HSBC Says AI Adoption Must Be Problem-Led and Closely Governed
HSBC said its approach to technology adoption remains focused on solving concrete customer problems, even as advances in artificial intelligence accelerate and more autonomous AI systems become available. Senior executives…
LG Smart TV Owners Report Unremovable Microsoft Copilot App Appearing on Devices
Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot has begun appearing on some LG smart televisions, prompting complaints from users who say the app was added without notice and cannot be uninstalled. Several LG smart…
Google to Shut Down Dark Web Report Feature in February 2026
Google said it will discontinue its dark web report feature beginning February 16, 2026, ending a service designed to alert users when their personal information appeared in data breach listings…
Threads Expands Communities Feature With New Topics and Engagement Tools
Meta said on Monday that its social network Threads has expanded the range of topics available through its communities feature, increasing the number of communities on the platform and adding…
Snapchat Rolls Out 2025 Recap as Usage Data Shows Growth in Calls and Chats
Snapchat said on Monday that it has begun rolling out its end-of-year 2025 Recap to users, offering a personalized video summary of how they used the app across Snaps, Stories,…
Zoom Expands AI Companion to the Web and Opens Access to Free Users
Zoom has released its AI assistant to the web as part of its AI Companion 3.0 update, expanding access to features such as meeting summaries, action items, and meeting insights,…
Meta Shuts Down Facebook Messenger Desktop App, Redirects Users to the Web
Meta has discontinued Facebook Messenger’s native desktop app for Mac and Windows, ending access to the standalone application on December 15, 2025, and directing users to continue using the messaging…
Grok Spreads False Claims About Bondi Beach Shooting Before Issuing Corrections
Grok, the chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI and promoted through the social media platform X, circulated multiple inaccurate claims about today’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia, including…
India Orders Stricter SIM Linking for Messaging Apps, Putting WhatsApp Usage at Risk
WhatsApp is facing heightened regulatory pressure in India after new government directions ordered messaging apps to stay continuously linked to an active SIM card, a move officials say targets cyber…
Apple and Google Issue Security Updates After Sophisticated Hacking Campaign
Apple and Google have released multiple software updates after uncovering a hacking campaign that exploited previously unknown security flaws, with evidence suggesting the activity may be linked to state-backed actors.…
Google Expands AI Clothing Try-On Feature With Selfie-Based Avatars
Google has updated its AI-powered virtual clothing try-on feature to allow users to generate a full-body digital avatar using only a selfie, removing the previous requirement to upload a full-body…
Google Begins Testing Real-Time Headphone Translation in Google Translate
Google has started rolling out a beta feature that allows users to hear real-time translations directly through their headphones, alongside upgrades powered by Gemini and an expansion of language learning…
Reddit Challenges Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban in High Court
Reddit has launched a legal challenge in Australia’s High Court against a new law that bars children under 16 from holding social media accounts, arguing the policy raises serious concerns…
Creative Unions Raise Alarm Over Disney Licensing Characters to OpenAI
Workers in the creative industries are voicing concern after Disney agreed to license characters from its major franchises to OpenAI as part of a $1bn (£740m) deal that will allow…
Amazon Will Let Kindle Direct Authors Offer DRM-Free E-Books in EPUB and PDF Starting in 2026
Amazon will allow Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) authors to distribute DRM-free e-books in EPUB and PDF formats beginning January 20, 2026, marking a change to how copyright protection choices affect…
Google Tests AI-Generated Article Overviews on Select Publisher Pages in Google News
Google has begun testing AI-powered article overviews on participating publishers’ Google News pages, launching a pilot program designed to study how AI tools may attract more engaged audiences while working…
Reddit Begins Testing Verification Badges for Notable Users
Reddit has launched a limited test of verified profiles, adding a grey checkmark next to the usernames of selected public figures, journalists and businesses to help users identify accounts that…
YouTube TV Plans Genre-Based Subscription Packages for 2026
YouTube TV will introduce more than 10 genre-specific channel bundles in early 2026, marking the platform’s first shift away from its single cable-style package and offering subscribers more flexibility over…
Overview Energy Unveils Plan to Beam Power From Space to Existing Solar Farms
Overview Energy has emerged from stealth with a proposal to turn existing solar farms into nighttime receivers for power transmitted from space, outlining a system that would collect sunlight in…
Baby Born Inside Waymo Robotaxi in San Francisco as Vehicle Heads Toward Hospital
A woman in San Francisco gave birth inside a Waymo robotaxi on Monday night while traveling to UCSF Medical Center, becoming one of the latest documented cases of childbirth occurring…