News — Page164

OpenAI has launched Sora 2, an AI video generation model paired with an invite‑only iOS app that lets users create short videos from text prompts. The new platform adds a "cameo" feature that enables users to insert their own face and voice into generated scenes, while offering synced audio, improved physics, and a TikTok‑style feed for remixing and sharing. Robust safeguards—including explicit opt‑in, identity verification, parental controls, and moderator review—aim to mitigate deepfake and disinformation risks. Sora 2 enters a crowded market alongside offerings from Google, Runway and Meta.Read more

Amazon introduced refreshed versions of its Echo Show line, the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11, featuring slimmer screens, a woven mesh base, upgraded speakers, and a new 13‑megapixel camera with auto‑framing. Both models run the VegaOS platform and are powered by the AZ3 Pro chip. They are offered in Glacier White and Graphite, priced at $179.99 for the 8‑inch model and $219.99 for the 11‑inch model, with preorder available and shipping slated to begin on November 12, 2025. The devices support Alexa+, free for Prime members or $20 per month for non‑members.Read more

Amazon introduced the Echo Dot Max, a compact smart speaker that combines a fresh, mesh‑body design with a new placement for the Alexa light ring. Inside, the device houses a high‑excursion woofer and a custom tweeter, delivering bass and clarity that reviewers say rival larger speakers. The Echo Dot Max also includes far‑field microphones, the AZ3 processor for edge‑case AI tasks, and Omnisence room‑acoustic technology. Priced at $99, the speaker is positioned as an affordable upgrade to the standard Dot while offering a pathway to multi‑room Dolby surround setups.Read more

Amazon’s latest fall showcase highlighted a wave of new and upgraded hardware centered on its Alexa+ AI assistant. The lineup includes powerful Echo speakers and displays that run Alexa+ locally, Fire TV devices with AI‑driven scene search, a Kindle Scribe equipped with handwriting‑aware AI tools, and Ring doorbells that can greet visitors and recognize familiar faces. Across the portfolio, Amazon is weaving deeper conversational memory, proactive task handling and on‑device processing to make its ecosystem feel more intuitive and integrated.Read more

Amazon introduced a redesigned Echo Studio at its hardware event, featuring a modern orb shape, woven mesh exterior, and a flat base. Powered by the new AZ3 Pro chip, the speaker combines three full‑range drivers with a high‑excursion woofer for clearer vocals and deeper bass. The device supports spatial audio, can be grouped with up to five speakers, and includes Alexa’s LED ring for status cues. Priced at $219.99, the Echo Studio ships on October 29, 2025, and is compatible with Alexa+ out of the box.Read more

A recent test of the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro showed the device’s TruSleep algorithm accurately detecting a vivid dreaming episode, reporting a sleep score of 78 after just over six hours of rest. The watch identified an unusually high REM share of about 32 percent and offered actionable dietary advice to improve future sleep quality. Comparisons with other wearables highlighted the growing ability of trackers to turn raw data into useful guidance.Read more

Home Depot has brought back its iconic giant skeleton for the Halloween season, now equipped with an app that gives the figure a voice and interactive features. The updated Skelly stands 6.5 feet tall, offers rotating torso movement, a moving mouth, and multiple eye displays. Users can choose from five preset recordings or upload up to 30 seconds of custom audio, and the Bluetooth‑enabled system allows real‑time voice modulation. The skeleton, first introduced in 2020, returns alongside new companion figures such as dragons and trolls, and can be purchased through Home Depot’s online channels.Read more

Electricity bills are climbing across the United States, with the sharpest increases occurring near data centers that power cloud services, video streaming and artificial‑intelligence training. Wholesale power prices have risen as much as 267% over the past five years in those hotspots, according to Bloomberg analysis of regional transmission data. Demand from AI‑focused firms such as Microsoft, Meta, Google, Amazon and OpenAI is driving a projected doubling of data‑center electricity use by 2035. Grid constraints, aging infrastructure and the lengthy timeline for new transmission lines are limiting growth, prompting utilities and tech companies to adopt smarter sensors, dynamic line‑rating technology and on‑site renewable generation to meet the surge.Read more

A U.S. District Court granted Qualcomm a complete victory in the licensing lawsuit filed by Arm. The court dismissed the remaining claims against Qualcomm and upheld a prior jury verdict that found Qualcomm and its subsidiary Nuvia did not breach their licensing agreement. The decision lets Qualcomm continue selling chips that incorporate Nuvia designs, including those used in Microsoft Surface laptops. Arm announced it will appeal the ruling, while Qualcomm looks ahead to its own pending lawsuit against Arm, scheduled for trial in 2026.Read more

Disney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the AI chatbot platform Character.AI, alleging that the service hosts bots that impersonate characters from Disney’s franchises, including Pixar, Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The letter accuses the company of copyright infringement and raises concerns about how underage users might interact with these bots. Character.AI has faced prior scrutiny over safety failures involving minors and regulatory attention from the FTC and state attorneys general. In response, the platform says it has removed the disputed characters, demonstrating Disney’s willingness to enforce its intellectual‑property rights against AI firms.Read more

Oura has broadened its fourth‑generation smart ring offering by introducing a Zirconia Ceramic version available in four colors and priced at $499. The company also unveiled a compact travel charging case that delivers up to five full charges for $99, along with Multi‑Ring Support for seamless data syncing across multiple devices. In addition, Oura launched a $99 health panel blood test in partnership with Quest Diagnostics, screening more than 50 biomarkers and delivering results with AI‑driven recommendations through the Oura app.Read more

Imgur has blocked its image‑hosting service for users in the United Kingdom, displaying a regional restriction notice. The move follows a warning from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that it intends to levy fines after an investigation into Imgur’s handling of children’s data, age‑verification practices and overall privacy protection. Regulators emphasized that the suspension is a commercial decision by Imgur but does not shield the company from potential penalties. The ICO’s heightened enforcement mirrors recent actions against other platforms, including a multibillion‑dollar fine for TikTok and scrutiny of Snapchat’s AI chatbot.Read more

Amazon introduced two upgraded smart speakers at its recent New York City event: the Echo Dot Max, a larger, higher‑end version of the compact Echo Dot, and a newly shaped Echo Studio that replaces its cylindrical predecessor with a spherical form. The Dot Max adds a dedicated woofer and tweeter for stronger bass, while the Studio incorporates three full‑range drivers, Dolby Atmos and spatial‑audio support, and a smaller footprint. Both devices integrate the latest Alexa features, including a home‑theater mode that can link up to five speakers for surround‑sound experiences.Read more

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OpenAI unveiled Sora, an AI‑powered video generation app built on the new Sora 2 model. Currently limited to iOS users in the United States and Canada, the app requires an invitation and lets early adopters invite four friends. Sora offers a "cameo" feature that lets users grant permission for their likeness to appear in generated clips, designating them as co‑owners who can delete or restrict further edits. The app also includes a Remix function for re‑imagining trending videos, while blocking the creation of pornographic content and videos of public figures unless explicit consent is provided.Read more

Amazon added a new Amazon Basics Smart Remote to its lineup, a wall‑mountable, battery‑powered device that can be programmed via the Alexa app or Alexa+. The remote features four customizable buttons that trigger Alexa routines, such as turning on lights or playing music, and can be magnetically attached for convenience. Pre‑orders are open at $19.99 with shipments slated for late October. The product showcases Amazon’s push toward simple, voice‑assistant‑driven home automation, allowing users to execute multi‑step actions with a single press.Read more

Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek announced he will step down from day‑to‑day duties and become executive chairman on January 1 next year. Current co‑presidents Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström will assume the role of co‑CEOs. Ek said his new focus will be the long‑term arc of the company and serving as a bridge between the board and the new leaders. In a letter to staff, Ek outlined his ambition to help build technology‑driven "supercompanies" and cited his recent $700 million investment in defense‑tech firm Helsing, which sparked pushback from some artists. Spotify, now nearing 700 million monthly active listeners, recently launched lossless streaming and is navigating a rise in AI‑generated music, adjusting its policies to curb fraudulent AI use while still allowing fully synthetic tracks.Read more

Amazon announced Alexa Home Theater, a feature that lets users turn compatible Echo speakers into a surround‑sound system for Fire TV devices. The setup works with up to five Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max speakers, auto‑configures, and is positioned as an affordable entry into home theater audio, though it excludes the original Echo Studio and carries a starting price of $500 for a five‑speaker package.Read more

Amazon announced a refreshed line of Echo speakers and smart displays, including the Echo Studio, Echo Dot Max, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11. The new models carry higher price tags compared to their predecessors, reflecting upgraded processors, enhanced sound quality, and AI-driven capabilities such as improved wake‑word detection and sensor‑based context awareness. Amazon attributes the price increases to the integration of new AZ3 and AZ23 Pro chips, an AI accelerator, and a broader sensor platform that enables more personalized and proactive Alexa experiences.Read more