South Korea’s flagship chaebol and global tech conglomerate
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 introduces a compact, passport-like form that folds into a 7.6-inch tablet. Early hands-on reviews praise its practicality and comfort, with caveats on camera capabilities, price, and durability. The device is launching August 7 with several variants and color options.
The Guardian and other outlets report increasing concern over Meta’s Ray‑Ban smartglasses. Pubs, theatres and schools ban or restrict wearables to protect privacy as regulators weigh rules. While advocates highlight accessibility benefits, critics warn surreptitious filming and harassment threaten safety in public spaces.
The Pixel 11 lineup is set for an August 12 Made by Google event. Leaks point to incremental upgrades across models, a new LED camera light, a Pixel Fold, and a Pixel Watch 5. Pricing is rising across the range, with 256GB starting storage for most models and a likely $899 base price.
A consortium-backed safety institute in Europe will test AI products for harms to children, while the US weighs new vetting and export-control policies as AI labs race ahead. Separate reports show rising use of shadow AI in workplaces and ongoing national-security deals over AI in defence.
The AI-driven memory-chip rally has continued this week. SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics have joined trillion-dollar valuations while the broader Kospi shows renewed volatility amid global AI market enthusiasm and new IPO chatter.
Anthropic has expanded access to its Mythos AI model for cybersecurity testing, signaling broadening global collaboration across critical sectors. The move follows a confidential IPO filing and builds on Mythos Preview’s ability to identify thousands of software vulnerabilities. Partners span power, water, healthcare, and defense-adjacent industries in multiple countries, including the EU and allied states.
British MPs press Foreign Secretary on the detention of Jagtar Singh Johal in India; UN experts condemn the imprisonment as arbitrary, urging action as India-UK talks unfold.
Genesis AI has unveiled Eno, a wheeled, modular robot designed to work across manufacturing, logistics, hotels, and healthcare. Backed by $105 million in funding, the company aims to deploy dozens of units by end-2026 and scale to mass production, with LG as a key partner and a broader push into the AI-enabled physical economy.
Micron has reported blockbuster fiscal third-quarter results — $41.46bn revenue and $28.24bn net income — and has forecast roughly $50bn for the current quarter. The results have pushed Micron above a $1tn market value, restarted buying in memory stocks and have sharpened concerns that soaring AI data‑centre demand is forcing consumer electronics makers, including Apple, to prepare price increases.
Prime Day has updated with a curated set of deals our editors test and trust. We highlight the standout kitchen, home, tech and travel offers and explain why they’re worth buying while prices may vary across retailers.
South Korea has accelerated its semiconductor push, pledging hundreds of trillions of won in memory fabs and AI data centers. President Lee Jae-myung frames the plan as national survival, aiming to double memory capacity within five years. Samsung and SK Hynix pledge multi‑trillion investments, with broader plans to build new fabs and hubs in the southwest.
Major device makers have raised prices and warned consumers after memory and storage costs have surged because AI data‑centre buildouts are buying up DRAM and flash. Apple has increased Mac and iPad prices; Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have signalled or implemented console and hardware hikes. Analysts say shortages will persist into 2027.
Project Mirage’s Dune is a compact three-button keypad that plugs into a MacBook and adapts to apps, offering quick mic/camera control and context-aware shortcuts. It draws power from the laptop, supports per-app profiles, and includes a Python/Claude integration for custom automation. Reviewers note improved control but risk of accidental presses.
SK Hynix has raised $26.5bn by selling 177.9m American depositary receipts at $149 each, in the largest-ever US share sale by a foreign company. Its ADRs have begun trading on Nasdaq under temporary ticker SKHYV and will convert to SKHY; the company is using proceeds to expand fabs, packaging and EUV capacity as AI-driven memory demand surges.
OnePlus has announced it will stop launching new phones in Europe and North America and will focus new device rollouts on India and China. The parent company Oppo has begun a corporate restructuring as memory-chip shortages and rising component costs have cut demand for budget phones and pushed manufacturers to prioritise AI-oriented high-bandwidth memory.
EU trade chiefs push to rebalance trade with China as talks with Beijing seek tangible results by autumn. Europe faces a €360 billion deficit as climate, industry and tech sectors depend on China, even as leaders vow to defend strategic industries.
The US and Iran have exchanged fresh strikes this weekend and on Monday, reversing a recent interim ceasefire and re‑opening doubt over control of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire "over," ordered further strikes and revoked a temporary oil waiver. Oil has jumped into the high $70s–$80s and global markets have fallen.
Apple has filed a federal lawsuit accusing OpenAI, its hardware arm io Products and two former Apple engineers of misappropriating confidential hardware designs, supplier details and manufacturing techniques to speed OpenAI’s push into consumer devices. Apple has asked the court for injunctions, return of materials and unspecified damages.
Memory-chip stocks have surged on AI demand but face a sharp pullback as investors reassess valuations and the U.S. listing gap for SK Hynix widens, with analysts expecting volatility to persist into the next quarter.
A roundup of current Amazon Haul deals highlights bargain-priced items across Lego, Adidas, Salter and other brands. The feature notes low prices due to direct-from-manufacturer sourcing, with delivery times of up to two weeks.
Chips used in AI data centers are squeezing memory supply and driving up RAM costs, impacting smartphones, laptops, and other devices. The trend is shifting production toward high-bandwidth memory, reducing capacity for consumer chips and pressuring prices across the tech sector.
Apple has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that OpenAI stole confidential trade secrets as it builds a hardware division, naming former Apple employees involved in the alleged misconduct. OpenAI denies the claims, stating it has no evidence of merit and remains focused on innovative technology.
Investors are piling into AI-focused exchange-traded funds, including leveraged products that amplify daily moves. The wave comes as traditional mutual funds see outflows and ETFs capture more capital, while bond exposure faces debate amid volatility and new regulatory considerations.
A wave of new TVs blends advanced picture tech with home aesthetics. Micro RGB and SQD panels deliver bright, vivid images, while midrange models offer strong value. Reviewers praise color and brightness but flag blooming, off-axis viewing, and price as drawbacks.
Preorder promotions for Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 are flooding the market. Deals include trade-ins, carrier credits, and Amazon gift cards, with official release set for August 7, 2026 and deliveries starting mid-August as stock rolls out.
A Seoul High Court ruling has redefined the asset division in Chey Tae-won’s divorce from Roh So-yeong, valuing SK Group assets amid a booming AI-driven market. The decision follows years of how the wealth was accumulated and contested, with the court weighing pre-AI values against post-boom valuations.
Apple has launched Apple Upgrade, a lease-to-own program through Klarna, allowing customers to lease iPhones, Watches, Macs, and iPads for 12–36 months with upgrade, return, or purchase options at term end. The move aligns with rising device prices and longer replacement cycles, aiming to keep customers in Apple’s ecosystem. Pricing starts at $17.99/month for iPhone and scales by device and term.
The Federal Communications Commission has added "advanced robotic devices" — including humanoid robots, four‑legged machines and some connected power inverters — to a list that blocks new foreign-made models from US markets on national‑security and cybersecurity grounds. The rule has taken effect for models not yet authorised; existing authorised devices remain allowed while exemptions can be requested.
Samsung has expanded its foldable lineup with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, plus Z Flip 8, triggering price changes and new trade-in incentives. Independent and other outlets detail storage options, colorways, and regional deals as devices get pricier amid memory shortages.
Tech firms report sustained AI-driven demand for memory chips has pushed prices up, with Samsung and SK Hynix signaling multi-year capacity plans. Analysts caution that bets on AI infrastructure will keep capacity tight, while consumer electronics pricing remains elevated.
LinkedIn is rolling out a flag system to mark AI-generated posts and is expanding classifiers to identify low-quality AI content. The move aims to reduce AI-generated clutter and improve feed quality as platforms confront rising automation in user posts.
Apple reports strong revenue but warns that AI-driven memory shortages are tightening supply chains, forcing scrambling for chips and raising prices. Tim Cook signals on-device AI and a future Siri rollout as the company navigates memory costs and component constraints.
Anthropic is hiring engineers to design custom chips for Claude and will co-design hardware and models while relying on external hardware partners to scale. Open questions remain about manufacturing partners and timeline as rivals move to in-house Silicon.