Tech, AI, startups, and cyber security
Google has rolled out Ask Maps, a Gemini-powered chatbot, and Immersive Navigation with 3D visuals to over 2 billion users, representing the largest redesign of the maps service in more than a decade.
Nina Papadopoulos 
The Acer Swift 16 AI delivers on screen quality and battery life but stumbles on speaker quality and design flexibility. Is Acer's sprawling haptic touchpad solving a problem that doesn't exist?
Zara Mitchell 
Customers of Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland reported seeing strangers' transactions, wages, and benefit payments in their apps on Thursday. The incident raises urgent questions about data segregation and transparency.
Daniel Kovac 
Group14 Technologies has begun full production at its BAM-3 factory in South Korea, capable of supplying silicon-anode material for roughly 100,000 EVs each year. The milestone marks a critical step in shifting battery manufacturing away from graphite-dependent systems.
Mitchell Tan 
JBL has launched over-ear and on-ear wireless headphones boasting 80 hours of battery life with ANC off, 50 hours with it on. The question is whether such extremes serve users or merely distract from broader audio and design compromises.
Tom Whitfield 
JBL has figured out how to bring Auracast support to iPhone users through its mobile app, sidestepping Apple's refusal to enable the feature natively on iOS devices.
Jake Nguyen 
Uber, British AI startup Wayve, and Japanese automaker Nissan are preparing to test robotaxis in Tokyo by late 2026, marking a major step toward commercialising autonomous ride-hailing in one of the world's most challenging urban environments.
Andrew Marsh 
Apple's latest MacBook Pro lineup packs impressive M5 Pro and M5 Max chips with strong performance gains, yet rising prices and lack of design refresh challenge the upgrade case for many users.
Nina Papadopoulos 
As Meta and OpenAI rush to acquire AI agent technology, Beijing has quietly restricted the tools from government use, exposing a deeper problem: the tools are fundamentally insecure.
James Callahan 
Security certificates underpinning Windows startup protection will expire in mid-2026. Microsoft has begun rolling out replacements, but devices failing to update will lose critical boot-level defences.
Mitchell Tan 
The UK Department for Transport is seeking a single C++ programmer to maintain crucial software that forecasts how passengers choose airports. The £100,000 contract highlights the government's struggle with legacy systems.
Kate Morrison 
Nuro, backed by Nvidia and Uber, has started testing autonomous vehicles on Tokyo's dense streets. The move reveals how far companies must still travel before driverless cars can genuinely adapt across borders.
Sarah Cheng 
Meta unveiled four custom AI chips built with Broadcom while facing damning oversight board findings on deepfake detection. The contrasts raise questions about where the company's priorities lie.
Tom Whitfield 
Rabbit is designing a $500 portable device for AI-assisted coding, learning from failures with its R1 device and a historic netbook that priced itself out of reach.
Mitchell Tan 
After years of delays, Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone in September 2026. The device will feature a crease-free display and start around $2,000, positioning it as the company's most expensive phone ever.
Andrew Marsh 
AltStore PAL has launched fediverse support, becoming the first federated app marketplace. Developers can now share app updates directly to Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky.
Aisha Khoury 
A global cyberattack on medical equipment maker Stryker has shut down operations in 79 countries, according to an Iran-linked hacking group. Here's what we know and why it matters.
Ella Sullivan 
Grammarly has disabled its Expert Review feature after widespread criticism over using real writers' identities without permission, including some who are deceased.
James Callahan 
OpenClaw adoption has surged across China at unprecedented speed, but government agencies and cybersecurity bodies are now issuing warnings over security vulnerabilities. The tension reveals Beijing's struggle to balance innovation ambitions with institutional safeguards.
Marcus Ashbrook 
Apple's $599 MacBook Neo and $599 Mac Mini M4 mark a turning point for the company's pricing strategy. But they serve completely different purposes.
Zara Mitchell