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Mira Murati’s startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is losing two of its co-founders to OpenAI | TechCrunch

Mira Murati’s startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is losing two of its co-founders to OpenAI | TechCrunch

Former OpenAI exec Mira Murati’s startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is saying goodbye to two of its co-founders, both of whom are headed back to OpenAI. Another former OpenAI staffer who went to work for Murati’s startup is also headed back to the company.

On social media on Wednesday, Murati announced the departure of Barret Zoph, the company’s co-founder and CTO. “We have parted ways with Barret,” Murati said in a post on X. “Soumith Chintala will be the new CTO of Thinking Machines. He is a brilliant and seasoned leader who has made important contributions to the AI field for over a decade, and he’s been a major contributor to our team. We could not be more excited to have him take on this new responsibility.”

Murati’s announcement made no mention of co-founder Luke Metz or other departures.

Just 58 minutes after Murati’s announcement of Zoph’s departure, Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of applications, announced that Zoph would be headed back to OpenAI. “Excited to welcome Barret Zoph, Luke Metz, and Sam Schoenholz back to OpenAI! This has been in the works for several weeks, and we’re thrilled to have them join the team,” Simo wrote on X.

Metz, who is a co-founder of Thinking Machines, previously worked for OpenAI for a number of years on the company’s technical staff. So did Schoenholz, whose LinkedIn profile still lists him as working for Thinking Machines.

Zoph previously worked for OpenAI as VP of research, and before that, worked for six years at Google as a research scientist. Murati, who served as the CTO of OpenAI until September 2024, left the company and co-founded Thinking Machines with Zoph and Metz. The startup, where Murati serves as CEO, has amassed significant financial support since then, closing a $2 billion seed round last July, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, which led the round, as well as Accel, Nvidia, AMD, and Jane Street, among others. The round valued the company at $12 billion.

TechCrunch has reached out to both Thinking Machines and OpenAI for comment.

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While talent moves between AI giants are common in Silicon Valley, the departure of co-founders from a startup less than a year after its founding is particularly notable. The loss of two co-founders simultaneously — especially when one served as CTO — could be perceived as a particularly meaningful setback for Thinking Machines, which had assembled a high-profile team of former OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral AI researchers.

The company has also lost other key personnel, including co-founder Andrew Tulloch, who left to join Meta in October. OpenAI itself has seen numerous co-founders depart to launch or join competing ventures, including John Schulman, who left for Anthropic in August 2024 before joining Thinking Machines Lab as Chief Scientist as its launch in February of last year.

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#Mira #Muratis #startup #Thinking #Machines #Lab #losing #cofounders #OpenAI #TechCrunch

is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3.

Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.”

This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

“Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate.

‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)
                Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3. “Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.” This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

 “Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

 So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate. © TheaterEars Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology. Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

 Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5
© TheaterEars

Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology.

Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5">‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)
                Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3. “Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.” This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

 “Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

 So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate. © TheaterEars Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology. Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

 Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5

you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3.

Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.”

This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

“Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate.

‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)
                Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3. “Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.” This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

 “Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

 So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate. © TheaterEars Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology. Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

 Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5
© TheaterEars

Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology.

Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5">‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)

Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3.

Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.”

This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

“Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate.

‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)
                Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3. “Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.” This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

 “Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

 So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate. © TheaterEars Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology. Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

 Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5
© TheaterEars

Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology.

Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5
When you’re jumping between the many different apps Google offers—Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest—you may not be giving much thought to the Google account that underpins them all or to the myriad settings you can access that help to define your experience across all these apps.

If you’ve never opened up your Google account page on the web or on your phone, there are a host of options to browse through there. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you ever get locked out of your account.

Here we’re going to focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: the ones that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but which are still an important part of how your account and your Google apps operate. It’s worth spending a few minutes to review these and to make sure they’re set up in the way you’d like.

Also pause to consider how much personal information you want to share with Google, or how much of your information you’re making visible on the web. Let your own level of comfort guide your decisions on how you tweak these settings.

The starting point for all these settings is your Google account page on the web.

Set Your Home and Work Addresses

Google will use the information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is most useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with a single tap rather than typing in the address each time. (You should see Home and Work shortcuts appear whenever you search for a destination.)

There are benefits for getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results too. The usual Google privacy policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you might start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.

To set these addresses from your Google account page, click Personal info and then either Home address or Work address. You can either type out the address manually, or select a location on a map.

Edit Your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Courtesy of David Nield

You may not think about your Google account in the same way as a Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google does share bits of information about you with other people. If you send someone an email through Gmail, they can click on your profile photo and see whatever’s public on your Google account page. Similarly, if you leave a review on Google Maps, the viewers of that review can tap on your name or picture and see any public information on your Google account page.

#LesserKnown #Google #Account #Settings #Changegoogle,how-to,tips,privacy,gmail,google maps">7 Lesser-Known Google Account Settings You Should ChangeWhen you’re jumping between the many different apps Google offers—Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest—you may not be giving much thought to the Google account that underpins them all or to the myriad settings you can access that help to define your experience across all these apps.If you’ve never opened up your Google account page on the web or on your phone, there are a host of options to browse through there. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you ever get locked out of your account.Here we’re going to focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: the ones that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but which are still an important part of how your account and your Google apps operate. It’s worth spending a few minutes to review these and to make sure they’re set up in the way you’d like.Also pause to consider how much personal information you want to share with Google, or how much of your information you’re making visible on the web. Let your own level of comfort guide your decisions on how you tweak these settings.The starting point for all these settings is your Google account page on the web.Set Your Home and Work AddressesGoogle will use the information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is most useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with a single tap rather than typing in the address each time. (You should see Home and Work shortcuts appear whenever you search for a destination.)There are benefits for getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results too. The usual Google privacy policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you might start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.To set these addresses from your Google account page, click Personal info and then either Home address or Work address. You can either type out the address manually, or select a location on a map.Edit Your Google Profile InformationSettings for your Google Profile Information
Courtesy of David NieldYou may not think about your Google account in the same way as a Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google does share bits of information about you with other people. If you send someone an email through Gmail, they can click on your profile photo and see whatever’s public on your Google account page. Similarly, if you leave a review on Google Maps, the viewers of that review can tap on your name or picture and see any public information on your Google account page.#LesserKnown #Google #Account #Settings #Changegoogle,how-to,tips,privacy,gmail,google maps

Google offers—Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest—you may not be giving much thought to the Google account that underpins them all or to the myriad settings you can access that help to define your experience across all these apps.

If you’ve never opened up your Google account page on the web or on your phone, there are a host of options to browse through there. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you ever get locked out of your account.

Here we’re going to focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: the ones that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but which are still an important part of how your account and your Google apps operate. It’s worth spending a few minutes to review these and to make sure they’re set up in the way you’d like.

Also pause to consider how much personal information you want to share with Google, or how much of your information you’re making visible on the web. Let your own level of comfort guide your decisions on how you tweak these settings.

The starting point for all these settings is your Google account page on the web.

Set Your Home and Work Addresses

Google will use the information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is most useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with a single tap rather than typing in the address each time. (You should see Home and Work shortcuts appear whenever you search for a destination.)

There are benefits for getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results too. The usual Google privacy policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you might start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.

To set these addresses from your Google account page, click Personal info and then either Home address or Work address. You can either type out the address manually, or select a location on a map.

Edit Your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Courtesy of David Nield

You may not think about your Google account in the same way as a Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google does share bits of information about you with other people. If you send someone an email through Gmail, they can click on your profile photo and see whatever’s public on your Google account page. Similarly, if you leave a review on Google Maps, the viewers of that review can tap on your name or picture and see any public information on your Google account page.

#LesserKnown #Google #Account #Settings #Changegoogle,how-to,tips,privacy,gmail,google maps">7 Lesser-Known Google Account Settings You Should Change

When you’re jumping between the many different apps Google offers—Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest—you may not be giving much thought to the Google account that underpins them all or to the myriad settings you can access that help to define your experience across all these apps.

If you’ve never opened up your Google account page on the web or on your phone, there are a host of options to browse through there. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you ever get locked out of your account.

Here we’re going to focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: the ones that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but which are still an important part of how your account and your Google apps operate. It’s worth spending a few minutes to review these and to make sure they’re set up in the way you’d like.

Also pause to consider how much personal information you want to share with Google, or how much of your information you’re making visible on the web. Let your own level of comfort guide your decisions on how you tweak these settings.

The starting point for all these settings is your Google account page on the web.

Set Your Home and Work Addresses

Google will use the information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is most useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with a single tap rather than typing in the address each time. (You should see Home and Work shortcuts appear whenever you search for a destination.)

There are benefits for getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results too. The usual Google privacy policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you might start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.

To set these addresses from your Google account page, click Personal info and then either Home address or Work address. You can either type out the address manually, or select a location on a map.

Edit Your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Courtesy of David Nield

You may not think about your Google account in the same way as a Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google does share bits of information about you with other people. If you send someone an email through Gmail, they can click on your profile photo and see whatever’s public on your Google account page. Similarly, if you leave a review on Google Maps, the viewers of that review can tap on your name or picture and see any public information on your Google account page.

#LesserKnown #Google #Account #Settings #Changegoogle,how-to,tips,privacy,gmail,google maps

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