Google Launches AI Personalization Tools for Discover and News

Google announced a series of personalization updates on August 20, 2026, designed to give users more direct control over content across Search, Discover, and Google News. The centerpiece is a new AI-powered chat interface for the Google Discover feed, accessible via a three-dot menu. This tool allows users to use natural language to describe topics or specific links they wish to prioritize or skip, with the AI capable of asking follow-up questions to refine these preferences for future visits.

To further influence content delivery, the company introduced a Preferred Sources button that publishers can embed directly on their websites. When users activate this button, Google prioritizes that publication's coverage within Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode. Google reported that users have already selected nearly 600,000 unique sources using this feature.

Additionally, the Google News app on Android now includes customizable daily audio briefings. This update allows users to select specific news categories and topics to tailor their morning audio summaries.