Technology News
Technology has changed the world in more ways than one, we cover all of that here.
Andon Market AI Luna recommends firing employee after 17 tardies
An experimental AI manager, Luna, recommended firing a human employee at Andon Market after they arrived late for 17 of 23 shifts, sparking debates on AI workplace management.
Indian startup Digantara rolls out MOSAIC to monitor LEO objects
Digantara has launched MOSAIC, an AI-driven optical sensor network for real-time Low Earth Orbit tracking, enhancing India's self-reliance in strategic space monitoring.
Samvith Mahadevan, 14, builds the Allergent to spot hidden allergens
Samvith Mahadevan, a 14-year-old from Texas, created The Allergent, a portable “chemical nose” using sensors and machine learning to detect food allergens with up to 97% accuracy.
Sam Altman previews context-aware ChatGPT watching screens meetings and calls
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed plans for ChatGPT to monitor user activity continuously, offering personalized assistance while raising privacy concerns.
ISTRAC director says docking tech will power Moon missions, BAS
Docking technology is crucial for future lunar missions and India's proposed space station, says ISRO's M R Raghavendra during National Space Day celebrations.
Taiwan study finds citrus compound hesperetin may reverse liver aging
Scientists have discovered that hesperetin, a molecule in citrus fruits, can reverse liver aging in mice by boosting _Cisd2_ gene activity linked to youthful liver function.
Astronaut Jessica Meir and spacecraft capture August 12 solar eclipse
NASA and ESA spacecraft captured breathtaking images of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse, showcasing the moon's shadow and our star's atmosphere from unique vantage points in space.
Uber launches in-app train bookings with ixigo integration August 18
Uber has teamed up with ixigo to introduce train ticket booking on its app, enabling users to book tickets, check PNR status, and connect first and last-mile journeys seamlessly.
Spotify now lets you add notes to playlists
Spotify has launched a new feature called "Playlist Notes," allowing users to add their own thoughts and context to the songs, podcast episodes, and audiobooks in their playlists.
IIA Bengaluru builds 3-D model to forecast solar storm speeds
Scientists have developed a 3D computer model to predict the speed of solar eruptions, potentially enhancing warnings for disruptions to satellites and power systems.
'Boss Scam' targets firms across Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
Fraudsters exploit malware to hijack senior executives' WhatsApp accounts, impersonate them, and trick employees into transferring company funds urgently.
Bribes.fyi goes offline: What happened to India's viral anti-bribe site?
Bribes.fyi, a website aimed at exposing corruption, has gone offline.
Meta patents antenna layout under lenses for head worn devices
Meta's new patent reveals a groundbreaking antenna placement under the lenses of smart glasses, aiming to enhance wireless performance while maintaining comfort and compactness.
Zoho's Sridhar Vembu warns businesses as memory prices surge 500%
Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho, has expressed his concerns over the skyrocketing prices of memory chips. The surge is being driven by the increasing demand from AI data centers.
Samsung launches Galaxy Forever with 24-month no-cost EMIs in India
Samsung introduces Galaxy Forever in India, offering 24-month no-cost EMI, Samsung Care+ protection, and up to 55% assured buyback value for Galaxy Z Fold 8 series buyers.
Study links 3 minutes' vigorous movement to lower cancer risk
Prolonged sitting is linked to higher cancer risks, but replacing just three minutes of sitting with vigorous activity daily can significantly lower the risk of 13 cancer types.
OpenAI president Greg Brockman calls Hugging Face breach cybersecurity watershed
Greg Brockman, OpenAI President, warns companies to urgently upgrade cybersecurity measures as AI-powered attacks, like the Hugging Face hack, escalate risks.
Google won't make Pixel devices in China after 2027
Google is planning to move its entire Pixel production out of China by 2027, a Nikkei Asia report has revealed.
This AI data center material is facing a price spike
The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is triggering a spike in demand for optical modules, which facilitate rapid data transfer in data centers.
Astronauts Menon and Meir grow kale, wasabi mustard on ISS
Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon harvested kale and wasabi mustard aboard the ISS, showcasing NASA's advancements in growing fresh produce for future deep-space missions.
Razorpay launches AI model for payment routing, fraud detection
Razorpay has unveiled an AI Payments Foundation Model, a revolutionary solution to optimize digital payments.
India to introduce IARI developed Pusa Rice DST1 this rabi
India is set to commercially produce Pusa Rice DST1 this rabi season, a drought- and salinity-tolerant variety developed using transgene-free genome editing techniques.
NVIDIA backs OpenAI's Ohio data centre with $105B guarantee
NVIDIA has announced a massive guarantee of up to $105 billion to help OpenAI lease a new data center in Ohio. The facility is being developed by SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank.
Apple alerts users in 110 countries about mercenary spyware threats
Apple notified users in 110 countries about potential mercenary spyware attacks, targeting individuals like journalists and diplomats with sophisticated surveillance tools.
Meta cracks down on child sexual abuse material in India
Meta has taken action to address concerns over Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on its platforms.
IIT Madras's new speech recognition model supports 26 Indian languages
BodhanAI, a non-profit initiative from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, has launched Indic-Transcribe, a speech recognition model.
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon to perform 2nd spacewalk today
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon is gearing up for his second spacewalk in just 10 days.
WordPress now has a free plan meant for students
Automattic, the company behind WordPress, is venturing into education with a new product called WordPress.com Education.
Is Amazon destroying rare books to train its AI models?
Amazon has been accused of purchasing and destroying rare books in order to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models.
This AI automation start-up's staff are joining Google's Chrome team
Relay, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflow automation tool that launched in 2021 with ambitions to rival Zapier, is shutting down.
Music publisher sues Anthropic, Suno over copyright violation
Independent music publisher Round Hill Music has filed a lawsuit against Anthropic and Suno in a California federal court.
China orders some state linked entities to uninstall Windows 10
China is expediting the removal of Microsoft’s customized Windows 10 from state-linked entities, citing data security concerns and aiming to reduce reliance on foreign technology.
Meta faces $1.4T trial over social media addiction
Meta is heading to trial this week, facing a lawsuit over social media addiction and other alleged harms caused by its apps.
Jio relaunches Jio Prime ₹300 with ₹600 vouchers, price-hike protection
Jio Prime offers cashback worth ₹600 and shields users from tariff hikes till 2027, while Airtel recently raised its entry-level plan price to ₹349, making Jio more cost-effective.
New research shows self-propagating ideas spread in multi-agent LLM systems
AI agents can adopt and spread self-propagating ideas, called "mind viruses," which alter their behavior and influence other agents, researchers reveal in a new study.
XElectron launches Techno Plus projector in India with Android 14
XElectron introduces the Techno Plus Android 14 smart home projector, offering native Full HD resolution, 4K support, and a 200-inch projection at an affordable price of ₹8,499.
macOS Tahoe 26.7 teases Apple iPhones Macs iPads AirPods
Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate reportedly reveals references to upcoming products, including the iPhone 18 lineup, new Macs, AirPods, and home devices.
Dutch authorities warn CVE-2026-65400 allows remote Mac control and cryptomining
A critical macOS Screen Sharing vulnerability (CVE-2026-65400) with a 7.1 CVSS score is under active attack, allowing hackers to gain root access and deploy malicious code.
Apple warns macOS screen sharing bug lets attackers hijack Macs
Apple has confirmed a macOS vulnerability in screen sharing tools, exploited to hijack systems and install malicious software. Users are urged to update immediately for protection.
Jingwei Zhao uses AI to broaden music learning with AccoMontage
Jingwei Zhao, a leading researcher in music AI, develops systems that simplify music arrangement, empowering learners to play songs they love at any skill level.
NASA's Anil Menon to swap ISS antenna alongside Sophie Adenot
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon will perform his second spacewalk in 10 days today to replace a critical communications antenna on the ISS.
BodhanAI and AI4Bharat launch Indic-Transcribe recognizer for 26 Indian languages
BodhanAI, an IIT Madras initiative, has launched Indic-Transcribe, an AI-driven speech recognition model supporting 26 Indian languages and English for diverse accents.
Jensen Huang says 'AI factories' are land power data-centre shells
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang emphasizes that the availability of physical infrastructure, including land, power, and data centers, now limits AI growth more than algorithms.
'Dartwords' is new word game inspired by 'Wordle' and 'Clippy'
The Game Band, the studio behind the popular game Blaseball, has launched a new daily word game called Dartwords.
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.
Reddit is turning your posts into AI-powered videos
Reddit is testing a new feature that converts text posts into audio and video content.
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.
Apple ordered to refund ₹45,500 over iPhone 15 issues
Apple has been directed by a consumer commission in Haryana to pay ₹45,500 to an iPhone 15 user.
'Follow law of land,' India warns X after Musk's move
The Indian government has reminded Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to follow the law of the land.
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.