Google's week: Android bug bounty, AI rules, and two-step security boost

Company also injects search engine with more medical information

This week saw Google encouraging more adoption of two-factor authentication and more bug finding and reporting.

The search company also outlined five areas that need to be addressed to prevent the creation of ineffective robots, and tweakd its search engine once again.

Google offers smartphone prompts for two-factor authentication security boost

Google outlined a notable improvement to the firm's two-step verification systems to make it easier for IT staff to protect user accounts.

"We know that security is one of your top concerns as a Google Apps admin and that many of you require your employees to turn on two-step verification to keep their accounts safe," the company said.

Google boosts Android bug bounty bonuses

Google has increased the bounties paid for bugs uncovered in the Android operating system.

The firm said that it has been thrilled with how popular the programme has proved since it began a year ago.

Google injects search with a sick new feature

Google has tweaked its search engine to show more useful information when people search for symptoms to illnesses.

The search results now include medical information from experts and clinicians.

Barclays contactless payment Android app released on Google Play

Google's Android Pay was shunned by Barclays bank, which has released its own contactless payments service.

Barclays customers can download the app from the Google Play store, select a relevant card then follow some step-by-step instructions to make the Barclays app the default payment option for their Android smartphone.

Google: five problems that need to be addressed to avoid killer AI invasion

Google outlined five problems that need to be addressed if artificial intelligence (AI) is to be developed in a safe and effective way.

The problems include loopholes in AI behaviour and working out how they can learn without bothering humans.