I’m C. Scott Brown with Android Authority, and here’s a quick roundup of three stories you need to know this week: YouTube’s new AI age-estimation system and the problems it’s already causing, fresh Pixel 10 SIM-slot leaks that muddy what we’ll get in the US, and a bizarre offer from Perplexity to buy Google Chrome. I break down what happened, why it matters, and what you can do if you’re affected.
YouTube’s AI age-estimation: what it is and why it’s rolling out
Google has started rolling out an AI-powered age verification system on YouTube. The idea is simple enough: the algorithm examines signals from your account — including the kinds of videos you watch — and decides whether it thinks you are over or under 18. If it thinks you’re under 18, your account is automatically moved to a teen account with several restrictions.
Why is Google doing this now? Pressure from regulations. The UK passed the Online Safety Act in 2023, giving regulators sweeping power to force age-verification on platforms. In the US, a Texas law with similar aims made it to the Supreme Court; the Court ultimately sided with the bill’s intentions. The end result: major platforms are scrambling to implement age checks without driving away users with clunky verification flows.
How the AI system works (and why that’s a problem)
Google built an AI system to avoid forcing billions of users to manually submit IDs. According to Google, the AI uses a variety of signals to decide whether an account belongs to someone over or under 18. That sounds reasonable in principle, but in practice it’s already producing false positives.
There are plenty of channels and topics that adults enjoy which are also popular with kids — think Pokémon, cartoons, or toy unboxings. If someone’s watch history strongly leans into those areas, the AI can incorrectly flag them as a minor.
“To no one’s surprise, this AI system has already led to false positives with people who are real adults being categorized as teens.”
If you’re falsely flagged: your options
There are essentially two routes if the AI misclassifies you:
- Prove you’re 18+: Go through Google’s verification flow by uploading a selfie (to be analyzed) or submitting an official ID. Yes, that means handing Google sensitive data many people would rather not give.
- Accept the teen restrictions: Stay on the restricted teen account. That includes not being able to watch certain videos, getting reminders to take breaks or not watch at bedtime, and seeing fewer recommendations of certain content.
Neither option is great: one forces privacy trade-offs, the other limits the YouTube experience. This rollout is a perfect example of how legal and political decisions (in this case, driven by court rulings and legislation) cascade into the product choices you see daily.
Pixel 10 SIM card saga: dummy units and mixed signals
The Pixel 10 launch is just around the corner, and leaks have mostly painted a clear picture — except when they don’t. A recent leak of what appears to be a Pixel 10 dummy unit introduced new ambiguity about whether Google will ship physical SIM trays.
The unit looks like a dummy because the USB-C port shows no pins, but the interesting detail is a visible SIM tray at the top. Historically, Pixel phones have had different tray placements, so the presence of a tray on the dummy gives hope that not all Pixel 10 variants will be eSIM-only.
Based on this leak and previous rumors, a likely scenario is:
- Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL: physical SIM trays in most countries, but possibly eSIM-only in the United States (mirroring Apple’s approach since the iPhone 14).
- Pixel 10 Pro Fold: more likely to include a physical SIM slot globally.
Apple’s move to eSIM-only in some markets hasn’t stopped US buyers from buying iPhones in droves, and it looks like Google might be testing the same playbook. We’ll get definitive answers when Google unveils the Pixel 10 series on August 20.
Perplexity offers to buy Chrome — and why that’s bonkers (but not entirely meaningless)
Earlier this week, Perplexity — an AI-powered search startup — announced an intention to buy Google Chrome for $34.5 billion. The claim raised eyebrows for obvious reasons:
- Chrome isn’t for sale, so the premise is odd from the start.
- Perplexity’s market value is reportedly less than half of the offered amount.
- Perplexity claimed it had secret backers willing to front the cash, which reads more like a stunt than a serious M&A play.
Perplexity has pulled headlines with bold moves before — for example, proposing a merger with TikTok’s US arm earlier this year. So while the Chrome buyout offer is almost certainly preposterous, there’s a grain of seriousness to the underlying idea: regulators are increasingly eyeing whether Google can keep assets like Chrome and Android together.
Antitrust pressure and recent legal defeats — notably against Epic Games over Play Store rules — mean Google faces constraints. The Epic ruling forces Google to allow alternative payment systems, third-party app stores listed on the Play Store, and changes that weaken the company’s tight control over Android’s ecosystem.
So, while Perplexity buying Chrome is extremely unlikely, the possibility that Chrome (or other Google assets) could be broken up or sold isn’t purely fictional — it would just be a long, complex process that would take years if it ever happens.
Final thoughts
Three headlines, three different kinds of friction: regulatory pressure reshaping how big platforms verify users’ ages, product decisions (like eSIM moves) mirroring competitors and market trends, and oddball corporate theater signaling anxiety about big tech’s future. If you’re impacted by YouTube’s new age checks, weigh the privacy trade-offs before uploading IDs or selfies. If you’re watching Pixel leaks, expect clarity on August 20. And if you see another headline about a startup buying a browser, file it under “wild cards” but keep an eye on the broader regulatory story.
Want to dive deeper into any of these topics? Check out Android Authority’s coverage and our rumor roundups for more details.
