WhatsApp has announced the introduction of usernames, a privacy-focused feature allowing users to connect with others without disclosing their phone numbers. The messaging platform, which serves over three billion users globally, will begin rolling out the functionality later this year, with early reservations opening this week.
The Privacy Challenge of Phone Numbers
Phone numbers have long been considered sensitive personal information, linked to numerous aspects of daily life. For individuals meeting new acquaintances—whether classmates, neighbors, or people encountered at social...
Each June in Taipei, the PC hardware industry converges for Computex, a sprawling trade show that highlights new laptops, displays, cooling, storage, CPUs, and motherboards. This year’s edition carried the theme “AI Together,” and exhibitors reflected the industry’s split between cost-conscious refreshes and ambitious, expensive hardware intended to support AI workloads and novel manufacturing techniques.
Market forces and product mixSuppliers emphasized two contrasting responses to rising hardware costs and changing demand. Some vendors pushed for more affordable...
NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang traveled to Seoul to engage with South Korea’s AI ecosystem, meeting infrastructure builders, robotics innovators and members of the country’s active gaming community. The visit follows GTC Taipei at COMPUTEX and aims to strengthen coordination across the AI supply chain ahead of a busy second half of the year.
Arrival in SeoulHuang arrived in Seoul Friday afternoon and was met by fans and members of the media as the visit commenced. The trip’s agenda centers on aligning partners involved in AI infrastructure, semiconductor...
The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image’s Filmed on iPhone initiative returned for its third year, presenting four short films shot on iPhone 17 Pro Max that span genres and regions across India. The selection includes a nocturnal Mumbai romance, a surreal Kerala fable, a Goa coming-of-age piece, and a psychological drama centered on a Bengali news anchor. The program paired emerging directors with established mentors and supplied hardware and software resources to support production and post-production workflows.
Program structure and supportMentors this year included filmmakers Chaitanya...
Anthropic closed a $65 billion Series H round at a $965 billion post-money valuation, marking a major private financing that may precede a public offering. The financing was co-led by Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks, Sequoia Capital, Capital Group, Coatue, and D1 Capital Partners, with participation from institutional investors including Baillie Gifford, Blackstone, Brookfield, D.E. Shaw Ventures, DST Global, and Fidelity Management & Research.
Strategic partners and prior commitments
Strategic infrastructure partners Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron joined the investment round. The...
Apple and Intel have reportedly reached a preliminary manufacturing agreement that would see Intel’s fabrication facilities produce chips for Apple, potentially including the next-generation A21 processor intended for MacBook Neo models.
Deal background and driversAccording to multiple outlets, the two companies concluded intensive discussions that extended over more than a year and culminated in a formal preliminary arrangement. The reported deal comes as Apple seeks to expand foundry capacity beyond its longtime partner TSMC, driven largely by surging demand for MacBook Neo laptops...
The gaming division at Microsoft is undergoing a significant identity shift as leadership confirms the retirement of the Microsoft Gaming name in favor of a return to the Xbox brand. CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty announced the change through an internal memo and a town hall meeting, signaling a move to align the organization name with its historical roots. This rebranding follows a period of rapid structural changes under Sharma, who assumed the chief executive role in February after the departure of Phil Spencer and former president Sarah Bond.
Reclaiming a Legacy...
AMD has introduced the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition, a flagship processor that establishes a new performance tier for the AM5 platform. Retailing at 899 dollars, this 16-core CPU is positioned as a halo product designed for enthusiasts who require a no-compromises solution for both technical workloads and high-end computing. The processor represents the first time the company has equipped two separate compute dies with its specialized cache-stacking technology in a consumer-grade part, though the high cost and specific performance profile make it a niche offering in the current hardware...
Google has expanded the capabilities of its Vids platform by integrating advanced artificial intelligence models for video and audio production. The update, effective as of April 2026, incorporates the Veo 3.1 and Lyria 3 models to facilitate automated content creation for a global user base. This release transforms the browser-based editor from a standard utility into a more robust suite capable of generating original media from text prompts and static images.
High Quality Video Generation for All Users
The implementation of the Veo 3.1 model allows any individual with a Google account to...
