1. The latest Chrome 69 update logs users into the browser automatically. In past versions of the Chrome browser, signing in was a voluntary step, which would sync bookmarks, passwords and browsing history between devices. Now, in the latest Chrome update, users are being automatically signed into the browser, showing the sign-in status in the top right corner of the browser. Google Chrome engineer and manager Adrienne Porter Felt explained the changes on Twitter, saying logging a user into Chrome automatically does not mean their data is automatically shared with Google, as Chrome Sync needs to be enabled separately. However, some privacy advocates are concerned about the changes, saying they were made to “nudge” users into sharing more personal data. — THE VERGE

2. Google is adding new features to its search engine. Now, Google “Discover,” previously known as Feed, will appear under the search bar on Google’s homepage on all mobile browsers. Previously, Google Feed was found below the search bar on the Google app and when users swiped left from the home screen on Android. Discover will show a news feed of relevant content to the specific user. In addition, the search engine will make it easy for users to save collections of search queries, Google Images is introducing a new interface and a new “activity” card will show users’ results from their own search history and previously visited sites. — THE VERGE

3. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has warned company staff to “stay nonpartisan.” In a memo sent to staff, Pichai reminded Google employees that the company has strict policies against allowing products to be influenced by political views. This comes after a series of emails were leaked, showing some Google employees were considering using the platform to counteract President Trump and his policies. “We do not bias our products to favor any political agenda,” he wrote. “The trust our users place in us is our greatest asset and we must always protect it. If any Googler ever undermines that trust, we will hold them accountable.” Pichai assured employees that the company does not bias its search results or platforms with any political viewpoint and mentioned “Google itself is and must continue to be non-partisan.” — WSJ

1. Google employees discussed promoting pro-immigration search results. In a series of emails obtained by The Wall Street Journal, employees at the search engine proposed ways to counter what they considered to be “islamophobic” algorithmically-biased results from search terms including “Islam,” “Muslim,” “Iran” and others. The employees also looked for ways to counter “prejudiced” results from terms, including “Mexico,” “Hispanic,” “Latino” and others. The emails considered ways the company could use its influence in response to the Trump Administration’s controversial travel ban implemented in 2017. However, the company said none of the ideas discussed were implemented. The company says it has never manipulated its search results to promote a particular political ideology. — WSJ

2. Google leadership forced employees to delete a confidential memo revealing details about the company’s planned Chinese search engine. The memo, written by a Google engineer asked to work on the project, said that the platform would require users to log in to perform searches, track their location and share the search and location history with a Chinese company that would have “unilateral access” to the data. The memo was shared among a group of Google employees opposed to the search engine’s development. According to people close to the situation, Google leadership discovered the memo and were furious that secret details were passed around employees who were not supposed to have knowledge about the features. Google’s HR team ordered employees to immediately delete it from their computers. Last week, it was reported that the search engine would tie search histories to personal phone numbers. — THE INTERCEPT

3. Alphabet’s venture arm has backed a $185 million round of funding into trucking startup Convoy. The Seattle-based startup, which has been backed by Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff and Bill Gates, closed a Series C round, led by CapitalG, Alphabet growth equity fund. Other investors in the round include T Rowe Price and Lone Pine Capital, with additional capital from existing investors Greylock Partners and Y Combinator. Convoy has raised more than $265 million and is creating a platform that matches shippers to truckers, allowing shippers to get better pricing and track deliveries. — YAHOO FINANCE

4. Generation Z students, aged 14 to 23, believe YouTube contributes more to their education than textbooks. Research conducted by Pearson Education found that YouTube is the preferred education method for Gen Z students, with 59 percent saying they preferred it, versus 55 percent of Millennials preferring YouTube instruction. 60 percent of Millennials said they preferred to learn from textbooks, while 47 percent of Gen Z students said they preferred textbook instruction. Since its launch, YouTube has become a critical tool for education. — AXIOS

5. The creator of a popular YouTube channel has been arrested for molesting a minor. Ian Rylett, the operator of YouTube network SevenAwesomeKids, was arrested in Florida last month for “lewd and lascivious molestation” with one of the young girls who makes videos for one of his channels. Rylett, who is a 55 year old resident of the UK, demanded the girl, who is under the age of 16, undress in front of him against her will and told her to “practice wrapping her breasts down, to make them appear smaller for the video shoot.” However, the channel remains live, although YouTube learned of the arrest in mid-August. — BUZZFEED NEWS

6. Roku streaming devices and TVs will now work with Google Assistant devices. Roku users can control devices using “Ok, Google” voice commands using Assistant devices. — CNET

7. New details have emerged after JD.com CEO Richard Liu’s rape allegation. Google invested $550 million into JD.com earlier this year. — QZ

8. The White Housed distanced itself from reports that President Trump could sign an executive order targeting Google. The order would have allowed the government to refer instances of “bias” to the Justice Department for review, but White House aides found it to be generally “unworkable” policy. — WASHINGTON POST

9. Google-owned Waze is now available for Apple CarPlay. The app is now available as a part of an iOS 12 update. — ENGADGET

10. Redditors discuss why Hangouts can’t have an adaptive icon. On Android, the app shows up as a circle, which does not match the design scheme of the rest of the phone’s layout. — REDDIT

4. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt believes the internet will split into two, one led by China and other led by the U.S. Speaking at a private event in San Francisco, hosted by Village Global VC, Schmidt said, “I think the most likely scenario now is not a splintering, but rather a bifurcation into a Chinese-led internet and a non-Chinese internet led by America.” Schmidt lauded that China is developing “fantastic” products and services, but there is a real danger that different leadership regimes will have different censorship and controls on the internet. He says that some countries a part of China’s Belt and Road initiative might take on the infrastructure built by China. — CNBC

5. Animations within the Google app show a possible wireless charging stand for the Google Pixel. A brief animation, first discovered by 9to5Google, shows a phone on a dock going through a slideshow of photos, with a lightning bolt at the bottom, likely indicating charging. — 9TO5GOOGLE

6. Google Maps will now give users parking suggestions. Now, the app will issue prompts mid-trip offering suggestions on where to stop on a route for recommended parking locations. — NY POST

7. Google and CloudFlare are working to sync the internet’s clocks. CloudFlare will now support a timekeeping protocol created by Google as an open standard, called Roughtime, which will allow for more rigorous authentication checks and fewer errors. — WIRED

8. CNET has an in-depth look at Android’s “stumbling start.” Roger Cheng looks at the roll-out of the company’s first device, the HTC Android G1, which was exclusive to T-Mobile. — CNET

9. Google Pay is working on QR, peer-to-peer payments. This discovery was made by Jane Manchun Wong, who has a history of uncovering yet-to-launch features within apps. — TWITTER

10. Today’s “Google Doodle” is paying tribute to Mister Rogers. The Doodle links to an animated video tribute to the late Fred Rogers. 

1. Google says it no longer scans Gmail for advertising purposes, while also defending data-sharing for third-parties. In a letter to a group of U.S. Senators, Google says it no longer scans Gmail accounts to target advertising at users, a practice which was questioned by privacy advocates. The company said it would end this practice at the end of 2017. The company’s email service allows developers to create add-on applications to gain access to user emails and share that data with other parties as “long as they are transparent” with users about how they are using data and get consent. For instance, developers create productivity tools that can read user emails as long as users give consent. Google defended the practice saying its upfront review process typically finds the “majority” of bad actors, while also using automated scans and security reports to monitor those with access to Gmail data. — REUTERS

2. Google’s Nest unit wanted to hide its acquisition of a digital health startup. Last year, it was reported that Google acquired a digital health startup, Senosis. The startup focuses on using smartphones as monitoring devices to collect metrics on pulmonary function, hemoglobin counts and other health information. However, Nest told those involved in the deal that they couldn't mention Nest or publicize the sale. "They seem to be particularly sensitive in this situation since they don't want people to know they are getting into a whole new line of business, digital health, until they are ready to publicly announce,” Senosis co-founder Shwetak Patel wrote to the vice president of University of Washington's innovation hub in 2017. GeekWire was able to obtain internal emails on the deal through public records requests made while Senosis was still operating within the University of Washington, a public university. — GEEKWIRE

3. Google has launched new AI initiatives specifically focused for the Japanese market. Google is launching an Advanced Solutions Lab in Tokyo, which offer machine learning-centric training courses, collaborative workspaces and a machine learning training program. In addition, Google will be translating training and course work in Japanese, including its Machine Learning with TensorFlow on Google Cloud Platform Coursera specialization, its Associate Cloud Engineer certification and fifty Qwiklabs. Google will also be collaborating with Fast Retailing, the parent company of retailer Uniqlo, to adopt new AI-powered technology within its stores. — TECHCRUNCH

4. Bing will now support Google’s Amplified Mobile Pages throughout all of its mobile search. In 2016, Microsoft’s search engine supported the AMP initiatives, by displaying those pages within the Bing app. Now, AMP-supported websites will show up throughout all of Bing’s mobile search results. AMP web pages will display a small lightning bolt next to the website name and will also be featured in the news carousel of the Bing search results. This comes as Google adopts a new governance model, giving some control of the platform to outside parties. — THE VERGE

5. A JD.com listing showed the Pixel 3 available for pre-order. A listing shows the white and black colors of the devices, side-by-side at a price of $729. Google has typically not sold its Pixel devices in the Chinese market. — MASHABLE

6. Google is testing a Google Feed rebrand on Android. The company is exploring a overhaul of the feature to “Discover.” — 9TO5GOOGLE 

7. GV participated in GitLab’s Series D funding round. GitLab is a competitor to Microsoft’s GitHub. — VENTURE BEAT

8. A keyboard maker may have leaked Google’s rumored Chrome OS tablet. The images showing off a keyboard from Bluetooth keyboard manufacturer Brydge shows a tablet with dual front-facing speakers, a USB Type-C port and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. — THE VERGE 

9. The proposed Google Home Hub may have landed at the FCC for approval. The device carries a model number of H1A and FCC ID A4RH1A. — DROID LIFE

10. Redditors discuss how Google Fiber’s “failure” still resulted in positive change. Some report that their local broadband companies stepped up their speeds and service once Google had announced its intention to expand service. — REDDIT