News

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U.S. Adults Express Broad Concerns Over AI’s Impact on Human Traits

A new survey by Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center finds that U.S. adults largely anticipate AI will have a more negative than positive effect on core human capacities such as empathy, critical thinking and self‑identity. While 41% believe AI will deliver as much good as harm, a quarter see the technology’s influence as mostly detrimental and only 9% expect it to improve humanity. Experts are less pessimistic than the public, but both groups highlight worries about mental‑health risks, loss of deep learning, and the potential for AI‑driven decision‑making errors.

9/17/2025

Google Launches Experimental Windows Search App to Rival Spotlight

Google has introduced an experimental desktop search app for Windows that brings the company’s search expertise to the PC. The app can locate installed programs, local files, Google Drive items and web results, and includes Google Lens for on‑screen identification and translation. It is launched through Google’s Search Labs program and is accessed with the Alt + Space shortcut, mirroring macOS’s Spotlight. While still limited in availability and potentially buggy, the tool aims to provide a more powerful alternative to Windows’ built‑in search and third‑party utilities such as Everything.

9/17/2025

UK Leads US in Spotting Phishing Scams, NordVPN Study Finds

A recent NordVPN National Privacy Test reveals that the United Kingdom outperforms the United States in identifying phishing websites, with 31% of U.S. respondents unable to correctly spot such scams. While the UK ranks among the top English‑speaking nations for overall cybersecurity awareness, both countries lag in understanding AI‑related privacy issues, each scoring only 5% on that metric. The study also highlights gaps in password storage knowledge and the use of online privacy tools, underscoring areas where both nations could improve digital safety practices.

9/17/2025

DJI Mini 5 Pro Launches as Sub‑250g Beginner Drone with 1‑Inch Sensor

DJI has introduced the Mini 5 Pro, the first sub‑250‑gram Mini drone to feature a 1‑inch sensor. Weighing officially under 250 g, the drone offers 4K video at up to 120 fps, 50 MP stills, a 225‑degree roll‑rotation camera for vertical shooting, and enhanced safety with front‑facing LiDAR. Flight time reaches 36 minutes, and the new 360° ActiveTrack and QuickShots modes improve subject tracking. Priced at £679 (AU$1,119) for the base bundle, the Mini 5 Pro is not slated for an official U.S. launch, though independent retailers may carry it later. DJI positions the model as the top beginner drone on the market.

9/17/2025

DJI Mini 5 Pro Sets New Benchmark for Sub‑250g Drones

The DJI Mini 5 Pro delivers a powerful mix of a 1‑inch sensor, LiDAR‑enhanced safety, and 4K video up to 120 fps while staying under the 250‑gram weight limit. Reviewers praised its image quality, versatile 225‑degree roll gimbal, 360° ActiveTrack, and up to 36‑minute flight time. The drone ships with a 2,788 mAh battery, optional RC‑2 screen controller, and a range of ND filters. Pricing starts at £679 for the base kit, with Fly More Combo options that add extra batteries and a controller. No U.S. pricing was available at launch.

9/17/2025

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review: Design, Camera, and Performance Highlights

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max introduces a refreshed design with an aluminum chassis and new color options, while retaining the familiar form factor. The 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display now reaches 3,000 nits, offering brighter outdoor visibility. Powered by the A19 Pro chip and 12 GB of RAM, the device delivers fast performance and efficient heat management through a vapor‑chamber system. The camera system features a 48 MP triple‑lens array with 4× optical and 8× sensor‑crop zoom, delivering impressive photos and video. Battery life extends beyond 30 hours in real‑world use, and iOS 26 adds a glassy UI and modest AI upgrades. Overall, the iPhone 17 Pro Max builds on its predecessor with notable improvements in design, display, photography, and performance.

9/17/2025

Waymo Plans Robotaxi Launch in Nashville by 2026

Waymo is preparing to bring its autonomous robotaxis to Nashville, with initial testing slated for the coming months and full public service expected by 2026. Riders will be able to request rides through the Waymo app, and Lyft will eventually match its users with Waymo vehicles in the city. The company already operates driverless fleets in five U.S. markets and is expanding its footprint to include Denver, Seattle, Miami and Washington, D.C., while also securing test permissions in New York City and conducting early trials in Tokyo with human‑driven cars.

9/17/2025

China Bans Domestic Tech Firms from Purchasing NVIDIA AI Chips

China's Cyberspace Administration has ordered local technology companies, including ByteDance and Alibaba, to cancel orders and halt testing of NVIDIA's latest AI GPU. The directive stops the purchase of the RTX Pro 6000D model and reflects a stricter stance than earlier guidance on older chips. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang expressed disappointment, noting the limitations imposed by the ban. The move follows earlier U.S. export restrictions and comes amid Chinese regulators' assessment that domestic chips now match or exceed foreign offerings.

9/17/2025

Proton launches Lumo, a privacy‑first chatbot built on open‑source models

Proton introduced Lumo, a privacy‑focused chatbot that runs on a suite of smaller open‑source language models. Launched in mid‑July and updated in August, Lumo aims to offer a viable alternative to mainstream AI assistants while preserving user data. The service builds on Proton’s earlier AI effort, the Scribe email‑writing tool, and is priced at $13 per month for unlimited use, undercutting many competitors. Proton’s head of machine learning, Eamonn Maguire, emphasizes the company’s commitment to privacy, sustainability, and integration with its existing email and cloud services, even as the market is dominated by larger AI firms.

9/17/2025

China Blocks Sale of Nvidia AI Chips Amid Push for Domestic Alternatives

China has halted the sale of Nvidia's AI chips after regulators summoned major domestic firms, including Huawei, Cambricon, Alibaba and Baidu, to compare their own processors with Nvidia's limited‑supply products. Officials concluded that Chinese AI chips now match or exceed the performance of the Nvidia chips allowed under U.S. export controls, prompting a consensus that domestic supply can meet demand without further Nvidia imports. Nvidia recently introduced the RTX Pro 6000D in Beijing, while regulators warned companies against purchasing Nvidia’s H20 chip, signalling a tightening of restrictions on foreign AI hardware.

9/17/2025

AI Chatbot Subscription Pricing Overview

A range of popular AI chatbots now offer paid subscription tiers that unlock faster models, higher usage limits, and additional features. OpenAI's ChatGPT provides Plus and Pro plans, while Google’s Gemini offers AI Pro and AI Ultra options. Microsoft’s Copilot, Perplexity, Anthropic’s Claude, and xAI’s Grok each have their own tiered offerings, varying in price and benefits such as increased token limits, priority access, and integrated cloud storage. Understanding these tiers helps users choose the right plan based on their needs and budget.

9/17/2025

Al Gore Highlights China’s Climate Rise as U.S. Policy Falters

Former Vice President Al Gore told reporters that China has become the world’s leading force in the energy transition, a development he would not have predicted 25 years ago. He praised China’s rapid expansion of solar capacity and its shift toward measurable emissions reductions, while criticizing the United States for policy reversals that have slowed its climate leadership. Gore also discussed the growing electricity demand from AI data centers, the importance of real‑time emissions tracking through Climate TRACE, and expressed cautious optimism that renewable technologies are accelerating faster than fossil‑fuel resistance.

9/17/2025