Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone SE 4 is expected to launch as early as next week, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This upcoming model is rumored to bring significant upgrades, including Apple Intelligence support, a modern iPhone 14-like design, and improved hardware, making it the most advanced SE model to date. No Special Event, Direct Launch Expected Unlike Apple’s usual high-profile launch events, the iPhone SE 4 may be introduced via a press release. Reports suggest that the device will go on sale later this month, giving customers quick access to Apple’s latest affordable iPhone. iPhone SE 4: Expected Features and…
Author: Intern
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 remains one of the top electric SUVs, offering improved battery capacity, more tech features, and even an off-road-ready XRT trim. However, while Hyundai has adopted Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, real-world testing reveals a frustrating flaw when using Tesla Superchargers. The Tesla Supercharger Challenge During a charging test in Palm Springs, the Ioniq 5’s rear passenger-side charging port didn’t align well with Tesla’s Superchargers, leaving the charging cable unable to reach. This issue could force drivers to occupy two parking spots or rely on CCS-equipped stations instead. While Tesla’s upcoming V4 chargers with…
The legal tech sector is witnessing a surge in AI-driven advancements, and London-based Luminance is the latest startup making waves. The company, which specializes in AI-powered legal document analysis, has secured $75 million in a Series C funding round led by Point72 Private Investments. This investment marks one of the largest capital raises for a legal AI company in Europe, bringing Luminance’s total funding to $165 million. AI-Powered Legal Solutions Luminance has positioned itself as a “legal-grade AI” capable of accurately analyzing and negotiating contracts. Unlike many competitors relying on generic large language models (LLMs), Luminance employs a proprietary Legal…
Lee Enterprises, one of the largest newspaper publishers in the United States, is grappling with the fallout of a cyberattack that has severely disrupted its operations for nearly three weeks. The company confirmed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that the attack involved unauthorized access to its network, encryption of critical applications, and data exfiltration—hallmarks of a ransomware incident. Widespread Disruptions The cyberattack has affected multiple aspects of Lee’s business, including print distribution, online services, billing, collections, and vendor payments. Several of its 72 publications across the country have experienced printing delays, with some missing entire editions.…
We’ve long known that listening to loud music through headphones can damage hearing, but a recent BBC report raises a new concern: could noise-canceling technology be affecting our brain’s ability to process sound? The article explores whether this popular feature—designed to block out background noise—might inadvertently “rewire” the brains of frequent users. One case highlighted is that of a 25-year-old British woman whose hearing tests were normal, yet she struggled to focus on sounds and was later diagnosed with auditory processing disorder (APD). APD is a neurological condition that impairs the brain’s ability to interpret sounds and spoken words.\ According…
On Presidents’ Day, February 17, 2025, over 10,000 protesters rallied in New York City to voice their opposition to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial government agency led by Elon Musk. The protests, which spanned several major cities across the U.S., were sparked by concerns about the concentration of power in the hands of Musk, an unelected billionaire, and his unprecedented access to sensitive government data. The protesters gathered in Washington Square Park, a central location in the city, to raise their voices against Musk’s influence on the U.S. government. At the heart of the protests were issues…
South Korean regulators have temporarily restricted downloads of the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek from local app stores due to concerns over user data privacy. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) stated that the app would remain unavailable until DeepSeek complies with Korean privacy laws and updates its data policies. Existing users can still access the app and web service, but officials strongly advise against entering personal information until the final assessment is completed. The PIPC’s investigation found that DeepSeek had transferred South Korean user data to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, raising further security concerns. DeepSeek, which launched in…
After concerns that Paramount content might disappear from YouTube TV, Google and Paramount have successfully reached an agreement to ensure uninterrupted access to popular channels. While specific terms of the deal remain undisclosed, a Paramount spokesperson revealed that the agreement includes an “expanded streaming relationship.” This means YouTube Primetime Channels will continue to offer Paramount+ with Showtime and BET+ as add-ons. Additionally, YouTube TV gains the right to provide Paramount+ access to eligible subscribers. Google, which has faced similar contract disputes with media giants like Disney, expressed satisfaction with the deal, stating, “We’re happy to share that we’ve reached a…
Amazon and Apple are grappling with unexpected challenges as they work to integrate advanced generative AI capabilities into their flagship digital assistants, Alexa and Siri. Reports published on Friday reveal that both tech giants are facing delays in their ambitious upgrade timelines, threatening their ability to compete with emerging AI-powered voice technologies from rivals like OpenAI and Google. Amazon Pushes Back Alexa’s AI Upgrade Launch Amazon had initially planned to unveil its next-generation, AI-enhanced Alexa at a high-profile event in New York scheduled for February 26. However, according to the Washington Post , the launch has been postponed to March…
Silicon Valley-based robotics startup Figure AI is reportedly in discussions to raise a massive $1.5 billion funding round, pushing its valuation to $39.5 billion, according to Bloomberg. This marks a staggering 15x jump from Figure AI’s $2.6 billion post-money valuation during its $675 million Series B round last year. The current funding round is expected to be led by Align Ventures and Parkway Venture Capital, Bloomberg reported. Growing Demand for Humanoid Robots Figure AI specializes in developing humanoid robots designed for both commercial and residential applications. With the rise of AI-driven robotics, companies like Apptronik have also secured major funding,…
OpenAI has removed the “warning” messages in its AI-powered chatbot platform, ChatGPT, that previously flagged content as potentially violating its terms of service. Laurentia Romaniuk, a member of OpenAI’s AI model behavior team, announced the change on X, explaining that the goal was to reduce “gratuitous/unexplainable denials.” Nick Turley, head of product for ChatGPT, added that users should now be able to “use ChatGPT as [they] see fit,” provided they comply with legal and ethical guidelines. “Excited to roll back many unnecessary warnings in the UI,” Turley wrote. Despite the removal of these warnings, ChatGPT still refuses to respond to…
Apple and Google on Thursday evening restored TikTok to their respective app stores in the U.S., nearly a month after they removed the short video app following a national security law that initially banned it in the country. The companies also reinstated other apps owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance—video editor CapCut and social media app Lemon8—which were removed earlier in compliance with the law. For years, concerns over ByteDance’s Chinese origins fueled national security debates. Former U.S. President Joe Biden passed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to a non-Chinese entity by January 19, 2025, or…
Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), has agreed to pay former President Donald Trump $10 million to resolve a lawsuit stemming from the company’s decision to ban him in 2021, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal . The settlement marks the end of a legal dispute that originated during Twitter’s previous ownership under Jack Dorsey. The lawsuit challenged Twitter’s controversial move to permanently suspend Trump’s account following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which was fueled by his supporters attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. At the time, Twitter cited the risk of further…
In a surprising move, OpenAI has decided to cancel the release of its much-anticipated o3 AI model, opting instead for a more streamlined and unified approach with the upcoming GPT-5. This decision was announced by CEO Sam Altman in a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he revealed that GPT-5 will integrate a wide range of OpenAI’s technologies, including advancements from the o3 project, into a single cohesive platform. The announcement marks a significant shift in OpenAI’s strategy. Originally slated for release in early 2025, o3 was expected to be the company’s next major milestone in AI development. However, according…
In this episode of the StrictlyVC Download , Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia joins Connie Loizos and Alex Gove for an in-depth discussion on the challenges of leading a public company and his unexpected return to the helm after a five-year hiatus. Tolia shares his vision for revitalizing the neighborhood-focused social media platform, emphasizing the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing user engagement and fostering a more positive community experience. Revitalizing Nextdoor: A Strategic Overhaul Tolia explains why now is the ideal time for a product overhaul, citing shifting user expectations and advancements in AI technology as key drivers.…