Technology News

Google's AI Mode in Search can now access Gmail and Photos data for personalized results. This feature, previously in Gemini, aims to provide more relevant search suggestions by using personal context. Available initially to US users with personal accounts, it allows AI to consider past purchases, travel plans, and preferences. Google cautions users to expect potential inaccuracies as the experimental feature develops.

Pub HandyCup, China's first accessible pub, celebrated accessibility with a birthday event for Fu Ming, a disabled business owner. The pub features ramps, adjustable tables, Braille signage, and sign language boards, ensuring inclusivity for people with various disabilities. This establishment aims to break down barriers, allowing everyone to socialize comfortably and conveniently.

Google is integrating its Personal Intelligence technology into AI Mode for its search engine. This feature, initially for U.S. users with premium AI accounts, allows AI Mode to personalize responses by accessing user data from Gmail and Google Photos. This aims to provide more tailored search results, considering user preferences and contextual information like travel plans.

Intel's CFO stated the company secured sufficient memory for its Lunar Lake chips, which feature integrated RAM, by acting aggressively before a global shortage. For upcoming Panther Lake processors, Intel has eliminated integrated memory, thus avoiding future memory procurement concerns.

A Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license is available for $19.97, significantly reduced from its original $229 price. This one-time purchase provides lifetime access to seven essential Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, eliminating recurring subscription fees. The software offers updated features and can be installed for offline use.

Researchers have developed a sustainable method for coral reef restoration using non-toxic waste materials. Clay tiles infused with materials like coconut charcoal or breadcrumbs facilitate successful coral larvae settlement. This innovation lowers costs, potentially boosting local coral aquaculture industries and genetic diversity compared to traditional fragmentation methods.

Audeze launched the LCD-5s, its new flagship headphones featuring SLAM technology for enhanced bass performance and mastering-grade reliability. These planar magnetic headphones boast low distortion and a wide frequency response. Designed for comfort with a lightweight chassis and sculpted earpads, they aim to provide an accurate and engaging listening experience for extended studio sessions.

Rust 1.93 enhances the musl C standard library's DNS resolver, improving the reliability of Linux binaries for networking. This update, released January 22, bundles musl 1.2.5, benefiting static musl builds. While introducing a breaking change with legacy symbol removal, it aims for greater portability and stability, especially with complex DNS records.

Apple accuses the European Commission of employing "political delay tactics" to justify imposing fines. The company claims the Commission is using the shutdown of the Setapp app marketplace as a pretext for its investigation. Apple states the Commission is postponing new app policies to facilitate these actions against the iPhone maker.

Adobe has partnered with major talent agencies and film studios to expand its Firefly Foundry generative AI service for the media and entertainment industry. These collaborations aim to create brand-specific AI models for content generation, emphasizing commercial safety and ethical training. The technology will be integrated across film production workflows, from pre-production ideation to post-production.

Researchers introduced the APEX-Agents benchmark to assess AI's ability to perform complex, professional tasks. The benchmark simulates realistic work environments with files and tools. Gemini 3 Flash achieved the highest score of 24.0% on this new evaluation. Both the benchmark and its evaluation infrastructure are now open-source.

ASX ETFs offer diversified investment in artificial intelligence. Three options provide different exposures: Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF targets AI and robotics companies directly. Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF offers broader exposure through tech giants leading AI development. Betashares Cloud Computing ETF focuses on the infrastructure essential for AI. These ETFs enable investors to gain exposure to AI growth without stock picking.

Ancient Iberian Bronze Age treasures include a bracelet and hemisphere made from meteoritic iron. Researchers analyzed samples from these artifacts, suggesting they date to 1400-1200 BCE, predating terrestrial iron use in the region. This discovery indicates advanced metalworking techniques and the use of extraterrestrial materials over 3,000 years ago.

GitHub introduced the Copilot SDK in technical preview, enabling developers to integrate AI agent workflows into applications. The SDK provides a programmable interface for planning, tool calls, and state management, acting as an alternative to building custom orchestration layers. Supporting multiple languages, it allows custom agent and tool definitions. A Copilot subscription is required, with usage billed per prompt.

GitHub released the Copilot SDK in technical preview, enabling developers to integrate AI agent workflows into applications. The SDK provides a programmable interface for planning, tool calls, and state management, streamlining agent feature development. Available for Node, Python, Go, and .NET, it requires a Copilot subscription and supports custom agents and tools.

Google Pixel phones are reportedly leaking audio to callers. The "Take a Message" feature, designed to record sender audio, is inadvertently recording receiver audio as well. This issue, affecting various Pixel models, occurs without user notification. Google is aware and working on a fix. Users can temporarily disable the feature to prevent further leaks.

Scientists are engineering tungsten carbide as a low-cost catalyst alternative to precious metals like platinum for sustainable petrochemical production. Researchers identified a specific phase, β-W₂C, which effectively converts carbon dioxide and upcycles plastic waste into valuable chemicals and fuels, showing significant efficiency gains. They also developed an advanced temperature measurement technique for catalyst surfaces, improving reaction control and reproducibility.

JBL has launched two AI-powered practice amplifiers: the BandBox Solo and BandBox Trio. These amps utilize onboard AI to isolate or remove vocals and instruments from streamed music. The Solo, priced at $250, features one input, while the $600 Trio offers four inputs and additional controls. Both amps integrate with the JBL One app for amp modeling, effects, and a tuner.

Sony has introduced the LinkBuds Clip, a new open-audio earbud designed to clip onto the ear. This model avoids in-ear tips, offering a comfortable alternative for users. It features 10mm drivers, IPX4 water resistance, and Sony's DSEE technology for enhanced audio. With up to 9 hours of playback and extended case charging, the LinkBuds Clip aims for all-day use.

Polestar Australia's Managing Director expressed interest in bringing the brand's high-performance BST models to Australia. He cited strong local demand for performance vehicles and believes offering more BST variants would be beneficial. Previously, limited-edition Polestar 2 BST models were not released in Australia, but future development could see them compete with rivals.