These glasses are the first to come with Meta's new AI assistant, Muse Spark, pre-installed. Muse Spark is also being rolled out to existing Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses in the US and Canada.

What’s in the Meta Glasses Lineup and What Muse Spark Can Do

There are three form factors for Meta Glasses.

• The Meta Adventurer features a standard rectangular frame, while the
• The Fury offers a bolder square frame. The
• The Meta Glasses by Kylie have a slim oval frame and were designed in partnership with Kylie Jenner.

All three models include key features found in earlier Ray-Ban and Oakley Meta products. These include a dedicated button to summon the AI assistant, open-ear speakers, a microphone, and over eight hours of battery life.

The starting price of $299 makes Meta's smart glasses more accessible, expanding the market beyond the higher-priced Ray-Ban and Oakley lines.

Muse Spark is Meta's new multimodal AI assistant. It can answer questions through voice, interpret what the glasses' camera sees in real time, and coordinate multiple AI agents to help with scheduling and planning.

A companion app makes Muse Spark accessible on smartphones, expanding its reach beyond wearable devices. The smartphone version puts Muse Spark in direct competition with services like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini, and xAI's Grok.

Coming Software Updates And Privacy Concerns

Meta announced several upcoming updates to its smart glasses platform. These include a new dynamic photo mode that automatically captures multiple frames and suggests the best shot, while still giving users the option to select their preferred image.

The glasses are also gaining display-free turn-by-turn navigation for pedestrians. Additionally, live translation will expand to support 14 new languages, including Japanese, Mandarin, Hindi, and Korean, increasing the total number of supported languages to 20.

The features are expected to be rolled out over the coming weeks, although no specific dates have been provided.

Smart glasses continue to be a controversial topic. Privacy worries about recording-enabled wearables have been present ever since Google Glass came out in 2013. Recently, there have been reports of camera-equipped glasses being used to cheat in classrooms and courtrooms.

Meta's smart glasses initiatives have also faced criticism over how user data is managed. It was reported that AI trainers had to review private moments captured by the glasses, and an internal tracking program for AI training at Meta was paused after sensitive data was exposed.

People considering Meta Glasses should know that the built-in camera and microphone gather data that could be used to train Meta's AI models, depending on the user’s privacy settings. It is advisable to review the privacy options in the Meta app before using the glasses.

What This Means for the Smart Glasses Market

The launch of Meta Glasses comes as the smart glasses market continues to grow, though it remains competitive. Apple is reportedly testing four different frame designs for display-free smart glasses after disappointing sales of the Vision Pro.

A potential reveal could happen late in 2026, with a commercial launch targeted for 2027. Meanwhile, Snap recently introduced its Specs AR glasses at a price of $2,195, positioning the product in a higher tier.

Meta's pricing strategy features the entry-level Meta Glasses at $299, which undercuts Apple's expected pricing and is significantly lower than Snap's premium offering.

This lower price, combined with the new Muse Spark assistant, positions Meta to reach a broader customer base for its smart glasses.

Meta Glasses are now available to order through Meta's website. However, shipping timelines and availability outside the US have not been specified.

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The company attributes part of the layoffs to the adoption and deployment of AI technologies across its operations.

The layoffs incurred $1.8 billion in severance payments and restructuring costs, significantly higher than the $374 million reported in the prior fiscal year.

What Oracle’s SEC Filing Says About AI, Headcount, and Capital Spending

Oracle's workforce stood at 141,000 employees, down from 162,000 a year earlier. The company's SEC filing outlines several factors behind the reduction, including management and product changes, performance issues, strategic shifts, acquisitions, and the deployment of AI technologies.

The filing states: "The adoption and deployment of AI technologies across our operations have resulted, and may continue to result, in reductions to our workforce."

This acknowledgment is notable because it appears directly in a formal SEC document rather than an executive interview.

Typically, companies are cautious in regulatory filings to attribute workforce changes to broader operational restructuring rather than specifically citing AI. Oracle's decision to explicitly link AI to workforce reductions indicates a clearer stance than most major tech firms have taken.

A cash shortage is also driving Oracle's efforts to cut costs. In fiscal 2026, the company's capital expenditures hit $55.7 billion, mainly due to building out data center capacity.

The combination of high infrastructure spending and a softer cost structure elsewhere has increased pressure on operating costs.

What This AI-Linked Layoff Wave Means for Tech Workers

According to Layoffs.fyi, so far in 2026, about 121,462 tech employees have been laid off across 197 companies. This number is roughly 3,000 less than the total layoffs reported for the entire year of 2025.

Several companies have announced layoffs related to artificial intelligence or adjacent sectors this year, including:

• Block, Cisco, Intuit, and Snap. Other notable names on the list are
• Amazon, Meta, Microsoft,
• Dell, Google, HP, and IBM.
• Oracle recently announced a reduction of 21,000 employees, marking one of the largest layoffs this year.

Oracle publicly acknowledged AI's role in workforce reductions, contrasting with the more optimistic tone recently adopted by many tech executives.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently expressed that he's "delighted" his earlier predictions about AI causing widespread job losses have not materialized.

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, who previously suggested AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs, has softened his stance.

Torsten Sløk, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, stated there is "zero evidence" of job losses due to AI, despite disclosures from companies like Oracle indicating otherwise.

This discrepancy between what executives say publicly and what they disclose in SEC filings has become a notable aspect of the debate around AI and employment.

Companies seem to be making long-term workforce decisions related to AI investments, even as public statements downplay the connection.

What This Means for Workers

For those watching the AI labor market discussion, Oracle's SEC filing stands out as one of the clearest corporate acknowledgments to date that AI is playing a role in workforce reductions at major companies.

While the layoffs cover more than just AI-related roles, the direct mention in a regulatory document carries more weight than informal comments from executives.

A separate study shows that about one-third of companies that tried to replace workers with AI have either rehired some employees or expressed regret over the decision.

This suggests some AI-driven workforce changes are being reversed as the actual capabilities of AI systems fall short of initial expectations.

Oracle has not announced any specific plans for future workforce changes beyond what is included in the SEC filing. The company's ongoing investments in data centers and AI indicate that workforce adjustments may continue through fiscal 2027 and beyond.

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The official game release is scheduled for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Preorders will be available starting June 25 through Rockstar Games and various platform storefronts.

The cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes reported finding multiple sites involved in the scam, some of which use GTA 6 branding alongside references to Mr. Beast and Lego in an attempt to appear more legitimate.

How the Scam Works and Why These Offers Look Convincing

The scam websites claim to offer early access to Grand Theft Auto 6 in exchange for cryptocurrency payments of a few hundred dollars.

In reality, no actual game access is provided. Since payments are made in cryptocurrency, victims have no straightforward way to recover funds or initiate chargebacks through their banks.

Stefan Dasic of Malwarebytes described GTA 6 as "the perfect bait" for these scams. Grand Theft Auto is one of the most well-known gaming franchises worldwide, with hundreds of millions of copies sold across previous titles.

With 13 years having passed since the release of GTA 5, the excitement surrounding GTA 6 makes it an attractive target for scammers who exploit user interest.

The scam depends on several factors. First, it appeals to those with a strong desire to be among the first to access the game. It also targets users familiar with premium "advance access" editions, which do exist in modern gaming.

The scam sites often imitate legitimate retailer or publisher pages, further adding to their credibility. Additionally, they use pressure tactics to prompt impulsive decisions before users have a chance to verify the offer.

Younger users and individuals less familiar with cryptocurrency and online gaming purchases may be especially vulnerable. However, the scams are not exclusive to inexperienced users. Dasic pointed out that even well-informed people can fall victim when their excitement outweighs caution.

How to Avoid the Scam and What to Do If You Already Paid

Users should follow these guidelines:

1. There is currently no early access to GTA 6 available from any source. Rockstar Games has not announced an early access program, and any site claiming to offer one is likely a scam.
2. Official preorders are scheduled to start on June 25, 2026, and will only be available through Rockstar Games, the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, and other officially listed retailers.
3. Any website asking for payment in cryptocurrency in exchange for early access to a game should be considered suspicious. Legitimate game publishers and retailers do not require crypto payments.

To verify any premium edition offers, visit the official Rockstar Games website directly rather than clicking on links from social media, search ads, or messaging apps.

Make sure the website domain matches the official publisher’s domain, as slight variations are a common scam tactic.

Users who have already sent cryptocurrency to a scam site should avoid sending any more payments, even if the site requests additional funds for what it claims are verification or delivery purposes.

It’s important to report the incident to local law enforcement and the cryptocurrency exchange used to send the funds. Also, report the scam site to platforms where it was advertised, such as social media networks.

Keep in mind that cryptocurrency transactions are generally irreversible, so recovery is unlikely. In the United States, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov accepts reports of online scams.

Similar agencies exist in other countries. Reporting these incidents helps law enforcement identify scam patterns, even when individual recovery is not possible.

What Comes Next as GTA 6 Preorders Open

Official GTA 6 preorders will be available starting June 25 through Rockstar Games and various platform stores. Rockstar has not yet announced details about editions, prices, or preorder bonuses. Interested consumers should keep an eye on rockstargames.com/VI on the release date for the latest information.

Malwarebytes has not disclosed the number of users who have visited the scam sites identified, but Dasic mentioned that scams continue to be effective because they manage to deceive at least some victims. The number of scam attempts is expected to grow as the launch date in November nears.

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The settings appear in Windows 11 Insider Experimental build 26300.8697 for Windows 11 version 26H2. Currently, the settings are hidden in the build and require ViveTool feature flags to enable. They are not yet accessible to the general user base.

What The New Windows 11 Search Toggles Do

The Windows 11 Search feature has traditionally combined results from local files, apps, and settings with web suggestions, often showing Bing results even when users were searching only on their device.

The latest updates include new toggles in the Settings menu under Privacy and security, Search, that address this issue directly:

• A "Web Searches" toggle under "Show suggested search results" allows users to turn off Bing web results in Search.
• A separate "Microsoft Store" toggle prevents Store apps from appearing in Search results.

These toggles give users more control over their search experience, enabling them to limit results to local files, apps, and settings without web or Store content appearing alongside.

Users in the European Economic Area have been subject to these controls for some time as part of Microsoft's compliance with the EU Digital Markets Act.

The new build indicates that Microsoft is planning to extend similar controls to users worldwide. A separate Bing disable option was shown in earlier Windows Insider builds.

The current version in 26300.8697 includes both a web search toggle and a separate Store app toggle, offering more detailed control than previous previews.

Security Settings Reorganization and How To Try The Feature Early

The latest preview build also features a revamped Privacy and Security page. Microsoft has reorganized the settings into clearer categories and introduced a new header that provides quick access to Windows Security, offering glanceable information on location, camera, and microphone permissions.

Additionally, new entry points for features such as Passkeys and the Custom Dictionary are being added. The Web Searches and Microsoft Store toggles are not officially available in the current build and cannot be enabled through the standard Feature Flags page.

This feature was spotted by @PhantomOfEarth inside the Insider build and can only be enabled using ViveTool feature IDs. For users running Windows 11 Insider Experimental build 26300.8697 who want to try the feature now:

1. Download ViveTool from its official GitHub repository.
2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
3. Navigate to the ViveTool folder.
4. Enable the relevant feature IDs, which have been documented by community testers as indicated by the original article.
5. Restart Windows.

Enabling experimental features through ViveTool is unsupported by Microsoft and could cause unexpected behavior. Users should only attempt this on test devices.

Availability

The feature is currently being actively developed, and Microsoft has not committed to including the toggles in a future general release.

If testing goes as planned, the company may refine the feature through upcoming 26H2 preview releases before deciding whether to roll it out more broadly.

Users running stable versions of Windows 11 should expect the toggles to be available through a future Windows Update once Microsoft enables them by default. The exact timing has not been announced.

This change follows a broader pattern of Microsoft responding to longstanding user feedback about Windows 11. Recent updates have introduced features like a movable taskbar, extended Windows Update pause options, and other changes based on user input, rather than simply adding new bundled features.

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This year, Valve introduced a single European qualifier that combines Eastern and Western Europe into one regional event. The four qualification spots are the most allocated among any regional TI15 qualifier.

The tournament is structured as a double-elimination bracket, with all series played as best-of-three matches, including the decisive qualifying games.

Schedule and Format For The TI 2026 Europe Qualifier

Times listed in Central European Summer Time. On June 21, the upper bracket round one features the following matches:

• Team Spirit versus VP.Prodigy at 10am, followed by Enjoy versus Team Bald at 1pm
• Nigma Galaxy versus Rune Eaters at 4pm, and NAVI versus MODUS at 7pm On June 22
• The upper bracket round one continues with MOUZ against Yellow Submarine at 10am,
• Virtus.pro versus IC x Insanity at 1pm, Power Rangers versus HULIGANI at 4pm, and TEAM VISION against 4ikibamboni at 7pm

The schedule for June 23 includes the lower bracket round one and the upper bracket round two, with matches between:

• VP.Prodigy and Team Bald at 10am, Rune Eaters versus MODUS at 1pm, Team Spirit against Enjoy at 4pm
• Nigma Galaxy versus NAVI at 7pm On June 24, the same rounds feature MOUZ versus IC x Insanity at 10am, HULIGANI versus 4ikibamboni at 1pm, Yellow Submarine versus Virtus.pro at 4pm, and Power Rangers versus TEAM VISION at 7pm

The schedule for June 25 includes the upper bracket round three, with two matches scheduled at 1pm and 4pm.

The following day, June 26, sees four matches in the lower bracket round two at 10am, 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm.

On June 27, the lower bracket round three features two matches at 1pm and 4pm., and on June 28, the lower bracket round four includes two matches at 1pm and 4pm.

The four qualification spots are awarded as follows:

• The two winners of Upper Bracket Round 3 automatically secure places at The International 2026
• The two winners of Lower Bracket Round 4 take the remaining two slots
• All series are best-of-three

Teams In The Qualifier and How To Watch the Matches

Eight teams received direct invitations and eight advanced through the Open Qualifiers.

Direct Invites:

• TEAM VISION (also known as PARIVISION)
• Team Spirit
• Natus Vincere (NAVI)
• MOUZ
• Virtus.pro
• Nigma Galaxy
• Enjoy
• Power Rangers

Open Qualifier teams:

• HULIGANI
• Rune Eaters
• Yellow Submarine
• VP.Prodigy
• Team Bald
• IC x Insanity
• MODUS
• 4ikibamboni

Team Spirit and TEAM VISION are viewed as favorites based on their performances throughout the season. NAVI, Nigma Galaxy, Virtus.pro, and MOUZ also bring the experience and depth to challenge for qualification. Open Qualifier teams Yellow Submarine and Rune Eaters have shown the capacity to challenge higher-profile opponents.

All matches are streamed live on PGL's official Dota 2 broadcast channels on Twitch, YouTube, and Kick. The qualifier concludes on June 28, and the four teams that qualify will move on to The International 2026.

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These prices are higher than the estimates under $750 that circulated when Valve first announced the hardware in November 2025. Valve says the price increase is due to component costs rising over the past six months.

A reservation queue will run from June 22 to June 25 to manage demand and prevent scalping. Reservations are limited to one per household.

Pricing, Configurations, and Hardware Specifications of the Steam Machine

At launch, four configurations will be available:

• Steam Machine 512GB for $1,049
• Steam Machine 512GB with Steam Controller for $1,128
• Steam Machine 2TB for $1,349
• Steam Machine 2TB with Steam Controller for $1,428

The Steam Controller is usually priced at $99.99, so buying it as part of a bundle offers a $20 discount. The 2TB models come with two extra faceplates: one in red fabric and one in solid walnut. Valve also plans to release CAD files for the external shell, allowing third parties to create custom faceplates.

The Steam Machine is based on a semi-custom AMD platform:

• CPU: a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 4 processor running up to 4.86GHz-
• GPU: RDNA 3 with 28 compute units and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, operating at up to 2.45GHz within a 110W power limit-
• RAM: 16GB of DDR5 system memory-
• Storage: options include a 512GB or 2TB NVMe SSD-
• Expansion: microSD slot

The GPU's 28 RDNA 3 compute units at the specified clock speeds are roughly comparable to a Radeon RX 7600, which was a capable mid-range card released in late 2023.

The M.2 SSD is user-replaceable in both 2230 and 2280 form factors. RAM is also swappable, though the compact thermal design makes replacing components more involved than in a standard desktop. Users are advised to consult Valve's documentation before opening the case to avoid voiding any warranties.

How the Steam Machine Reservation Queue Works and What Performance to Expect

The reservation queue opens June 22 and closes June 25. To be eligible, users need:

• A Steam account in good standing
• At least one Steam purchase made before April 27, 2026

The April 27 cutoff is designed to block freshly created throwaway accounts. One reservation is enforced per household using payment method, shipping address, and other account signals.

The randomized queue replaces a first-come-first-served system to prevent scalping similar to what happened during the Steam Controller launch in May, when the $100 gamepad sold out in under 30 minutes and immediately appeared on resale sites at $300 or more.

Valve has promoted the Steam Machine with messaging around 4K and 60 frames per second gaming using AMD FSR upscaling.

However, engineers have been more straightforward about what to expect performance-wise. Pierre-Loup Griffais told IGN that 1440p is somewhat of a sweet spot, emphasizing that the 4K marketing is partly aimed at reassuring less technical buyers that the device will work with their TV, rather than guaranteeing native 4K performance for demanding titles.

Support for FSR 4 is confirmed for the Steam Machine, despite the presence of an RDNA 3 GPU. A new ray tracing driver is expected to be released soon, along with ongoing updates to improve performance in low-VRAM scenarios.

How Valve Justifies the Steam Machine’s Price and Where It Fits in the Market

Valve has openly acknowledged that the original pricing target is no longer achievable. "Our initial goal for the price of the Steam Machine is no longer viable.

The prices we're sharing today reflect the current state of manufacturing, or more precisely, the cost of the components we've secured over the past six months."

Valve engineers mentioned they managed to keep costs from rising further through custom designs for the motherboard, power supply, and thermal module.

"Good engineering doesn't necessarily mean higher costs," said engineer Yazan Aldehayyat. Griffais added that the custom hardware remains "even more competitive for the same parts you can buy off the shelf."

Valve also stated it is selling the Steam Machine at cost rather than subsidizing it to gain market share. This approach sets it apart from the traditional console business model, which often involves selling hardware at a loss and recouping the costs through subscriptions or exclusive titles.

The Steam Machine is priced at $1,049, entering a competitive market with several alternatives.

• The PlayStation 5 Pro costs $699, while the base
• The Xbox Series X is available for $499.
• A comparable self-built PC typically ranges from $700 to $900, depending on current component prices.

Self-built PCs also offer the flexibility to upgrade graphics hardware. The Steam Machine provides the SteamOS experience in a dedicated, purpose-built living room format.

Valve has indicated that for users who cannot obtain a Steam Machine or find its price too high, the company is working to expand SteamOS to more third-party hardware, with current efforts focused on systems equipped with AMD GPUs.

Steam Deck 2

A Steam Deck 2 is currently in development but is not expected soon. Griffais mentioned that they are closer to a new version than they were during the last update, although current handheld chips are still more suited to low-end laptops than true portable devices.

The reservation queue for the Steam Machine is open now and will remain so until June 25. The console is scheduled for release on June 30.

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The system is designed to allow websites to generate digital tokens that confirm a browsing session is being conducted by a human or an authorized bot with legitimate intent.

The technical details are still being finalized and aligned across related proposals. Cloudflare sees PACTs as a way to reduce friction for real users and authorized bots while maintaining privacy.

How PACTs Work and Why They’re Being Developed Now

PACTs enable websites with a strong understanding of personhood to issue anonymous tokens. These tokens can then be presented by browser users and designated bots at other sites, reducing the need for repeated identity verification.

They serve as a shareable, privacy-preserving CAPTCHA result. Instead of testing whether a visitor is human or a bot at each site, the system tests once and generates a token that other sites can accept.

The specific criteria for what qualifies as "strong knowledge of personhood" have not been fully explained. Personhood appears to include software authorized to act on behalf of a legitimate person, such as AI agents performing tasks like booking tickets or shopping.

Previous technical discussions by developers from Google and Mozilla suggest that the system does not aim to exclude particular hardware, platforms, or user agents.

The web is seeing a rise in automated traffic, much of it driven by AI agents. Some of these agents serve legitimate purposes for users, such as the recent integration of Visa and ChatGPT for autonomous retail purchases.

However, there’s also automated traffic from disrespectful crawlers and malicious bots that scrape content or attempt fraud.

Dane Knecht, CTO of Cloudflare, explained: "As AI-powered traffic becomes more common, the tools we have to support its use are too basic and broad.

This collaboration allows us to reduce the friction caused by security measures for all visitors, whether human or automated, without compromising privacy."

Bobby Holley, CTO of Firefox at Mozilla, highlighted the user experience: "An increase in automated traffic is causing sites to adopt blunt defenses like paywalls, identity checks, CAPTCHAs, and invasive tracking methods just to distinguish human visitors from bots."

Privacy Concerns, What Users Should Know, and What Comes Next

While Cloudflare emphasizes the privacy aspects of PACTs, the system doesn't cover all browser tracking and fingerprinting methods. PACT tokens themselves do not contain personal information.

However, existing infrastructure for tracking users through fingerprinting, IP addresses, and other browser signals remains in place.

The system also raises questions about the open web. PACTs effectively create a tiered system of trusted and untrusted traffic. Websites that implement PACTs may treat traffic lacking valid tokens as suspicious, which could create a barrier to access.

Smaller bot operators, independent developers, and users on less common browsers or platforms might find it harder if their software can't easily obtain tokens.

The Cloudflare announcement states that the protocol is designed to help businesses identify genuine visitors, positioning it as an anti-fraud measure.

This framing makes it clear that PACTs are intended to distinguish between legitimate and unwanted traffic, rather than simply differentiating humans from automated bots.

For most end users, the introduction of PACTs is likely to go unnoticed. Users browsing with Chrome, Edge, or Firefox will automatically receive tokens when their browser sessions are recognized as legitimate. This should lead to fewer CAPTCHA prompts and fewer identity requests across the web.

For those on less common browsers, privacy-focused options like Tor, or users employing specific bot frameworks for legitimate reasons, the system might create additional obstacles if their setup doesn’t qualify for token issuance.

Mozilla has said that its involvement demonstrates a commitment to maintaining openness and protecting user privacy online. The choices Mozilla and other browser developers make regarding the implementation will influence how widely the token system becomes accessible.

The technical specification for PACTs is currently being developed through collaboration between Cloudflare and the three main browser makers.

There is no announced timeline for when PACTs will be available in production browsers. Those interested in tracking the development should keep an eye on the relevant standards processes at the IETF and W3C, where similar privacy-focused identity proposals have been discussed in the past.

The specific venue for PACT standardization has not yet been confirmed.

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The company stopped the program on June 22, 2026, after Reuters reviewed documents showing that sensitive employee data collected through MCI was unintentionally accessible to all Meta staff.

It has not announced when the program might restart or if it will return in its current form. The data exposure was not caused by an external breach but resulted from a permissions misconfiguration that allowed all Meta employees to access the data collected by the program.

What the Model Capability Initiative Does and What Employee Data Was Exposed

The Model Capability Initiative was launched in April 2026. It collects various data points from US-based Meta employees, including mouse movements, clicks, keystrokes, and occasional screenshots.

This collected data is used to train Meta's AI models, with the aim of helping AI systems better understand how human workers perform tasks. However, according to Reuters, the initiative resulted in a large pool of detailed employee behavioral data being stored.

The data that was exposed reportedly included private conversations, performance data, and transcriptions. Normally, such materials would be restricted to HR or a small group of managers. However, due to a permissions error, the data was accessible to Meta's entire workforce.

Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton said, "We have carefully designed this program with privacy safeguards. While we have no evidence at this time that any data was improperly accessed by Meta employees, we are pausing the program to investigate."

The company also declined to specify how long the pause would last.

Internal Tension, Legal Risks, and What Comes Next for Meta’s Monitoring Program

MCI has been a controversial topic within Meta since it was introduced. Employees raised concerns about being monitored by software designed to analyze their work habits, especially since the program was rolled out before a series of large layoffs, including an announcement in May 2026 to cut 8,000 jobs.

To help ease some of these concerns, Meta added a pause feature that allows employees to disable tracking for up to 30 minutes at a time. This addition pointed to how pervasive the monitoring had become.

Logging keystrokes and taking screenshots of identifiable employees can pose serious legal risks under the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation.

GDPR standards are strict when it comes to processing personal data and generally view workplace consent as unreliable, given the power imbalance between employer and employees.

The scenario where sensitive employee records become widely accessible within a company illustrates a failure GDPR aims to prevent.

Although this program is currently limited to employees in the United States, Meta's long-term plans for similar features would likely encounter considerable regulatory challenges in the EU.

Meta has stated it will investigate the exposure. The company has not given a timeline for the investigation, a resumption date for the program, or details about any changes that might be made before MCI returns.

The incident raises wider questions about employee surveillance for AI training. More companies are experimenting with tools that monitor work patterns to help train assistants and agents. Such programs require strict internal access controls that match the sensitivity of the data involved.

For now, MCI is offline. Meta has not said whether the program will return in its current form, be redesigned, or be discontinued.

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He mentioned that the device is designed to offer a flagship experience for premium Android phone users while also being functional with iPhones.

Googlebook is set to launch this fall. Maletis added that addressing the lack of a flagship laptop for premium Android users is a key foc§us of the project.

What Googlebook Is and Why the Android Tech Stack Change Matters

Googlebook is a new laptop category from Google set to launch this fall. These devices shift away from the traditional ChromeOS framework and are built directly on the native Android technology stack.

This change allows the laptops and Android phones to share the same underlying architecture, enabling deeper cross-device integration than what was previously possible with Chromebooks.

Maletis explains that the new Android-based architecture simplifies cross-device communication. "A lot of effort went into this before," he told Chrome Unboxed, referring to the engineering needed to connect ChromeOS with Android phones. "With both systems on the same tech stack, that process becomes much quicker.

We can move faster and improve the reliability and stability of Better Together experiences." This change is expected to enable faster wireless data transfers, instant notification mirroring, and AI routines that seamlessly sync between phone and laptop in real time.

How Googlebook Targets Premium Android Users While Still Working With iPhones

Google's focus is on the longstanding gap between iPhone-MacBook continuity features and the Android laptop ecosystem. Maletis said, "I think these Googlebooks are going to be incredible devices for anyone regardless of what type of phone you use.

But if you're an Android phone user, especially a premium Android user, I don't think you have had a good companion option." While Apple has used continuity features to keep iPhone and MacBook users within its ecosystem, premium Android phone owners have lacked a native laptop companion.

Chromebooks offer Better Together features, such as Quick Share and cross-device hotspot tethering, but the separate architectures of ChromeOS and Android have limited the depth and reliability of these integrations.

Maletis explained that Google is not creating an exclusionary ecosystem. The hardware and underlying architecture are designed with flexibility in mind. Users on other mobile operating systems, including iPhone, will still be able to access deep, high-performance web utilities on Googlebook.

Details about the specific features for iPhone integration have not been provided. Apple's continuity features are limited to its own devices, so any connection between iPhone and Googlebook would be restricted to what Apple allows through public APIs and standard protocols.

What Comes Next for Googlebook and Existing Chromebooks

Google has not yet provided details about specific Googlebook models, pricing, or a comprehensive list of features. The only confirmed timeline is a launch window set for fall 2026.

For users considering a new laptop who use a high-end Android phone, it might be worth waiting until the Googlebook is released to see if the level of integration meets your needs. Doing so can help determine whether to choose a Chromebook, a Windows laptop, or a MacBook.

The shift from ChromeOS to the Android technology stack also raises questions about the future of existing Chromebooks and ChromeOS devices. However, Google has not shared any information about long-term support plans for current ChromeOS products.

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OpenAI calls this one of its largest enterprise launches so far. The deployment deepens Samsung's collaboration with OpenAI, expanding from AI infrastructure to workforce-level AI integration.

What Samsung Employees Get With ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex, and How Fast Codex Is Growing

ChatGPT Enterprise offers Samsung employees access to OpenAI's models for various knowledge tasks, such as searching and analyzing information, drafting documents, developing ideas, and interpreting data.

It features data protection, user and access management, and security controls, allowing Samsung's staff to use OpenAI's tools within their existing security policies and governance framework. In addition,

Codex provides software development tools for writing, reviewing, and debugging code. The platform also caters to non-technical users, helping them turn ideas into functional software, internal tools, websites, and automated workflows.

Codex initially launched as a tool for developers but has since broadened its scope to include a variety of business applications.

OpenAI reports that more than 5 million users now employ Codex weekly for both technical and non-technical tasks. In Korea alone, weekly active users of Codex have grown by nearly 800 percent since February 1, 2026.

The increasing adoption of Codex is part of a larger trend of companies turning to AI coding tools. It faces competition from products such as GitHub Copilot, Anthropic's Claude Code, and Cursor, which was recently acquired by SpaceX for $60 billion.

Why This Rollout Matters and How Korea Is Adopting OpenAI Tools

Samsung's recent rollout indicates a company-wide commitment to integrating AI, moving beyond limited teams or experimental pilots.

Harrison Kim, General Manager of OpenAI Korea, noted that Samsung Electronics, a global leader in technology and manufacturing, views AI not just as a tool for certain teams but as a core platform to enhance how employees work and innovate worldwide.

For OpenAI, this deal expands its largest customer base in South Korea and deepens its relationship with Samsung beyond infrastructure supply. Samsung Electronics is already providing advanced memory semiconductors to OpenAI for its next-generation AI infrastructure.

The deployment of Samsung is part of a larger trend of OpenAI adoption in Korea:

• Seoul National University has recently started offering ChatGPT Edu to all 47,000 students, faculty, and staff as part of its move toward an AI-focused campus.
• Kakao has integrated ChatGPT into KakaoTalk group chats, enabling users to ask questions and get responses within Korea's popular messaging app. Several other companies, including
• LG Electronics, LG Uplus, LG CNS, GS E&C, Samsung SDS, TVING, Krafton, Toss, MUSINSA, Korea Zinc, Nexen Tire, and HanaTour, are also using ChatGPT Enterprise, OpenAI APIs, or Codex.

Limitations, Privacy Protections, and Who at Samsung Gets Access

ChatGPT Enterprise offers data protection features that prevent customer data from being used to train OpenAI's models by default.

Samsung's deployment will route employee interactions through these protections, addressing concerns that led Samsung to restrict generative AI use after a data leak in 2023.

The rollout across Korea means all Samsung Electronics employees in the country will have access. The deployment for the DX division extends globally, including employees in multiple countries.

Samsung has not specified whether divisions outside DX, such as the Device Solutions chip business, will get similar access. The deployment is currently active, and OpenAI has not announced specific plans for further expansion of the partnership.

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Microsoft says this change aims to reduce the 'friction' between Xbox games and other PC storefronts.

What Changed for Developers and the Four New GDK Plug-ins

Building for Xbox on PC in Unreal Engine used to require developers to use WinGDK, a separate platform that often caused compatibility problems and made workflows more complicated when releasing to multiple PC storefronts.

The new plug-ins now enable developers to stay on Win64 instead of switching to WinGDK, continue using existing third-party plug-ins, adopt a development process better aligned with other PC storefronts, and ship a single executable across multiple storefronts.

Microsoft is releasing four new plug-ins as part of its latest update:

• Microsoft GDK Store, which allows developers to configure games directly within the Unreal Editor and generate the necessary packages for Xbox on PC from the Project Settings menu. The second is the
• Microsoft GDK Runtime, providing access to GDK APIs at runtime to enable features such as cloud saves compatible with Xbox, user selection, and integration with System UI. The third is the
• Online Subsystem GDK, which uses Unreal Engine's platform abstraction layer to manage Achievements, Friends, Presence, and other Xbox services. The fourth is the
• Online Subsystem Selector, introduced in Unreal Engine 5.8, enabling developers to ship a single executable across multiple PC storefronts and automatically switch online subsystem behavior at runtime.

This last feature is particularly significant for studios that release titles on multiple PC platforms, as it removes the need to maintain separate builds for Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft has published documentation on how to get started with the new plug-ins. The plug-ins are now available, allowing developers to integrate them into existing Unreal Engine 5.8 projects.

Microsoft's latest release aims to make Xbox PC development more accessible for indie and mid-tier studios. Recent updates include the Xbox Godot Sample, which provides tools for Godot engine developers, and

Xbox PC Remote Tools to speed up game deployment, testing, and debugging. The company also continues to invest in cross-storefront compatibility with tools like the Online Subsystem Selector.

These development tool improvements are part of Microsoft's broader effort related to Project Helix, the codename for the next Xbox hardware platform, which is expected to be based on PC. Simplifying Unreal Engine development for Xbox on PC also helps developers more easily prepare games for the upcoming hardware.

Microsoft has not announced specific timelines for expanding engine support beyond Unreal Engine 5.8 and Godot, but it has indicated ongoing investment in making PC development easier across multiple engines.

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Eligible members will get 13 months of service for the price of 12. The promotion is open to new subscribers, current Expansion Pack members renewing their plans, and existing Nintendo Switch Online subscribers upgrading to the higher tier.

How the Offer Works And What the Expansion Pack Includes

The bonus month is added to any qualifying 12-month membership activation completed before July 28, 2026.

The offer is available to three groups of users:

1. New subscribers purchasing a 12-month Individual or Family Expansion Pack membership for the first time.
2. Existing Expansion Pack members renewing for another 12-month term
3. Current standard Nintendo Switch Online subscribers upgrading to the Expansion Pack tier.

When users upgrade from a standard membership, Nintendo applies the remaining value of the current subscription as a credit toward the upgrade. The credit amount depends on how much time remains on the existing membership.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack offers everything included in the standard Nintendo Switch Online plan, plus several additional features. Subscribers gain access to online multiplayer, cloud saves, and a library of classic games, including titles from

Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and SEGA Genesis. The package also includes downloadable content such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass, and Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion. Alongside the launch of Switch 2,

Nintendo has expanded the Expansion Pack. Eligible subscribers can now access a growing collection of GameCube games on the new console.

How to Claim The Bonus Month And What This Means for Users

To claim the offer, users need to sign in to their Nintendo Account, purchase, renew, or upgrade to a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Individual or Family membership, and complete the activation before July 28, 2026. The bonus month is automatically added to qualifying memberships.

This offer is available through the Nintendo website as well as on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 systems.

For existing Nintendo Switch Online subscribers on the standard tier, the offer presents a significant discount on upgrading to the Expansion Pack.

Family Plan members receive the bonus month for all accounts in their group, increasing the overall value for multiple users. This promotion is limited-time and tied to Nintendo's marketing push for the summer.

Those considering an upgrade or renewal should weigh whether the additional content offered by the Expansion Pack justifies the higher cost compared to the standard plan. The offer is available now and will run through July 28, 2026.

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Support for 26H2 will continue through October 2028 for the Home, Pro, Pro EDU, and Pro for Workstations editions. The Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise versions will receive updates until October 2029.

The 26H2 update is not expected to introduce major new features. Similar to Windows 11 25H2, it activates existing code in the operating system rather than providing a completely new platform.

What an Enablement Package Is and How New Windows 11 Features Now Arrive

Enablement packages are small, often less than 500KB, and function by activating dormant code already present on the system. For users running Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2, upgrading to 26H2 involves a quick enablement download, a single reboot, and just a few minutes for the installation. There are no visible changes on the desktop after completing the upgrade.

This method was introduced with Windows 11 24H2 in October 2024, which was the last traditional feature update. Since then, version numbers have advanced every year, but the underlying platform has remained unchanged.

Microsoft now releases new features through monthly cumulative updates instead of relying on annual releases. Recent updates have introduced a low-latency profile for performance tuning, support for a movable taskbar (expected in an upcoming Patch Tuesday), unlimited extensions to pause Windows Update, accessibility features for screen tint, and various improvements rolled out gradually to Insider channel users.

The annual feature update has shifted to serve mainly as a maintenance marker that extends support timelines, rather than being the primary method for delivering new features.

Hardware Requirements and How Windows 11 26H1 Differs From 26H2

Windows 11 26H2 does not introduce new hardware requirements. Any device that can run Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 will also support 26H2. The baseline requirements remain the same:

• 4GB of RAM,
• 64GB of storage,
• 64-bit dual-core processor.

Windows 11 26H1 is a separate release that targets newer silicon platforms like Nvidia N1 and Snapdragon X2. It is based on a different platform baseline.

This update does not bring any new user-facing features. For most users, it is not a significant upgrade and is mainly relevant for those purchasing new hardware for those specific platforms.

What This Means for Users and Organizations

For users running Windows 11 versions 24H2 or 25H2, upgrading to 26H2 will feel almost invisible. The update extends the support period for the installation but does not alter the user experience.

There's no need to prepare for a disruptive upgrade or to back up data beforehand, although regular backups are always a good idea.

For organizations, Microsoft describes the update process as a way to minimize disruption. The company stated that 26H2 "continues our focus on delivering a predictable, low-disruption update experience for organizations and IT professionals."

Microsoft hasn't confirmed whether the enablement package model will continue after 2026 or if it will be part of a potential Windows 11 27H2 update.

Currently, it appears Microsoft plans to keep its pattern of small annual updates combined with ongoing monthly feature releases, but no long-term commitment has been announced.

Users interested in the 26H2 update should check Windows Update under Settings periodically. Once available, the update will be offered through Windows Update, although the exact rollout date has not been confirmed beyond a target for fall 2026.

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The updates include AI-powered bill splitting in Apple Wallet, time-limited location sharing in Find My, Local Lists in Apple Maps, expanded lyrics translation in Apple Music, as well as improvements to Podcasts and iCloud Shared Albums.

Developers can now test these features through the Apple Developer Program. A public beta is expected next month, with the full release of iOS 27 scheduled for this fall.

Apple Maps Local Lists and New Find My Location-Sharing Controls

Apple is updating Flyover, the immersive 3D city view feature, with improved visuals and smoother navigation. Apple Maps is also introducing Local Lists, a new feature that makes it easier to discover and save recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and other locations, based on trending spots in the area.

These updates position Apple Maps as a more direct competitor to Google Maps, as well as platforms like Instagram and TikTok for local discovery.

Find My offers more flexibility in sharing your location. You can choose how long to share it, from just a few minutes to several days, or until a specific date and time. Location sharing with individual contacts can also be paused temporarily until the end of the day.

These updates are aimed at scenarios like keeping a surprise event private without revealing your location to certain contacts.

Apple Wallet Bill Splitting, Apple Pay Changes, and Apple Music/Podcasts Updates

Apple Wallet is adding several new features. One is AI-powered bill splitting: simply scan a receipt with your iPhone camera, and Apple Intelligence will identify the items, calculate each person's share of taxes and tips, and handle repayment through Messages or Wallet.

Another update is the digitisation of membership and loyalty cards: point your iPhone at a barcode or scan a digital card to save it directly to Wallet. Support for this also extends to Apple Watch through the Smart Stack.

Additionally, there is a redesigned hotel key experience that allows users to access trip details, activity schedules, service information, and real-time updates within Wallet at participating hotels and resorts.

Apple Pay now offers a redesigned checkout experience for online and app transactions. Users can switch between payment cards more easily while checking rewards, debit balances, and pay-later options. Later this year, they will be able to add funds directly to eligible debit cards through Wallet or during Apple Pay checkout.

For merchants, Apple is expanding Tap to Pay with a new feature called Tap to Share. Customers can share information such as loyalty accounts, shipping addresses, and contact details by tapping to connect with participating merchants.

Lyrics Translation is expanding to include seven new language pairings, offering English translations for songs in French, German, Italian, Korean, Spanish, and Japanese.

Lyrics Pronunciation, which provides phonetically transcribed lyrics for songs in languages that users may not speak, is adding five additional language options.

AutoMix, which helps create smoother transitions between songs, is being improved with more immersive mixes and is now available beyond iPhone, extending to Apple TV and HomePod. Apple Music subscribers can now enjoy Hi-Res Lossless Audio on Apple TV 4K through tvOS.

Podcast users now have the ability to search within individual shows. This feature allows users to look through episodes of a specific podcast on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and the web.

Additionally, video podcasts are available on Mac and Apple TV, reflecting the increasing popularity of video-first podcast content.

New iCloud Shared Albums Features and Apple Fitness+ Program

Shared Albums now offer several new features. You can share full-resolution photos and support for additional file types.

• Emoji reactions are available, and activity feeds have been improved. There's a new per-album activity view that shows updates specific to each album.
• Temporary albums are now included, allowing short-term projects and events without permanently taking up iCloud storage. Additionally, web access has been introduced for users on non-Apple devices to contribute photos.

Apple Fitness+ is introducing Strong Through Menopause, a three-week program that offers guided Yoga and Strength workouts designed for people experiencing perimenopause and menopause.

Additionally, a new episode of Time to Walk features actor Busy Philipps sharing her personal experiences with perimenopause.

Availability of iOS 27

All features are now accessible to developers through the Apple Developer Program. A public beta will be available next month. The complete iOS 27 release is planned for this fall, with Siri AI launching separately in beta for English users later in the year.

Some Siri AI features may have different rollout timings in the European Union due to Digital Markets Act requirements.

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Valve also confirmed that it has no plans to stop manufacturing the Steam Controller. The reservation list remains in place, and customers will be notified by email when it is their turn to purchase.

Delivery Windows And How the Reservation System Works

Valve now provides three estimated delivery windows for Steam Controller orders based on when they were placed:

• September 2026,
• December 2026, and some time in
• 2027, with specific dates to be announced later.

Customers who have already placed orders can log into their Steam accounts to see their assigned delivery window.

Once a customer's reservation moves to the front of the queue, Valve sends a notification email. The customer then has 72 hours to complete the purchase.

If the reservation isn't converted into a sale within that period, it is forfeited, and the next customer in line is offered the opportunity.

Customers who wish to retain their place should ensure their Steam account email address is current and regularly checked, monitor Steam notifications during the expected delivery window, and be prepared to complete the purchase within 72 hours of receiving the notification.

Known Steam Controller Issues and Valve’s Wider Hardware Constraints

The Steam Controller has generally been well received by users who have received units. However, a compatibility issue with the rumble feature has made it difficult to use with some games.

Valve has not provided a timeline for fixing the rumble problem, but firmware updates are likely to be part of the solution. Additionally, the controller features a cinematic scream sound effect that plays when the device is dropped or thrown.

The supply constraints contribute to ongoing challenges with Valve hardware pricing and availability. Recently, the price of the Steam Deck was increased significantly due to persistent component and memory shortages, with the 1TB OLED model now costing $949.

Valve has also announced the launch of the Steam Machine console and Steam Frame VR headset for summer 2026, although specific release dates and pricing details have not yet been disclosed.

The limited supply and reservation queue for the Steam Controller mean that anyone placing an order today should expect a wait of several months.

Valve has not indicated any plans to increase manufacturing capacity that would accelerate the supply beyond what has already been announced.

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Users have also reported various other problems since the rollout of the June 2026 update earlier this week, including issues with OneDrive access, File Explorer performance, Blue Screen of Death errors, and BitLocker Recovery prompts.

The Recycle Bin issue is the only bug Microsoft has officially acknowledged so far. The update in question is KB5095051.

According to Microsoft’s known issues page, the Recycle Bin problem appears to be an edge case linked to the confirmation dialog, and it is not associated with data loss.

The Confirmed Recycle Bin Bug And Other Issues Reported by Users

Users who have installed KB5095051 might notice unusual behavior in the Recycle Bin when permanently deleting a single file. Instead of the original filename like realfilename.txt, the confirmation dialog shows a cryptic internal filename such as $Rxxxxx.ext.

This issue is limited to the confirmation prompt; the Recycle Bin window itself continues to display the correct original filename. When restoring a file, it returns to its original location with the correct name.

Files deleted through the dialog are removed as expected, so the bug does not cause data loss or major disruption. Microsoft states a workaround is available, but only commercial users can implement it.

System administrators need to contact Microsoft Support for Business to get details on the mitigation. Home and other non-commercial users will have to wait for a future Windows update to receive an official fix.

Microsoft has not officially confirmed these issues, but reports have been widespread on Microsoft's forums and Reddit since the June update. Users have noted problems with

OneDrive and Dropbox access; on Microsoft Learn forums, some report having trouble opening OneDrive folders in File Explorer after installing KB5094126. IT administrators on the r/sysadmin subreddit have observed slow performance of File Explorer across hundreds of PCs in their organizations.

Some HP device users have experienced blue screen errors with error code 0xc0430001 following the update. Lenovo users have reported that their PCs freeze under moderate workloads after applying the update.

Additionally, one IT administrator shared that the update triggered BitLocker Recovery on devices with local accounts. A Microsoft support chatbot suggested that the only solution was to wipe the device and reinstall Windows, but this advice should be taken with caution given the chatbot’s reliability.

What Windows 11 Users Should Do About the June 2026 Update

For users experiencing serious issues with the June 2026 update, a system restart can often help clear temporary errors.

If problems continue, check Settings, then Windows Update, and view the update history. Use the Uninstall updates option to remove the latest update if necessary.

For those prompted with BitLocker Recovery, ensure the recovery key is accessible through the Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey before attempting further troubleshooting. It’s advisable to back up important data before trying any recovery steps.

Users who encounter the Recycle Bin dialog bug can generally ignore it for now, as files are still deleted correctly, even if the filename shown in the confirmation prompt is incorrect.

The issues have been reported shortly after Microsoft highlighted efforts to improve Windows update reliability, including a recent promise to reduce the number of reboots needed after updates.

Despite these initiatives, monthly Patch Tuesday updates continue to come with reliability and compatibility problems.

For example, the May 2026 KB5089549 update caused EFI partition errors on some systems and was eventually reverted through a Known Issue Rollback.

Microsoft has not yet provided a timeline for a permanent fix to the Recycle Bin, only stating it will arrive in a future Windows update.

In the meantime, users experiencing serious issues might want to hold off on installing the June 2026 update via Windows Update until Microsoft addresses the broader stability concerns.

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The company hasn't decided yet which devices will be affected or the extent of the increase. The Wall Street Journal estimates that base-model iPhones could see prices go up by more than $200.

Cook described the current situation with memory prices as the worst he has seen in his 40 years working in electronics, calling it a "hundred-year flood."

Why Apple Is Raising Prices and Where They’re Likely to Rise First

Last year, AI data centers began using most of the available DRAM and NAND production capacity, leading to supply issues that impacted consumer hardware.

Smartphone shipments hit historic lows, game consoles are nearing the $1,000 price point, and PC manufacturers are reviving older hardware to keep products available. Microsoft has stated it now spends four times as much on memory compared to late last year.

Apple's supply chain advantages have so far protected its products from most of these pressures. The company recently launched a $599 MacBook that caused significant attention in the laptop market, and it is planning to double the production of the MacBook Neo.

Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that the company has been working to reduce the impact of rising memory costs while maintaining profit margins, but he also noted that the current situation has become unsustainable.

The full extent of the changes is likely to become public in September when Apple announces the iPhone 18 and the foldable iPhone Ultra. Prices for Mac and iPad models may increase earlier.

The hardware lineup for fall 2026 was already expected to be costly even before the memory shortage. Industry estimates suggest that the foldable iPhone Ultra will start at no less than $2,000.

The standard iPhone 18 is not expected to be released until 2027, so this year's lineup is likely to include the iPhone 18 Pro and the Ultra model.

An Ultra-tier MacBook with a touchscreen and Apple's next-generation M6 processor is also anticipated this year.

What This Round of Apple Price Hikes Means for Buyers

Users considering an Apple device purchase in 2026 should keep a few factors in mind. Current models priced at this time are likely to stay available only until stock runs out at retail stores, ahead of the September product cycle.

Trade-in values for older iPhones and Macs might increase as overall device prices go up, which could partially offset the cost hikes for users upgrading.

Refurbished and certified pre-owned Apple devices could become more appealing as new device prices increase. Cellular carriers’ financing options and trade-in promotions may also help cushion some of the price rise, depending on regional offers.

Users planning a major Apple purchase might find it beneficial to buy before the September announcement. Those not in urgent need of a new device may prefer to wait until the full pricing details are released to see if the increases are significant enough to influence their decision.

The AI Memory Supercycle and Its Impact on Devices

Industry analysts expect memory costs to stay high beyond 2027. This differs from typical memory market patterns, which usually result from supply shortages rather than persistent demand from a single end-use segment.

The ongoing buildout of AI infrastructure and the reallocation of fabrication capacity have led to what analysts are now calling a memory supercycle.

The smartphone market is projected to shrink by 15 percent in 2026, according to CCS Insight. Similar pressures are affecting the PC and console markets. For example, game console prices are already rising, and the Steam Deck recently experienced a 50 percent price increase.

Apple has not announced when the upcoming price changes will start or which products will be affected first.

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This information includes passport numbers, partial credit card details, and home addresses, all available through the airline's mobile API.

The issues were first reported to Frontier on March 3, 2026. As of June 18, 105 days later, the vulnerabilities remain unpatched.

What the API Exposes

Frontier's mobile API endpoint accepts a PNR and last name, then provides a full internal booking record for each passenger on the reservation.

The data available includes full home address details such as street, city, state, and ZIP code, as well as email address and phone number.

It also reveals complete date of birth information, including for minors, along with unmasked passport details like passport number, issuing country, and expiration date. Additionally, it exposes:

• The known Traveler Number, used for TSA PreCheck, and the
• The frontier Miles loyalty number. The credit card information includes the first six digits (BIN), the last four digits, the expiration date, the cardholder name, and the full billing address.
• The payment history data, complete with authorization codes, is also present.

Why the Credit Card Exposure Is Worse Than It Sounds

The exposure of credit card information is particularly significant. BobDaHacker explains that knowing the BIN (the first six digits) along with the last four digits reveals only five digits of the 16-digit card number.

The 16th digit is a check digit generated by the Luhn algorithm, which can be calculated from the other 15 digits. This leaves roughly 100,000 possible combinations for the middle digits that can be tested with a script in minutes.

Beyond its mobile API, BobDaHacker discovered that Frontier's website also leaks data through its Manage My Booking pages. The Passengers/Edit page, accessible with the same PNR and last name, shows full passport numbers, dates of birth, and KTNs, and the data is also embedded in a server-rendered JSON blob within the page source.

When Frontier previously tried to fix an earlier email leak on the Manage My Booking page, it introduced two new leaks, including one that exposed phone numbers.

A fourth vulnerability involved an endpoint that returned booking data from a PNR alone without requiring a last name; this was patched by Frontier.

The company sent the researcher a model airplane as acknowledgment. The remaining issues have not been fixed.

Disclosure Timeline And What Frontier Customers Should Do

BobDaHacker followed responsible disclosure practices. The initial vulnerability report was sent to Frontier on March 3, 2026, and multiple follow-ups were sent over the following months.

The formal 30-day disclosure deadline expired on June 12, 2026, without a response from Frontier. The public disclosure was published on June 18, 2026. As of now, Frontier has not issued a public statement.

Anyone who has flown with Frontier Airlines should take these steps to reduce their risk of exposure:

1. Never share photos of boarding passes on social media, even if you redact personal details, because the barcode also contains the PNR and last name.
2. Destroy printed boarding passes after travel instead of leaving them in trash bins where they could be recovered. Check credit card statements for any unauthorized charges, especially on cards used to book Frontier flights.
3. Consider requesting a new credit card number from your bank if you recently made a booking with Frontier. If your TSA PreCheck or passport details were exposed, monitor for signs of identity theft.

Customers concerned about specific bookings can ask Frontier to remove their personal data from past reservations, although this does not guarantee protection from future API access.

Why Frontier’s Booking System Design Makes This Vulnerability So Serious

A former Frontier employee told BobDaHacker that the company’s booking system, known internally as IBE, was already considered a legacy codebase.

The employee said the team had been discussing plans to sunset and replace it. "IBE was a mess of generated config and code that only one person was senior enough to handle. Everyone else basically danced around it," the former employee wrote.

The vulnerability is notable for its scale, as anyone with a Frontier boarding pass could be affected, and for the airline's lack of action over more than three months following responsible disclosure.

Industry-standard timelines for responsible disclosure usually range from 30 to 90 days. Frontier has exceeded both.

This incident also underscores a broader issue: PNRs are printed on boarding passes because they are not considered secret. Building security around a boarding pass identifier creates risks for any airline.

In Frontier's case, their API treats the combination of PNR and last name as enough authentication to unlock complete passenger records, including financial and travel document data.

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According to user reports on Reddit, the issue has been appearing over the past 24 hours. Google has not yet acknowledged the problem.

The bug seems to be limited to Pixel phones and is not associated with a specific Gmail version or Android build. The issue has been confirmed on a Pixel 8 Pro running the stable Android 17 update.

What Pixel Users Are Seeing and Known Workarounds

When replying to an email in the Gmail app, users affected by the issue see AI-suggested autocomplete options and 'Help me write' suggestions at the bottom of the screen.

However, tapping the cursor in the reply field does not bring up Gboard or any other keyboard, preventing users from typing a response.

The bug has so far been tested on Galaxy S23 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra devices, where it does not occur, indicating that it appears to be specific to Pixel devices.

Several solutions have been identified that can temporarily restore keyboard functionality:

1. Enable auto-rotate and switch the phone to landscape mode. The keyboard should appear, after which you can rotate back to portrait and continue typing.
2. Attach an image to the email and then return to the editor; this may also prompt the keyboard to appear.
3. Restarting the phone is another option. You can also clear the Gmail app cache by going to Settings, Apps, Gmail, Storage and cache, then selecting Clear cache.
4. Force closing Gmail through Settings, Apps, Gmail, and tapping Force stop can help as well.

For users unable to get any workaround to work, switching to an alternative email client such as Outlook, Spark, or Proton Mail may be a temporary solution while Google works on a fix.

What This Gmail Bug Likely Means

Gmail is among Google's most popular Android apps, and a bug that prevents basic email replies on Pixel devices is a notable issue.

The sudden appearance of this problem without an obvious recent update suggests the cause might be related to a server-side rollout or an A/B test rather than a client-side bug, though this has not been confirmed.

Google has not provided a timeline for a fix. Users affected by the bug should expect a server-side or app update soon.

Until then, the listed workarounds remain the most reliable way to reply to emails on affected Pixel devices.

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The game is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. A version for PC has not yet been confirmed.

The pre-order date is part of Rockstar's larger marketing strategy, which Take-Two Interactive indicated would increase in intensity over the summer.

What GTA 6 Pre-Orders Open With and How to Pre-Order

Rockstar has not announced any details yet, including special editions or tiered pre-order packages, pricing, or specific pre-order bonuses.

Since GTA Online has supported GTA 5 for more than a decade, early pre-order incentives might include items like early access cosmetics, in-game currency, or exclusive vehicles for the online mode when GTA 6 is released.

The official cover art is the first major piece of marketing material released ahead of launch, following the trailers and screenshots that were previously shared.

Pre-orders will become available on June 25 through several platforms. Customers can visit Rockstar Games' official website at rockstargames.com/VI, where the game will be listed.

It will also be available on the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store, with the option to wishlist the game on both storefronts. Users can add the game to their wishlist now to receive a notification when pre-orders open.

Context

GTA 6 has become the focal point of the gaming industry's 2026 release schedule. A Plague Tale developer, Asobo, recently confirmed that studios worldwide have planned their release calendars around the November launch, with most major fall titles scheduled within a six-week window before GTA 6's debut.

Despite being more than a decade old, GTA 5 continues to sell over a million copies each quarter, with PS5 sales alone estimated at 1.8 million copies for 2026.

The ongoing sales of GTA 5 and revenue from GTA Online have provided Rockstar with the financial flexibility to delay GTA 6 multiple times, allowing the studio to meet its standards.

Analysis of Rockstar North's financial documents indicates that the studio has spent more than $2 billion on the development of GTA 6. Industry estimates suggest the game could sell up to 45 million copies on PS5 in its first week.

GTA 6 is set to launch on November 19, 2026, with pre-orders opening on June 25.

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Some entry-level phones have seen their prices rise by over 50% since last year. The primary smartphone market shrank by 4.4% in the first quarter of 2026, despite carriers stockpiling inventory, indicating further declines are likely for the rest of the year.

Meanwhile, the used phone market is projected to grow by 15%, as consumers increasingly turn to pre-owned devices to avoid higher prices on new models.

What’s Driving Smartphone Price Increases in 2026

The ongoing demand for memory components driven by AI infrastructure development is the main reason behind rising prices.

Chipmakers have shifted focus toward producing high-margin memory for AI servers, rather than standard DRAM and NAND used in PCs and smartphones.

This change differs from the typical memory market cycle, where prices usually increase due to supply shortages. Instead, the current pressure stems from demand, with hyperscalers utilizing production capacity that would otherwise serve consumer devices.

Throughout this year, pricing pressure has steadily intensified:

• In January 2026, forecasts indicated handset prices could rise by 6 to 8 percent, with a worst-case scenario of a 5.2 percent market contraction.
• By February 2026, projections had shifted to roughly 14 percent price increases and about 8 percent declines in shipments.
• In June 2026, CCS Insight projected a total shipment decline of 15 percent for the year.

According to CCS Insight analyst Ben Hatton, memory components now make up more than 30 percent of the bill of materials in some smartphones.

"The memory chip crisis shows no sign of slowing down any time soon," Hatton said. "It is increasing pressure on both manufacturers and consumers.

The full effects are still unfolding in many regions, but it's clear that device prices will continue to rise over the course of the year."

Budget devices are hit hardest because memory and storage make up a larger share of their overall costs. Flagship phones can handle price increases better since features like high-quality cameras and displays account for a bigger part of their expenses.

Entry-level models have less flexibility to absorb these cost increases without significant price hikes, which explains the more than 50% jump seen on some models.

Used Phone Market Grows as New Device Sales Slide

The secondary market for used devices grew by 4% in the first quarter as consumers looking for more affordable options turned to pre-owned phones. CCS Insight predicts this segment will expand by 15% across 2026.

However, supply in the used phone market faces some challenges. Replacement cycles have lengthened, with many consumers now holding onto their devices for more than four years instead of the typical two. As a result, fewer new device sales lead to fewer trade-ins entering the used market.

"The secondary market has the potential to meet some of the demand that the primary market cannot fulfill," said Hatton. "The main challenge in the near term is increasing supply during this period when flagship device launches are scarce."

Countries with established trade-in programs are in a better position to expand their secondary market supply. Europe is expected to see slower growth in this area because less than a third of European consumers trade in or sell their old phones.

What This Means for Buyers, and How Long Higher Phone Prices Could Last

If you’re planning to buy a new phone in 2026, expect prices to be noticeably higher than they were a year earlier, especially for budget models.

To make the most of your purchase, consider buying earlier in the year, as prices are likely to keep going up. You might also look into certified refurbished or pre-owned devices, which are becoming more common. Holding onto your current device longer aligns with the trend of extending replacement cycles.

Additionally, exploring mid-range or older flagship phones could offer better value than new budget devices, given the current pricing trends.

The memory supercycle is expected to continue through at least 2028 based on current capacity allocations and projections for AI infrastructure demand.

CCS Insight has not specified when memory prices might return to typical levels seen in consumer devices, but ongoing growth in AI infrastructure suggests that relief in prices is unlikely in the near term.

The factors influencing phone prices also affect PCs and other devices that depend on DRAM and NAND memory. As a result, users can expect similar pressure on laptop and desktop prices for the rest of this year and into 2027.

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The device is the first audio hub built from the ground up around the new Gemini for Home voice assistant. It was first shown in October 2025 and underwent nine months of development before its launch.

Anish Kattukaran, Google's Chief Product Officer for Google Home and Nest, said the company used that development time to reduce Gemini command latency by up to 40 percent and fix over 2,500 reported bugs.

What’s Different About Gemini for Home on the New Google Home Speaker

The new speaker is built for conversational interaction rather than strict command phrases. Users can issue multiple commands within a single sentence, use logical reasoning in their requests, and correct themselves mid-sentence without restarting. It allows for natural speech without needing to memorize specific phrases.

To support this, the device runs local models for noise cancellation, echo suppression, and sound separation. This on-device processing helps ensure commands are heard clearly even in noisy environments and are processed quickly without relying on cloud services.

Smart Home Integration, Hardware, and Audio on the Google Home Speaker

The device serves as both a Matter controller and a Thread 1.3 border router, enabling local connectivity for nearby smart home devices.

It acts as a central hub for users who are part of the cross-platform Matter ecosystem, offering an alternative to being limited to Google-only devices.

The speaker has a slightly compressed round design wrapped in a custom 3D-knit textile, with capacitive touch buttons and a new underglow light ring.

Google is marketing it as an audio upgrade over the Nest Mini rather than a direct replacement for the larger Nest Audio. Its smaller size makes it easier to place, while still providing balanced 360-degree sound.

Two speakers can be paired for stereo audio. They can also connect directly to the new Google TV Streamer to deliver spatial surround sound in home theater setups.

Compatibility, Pre-Order Bonus, and Availability

Users testing Gemini for Home through the early access program on older devices like the Nest Audio won't be left behind.

Gemini for Home continues to work on legacy Nest speakers, although Google notes that the new $99 speaker is designed specifically to provide the most responsive experience due to its on-device hardware.

The Google Home Speaker is available in standard Hazel and Porcelain finishes, with two exclusive colors for the US market: Jade and Berry.

Customers who buy the speaker before mid-September will receive six months of Google Home Premium free of charge. Google values this subscription at $60, noting that it provides access to features such as Gemini Live for seamless conversations, Camera History Search for Nest Cams, and automated Home Briefs.

The Google Home Speaker can now be pre-ordered and will ship on June 25. You can place pre-orders through Best Buy, Walmart, or the Google Store.

Google has not yet announced international release dates beyond the initial launch in the United States.

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The document was published alongside the Firefox 152 update. Some of the features listed have already been introduced, while others are being announced for the first time.

The release coincides with a decline in Firefox's desktop market share, which has dropped from 5.88% in May 2025 to 3.79% in May 2026, according to Statcounter.

Productivity Updates and New Privacy & Security Additions in Firefox

The roadmap highlights several enhancements aimed at boosting productivity. It includes a redesign of the Nova interface, which was previously announced as a major update to the user interface.

Support for tab groups on mobile devices is also part of the plan. Mozilla is adding customizable keyboard shortcuts, a feature they say is among the most requested by users.

Additionally, there are improvements to PDF editing tools, allowing users to split, merge, and reorder files more easily. A redesigned Settings page is already available in Firefox 152.

Mozilla is expanding its privacy features in Firefox to mobile devices:

• The built-in VPN will now be available on mobile platforms in addition to desktop. On
• iOS, Firefox will receive basic ad and tracker blocking capabilities without the need for external add-ons.

This mobile VPN expansion comes after Mozilla's current promotional offer, which provides Firefox users with unlimited VPN bandwidth and access to 28 countries through August 31.

AI Features With User Control, Plus Performance and Web Standards Improvements

Firefox is introducing optional AI features, including a "Quick Answers" tool that allows users to speak with chatbots using voice commands.

Mozilla has highlighted that Firefox is approaching AI differently from other browsers, giving users control over the LLM-based capabilities. Those who prefer not to use AI features can choose to disable them.

Firefox 152 adds experimental support for the JPEG XL image format. HDR video support is also arriving on Windows and Linux systems, fulfilling a request that has been open for more than six years on Mozilla's bug tracker.

Support for Web APIs and built-in safety protections will remain a focus in upcoming releases.

Market Share Context and What the Firefox Roadmap Means for Users

Despite active development efforts, Firefox continues to lose users. Statcounter reports that the browser's desktop market share fell from 5.88% in May 2025 to 3.79% in May 2026. The decline has been steady, with Chrome remaining dominant and Edge gaining ground.

Mozilla recently announced an increase of six million users in EU markets following the rollout of browser choice screens under the Digital Markets Act, but the overall trend remains negative.

The roadmap shows that Mozilla is working on features that long-time Firefox users have asked for, including HDR support, customizable shortcuts, and better tab management.

Expanding the built-in VPN to mobile devices and adding ad blocking on iOS may appeal to users who prioritize privacy.

For those who have stayed with Firefox despite its declining market share, new features will be released gradually over the next few updates.

For users who have switched to Chromium-based browsers, the question is whether these upcoming features and Firefox's continued stance against features like Manifest V3 will be enough to bring them back.

The Firefox roadmap is openly published and available on Mozilla's website. While Mozilla has not set specific release dates for all items, it has indicated that several will be rolled out in upcoming updates.

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This change assigns a new purpose to data that Google already collects, transitioning from network routing to device identification for advertising purposes. The update also triggers consent requirements under UK and EU privacy laws.

Google describes this shift as focusing on privacy-enhancing technologies, including on-device processing, trusted execution environments, and secure multi-party computation.

Some controls for IP-based personalization will not be available until later this year or early next year.

What’s Actually Changing and Why It Matters for the UK and EU

Google already collects IP addresses through customer tags, SDKs, HTTP requests, and uploads. This data is used for routing traffic and delivering advertisements.

Starting August 3, however, the purpose shifts: the same IP addresses will also be used to identify devices for measurement and ad personalization.

Google will also register under the IAB Europe Transparency and Consent Framework for Feature 3, which is about identifying devices based on information transmitted automatically.

Under the framework, Feature 3 is the method for distinguishing devices using data they send automatically, including IP addresses. It is not a consent step in itself; rather, it relates to personalization purposes that require user consent rather than legitimate interest.

IP addresses fall under the category of personal data under GDPR. Using an IP address to identify a device is a fundamental part of fingerprinting, which is a method used to track devices even when cookies are blocked or cleared. Google previously argued that fingerprinting undermines user choice.

In 2019, Justin Schuh, then the Chrome engineering director, stated that fingerprinting was problematic because users could not clear it in the same way they clear cookies.

However, Google changed its stance in December 2024, removing its ban on fingerprinting for advertisers.

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office, or ICO, called Google's reversal in December 2024 "irresponsible" within a day of the announcement.

The ICO's Position

The timing of the August 3 rollout has raised concerns in light of recent ICO guidance. On May 18, 2026, the ICO provided advice to the UK government regarding potential updates to online advertising regulations.

The ICO's preferred approach allows some advertising without user consent only when it is based on the context being viewed, rather than a person's activity over time. Consent remains necessary for tracking that creates profiles across multiple services.

Under the ICO's framework, personalization based on IP addresses across different platforms falls on the side requiring consent. The ICO has emphasized that no changes have been implemented yet and that current rules continue to apply.

Google sent an email to advertisers, emphasizing that they are still responsible for compliance. The message reminded them that they must adhere to Google's EU User Consent Policy and obtain valid consent from users in the relevant regions.

What Users Can Do Now and What Comes Next

The option for users to choose IP-based personalization on Google's own properties will not be available until later in the rollout.

Until then, the controls users can access include declining non-essential cookies and consent prompts when they appear, reviewing ad personalization settings at myadcenter.google.com under their Google account, and using browsers with built-in tracking protection, such as Firefox or Brave, which impose additional restrictions on tracking.

Users can also use a VPN to mask their IP address from advertising endpoints, although this changes the IP rather than eliminating it as an identifier.

To see what personalization features are currently active, users should sign in to myadcenter.google.com, review the topics and demographics Google associates with their account, and disable any categories they do not want used for ad targeting.

It's still unclear whether Google's August 3 update will meet the ICO's preferred consent standards. The ICO has not yet confirmed if enforcement actions will follow if IP-based personalization is used without obtaining consent that aligns with UK regulations.

Google has not announced specific dates for when the IP personalization controls that users see will be available on its sites.

Advertisers using Google's services have been notified of the changes and are responsible for making sure they comply with consent requirements in the regions affected.

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The company met with White House officials in Washington this week to try to reverse or limit the measures announced on Friday.

After the order, Anthropic completely shut down Fable 5, citing the difficulty of filtering non-US nationals in real time. The company is now working with the government to find a solution.

Background and Why Cybersecurity Experts Are Backing Anthropic

Anthropic released Fable 5 as a consumer-facing version of its Mythos-class model architecture, with guardrails in place to block sensitive queries related to cybersecurity, biology, and chemistry.

The model was made available for free to Pro, Max, and Enterprise users for a limited period ending June 22.

Concerns about potential jailbreak vulnerabilities arose from Amazon's cybersecurity research team.

The issue was escalated to the White House by Amazon's CEO, leading the U.S. government to impose restrictions on foreign access to the model. In response, Anthropic took Fable 5 offline for all users.

This isn’t the first time Anthropic has faced tension with the U.S. government. In March, the Pentagon labeled Anthropic as a supply chain risk and instructed federal agencies to stop using its models after the company declined to allow its products to be used for autonomous weapons or mass domestic surveillance.

A federal judge has ruled that the Pentagon’s directive cannot be enforced while Anthropic's lawsuit against the designation is ongoing.

Dozens of cybersecurity leaders have signed an open letter urging the US government to lift restrictions on Fable 5. The letter states that Anthropic "built multiple protections into the Fable model to prevent its use for cyber offensive purposes."

The signatories argue that the jailbreak technique cited by White House officials applies equally to other publicly available models, meaning that restricting Fable 5 specifically does not address the core issue.

The letter warns that removing a model as capable as Fable in cybersecurity tasks "while US adversaries are rapidly advancing is dangerous."

Export control experts have also questioned whether the US government has the legal authority to impose the restrictions in their current form. Their objections add a legal dimension to a dispute that now involves technical, security, and regulatory questions.

The US Government’s Position on Fable 5 So Far

The US government has not publicly explained the specific concerns behind the restrictions. Reuters reports that officials are seeking reassurance from Anthropic that the model will not be used to harm US citizens.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick took part in discussions and is expected to continue talks with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei during the G7 meetings in France. National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross also attended the meetings.

Anthropic's earlier review of the jailbreak cited found that it uncovered a small number of minor vulnerabilities that are already known and could be discovered by other publicly available models without bypass techniques.

What This Suspension Means for Users, and Why the Case Matters

Fable 5 and Mythos 5 are currently offline for all users as negotiations continue. Anthropic has not provided an estimated timeline for their return.

Users of Pro, Max, and Enterprise who activated Fable 5 during the free preview are unable to access the service at this time. Other Claude models, such as Opus 4.8, remain available and are not affected by these restrictions.

The dispute is becoming a key example of how aggressively governments might regulate cutting-edge AI systems. The outcome could influence how AI companies handle export controls, security reviews, and government access requests in the future.

It may also determine whether national security concerns lead to product-level restrictions or broader regulations across the industry.

Anthropic has not provided a timeline for when Fable 5 might be available again. The upcoming G7 meetings in France could offer the next public updates on the negotiations.

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SpaceX is paying entirely with shares, taking advantage of the high stock price following its record IPO four days ago.

The deal comes as a response to challenges faced by SpaceXAI, the internal division created when SpaceX absorbed Elon Musk's xAI earlier this year.

SpaceXAI has struggled to develop a competitive coding product, while Cursor has become one of the most widely used AI coding tools among professional engineers.

Deal Structure: How SpaceX Is Paying $60 Billion

SpaceX is paying with stock instead of cash, allowing the company to use its recently increased share price as currency. Shares have risen more than 56 percent from the $135 IPO price, briefly surpassing Amazon to become the fifth most valuable company in the world.

Investor Bill Ackman commented on X that the all-stock structure costs "materially less in dilution" because of SpaceX's high valuation.

The termination fees include:

• A $10 billion breakup fee if the deal falls through under most circumstances
• A $4 billion fee if the failure is due to antitrust issues. In April

SpaceX disclosed an option to purchase Cursor at the same $60 billion valuation with the same $10 billion breakup fee, holding off on completing the acquisition until after its IPO.

About Cursor

Cursor is an AI coding tool that allows developers to write, debug, and modify code using natural-language prompts.

It has become one of the most widely adopted AI coding assistants among professional engineering teams. Customers include Stripe, Adobe, and Nvidia.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has described Cursor as his "favorite enterprise AI service." The tool reportedly generates around $2.6 billion in annualized B2B revenue, with enterprise sales growing rapidly.

Cursor competes directly with GitHub Copilot, Anthropic's Claude Code, and OpenAI's Codex.

Why SpaceX Is Buying Cursor and What It Means for Current Users

SpaceX focused most of its IPO pitch on AI, telling investors it sees a $26 trillion market in space, including a $22.7 trillion opportunity in enterprise applications. Efforts to build a competitive coding product internally have not been successful.

Acquiring Cursor provides what SpaceXAI has been unable to develop on its own: a coding tool that developers actually use. The acquisition secures an immediate position in the enterprise AI coding market for SpaceX, along with the customer relationships and revenue stream Cursor has already established.

The key question for current Cursor users is whether the tool's model-agnostic design will be maintained. At present, Cursor runs on Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's GPT, and its own Composer models simultaneously.

The ability to switch between models has been an important part of what makes Cursor appealing.

SpaceX has announced plans to release an AI model directly on Cursor, which the two companies have been jointly training for several months.

Whether SpaceX will make Grok the primary backend or keep multi-model support to maintain Cursor's market position will be the clearest indicator of how the integration will function in practice.

For now, Cursor remains operational, and existing model integrations are still in use. SpaceX has not provided any timelines for changes to the product following the acquisition.

Context

The Cursor deal comes amid a period of significant consolidation in the tech industry, especially within AI.

Fox announced it will acquire Roku for $22 billion this week, while Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX have all filed for IPOs scheduled for 2026. AI coding tools are becoming one of the most successful categories in AI products, with multiple companies generating substantial revenue from enterprise clients.

The deal still requires regulatory approval. SpaceX has not provided a timeline for closing the deal. Due to the $60 billion valuation and antitrust-related breakup fee, the transaction is expected to attract close scrutiny from regulators in the US, EU, and other regions.

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The update introduces a new app-windowing feature called Bubbles, along with more detailed controls for sharing location and contacts, and support for Live Updates on Wear OS.

Some of Google's most promoted features from Google I/O, including Gemini Intelligence, are not part of the initial rollout. They are expected to arrive later this summer on select advanced devices.

Bubbles Multitasking and More Granular Privacy Controls in Android 17

Android 17 has introduced Bubbles, a feature that brings the messaging-style bubble interface to general apps. When an app is Bubbled, it floats over other applications as a draggable icon.

Tapping the icon opens or closes the app window. Multiple apps can be Bubbled at once, showing as icons at the top of the floating window, which allows users to switch between apps quickly without leaving their current task. While this feature is especially useful on foldables and tablets, it also works on phones.

Android 17 introduces more granular permission controls for location and contact access.

Users now have the option to grant temporary access to precise location, offering a middle ground between blocking precise location entirely, which can cause some apps to stop working, and granting indefinite access.

Additionally, users can choose to share only specific contacts with an app, rather than the entire address book, similar to how file and media access are managed on Android.

These updates respond to longstanding concerns that many apps require "precise" location to function properly, leaving users with a choice between full disclosure and limited app functionality.

Live Updates on Wear OS 7 and New Device Controls From the Watch

Live Updates, the feature introduced with Android 16 last year that provides real-time notifications for food delivery, timers, and fitness tracking, is now available on Wear OS 7.

The watch versions are optimized for smaller screens but otherwise work the same as on phones.

Wear OS 7 introduces new features for managing connected devices. The media player on the watch now includes an output switcher that allows users to switch audio between Bluetooth headphones, smart speakers, and other connected devices without needing voice commands.

Google specifically mentioned that this feature will be compatible with "intelligent eyewear" launching this fall. This suggests integration with devices like the Gucci XR glasses, developed in partnership with Kering, or similar upcoming products. The output switcher also supports other smart home audio devices.

What’s Not Yet Available and How the Android 17 / Wear OS 7 Rollout Works

Several key features announced at Google I/O 2026 are not included in the initial Android 17 release

Gemini Intelligence, which enables deeper integration with apps and services for tasks such as ordering food and buying tickets, will be available later this summer on "select advanced devices.

" The Create My Widget" feature, a generative AI tool that allows users to describe a widget for Gemini to build automatically and syncs with Wear OS as Tiles, is also expected to arrive later.

Google has not provided specific dates or a list of compatible devices for these features.

Android 17 and Wear OS 7 are starting to roll out today to Pixel phones and Pixel Watch devices. Samsung Galaxy and other Android phones will begin receiving the update next month. The timing of the rollout for other OEMs has not been announced.

Users interested in installing the update should check Settings, then System, and Software update on their device.

Wear OS 7 updates are delivered via the watch companion app on the paired phone.

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The complaint was filed in federal court in Seattle by the City of St. Clair Shores Police and Fire Retirement System, based in Michigan.

Microsoft has dismissed the allegations as without merit and said it will defend itself in court. "Microsoft stands by the integrity of its public statements and will vigorously defend itself," the company stated.

What the Lawsuit Alleges and How Microsoft’s Stock Has Performed

The shareholders allege that Microsoft portrayed its partnership with OpenAI as strong and stable despite ongoing fragmentation between the two companies.

They also claim that Microsoft promoted Copilot adoption more aggressively than the results warranted. Additionally, they argue the company failed to adequately disclose or played down the financial commitments needed to build the data centers required for advanced AI models.

The complaint further states that Microsoft did not properly disclose a decline in cloud revenue while continuing to invest billions in AI infrastructure without seeing proportionate returns.

Overall, the complaint suggests that Microsoft's public statements about AI progress were misleading, inflating the stock price while underlying weaknesses in the cloud business went unreported.

Microsoft's stock declined 25 percent in the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, marking its steepest quarterly loss since the 27 percent drop in late 2008. This decrease reflects investor concerns about whether AI investments are delivering proportional returns.

For the second quarter of the 2025 fiscal year Microsoft reported a 39 percent growth in revenue from Azure and its cloud business, meeting analyst expectations but slightly down from 40 percent in the previous quarter. The company projects a growth rate of 37 to 38 percent for the first three months of 2026.

Microsoft also increased its capital spending to 37.5 billion dollars, a roughly 66 percent rise compared to the previous year and higher than the 34.3 billion dollars anticipated by analysts.

Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to invest approximately 146 billion dollars in AI infrastructure during 2026, nearly doubling the 88 billion dollars spent in 2025.

Internal Concerns About Azure and Community Pushback on AI Data Centers

Axel Rietschin, a former Microsoft engineer who worked on Azure Core Compute and spent nearly ten years on the Windows Base Kernel, has publicly stated that Microsoft rushed its Azure AI products to market to keep up with Google and Amazon.

Rietschin says this quick rollout caused a talent drain and led to issues with software quality. He also notes that the hype surrounding AI has left Microsoft's cloud business more fragile.

Microsoft's AI infrastructure expansion has met resistance from local communities concerned about water use and electricity demands for data centers.

In response, the company has introduced a "Community-First" approach to its AI infrastructure, committing to reduce water consumption and avoid increasing local electricity bills.

Recently, CEO Satya Nadella announced a new cooling technology called full immersion, which Microsoft claims will cut data center water use to levels comparable to what a single restaurant would consume. The technology has not yet been deployed on a large scale.

What This Shareholder Lawsuit Could Mean for Microsoft Investors

The lawsuit is a formal legal challenge to Microsoft's AI claims, which are among the more heavily promoted in the industry. If the case moves forward, discovery could reveal internal communications about Copilot adoption metrics, tensions in the OpenAI partnership, and infrastructure cost forecasts.

Microsoft's confidence in its AI strategy stands in contrast to increasing skepticism in the wider market about whether enterprise AI investments will lead to revenue growth at the speed that many tech companies have suggested.

The case could become a reference point for similar lawsuits if other AI companies report disappointing results that fall short of investor expectations.

The case has not yet entered the discovery phase. Microsoft has made no announcements about changes to its AI strategy or spending plans in response to the lawsuit.

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That puts GamersHell squarely in Ghacks territory. Free web utilities that run without a signup or a setup step are a core beat here. What separates GamersHell from the typical free games site is restraint. Rather than auto importing thousands of near identical clones, it keeps the library small and deliberately chosen, so you browse a tight shortlist instead of an endless feed.

What is GamersHell?

GamersHell is a free online games portal with a catalog of 600 titles, organized into 10 categories. Each game is selected by hand rather than auto-aggregated, plays through HTML5 and JavaScript in a normal browser tab, and loads on both desktop and mobile. The catalog is trilingual, and each language version orders its homepage by local search demand, so Dutch visitors land on Woordzoekers, German visitors on Kreuzworträtsel, and English visitors on Solitaire.

In short: GamersHell is a free, install-free games site built around a focused, curated library instead of raw volume.

What game categories does GamersHell offer?

GamersHell organizes its library into ten categories. The categories, with approximate catalog sizes where the site lists them, are below:

• Puzzle Games (around 189 titles)
• Driving Games (around 91 titles)
• Shooting Games (around 81 titles)
• Two Player Games (around 50 titles)
• Solitaire Games (around 43 titles)
• IO Games (around 35 titles)

On top of the categories, 26 tags surface the most searched variants, including Spider Solitaire, Car Racing, and Crossword. That tag layer is how the site points players straight at a sub-genre instead of making them dig.

Which games are featured on GamersHell?

The featured games span the heaviest categories, and a representative pick from each cluster shows the range:

• Two Player: Ludo King, Castle Wars: Legacy, Dominoes Classic Duel, and a web build of Fall Guys for same-device or matched online play.
• Solitaire: Classic Spider Solitaire, Spider Solitaire 3D, Klondike Solitaire Turn 3, and Klondike Solitaire Pro, covering one-suit through four-suit difficulty.
• Driving: Car Racing 3D: Extreme Dodge, Crazy Traffick Racing 2026, Daily Street Racing 3D, and Drifty Race Challenge, spanning street racing, drifting, and stunt courses.
• IO Multiplayer: Knife vs Sword.io, Fidget Spinner.io, and PenguinBattle.io, which drop you into real-time arenas with no install.
• Puzzle: 2048 Premium, Cube Merge Game, Ball Sort Master 3D, and Tower Blocks Deluxe 3D, covering number-merging, sorting, and physics mechanics.
• Word: Word Search, Crossword, Image Crossword, and Word Search 2025.
• Shooting: Cars vs Zombies, Bull Time Shooter, Forest Archer, and Gunman, across sniper, target, and zombie-wave formats.

Puzzle is the largest category by count, but GamersHell lists Two-Player and Solitaire as its most played games on the English catalog.

How do GamersHell's browser games work?

GamersHell games run inside the browser using HTML5 and JavaScript, with WebGL handling graphics. Since Adobe Flash was retired in 2020, no plugin is needed, and current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari handle the catalog on desktop and mobile.

Single-player games save progress to your browser's local storage, so a half-finished Solitaire board or a puzzle score is still there when you reopen the tab on the same browser and device, with no account involved. Multiplayer titles, including the IO arenas and two-player matchmaking, use WebSocket and WebRTC to sync moves in real time, so those need an active connection but still no download.

Is GamersHell free, and is it safe to play?

GamersHell is free to play, funded by advertising on game and category pages rather than by a paywall or premium tier. Browsers run each game inside a security sandbox that separates game code from your operating system, and the catalog does not ask players to download installers or grant system permissions, which keeps the risk profile in line with any reputable browser-games site.

Why GamersHell is worth bookmarking

The free online browser games space is crowded with portals that auto-import thousands of near-identical titles, so a site that caps itself at roughly 600 hand-picked games is doing something different. The trilingual setup is also unusual at this size, with separate EN, NL, and DE catalogs ordered by local demand rather than a single English library run through a translator. GamersHell also rotates new games into the catalog on a regular basis, so no category sits dormant.

The trade-offs are the ones you would expect from a free, ad-supported portal. Game and category pages carry ads, and a few games offer optional leaderboard signups, though those are never required to play. For quick sessions of solitaire, a word puzzle, or a two-player match without installing anything, GamersHell is a reasonable bookmark.

GamersHell FAQ

Is GamersHell free?

Yes, every game on GamersHell is free to play. Advertising on game and category pages funds the model, so there is no paywall or premium tier.

Do you need to download anything?

No. All games are browser-only and use HTML5 and JavaScript. No plugin is required after the Flash retirement in 2020.

Are GamersHell games safe to play?

Yes, on a reputable site. Modern browsers run each game in a security sandbox, and no game in the catalog requests installer downloads or system permissions.

Can you play GamersHell games on mobile?

Yes, GamersHell catalog includes responsive and mobile specific games for phones and tablets. Driving games offer on-screen steering, IO games use virtual joysticks, and puzzle and word games run on tap-and-drag, so phones and tablets are covered without an app.

Do you need an account?

No, not for most games. Standard play requires no signup. A few games offer optional leaderboards that need a quick account, but those never gate the gameplay.

What is the most popular game category on GamersHell?

On the English catalog, Two Player Games and Solitaire lead by play volume, covering head-to-head matches and card-pattern variants such as Spider and Klondike.

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The acquisition will give Fox direct access to Roku's more than 100 million households, along with expanded ad targeting data and a way to lessen its dependence on traditional cable distribution. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027.

This transaction marks Fox CEO and Chairman Lachlan Murdoch's first major acquisition since he solidified control of the media company after a family settlement last year.

Deal Terms: How The Acquisition Is Structured

Roku shareholders will receive $96 in cash and approximately 0.97 Fox Class A shares for each Roku share they own, valuing the offer at $160 per share.

This represents a 33.7% premium over Roku's closing price on Thursday, the day before reports emerged that the company was exploring a sale.

The transaction includes around $14.6 billion in cash, with the rest paid in stock. It also involves roughly $8.3 billion in new debt added to Fox's balance sheet. The deal is expected to bring annual cost savings of about $400 million.

After the merger, Fox shareholders will own approximately 73% of the combined company, with Roku investors holding the remainder.

Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood will continue in a role at the new company and will join Fox's board. Based on his 55% voting stake, Wood could potentially earn up to $3 billion from the sale.

How Investors and Analysts Are Responding

Fox shares dropped nearly 17 percent in early trading, likely due to concerns about stock dilution from the deal. Roku shares traded below the $160 offer price by as much as 12 percent.

TD Cowen analyst Doug Creutz noted, "We tend to be skeptical that this deal will generate value for Fox shareholders. The history of content and platform mergers in media has generally been unfavorable."

He pointed to AT&T's unsuccessful 2018 acquisition of Time Warner, which was unwound three years later, as a cautionary example.

Meanwhile, J.P. Morgan analyst Cory Carpenter considered the deal more positive, saying that it could shift Roku's focus toward digital and address long-term concerns about its presence in PayTV.

What This Means for Users And Why Fox Is Buying It

Roku and Fox have confirmed that their existing distribution partnerships will remain in place. Murdoch downplayed potential conflicts of interest, emphasizing that "we're partners right now with YouTube, YouTube TV and Comcast, and that doesn't change."

For Roku users, the acquisition is unlikely to lead to immediate changes in device functionality or the available app ecosystem.

Roku continues to offer streaming apps from competitors such as Paramount, NBCUniversal, and Netflix, and Fox has assured that these partnerships will persist.

The free Roku Channel will remain separate from Fox's ad-supported streaming platform Tubi, indicating that both services will keep operating under their current brands.

Fox has been working to diversify away from traditional cable distribution as cord-cutting picks up pace. Last year, the company launched Fox One, a subscription service as part of that effort.

Roku primarily earns revenue through advertising and commissions on subscription sales via platforms like Netflix and Peacock, servicing more than 20 million customers with billing relationships.

If the deal goes through, the combined company would rank as the third-largest TV viewer by Nielsen’s metrics, behind YouTube and Disney and ahead of Netflix.

Fox reports strong demand for its live sports events, including NFL games, Major League Baseball, and the FIFA World Cup. The main strategic reasoning behind the acquisition is combining that content with Roku's audience reach.

Fox is already familiar with Roku. In 2020, Fox financed its $440 million purchase of Tubi by selling a 5% stake in Roku, a holding it has maintained since 2013.

Approvals and Timeline for the Fox–Roku Merger

Both companies' boards have given their unanimous approval for the transaction. The deal is expected to close in the first half of the year 2027, pending regulatory approval and standard closing conditions.

Allen & Company is serving as the lead financial adviser to Fox, while Qatalyst Partners is advising Roku as its exclusive financial adviser.

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The ban is expected to come into effect early next year and places the UK within a broader international effort to strengthen online safety rules for minors.

Services such as YouTube Kids and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are not included in the ban. Enforcement will focus on technology companies rather than children directly.

Platforms that do not take sufficient measures to prevent under-16s from accessing their services could face multimillion-dollar fines.

What the UK Social Media Ban Covers for Under-16s

The platforms covered by the ban include:

• Snapchat,
• TikTok,
• YouTube,
• Instagram,
• Facebook, and
• X (formerly Twitter).
• Platforms like YouTube Kids and messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are not included.

The UK is adopting a model similar to Australia's, which last year became the first country to ban under-16s from creating social media accounts.

According to Starmer, the UK plans to go further than Australia by introducing measures to prevent strangers from contacting children on gaming and livestreaming platforms.

Officials are also exploring additional restrictions, which could include overnight curfews and mandatory breaks for users under 18 to stop endless scrolling. More details are expected to be announced next month.

Why the UK Government Says the Under-16 Social Media Ban Is Necessary

Starmer pointed to the negative effects of harmful content and excessive screen time as reasons for the ban.

He admitted that some teenagers might try to get around the restrictions but emphasized he is "not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children."

Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was killed in 2023 by attackers who accessed harmful online content, supported the ban, noting it should be part of a broader set of measures.

The NSPCC, a children's charity, called on authorities to ensure platforms implement effective age checks and enforce the policy properly.

The decision comes after a public consultation that received 116,000 responses, making it the second-largest response count for a UK consultation, just behind the 2012 same-sex marriage debate. Over 90% of respondents supported an under-16 ban.

Concerns From Critics and the US Response to the UK Ban

Critics including the Open Rights Group have expressed concerns about age verification companies and the security of users' private data.

Typically, age verification involves uploading government IDs or undergoing facial scans, which introduces new risks related to data collection and potential breaches.

A YouTube spokesperson warned that a blanket ban could result in children being pushed away from curated and supervised experiences and towards anonymous, less safe services.

Jon Crowcroft, a professor of communications systems at the University of Cambridge, said that supporters of social media bans are well-meaning but likely misguided.

He added that there is a real risk this approach might drive some users to worse sites, and that policing devices is nearly impossible from a technical standpoint. Crowcroft emphasized that policing platforms is much easier if regulators choose to focus on them.

The US has officially expressed its opposition to the move. The US Embassy in London emphasized that regulations should be narrowly focused and not infringe on free speech rights.

It also raised concerns that these regulations could impose additional challenges on American technology companies.

Starmer mentioned he plans to discuss the issue with US President Donald Trump and other leaders at the G7 summit starting Monday in France.

He noted that there has long been an understanding among world leaders that measures are necessary to protect children.

Wider Context

The UK is joining an increasing number of countries implementing age-based restrictions on social media.

Last year, Australia introduced a ban for users under 16, while Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia have either announced or put similar measures in place.

France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, and South Korea are exploring or developing their own approaches.

This ban complements the broader rollout of age verification rules across Europe. In California, the Digital Age Assurance Act will come into effect in January 2027, with a recent proposal for an exemption for open source software.

Industry estimates suggest that revenue from age verification services could reach $11.4 billion annually within 10 to 15 years across OECD countries.

The UK government has not yet set a specific date for when the ban will take effect, only indicating that enforcement is likely early next year.

Final details, including the required age verification methods for platforms, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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The update will be effective with Chrome versions 150 and 151, expected to be released this summer. After that, only extensions based on Manifest V3 will be compatible with Chrome.

Google engineer Devlin Cronin explained on the Chromium review site, "MV2 extensions are no longer allowed in any supported version of Chrome, and we are removing support for them and the associated functionality.

We won't be able to provide or maintain this functionality indefinitely due to the complexity and tech debt, as well as the security risks it entails."

Why Ending Manifest V2 Support Hits Ad Blockers Like uBlock Origin

Manifest V3 does not explicitly ban ad blockers, but it introduces restrictions that substantially reduce the effectiveness of tools like uBlock Origin.

The framework limits the number of filtering rules an extension can apply and removes dynamic blocking, a feature that allowed uBlock Origin to respond in real time to quickly evolving ad delivery methods.

Last year, Google disabled most Manifest V2 extensions with Chrome 138, although workarounds kept some functionalities available for a time. The Chrome 150 and 151 releases have now permanently removed those workarounds.

What uBlock Origin Users Can Do After Chrome Drops Manifest V2

Users currently relying on uBlock Origin in Chrome have a few options to consider. One option is switching to uBlock Origin Lite, which works under Manifest V3 but has reduced capabilities.

The Lite version allows some tracking, features a much smaller blocklist than the original, and cannot perform dynamic filtering. Alternatively, users can switch to a non-Chromium browser such as Firefox, which continues to support Manifest V2 extensions.

The uBlock Origin project recommends Firefox as the platform for full functionality going forward. Some browsers like Opera or Microsoft Edge have also indicated they will continue supporting V2 extensions for now.

Opera stated last fall that it would stop allowing new uploads of V2 extensions and would block downloads of older, less-used ones.

Finally, users can choose Brave, which includes built-in ad and tracker blocking through Brave Shields and does not depend on third-party V2 extensions.

Firefox’s Position and What Manifest V3 Means Going Forward

Firefox continues to support Manifest V2 alongside V3 extensions, and Mozilla has stated it has no current plans to remove V2 support.

Raymond Hill, the developer of uBlock Origin, pointed out that Firefox offers the best experience for users who want full uBlock Origin functionality.

In an interview with PCMag, Mozilla's new Firefox head, Ajit Varma, emphasized that Firefox is independent of Google's Chromium engine.

Firefox uses Mozilla's own Gecko engine, whereas most major browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Brave, are built on Chromium.

The transition to Manifest V3 has taken several years, with Google gradually phasing out V2 features over time. The final updates in Chrome 150 and 151 mark the end of that process and bring Chrome in line with the more strict extension architecture that Google has promoted for years.

For users seeking browser-based ad blocking without relying on extensions, alternatives include switching browsers, using built-in features such as Brave Shields, or installing system-wide ad blockers like Pi-hole or NextDNS at the network level.

The Chromium standard is also affecting other major browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Opera. While some have indicated they may support V2 temporarily, the overall trend points toward adopting Manifest V3 across the Chromium ecosystem.

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The announcement was made on June 15. EA estimates that more than 120 million players access its games each month during fiscal year 2026, representing the platform's target audience.

The platform builds on existing EA brand integrations, such as the Coach partnership in The Sims 4, collaborations with Visa and State Farm through EA Sports, and previous activations including the Moschino Stuff Pack and the Alexa in-game object in The Sims 4.

What EA Advertising Offers Brands Inside EA Games

EA's announcement highlights four main ways brands can utilize the platform.

First, brand partnerships and gameplay integrations involve custom creations for specific games and audiences, such as in-game challenges, reward-based objectives, branded content, and curated vanity items.

Second, ad units in 3D sports simulations include digital ad boards, scoreboards, and brand overlays that are dynamically displayed within select EA Sports games, with impression measurement aligned to IAB standards.

Third, enhanced targeting and measurement utilize a new proprietary ad server and SDK built specifically for EA's Frostbite engine, with measurement carried out in partnership with Integral Ad Science.

Finally, the EA Sports Partner Program offers an exclusive ecosystem for a select group of official partners, featuring in-game integrations, live event tie-ins, and the GEN / EA Sports athlete platform.

Existing EA Advertising Partners and In?Game Activations

EA has listed several brands that have already partnered with EA Advertising:

• Visa is a partner of EA Sports FC and EA Sports College Football, providing integrations across both titles.
• Lowe's has incorporated itself into EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, and College Football through Ultimate Team challenges and branded player content, resulting in more than 987,000 games played and 200,000 challenges completed.
• Red Bull engaged EA Sports FC players with branded in-game objectives, team kits, and collaborations with athlete ambassadors, leading to 128 million matches played and 1.2 million objectives completed.
• Xfinity and Peacock were activated through in-stadium and broadcast-style integrations in EA Sports FC 26.

What EA Advertising Means for Players

EA Advertising formalizes and speeds up a process that has been largely informal so far. EA Sports titles have featured in-stadium signage for years, and The Sims has included branded content from IKEA in The Sims 2 and the Moschino Stuff Pack in The Sims 4.

The launch of a dedicated advertising department indicates that EA plans to increase the number and frequency of brand integrations across its games.

Players looking to limit their exposure to in-game ads have few options besides avoiding games that include them.

EA says these integrations are meant to enhance rather than disrupt the player experience, but the company has not provided details on how players can opt out of specific brand content in games they own.

The EA Advertising launch comes after EA's recent acquisition of a $55 billion deal involving a group that includes Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.

The buyout left EA with a considerable amount of debt, which the new advertising division aims to partly address. While EA has not explicitly connected the launch to the acquisition, the timing and scale of the announcement point to a coordinated effort to diversify revenue.

The platform launch coincides with a growing trend of in-game advertising across the industry. Several publishers have established formal partnerships with advertisers, and the integration of brands into live-service games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty has set examples for what players can expect.

EA Advertising is now active. Brands interested in partnerships can find more information at ea.com/brand-partnerships.

The company has not announced specific timelines for new integrations in titles such as The Sims 4 or EA Sports FC, but it has indicated that additional collaborations across its portfolio are likely.

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The ruling was made by the 26th civil chamber at the Munich Regional Court, which handles press and defamation cases.

The case was brought by two publishers based in Munich, who claimed that AI Overview falsely connected their companies to fraud, questionable business practices, and subscription traps.

They said the AI mixed their information with that of other genuinely suspicious companies and created false links that were not supported by the sources attached to Google's response.

What the Court Decided About Google’s Liability for AI Overview Answers

The main legal issue was whether AI Overviews should be treated under the law the same way as traditional search results.

Google argued it wasn't responsible for the output generated by the AI and that it doesn't adopt third-party content as its own when providing summaries.

The court disagreed. The judges stated that the AI summary isn't just a display or a link to search results, but content that can be attributed to the search engine operator.

Since the AI summarizes results in its own words, evaluates them, and presents them in a structured manner, the court concluded that Google produces new, independent statements that go beyond simple links.

Because of this, existing case law from Germany's Federal Court of Justice, which shields search engine operators from direct liability for listing third-party content, does not apply to AI-generated summaries.

Google claimed that users could verify the information themselves through the source links and were aware that AI-generated content should not be blindly trusted.

The court, however, rejected this defense. The chamber highlighted that the AI Overview is a self-contained statement with independently understandable content.

The court found no indication that the content was unreliable, meaning that the possibility of further user research did not exempt Google from liability for any reputational damages.

The Outcome and Why This Ruling Matters for AI Search Providers

The court has ordered Google to stop spreading false claims about the plaintiffs and to cover 80% of the legal costs. The ruling is not final and may still be appealed.

A Google spokesperson stated that the company invests heavily in the quality of AI overviews to ensure that most answers are accurate. Google said it would review the decision carefully.

If the ruling is upheld on appeal, it could mean that AI-generated search summaries are seen as the platform's own speech rather than as protected hosting of third-party content.

This distinction could be important for liability under German defamation law and might influence how similar cases are handled across the EU.

The case adds to increasing regulatory scrutiny of AI search features in Europe. Recently, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority ordered Google to give publishers the option to prevent their content from being used in AI Overviews and AI Mode, citing concerns about traffic and accuracy.

Studies have also shown that AI Overviews can reduce click-through rates to original sources by nearly 50%.

For users in Germany, the ruling doesn’t immediately change how AI Overview works, but it does establish that false or misleading information in those summaries could now lead to direct claims against Google.

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The promotion also expands available locations from the standard set to 28 countries. The VPN reverts to its standard 50GB monthly bandwidth limit and reduced location list on September 1.

The Firefox built-in VPN is included free with Firefox in regions where it is available. Mozilla introduced it earlier this year and reported over 1 million signups within two months of launch.

What’s Changing in Firefox’s Built-In VPN During the Promotion

For the duration of the promotion (now through August 31):

• Bandwidth is unlimited, up from the standard 50GB per month
• 28 country locations are available, an expansion from the standard set
• The full available country list is: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, and United States

Browsing remains subject to the local laws and content restrictions of whichever region the user selects.

How to Use Firefox’s Built-In VPN and Practical Ways to Take Advantage of It

The VPN is integrated directly into Firefox. To turn it on, click the VPN icon in the address bar area and toggle the connection on. Firefox recommends the fastest available location by default, but users can switch to any of the supported countries from a drop-down list.

The VPN also supports per-site exceptions. If a website does not work correctly with the VPN active, users can turn the VPN off for that site directly from the VPN panel. For more permanent exceptions, sites can be added to an exclusion list in advanced settings.

Mozilla explains some common reasons people might use a VPN more often. These include adding protection when connecting to public Wi-Fi at airports, train stations, or hotels.

It also helps restore access to websites that show your home region, such as pharmacy refill portals or shopping sites that might detect your location abroad.

Additionally, users can choose a specific country location to see how a website looks in different regions.

What Happens After August 31

The Firefox VPN will revert to offering 50GB of bandwidth per month and a smaller country list starting September 1. Users who have become used to connecting from specific countries during the promotion should be aware that not all 28 countries will be available in the regular offering.

Mozilla has not indicated whether similar promotions will be available in the future. The current promotion is active in regions where Firefox's built-in VPN service is available.

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The update was announced late last month and includes an optional Liquorix-built kernel 7.0, in addition to the standard Debian kernel.

Existing MX Linux users can upgrade through the install-over option in the installer. MX Linux is a Debian-based distribution that doesn't require systemd by default, making it a more accessible choice for users who prefer to avoid systemd.

Kernel and Edition Options and Init System Changes in MX Linux 25.2

MX Linux 25.2 offers different kernel options depending on the edition:

• The Xfce edition comes with the standard Debian kernel or an Advanced Hardware Support (AHS) version that uses the Liquorix kernel 7.0. The
• The KDE Plasma edition includes only the AHS version with the Liquorix 7.0 kernel. The
• The Fluxbox edition, which is lightweight, uses only the Debian kernel.

The AHS edition is designed for newer hardware and benefits from the more recent kernel updates.

Earlier versions of MX Linux, up to version 23, allowed users to choose between sysvinit and systemd at boot time. This method ceased to work starting with kernel 6.12 and later.

MX 25.0 required users to select either sysvinit or systemd during installation, with the KDE Plasma desktop available only in the systemd variant.

In MX 25.1, a new mechanism was introduced to switch between init systems after installation. This feature persisted in MX 25.2, but the change to the underlying architecture made upgrading directly from MX 23 to MX 25.x difficult.

The MX Tools suite, which includes system administration utilities, often encountered issues during such upgrades.

Upgrading from Older MX Linux Versions to 25.2

For users running MX 23 or earlier who want to upgrade to 25.2, the recommended method is to choose the "install over an existing MX installation" option in the installer instead of trying an in-place upgrade.

This method performs a clean reinstallation of the operating system and does not keep the previous configuration. It also requires re-enabling the swap partition and recreating the user account. However, it restores MX Tools to a working state.

The contents of the home directory are preserved through the install-over option, but configuration files within it may need to be reapplied or recreated. To keep all settings and configurations, it is advisable to perform a full manual backup before reinstalling.

After the installation, MX Tools offers easy point-and-click access to selecting repositories, configuring mirrors, installing drivers including Nvidia drivers, managing kernels, and adding software. Flatpak is preinstalled, making it straightforward to install applications like Gear Lever through Flathub.

Raspberry Pi Edition Now Updated to MX Linux 25.2

The MX Linux Raspberry Pi edition has been updated to version 25.2. Prior to this update, the Pi version was based on MX 22. The Raspberry Pi edition uses the Xfce desktop environment and is built partly from Raspberry Pi OS packages instead of directly from Debian.

This approach allows it to look and function like MX Linux while remaining compatible with most Raspberry Pi models and Pi OS applications.

Earlier in the development process, testers experienced stability issues that prevented the system from booting past the splash screen on Pi 4 and Pi 5 hardware. The MX Linux team continues to work on refining the Pi edition.

MX Linux's latest release comes at a time when several other Debian and Ubuntu derivatives are introducing local AI features. Canonical has announced AI-powered features for Ubuntu 26.10 "Stonking Stingray," while Linux Lite 8.0 offers an optional local large language model through its MyAI feature.

MX Linux 25.2, however, ships without any bundled AI components. This may appeal to users who prefer to avoid both systemd and locally hosted AI models.

MX Linux 25.2 is now available for free download from the project's official website. The Xfce, KDE, and Fluxbox editions have all been updated to the 25.2 release.

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This has resulted in a notably busy fall release calendar, with most major publishers fitting their launches into the six-week period leading up to GTA 6.

Chort shared these insights with Eurogamer while discussing the launch plans for Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, an upcoming prequel set to be released on August 27.

Studios Adapt to “The Ogre” of GTA 6

All the studios around the world were thinking about it. When you know that GTA is coming, you realize that in terms of marketing, player engagement, and the overall gaming experience, GTA is like the main event, the biggest one. So, teams try to adapt and find ways to avoid being overshadowed.

Asobo chose to release Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy in late August. This period would normally be considered a relatively quiet and safe window for launches, but Chort acknowledged that the 2026 calendar is already quite crowded, even before GTA 6 is released.

"This year, we see that there are many good games, or at least a lot of quality titles, so we recognize that this is just how the industry is. We aim to create the best game we can," he added.

A Crowded Pre-GTA 6 Release Calendar

GTA 6's release in November has led to most major fall titles being shifted earlier in the year to avoid direct competition. Confirmed releases in the weeks leading up to GTA 6 include

• Marvel's Wolverine,
• Gears of War: E-Day,
• Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave,
• Control Resonant (September 24),
• Silent Hill Townfall,
• The Blood of Dawnwalker (September 3),
• Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (August 27), and
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (October 23), with early access available from October 16.

Publishers have effectively turned September and October into the most active period for new game releases this year.

Why GTA 6 Distorts the Entire Release Schedule

Take-Two Interactive projects that its fiscal year 2027 revenue will surpass $8 billion, with most of the growth expected to come from GTA 6. Industry estimates indicate the game could sell up to 45 million copies on PS5 in its first week.

Rockstar's GTA 5 remains a strong seller, continuing to move millions of copies annually more than a decade after its initial release, providing steady ongoing revenue.

The anticipated commercial impact of GTA 6, along with the concentration of player time and attention on a single release, makes it advantageous for publishers to avoid launching competing titles in the same window.

Releasing games too close to GTA 6 risks reduced coverage and player engagement, regardless of the quality.

GTA 6 is scheduled for a console launch on November 19, 2026. A PC version has not yet been confirmed.

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Google Maps took approximately five years to reach 1 billion monthly users. ChatGPT reached the same number in roughly 3.5 years since its November 2022 launch.

The figure specifically refers to monthly app users rather than total users across all surfaces, including the web.

Growth Across the AI Chatbot Market

While ChatGPT remains the dominant player in the market, the growth rates of competing chatbots are increasing more rapidly in percentage terms:

• ChatGPT: 62% year-on-year growth
• Anthropic Claude: 640% year-on-year growth
• Meta AI: 973% year-on-year growth

Abe Yousef, senior insights analyst at Sensor Tower, told CNBC that improvements in the models and more positive market sentiment toward rival companies have contributed to the rise of competing apps. Despite the significant percentage differences, ChatGPT's user base is still much larger than its competitors in absolute numbers.

How Government Deals and Public Sentiment Are Shaping ChatGPT’s Adoption

OpenAI signed a deal with the Pentagon earlier this year as part of a larger set of contracts between US tech companies and the Department of Defense.

The agreement drew criticism from the public. In response, CEO Sam Altman promised additional safeguards to prevent the technology from being used for surveillance of US citizens.

On February 28, the day after the Pentagon deal was announced, there was a sharp increase in ChatGPT uninstalls, rising approximately 295% compared to the previous day. During the same period, Anthropic's Claude became the top free app on the US App Store.

Anthropic has refused to allow the government to use its models for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. This stance led the company to be labeled a "supply chain risk" by the Pentagon. Despite this, reports suggest that the NSA is using Claude Mythos for offensive cyber operations, even amid public disagreements.

The increase in AI chatbot usage is happening alongside growing public concerns about AI. Polls show that roughly 70% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers. Worries about AI's effect on jobs also remain, although recent analyses suggest that the predicted large-scale job losses haven't yet materialized.

OpenAI released a report this week stating that accounts linked to China have used ChatGPT to spread anti-data center sentiments in the United States. The company said these efforts had limited impact.

The contrast between rising adoption and declining public opinion is a key feature of the current AI landscape. With ChatGPT reaching one billion monthly users, many see its practical value as outweighing concerns, even as debates about AI's risks and benefits continue to grow.

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Modern Warfare 4 is the first Call of Duty game to skip last-generation consoles. It will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC through platforms such as Xbox on PC, Steam, and Battle.net.

What the Digital Preorder Includes, and the Game Pass Delay

Digital preorders unlock the following on October 16: access to the full Modern Warfare 4 campaign one week before the public launch, the preorder operator bundles already announced, and standard launch-day access to multiplayer and DMZ modes on October 23.

The early access does not apply to physical preorders.

Despite being a first-party title from Microsoft, Modern Warfare 4 will not be available on Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass until October 23, 2027, which is one year after its launch.

The delay follows Microsoft's recent restructuring of Game Pass after the price increase in October 2025, which led to a loss of subscribers.

Additionally, new Call of Duty releases were removed from day-one Game Pass availability as part of the reduction in the Game Pass Ultimate subscription price to $22.99 per month.

Campaign Storyline, Spoiler Risk, and Trailer Performance

The campaign shifts its focus to Private Park, a young soldier from South Korea facing live combat after North Korea launches a full-scale invasion of the South. The conflict becomes the campaign's front line.

Captain Price returns, voiced by Barry Sloane, driven by revenge for the death of Soap MacTavish at the hands of the series antagonist, Makarov. The reveal trailer shows Price working with former TF141 adversary Valeria "El Sin Nombre" Garza. It also features an exchange between Price and Ghost, where Ghost accuses Price of breaking rules. Price replies, "No more rules."

Infinity Ward has been unusually transparent about the campaign's story during its pre-release marketing. Now that campaign early access is available a week before the official launch, players who wait until the public release face a higher risk of encountering spoilers through streams, social media, and discussion forums during the early access period.

The reveal trailer for Modern Warfare 4 has been viewed 58 million times on YouTube within two weeks. This surpasses the 49 million views that the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 trailer received nine months earlier. The positive response has led to discussions about the game's potential commercial success.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is now available for pre-order through participating retailers, platform stores, or on CallofDuty.com.

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What Triggered the Suspension of Fable 5 and Mythos 5, and What It Means for Users

Anthropic stated that US national security authorities have not publicly identified specific concerns. The company claimed that the government is aware of a method to bypass or "jailbreak" Fable 5.

It also mentioned reviewing a demonstration of this technique. According to Anthropic, the vulnerabilities exposed are "relatively simple," and other publicly available models can also discover them without needing a bypass.

"We reviewed a demonstration of this specific technique used to identify a small number of previously known, minor vulnerabilities," Anthropic explained. "These vulnerabilities all appear to be relatively simple, and we have found that other publicly available models can discover them as well without requiring a bypass."

Customers using Pro, Max, and Enterprise plans who accessed Fable 5 during its free preview period can no longer use the model. The Mythos 5 access program for vetted partners is also affected.

Anthropic has not provided a timeline for when Fable 5 or Mythos 5 might be available again or what conditions need to be met to lift the suspension. Other Claude models, including Claude Opus 4.8, remain accessible.

Wider Tension Between Anthropic and the Trump Administration

The suspension comes amid an ongoing dispute between Anthropic and the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the company, and former US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled Anthropic a "supply chain risk."

This designation, typically reserved for adversarial countries, marks the first time a US company has received it, indicating that the tool or service is not deemed secure enough for government use.

Anthropic is suing the Pentagon over the designation, and a US judge has ruled that the Pentagon's directive cannot be enforced while the lawsuit is ongoing. As a result, government agencies and organizations working with the US military can continue using Anthropic products temporarily.

The BBC reported that it has contacted the US Department of Commerce for comment on the Fable 5 suspension.

Anthropic previously stated that Fable 5 surpasses the capabilities of any model the company has made publicly available, with the Mythos architecture described as "too powerful to release" without substantial safeguards.

The Mythos program was limited to select trusted partners through Project Glasswing for cybersecurity research before Fable 5's broader release earlier this week.

Anthropic has not announced any modifications it plans to make to address the government's concerns before Fable 5 and Mythos 5 can be reinstated.

Anthropic is suing the Pentagon over the designation. A US judge has ruled the Pentagon's directive cannot be enforced while the lawsuit continues, meaning government agencies and organizations working with the US military can still use Anthropic products in the interim.

The BBC reported it has approached the US Department of Commerce for comment on the Fable 5 suspension.

Anthropic previously described Fable 5 as exceeding the capabilities of any model the company had made generally available, with the underlying Mythos architecture characterized by Anthropic as "too powerful to release" without significant safeguards.

The Mythos program was restricted to a small number of trusted partners through Project Glasswing for cybersecurity research before Fable 5's broader release earlier this week.

Anthropic has not announced what changes, if any, will be made to address the government's concerns before Fable 5 and Mythos 5 can return to availability.

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