Technology News
Technology has changed the world in more ways than one, we cover all of that here.
US asks India, allies to adopt American AI over China
The US urges allies to choose between its AI ecosystem and China's, as Anthropic's revenue soars, Wispr Flow hits $2B valuation, and Sarvam advances indigenous frameworks.
Sophie Adenot to make 1st French woman spacewalk outside ISS
Sophie Adenot will become the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk today (Aug. 18), stepping outside the ISS with NASA astronaut Anil Menon for a 6.5-hour mission.
NASA's James Webb photographs Lion Nebula with star shedding layers
NASA's James Webb Telescope captured a vivid image of the Lion Nebula, showcasing a dying star shedding its outer layers in a breathtaking display of cosmic beauty.
Evan Budz built AI turtle detecting microplastics, won US$50,000 scholarship
A 16-year-old Canadian student created an autonomous AI-powered robot turtle that uses 3D holographic imaging to detect microplastics in water with 94% accuracy.
US Navy launches HADALUS unmanned undersea vehicle fully underwater
The US Navy successfully tested HADALUS, a low-cost autonomous undersea vehicle, showcasing submerged launch and stealth capabilities during sea trials in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
AI coding tools raise expectations and workloads for many developers
AI was expected to reduce workloads, but developers reveal it has instead increased their responsibilities due to heightened expectations and challenges with AI implementation.
Cadence's AgentStack could shrink chip design from weeks to days
Cadence's AI agents are revolutionizing chip design by significantly reducing development timelines, with tasks that once took weeks now completed in days or hours.
Round Hill sues Anthropic and Suno over AI training data
Round Hill Music has filed lawsuits against Anthropic and Suno, accusing them of using lyrics from 500 copyrighted songs to train AI systems without authorization.
PJM Interconnection proposes data centers run generators or cut energy
PJM Interconnection proposes emergency shutdowns for data centers during power shortages, highlighting growing conflicts between energy demands and grid reliability.
Razorpay launches AI payments foundation model with NVIDIA and AWS
Razorpay has introduced an AI Payments Foundation Model, developed with NVIDIA and AWS, to enhance payment routing, fraud detection, risk assessment, and checkout personalization.
Razorpay builds AI payments model trained on 4 billion transactions
Razorpay has developed an AI-powered payments foundation model trained on four billion transactions, enhancing payment success rates, fraud detection, and checkout personalization.
Google's August update brings tap to share, simplifies multidevice setup
Google's August 2026 system updates bring enhanced device connectivity, improved developer tools, and new features for Wallet, Play Store navigation, and Wear OS location sharing.
Samsung may launch 2 widescreen Galaxy Z9 foldables in 2027
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 impressed with its wide-screen design, prompting reports of two new wide foldables in development for the Galaxy Z9 lineup in 2027.
Google releases Android 17 QPR1 Beta 9 for Pixel devices
Google has released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 9 for Pixel devices, addressing critical issues like reboot loops, gesture handling bugs, and unexpected battery drain.
Spotify launches Playlist Notes to let users annotate shared playlists
Spotify introduces "Playlist Notes," enabling users and editors to add personal context to playlists, enhancing the app's social and storytelling experience.
Google names Jacob Bank as VP of product for Chrome
Jacob Bank, former Director of Product Management for Gmail, Calendar, and Chat, rejoins Google as VP of Product for Chrome after founding and closing Relay.app.
YouTube will count views immediately starting August 24 including Shorts
YouTube now counts a view as soon as a video starts playing or a user joins a live broadcast, replacing its previous system that required at least 30 seconds of watch time.
Salesforce finds companies now use 13 AI agents on average
The average number of AI agents per organization surged from 5 to 13 in just over a year, as businesses report measurable ROI and increased efficiency across industries.
JetZero Z4 could cut airline fuel use up to 50%
JetZero's innovative Z4, a 250-seat blended-wing-body aircraft, aims to revolutionize air travel by flying 5,750 miles while using up to 50% less fuel than current planes.
Google pays $10 million for Spirit Airlines data for AI
Google purchased Spirit Airlines' operational and business data for $10 million during bankruptcy auctions, aiming to enhance its AI models with scrubbed, non-personal information.
Google updates Pixel Recorder app with Pixel 11 style icon
Google is updating Pixel Recorder with the redesigned Pixel 11 app icon, featuring a simplified red waveform on a white background, replacing the original design from 2019.
Google opens Pixel 11 preorders, swaps Samsung modem for MediaTek
Google’s Pixel 11 series debuts a MediaTek-made modem, promising improved reliability, speed, and power efficiency compared to previous Samsung modems used in Tensor chips.
Astronomers find 3 supermassive black holes in early galaxy J0148-4214
Astronomers have identified three supermassive black holes in galaxy J0148-4214, located 12.5 billion light-years away, potentially set to merge into a colossal singular entity.
OpenAI launches computer history tool for ChatGPT on Mac
OpenAI has introduced the Computer History feature for its ChatGPT Mac app, enabling Pro, Business, and Enterprise users to log activities for seamless session continuity.
Cursor launches Origin to take on GitHub in code hosting
Cursor, one of the leading providers of vibe coding tools, has launched Origin.
YouTube changes how views are counted
YouTube has announced a major change in its view-counting system.
Meet Aryan Nishad, the student who vibe-coded Bribes.fyi
Aryan Nishad, a B.Tech student from Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, Delhi, has launched a website called Bribes.fyi.
Apple's camera-equipped AirPods spotted in new leak
Apple is said to be working on a new pair of AirPods, this time with an integrated camera.
Ola Electric moves beyond vehicles with energy storage solutions
Ola Electric has launched its 'Shakti' energy storage series, a major step toward harnessing clean energy at all levels.
OnePlus hikes prices of multiple smartphones in India
OnePlus has hiked the prices of five smartphones in India. The price hike affects the N6, N6x, Nord 6, Nord CE 6, and Nord CE 6 Lite models.
Swiggy gives restaurants a 24x7 AI business assistant
Swiggy has launched "Guru," an AI-powered business assistant for its restaurant partners.
Indian banks to test defences against AI-powered cyberattacks
In a bid to combat potential threats from advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems like Anthropic's Mythos, Indian banks are developing models.
Fireflies brings AI to your inbox with new email assistant
Fireflies.ai has launched an innovative Email Assistant, expanding its AI-powered meeting assistant into the realm of email.
AI attacks outpace human response, warns cybersecurity expert
Anirban Mukherji, the founder and CEO of cybersecurity company miniOrange, has said that artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the game in cybersecurity.
Why Google has partnered with Arsenal, Bayern, Barcelona, Liverpool, PSG
Google has announced long-term partnerships with five of Europe's top football clubs, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool FC, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
This Chinese passenger jet concept can carry over 800 passengers
A Chinese research team has unveiled an aerodynamic model for a massive "flying-wing" passenger aircraft, capable of carrying over 800 passengers.
This AI model can predict your depression 4 years early
Researchers from Shenzhen University have developed a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) model that can predict the risk of depression up to four years in advance.
CME to brush past Earth today: Should we be worried?
A coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun is expected to brush past Earth today.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro to get major upgrades, higher price-tag
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 series in early September, continuing its tradition of launching new iPhones during this period.
Who's Rohan Naidu, Indian astronomer behind 'black hole star' discovery?
Rohan Naidu, a Hyderabad-born astronomer and MIT's Pappalardo Fellow, has been instrumental in the discovery of a possible "black hole star."
Report supporting Australia's under-16 social media ban had AI-made errors
A report supporting Australia's ban on under-16s using social media has been found to contain errors, possibly created by artificial intelligence, as per The Guardian.
India is now Canva's 4th largest market globally
Cameron Adams, the co-founder of graphic design platform Canva, has revealed that India is a key player in shaping the company's product strategy.
Claude added AI watermarks. Now there's tool to remove them
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has published a free tool that claims to remove invisible watermarks from Claude-generated content.
Who is Wynd Kaufmyn, first person jailed for protesting AI?
Wynd Kaufmyn, a 69-year-old activist from Berkeley, California, is believed to have become the first person to be jailed for protesting against artificial intelligence (AI).
Axios, OpenAI partner to automate journalism
In a major development, Axios has announced a three-year partnership with OpenAI to automate local journalism.
AI must cure cancer to win public trust, says Amodei
Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, has suggested that the artificial intelligence (AI) industry can win back skeptics by delivering on its promises and achieving tangible scientific breakthroughs.
'BGMI Lite' India launch confirmed: What we know so far
Battlegrounds Mobile India Lite (BGMI Lite) is set to launch in India by the end of 2026, as confirmed by Krafton India.
China launches Long March 12, days after recent rocket setback
China has successfully launched a Long March 12 rocket, carrying the SatNet LEO Group 24 satellites.
Apple's smart home roadmap is getting bigger: Here's what's coming
Apple is gearing up to expand its smart home product line, with new devices expected to be launched in the coming months.
WhatsApp may soon let you customize emoji reaction sets
WhatsApp is working on a new feature that would allow users to customize their emoji reaction sets.
Divyastra Mk3: India's 1st jet-powered loitering munition successfully flown
Kawa UAV Pvt Ltd, a defense start-up based in Lucknow, has successfully flown India's first indigenous jet-powered loitering munition, Divyastra Mk3.
US opposes Apple using Chinese memory chips
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has advised Apple against sourcing memory chips from China.
Apple launches ads on Maps to help businesses reach customers
Apple has launched a new advertising platform called "Ads on Maps" in the US and Canada.
AI could cure most diseases within 10 years: Anthropic CEO
Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, has made an ambitious prediction that artificial intelligence (AI) will help humans cure most diseases within the next five to 10 years.
Scientists to use Moon's far side for Big Bang clues
UK scientists are gearing up to use the Moon's far side as a unique vantage point to study the early universe.
Low-cost and high-efficiency solar panels might become reality soon
A team of researchers from China and Canada, led by Nanjing University, has made a major breakthrough in the commercialization of perovskite solar technology.
This sensor can help robots 'feel' objects without touching
Chinese scientists have developed an innovative sensor, inspired by electric eels, that enables robots to "feel" objects without any physical contact.
These tiny drones can run on sound waves
Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) have developed tiny drones that are powered by sound waves.
New Apple Watch models launching alongside iPhones: What to expect
Apple is all set to unveil its latest smartwatch models, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12, at a special event in September.
AI can track your location from social media photos
A new study has revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to track people's locations through their social media photos.
Anthropic CEO says AI rules won't necessarily favor big companies
Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, has rejected the notion that regulating artificial intelligence (AI) would lead to a concentration of power in the hands of a few companies and governments.
How to check if your ChatGPT account has been hacked
Just like any other online service, popular AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude can also be targeted by hackers.
Woman claims stepfather used Grok to create 7,000+ explicit images
A woman, identified as Jane Doe 4, has joined a lawsuit against Elon Musk's xAI.
MacBook Ultra: What we know about Apple's OLED touchscreen laptop
Apple is said to be developing a high-end laptop, potentially dubbed the "MacBook Ultra."
Anthropic explains how Claude's new AI watermarking will work
Anthropic has published a blog post addressing basic questions about how it plans to watermark text generated by its Claude chatbot.
SpaceX completes Cursor acquisition for $60B
SpaceX has officially completed the acquisition of artificial intelligence (AI) coding start-up Cursor for a whopping $60 billion.
Meet VIHAAN, an indigenous broadband networking chip
Chennai-based fabless semiconductor start-up Aheesa Digital Innovations has successfully developed its first silicon chip, called VIHAAN.
X will now show you content removal requests by governments
Elon Musk has announced that his social media platform, X, will be more transparent about government censorship requests.
NVIDIA to invest $3B in this SoftBank Group subsidiary
NVIDIA is in talks to invest up to $3 billion in SB Energy, a SoftBank Group subsidiary.