TECHNOLOGY
Apple Maps may be tracking your visits – here’s how to disable it
iOS 26’s Apple Maps feature, Visited Places, tracks locations you visit by default. Users can turn off the feature in Settings and clear their history to maintain privacy.
TECHNOLOGY
Jon Prosser misses response deadline as Apple lawsuit moves forward without him
Jon Prosser has missed the deadline to respond to Apple’s lawsuit over iOS trade secret leaks. The court has allowed the case to proceed without his participation, while co-defendant Michael Ramacciotti continues to respond. Prosser may still petition to reverse the default, but a final judgment in Apple’s favour could be imminent.
TECHNOLOGY
WhatsApp updates Business API to ban general-purpose chatbots
WhatsApp will ban general-purpose AI chatbots on its Business API starting 15 January 2026. The move affects AI assistants from companies including OpenAI and Perplexity, while businesses using AI for customer support will remain unaffected. Meta cited API design, increased message volume, and monetisation concerns as reasons behind the policy change.
TECHNOLOGY
5 smarter ChatGPT prompts to use instead of ‘Summarise this’
On 20 October, Tripathi shared a set of refined prompts that go beyond surface-level summaries, encouraging users to think like consultants, analysts, or strategists when using ChatGPT. These prompts, he says, help users extract not just what a text says, but what it means and how to apply it.
TECHNOLOGY
Claude Code arrives on iOS and web as a research preview
Anthropic has expanded Claude Code to iOS and the web as a research preview for Pro and Max subscribers. The tool enables developers to run coding tasks in isolated sessions, track progress in real time, and manage multiple repositories from a single interface, with mobile access now also available for on-the-go workflow management.
TECHNOLOGY
OpenAI tightens Sora safeguards after celebrity deepfake backlash
OpenAI has restricted Sora users from generating celebrity likenesses or voices, following deepfake concerns raised by Bryan Cranston and others.
TECHNOLOGY
Meta AI app usage surges after launch of this AI tool
Meta AI’s app has seen a surge in both downloads and active users after launching its new ‘Vibes’ AI video feed, which offers short-form AI-generated content. The feature rollout, combined with curiosity around OpenAI’s Sora, appears to have fuelled this growth.
TECHNOLOGY
Top OpenAI and Google brain researchers spark $300 million rush for new startup Periodic Labs
A surreal cityscape of Delhi blending realism and abstraction — the India Gate rendered in photographic realism, surrounded by Husain-style horses running through the sky, their bodies painted in blue and crimson. The streets shimmer in acrylic textures, capturing smog, light, and movement. Hints of modern architecture and a woman walking barefoot in a red sari give it a poetic touch.
TECHNOLOGY
"AI won’t replace humans…” Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says he’s hiring thousands of salespeople
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says “AI won’t replace humans” as the company hires thousands of new salespeople to strengthen its human-driven sales model.
TECHNOLOGY
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows may arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 as a Game-Key Card
Assassin’s Creed Shadows may be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 as a Game-Key Card, requiring an online download to play. The move follows earlier hints from Ubisoft and PEGI, and the game has already proven successful on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
TECHNOLOGY
Gemini Nano Banana: 5 prompts to use to transform your selfie into an AI-powered Diwali couple portrait
Gemini Nano Banana is enabling couples to create personalised AI-generated Diwali portraits, transforming selfies into festive artwork with photorealistic or artistic styles. With these five prompts, users can experiment with traditional, modern, fantasy, watercolour, and cinematic festive themes.
TECHNOLOGY
Instagram introduces PG-13 content controls for teens: 5 key things to know
Instagram’s new PG-13 content controls for teen accounts aim to reduce exposure to explicit material, provide parents with more control, and use AI to enforce age-appropriate interactions. The global rollout begins in 2025, with further expansions in 2026.
TECHNOLOGY
Amazon fires engineer over ‘threatening’ letter to CEO Andy Jassy
Amazon has fired software engineer Ahmed Shahrour after he criticised the company’s Project Nimbus contract on internal channels. The move has drawn accusations of retaliation, reflecting a broader pattern of tech companies disciplining employees involved in Israel-related protests.
TECHNOLOGY
Mozilla’s Firefox adds Perplexity AI as a new search option
Firefox now lets users switch their default search engine to the AI-powered Perplexity, offering direct answers with citations. The feature is globally available on desktop, with mobile support coming later, reflecting Mozilla’s push to integrate AI while maintaining user privacy.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple CEO Tim Cook receives custom Labubu during China visit
Tim Cook received a custom Labubu figure during his China visit, which coincides with the upcoming iPhone Air launch. The visit included meetings with Pop Mart and local creators, store visits, and a preview of Apple’s first eSIM-only iPhone in China.
TECHNOLOGY
Google’s Gemini AI can now schedule Google Calendar meetings directly from Gmail
Google has introduced a Gemini-powered scheduling tool that allows Gmail users to automatically find and propose meeting times using AI-driven context from emails and Google Calendar data. The feature marks a deeper integration of Gemini into Google Workspace, reinforcing Google’s push toward AI-first productivity tools.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple’s new language model can write long texts at lightning speed
Apple researchers, in collaboration with Ohio State University, have unveiled a breakthrough language model that can generate long-form text up to 128 times faster than existing systems.
TECHNOLOGY
Google brings new design to Pixel Camera, smart FPS control to older Pixels
Google is rolling out Pixel Camera 10.1 to older Pixel models via the Play Store. First seen on the Pixel 10 series, the update introduces a refreshed Material 3 Expressive design and a new Optimise FPS mode that dynamically switches frame rates during video recording for smoother, more efficient performance. The update also simplifies the camera’s settings layout.
TECHNOLOGY
Mobile phones under Rs 15,000: Oppo K13 5G, iQOO Z10x, Infinix Note 50s and more
The sub-Rs15,000 segment is crowded with budget-friendly smartphones offering features that were once reserved for higher-end devices. With new launches almost every week, selecting the right device can be confusing. To simplify things, we’ve compiled a list of five phones that deliver strong performance, display quality, and overall value.
TECHNOLOGY
Android Auto update breaks media and navigation ‘Quick Controls’ for some users
The latest Android Auto 15.2 update appears to have unintentionally broken the “Quick Controls” feature for certain users, affecting the ability to access media playback and navigation shortcuts from the taskbar.
TECHNOLOGY
Google Meet’s new AI feature applies makeup for you and could help cut your beauty costs
Google Meet’s new AI-powered makeup feature lets users apply virtual cosmetics — including foundation, blush, and lipstick — before joining a call. Designed for realism, it adapts to lighting and movement and offers 12 preset looks.
TECHNOLOGY
Dell CEO has words of praise for Donald Trump on his China trade approach: 5 things to know
Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell has publicly backed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on U.S.-China trade, even adopting Trump’s signature social media flair. Dell reshared a post where Trump struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone toward Chinese President Xi Jinping, signalling a shift in rhetoric amid escalating tensions over China’s rare earth export controls.
TECHNOLOGY
OpenAI could turn ChatGPT into a social app with built-in direct messaging feature
OpenAI may soon add direct messaging to ChatGPT, potentially turning it into a social-collaborative platform. The feature, codenamed “Calpico,” was discovered in beta testing for Android.
TECHNOLOGY
macOS 26.1 beta hints at Pro Display XDR 2 with Centre Stage camera
Apple’s latest macOS 26.1 beta suggests the company could soon unveil a new generation of its professional-grade monitor, the Pro Display XDR 2, featuring a built-in Centre Stage camera and support for Desk View.
