Technology News
Technology has changed the world in more ways than one, we cover all of that here.
ET GenAI Hackathon 2026: India's biggest student AI challenge
Hackathons are transforming the landscape of AI learning in India, providing a hands-on approach to innovation and practical problem-solving.
NASA's Artemis II rocket is ready for its big Moon mission
NASA's new moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), has been moved to the launch pad, marking a significant step towards lunar exploration after over 50 years.
Netflix just dropped Google Cast from its mobile apps
Netflix has removed the Google Cast feature from its Android app, potentially due to its declining popularity and the company's focus on other features.
Gaganyaan's Hawaii station exit isn't slowing down India's big space plans
India's Gaganyaan mission faces potential delay as ISRO withdraws its application for a Hawaii ground station, following the recent PSLV launch failure.
Microsoft Office users: urgent security alert from CERT-In
The Indian government has issued a high-severity alert about a serious security risk in Microsoft Office apps, potentially impacting millions of users.
India to host 1st global AI summit in 2026
India will prioritize establishing global consensus on common artificial intelligence (AI) standards at the upcoming IndiaAI Impact Summit.
SpaceX just sent 29 more Starlink satellites into orbit
On Sunday, January 18, 2026, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Google Gemini adds 'Answer now' for faster, no-wait replies
Google's Gemini app has introduced an 'Answer Now' button, replacing the 'Skip' button, to bypass in-depth thinking and provide quicker responses.
Meet the scientist behind AI-powered brain mapping tool 'SmartEM'
Aravinthan D. T. Samuel, a Harvard professor, is pioneering SmartEM, a machine learning-guided system designed to expedite detailed brain scanning.
China's new 'microscopic scalpel' could revolutionize chip supply chains
Chinese nuclear scientists have developed a state-of-the-art "microscopic scalpel," a high-energy hydrogen ion implanter called POWER-750H.
This is a more eco-friendly way to recycle lithium batteries
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Institute of Technology have developed an innovative technique for recycling lithium batteries.
32 light-years: This is the longest stellar jet ever recorded
Astronomers have used the Hubble Space Telescope to observe a massive protostar, 20 times larger than our Sun, illuminating interstellar clouds.
Indian Navy, BEL develop software for operating unmanned ships
The Indian Navy's Weapons and Electrical Engineering Systems Establishment has partnered with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to create an indigenous software for operating unmanned surface vessels.
'Why should Americans fund AI in India?' Trump aide questions
Peter Navarro, White House trade adviser, has sparked a controversy by questioning why American resources are being used to power artificial intelligence (AI) services in India.
Grok is still accessible in Malaysia despite ban
Despite Malaysia's recent ban on Grok, a generative AI tool capable of creating explicit images, the technology remains accessible in the country.
Windows 11 update causing PC shutdown: How to fix it
Microsoft's January 2026 security update for Windows 11, released as KB5073455, is causing some unexpected behavior.
Trump administration wants tech firms to fund new power plants
The Donald Trump administration and a bipartisan group of governors are pushing PJM Interconnection, the largest electricity market in the US, to conduct a power auction.
Why Disney deleted a post on Threads
Disney recently made a post on social media platform Threads, asking netizens to share quotes from its movies.
This ocean robot can withstand a Category 5 hurricane
Anahita Laverack, who initially aimed to become an aerospace engineer, has made significant advancements in ocean data collection with her company Oshen.
WhatsApp to partner with a new GIF provider
WhatsApp is preparing to replace Tenor with Klipy as its GIF provider.
Musk's xAI is hiring Hindi, Bengali speakers to train Grok
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence (AI) company, xAI, is on the lookout for native Hindi and Bengali speakers.
Does paracetamol cause autism? UK study says otherwise
A systematic review published in The Lancet has debunked US President Donald Trump's controversial claim that paracetamol causes autism.
X revamps payouts: $1M for top article, new monetization model
Elon Musk's social media platform, X, has announced a new monetization model for content creators.
California orders Musk's xAI to stop generating obscene images
The California Attorney General's office has launched an investigation into Elon Musk's xAI.
YouTube now allows more controversial content to earn full revenue
YouTube has updated its advertiser-friendly content guidelines, allowing more videos on controversial issues to earn full ad revenue.
'Wikilaundering': PR firm accused of commissioning favourable Wikipedia edits
Portland Communications, a leading public relations (PR) firm founded by Tim Allan, has been accused of manipulating Wikipedia pages to favor its clients.
Google's AI video maker Flow now available to Workspace users
Google's innovative AI video creation tool, Flow, is now available for users with Business, Enterprise, and Education Workspace plans.
Epic Games has dealt a blow to Fortnite creators
Epic Games has announced a major update to its rules for Fortnite creators.
Bluesky adds cashtags, LIVE badges to boost user engagement
Bluesky, a social networking platform, is rolling out two new features: cashtags and LIVE badges.
TikTok launches PineDrama, a dedicated app for microdramas
TikTok has launched a new standalone app called PineDrama in the US and Brazil.
Activision Blizzard under probe for 'misleading' mobile game practices
Italy's competition authority, Autorita Garante della Concorrenza E Del Mercato (AGCM), has launched two investigations into Activision Blizzard.
ChatGPT to start showing ads
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is testing a new advertising feature in its free version for US users.
Sun Pharma launches skin cancer medication in US
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has launched its skin cancer drug, Unloxcyt (cosibelimab-ipdl), in the US.
You can now lip-sync Reels in 5 new Indian languages
Instagram has expanded its AI-powered voice translation and lip-sync feature for Reels to five new Indian languages.
Space travel changes brain structure, study reveals
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has found that long-duration space travel can alter the structure and position of astronauts' brains.
TikTok to launch age-detection tech in Europe amid regulatory pressure
TikTok has announced its plan to roll out a new age-detection technology across Europe in the coming weeks, according to Reuters.
Why Indian private satellites on PSLV-C62 mission weren't insured
The recent failure of ISRO's PSLV-C62-EOS-N1 mission has highlighted a major gap in India's private space sector: satellite insurance.
iPhone 4: Why the 16-year-old phone is trending again
The iPhone 4, a device that made its debut in 2010, is witnessing a major resurgence among young users. This trend is mainly driven by nostalgia and the phone's simple features.
Chinese hackers used Venezuela-themed phishing emails to target US
A China-linked hacker group has been accused of using Venezuela-themed phishing emails to target US government and policy-related officials.
China just 'months behind' US in AI race: DeepMind CEO
Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, has warned that China is closing the gap with the US in artificial intelligence (AI) at an unprecedented pace.
Apple to manufacture AI chips in-house by 2026
Apple is gearing up to start production of its own artificial intelligence (AI) chips, according to a report by Ming-Chi Kuo.
Google launches open AI translation models challenging ChatGPT Translate
Google has unveiled TranslateGemma, a new set of open translation models based on Gemma 3.
This popular PC game is coming to your iPhone
Apple has announced the addition of Sid Meier's Civilization VII Arcade Edition to its Apple Arcade platform on February 5, 2026.
Leak reveals full specs of Apple iPhone Fold, 18 Pro
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 series, including the highly anticipated foldable model, will come with Touch ID instead of Face ID.
Flipkart's AI shopping assistant 'SLAP' to launch next week
Flipkart is all set to launch its new conversational AI shopping assistant, Shop Like a Pro (SLAP), next week.
Ordered Trump Mobile phone? 6 months later, it's still missing
US Senator Elizabeth Warren has asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to probe Trump Mobile's failure to deliver its promised phones.
US senators demand answers from tech giants over explicit deepfakes
A group of US senators has written to tech giants Meta, Alphabet, X, Snap, Reddit, and TikTok.
Canada investigates Musk's xAI over explicit deepfakes
Canada's privacy watchdog has launched an investigation into xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk.
Spotify raises subscription prices once again
Spotify has announced a price hike for its subscription plan in the United States, marking the third increase in three years.
50% discount! Samsung Galaxy Ring drops to ₹15,999 on Amazon
Samsung's Galaxy Ring, a wearable device designed for health tracking, has received its biggest price cut ever on Amazon India.
Meta pulls the plug on its metaverse for work
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced that it will be shutting down Horizon Workrooms, its virtual collaboration space for workers.
Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, Microsoft heads to trial
A US District Judge in Oakland, California has denied OpenAI and Microsoft's attempts to dismiss Elon Musk's lawsuit, paving the way for a jury trial scheduled for late April.
Nothing's first India flagship store is coming to this city
Nothing, the consumer tech company co-founded by Carl Pei, has announced its plan to open its first-ever flagship store in India.
Design a Mars meal for astronauts, win $750,000 from NASA
NASA has launched a global competition to tackle one of the biggest hurdles in human space exploration: feeding astronauts on Mars.
Wikipedia partners with Microsoft and Meta for AI content training
Wikipedia has announced partnerships with several tech giants, including Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon.
US struggles in space race as China makes lunar strides
The US is losing its grip on the space race, with China's successful lunar missions and strategic plans.
NASA brings astronauts home safely in first-ever space medical evacuation
NASA has successfully completed its first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS).
Samsung Galaxy S26 may finally get faster charging support
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch in India and global markets next month.
OpenAI's new ChatGPT feature takes on Google Translate
OpenAI has launched a new translation tool, ChatGPT Translate, to take on Google Translate.
Realme's 10,000mAh battery phone could launch in India this month
Realme is gearing up to launch a smartphone with an industry-leading 10,000mAh battery in India.
All about NASA rocket that will carry humans to Moon
NASA is gearing up for the Artemis II mission, a major milestone in human space exploration.
App downloads slide for 5th year, while spending hits record-high
According to Appfigures's annual report, the number of mobile app downloads has declined for the fifth consecutive year.
Google Trends gets Gemini-powered capabilities
Google has announced the launch of a revamped Trends Explore page, now with Gemini-powered capabilities.
YouTube now lets parents block kids from watching Shorts endlessly
YouTube has announced new parental control features, specifically designed to manage the time children and teens spend on YouTube Shorts.
Why Zuckerberg and his 28-year-old AI chief are clashing
Meta's ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) project is facing some major internal friction.
Gemini AI now uses your personal data for better responses
Google has launched a new feature called "Personal Intelligence" for the Gemini AI app.
Digg, the OG Reddit rival, is back with new app
Digg, a pioneer of early internet communities and a former rival to Reddit, has been relaunched.
Alibaba's AI app now lets users book travel, order food
Alibaba has given its Qwen artificial intelligence (AI) app a major upgrade.
Key founders exit Mira Murati's AI venture to rejoin OpenAI
Thinking Machines Lab, the AI start-up founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, has lost two of its co-founders and another key team member to OpenAI.