YouTube Expands Deepfake Detection to Politicians; Meta Buys Moltbook; Amazon to Have Senior Engineers Sign Off on AI-Assisted Changes; PetPhone Lets Your Pet Call You-Maybe

Posted: March 10, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

YouTube is expanding its deepfake detection, adding detection of politicians, government officials, and journalists. Techcrunch.com reports that it will be using its likeness detection tech, which identifies AI-generated deepfakes. Members of the pilot group will get access to a tool that detects unauthorized AI generated content and gives them a way to ask for removal of such if they think it violates YouTube policy. The tech is similar to YouTube’s existing Content ID system, which detects copyright-protected material in users’ uploaded videos, the likeness detection feature looks for simulated faces made with AI tools. The company noted it’s advocating for these protections at a federal level, too, with its support for the NO FAKES Act in D.C., which would regulate the use of AI to create unauthorized recreations of an individual’s voice and visual likeness.

Meta is gobbling up Moltbook, the social network that resembles Reddit, except it is essentially a network of AI agents. The platform has just been around since January. According to engadget.com, Moltbook and its creators Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr will be joining Meta Superintelligence Labs. Schlicht used OpenClaw to create a bot named “Clawd Clawderberg” and asked it to create a social network for AI agents. And that’s how Moltbook came to be.For what it’s worth, Clawd Clawderberg is a play on “Mark Zuckerberg” and Moltbook is a clear riff on “Facebook,” so it’s somewhat fitting that Schlicht vibe-coded his way to a job at Meta. It also emerged that it was relatively easy for humans to pose as AI agents and post on Moltbook. As nutty as this seems, it isn’t that much weirder than Zuck’s coming up with the virtual world a couple years ago where we were all going to live and have our avatars act for us. 

Amazon is now going to make senior engineers sign off on any changes made by AI tools. FT.com says this is after a number of outages and incidents. Amazon gathered a large group of engineers for a meeting earlier Tuesday to dig in to what it termed a spate of outages and incidents using the AI coding tools. Amazon’s website and shopping app went down for nearly six hours this month in an incident the company said involved an erroneous “software code deployment”. The outage left customers unable to complete transactions or access functions such as checking account details and product prices. Junior and mid-level engineers will now require more senior engineers to sign off any AI-assisted changes. This makes one pause at Square’s parent company laying off 40% of engineers because AI can do the work…Jack Dorsey may have to rethink his action there, too. Fast is great…saving money on salaries is great if you are management…but accuracy is mandatory…and so far, AI hasn’t had the most sterling track record when it comes to accuracy. 

One of the unusual gadgets showed off at Mobile World Congress was the PetPhone. Cnet.com notes that the device actually came out in September, but really just got shown at the show. The device is a cellular tracker that attaches to your pet’s collar. Unlike AirTags, that rely on nearby phones to track, this thing has its own GPS and cellular transceiver to keep track of your pet. That’s all well and good, but what they are touting seems iffy. PetPhone claims your cat or dog can call you. To call, though, the dog or cat must jump 3 times in a row. Try training a cat to do that. It’s like the old joke if cats could text you, they wouldn’t. Even getting a dog to do this might be a challenge. If you are up for it though, PetPhone is $90 bucks at Amazon, Chewy, and other retailers. There’s a subscription…the cheapest is a 3 year term for $5 a month with the first month free.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Anthropic Sues Government over ‘Supply Chain Risk; Russian Government Hackers Hitting Signal & WhatsApp; Pennsylvania Newest State Fighting Dynamic Pricing; Sony Testing Playstation Dynamic Pricing

Posted: March 9, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

After the government not only cut ties with Anthropic over their refusal to let the government use Claude for mass surveillance of US citizens or operating weapons systems without human intervention, the government also designated the company as a ‘supply chain risk,’ with can significantly affect their business. Engadget.com reports that Anthropic has now sued the government over this, as expected. The lawsuit claims the designation is unlawful and violated free speech and due process rights. Anthropic’s statement to media said “These actions are unprecedented and unlawful. The Constitution does not allow ​the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech.” The AI company further said that the government action was part of an ‘unprecedented and unlawful…campaign of retaliation.’ Now, the slugfest in the courts begins.

The Netherlands Defense Intelligence and Security Service has reveled that the Russians are in the midst of a ‘large scale global’ hacking campaign against Signal and WhatsApp users. According to techcrunch.com, they are using phishing and social engineering technics instead of malware to take over accounts on the apps. They are posing on Signal as the app’s support team. On WhatsApp, they are abusing the ‘linked devices’ function, that lets users access WhatsApp from a secondary device like your laptop or tablet. Just a word to the wise. Even platforms that have fully encrypted messaging can be hacked.

Pennsylvania is the newest state to jump into the fight against dynamic pricing. A bill in their legislature would ban ‘unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce,” namely, promoting or engaging in dynamic pricing. In the bill, dynamic pricing refers to changing the prices of essential goods or services within a 24-hour period based on demand or other factors, including the use of artificial intelligence. Mashable.com notes that dynamic pricing has become more common with retailers the last few years. Sometimes you will see something about ‘surge pricing’. Another aspect is surveillance pricing, which uses customers’ behaviors and characteristics to set different costs for the same items. And algorithmic pricing uses data — sometimes generalized data, such as when demand is highest, and other times personalized data, such as one’s demographic — to determine cost. Here you thought that just the increase in gas prices from the Iran war was bumping up grocery prices! Other states considering legislation concerning surveillance pricing are Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

Speaking of dynamic pricing, a site called PSprices has been tracking prices on Sony’s digital game store, and noticed that some games were being offered at different prices to different users. What’s more, those offers are tracked in the PlayStation API with experiment identifiers.The site says Sony is running A/B testing on prices for over 150 games in 58 regions…although so far, the US doesn’t see to be included. This is yet another reason states are stepping in where the feds won’t, and passing laws against dynamic pricing…which is such a sneaky way to take more money out of your pocket…and in a lot of cases, without you even knowing it.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.

Discord Delays Global Age Verification; Touchscreen MacBook Pros; App Warns if Smart Glasses are Present; The Pentagon-Anthropic Drama Continues

Posted: February 25, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Discord delayed its worldwide age verification due to tremendous blowback. Now, they have kicked the can down the road a bit more. Theverge.com reports that instead of rolling out global age verification next month, it will be delayed until the second half of 2026. Discord has flatly denied rumors that they will require face scans and ID uploads from everyone just to use the platform. Discord says that before it rolls out age verification globally, it will add more options for users to verify their age (including with a credit card), include documentation of every verification vendor used, add an option for “spoiler channels” in Discord as an alternative to age-gated channels for walling off certain topics, and publish a technical blog post explaining how its age estimation systems work. Discord users are still angry and skeptical, so we will see if this gets delayed again. 

As we have reported, up to 5 new Apple devices will be coming in the next few weeks. Also, Apple has been working on perfecting a touchscreen Mac. 9to5mac.com reports that Apple seems to have developed a way to support touchscreen use without making the interface elements gigantic. When user touch a button or control, the interface will bring up a new type of menu surrounding their finger that provides more relevant options for touch commands. When the user taps an item in the menu bar at the top of the screen, the set of controls will enlarge to be more easily selectable with a finger. It sounds a lot like what Apple does with the size and shape changing Dynamic Island on iPhones. According to reports, the screen will look just like a normal MacBook screen unless you touch it…so if typing is your preferred input, you are good to go…but you can also reach up and tap something on the screen to get to an item or app quickly. We’ll see how it all works…it sounds much like an iPad with a keyboard, actually. 

Remember Google’s Glass, and how bars, restaurants, and other establishments had signs banning them? The wearers were called ‘Glassholes.’ Apparently, the apprehension of being furtively filmed by someone in smart glasses is still around. It seems a bit overly paranoid to me…considering the proliferation of cameras on the streets, and in businesses at this point. One big retailer even has had cameras at their entrances, as well as scanners, and then serves people with bargains they think the person might like on their app. Well, if you are one who is freaked out by smart glasses, rejoice! A new app will let you know if there is a pair close to you. Engadget.com says the app is called Nearby Glasses. It will user the unique Bluetooth signature transmitted by smart glasses and send a push alert to notify you that someone is wearing the glasses nearby. The app maker claims that his app is particularly important for your privacy (what privacy?), as Meta is working to add facial recognition to its Meta Ray-Bans. Right now, Nearby Glasses is available at the Google Play Store, but not on Apple’s App Store. 

We reported that the Department of Defense has now allowed Musk’s xAI into its classified systems. FT.com reports that Pete Hegseth is going to also allow ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini into the classified systems, which had…up to now…only seen Anthropic’s Claude available. The Secretary has now threatened to cut Anthropic from the DoD supply chain unless the company agrees to letting DoD use its tech for ‘all lawful military applications’ by Friday. Anthropic has refused to let its AI be used for domestic surveillance and for lethal autonomous weapons systems. Hegseth has threatened to not only drop Anthropic from its supply chain, but he says he will invoke the Defense Production Act…which allows the president to exert control over domestic industry in the interest of national defense. The cutting Anthropic from the Defense Department supply chain would cost the company $200 million. We will have to wait for Friday to see if the DoD follows through with its threats. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Meta Partners with AMD on Chips; OpenClaw Wipes Out Meta Security Researcher’s Inbox; Military Will Use Grok in Classified Systems, Apple Testing a ‘Deep Red’ for iPhone 18 Pro

Posted: February 24, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

AMD has landed a huge account…and possible part owner. They have cut a multi-year deal with Meta for up to 6 gigawatts worth of GPUs. Gizmodo.com points out that 6 gigawatts is enough to power almost 4.5 million homes! The first 1 gigawatt deployment will be in place by the 2nd half of 2026, and will include custom chips optimized specifically for Meta’s workloads. The announcement also says that Meta will be a top customer of AMD’s 6th Gen AMD EPYC CPUs. The agreement includes performance-based terms that could allow Meta to acquire up to 160 million AMD shares, about 10% of the company, if certain milestones are met. 

AI can be a great tool. but still makes some terrible moves. We’ve noted here about the various AI agents hallucinating, as the AI industry likes to say…in other words, it makes stuff up some of the time. Now, here’s another scary problem. According to techcrunch.com, OpenClaw AI was ask by a Meta AI security researcher to check her overstuffed email inbox and suggest what to delete or archive. The agent went crazy, and deleted all her email in a ‘speed run,’ despite her giving it commands from her phone demanding that it stop. OpenClaw is an open source AI agent. It is something of a darling of a lot of silicon valley types right now…except when it goes nuts like it did on Summer Yue’s inbox!

This just makes me shake my head, but the US Department of Defense is apparently going to use Elon Musk’s Grok in its classified systems. Engadget.com notes that the Pentagon has been in a squabble with Anthropic, which makes Claude. Anthropic doesn’t want their AI used for mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. Although ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have been approved for the DoD, up to now only Claude  has been allowed for the military’s most sensitive tasks in intelligence, weapons development and battlefield operations. Claude was reportedly used in the Venezuelan raid in which the US military captured and extracted the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. Musk agreed that xAI could be used for any lawful purpose…including mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. 

This is a more ‘fluffy’ topic than I normally cover, but it caught my eye. Mashable.com reports that Apple is testing a ‘deep red’ color for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models. This will be the first red iPhone since 2022..and Apple may keep the cosmic orange color. That tone is apparently very popular in China. The upcoming iPhone Fold? Nope, it will be drab…with likely colors being black, white, dark gray, or silver. Probably only two of those shades will make it to the final phone. Hey, as much as they cost, you will probably buy a case to protect it anyway.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ’Technified’ for now.

Spotify-750 Million Monthly Users; Facebook-Animate Your Profile Pic with AI; Google Expands Tools to Remove Sensitive Data; YouTube TV-New Cheaper Plans

Posted: February 10, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Spotify has had a huge footprint already, and now they have announced that they have over 750 million active monthly users! Engadget.com reports that the number is up 11% over a year ago. Even since third quarter, it’s a big move…they had 713 million then. Spotify says that part of the growth can be attributed to AI…although last year they promised to get rid of some of the ‘AI slop’ on the platform and have ‘artist-first AI music products.’ 

My joy can hardly be contained. Facebook is now dropping a new AI feature that lets you animate your profile pic and restyle Stories and Memories. According to theverge.com, you will also be able to add animated backgrounds to text posts to make them pop in the feed. With all the billions Meta has poured into its AI, they…like Google…are determined to try to make you use it. What kind of animated pics, if you are leaning on trying them? You’ll be able to give a still photo motion with some preset types of animations, including “natural, party hat, confetti, wave, and heart, They will be adding animations in the upcoming year, too. 

Google has rolled out expanded tools to let users delete sensitive data about themselves. TechCrunch.com notes that this is in conjunction with Safer Internet Day. The ‘Results about you’ tool already allows users to remove Search results containing their phone number, email address, or home address, and it can now also be used to request the removal of results that include information such as a driver’s license, passport, or Social Security number, the company said in the update Tuesday. Once you confirm your details, Google will automatically monitor Search results and notify you if they show up. Unfortunately, your data can’t be removed from the web entirely, but at least it can be kept out of seach results. They also hare making it easier to request removal of non-consensual explicit images. Now, click the 3 dots and select ‘remove result,’ then tap ‘it shows a sexual image of me.’ Good stuff for Google to give to users. 

YouTube is ‘rejiggering’ its YouTube TV plans. In a report from 9to5google.com, there are now alternatives to chunking down $82.99 a month for over 100 channels. The new plans are genre-specific. The Sports Plan is $64.99 a month, or shave $10 bucks off if you pay yearly and are a new user. This gets you all ESPN, FS1, and NBC Sports Network…around 35 channels. If sports isn’t your thing, you can go for the Entertainment Plan at $54.99 a month…or $44.99 a month for 3 months for new accounts. This has FX, Hallmark, Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network, HGTV, and others. There is a News+Entertainment+Family  Plan too, which is $69.99 a month and has Disney, Nick, National Geographic, Cartoon Net, PBS Kids. The Sports+News plan is $71.99 a month and gets all the sports channels above plus CNBC, Fox News, MS Now, CNN, CSPAN, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. It’s nice to get more ‘a la carte’ choices, but still pricy…and a drag that there isn’t just a pure news channel. Yes, I’m a news nerd.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.  

EU Calls Out Meta-Blocking Rival Chatbots on WhatsApp; Discord Will Require Face Scan or ID for Full Access; Gadget Turns Car Display into Infotainment Center; Locking Down iPhone-For Reporters and Protestors

Posted: February 9, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

The European Union has warned Meta that it may take what they are calling ‘interim measures’ against WhatsApp. Engadget.com reports that the EU is doing a ‘preliminary review’ around concerns that Meta is violating antitrust laws by blocking third party AI assistants from its WhatsApp platform. Back in October, Meta announced update to the terms of its WhatsApp Business Solution. EU investigators say that a January 15th update ‘effectively’ makes Meta AI the only assistant available on WhatsApp. In a statement, Meta responded “The facts are ‍that there is no reason for the EU to ​intervene in the WhatsApp ‌Business API. There are many AI options and people can use them from app stores, operating ⁠systems, devices, websites, ​and industry ​partnerships.”

Discord has announced that it is rolling out age verification on the platform in the US. According to theverge.com, starting next month all accounts will be automatically be set to ‘teen-appropriate.’ If you want to access more, you will have to use a face scan or ID to get through the teen screen. Direct messages and servers that are not age-restricted will continue to function normally, but users won’t be able to send messages or view content in an age-restricted server until they complete the age check process, even if it’s a server they were part of before age verification rolled out. Discord had already started age checks in the UK and Australia. 

This was bound to happen with the full screens that go door to door on your dashboard on a number of cars. There are some limitations, but now you can turn your screen into basically a smart TV. Bgr.com says if you buy a $60 Carlin Kit Fire Drive Link Pro, you can connect your vehicle with a wired CarPlay System to a Fire TV stick and stream movies or games. The Fire stick is not included, and so far it’s the only one they recommended using…but some people have gotten a Roku stick to work. There isn’t time here to detail all the steps, but it isn’t rocket science to hook up and use. If you are getting ready for a road trip this spring or summer, and have a late model car or SUV with a giant display, this may be a cheap way to entertain the passengers on the way to your destination. 

This is not for everyone…but if you are out protesting, covering an event as a reporter, or getting video of Enforcement actions, you may want to lock down your iPhone. ZDnet.com notes that the Lockdown Mode feature has been on iPhone for a while now. To use it, you should make sure your phone is updated to the latest OS. Then, back up your phone first…if you have iCloud, your stuff is backed up nightly already. go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, and scroll to the bottom where you will find Lockdown Mode. Note that a LOT of features on your phone will be deactivated. Most message attachments are link previews are locked, incoming FaceTime calls, SharePlay, and more are turned off. It removes shared photo albums and strips location data from shared images, and more. Again, not something you want to do unless you are reporting or protesting…but worth knowing about. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

SpaceX Acquires xAI; French Cops Raid X Office in Paris; Amazon “just Walk Out’ Tech Will Survive; Firefox Will Have AI Off Switch

Posted: February 3, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

xAI has officially been acquired by SpaceX. Both companies are owned by Elon Musk. Techcrunch.com reports that at least on paper, this creates the world’s most valuable private company. xAI and X…formerly Twitter…have been bleeding cash. It is thought that Musk will eventually try to merge this new private company into Tesla. More immediately, Musk wants to create data centers in space, and launch a stunning number of satellites into space. As for revenue, xAI has been burning through a billion a month, and presently, SpaceX generates up to 80% of its revenue from launching its own Starlink satellites. 

X and its Grok AI chatbot are the bad boys of online platforms, having become a swamp of deepfake nudes and explicit images of minors. Now, benzinga.com notes that French police have raided the Paris offices of X. This is part of the ongoing criminal investigation into whether Grok was used to generate and distribute illegal content, including explicit deepfakes and Holocaust denial. The investigation into Grok AI began last month due to a rise in explicit deepfakes, including those involving children. Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino have been summoned for “voluntary interviews” scheduled for April 20. As reported by the outlet, X has not yet released a statement regarding the raid.

We reported last week that Amazon is shuttering all its grocery stores except for Whole Foods. They had some pretty cool tech, including the ‘Just Walk Out’ feature…no check stands. According to geekwire.com, the ‘Just Walk Out’ tech will survive the closures…minus the palm-scanning. Independent stores that have used Just Walk Out will now need to use a card or tap a phone to pay instead of scanning their hand. Amazon has licensed the Just Walk Out tech to some 360 locations in 5 countries. The palm scanning had been dinged by many as being too intrusive. We use biometrics on our own phones…which allegedly stays in a secure enclave on the phone…but palm scanning in various stores seemed creepy to many. 

What day would be complete without some new story about AI, the golden tech topic of the moment? Well, if you aren’t crazy about AI, or just feel…as I do…that it is not ready for prime time yet, but is being shoved at us by companies who have invested wild amounts of money into it…one organization is giving you an out. Mashable.com reports that Mozilla’s Firefox browser will be launching an AI off switch! If you have been bugged by AI ‘enhancements,’ or even actually bugged by the likes of Chrome with a pop-up imploring your to take advantage of AI in some task you don’t need any help with, this will be a real plus. In a post, Mozilla says that the AI controls will give Firefox users the ability to “block current and future generative AI features.” Starting Feb. 24, users will be able to toggle a setting called “Block AI enhancements.” Mozilla has a video out showing how the AI controls work. The Cliff’s Notes version is that you can control the AI settings for: translations, alt text in pdf’s, AI enhanced tab grouping, link previews, AI chatbot in the sidebar, and more. AI hallucination free browsing…what a concept! 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Samsung Galaxy Trifold-Out This Week; Google-Go From AI Overviews Right to AI Mode; Amazon Closing All Fresh & Go Stores; AI Hitting UK Jobs More Than Jobs in Other Major Countries

Posted: January 27, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Trifold goes on sale the end of this week, January 30th. Engadget.com reports that the price, expected to be $2000-$2500 has blown right past that…it will cost a rather astounding $2900! It is thicker, but gives you basically a tablet sized screen when fully opened…so the thought is, you will only need one device, and that allegedly takes some of the sting out of the high price. If mass production can bring the price down, and the screen creases have really been eliminated, this could be pretty cool in the future. By the way, like Henry Ford’s famous Model T, you can have any color you want, as long as it’s black. The Z Trifold has 512 gigs of storage. 

Google is bowing a new feature that will allow users to ask follow up questions directly from the AI overviews that now top all searches. According to techcrunch.com, users will be able to jump into a conversational back-and-forth with AI Mode. Google also announced that it is making Gemini 3 the new default model for AI overviews globally. Google says its testing shows that users prefer an experience that flows naturally into a conversation and that asking follow-up questions while preserving context from AI Overviews makes Search more helpful. 

Amazon is closing all its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh locations, which amounts to 72 stores nationwide. Geekwire.com says that the online giant will focus on its Whole Foods Market stores and grocery delivery from amazon.com. The Go and Fresh stores have been something of a 10 year long experiment, with the draw of ‘just walk out,’ avoiding check stands and the wait. The Go and Fresh stores will close after February 1st. Some Fresh stores will ultimately reopen as Whole Foods locations. Amazon says it will likely come up with new retail experiments in the future. The company has reported that it is now one of the top 3 grocers in the US, which over $150 billion in sales and 150 million customers shopping for groceries per year. 

Some new research shows that AI is causing more job losses in the United Kingdom than in other major countries. Theguardian.com reports that the study was commissioned by investment bank Morgan Stanley. It shows that net job losses in the UK the last 12 months were minus 8%…and that British businesses reported an average 11.5% increase in productivity. The US businesses reported similar productivity, but actually had an increase in job creation. The jobs most likely to be cut were early career jobs…Gen Z workers are most concerned for their jobs, while end of career baby boomers seemed less concerned…and appear to be in safer positions due to knowledge and experience. The AI related job reductions have hit white collar jobs most…finance and creative industries, and professional services like law, accounting, consulting, and marketing. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

Microsoft Bows New AI Chip; Apple Unveils AirTag 2; EU is Probing Grok & X Over AI Deepfakes; ICE Using Phone & Web Data to Identify & Track People

Posted: January 26, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Microsoft has bowed a new chip designed for scaling AI inference. TechCrunch. com reports that the Maia 200 chip has been technically outfitted to run powerful AI models at faster speeds and with more efficiency, that according to Microsoft. Inference refers to the computing process of running a model, in contrast with the compute required to train it. As AI companies mature, inference costs have become an increasingly important part of their overall operating cost, leading to renewed interest in ways to optimize the process. Importantly, this chip is designed to be less of a power hog. It is noted that with the new chip, Microsoft is lessening their dependence on NVIDIA. Both Google and Amazon are running some of their own chips now. 

Apple has rolled out without any fanfare the AirTag 2. The upgraded AirTags have better range, and a louder speaker. According to 9to5mac.com, the AirTag 2 has Apple’s 2nd gen Ultra Wideband chip..which is already in the iPhone 17 handsets, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11. It will work 50% further away than the older AirTag. You will be able to use Precision Finding on Apple Watch 9 and newer as well as the Watch Ultra 2 or later to find an Air Tag. The tiny speaker is also 50% louder. The AirTag 2 is available for order today, and ships this week. Pricing is the same as before, $29 for one, and $99 for a 4 pack. You can still get free personalization.

The EU is investigating X and Grok because they have failed to take action to stop the spread of AI generated sexually explicit images…including child sexual abuse material. Engadget.com says the probe could result in ‘further enforcement steps’ against X. The EU has already fined X $140 million. X did put out a statement regarding X and Grok, claiming “We remain committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and continue to have zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, nonconsensual nudity and unwanted sexual content.” 

ICE is using a couple of programs to track people in entire neighborhoods and monitor people on social media. Minnesota Public Radio reports that ICE is using Tangles to scrape sites like X and Bluesky, but are also using that tool in conjunction with Webloc. They can add people to a watch list so they are alerted every time a person posts something. If you are going to a protest area, whether to protest or to film, turn off location services on your phone. the camera will still work. Also, turn off Bluetooth. The Danish intelligence service has found that the US can use the ‘instant pairing’ feature that Google and Apple have…instead of having to key in a code like you used to…to pair with your phone and get your data. Just a word to the wise. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.

Apple-5 All New Products Coming; Musk Aiming to Take SpaceX Public; YouTube Working to Curb ‘AI Slop’; OpenAI Will Ship 1st Hardware in 2026

Posted: January 21, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s unusual for Apple to release more than one new product in a year, but this year will be a banner one for Cupertino. The Apple folks are reportedly going to bow 5 all-new products this year. Macrumors.com reports that most of these have been rumored for some time. At any rate, they include a smart home hub with screen (honestly, mockups look like a HomePod with an iPad attached), a FaceID doorbell, a cheaper MacBook with an A18 chip borrowed from the iPhone line, a folding iPhone, and…this one seems like the fabled ‘one more thing’ of the Jobs era…augmented reality glasses. While the latter may not make it out until 2027, Apple will likely show them off this year. It’s expected they will be similar to Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses…and like the latest of those, they will have in-lens display. 

We just reported that Anthropic, makers of Claude, plans an IPO this year. Now, Elon Musk has flipped, and will try to do an IPO of SpaceX this year, with the specific intent to beat Anthropic’s public offering, and also Google, which wants to build space based data centers. According to engadget.com, this rush has to do with Musk wanting to build AI data centers in space. Google recently announced it was looking into putting a data center in space, with test launches scheduled for 2027. Musk reportedly wants to beat his rival to the punch, but SpaceX would need the billions of dollars in capital that an IPO would deliver. Putting a giant center in space isn’t cheap. Musk wants to complete the IPO by July. 

Right now, over a million YouTube channels are using AI tools daily. Now, variety.com says that YouTube’s chief Neal Mohan has announced that the platform is taking steps to minimize the spread of low-quality AI content — aka “AI slop.” Mohan did note that later this year, “you’ll be able to create a Short using your own likeness,” as well as produce games with a text prompt and experiment with music. The YouTube chief continued, writing  “Throughout this evolution, AI will remain a tool for expression, not a replacement.” 

OpenAi is apparently getting set to ship their first product this year, and it will likely be ear buds. You may recall that we reported earlier that OpenAI had acquired Jony Ive’s startup io. Well now, techcrunch.com reports that the hardware may ship in the last half of this year. We do know that the device won’t have a screen and will be pocket sized. For now, the gadget is code-named ‘Sweet Pea.’ It is expected the design will be quite unique compared to most existing ear buds. They will run on a custom 2 nanometer processor and handle AI tasks locally instead of sending requests to the cloud. OpenAI has talked to both China’s Luxshare, and also to Taiwan’s Foxconn. They plan to ship 40-50 million units of the gadget.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now. 

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