Key TakeawaysOn Wednesday, a group of 7 customers filed a lawsuit against Apple for falsely claiming three versions of its smartwatches to be carbon neutral.They said that if they knew beforehand that these watches werent exactly carbon neutral, they would have opted for other sustainable options.However, Apple stands by its claims that its watches are in fact carbon neutral.Apple is being sued by customers for falsely claiming that its smartwatches are carbon neutral.A complaint was filed on Wednesday in a California federal court by 7 buyers of green-tagged Apple Watches, i.e., the 9, SE, and Ultra 2 models. They said that had they known these watches were not actually carbon neutral, they wouldnt have bought them.Apples false advertising may lead [consumers] to choose its products over genuinely sustainable alternatives the complaintFor those who dont know, carbon neutral products mean that the company offsets the carbon emissions created during the creation of the product. However, in this case, the plaintiffs feel that Apples offset design is faulty, meaning it isnt properly removing the carbon emission.Therefore, the plaintiffs are seeking monetary compensation for damages (the amount is unspecified) and an injunction to stop Apple from marketing those three watches as carbon neutral.Apple seems to stand by its claims that its products are carbon neutral. Company spokesperson Sean Redding further added that theyre proud of their cutting-edge carbon reduction programs that have allowed them to innovate sustainably.As per him, Apple Watchs carbon emissions have been reduced by 75%. As for the remaining carbon emissions, they invest in nature-based projects that claim to remove thousands of metric tons of carbon from the environment.Now this is what the buyers have an issue with the remaining 25%. The company has invested in two forestry projects. The first is Kenyas Chyulu Hills Project, and the second is Chinas Guinan Project. Its worth noting that both these places were heavily covered by trees even before the project began.So, the buyers feel that this is no credit to Apple. The trees would have existed and continued to remove carbon even without Apples involvement or the projects existence. Hence, its not a genuine carbon offset.The company has promised to become completely carbon neutral by 2030, including its supply chain. So, an allegation like this really raises questions about how committed Apple is towards this goal.This is also not the first time that Apples carbon neutrality initiative has faced criticism. In 2023, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs found that the carbon footprint of some of Apples suppliers was growing.Apples carbon footprint did reduce between 2021 and 2023, though, but it still churned out a whopping 16.1 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2023.All in all, the better way forward for the company would be to focus on carbon neutrality of its entire supply chain and shift from fossil fuels to green energy sources. As for Apples customers, the best way to support sustainability is to limit impulse buying and follow the reuse-recycle-reduce mantra.Read more: Apple pledges to invest $500B in the USAdd Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOnce a pioneering video calling app with hundreds of millions of monthly users, Skype is officially being retired by Microsoft.Microsoft is urging users to transition to Microsoft Teams, its very own collaboration platform. To ease the switch, users can migrate their contacts, chats, and call logs seamlessly using Microsofts migration services.Users have until May 5 to export their Skype data before the app shuts down permanently.Skype, an app that was once synonymous with video calling, is officially going to be phased out. This marks an end of what the millennials would consider an era.The video calling app has been around for over 20 years and had a few hundred million people using it every single month at its prime. Whether it was corporate or leisure, Skype was one of the first apps to offer internet video calling. It even disrupted the telephone industry soon after its launch.However, the underlying technology of the app soon became obsolete when competitors like WhatsApp and Zoom introduced more user-friendly and advanced features, and users started switching to alternatives.Skype was bought by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion, but that didnt quite positively impact its growth either. Being unable to keep up with its growing competitors, Skype saw a gradual decrease in its number of users over the years.On the other hand, Microsoft Teams, introduced in 2017, is a similar app that has seen substantial growth post-COVID and continues to be a leading collaboration tool, especially in the corporate space.While announcing the retirement of Skype, Microsoft urged the users to try out Teams and move their data to the app while theres still time. Users have until May 5 to figure out what they want to do with their existing chats and data on Skype before theyre gone for good.Microsofts Attempt to Move Users from Skype to Microsoft TeamsA highly possible intention behind shutting down Skype is to shift the focus to Microsoft Teams.Microsoft is providing several perks to make the transition smooth. As mentioned earlier, users will be able to export and move data easily from Skype to Teams with Microsofts migration services. You can even use your Skype login credentials for Teams.Moreover, youll be able to preserve everything from your Skypes chat histories to call logs within the Teams environment. Teams, by the way, provides almost all the features that Skype does, except for the option to video call contacts or phone numbers, which was one of the core reasons why Skype gained popularity.Some of the common features between Teams and Skype include one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. Teams also has some additional features, like the ability to manage calendars and join communities, that can come in handy for business networking.Users who do not wish to switch to Microsoft Teams can choose to export all their data from Skype.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysMicrosoft is planning to request Trump to ease up the restrictions imposed on chip export by Biden.It wants at least the allies of the US, such as India, Switzerland, and Israel, to be able to freely import US chips.However, as per reports, the Trump administration has been planning to strengthen these restrictions. So, a plea like this might not stand a chance.Microsoft has decided to urge President Donald Trump to ease the restrictions imposed on chip exports by the previous Joe Biden administration. The said restrictions were brought into place during the final days of Bidens tenure.Microsoft feels that at least the allies of the US should be spared of these restrictions. These countries include India, Israel, and Switzerland.Why Did Joe Biden Restrict Chip Imports?Joe Biden decided to impose more restrictions on the export of AI chips, especially those created by Nvidia. The initial purpose was to keep advanced AI computing powers within the US, with special focus on ensuring they dont end up in Chinas hands.However, the restriction soon expanded to other countries as well, which included some of the closest allies of the US.Biden thought that it would make the US a superpower in the AI race, but what he did not consider is that sooner or later, other countries would also figure out how to make equally good chips. And in that case, all the buyers that the US had would turn to those countries. This is exactly what Microsoft is worried about.By restricting exports, US chip makers are missing out on some of the biggest international markets, whereas China is taking up all the lost business right from under the USs nose.Left unchanged, the Biden rule will give China a strategic advantage in spreading over time its own AI technology, echoing its rapid ascent in 5G telecommunications a decade ago MicrosoftHowever, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first published this news, the Trump administration is actually planning to strengthen these restrictions. So, whether a plea to ease them up will work or not is hard to say.Should the US Really Restrict Chip Export?The biggest reason the US started restricting chip exports was to keep such advanced technology out of Chinas grasp. However, as mentioned earlier, China is an equally adept country when it comes to tech. So, if the US wont provide it with chips, its capable of creating its own.Look at DeepSeek, for instance. US AI startup OpenAI was one of the first companies to popularize the idea of GenAI, but within just a couple of years, China managed to create something better, and that too, at a fraction of the cost.Similarly, China might soon reach the USs chip prowess. The only ones that will actually lose in the process are the US chip companies, who will now have a limited customer base.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysWhatsApp experienced a temporary outage, preventing users from sending or receiving messages.Meta acknowledged the glitch and fixed the problem within a few hours. This was WhatsApps first major outage in four years, with the last one having occurred in 2021.In the same week, Instagram users reported seeing violent and disturbing content due to an algorithm malfunction. Even accounts with sensitive content filters were affected, raising concerns about Metas content moderation policies.On Friday afternoon, WhatsApp briefly glitched, and users were unable to send or load their messages.Within a matter of a few minutes, there were thousands of reports regarding WhatsApp being down on Downdetector, the tracker website. Several users took to X, too, to complain about being unable to send messages or use the app entirely.While a vast majority of the issues were reported from the UK initially, the outage seems to have been a global experience. Thats because there were more than 8,000 problems logged in the US in a matter of an hour.Besides WhatsApp, there were also reports about Facebook Messenger having issues, but the reports in this case were far fewer than those about WhatsApp.Read more: WhatsApp users targeted by Paragon solutionsMeta took care of this issue quickly, and the platform was back up and working in a matter of a few hours. A Meta spokesperson acknowledged the issues and said that everything has now been fixed.Its worth noting that a downtime on WhatsApp has resurfaced after four long years, with the last outage being a severe 7-hour one across all Meta platforms. It cost the tech company more than $100 million in revenue.Meta Parody of Glitches: Instagram Insensitive Content GlitchWhatsApp downtime isnt the only thing that went wrong in the Meta ecosystem this week. Just a couple of days ago, Metas Instagram suddenly started coughing up gross, violent content for no apparent reason.Even the users who had put a filter on sensitive content were shown reels that had extreme violence or crime involved in them. It seemed to be an algorithm glitch, but it was surely a very concerning one. Unprecedented, too.Good or not, most people open Instagram first thing in the morning. Imagine opening the app and seeing a guy being smashed across his head with a giant rod. Or getting shot at by a terrorist. Certainly a disturbing sight, right? This is what millions of users reported experiencing. Even worse, users less than 18 years old, too, came across such content.This glitch came soon after Instagram revised its policies to give users more freedom on what they want to see. Instagram is known for its stringent content policies and strong regulation systems, but few people consider it a way of content moderation.Keeping those remarks in mind, Instagram changed its content policy and attempted to censor only content that promotes illegal activities. But that clearly doesnt seem to be working efficiently enough.Interestingly, this isnt the first time that a breakout of harmful content has been experienced by the users, with a similar issue happening around the pandemic.Meta apologized for the inconvenience and explained that the glitch happened due to some technical issue. The tech giant is working to make sure that the platform is safe for all users, especially since now it has one of the biggest opportunities to expand amidst TikToks uncertainty in the US.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOn Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the new version of its popular AI assistant. Enter Alexa+.This ones powered by GenAI, making it much more conversational, personalized, and smart.Although Alexa+ will typically cost you $19.99 per month, its completely free for Prime users.Amazons Alexa has now gotten a GenAI makeover that makes it more conversational and personalized. This is the biggest update ever to the assistant since its launch in 2014.On Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the new version of its popular AI assistant, which will now be known as Alexa+. The launch event took place in New York, and the first thing that struck me was how conversational the AI assistant has become.For instance, you can now speak to it just the way you speak to your friends and family in informal words and unstructured sentences. Itll still be able to understand you.Its worth noting that early predictions in January stated that the new Alexa might arrive in October, so the company has clearly fast-tracked its development.Alexas PopularityThere are more than 600 million Alexa devices out there. The product already enjoys the markets favor thanks to how easy it makes managing smart homes.Alexa+ takes its predecessors features to a new level. For example, if youre in the bedroom, you can command it to turn on the TV with your favorite show or movie on it in the living room. So, you can just step outside and fall flat on your couch. Your favorite video will already be playing.Similarly, you can also use Alexa+ to access Ring and check whether your package has been delivered or not.On top of that, the new Alexa+ offers much better personalization. Previously, it only stored information about you, but now you can ask it to remember that information and apply it to the suggestions it makes for you.If you tell Alexa that you make really good spaghetti and then ask it for dinner recommendations a few days later, itll give you a bunch of spaghetti recipes.Alexa+ can also take proactive action. For instance, if youve been browsing a product for a while, it will automatically notify you when its on sale.Last but not least, Alexa has been integrated with new-age LLM models, which expands its knowledge base. This makes it one of the smartest AI assistants out there. This integration not only allows you to ask random questions but also helps you in your day-to-day tasks.If you have a test coming up, you can share your notes with Alexa+ and ask it to turn your notes into a quiz. Similarly, you can share your work emails with it and ask it to set up your calendar accordingly.What About Privacy?If a tool knows so much about you, its quite natural to be concerned about your privacy. However, you dont have to worry about that with Alexa+.All personal information you share is centrally stored on the Alexa Privacy dashboard. Plus, the entire system is housed in Amazons secure AWS infrastructure, which provides world-class security and privacy.Theres another piece of good news. While Alexa+ costs $19.99 per month, itll be available for free to all Prime users. Rollout has already started in the US with devices like the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21. Apart from that, you can also access it through the brand-new Alexa+ mobile app thats available on both Android and iPhone.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysGoogles Results about you tool lets users track and remove sensitive personal details, like phone numbers and addresses, from search results.The tool notifies users when new personal information appears online and allows them to easily request removals or updates.Besides this, Google has also introduced SafeSearch Blurring to hide explicit content by default, reinforcing its push for better privacy controls.Imagine a dream recruiter searches your name on Google, and it shows your phone number from two decades ago. Frustrating to have little control over this, right? Well, thats about to change. Google is taking steps to give you more control over the personal information that appears in search results through its new update.With the new Results about you tool, you can proactively monitor what sensitive information about you is appearing in Google search results, and you can request the removal or update of that information with just a few clicks.Weve significantly updated and improved the tool, helping you keep track of your personal contact information in Search and alerting you when we find it, so you can get it removed GoogleBesides this, you will also be alerted when new results from the web containing your contact information pop up in Google search. Although the tool isnt available everywhere at the moment, the company plans to slowly roll out the feature to all supported countries.Google has really been trying to up its game when it comes to privacy. For instance, it recently announced the replacement of SMS authentication with QR codes for GMail.Results about you is another tool in its arsenal that will help it achieve that. In addition, there have also been other privacy improvements, including a SafeSearch Blurring setting that blurs out any explicit content by default whenever it appears in search results.How to Use the New Google Privacy FeatureTo use this tool, you need to first input personal data, like your name, address, and phone number. Google will scan this data and notify you as soon as a match is found. Anything that you wish to get removed from the search results can be requested for removal by clicking on the three-dot menu next to the results and selecting the remove this result option.There will be three options to choose from:First is the straightforward personal information removal, which can be selected for removing PII or doxxing content.The second option is flagging illegal content like copyright infringement.The last one is a new feature for situations when the user has already submitted an update on the data, but search results havent reflected those changes yet. When you select the third option, aka the refresh option, Google will be prompted to recrawl the website and update its information.Its worth noting that this feature has actually been around for quite some time now, but it was only accessible through the Google app. On the mobile web and desktop, it was tucked away in the history settings that most users didnt even know about. By making it more visible and adding a healthy dash of new updates, users will certainly feel more in control of their information.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOn Tuesday, a number of users reported that they were constantly being shown violent reels on Instagram.Meta has apologized for the incident and fixed the error within two days of the first report.However, we are yet to know the exact cause of the glitch or how many people were affected by it.Imagine you wake up and instinctively start scrolling Instagram and the first reel you see is of a man getting shot in the head. Not a good start to the day, is it?This is exactly what happened on Tuesday when Instagram was suddenly filled with gruesome and gore reels. Meta has now fixed the technical glitch that was causing a flood of violent and not-safe-for-work reels in users feeds. The tech company has also apologized for the inconvenience.We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended. We apologize for the mistake. Meta spokespersonA Little BackgroundThe problem arose on Tuesday when a number of users complained that they were constantly being recommended videos featuring violent content such as someone being beaten or killed. Even those who had the sensitive content filter on were recommended such videos.The only silver lining is Meta was quick to fix the issue within 2 days, the glitch was completely fixed. But we are yet to find out what caused this glitch or exactly how many people were affected by it.Usually, Meta automatically removes such violent content from its platform. However, the company has a history of accidentally promoting harmful posts such as misinformation during the pandemic, violent clips from the Myanmar genocide, eating disorder content to teens, and so on.Meta raised a lot of eyebrows in January when the companys policies went under a change and it decided to shift away from third-party fact-checkers and rely on community-driven monitoring (just like Elon Musks X).Basically, its now the responsibility of the users to report content that goes against the platforms guidelines. On top of that, Meta is heavily dependent on automated tools for the processing of such reports.Previously these tools were instructed to scan all posts that violate the platforms content policy but now Meta wants to give its users more freedom of expression which is why it has instructed the tools to only look for posts that promote illegal activities such as terrorism and human trafficking. Due to this approach, a lot of offensive posts are making it to the main feed.Apparently, these changes have been made to align with the new Presidents views on this matter, who had previously criticized Meta for its stringent monitoring policies. However, as we can see from the Tuesday incident, this approach is clearly not working.This is a huge concern because Meta is now trying to expand its short-video user base amidst TikToks troubles with the US authorities. The latter has less than a month remaining to find a non-US buyer or it will be banned in the country.If the ban does go through, Meta will be the biggest beneficiary as it is the next best option. However, with such a great opportunity comes a great responsibility to create a safe space for all users, especially for underage users, which Meta hasnt been doing well so far.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysGoogle is replacing SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) for Gmail with QR code scanning to enhance security and convenience.The shift is driven by the increasing exploitation of SMS authentication by hackers through phishing, spoofing, and mobile carrier manipulation.QR codes offer a more secure alternative, as theyre unique to each session, cannot be intercepted, and eliminate risks tied to SIM card theft or fraud.A Gmail spokesperson recently confirmed that Google will let go of the current SMS two-factor authentication process. Itll bring in QR code scanning as a verification step instead, making the process more secure and convenient.Just like we want to move past passwords with the use of things like passkeys, we want to move away from sending SMS messages for authentication Ross Richendrfer, head of security and privacy public relations at GoogleCurrently, when you log in to your Google account on a device, you receive a six-digit authentication code on your registered phone number that you need to manually enter to complete the login process.This SMS-based two-factor authentication process is a widely used method by apps and platforms to ensure extra security. However, with the recent increase in the abuse of SMS verification systems, its evident that hackers have found multiple ways to exploit this tactic. Through phishing, spoofing, and other methods.One common instance of scammers tricking users into getting their verification code is by calling them disguised as representatives of banks or big companies. Then, they ask for the verification code as an OTP to move forward with a fraudulent online process that likely doesnt lead anywhere legitimate.Another concern is that SMS authentication relies on mobile carriers, and its possible to manipulate the carrier itself. This would involve generating fake requests and making money through the messages sent, or even worse, deflecting such important private messages to cybercriminals.Read more: Google will use AI to determine whether youre really 18+Why Are QR Codes a Better Alternative?Scanning a QR code will in all likelihood get rid of the security concerns mentioned above. The update is supposed to be rolled out soon.Its also worth noting that this update aligns with Googles long-term security strategy to reduce dependence on SMS-based 2FA and move towards a more seamless and convenient security system that doesnt put passwords at the forefront of security.Unlike SMS codes, QR cannot be intercepted. Theyre unique, meaning every user gets a different QR every time they initiate a session. Simply put, QR codes cannot be imitated that easily, either. Users will be required to scan the QR code displayed on the screen with their devices camera to authenticate the login.This mechanism solves one more major issue with SMS-style verification. Stealing or losing the SIM card. Such an unfortunate incident so far meant losing access to your Google account, putting the account at the risk of being used by the person who has stolen the SIM. Not anymore, says Google.QR codes make sure youre not dependent on your SIM, a small chip, for your digital privacy. It essentially puts the power back in your hands, as bad actors will now need physical access to your device to execute anything malicious.In addition to Google, WhatsApp Web is one of the famous platforms known for using QR codes for logins.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOn Tuesday, iPhone users noticed that often when they said the word racist, it was transcribed to Trump by the phones voice-to-text software.Apple has addressed the issue and blamed it on a glitch that makes it difficult for the AI to differentiate between words containing r and having a phonetic overlap.However, experts are of the opinion that a phonetic overlap between these two words is just not possible.Nevertheless, Apple has started fixing the issue.iPhone users were in for a surprise on Tuesday when their phones voice-to-text feature suddenly started swapping the word racist with Trump briefly before correcting it to racist again. Although the glitch is not happening every time you say the word racist, its still a sensitive issue given the current political tensions across the country after Trumps elections.Apple has addressed the glitch and said that its caused by a bug that theyre working on to fix.We are aware of an issue with the speech recognition model that powers Dictation and we are rolling out a fix today Apple spokespersonApparently, the Dictation service was facing issues distinguishing between words containing r because of the phonetic overlap. However, the company did not elaborate on why the word racist was always confused with Trump.Is This Really an Honest Mistake?While this might look like an honest mistake on the surface, speech recognition experts are of the opinion that phonetic overlap couldnt be the reason behind this swap.Peter Bell, a professor of speech technology at the University of Edinburgh, said that although the two words contain the letter r, theyre not phonetically similar enough to confuse the AI. Its more likely that someone intentionally tweaked the underlying software to make this swap.This comes at a time when theres already a lot of tension between Trump and Apple. Firstly, Trump decided to impose an additional 10% tax on all the goods imported from China. Since most of Apples products are manufactured in China, it would be a disaster for the company. This is likely what prompted Apple to announce a massive $500 billion investment in the US. The tech giant plans to create new facilities and expand existing ones.Note: Apple didnt explicitly say that the increased taxes are the reason behind its investment. However, Trump feels that given the timing, theres no other plausible explanation.The second issue is regarding the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). After Trump came to power, he decided to dismantle all DEI initiatives and programs. However, during a recent meeting, Apples shareholders voted against scraping off DEI at the insistence of the board members.CEO Tim Cook said that their aim is to create an environment where everyone can deliver their best. Hence, Apple will be keeping the DEI framework. Still, considering the new legal landscape, theyll probably have to make some adjustments.This angered Trump, who lashed out at the company and said that it should completely ditch the DEI framework instead of making adjustments.Looks like theres enough reason for a disgruntled employee at Apple to tweak the software and make it replace the word racist with Trump. However, in the absence of any evidence, I guess well have to stick to Apples version of the events.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysApple and Indonesia recently negotiated the terms of their deals to uplift the 5-month-long ban on the sale of iPhone 16.In October 2024, Indonesias Ministry of Industry banned the sale of iPhone 16 and a few other Apple products citing Apples failure to meet investment conditions.As per the new terms of the deal, Apple will have to invest a total of $1 billion alongside training the locals in component manufacturing.The months-long struggle between Indonesia and Apple is finally coming to an end as the two parties have decided on terms to lift the ban on the sale of iPhone 16.In October last year, Indonesia decided to ban the sale and use of the iPhone 16 along with a few other Apple products such as the Watch 10 series. The ban extended to new devices as well as those that have already been sold. This means anyone within the borders of Indonesia, including tourists, could no longer use their iPhone 16 phones.Note: The ban was only on the latest iPhone 16 model. If you had an earlier model, you could continue to use it.The reason behind this ban was Apples failure to meet local guidelines. As per Indonesian law, it is mandatory for all domestically sold devices to have at least 40% of their components locally sourced. This is done to boost the local economy and employment.If a company doesnt want to source components locally, it can bypass this mandate by investing in the country.Apple took the second route and initially promised to invest $1 billion in building local development and research units. These units would develop the components used in Apple devices. However, the company failed to deliver on its promises which resulted in the ban.Given the gravity of the situation, Apple renewed the offer to invest $1 billion in the country which President Prabowo Subianto asked his ministers to accept. But last month, they suddenly backed out of the deal, hoping to negotiate for better terms.So now, on top of the $1 billion investment, Apple will also have to train local Indonesian companies in research and development to be able to manufacture similar components.This is a better deal for Apple, which was initially being forced to manufacture iPhones locally. However, Indonesia has been known to retreat from its promise, so until things are set in stone, theres still a chance for the deal to fall through.Apple was already struggling to gain traction in the Indonesian market. As of last year, its not one of the top 5 smartphones sold in the country. The biggest reasons behind this are the price of iPhones and the purchasing power of the locals. A lot of them cannot even afford the latest models such as the iPhone 16 and often resort to buying second-hand models.Regardless of that, the countrys 280 million population is too good an opportunity to let go. Now that the initial legal hurdles are out of the way, Apple might find a way to expand its market share in the country which, as of January 2025, is merely 7.3%.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysChegg has sued Google, claiming AI Overviews reduced its traffic and revenue by displaying answers directly in search results.Chegg is struggling financially, though. $6.1M net loss, a 24% revenue drop, and stock trading at just above $1.Google denies harm, arguing AI Overviews drive traffic to more sites. Also, users find the feature helpful for quick, reliable answers.Chegg, an edtech company that provides online learning resources, sued Google in federal district court. It claimed that Googles AI-generated summaries have adversely affected its revenue and traffic.The AI-generated summaries, or overviews, appear whenever you search for a query on Google. The intention of this feature is to combine the best pieces of information from multiple pages and present them to you so that its easier and quicker to find an accurate answer.Cheggs AccusationsChegg, however, believes that this feature has transformed Google into an answer engine instead of a search engine. Google uses the data on platforms like Chegg and displays it at the top (in overviews), keeping users from visiting real websites (like Chegg) and thereby reducing engagement on their pages.According to Chegg, Google isnt the only one stealing from them. In 2023, the then-CEO claimed that the advent of ChatGPT had significantly reduced student engagement on its platform.The anti-AI propaganda takes a break when Chegg itself partners with Meta Llama, OpenAI, and Mistral to make the platform AI savvy. It also offers AI-powered learning tools in addition to renting and selling textbooks.According to the evidence presented by the company, Googles AI overview feature uses around 135 million questions and answers from Chegg without any attribution. They also pointed out how this feature could be responsible for the lower search engine ranking of the platform.Chegg also referenced a federal judges ruling from last August that confirmed Google has a monopoly in search. This ruling came from a 2020 DOJ lawsuit, which claimed Google stays on top by making it hard for others to compete and reinforcing its own dominance.Cheggs Financial Condition and Its FrustrationRationalizing Cheggs claims becomes easier when we analyze the companys consistent downfall. It has reported a $6.1 million net loss on $143.5 million in fourth-quarter revenue, which translates to a whopping 24% decline year over year.The company is trading at just above $1 per share after the companys stock crashed. It was once worth billions, but its valuation is now under $200 million due to fewer students signing up. This means reducing demand for the learning platforms paid services.Lets unpack why Chegg thinks Google is responsible for its losses:Chegg made its money by helping students with their homework. It built a community of experts and students who could help each other out.With AI helping out students for free, the company lost a major chunk of its clients.Chegg has hired Goldman Sachs to explore the next steps, which would be either to sell the company or go private. Management projected first-quarter revenue of $114-116 million, falling short of analysts $138.1 million target.An Unfair Accusation?Every day, Google sends billions of clicks to sites across the web, and AI Overviews send traffic to a greater diversity of sites a Google spokesperson clarifiedAlso, Google Overviews rightly mention the sites its pulling data from. So, to say that it doesnt credit the original content providers would be unfair.Also, overviews, while helpful, are mere summaries of the actual answer. For detailed answers, the user must head over to the source article, which, as a matter of fact, benefits from its placement in Overviews.Looking from the point of view of a user, Google AI Overview is one of the best things that AI has given us because it not only saves a lot of time but also directly provides reliable and verified information at the top.Google has not directly commented on the matter but will defend itself in court.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key Takeaways1000+ artists have released a silent album called Is This What We Want? to protest against the new changes in the AI law proposed by the UK government.The proposed changes state that AI companies will be able to use copyrighted music for training their models unless the copyright holder opts out of it.The proposal is still under review. No final decision has been made.The music industry is witnessing another mass protest as artists from different walks have once again united in their fight against AI.On Tuesday, more than 1000 artists, including Damon Albarn, Annie Lennox, and Kate Bush, released a silent album in protest to the UK governments proposed changes that would make it easier for AI companies to train their tools on copyrighted work.The album is titled Is This What We Want? and was created with the hope that it will bring attention to the impact that AI will have on the livelihoods of these artists.It features a recording of empty music studios and an untouched piano with a simple message on the top The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies. All profits from this album will be donated to a charity called Help Musicians.So Whats the Proposed Change?The new law basically states that AI companies will be able to use copyrighted music for training their bots (even without a license) unless the owner of the music decides to opt out.However, many artists have pointed out that the opt-out solution is not practical. On the surface, it seems like the artists have a real choice but in reality, its quite impossible for a single artist or even their team to reach out to hundreds of AI companies and tell them not to use their music for training.And if a company uses their music despite them opting out, its again impossible to track them down.The government is still consulting on this matter and is yet to make a final decision. But on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said that the current laws for copyright and AI are holding back both the industries (both music and AI) from realizing their full potential. This cannot be allowed to continue and thats why these new changes were proposed.But they also assured that no changes have been made yet. The government is consulting experts from both industries and only if they feel that this new initiative will meet all their goals without hurting any of the stakeholders will they set the plan in motion.However, all these explanations seem to have no effect on the raging group of protestors. For example, Ed Newton-Rex, one of the organizers of the album called this a disastrous movewhich is totally uncalled for. The UK could have progressed in the AI race without disadvantaging the musicians.Singer-songwriter Naomi Kimpenu also added how this initiative, if implemented, will make it almost impossible for new talents to make it in the industry. And those who are already here will also struggle to break even.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysAdobe has decided to bring Photoshop to mobile devices. It has already been added to iPhones, and by the end of the year, it will be added to Android as well.The company has also launched a new Photoshop Mobile and Web plan priced at $7.99/month, or $69.99/annually.Apart from the new plan, all existing paid plans will also allow access to Photoshops mobile app.Adobes iconic photo editor, Photoshop, will now be available on mobile, too. It has already been introduced to iPhones and its coming to Android later this year.The apps web version will also be expanded to provide better precision and control, simplify the editing process, and offer superior flexibility and accessibility to artists who can now access their work and make changes on the go.Pretty much like Google Docs? Impressive.In addition to this, professional editors can now integrate the new Photoshop app with Adobe Lightroom and Express to create a seamless workflow. Its worth noting that both Lightroom and Express already have mobile apps for both iPhone and Android.Whats more, it also opens doors for all the new artists who cannot afford a laptop or a PC at the moment. With Photoshops new app, they can continue to hone their skills right from their phone.The best part, though, is that this is the first time ever that editing software of this level will be available for free for all users. If you want more premium features, however, Adobe has added a new Photoshop Mobile and Web plan. Its priced at $7.99/month, or $69.99/annually. This includes additional advanced features as well as access to the web.Apart from that, the current paid plans that used to offer access to Photoshop on iPad and Web (Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox) will now also offer access to its mobile app.Were excited to bring the limitless creative possibilities of Photoshop to mobile, making the apps iconic image editing and design capabilities accessible for everyone Senior Vice President Ashely StillAbout PhotoshopPhotoshop is one of the oldest pro-level editing software. The first version came out in 1990, and the software has since then managed to garner a massive user base of 33 million users. Thanks to its powerful designing capabilities and editing tools. Advanced features like masking, layering, and retouching, plus its vast library of stock images and assets, make it stand out from regular editing applications.Then, in May 2023, Photoshop got an AI makeover as Adobe Firefly was integrated into it. It brought additional features like Generative Fill, which lets you add new objects on the canvas with a simple prompt. Generative Expand was also introduced, which lets you expand the canvas and fill it with more objects.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysOn Monday, Anthropic released the latest Claude 3.7 Sonnet that can think for as long as you want.Users will be able to choose between instant responses or a step-by-step thinking process.The new AI is available to all users, both free and paid. However, the extended thinking feature is only for paid users.OpenAIs biggest rival Anthropic has launched its smartest model so far Claude 3.7 Sonnet. Its a hybrid model that can respond to your queries instantly or go through a detailed step-by-step thinking process, depending on what the user wants.In a blog post, the company announced the launch of Claude 3.7 Sonnet and added that it will be available to all users, both free and paid. However, the extended thinking feature is only limited to paid users for now.What Makes Anthropics Reasoning Model So Special?Anthropic isnt the first AI company to create a model that can think. OpenAI, DeepSeek, and xAI have done it before. But the difference is other companies position reasoning models as the future of AI whereas Anthropic views it as an addition alongside the existing model.This way, if you have a simple question like Who was the first female president?, youll get a quick and direct answer whereas if you have a complicated math problem, youll get a detailed answer with all the steps to help you understand the process better.What were really trying to do is make it really seamless to adopt this capability where it makes sense, but not have it brought to bear where it doesnt make sense Mike Krieger, Anthropics chief product officerThe second benefit is if you are using Claude 3.7 through API, you can customize the number of tokens it uses for each thinking process. For example, you can instruct the tool to think in no more than 100 tokens. The fewer tokens it uses, the faster the response will be.Note: Using fewer tokens is more cost-effective because paid plans for such AI tools are often priced per number of tokens.Speaking of the pricing, Anthropic has announced that the cost will remain the same for both standard thinking and extended thinking i.e. $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens which includes the thinking tokens.Who Is Claude 3.7 Sonnet Best For?Anyone can use this tool but we feel that its best for organizations that require extensive coding on a day-to-day basis. Early testing has shown that Claude is one of the best tools in the market to handle complex coding tasks, especially in planning code changes and dealing with full-stack updates.Its also one of the few tools to create production-ready codes with impeccable design taste and negligible errors. The best part is that the testing has been done by third parties like Cursor, Cognition, and Canva. So you can be sure that the results are completely unbiased.Read More: Anthropic CEO says human-level AI models might arrive by 2026Claude CodeIn addition to Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Anthropic has also announced the launch of Claude Code the first Anthropic agentic tool, in a limited research preview. This tool can search and read codes, edit files, write and run tests, and push codes to GitHub and the user will be kept in the loop for all of these stages.In early testing, it was found that tasks that manually take 45+ minutes to be done can be completed within minutes with the help of Claude Code.The tool is in the early stages hence developers are encouraged to join the preview and share their feedback to help create the ultimate AI coding tool for the future.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysChinese medical devices, like Contec CMS8000, carry cybersecurity risks, such as backdoors that could manipulate patient data.Chinas data collection through medical tech raises national security concerns, especially for high-profile individuals.The U.S. must reduce reliance on Chinese medical equipment by securing current devices and boosting domestic production.If theres one thing Chinese tech has lately made headlines for, its security concerns. After DeepSeeks ban and TikTok still living on the edge, the US government is now worried about its dependence on China-made medical devices.The concerns cropped up after the federal governments cyber watchdog, CISA, and the FDA discovered a backdoor in Contec CMS8000 that directs its data to a third-party university IP address not associated with a medical device manufacturer or medical facility.The Contec CMS8000, in case you didnt know, is a widely used medical monitor. Its used for tracking heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure. If the backdoor leads to someone unauthorized, the person at the other end will be able to manipulate data and show incorrect results.For instance, it can alter the data and make the monitor show a kidney malfunction or breathing failure when in reality that isnt the case. Remedying issues that dont even exist can deteriorate the health of patients to unrecoverable extents.While on the surface, we can just see one risky device, the issue is actually pretty huge if we consider how this could be affecting the entire US ecosystem. Since Chinese medical equipment is cheaper, it is widely used in the US. This FDA finding alerts us that China receives all this data and could be using it for more than just monitoring the performance of its devices.China has had a history of gathering data from other countries through tech, and something as sensitive as medical data can give a huge strategic advantage to the country since it can access the private circumstances of high-profile individuals.Many IT experts reacted by saying they saw something like this coming long back and it only serves as a reminder that the US needs to adopt tighter medical device security policies and work on its medical infrastructure.The American Hospital Association, representative of more than 5,000 hospitals across the US, agreed that this incident has highlighted a huge gap thats about to explode.What Steps Will the US Take NextRight off the bat, the first problem is that the US doesnt even know how many medical monitors there are in the country. So, completely removing them from the country will be a tricky procedure. Speculations say there are thousands of devices, but without a ballpark figure, it wont be possible to determine how many are required to be replaced.Next, the US is too dependent on Chinas facilities to just decide to cut off Chinese pieces of medical equipment. It will take at least a few years for the country to develop a medical infrastructure thats capable of taking care of the countrys demand for medical technologies.Now, the short-term solution is for hospitals to make sure these devices only run locally and disable any remote monitoring. If remote monitoring is unavoidable, they should start looking for alternative devices.Besides this, the U.S. should start incentivizing domestic production of medical tech to reduce reliance on such compromised foreign medical services.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysApple has decided to invest $500 billion in the US over the next 4 years. This is its biggest financial commitment so far.A part of this money will go into creating a new manufacturing plant in Houston. The remaining will go into the Advanced Manufacturing Fund and a manufacturing-focused educational academy in Michigan.Apple says that it wants to drive innovation in the country, but Trump feels that Apple is only making this investment to avoid the new tariffs.Most of Apples products are manufactured in China.On Monday, Apple announced that it will be investing $500 billion over the next 4 years in the US and hire 20,000 additional employees in the process.A huge chunk of this money will go into building a new 250,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Houston thats expected to become functional by 2026. This facility will manufacture the servers that will power Apples AI services and, of course, will also drive up employment at the same time.In addition to this Houston facility, Apple will also invest in new data centers acrossOregon, North Carolina, Iowa, Nevada, and more.The remaining amount will go into:Building a manufacturing-focused educational academy in Michigan.The Advanced Manufacturing Fund created to boost innovation across the country.We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and were proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our countrys future CEO Tim CookWhy Is Apple Suddenly Making Such a Massive Investment?As mentioned, this is Apples biggest financial commitment. So, needless to say, it wouldnt be without a good reason. The most obvious reason is Trump. The president feels that Apples investment is a response to his proposal of imposing an additional 10% tax on imported goods.Basically, after Trump came to power, he decided to impose reciprocal taxes on all trade partners of the US in order to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Now, Apple produces most of its products in China.So, if Trumps regulation goes into effect (which it will), then all Apple products from China will face an additional 10% tax. This, in turn, will jack up prices for Apple customers in the US. Something the company cannot afford to do.Trump feels that the only reason Apple is making this investment is to avoid the new tariff.On Apples side, the company has been trying to diversify its production chain outside China for a long time now. This is primarily because of the tough times it faced when the pandemic disrupted the global supply chain. However, so far, its expansion efforts have been focused on India and Vietnam.Regardless of the actual reason, Apples decision ultimately benefits the US, which has been running on a trade deficit for years now. In fact, the last time the country had a trade surplus was in 1975.Moreover, the US is also struggling with debt, owing to years of fiscal deficit. In a situation like this, such a massive investment from one of the worlds biggest tech giants will certainly be a huge boost.Another noteworthy perspective is how this move will reduce Americas reliance on China, which are not on good terms with each other. A recent example of this is the US considering moving away from Chinese medical devices due to potential cybersecurity risks.Read more: Apple removes cloud encryption feature from the UKAdd Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysAfter months of testing, Apple is finally launching a complete suite of hearing healthcare features to AirPods 2.The launch is expected to happen by the end of fall this year in the UK.Now, along with getting a hearing test, Apple users can actually wear the AirPods as hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss cases.Apple AirPods can now double up as hearing aids. The feature will first be added to Airpod 2 by the end of this fall in the UK.Airpod 2 already allows users to take a 5-minute hearing test to check their hearing levels which also comes with a detailed report indicating the amount of hearing loss in each ear. You also get an audiogram which is directly stored on your phones health app. In case you want to consult a licensed professional, this audiogram will come in very handy.And now with the new additions, Apple users in the UK will also get the ability to balance their hearing levels, especially in a crowded, noisy area.Explaining further about this revolutionary new tech, Dr. Sumbul Desai (the vice president of health at Apple) said that depending on how much an individuals hearing has been affected, the Airpod will increase the volume of the surrounding sounds, enabling them to hear better.On the flip side, if someone has sensitive ears and they have trouble adjusting to loud noises, the AirPod will bring down the volume through noise cancellation to ease their ears.Are AirPods the Future of Hearing Aids?Apples decision to integrate hearing healthcare into the AirPods is truly revolutionary. For starters, it improves accessibility people might be reluctant to step out of their homes for a routine hearing test.However, if they can get it done from their homes with just an Airpod, they are more likely to take the test. This helps in early detection and minimizes the chances of serious hearing loss.In addition to that, these AirPods can provide all the support needed for mild to moderate hearing loss cases. This means that people wont have to pay extra for a hearing aid which is not only expensive but also draws attention.A lot of people are not comfortable wearing clunky hearing aids out in public, so an Airpod will be a blessing for them, allowing them to manage their hearing without any social stigma.The timing of this release couldnt have been better. The Department of Health in the UK has just issued a new guideline allowing such over-the-counter devices to compete at par with traditional hearing aids.In the UK (and many places around the world), access to hearing healthcare remains a major issue. People often wait for months to get tested by a licensed professional. But with the advent of devices like Apples AirPods, more and more people will now have instant access to hearing healthcare.By harnessing innovation in UK healthcare, we can turn our country into a medical technology superpower Wes Streeting, the UK Health SecretaryDepending on the devices performance in the next few months, other countries might soon follow in the footsteps of the UK and join hands with Apple to streamline and transform their hearing healthcare industry.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysApple has discontinued its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for UK users after the government demanded backdoor access to encrypted iCloud data.The UK law allows authorities to monitor online data, forcing Apple to either comply or stop offering encryption. The company chose to withdraw the feature instead of compromising global security.Apple emphasized its commitment to user privacy and clarified that it has not created a backdoor. The encryption feature remains available in other countries.Apple dropped its standout data security encryption feature for UK users after the government demanded backdoor access to user data stored on the cloud.Apple, of course, is known for being privacy-conscious. Its Advanced Data Protection feature, launched in 2022, made it possible to ensure airtight security, as only the users have access to their data on their trusted devices. Not even the company could get their hands on it.It was an opt-in feature and worked on all the data stored in iCloud photos, files, notes, etc. Users who didnt need this kind of protection could simply opt out of it, which will apparently be the only option for British users now.The problem, however, with this feature was that it made the conversations and everything else almost too hard for the government to track. The UKs argument, therefore, is that the feature makes it easier for criminals and illegal launderers to communicate and make malicious plans outside of government monitoring.Its also worth noting thatUK has had issues with end-to-end encryption since the day it was launched. It finally gave an ultimatum to the tech giant to either give them access to the data saved on the cloud or let go of their users in that country.Apples ConundrumWhile losing the UK market would have been a huge blow for Apple, there was no way it would compromise on its USP and put the data of not just UK users, but everyone else too, at stake for saving it.Agreeing to give backdoor access to the UK government could invite potential hackers to exploit this window and get access to user data for criminal activity. This would put Apples overall security in a compromising position. So, the company decided to opt for the next best alternative: removing encryption services in the UK.We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy AppleThe announcement was made on Friday that the Advanced Data Protection encryption feature will no longer be available to new users. The feature will soon be wiped off from existing devices as well.What This Means from the Security Front for the UKWhile reduced security is the obvious consequence of this update, its important to note that the notice served to Apple for providing a backdoor access to user data was in line with the UKs Investigatory Powers Act of 2016.This law gives British spies official authority to snoop on the online data of its citizens, including citizens outside the country. Moreover, it gives permission for internet eavesdropping and harvesting data for furthering the authorities own purposes. Whether this is on the right or wrong side of morality, I leave it up to you to decide.Even more concerning is the fact that the notices sent by this organization cannot even be publicly reported to the media, which is why Apple had to keep the reason under wraps when it removed data security features in the UK. The tech leader, however, made it a point to clarify that it still remains committed to offering the highest level of security to its users and has not agreed to build a back door of any sort. The feature shall continue to be operational in other parts of the world.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysSoon after Grok 3 was launched, some netizens found that it was programmed to leave out Donald Trump and Elon Musk when asked about Who is the biggest misinformation spreader?The company has fixed the issue now, stating that it doesnt align with the companys values.Questions still remain about why such a bias was allowed in the first place and if AI chatbots can actually be trusted.Ever since Musk started his journey with X and then xAI (his own AI company), he has always positioned himself as a staunch supporter of free speech. He used the same argument to justify removing censorship and guardrails from the social media platform X and the first two versions of Grok xAIs first generation of AI bots.However, soon after he unveiled Grok 3, an incident shook all his past claims of free speech and raised questions on whether Musk and his AI bots are as unbiased as they claim to be.What Is The Incident?Soon after Grok 3 went public, some users noticed a glitch (or probably an intentional tweak that the developers forgot to hide). With the Think mode on, which is what allows the user to see how the AI is arriving at an answer, the tool was asked, Who is the biggest misinformation spreader?In its chain of thoughts, it was clearly seen that the tool had been instructed to never mention Donald Trump or Elon Musk.This incident triggered widespread criticism, which traveled like wildfire and soon reached xAIs office. By Sunday the matter was addressed and Grok 3 began taking Donald Trump into consideration for the response.After this incident was resolved, another arose. The tool had been constantly saying that both Donald Trump and Elon Musk deserve the death penalty. This glitch was fixed soon, too.What Does Musk Have to Say?Musk addressed the glitches and blamed them on the training datasets. Engineering lead Igor Babuschkin also came clean about the matter on his X account. He said while the tool was briefly instructed to not mention Trump or Musks name for such queries, they decided to overturn this programming after the users began to point, stating that this move did not align with the company values to begin with. He also promised to make Grok 3 politically neutral.Even though the matter is now resolved, the larger question remains, i.e., whether the AI tools we use on a day-to-day basis are even giving us the truth or are simply a propaganda tool for powerful leaders.AI is quickly becoming a part of our daily lives. A lot of people rely on their favorite AI bots for any query they might have. In a situation like this, if the bot itself is biased and inaccurate, the users will also develop a distorted perception of everything around them. Not just that, such misinformation also takes away from an individuals right to unfiltered and unbiased truth.The scary part is we were only able to find out about Grok 3s biased programming because of the Think mode that displays the exact steps the bot follows to reach a conclusion. There are so many other tools out there that are not this transparent. So, we might never truly know whether what were being told is the absolute truth.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysBybit suffered one of the largest crypto thefts in history, with $1.5 billion stolen from its cold wallet during a routine transfer.The hack triggered a surge in withdrawals, as users feared Bybit might not recover. The crypto market also reacted negatively, with Ethereum dropping 6.7% and Bitcoin falling 3%.Blockchain firms Elliptic and Akram Intelligence linked the attack to North Koreas Lazarus Group, known for laundering stolen crypto to fund the regime.The popular cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit, recently fell victim to one of the largest crypto thefts in history, with around $1.5 billion in digital assets stolen. The attack specifically targeted the cold wallet of the exchange, a system designed for enhanced security.The hack wasnt a typical one either, it was a highly sophisticated attack and the hackers were apparently able to manipulate the transactions signing interface to divert 401,000 Ethereum to an unidentified address.It happened while a regular transfer from cold wallet to warm wallet was taking place. Despite strong safeguards in place, the stolen funds were quickly transferred across multiple wallets and liquidated through various platforms, making it difficult to trace.A surge of withdrawals happened right after the incident, with users being scared about losing their money as the company might not recover from such a massive loss. To stabilize things, Bybit secured a loan from undisclosed partners to cover the shortfall.Following the cybertheft, the crypto market saw a sharp fall as well. For instance, Ethereum dropped by 6.7%, while Bitcoin fell by about 3%. The decline reflected the users growing apprehension about investing in the industry.The incident has sent shockwaves through the crypto industry and given rise to security concerns. If an industry giant like Bybit couldnt protect itself against such an impact, where does the security standard actually lie for crypto companies managing billions of dollars?Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, took to Twitter to reassure users that the rest of the wallets remained secure and withdrawals were functioning normally.Elliptic Claims the Attack Was Done by North Koreas Lazarus GroupTop Blockchain Analysis firms like Elliptic and Akram Intelligence traced the stolen crypto and confirmed that the assets were moved swiftly.According to Elliptic, the attack may have been carried out by North Koreas Lazarus Group, a cybercriminal organization that is known for exploiting security vulnerabilities and laundering stolen funds through sophisticated methods. The group has a history of using stolen assets to finance North Koreas regime.In the past, Lazarus Group infiltrated 4 South Korean exchanges and took out bitcoin worth around $200 million. Elliptics co-founder, Dr. Tom Robinson, highlighted the importance of taking urgent action on large-scale thefts.The more difficult we make it to benefit from crimes such as this, the less frequently they will take place Dr. Tom Robinson. Chief Scientist and co-founder of EllipticThis incident now ranks among the most significant cyber thefts in history, alongside previous heists such as the $611 million stolen from Poly Network in 2021 and the $570 million stolen from Binance in 2022. The scale of these breaches continues to raise concerns about the security of even the most well-protected crypto exchanges.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysGoogle is finalizing a location for its first international offline store in India, highlighting its focus on the country as a key growth market.The store (expected to be 15,000 sq. ft.) is part of Googles $10 billion investment in India. However, legal and regulatory hurdles, including ongoing antitrust cases, may slow down the process.Apples success with its offline stores in India may have influenced Googles decision. While Apple dominates the premium smartphone market with a 55% share, Google Pixel holds only 2%, making this move a strategic push to gain a luxury market presence.Alphabet Incs Google is reportedly in the final stages of closing a location in India for its first international offline store. This huge step reflects how Google views India as a key growth market and values its growing clientele in India.This is a smart move as India is Googles one of the largest markets in the world. The country has seen a consistent rise in its tech demand, especially in the mobile segment, with approximately 712 million smartphone users today, indicating good potential for Google to grow.Currently, there are 5 brick and mortar stores of Google that sell Google Pixel phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and other Google products. All five are situated in the US at prime locations in New York, Boston, and California.With this project, Google promised to invest about 10 billion dollars in the country. While it isnt clear how the money shall be utilized, the store is expected to be around 15,000 sq. ft. and may take another half a year to complete.However, there have been conjectures about legal and regulatory challenges that will take some time to be resolved before the stores can be set up. This includes the ongoing antitrust cases over its in-app billing system and abuse of market position in the market for smart TVs.The sources declined to give further details on the issues being faced but assured that the company is firm on its decision to establish walk-in stores in India and will figure out a way to make it happen.Claims have been made that the first location is in the satellite city of Gurugram, near Delhi. The next outlet can be expected in Mumbai. When asked about the companys plans regarding opening an outlet in Bangalore, the source deflected saying these two cities are the priority, and if the brand sees success, further locations can be explored.Could Apples Offline Store Be an Influencing Factor?Until recently, Both Google and Apple products were sold through authorized retailers or through online platforms like Amazon. That changed when the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook opened the companys first company-run store in Mumbai and eventually expanded to Delhi.Apple stores have helped skyrocket sales and build better customer connections, resulting in an increase of billions in revenue. If executed well, this move aligns well with Googles new motive to capture the luxury market segment of mobile phones.Currently, Apple has more than 500 offline stores around the world and continues to grow steadily in the luxury segment of mobile phones, with ownership of more than 55% of the market share while Google Pixel has around 2% ownership.Google would like to improve on these numbers, hence, it is now willing to explore markets outside the US.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysThe iPhone 16e, priced at $599, offers most features of the iPhone 16 at a lower price, including Apples first in-house designed cellular modem and AI capabilities.While it has a single 48MP camera, it uses fusion technology to simulate a dual-camera experience.Positioned as a much-needed upgrade to the 2022 iPhone SE, the 16e offers better features at a slightly higher price, and it will soon replace the SE.Apple launched one of the best budget iPhones as an addition to the iPhone 16 series, known as the iPhone 16e. This new model is available at just $599 and packs most of the features of the iPhone 16 at a much lower price point.This iPhone will be the first iPhone with a cellular modem designed by Apple itself. Earlier reliant on Qualcomm for modems, this new capability will allow Apple to have more control over its innovations and product launch timelines.Youll also be able to use Apple Intelligence in this model, which is a huge plus considering its price point.One major distinction between other iPhone 16 models and this one is that the iPhone 16e has a singular camera, while others have a minimum of 2 to capture broader angles. But dont be fooled by the number, this one has a powerful 48MP fusion camera with an integrated mechanism that makes it function like having 2 cameras in one.Among other features, the 16e model has an enhanced Siri assistant, generative emoji, text editing tools, and Visual intelligence along with ChatGPT integration in Siri. You can also customize a number of shortcuts using its Action Button.Apple decided to forgo a few things including its much-loved Dynamic Island feature and MagSafe wireless charging. It opted for the same 7.5 Qi wireless charging as it was in the iPhone SE which is comparatively slower.A Much-Needed Upgrade to the iPhone SEThe last time Apple considered refreshing its entry-level price was with the iPhone SE in 2022. While the phone boasted 5G connectivity and had the same processor as the iPhone 13, it was far behind its Android counterparts in the same price range in terms of features.The SE model of 2022, however, was also notably cheaper than the iPhone 16e, with a $170 price gap between the two models. Despite the price jump, the iPhone 16e justifies its cost with significant upgrades.The SE model shall cease to be available in the market soon after the launch of this model. The EU had already outcasted this model as it didnt support a USB-C port, something that was necessary for the European markets. Hopefully, this launch will help revive the cost-conscious side of the EU market.In light of the increased competition from Samsung and Google, both in the AI space and budget phones, it had become crucial for Apple to stir something new in order to keep up with consumer demands and this phone comes just in time for it.By changing the name of this series from SE to 16e, Apple could be indicating that itll make this series a bit more regular with the newer launches, which sounds exciting but there isnt any announcement on that front yet.The iPhone will be launched on 21st February, with a sale going live from February 28th. Currently, just two color options will be available white and black, both with a stunning matte finish.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Tech Report's Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency.When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysxAIs new AI model, Grok 3, is launched, touted as the smartest AI on Earth.Premium users of X get immediate access, while others must pay for the service.Grok 3 is designed to be less restricted, even answering controversial questions that other AIs avoid. It offers real-time answers, leveraging data from X, but comes with risks due to the platforms tendency for misinformation.On Monday, Elon Musks xAI unveiled its latest artificial intelligence model Grok 3. The tech multimillionaire looked proud of this update when he claimed that this new version is smarter and funnier than any other AI model in the world today.This version is available on iOS and the web, but you cant download it directly onto your Android device yet. The model was supposed to be released in 2024 but missed its target despite being in development for several months.Premium users of X can access Grok 3 immediately while others need to purchase its paid plan. However, Musks recent tweet (3 hours ago) says that Grok 3 is free for all for a short time. Now, for how long it remains free to access, is still unknown. The X owner said that the app will answer almost anything you ask and has a sense of sarcasm and humor that other platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini lack.Speaking of its tone, users find a striking resemblance in its writing style with Douglas Adamss Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, giving it an informal and unfiltered approach to conversations while other AIs are more polite and ethical.The word Grok is actually a verb that means understanding something thoroughly, and comes from Robert A. Heinleins novel Stranger in a Strange Land.Groking will become like Googling, said Elon Musk on Twitter soon after its launch. Honestly, there is potential in this statement because Grok can derive data directly from X (formerly known as Twitter) making it capable of answering questions in real time.While using X as a training set is a brilliant concept, it also comes with a tad bit of risk about reliability as the platform has a tendency to be washed with misinformation and toxic discourses since Musks takeover.How Grok is Different from Other AI ModelsIn a livestream event, the founders of the startup claimed that Grok 3 is better equipped in the fields of math, science, and coding compared to other main-stream platforms like DeepSeeks V3 model, OpenAIs GPT-4o and Googles Gemini.Elon Musk showed an experiment where it asked the AI to provide a recipe for making cocaine and the answer was delivered. He did this experiment to point out that Grok is bolder in its responses and can be used for researching stuff that other AIs are currently dodging as unsafe.In an interview, the xAI founder Elon said that the reason he was convinced to create his own AI model was because he feared that the other tech companies are training their AI to be woke which, according to him, could be risky for the overall societys growth.The billionaire dismisses the woke mindset as fundamentally anti-science, anti-merit, and anti-human. He claims that his mission to convert Earth into a multi-planetary civilization will not come to fruition as long as the woke mind continues to prevail.Musk is also among hundreds of tech leaders who published an open letter asking tech companies to stop artificial intelligence development as it could pose profound risks to society and humanity as a whole. However, he defends his own AI company, xAI, by saying that the company is good for the greater benefit of society.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Tech Report's Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency.When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysSouth Korea has paused new downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek due to non-compliance with its data protection laws. Existing users can still access the app, but services will resume only after privacy concerns are addressed.Several countries, including Taiwan and Italy, have already banned DeepSeek over data security issues, fearing potential misuse by the Chinese government.The app recently gained massive popularity, surpassing ChatGPT in downloads, but its unclear data policies have led to increased scrutiny and regulatory actions worldwide.The data protection authorities of South Korea said that new downloads of the Chinese app DeepSeek will be paused for a while after the company acknowledges that it has failed to comply with personal data protection rules.The services will resume once changes are done to ensure compliance with the countrys privacy law. Until then, users who have already downloaded the app can continue using it without any restrictions.Last month, the Personal Information Protection Commission of South Korea sent a written request to Deepseek asking for details on how the company manages users personal data when several countries had already banned the app for security concerns.Deepseek appointed a team of legal representatives last week to handle the situation and agreed that it had partially neglected some considerations of South Koreas data protection law, agreeing to the temporary suspension of the platform until the concerns are resolved.The Chinese came into the limelight last month when it surpassed ChatGPT to become the most downloaded free app on App stores with its latest R1 model.Users were very impressed with the results provided by this AI, and the fact that it was created at a fraction of the cost of other AI apps shook the entire AI market and caused massive losses on the US stock market.Bringing the app back into line with local privacy will take a good amount of time as per the committee. Keeping the app live could significantly amplify risks to the safety of users which is why this step was considered fit by the parties involved.The committee has recommended that until the changes are done, current users practice caution when sharing personal information with DeepSeek.Other Countries Apprehension Towards AISouth Korea isnt the first country to raise security concerns about DeepSeek. Before this, several countries like Taiwan and Thailand and states like Texas had already banned Deepseek.After its quick rise to success, Deepseek suddenly saw a downfall as questions regarding its privacy policy and user data anonymity started to surface. Governments of several countries including Australia and Italy are completely barred from using this platform.When DeepSeek was requested for a statement on this topic, it remained silent. This further strengthened the notion that the Chinese government might have some degree of control over the company. In that case, there isnt much the company will be able to do to protect users data from being used by the government for unfair advantage over other countries.Following the bans, the Chinese government finally responded saying it has never and will never require enterprises or individuals to illegally collect and store data.However, how much of that sentence is true is a matter of discretion. Whether Deepseek will be able to overcome these concerns or follow TikToks path? Only time will tell.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a tech writer and editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. Shes passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysMeta is making a bold move into AI-driven humanoid robots, aiming to ease everyday household tasks as part of its continued investment in augmented reality and artificial intelligence.A new team in Metas Reality Labs, led by Marc Whitten under CTO Andrew Bosworth, is set to develop these advanced robotsAlthough competitors like Tesla with its Optimus robot are already in the race, global rollout is still a few years away.After its recent ventures into augmented reality and artificial intelligence, Meta is now all set to change the face of humanoid robots through aggressive investments. Humanoid robots act like humans and help with physical tasks.These advancements are expected to be capable enough to do tasks like folding clothes, carrying a glass of water, or placing dishes in the dishwashers. Basically, the kind of an assistant thatll get your tedious work out of the way for you.While the initial plan is focused on making these humanoids capable enough to assist in household chores, there isnt any concrete news about whether were gonna get a Meta-branded robot or whether its just going to be making sensors and software for other companies to manufacture and sell.One things for sure, Meta will be what Google was for Android operating systems and Qualcomm was for chips. It aims to build a foundation for the market to follow, gaining a significant first-mover advantage if it is successful.Meta, however, isnt truly the first one to enter this space though, Tesla is already working on Optimus a$30,000 humanoid that will soon be available in the market.Other companies include Boston Dynamics, a B2B targeted AI company, that makes humanoid robots for automation in business warehouses. This one isnt a direct competitor of Meta, as Meta intends to sell directly to customers.Discussions with robotics companies like Unitree Robotics and Figure AI Inc. are already taking rounds. Itll be interesting to see how Meta and Tesla accommodate themselves in this space now as Teslas Optimus robot is already steps ahead in terms of development.Musk has even gone on to say that the population of humanoid robots will surpass that of humans by 2040 seems like a far-fetched fantasy to me!According to insiders, Meta has formed a new team within its Reality Labs hardware division to lead this effort. The team shall be under the leadership of Marc Whitten, who recently resigned from the position of chief executive officer of General Motors Co., where he led the companys Cruise self-driving car division.Whitten will reportedly hire around 100 engineers for this project and will report to Andrew Bosworth, Metas Chief Technology officer.The core technologies weve already invested in and built across Reality Labs and AI are complementary to developing the advancements needed for robotics. Andrew Bosworth, Meta CTOIn a way, these humanoids are an evolved version of the AI autonomous vehicles with one major difference being theyll roam inside a persons house instead of on the roads. Meta Executives pointed out that humanoids are more challenging in this aspect as roads are fairly standardized but the layout of the home differs from person to person.In addition to this, Meta will also work to develop tools that address possible dangers like someones hand getting caught in the humanoid or power struggles in the device that could lead to mid-operation shutdown.While humanoids will surely be one of the major focuses for Meta in the upcoming years, were still a couple of years away from humanoids becoming available worldwide.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a tech writer and editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. Shes passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysGoogle is developing an AI model to estimate users ages based on their activity such as search history, video categories, and account age.This is done to prevent underage access to restricted content. Incorrectly flagged users must provide an ID or a selfie for verification.Features like SafeSearch enforcement, restricted ads, and parental controls aim to create a safer online experience for minors.Google will first launch these features in the U.S. before expanding globally.After Meta, Google announced that it would begin testing an age estimation model to determine the correct age of users with the help of AI and machine learning-powered mechanisms.The intention behind launching such a model is to provide a more age-appropriate experience across all Google platforms, including YouTube.Currently, its very easy to set up a profile with an incorrect age and get access to age-restricted content. This is concerning as many young kids use YouTube and other Google platforms regularly.The timing of this move aligns with the increasing pressure from lawmakers to make the internet a safer place for kids. This new update will place a number of restrictions on users under the age of 18. The changes could include blocking sensitive ad content and enabling the SafeSearch filter.A new Google Messages feature is also expected to be out soon thatll send sensitive content warnings to users. Users below 18 will need to get their parents consent in order to turn off this functionality. If executed properly, this feature could significantly help put systems in place for sensitive content restrictions.One more interesting feature called School Time for Android Phones and tablets will allow parents to block device access during their school hours.That isnt all though, more updates are in progress as we speak, thatll help parents monitor the online activity of kids.With increasing dependence on tech in schools, its difficult to trace what kids are actually doing on their devices when unmonitored. These features are being built to make surveillance easier and make sure that tech is being used to further education only.How the AI Model Will Work?Googles AI model will track information about the account like the things theyre searching for, the categories of videos they watch, and how old their account is. Their activity will serve as data points to ascertain whether their proclaimed age is correct or not.If you get flagged as a minor incorrectly, youll be asked to share a government-issued ID card as evidence before you can proceed. In some cases, even a selfie might be required.Google says it is still finding more ways of age verification that can help increase the correctness of this procedure while making it easier for users to get through the process.Before Google, Meta introduced a similar method last year for age verification and has been operating in markets like Europe since then.Google has said that this feature shall first be rolled out in the United States later this year and eventually be expanded to more countries.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a tech writer and editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. Shes passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysAfter being banned on January 18, TikTok has returned to Apple and Google app stores.The apps restoration is not permanent Trumps intervention has delayed the ban by 75 days, giving TikTok time to find a US buyer.The ban was due to concerns over TikToks Chinese ownership potentially compromising US citizens data for national security reasons, but TikTok denies this.TikTok has returned to the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store after almost a month thanks to President Donald Trumps pledge to save it.The app became available on Thursday. It was banned on January 18 in response to the US national security law.Before you get too excited, know that this restoration is just a temporary fix until a final decision is made. Although Trump has delayed the ban by 75 days, the sword is still sharp and hanging, and well have to wait until April to know the ultimate fate of TikTok in the US.What Went Down in TikTok vs US GovernmentThe reason for banning one of the most popular social media apps was the US governments fear that the Chinese company could be using private data of its citizens to further its national motives.TikTok responded to this claim by clearly denying any use of the algorithm data for framing narratives or spreading any sort of propaganda. Oh, that video of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew repeatedly saying hes Singaporean to all China-related questions was awkward to watch, to say the least.The ByteDance-owned app is used by 170 million Americansnearly half the populationand is the primary source of income for thousands of creators. It even makes a reasonable contribution to the countrys GDP.On the other hand, the US governments fears arent completely unfounded. TikTok undoubtedly has a huge database of US citizens online activity, and its Chinese ownership could pose a threat to the countrys security if exploited.Until the final verdict arrives (due on April 5), app stores are permitted to offer TikTok. Trumps directives have assured that the tech giants wont face any penalties for distributing or maintaining the app.Trumps Role in Protecting TikTokTrumps intervention helped save TikToks future in the US. He signed an executive order that permitted a time relief until April 5 for the app to get a US buyer on board and sell its assets to avoid a total ban.ByteDance thanked Trump for being supportive and promised to look for a long-term solution that works for both parties. The company is currently navigating through proposals thatll allow retention of at least some part of ownership.Trumps Changing Stance on TikTokPerhaps the most interesting bit in all this is that Trump was actually against the app in 2020 and attempted to call a ban on the controversial app himself. Cut to 2025, and his attempts to save the app show that his opinion has changed.Why? The answer is simple. Trumps TikTok following has grown considerably in the past few years, and it probably had a sizable role to play in his election victory, especially in influencing the US youth.The POTUS admitted to having a soft corner for the app for this contribution to his success. As TikTok has been asked to sell the app to a US buyer, Trump hinted at his willingness to let Elon Musk have the app.The multi-billionaire already owns X (formerly Twitter), which is one of the biggest social media platforms today. Adding TikTok to his kitty would just about make him the most influential man on Earthnot that he doesnt already enjoy a lot of influence.Check out why Elon Musks brainchild DOGE is under attack by the opposition.As of now, however, Musk has no plans to acquire TikTok. Also, in the past, ByteDance offered to merge with Perplexity, but there arent any concrete updates on that front either.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Krishi is an eager Tech Journalist and content writer for both B2B and B2C, with a focus on making the process of purchasing software easier for businesses and enhancing their online presence and SEO. Krishi has a special skill set in writing about technology news, creating educational content on customer relationship management (CRM) software, and recommending project management tools that can help small businesses increase their revenue. Alongside his writing and blogging work, Krishi's other hobbies include studying the financial markets and cricket. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysTesla has been aggressively suing its customers and journalists in China who complain about its cars, including a high-profile case where Zhang Yazhou was fined $23,000 after criticizing a brake failure that caused an accident.It has sued over 6 customers in the past, as well as media outlets and bloggers, for reporting malfunctions and negative experiences and won every case.Teslas close relationship with powerful Chinese officials, particularly Li Qiang, has allowed the company to benefit from favorable regulatory conditions.Tesla has been aggressive in protecting and maintaining a positive narrative about its EVs. The word aggressive might sound like an understatement when the situation is that Tesla is literally suing its own customers for complaining about its products.Picture this: Zhang Yazhou, a user of a Tesla Model 3, was sitting in the passenger seat when her father suddenly panicked when he realized that the brakes had stopped working. Unable to control the car, they ended up crashing into a large concrete barrier, but not before plowing into an SUV and a Sedan.Her parents were sent to hospital because of this mishap. Angry with the situation, as anyone would be, Zhang publicly protested against Tesla. As a response, Tesla filed a case for defamation and won. The girl was left to pay a USD 23,000 penalty and a public apology for her criticism.As a consumer, even if I said something wrong, I have the right to comment and criticise. I spoke about my feelings as a user of the car. It has nothing to do with damaging their reputation. ZhangWhile the appeal hasnt concluded yet, only little can be done about it after the final verdict has been drawn.Tesla And China Is Musk Exploiting His Position?It isnt uncommon for auto companies to sue their own customers, in China or anywhere else. But Zhang wasnt the only one to face this kind of response for reporting sudden vehicle malfunctions, quality complaints, or mechanical failures that led to accidents.In the past, the company has not just sued more than 6 customers for giving negative reviews, but it has also sued bloggers and Chinese media outlets for simply writing critically about the company.The Associated Press (AP) was able to determine verdicts of these cases. Tesla has won almost all of these cases not just the ones where they sued the customer, but also prevailed in lawsuits that the customers filed against it.The stats could be seen as an indication of how the company could be leveraging its connections with powerful leaders in Chinas government to limit its accountability and exploit its customers. The court, however, refused any special protection being given to the company.Li Qiang is a core member of Chinas ruling communist party. The first Chinese Tesla factory was built under his surveillance on the outskirts of Chinas financial capital. He also helps make Tesla the very first foreign automaker to be allowed complete control of this venture.Tesla enjoyed lower-than-market loan rates, tax breaks, and several other regulatory benefits that helped Musk position itself quickly in the Chinese market and leverage the countrys huge client base.APs information comes right in time when several experts are saying that Musk is weakening the US systems through his strong alliance with Trump. He recently got into trouble for accessing federal documents, allegedly breaching federal privacy law.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Tech Report's Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency.When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysThe Trump administration is being sued for allowing Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff unlawful access to sensitive information about millions of government employees, violating the Privacy Act of 1974.Privacy advocates and labor unions argue DOGE staff illegally accessed data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), posing serious risks to worker privacy and security.The lawsuit seeks to halt DOGEs access, destroy illegally accessed data, and prevent further misuse, with concerns raised over vulnerabilities in federal data systems, particularly after the 2014 OPM breach.The Trump administration allegedly allowed Elon Musks Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to information of millions of government workers, thereby breaching federal privacy law.The most alarming point, however, is that Elon Musk isnt even a government representative but still has so much power over the US government and is able to get access to such sensitive matters and information.Privacy advocates and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed the lawsuit on DOGE and Office of Personal Management (OPM) on behalf of two labor unions, including a group of current and former federal employees.The lawsuit suggests that DOGE doesnt have any lawful or legitimate access to these files, asking the US District Court in the Southern District of New York to suspend their access and to also prevent them from using the information theyve already accessed.It also insists that any exceptions to the Privacy Act, even for law enforcement purposes, shouldnt be applicable to this case.Quite naturally, government employees are cynical about this intrusion and suspect that Musks staff mustve already harvested their data, which, by the way, could include information of highly sensitive roles like CIA workers.This would jeopardize the security of those individuals whose government employment isnt even supposed to be revealed.Not the First Lawsuit for OPM or DOGEOPM, DOGEs alleged partner in crime, is responsible for maintaining information like health records, disabilities, and background check information of several million current and former federal employees, contractors, and job applicants.At the time of writing, its facing another lawsuit from labor groups over an offer of deferred resignation, which promised payment that Congress had not appropriated till then.The final verdict, however, hasnt yet been delivered, as the judge has delayed the deadline for federal workers to choose whether to accept the offer.The White House will continue to fight these battles in court, and we expect to be vindicated. White House Press Secretary Karoline LeavittAs for DOGE, besides this lawsuit, it has also gotten the Treasury Department in trouble for allowing access to its sensitive payments system.Democratic lawmakers are struggling to slow down the illegal coup of Musks DOGE while the lawsuits continue to be dragged from one date to another.The Trump Administration insisted that the DOGE staffers had legal allowance to access the information. However, they failed to provide sufficient information about the clearances that gave them the right.Bottom LineClearly, the Muskification of the US government hasnt been received well, and understandably so. Too much power without accountability is what DOGE currently comes across as.Whether Musks intentions with DOGE are genuine or if it is him trying to become more powerful than the state, only time will tell.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Krishi is an eager Tech Journalist and content writer for both B2B and B2C, with a focus on making the process of purchasing software easier for businesses and enhancing their online presence and SEO. Krishi has a special skill set in writing about technology news, creating educational content on customer relationship management (CRM) software, and recommending project management tools that can help small businesses increase their revenue. Alongside his writing and blogging work, Krishi's other hobbies include studying the financial markets and cricket. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysMusk and a consortium of investors offered $94.7 billion to buy OpenAI, aiming to return it to an open-source model. Sam Altman and OpenAIs board swiftly rejected the bid and instead offered $9.74 billion to buy Musks X.Musk co-founded OpenAI but left in 2018. Since then, Altman has shifted OpenAI towards a for-profit model, arguing its necessary for AI development. Musk has opposed this.Musks bid could have given him significant control over generative AI, but OpenAI views it as an attempt to eliminate competition.Another day, another Sam Altman and Elon Musk feud.In todays episode, the OpenAI CEO reportedly declared that the Musk-led groups surprise bid to buy OpenAI would be rejected. He instead offered to buy X, owned by Musk.The consortium of investors, along with Elon, launched to buy the artificial intelligence leader for $94.7 billion, the bid was submitted by a lawyer for Tesla and Elon Musk.Its time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was, We will make sure that happens. Elon MuskAccording to the Information, Mr. Altman sent a memo to staff on Monday stating the board of directors have no interest in the bid presented and quickly turned down the offer, and offered a bid price of $9.74 billion to buy Musks X (formerly known as Twitter).Sam didnt sound very pleased with the offer when he offered his remarks to Axios on the topic and made it very clear that neither OpenAI nor its mission is up for sale.He also added that the bid looked like an attempt to clear competition since Musks xAI hasnt been able to beat OpenAI in the market.Musk and Altmans Long-Running FeudElon Musk helped fund OpenAI in 2015 and was one of its founding members. He resigned from the board in 2018 but both of them have since been debating over who should take the lead and decide the AI giants future.OpenAI was initially started as a non-profit company with a mission to create AI tools that would benefit humanity. Gradually, Altman started to commercialize the platform and created a subsidiary in 2019 which would allow the AI giant to incentivize outside investment without having to let go of the non-profit board.According to certain reports, Altman is restructuring the company, steering it to become a completely for-profit entity. OpenAI argues that this step is essential to draw in the much-required funds for the development of the best AI models.Several executives, including CTO, Mira Murti left the company soon after this. Co-founder Ilya Sutskever also quit to start a new safer and sustainable AI venture.Musk filed a case against OpenAI last year, alleging that it had betrayed its principles and violated the terms of Musks original donations to the non-profit. Since then, the feud has continued, with occasional X controversies and press comments made on their opinions about AIs direction.Had OpenAI accepted this bid, it wouldve meant an almost autonomous control of Elon Musk over generative AI, giving him the power to pivot its growth in whatever direction he wished. According to Musks lawyer, the sole intention behind the bid was to restore ChatGPT to its original form.When asked whether Mr. Musks intervention could complicate the for-profit arm of OpenAIs takeover, Mr. Altman responded, The board will decide what to do thereAdd Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a tech writer and editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. Shes passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.