Eliana Willis

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETEven luck can’t escape being replaced by AI.Since its inception, Google Search has had an “I’m feeling lucky” button alongside the regular search button. Instead of taking you to a page of results for your search, the lucky button takes you straight to the site for the first result. It was a time-saving trick in the days of slower internet, but now it’s more of a playful throwback. Also: Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro update makes the AI model even better at codingOver the past several days, users have reported that the lucky button is gone. In its place is a button for AI mode. Instead of taking you to actual search results, AI mode opens a chatbot that gives you information about what you searched for and lets you have a conversation to learn more (given its AI history, though, perhaps a simple rebrand to “I’m feeling unlucky” is more apt). At least one editor at ZDNET has seen AI Mode replace the “I’m feeling lucky” button, as shown in the screenshot above.This change isn’t unexpectedEarlier this month, Google announced that since users were finding it so helpful, it was expanding AI mode. “In the coming weeks,” the company explained, “a small percentage of people in the US will see the AI Mode tab in Search.” Google didn’t say where this button might appear, but it’s clear from user reports that at least one potential option is where the lucky button is now. Also: How Google’s AI combats new scam tactics – and how you can stay one step aheadFortunately, the lucky button is not guaranteed to disappear. Users are also seeing it in a few other locations, including inside the search bar. While both options are about bypassing traditional search, it’s hard to imagine that many people actually use the lucky button these days. Still, it’s always nice to see it there. While a lot of people are averse to Google’s seeming insistence on injecting AI into its products, you have to imagine AI mode will almost certainly see more use.Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETYour Fitbit is about to get a little smarter. Also: Fitbit is dying a slow deathThe company announced three new AI features today for Fitbit Labs users — one that helps you understand your medical records better, and two that help you understand your own health better.1. Medical Record NavigatorFirst up is “Medical Record Navigator,” a tool that turns complex doctors’ reports into something you can easily understand. When you’re enrolled in this feature, you can upload lab results to Fitbit and get a Gemini-powered summary (Google owns Fitbit, in case you forgot) with clear language and related educational resources. Instead of complex and potentially scary medical jargon, you’ll see a simple explanation of your results. Also: The best fitness trackers: Expert tested and reviewedThis means you’re giving Fitbit access to some fairly sensitive information (and data collected through these labs is used by Fitbit for research and development purposes), but it seems like a useful way to better understand your body. 2. Symptom CheckerAlso on the way is “Symptom Checker,” which helps you understand why you’re feeling the way you do. When you describe your symptoms (like, “my side aches” or “I’ve had a headache for two days”), the feature will ask some follow-up questions and give you insight into what might be happening. Also: The top 20 AI tools of 2025 – and the #1 thing to remember when you use themFitbit says this is “a starting point” that can help you decide whether you should speak with a doctor. 3. Unusual trendsLast is “Unusual trends,” a feature that tracks small changes in your body that you might not otherwise notice. To start, the Fitbit app learns what’s normal for you in areas like your breathing rate while you sleep or your resting heart rate. If something trends away from what’s normal, you’ll get a notification. The app will not only tell you something is potentially amiss, but offer some connections as to why (like stress, a lack of sleep, or an illness), and some steps to address the issue. Also: The best sleep trackers: Expert tested and reviewedFitbit adds that these features showcase “experimental capabilities” that are only for “investigational use,” and aren’t intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or mitigate any disease or condition. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETSamsung’s latest and greatest phone, the Galaxy Edge S25, was announced yesterday in all of its super-thin glory. The smartphone includes several updates, like a brighter display and an upgraded camera. The new upgrades pair better with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Ring to give you better, more detailed insights. Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge hands-on: This ultra-thin phone made my iPhone feel outdatedFollowing the launch, Samsung is offering a deal where you can get both devices for a discounted price. When you preorder a Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETIf today’s news is any hint of things to come, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2025 should be packed with notable announcements. In advance of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 16 and three weeks ahead of WWDC 2025, Apple is previewing more than a dozen accessibility features across its product line that will be available in iOS 19. And these are significant upgrades, from a Magnifier for the Mac to Accessibility Nutrition Labels in the App Store.Magnifier for Mac  The Magnifier for Mac will work with Continuity Camera on the iPhone as well as with attached USB cameras. The Magnifier app will connect to your camera so you can zoom in on your surroundings. For instance, you can point a document to your Mac’s camera and read easily on a bigger screen. The app will allow you to add customized views, adjust brightness, contrast, and more. You can also save your Views or group them for a more organized look. Also: Apple’s WWDC 2025: What to expect from iOS 19, VisionOS 3, and moreAccessibility Nutrition Labels  Apple will introduce a new Accessibility Nutrition Labels section to App Store product pages. These labels will highlight accessibility features within apps and games to better inform users about their downloads. Another new feature, Braille Access, will add a full-featured braille note taker that the company describes as “deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem.” You’ll be able to take notes in braille format and perform calculations using Nemeth Braille. Also: Apple’s Meta Ray-Bans killer is only one of four major launches in 2027 – here’s the listAnother impressive new feature is Switch Control for Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs), which will let you control your devices without any physical movement. More accessibility featuresHere’s a rundown of 12 more accessibility features coming to your Apple devices:Accessibility Reader will debut as a new systemwide reading mode on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. It is designed to make text easier to read for people with a wide range of disabilities, like dyslexia or low vision. Users will be able to customize text font, color, contrast, and more to make the content more readableLive Captions on Apple Watch will help those who are deaf or hard of hearing. This feature will turn their iPhone into a remote microphone to stream content directly to AirPods, Made for iPhone hearing aids, or Beats headphones.Enhanced View on Vision Pro will expand everything in view, including the surroundings. It is built for those who struggle with low vision. Personal Voice will create a voice in under a minute using 10 phrases, thanks to on-device machine learning and AI.Background Sounds will let you easily personalize with new EQ settings to help minimize distractions and increase focus.Vehicle Motion Cues, a feature made to reduce motion sickness, is now coming to Mac. Eye Tracking will enable iPhone and iPad users to use a switch or Dwell to make selections.Head Tracking improvements will allow you to control your iPhone and iPad more easily.Assistive Access will be added to the Apple TV app to create a better experience for users with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Also: Buying an iPhone 18 next year may look a little different – and why you should be excitedName Recognition will be added to Sound Recognition so users who are deaf or hard of hearing can hear when their name is called. Sound Recognition will also be part of CarPlay, so drivers or passengers who struggle with hearing can now be notified of the sound of a crying baby.Voice Control and Live Captions will expand to add support for more languages.Apple will allow users to share their accessibility settings with another iPhone or iPad. More

The JBL Clip 5 speaker produces a lot of sound for such a small device. Nina Raemont/ZDNETOn Amazon, the JBL Clip 5 More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETApple has been sprinkling AI features into its devices via Apple Intelligence and iOS updates. These features have mainly been fun, nice-to-have additive tools, such as Genmoji, Clean Up in Photos, and Natural Language Search in Photos. However, Apple’s latest feature, which is still under wraps, targets a major pain point for users — their phone battery.New Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 19On Monday, Bloomberg correspondent and Apple watcher Mark Gurman reported that Apple is working on a new Apple Intelligence feature to help users’ device batteries last longer. According to sources close to the matter, the feature is expected to be released with Apple’s iOS 19 update, slated for September. NEW: Apple prepares a new Apple Intelligence feature for iOS 19 coming this fall — an AI-powered battery optimization mode to extend battery life. This will be particularly aimed at the iPhone 17 Air, which will use the feature to offset a smaller battery. https://t.co/tWDZlUClbd— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) May 12, 2025

Also: I bought an iPhone 16 for its AI features, but I haven’t used them even once – here’s whyThe AI-powered optimization feature will reportedly learn a person’s device-usage habits through their battery data and make adjustments to conserve energy, such as predicting when to lower power draw for specific use cases. The feature will also predict how long it will take to charge a device and display that estimate on the lock screen. Apple has not responded to a request for comment. More

ebrublue10/Getty Images Would you trust a chatbot to answer your medical questions? If so, how would you respond to its advice? The latest research by OpenAI suggests that new releases of bots are improving in the ability to generate responses to text-based prompts about medical situations, including emergencies.  It’s not clear, however, how relevant all […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is on sale for about $1,512. It’s a lightweight laptop with a solid battery life and vibrant OLED display that is perfect for work and entertainment. However, its lightweight nature extends to its hardware, too, since it isn’t a particularly powerful computer. more buying […] More