Innholdsfortegnelse for #712 i Techlife News

Amazon is diving into the autonomous vehicle race with a massive factory near Silicon Valley, designed to produce up to 10,000 robotaxis each year. The facility, operated by Amazon’s self-driving startup Zoox, marks a significant push to compete with Waymo, the current leader in driverless taxi services. Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.2 billion, betting on its unique, boxy vehicles to reshape urban transport. The factory, sprawling across 220,000 square feet, transforms a former bus manufacturing site into a high-tech assembly line for Zoox’s gondola-like robotaxis. These vehicles, seating up to four passengers without a steering wheel, stand out from Waymo’s modified cars, which resemble traditional vehicles. Amazon’s goal is to scale production rapidly, moving from one robotaxi per day to three per hour, aiming to flood markets with autonomous rides.…

Malaysia’s trade ministry is digging into reports that a Chinese company is using servers equipped with Nvidia’s advanced AI chips to train large language models in local data centers. The probe focuses on whether the firm’s actions break Malaysian laws or regulations, particularly those tied to sensitive technology. The ministry is working with agencies like police and customs to verify the claims, emphasizing a firm stance against any violations. The investigation stems from a report that Chinese engineers transported hard drives filled with data to Malaysia, aiming to build AI models using Nvidia-powered servers. These servers, housed in Malaysian data centers, rely on chips subject to U.S. export controls designed to limit China’s access to advanced AI technology. Malaysia, a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, must navigate its role as a…

Apple has set its sights on spring 2026 to roll out a major Siri overhaul, planned for the iOS 26.4 software update. Unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2024, the revamped assistant was initially slated to launch with the iPhone 16 but hit repeated snags. The company now targets a smarter Siri that handles complex tasks, taps personal data, and responds to on-screen content, promising a more conversational experience. Technical challenges caused the delays. Siri’s original framework, built for simple commands like setting timers, didn’t mesh with a new AI system designed for advanced queries. This mix led to frequent errors during testing, prompting engineers to rebuild Siri’s core technology, internally called Siri LLM. Apple’s focus on quality, highlighted by software chief Craig Federighi at WWDC25, justified pushing…

A NEW MESSAGING SYSTEM EMERGES Elon Musk announced XChat, a revamped direct messaging system for X. The feature, now in beta for select paid subscribers, introduces end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, file sharing, and audio and video calls. Musk shared the news in a post on X, describing XChat as built on Rust, a programming language known for speed and security, with a fresh architecture designed to enhance privacy and functionality. Unlike X’s earlier messaging, which allowed only media files and offered limited encryption for paid users since May 2023, XChat expands the scope. Users can send any file type, from documents to code, and make calls without needing a phone number. The system is secured with a four-digit passcode, adding an extra layer of protection. The beta rollout targets X…

POWER AND PERFORMANCE TWEAKS Adaptive Power iOS 26 brings a smart battery feature that adjusts energy use based on your iPhone habits. It tracks app activity, screen brightness, and other patterns to dial back background processes, extending battery life without manual tweaks. The system runs quietly, making it ideal for power-hungry devices or slimmer models with smaller batteries. You’ll notice longer usage without changing your routine, a practical boost for daily life. Charge Time Estimate A new battery tool displays how long it’ll take to fully charge your iPhone, shown in the Battery settings when plugged in. This clear estimate helps you plan, whether you’re rushing out or charging overnight. It’s a small addition but saves the guesswork of checking repeatedly, especially when you need your phone ready fast. Auto-Categorize…

OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, has publicly stated that Meta offered signing bonuses as high as $100 million to attract his company’s top engineers, alongside annual compensation packages exceeding that amount. These offers targeted researchers critical to OpenAI’s work on ChatGPT and advanced AI models, as Meta seeks to build a “superintelligence” team to compete in the race for artificial general intelligence. Altman shared these details on a podcast hosted by his brother, emphasizing that none of OpenAI’s key talent has accepted Meta’s deals so far. Meta’s push is led personally by its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who has been directly contacting engineers to join a new AI lab focused on achieving human-level AI capabilities. The company views OpenAI as a major rival, especially as its own AI efforts, including the…

ROOTING DATA IN EUROPE Microsoft announced on June 16, 2025, a bold plan to ensure all European cloud customer data stays within the European Union and European Free Trade Association territories. This commitment spans user files, system logs, and AI-generated content, directly addressing concerns about data falling under foreign laws, such as the U.S. CLOUD Act, which could force American firms to disclose overseas data. The Microsoft Sovereign Cloud, now in preview, places European personnel in charge of all operations, empowering customers with complete control over their digital assets. To deliver on this promise, Microsoft introduced tools like Data Guardian, which requires EU-based staff to approve any remote access to data systems in real time. Every action is logged in a tamper-proof ledger, ensuring transparency. Customers can also manage encryption…

A new MIT study reveals that using ChatGPT to write essays reduces brain activity compared to writing with traditional search tools or no tools at all. Researchers hooked up dozens of college students to brain-scanning headsets, asking them to write SAT-style essays under three conditions: relying on ChatGPT, using Google search, or writing solely with their own minds. The findings showed clear differences in how the brain worked depending on the method used. The study measured neural connectivity, which tracks how different brain regions communicate during tasks. Students writing without any tools showed the strongest connections, like a busy highway system with signals firing across multiple areas. Those using search engines had moderate activity, while ChatGPT users displayed the weakest links, suggesting less mental effort. The brain scans painted a…

A NEW WAY TO MODEL QUANTUM SYSTEMS Scientists have developed a parallel algorithm that simulates the behavior of complex quantum systems on supercomputers, tackling a challenge that has long stumped researchers. Known as or-represented quantum algebra, or ORQA, this method efficiently models how groups of quantum particles interact, offering insights into materials science, chemistry, and physics. Unlike traditional approaches bogged down by computational limits, ORQA splits tasks across thousands of processors, making it possible to study large-scale quantum dynamics. The algorithm focuses on many-body quantum systems, where particles like electrons or qubits influence each other in intricate ways. These interactions create exponential complexity, overwhelming even the fastest classical computers. ORQA sidesteps this by representing quantum states as combinations of simpler operations, called Pauli strings, which describe fundamental quantum properties. This…

macOS Tahoe 26 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Mac. With a visually stunning redesign, enhanced Continuity features, the most transformative Spotlight update to date, and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities, the update promises to make the Mac more capable, productive, and personal than ever. INTRODUCING LIQUID GLASS At the heart of macOS Tahoe 26 is a breathtaking redesign that introduces Liquid Glass, a translucent material that dynamically reflects and refracts its surroundings. This aesthetic overhaul enhances the Mac’s visual appeal while preserving the familiarity that users love. The desktop, Dock, sidebars, and toolbars have been refined to emphasize content, with a fully transparent menu bar that makes the display feel expansive. Personalization takes center stage with new customization options. Users can now tweak the Control Center and…

Apple’s Shortcuts app in iOS 26 introduces a feature that lets users interact with Apple Intelligence language models in a conversational way, resembling a chatbot experience. Unlike a dedicated AI app, this functionality is tucked into Shortcuts, allowing custom queries to tap into Apple’s in-house AI for answers, summaries, or creative tasks. The feature, available in beta, offers a glimpse of how Apple weaves AI into its ecosystem without a standalone chatbot. Setting it up is straightforward. Users open Shortcuts, create a new action, and select “Use Model” to access Apple Intelligence. They can type a question, like finding coffee shops or drafting a recipe, and the system responds in a natural, chat-like tone. A follow-up option lets users ask related questions, mimicking a threaded conversation, though it lacks a…

WHY COMPANIES WANT BOTS Businesses outside the AI sector are increasingly creating their own chatbots to handle customer queries, streamline operations, and cut costs. Retailers, banks, airlines, and nonprofits, traditionally focused on their core services rather than tech, see these tools as a way to stay competitive. Chatbots can answer common questions, guide users through purchases, or collect feedback, freeing up staff for more complex tasks. The push comes from customer expectations. Shoppers want instant responses, whether browsing a website or checking a flight status. Human agents can’t always keep up, especially during peak times. A chatbot, even a basic one, can manage multiple conversations at once, offering 24/7 support without hiring extra help. This is especially appealing for companies with tight budgets or seasonal spikes in demand. Many non-AI…

Apple’s annual Back to School sale, known as the Higher Education Offer, is underway in the United States, targeting students, educators, and parents through the Education Store. The promotion provides perks for buying eligible Macs and iPads, typically including free accessories or gift cards alongside year-round education discounts. Specific details on the current offer remain sparse, but the sale aims to attract academic buyers with added value. Eligible participants include college students, faculty, staff, homeschool teachers, and parents purchasing for students at higher education institutions. Verification is required through Apple’s Education Store or a third-party service, ensuring only qualified buyers access the deals. The promotion restricts purchases to one Mac and one iPad per person, maintaining fairness among individual shoppers. The sale’s structure varies by region. In countries like Australia…

Google suffered a major blow in its effort to overturn a massive European Union antitrust fine tied to its Android operating system. The European Court of Justice’s advocate general recommended dismissing Google’s appeal against a penalty exceeding 4 billion euros, siding with EU regulators who accused the company of using Android’s dominance to stifle competition. The non-binding opinion, issued by a top legal adviser, carries significant weight, as judges often follow such guidance in final rulings. The case centers on Google’s practices with Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, powering billions of devices. EU regulators argued that Google imposed unfair restrictions on device makers, requiring them to pre-install Google Search and Chrome to access the Play Store. These rules, the EU said, limited consumer choice and blocked…

A NEW PLAYER IN INDIA’S INTERNET MARKET India has granted a license to Elon Musk’s Starlink, allowing the satellite internet provider to begin commercial operations in the country. The approval, issued by the Department of Telecommunications, marks a significant step for Starlink, which has sought entry into the world’s most populous nation for years. The company now joins Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio as one of three authorized satellite internet providers in India, setting the stage for a competitive broadband market. Starlink operates a constellation of over 7,000 low Earth orbit satellites, delivering high-speed, low-latency internet to remote and underserved areas. Unlike traditional cable or fiber networks, its satellite system requires minimal ground infrastructure, making it ideal for connecting rural and mountainous regions where terrestrial networks struggle. In India, where…

Meta Platforms announced on June 16, 2025, that WhatsApp, its global messaging giant, will display ads for the first time, marking a pivotal shift for the app acquired for $19 billion in 2014. The ads will appear in the Updates tab, a section hosting Status posts and Channels, used by roughly 1.5 billion people daily. This move diverges from WhatsApp’s original ad-free ethos, championed by founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton, who prioritized simplicity and privacy over commercial features. The decision reflects Meta’s broader strategy to monetize WhatsApp’s massive user base, now exceeding 3 billion monthly active users. Unlike personal chats, which remain untouched, the Updates tab will feature status ads prompting users to message businesses directly. Channels will also introduce search ads and subscription options, allowing administrators to charge…

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car unit, is rolling out its robotaxi service to new neighborhoods in California, adding over 80 square miles to its commercial zone. The expansion stretches across Los day, covering spots like Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Sunset Boulevard. The Waymo One app now lets riders book driverless Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles in these areas, marking a step toward making autonomous rides a common sight. The growth builds on Waymo’s existing presence in major California markets, where it operates hundreds of vehicles. The company’s fleet, including over 400 cars in Los Angeles, handles thousands of paid trips weekly, offering rides from urban hubs to suburban streets. The service aims to provide a safe, reliable alternative to traditional ride-hailing, with vehicles navigating complex city routes using cameras, radar, and…

Apple revealed at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2025, that iOS 26 introduces a feature allowing iPhone users to autofill one-time verification codes directly from third-party apps like Gmail and WhatsApp. Previously limited to Apple’s Mail and Messages apps, this update expands the autofill system to detect codes in popular email and messaging platforms, streamlining two-factor authentication for millions. The feature, now in developer beta, responds to user frustration with manually copying codes from non-Apple apps. The autofill works seamlessly. When a website or app prompts for a verification code, iOS 26 scans Gmail or WhatsApp for the incoming message, displaying the code above the keyboard for a single-tap entry. This eliminates the need to switch apps, copy the code, and paste it back, a process that could…

European Union regulators warned Apple on June 16, 2025, that it risks fresh antitrust charges unless it resolves violations of the Digital Markets Act, a law aimed at curbing tech giants’ dominance. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, set a June 26 deadline for Apple to allow app developers to inform users about cheaper payment options outside the App Store, a practice known as steering. Failure to comply could trigger daily fines up to 5% of Apple’s global revenue, a significant threat given the company’s $394 billion in sales last year. This follows a €500 million ($579 million) fine in April for similar App Store restrictions, marking the EU’s first penalty under the DMA, effective since March 2024. The Commission accused Apple of blocking developers from directing users to…