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Where should Apple go after the iPhone Duo? Bring on smaller and larger foldables
An Engadget columnist argues that following the launch of Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, the company should now extend the concept to smaller “flip” phones and larger foldable iPads, mirroring the range of form factors already offered by Samsung, Lenovo and ASUS. The piece contends that having solved the engineering challenge of a…
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UK government rejects ‘kill switch’ idea for dangerous AI
The UK government has rejected calls to introduce a legal “kill switch” that would allow it to shut down a dangerous AI system in an emergency, despite growing cross-party pressure from peers and MPs. The Cabinet Office argued that Britain “cannot simply turn AI off”, warning that blocking access to models locally would not stop…
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One of AI’s Fiercest Critics Says All the Doom Talk Is ‘Meant to Distract Us’
Wired interviewed AI researcher Timnit Gebru, a prominent critic of the artificial intelligence industry, about the current wave of debate over AI “doom” scenarios and existential risk. Gebru, best known for her 2020 departure from Google after raising concerns about the dangers of large language models, argues that apocalyptic warnings from AI labs distract the…
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Record server sales fuelled by enterprise AI infrastructure growth
Server sales are booming despite rising prices, as AI infrastructure investment spreads beyond the big hyperscalers to enterprises and government buyers. According to market intelligence firm IDC, vendor revenue hit an all-time quarterly high of $166.3 billion in Q2, up 52 per cent year-on-year, in stark contrast to the PC market, where memory-driven price rises…
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New York City’s last pickpocket doesn’t need a smartphone
At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), a Verge critic previewed several new films, with particular praise for “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” starring John Turturro as an ageing, technophobic thief in a fast-changing city. The write-up forms part of a series of daily festival dispatches, offering a snapshot of upcoming cinema releases…
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Anthropic Discloses Multiple Attempts to Weaponise Claude for Missiles and Bioweapons
Anthropic has disclosed that it detected and blocked several attempts this year by researchers, including some based in Russia, China and Iran, to use its Claude AI models for work that could contribute to biological weapons development. The company said users tried to “circumvent controls” and disguise the true purpose of their research, prompting it…
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Apple should launch dedicated smart home device with local storage
The Verge argues that Apple’s next major device should be a dedicated smart home computer rather than just another screen-equipped hub. The piece follows Apple CEO John Ternus’s description of the iPhone as an “intelligent personal hub” prioritising local processing and privacy, and contends that vision is better suited to a home device that controls…
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Samsung says ‘Tim Cook’ bought a Galaxy Fold
Samsung has released a cheeky advert for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 featuring a man named “Tim Cook” — not Apple’s chief executive, but a namesake from Palmerston North, New Zealand, who happens to bear a passing resemblance to him. The timing is pointed, landing just as Apple unveiled its new iPhone Duo, with the…
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Republican midterm convention and Sabalenka reach US Open final as Lions women confirm New Zealand tour
Republican delegates rallied behind Trump in Dallas despite sliding approval ratings, while Sabalenka beat Pegula to reach a third straight US Open final against Rybakina; also today: De Niro’s 9/11 tribute, Sall Grover’s Australian court defeat, and Stephen King’s praise for Carrie.