Google Cracks Down on App Performance, Expands AI Travel Booking

Google has introduced new app quality requirements for Android developers to address industry-wide memory chip shortages. The move aims to mitigate the impact of AI data center boom on device performance by setting thresholds around dynamic memory and bitmap usage, along with code optimization standards to reduce slowdowns and crashes.

The company will provide developer tools flagging apps that exceed these thresholds and a forthcoming Memory Limiter feature offering deeper diagnostics later this year. Developers have until February 2027 to comply.

Additionally, Google has expanded its AI Mode search experience to allow users to track flight prices, book hotels, and view costs in points or miles through conversational requests. The tool now compares pricing across more than 300 airlines and travel sites and is available in over 180 countries.

In personnel news, Barret Zoph, co-founder of Thinking Machines Lab, has rejoined Google as vice president of research after a stint at OpenAI leading enterprise sales. His return adds to the broader pattern of executive turnover across the AI industry.