TECHNOLOGY
Jeff Bezos says AI firms are wasting billions by building their own data centres
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has criticised the growing trend of AI companies building private data centres, arguing that the approach is inefficient and short-sighted. Speaking at a New York Times event, Bezos said the industry will eventually move back to centralised cloud infrastructure as energy, not chips, becomes the main constraint for AI growth.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple says developers have earned $550 billion from the App Store since 2008
Apple has disclosed that developers have earned a total of $550 billion through the App Store since its launch in 2008. The update comes as Apple reports strong growth across its services business in 2025, including higher App Store usage, increased Apple Pay volumes, and rising engagement on Apple TV and Apple Music.
TECHNOLOGY
iOS 26 upgrades Messages with long-overdue group chat tools and more
Apple has introduced five new group-focused features in the Messages app with iOS 26. The update improves everyday group conversations with typing indicators, polls, Apple Cash support, shared backgrounds and easier contact management.
TECHNOLOGY
Why Amazon bought Bee and what it reveals about the future of AI assistants
Amazon’s acquisition of Bee highlights a shift in how the company views AI assistants. Rather than focusing only on smart speakers and screens inside the home, Amazon is positioning itself for a world where AI follows users throughout the day via wearable devices.
TECHNOLOGY
How to hide your location with a VPN and access geo-blocked content from anywhere
A VPN allows you to mask your real location and appear online as if you are browsing from another country. By changing your IP address, you can bypass regional restrictions, improve privacy, and access content that may otherwise be unavailable where you live.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple Health app may get its biggest update yet with redesign, food tracking and videos in iOS 26.4
Apple is reportedly preparing a major update to the Health app with iOS 26.4, including a redesigned interface, expanded food tracking tools and a new video-based health service. The changes are said to be nearing completion and could roll out later this year.
TECHNOLOGY
Google tests personalised ads inside Search AI Mode with new ‘Direct Offers’ pilot
Google has begun testing a new advertising format inside Search AI Mode that surfaces personalised discounts during Gemini-powered conversations. Called Direct Offers, the feature is designed to appear only when users are close to making a purchase, marking a shift in how ads work in an AI-first search experience.
TECHNOLOGY
Face ID on iPhone is slow or not working? This hidden iOS setting can improve accuracy
If Face ID on your iPhone feels unreliable, Apple includes a little-known iOS setting designed to improve recognition when your appearance or usage habits change. Called Alternate Appearance, the feature allows Face ID to adapt to different looks, angles and conditions, often fixing everyday authentication issues.
TECHNOLOGY
Bill Gates says artificial intelligence will reshape society more than any human invention
Bill Gates has described artificial intelligence as the most transformative technology humans have ever created, warning that while its benefits could be enormous, the risks are equally serious if societies fail to govern its use responsibly.
TECHNOLOGY
Mark Zuckerberg announces Meta Compute to scale AI infrastructure and power capacity
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced a new AI infrastructure initiative called Meta Compute, outlining plans to significantly expand the company’s computing and energy capacity as it builds out long-term support for generative AI models and products.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple says 2025 was a record year for services as App Store, TV and Music hit new highs
Apple has outlined a series of usage and engagement milestones across its services business in 2025, calling it a record-breaking year for platforms including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Pay and Apple Podcasts.
TECHNOLOGY
OpenAI acquires health records startup Torch in deal reportedly worth $100 million
OpenAI has acquired Torch, a small health technology startup focused on aggregating medical records for AI use. While OpenAI did not disclose financial details, a report claims the deal was valued at around $100 million in equity, with Torch’s four-person team joining the company.
TECHNOLOGY
Gemini users generate 1 billion images with Nano Banana Pro in under two months
Google says Gemini app users have created 1 billion images in less than two months using Nano Banana Pro, its advanced image generation and editing model. The milestone highlights rapid adoption of Gemini’s creative tools across free and paid tiers.
TECHNOLOGY
iPhone 17e to iPhone Fold: Smartphones that Apple could launch in 2026
Apple is preparing to launch four new iPhone models across 2026, starting with the iPhone 17e in the coming weeks and ending with a foldable iPhone later this year. Notably, the regular iPhone 18 may be delayed until 2027.
TECHNOLOGY
China’s humanoid robot surge turns Elon Musk’s warning into reality at CES
Elon Musk’s concern that China could overtake the US in humanoid robotics played out visibly at CES in Las Vegas, where Chinese-made robots dominated the show floor. From lower prices to faster scaling, Chinese firms are positioning themselves as global leaders in a rapidly growing sector.
TECHNOLOGY
AI startup Hark revealed as secret firm that hired Apple’s iPhone Air designer
A low-profile AI startup called Hark has been revealed as the company that recently hired away Apple’s iPhone Air designer. Backed by $100 million in personal funding from Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock, the new lab has already attracted dozens of engineers from major tech companies.
TECHNOLOGY
Pixel Launcher quietly brings back one-key app launch for faster searches
Google has rolled out a long-missing Pixel Launcher shortcut that lets users open apps instantly from the search bar using the keyboard. The feature is now widely available on recent Android 16 builds and restores a faster, one-handed workflow that many Pixel users have missed.
TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft turns Copilot into a full shopping and selling platform with new AI tools
Microsoft has unveiled a new set of AI-powered commerce tools for Copilot that allow users to shop, compare products, and complete purchases directly inside the chatbot. At the same time, new AI agents for sellers aim to automate retail operations, catalogue management, and in-store decision-making.
TECHNOLOGY
Oracle’s Larry Ellison says big tech AI models all suffer from the same fundamental flaw
Oracle founder Larry Ellison argues that today’s leading AI models from Google, OpenAI and Meta are becoming commoditised because they rely on the same public internet data. He believes the next major AI breakthrough will come from securely reasoning over private enterprise data, a shift Oracle is betting billions on.
TECHNOLOGY
iOS 27 may introduce nine fresh emojis as Apple follows Unicode’s next update
Apple is expected to add a new batch of emojis with iOS 27, based on draft proposals published by the Unicode Consortium. The list includes nine new emoji concepts and additional skin tone options, though their arrival is likely tied to Apple’s usual mid-cycle software update timeline.
TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft reshapes GitHub teams as AI coding startups force a strategic rethink
Microsoft is reportedly reorganising GitHub teams to prioritise AI agents and automated development tools, as competition from new AI coding startups intensifies. The shift reflects a broader effort to turn GitHub into a central hub for AI-powered software development rather than just a code repository.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple may have begun CEO succession planning as Tim Cook signals desire to slow down
Apple has reportedly stepped up its internal search for a new chief executive after Tim Cook privately indicated he wants to reduce his workload. Hardware chief John Ternus has emerged as the leading contender, though questions remain about what kind of leadership Apple needs next.
TECHNOLOGY
CES 2026 wraps up with AI everywhere, robots on the move, and hardware that still steals the show
CES 2026 delivered a familiar mix of big-ticket announcements, experimental hardware and ambitious AI promises. From Nvidia’s new computing architecture and autonomous vehicle models to AMD’s latest chips and Razer’s eccentric AI concepts, this year’s show highlighted how artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from software into the physical world.
TECHNOLOGY
Gmail’s new in-line AI tools quietly replace Gemini side panel for some users
Google has begun removing the Gemini side panel from Gmail for certain AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US, replacing it with new in-line AI experiences that surface assistance directly inside emails and search.
