TECHNOLOGY
ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude struggle with suicide questions, reveals study
A RAND Corporation study published in Psychiatric Services has found ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude inconsistent in handling suicide-related questions. While the highest-risk prompts were generally refused, inconsistencies in less direct queries raise safety concerns.
TECHNOLOGY
German court rules Apple cannot label Watch as carbon neutral
Each aluminium Apple Watch Series 9 and Series 10, which were marketed as carbon neutral, produces just over eight kilograms of carbon emissions. Apple offsets these emissions through carbon credit purchases.
TECHNOLOGY
Why AI researcher Rishabh Agarwal quit Meta’s Superintelligence Lab after getting $1 million salary package
Rishabh Agarwal has quit Meta’s Superintelligence Lab just five months after joining, despite being hired on a million-dollar salary. He said he is taking on a new kind of risk, citing Mark Zuckerberg’s own words on risk-taking. His departure follows other high-profile exits from the team.
TECHNOLOGY
Analyst predicts ‘tempered’ response for iPhone 17 Air, here's why
Apple confirmed the September 9 event, titled “Awe Dropping.” The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
TECHNOLOGY
Google’s Quick Share may soon let Android users send files to iPhones
Quick Share, initially launched as Nearby Share in 2020, enables fast, wireless transfers over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth without an internet connection.
TECHNOLOGY
YouTube launches ‘Hype’ feature globally to support smaller creators
Viewers can hype up to three videos per week for a creator of their choice. Each hype earns points that contribute to a ranked leaderboard, accessible in the Explore menu.
TECHNOLOGY
Anthropic launches Claude AI agent for Chrome: What it means for users
The extension allows users to interact with Claude in a sidecar window that keeps track of everything happening in their browser. I
TECHNOLOGY
Spotify rolls out messaging to boost social interaction within the app
Until now, Spotify users have shared links to music and podcasts mainly via other platforms. The new feature encourages interaction within the app.
TECHNOLOGY
Twitch viewership drops sharply after crackdown on viewbotting
Twitch’s latest update has revealed widespread viewbotting, leading to a 5–22% drop in viewership across the platform. Industry figures point to both major creators and agencies as key offenders, contradicting Twitch’s claims that the issue was limited to smaller streamers.
TECHNOLOGY
Netflix adopts generative AI in shows with strict guidelines for creators
Netflix has confirmed the use of generative AI in shows and released guidelines for creators. The rules stress responsible use, copyright safety, secure environments, and the need for approval in sensitive areas, with a strong focus on maintaining audience trust.
TECHNOLOGY
Windows 11’s hidden 'God Mode' gives instant access to advanced settings
Windows 11 includes a hidden God Mode feature that provides direct access to hundreds of system tools and settings. Enabling it takes only a few steps and can save time by eliminating the need to search through multiple menus.
TECHNOLOGY
Perplexity’s Comet AI browser exposed users to serious security risks before fix
Researchers at Brave found a major flaw in Perplexity’s Comet AI browser that could have exposed emails, passwords, and banking data through indirect prompt injection. The issue was later fixed after disclosure, but highlighted serious risks in AI-first browsers.
TECHNOLOGY
Coinbase CEO fires engineers over refusal to adopt AI tools, sets strict mandate
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has mandated AI adoption within the company, firing engineers who refused to comply. The exchange now reports that one-third of its code is written by AI, with targets set to increase further, though human oversight remains crucial.
TECHNOLOGY
Android VPN apps found insecure and secretly linked to a single Chinese company
Popular Android VPN apps are insecure and secretly controlled by Qihoo 360, a Chinese security company. Shared coding flaws, hard-coded passwords and location tracking put users’ privacy at serious risk.
TECHNOLOGY
Google calls green vs blue text bubble debate ‘silly and tired’
Google says the green vs blue text bubble debate is over, calling it “silly and tired” after Apple adopted RCS in iOS 18. The company says it wants technology to unite users, regardless of phone brand.
TECHNOLOGY
Otter AI faces lawsuit over alleged secret recording of Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams calls
A US class-action lawsuit claims Otter.ai secretly records Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams meetings without consent to train its AI transcription tools. The lawsuit raises questions about user privacy and data protection.
TECHNOLOGY
Elon Musk's xAI accidentally exposed hundreds of thousands of Grok chats to Google search
Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot accidentally exposed hundreds of thousands of user conversations online through its share function, making them searchable on Google and raising privacy and safety concerns.
TECHNOLOGY
Harvard dropouts to launch AI smart glasses that record every conversation
Halo, a startup founded by two Harvard dropouts, is launching AI smart glasses that record and transcribe all conversations, delivering real-time prompts to users. Privacy advocates warn the device normalises covert recording, potentially eroding public expectations of privacy.
TECHNOLOGY
iOS 26 improves Apple’s autofill feature with support for third-party apps
iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe expand Apple’s autofill feature to third-party messaging, email and browser apps. Users will soon be able to pull verification codes from Gmail, Chrome, Firefox and more, making two-factor authentication faster and easier.
TECHNOLOGY
Google Photos now lets you edit images by simply asking
Google Photos now supports AI-powered “edit by asking,” allowing users to describe photo edits by text or voice. The app also adds C2PA Content Credentials on Pixel 10 to verify image authenticity.
TECHNOLOGY
Sony PlayStation 5 prices hiked in the US due to Trump’s new tariffs
Sony is increasing US prices of the PlayStation 5 from August 21, with the PS5 Pro set at $749.99, citing tariffs on Japanese imports. Accessories remain unaffected, while other regions will not see changes for now.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple may launch new ‘TechWoven’ cases with iPhone 17 after FineWoven failure
Apple is expected to introduce new TechWoven cases with the iPhone 17 series after discontinuing FineWoven due to durability complaints. The cases could feature MagSafe, a non-slip finish and multiple colour options across all iPhone 17 models.
TECHNOLOGY
Nvidia reportedly developing new AI chip for China amid export restrictions
Nvidia is said to be developing a new AI chip, codenamed B30A, for the Chinese market. Positioned between the flagship B300 and the restricted H20, the chip is designed to comply with US export rules while offering more power than existing China-bound GPUs.
TECHNOLOGY
Google outlines Play Store changes to avoid EU fines
Google is planning changes to its Play Store in Europe to comply with EU rules and avoid fines.
