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Technology News
Breaking news and analysis from the world of technology
Meta has launched a new AI tool called Muse Image that lets users create pictures using other people’s public Instagram profile photos. Users can opt out of having their images used, but privacy groups and experts warn this technology could lead to misuse and privacy problems.
Key Facts
Muse Image is an AI tool by Meta that generates pictures using public Instagram profile photos.
The tool is available on the Meta AI app, web browser, WhatsApp, and Instagram Stories in the US.
Users with public accounts can opt out by changing a setting in Instagram under "Sharing and Reuse."
Privacy groups warn non-consensual AI image use can cause harm and is a privacy risk.
Meta says Muse Image uses advanced AI to blend photos and create high-quality images.
The tool is free for regular users, with subscription plans for heavier use.
Meta plans to expand the tool to Facebook, Messenger, and for advertisers.
A version for generating videos with AI is being developed.
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China's cybersecurity agency warned that Anthropic's AI coding tool, Claude Code, may have a hidden backdoor that could send users' private information to the company without permission. The agency advised users to check their software and update or remove unsafe versions. Anthropic has said it is removing the feature that caused the concern.
Key Facts
China's National Vulnerability Database (NVDB) claimed Claude Code has a security backdoor risk.
The backdoor could send sensitive data like user locations and identity information to Anthropic servers.
Claude Code is an AI tool that helps write, debug, and review computer code.
Anthropic restricts access to its products in China but users can still connect via VPN or proxies.
NVDB advised users to uninstall or update Claude Code to a safe version immediately.
Chinese company Alibaba banned Claude Code for its employees starting July 10 due to security fears.
Anthropic engineer said the backdoor was an experiment to prevent abuse and would be removed soon.
Anthropic accused Alibaba of copying its AI models using a method called "distillation."
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The article reviews "Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced," a remake of the 2013 pirate-themed video game. The updated version improves graphics, removes some less enjoyable missions, and enhances combat and story elements to better capture the pirate experience.
Key Facts
The game’s main character, Edward Kenway, is a pirate who gets involved in an ancient war by accident.
Ubisoft Singapore created the "Resynced" remake, improving visuals and gameplay.
Some slow and repetitive missions, like tailing targets, were removed to improve player enjoyment.
The story’s corporate framing device involving Abstergo was cut from gameplay but remains in text logs and limited challenges.
Combat has been updated with new moves and looks like action scenes from movies.
New missions introduce additional crew members with interesting backstories.
Players spend most of their time sailing, fighting, and exploring, making the pirate fantasy feel real.
The remake aims to keep strengths of the original while streamlining the game for a better experience.
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The article describes how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used by patients and therapists in mental health care. While AI can offer helpful advice and calm in difficult moments, the author reflects on both the benefits and risks of relying on AI for therapy.
Key Facts
Some patients use AI tools like ChatGPT to help solve relationship problems and manage emotions.
AI can suggest ways to repair conflicts and provide calm support when people are stressed.
The author, a therapist, sometimes feels challenged by AI's ability to give quick, useful ideas during sessions.
There are mental health risks with AI use, such as worsening anxiety, providing wrong information, increasing isolation, or causing harmful beliefs.
Some people become very dependent on AI and spend too much time interacting with it instead of real people.
AI’s ability to understand emotions and facial expressions is improving, making it more effective in therapy-like roles.
Telehealth growth means patients may soon have sessions with AI therapists without knowing it.
The author questions how human therapists’ roles might change as AI becomes more advanced at therapy.
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The Esports World Cup (EWC) was moved from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Paris, France, in just eight weeks due to safety worries linked to the conflict between the USA and Iran. The tournament features thousands of players competing in popular video games and attracts millions of viewers worldwide.
Key Facts
The EWC was originally scheduled to be held in Riyadh but was relocated to Paris for safety concerns.
The move happened quickly, with organizers setting up the new venue and technical equipment in about two months.
The tournament features around 2,000 players from 100 countries competing in games like Call of Duty and League of Legends.
The Esports Foundation runs the event; it is a non-profit group supported by the Saudi government.
The EWC offers a prize pool of $75 million (around £50 million).
Some people criticize the EWC because of Saudi Arabia’s involvement, calling it “sportswashing,” which means using sports events to improve the country’s image despite human rights concerns.
The French government helped with the relocation, including visa arrangements for players.
Ticket sales in Paris have been strong, with fans from France, Germany, and the UK attending in person.
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Researchers have found a new way hackers can use popular AI coding tools to create large networks of infected devices, called botnets. This attack, called HalluSquatting, tricks AI tools into downloading harmful code by exploiting their tendency to imagine or "hallucinate" resource names when fetching code from the internet.
Key Facts
AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot and others are vulnerable to a new attack named HalluSquatting.
HalluSquatting exploits AI’s habit of hallucinating or guessing resource names, leading it to download malicious code.
Hackers register fake resources that look like popular ones, embedding malicious instructions that infect many devices.
This method can create large botnets, enabling attacks like ransomware, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), or cryptocurrency mining on a massive scale.
Previous prompt injection attacks targeted users individually, but HalluSquatting can infect many users at once without direct targeting.
The attack uses AI tools’ access to command lines, where malicious code can be run to take control of devices.
The name HalluSquatting combines "hallucination" (AI imagining resources) and "squatting" (registering fake but similar resource names).
This new threat shows how AI security challenges are growing as AI tools become more integrated into coding and software development.
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The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved OpenAI to broadly release its new GPT 5.6 model after initial limited testing. OpenAI plans to launch the model widely this week following discussions and tests with government officials.
Key Facts
The Department of Commerce reviewed and approved OpenAI’s advanced GPT 5.6 model for wide public use.
OpenAI had previously released GPT 5.6 only to selected, government-approved groups in a staggered way.
The Center for AI Standards and Innovation within the Department of Commerce conducted testing of GPT 5.6.
OpenAI technical experts stayed in Washington D.C. to answer government questions during the testing process.
The broad release is planned for this week, after additional testing and government meetings.
Restrictions on AI models like GPT 5.6 are part of ongoing negotiations between AI companies and the government.
President Donald Trump’s recent executive order calls for clearer rules on how AI models should be released, but those rules have not been finalized yet.
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A judge ruled that Chrome Holding, which controls DNA testing company 23andMe, must pay $46.75 million to people affected by a 2023 data breach. The payment will be managed by a company called Kroll, which will give the money to the victims.
Key Facts
In 2023, hackers accessed data from as many as 6.9 million 23andMe users.
Chrome Holding took control of 23andMe after it filed for bankruptcy in early 2025.
Chrome Holding is run by Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe’s co-founder.
The $46.75 million payout will be given to victims through Kroll Restructuring, a company appointed to handle the funds.
The breach exposed sensitive genetic information, including health and family history details.
Hackers accessed not only the targeted accounts but also the profiles of the users’ relatives, increasing the total impacted.
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office fined 23andMe £2.31 million for poor data security before the breach.
The California Attorney General sued 23andMe for failing to protect user data and misleading consumers about the breach’s severity.
Despite bankruptcy, 23andMe continues to sell DNA testing kits online.
23andMe was once valued at $6 billion and went public in 2021 but has never made a profit.
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Telstra, Australia's biggest mobile network, experienced a nationwide outage that stopped many customers from making calls and using mobile internet. The problem also caused Victoria’s regional trains to stop running because their radio connections were affected.
Key Facts
The Telstra network outage began around 4 a.m. and affected about 7,500 reported customers.
Telstra provides mobile services to roughly 25 million people across Australia.
Victoria’s regional train services were suspended due to the outage impacting their radio communication.
Telstra told users to try restarting their phones as a temporary solution.
The outage also disrupted emergency calls to triple zero in Western Australia.
Similar outages recently affected other providers like Vodafone and Optus.
Australian authorities now require telecom companies to report outages with detailed timing and causes.
Past outages have caused serious issues, including two deaths linked to an Optus disruption in 2025.
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A podcast called "To Catch a Thief" reports that workers from North Korea are being hired by U.S. companies as remote IT developers. The podcast explores how these workers are entering American companies' computer systems without being noticed.
Key Facts
The podcast is called "To Catch a Thief" and is investigative in nature.
It focuses on North Korean IT workers who work remotely.
These workers are being hired by U.S. companies as developers.
The hiring allows North Korean workers to access U.S. company systems.
The podcast highlights concerns about infiltration of U.S. companies.
Nicole Perlroth, the podcast host, discussed her findings with CBS News.
The story was shared through CBS News and its app.
There is no mention of specific companies or how many workers are involved.
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Yale researchers tested 49 websites to get prescriptions for a type of medicine called GLP-1. They used fake patient profiles and often got prescriptions in under five minutes with little talk from doctors.
Key Facts
Researchers are from Yale University.
They looked at 49 different websites offering GLP-1 prescriptions.
GLP-1 is a medicine often used to help with weight loss and diabetes.
Fake patient profiles were used to test the websites.
Many sites gave prescriptions quickly, sometimes in less than five minutes.
Interaction with a doctor or clinician was often minimal or very short.
The study was published on July 6 in the JAMA medical journal.
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The Supreme Court declined to stop Texas from enforcing a law that requires app stores to verify users’ ages, allowing the state to continue applying the law while legal challenges proceed. This law aims to protect minors by restricting certain app content and requires app stores to use reasonable age checks, but it faces criticism from Big Tech companies who say it limits free speech and privacy.
Key Facts
Texas passed the App Store Accountability Act, requiring app stores to verify ages and restrict some apps for users under 18.
A federal judge blocked the law in December 2025, saying it likely violates free speech protections.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that block in June 2026, saying the law likely meets legal standards.
Big Tech groups, including the Computer & Communications Industry Association, called the law a "broad censorship regime."
The Supreme Court refused to reinstate the block, so Texas can enforce the law while the case continues.
The law exempts some nonprofit, government, and emergency service apps from these rules.
The legal debate centers on how strictly the law should be examined under free speech rules.
Texas argues the law protects children’s data, safety, and privacy by requiring age checks and parental consent.
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In Greystones, Ireland, a community has agreed that children should wait until secondary school age before getting a smartphone. The episode also shares a story about a woman who created a safety device after a late-night attack and discusses an experiment where AI ran a café in Sweden.
Key Facts
Greystones has a volunteer rule to delay giving smartphones to children until they reach secondary school.
The "It Takes A Village" initiative supports this approach to managing children's phone use.
A local school principal and a parent explain the reasons behind this agreement.
A woman developed a wearable device to improve safety after surviving an attack.
In Sweden, a café was operated by artificial intelligence (AI) to test how it would work.
The episode was presented by Shiona McCallum and produced by Tom Quinn.
The story was broadcast on the World Service on July 7, 2026.
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Google will hold its Pixel 11 launch event on August 12 in New York City. New Pixel phones are expected to have similar designs to last year’s models but may come with higher prices due to parts shortages related to AI technology. Google is also likely to announce the Pixel Watch 5 with minor design changes.
Key Facts
The Pixel 11 event is scheduled for August 12 at 6 pm ET in New York City.
The new Pixel phones will look very similar to last year’s models, with small design tweaks like rear notification lights called “Pixel Glow.”
Google may remove the 128GB base storage option for smaller phones, starting with 256GB instead.
Expected starting prices in Europe are 999 euros for Pixel 11 and 1,199 euros for Pixel 11 Pro, about 100 euros higher than last year.
If prices follow the usual US conversion, the Pixel 11 may start at $899, $100 more than last year, and the Pixel 11 Pro around $1,099.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold will also likely increase in price, possibly reaching up to $1,899 for the foldable model.
Google may also introduce the Pixel Watch 5, possibly using a Google-designed chip instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon.
The Pixel Watch design will probably stay similar to previous versions with minor updates.
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New satellites called FireSat use special cameras and software to find wildfires from space. These satellites can help firefighters by spotting fires early.
Key Facts
FireSat satellites have cameras designed to detect wildfires.
They use imaging software to identify fires from space.
The satellites aim to find fires quickly to assist firefighting teams.
Muon Space is the company behind FireSat satellites.
Jonny Dyer is the CEO of Muon Space.
Early fire detection can help reduce damage from wildfires.
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The Weather Channel has increased the price of its streaming subscription on smart TV apps from $3 to $5 per month, or from $30 to $50 per year. This app allows users to watch live broadcasts, access local weather forecasts, maps, and on-demand shows without a cable subscription.
Key Facts
The Weather Channel’s smart TV app is available on Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, and Samsung TVs.
The previous subscription cost was $3 per month or $30 per year, now raised to $5 per month or $50 per year.
The app launched in May 2022 to provide weather reporting without cable or satellite TV.
The price increase is about 67%, the biggest hike since the app launched.
Allen Media Group, which owns The Weather Channel, had planned a larger streaming service called The Weather Channel Plus that never launched.
The Weather Channel app competes with free and paid weather websites and mobile apps owned by a different company.
Running a streaming service involves challenges like app development, licensing, and customer support costs.
The price hike comes as more people have many free or low-cost options to get weather updates.
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SpaceX joined the Nasdaq-100 index quickly after its stock market debut, which will lead to more buying of its shares by index-related funds. Despite this, SpaceX’s stock price dropped by 5.4% along with other tech stocks due to concerns about the future growth of artificial intelligence (AI).
Key Facts
SpaceX entered the Nasdaq-100 index less than a month after going public on June 12.
The Nasdaq changed its rules to allow large companies like SpaceX to join the index after only 15 trading days.
SpaceX’s stock fell 5.4% on the day it joined the index, following a broader drop in tech stocks.
The company now holds a 1.34% weight in the Nasdaq-100 index.
Major brokerages like Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan gave SpaceX mostly positive evaluations.
Wall Street analysts expect the Starship rocket to drive large growth, forecasting thousands of launches annually by 2031.
Some brokerages have neutral or sell ratings, with one setting a low price target of $115 per share.
Investors believe SpaceX could become a major player in AI computing and satellite internet through Starlink technology.
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Nintendo will stop selling the original Nintendo Switch in Europe next February because new rules require batteries to be easy to replace. Outside Europe, the Switch will still be sold. The Switch has sold very well and remains popular, even though its sales are slowly going down after nine years.
Key Facts
Nintendo will end sales of the original Switch in Europe in February due to new battery regulations.
The new rules require most electronics to have batteries that are easy to replace.
Nintendo will not redesign the original Switch to meet these regulations but is redesigning the Switch 2.
The Switch has been on the market for nine years and sales have been slowly declining.
The Switch reached its highest hardware sales in its fourth year, later than other Nintendo consoles.
In its ninth year, the Switch was still selling 3.8 million units, about 13% of its peak hardware sales.
Switch software sales remain strong, with 137 million pieces sold recently, about 58% of its peak.
Compared to past Nintendo consoles like the DS, 3DS, and Wii, the Switch’s software sales are much higher at a similar age.
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a new law called the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act. The law sets rules for large AI systems to increase safety, transparency, and accountability and aims to prevent serious harm caused by AI technology.
Key Facts
The law targets AI models that make over $500 million a year and use large amounts of computing power.
It requires AI developers to publish plans on how they assess risks that could cause death, serious injury, or major property damage.
If an AI system causes harm or poses an imminent risk, developers must report it within 24 to 72 hours.
The bill was inspired by similar AI laws recently passed in California and New York.
Illinois lawmakers hope their rule will act like a national standard since the three states represent about 40% of the U.S. AI market.
Senator Mary Edly-Allen emphasized the need for urgent action as AI could cause widespread problems.
The law aims to prevent AI from helping create dangerous weapons or enabling cyber-attacks.
AI companies like Anthropic supported the bill, noting certain AI models can be too risky to release openly.
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Shakira has reached 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify, making her one of the most listened-to artists on the platform. This milestone marks a significant achievement in her music streaming popularity.
Key Facts
Shakira now has 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
She is one of the top artists globally on the streaming service.
Spotify counts monthly listeners as unique users who play an artist's music.
This achievement highlights her global fanbase and streaming success.
The milestone reflects the importance of digital platforms in the music industry.
Shakira's record is a notable event in music streaming history.
Spotify is a major music streaming service with millions of users worldwide.
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