News — Page174

The General Services Administration (GSA) announced a deal that lets U.S. federal agencies purchase Elon Musk’s xAI Grok models for $0.42 per organization. The 18‑month contract, part of the OneGov procurement initiative, grants access to Grok 4 and Grok 4 Fast and includes dedicated engineers and an upgrade path. The agreement fits within the administration’s AI Action Plan and follows earlier government contracts with Anthropic, Gemini and OpenAI. While the deal underscores a push for U.S. AI leadership, it comes amid reports of Grok’s recent controversial content.Read more

The European Union has firmly rejected Apple’s request to overturn the Digital Markets Act (DMA), reaffirming its commitment to the legislation that aims to curb big‑tech dominance. EU digital affairs spokesperson Thomas Regnier emphasized that the Commission has “absolutely no intention” of dismantling the DMA, even as Apple continues to criticize the law’s impact on users. The EU has already imposed a substantial fine on Apple for anti‑competitive behavior and is proceeding with public consultations on the DMA. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between regulators and large technology firms over market fairness and consumer protection.Read more

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that formalizes a plan to transfer TikTok's U.S. operations to an American‑controlled entity. The deal will give a coalition of U.S. investors—including Oracle, Silver Lake, MGX, Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch—a majority stake, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% share. Valued at roughly $14 billion, the new structure keeps Oracle in charge of the app’s algorithm and data security. Lawmakers raised concerns about algorithm control, but Vice President JD Vance and the president emphasized that the arrangement meets legal requirements and will treat all content fairly.Read more

Microsoft has terminated a unit of the Israeli defense ministry's access to its Azure cloud services after determining that the platform was being used for mass surveillance of Palestinian civilians. The decision follows an external review and internal pressure from employees and investors. Microsoft executives, including Brad Smith, emphasized the company's longstanding policy against facilitating civilian surveillance, and the move reflects heightened scrutiny of technology partnerships in conflict zones.Read more

Qualcomm announced its Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor, targeting ultra‑premium Windows 11 laptops that need to handle demanding workloads and AI tasks. The chip features a third‑generation Oryon CPU and the fastest Hexagon NPU for laptops, promising up to 75% faster performance than competitors and multi‑day battery life. A lower‑tier Elite version also offers significant speed and efficiency gains over the previous generation. The first devices powered by the new chips are expected in the first half of 2026, with pricing aimed at the $600‑and‑under segment for Copilot+ PCs.Read more

Meta is extending its mandatory teen account program to Facebook and Messenger on a global scale. The specialized accounts, first introduced on Instagram, now require younger teens aged 13 to 15 to obtain parental permission for safety‑related settings. Built‑in parental controls let caregivers monitor screen time, view contacts, and enforce stricter privacy rules. Meta also broadens its school partnership initiative, allowing U.S. middle and high schools to fast‑track bullying reports. The rollout occurs amid ongoing lawsuits and investigations into the company’s child‑safety record.Read more

Xreal’s One Pro smart glasses provide a sizable virtual screen using dual 1080p Micro‑OLED panels, a 57‑degree field of view and built‑in Bose speakers. Connected via a single USB‑C cable, they function as a personal monitor for laptops, phones and select gaming devices. Priced around $650 and weighing 87 grams, the One Pro is positioned as a specialized tool rather than an all‑day wearable, contrasting with Meta’s Ray‑Ban Display, which offers limited single‑screen information and focuses on everyday use. Reviewers note the One Pro’s versatility, brightness and comfort despite its bulkier frame.Read more

Proton Mail is rolling out completely rebuilt Android and iOS apps that promise a cleaner, faster, and more private email experience. The new versions double scrolling, archiving and reply speeds, add an offline mode for reading and composing without internet, and feature a simplified interface with easier navigation. Built on a shared codebase that covers most of the functionality across platforms, the updates aim to streamline development and future enhancements. Product lead Anant Vijay Singh attributes the overhaul to community feedback and Proton's commitment to privacy‑first design.Read more

Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, touting it as the world’s fastest mobile system‑on‑chip. Built on a third‑generation Oryon CPU, the chip delivers a 20% performance boost and 35% better CPU power efficiency while cutting overall power draw by 16%. The platform also features a Hexagon NPU that is 37% faster, enabling on‑device AI for personalized agents. It is the first mobile chipset to support recording in the Advanced Professional Video codec, giving creators professional‑grade video capabilities. A broad roster of manufacturers, including Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO and others, have pledged to use the new SoC in upcoming flagship devices.Read more

Financial experts caution retail investors about treating ChatGPT and similar AI chatbots as reliable stock‑selection tools. While AI models can offer insightful analysis, they often misquote figures, lean on outdated narratives, and lack access to premium research behind paywalls. The rise of AI‑driven investing follows decades of online trading evolution, from early broker platforms to robo‑advisors. Analysts stress that without proper risk management and a clear investment strategy, over‑reliance on generative AI could expose investors to significant losses, especially during market downturns.Read more

DeepMind's new RoboBallet system uses artificial intelligence to plan and coordinate multiple industrial robots with far lower computational overhead than traditional methods. The AI scales linearly with tasks and obstacles and quadratically with robot count, allowing rapid generation of task allocations, schedules, and motion plans. In controlled simulations and a real‑world test with four Panda robots working on an aluminum workpiece, RoboBallet produced results comparable to those of human engineers while delivering answers more quickly. The technology also enables designers to experiment with cell layouts and reprogram work cells on the fly, promising greater flexibility for manufacturing operations.Read more

Honor has unveiled the design of its upcoming Magic 8 Pro flagship, confirming a dedicated AI button on the side of the device. The phone will launch in China next month and will be among the first smartphones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The design mirrors the Magic 7 Pro but adds the AI button and a flat back. Honor also announced a new AI feature called Magic Color. The camera module appears to house a 200‑megapixel main sensor with an 85mm‑equivalent focal length and an f/2.6 aperture, plus a ToF depth sensor.Read more

Google has filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court requesting a temporary pause on a permanent injunction issued in the Epic Games lawsuit. The Ninth Circuit upheld the injunction, compelling Google to stop forcing Android app developers to use Google Play Billing and to allow alternative payment links and pricing. Google aims to file a full appeal for certiorari by October 27, while asking the Court to halt the injunction by October 17. A district judge has scheduled a compliance hearing for October 30. The move could reshape the Android app ecosystem and the broader antitrust landscape.Read more

Google confirmed that Android will arrive on personal computers next year, unveiling a plan to blend Android with ChromeOS. The announcement, made during Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, featured Sameer Samat, head of Android Ecosystem, who highlighted the effort to bring Android's AI advances to laptops while maintaining seamless integration with the broader Android ecosystem. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors, including the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and the X2 Elite series, were cited as likely hardware targets for the forthcoming OS.Read more

A comprehensive look at the current robot vacuum market highlights leading models such as Roborock Qrevo Curv, TP-Link Tapo RV20 Max, and Eufy Mach S1 Pro. The review evaluates suction power, navigation systems, cleaning modes, and price points, while also noting models that fell short due to mapping errors or connectivity issues. Practical buying tips cover navigation technology, Wi‑Fi compatibility, maintenance, and the importance of a reliable docking station. The guide helps consumers choose a robot vacuum that fits their home layout, budget, and cleaning needs.Read more

Google Cloud is focusing on early‑stage AI companies, offering $350,000 in cloud credits, technical assistance, and go‑to‑market support. The firm promotes an open AI stack that spans custom TPUs, foundation models and applications, aiming to win future unicorns before they grow large. Partnerships include TPU deployments with Fluidstack and collaborations with startups such as Loveable and Windsurf, while Google also hosts Anthropic’s Claude and provides TPUs to OpenAI. The strategy reflects Google’s broader commitment to open‑source tools and comes amid regulatory scrutiny of its search dominance.Read more

Qualcomm announced its newest flagship system‑on‑chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, aimed at upcoming Android premium devices. The SoC introduces a third‑generation Oryon CPU with higher clock speeds, a more powerful Hexagon NPU, and an upgraded Adreno GPU that together promise better performance and efficiency. It also features an advanced ISP supporting the APV codec and a new X85 modem with AI‑enhanced Wi‑Fi for lower gaming latency. Qualcomm says the chip will enable richer on‑device AI experiences and higher‑quality video processing for future smartphones.Read more

AI‑assisted coding, often called vibe coding, lets developers describe functionality in plain language and have AI generate the code. Experts from Hostinger Horizons share five practical tips to get the most out of this approach: keep prompts short and specific, break tasks into smaller steps, ask the AI to suggest improvements, test frequently, and maintain human oversight. By following these guidelines, users can create more accurate, maintainable, and innovative applications while still leveraging the speed and accessibility of AI tools.Read more