's week: AI in Gmail, Lollipop shunned by Samsung, and a fine in Brazil

Search firm also pushed out Android M Developer Preview 2 to Nexus devices

Google's week has been quiet, the firm's only direct action being the launch of a spam-seeking neural network for Gmail, and pushing Android M Developer Preview 2 to developers using Nexus devices.

However, the firm was the subject of other activity, including being fined by Brazil and receiving a strange request from New York's council.

Samsung shuns Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade for Galaxy S3 and Note 2

Google's Android 5.0 Lollipop will not be offered as an upgrade to Samsung's Galaxy S3 and Note 2 smartphones.

The decision not to push Android 5.0 to the smartphones, which are now several generations old, could be designed to prompt customers to buy the latest Galaxy S6 handset.

Google launches spam-seeking AI for Gmail

Google launched an AI-powered spam filter for Gmail which uses a neural network to separate junk emails from important ones.

Gmail's new Postmaster Tools use machine learning based on spam report data to identify emails that would otherwise sneak through a normal spam filter.

Android M Developer Preview 2 arrives on Nexus devices

The INQUIRER reported that Google has rolled out its first Android M update to developers' Nexus devices in a bid to keep competitive with iOS 9.

Jamal Eason, project manager for Android, said on the firm's developer blog: "The developer preview is an early access opportunity to test and optimise your apps for the next release of Android."

Google and Facebook fined over failing to block graphic images in Brazil

The BBC reported that Google and Facebook have been fined the equivalent of £10,000 by a Brazilian court for failing to block graphic images of Brazilian singer Cristiano Araujo, who died in a car crash in June.

A judge ruled that both companies had ignored an injunction from an earlier court blocking the images from being displayed online.

New York City Council wants Google Maps to discourage driver left turns


The Independent reported that New York City Council wrote a letter to Google asking the firm to make the streets safer by discouraging drivers in the city to turn left.

The council found that drivers manoeuvring after taking a left turn were responsible for high numbers of cyclist and pedestrian deaths.