Sony sues Tencent over Horizon clone 🎮
- Sony has launched legal action against Tencent, claiming its new game Light of Motiram is a near-identical copycat of the Horizon series.
- Sony alleges Light of Motiram copies distinctive gameplay, story, characters, and even art style after Tencent’s failed attempt to license the Horizon IP.
- The case could set a precedent for how closely major studios can mimic blockbuster franchises before crossing legal lines in the games industry.
Tencent unveils open-source AI 3D generator 🌏
- Tencent releases open-source 3D world AI that builds explorable digital scenes from text or images, supporting both academic and commercial use.
- The new Hunyuan 3D World Model 1.0 transforms simple prompts into interactive, full 360-degree environments that can be used in games and creative projects.
- This jump in accessibility makes advanced virtual world creation possible for more developers, driving innovation in gaming, simulations and the creator economy.
Microsoft Edge adds Copilot Mode AI 🤖
- Microsoft launches Copilot Mode in Edge browser, giving users AI-powered assistance for browsing, searching and managing tasks while online.
- The new experimental feature lets Edge users opt in to a smart tab where Copilot can chat, give suggestions and automate actions like comparing products or summarising web pages.
- This move makes browsers markedly smarter, aiming to save users time and effort, and raises the bar in the fast-growing AI-powered browser race.
Tea app data breach exposes private chats 📱
- A massive breach at Tea has exposed users’ private images and direct messages, revealing deeply personal conversations from the women-only dating safety app.
- Over 1.1 million private messages and roughly 72,000 images—including selfies and photo IDs—were accessed due to insecure data storage, with some of the exposed data already circulating on external websites.
- Personal details and intimate stories are now at risk of harassment, identity theft or doxxing, raising urgent concerns about privacy, online safety and the wider impacts of digital leaks on women’s safety platforms.
Jack Dorsey’s Bluetooth chat app lands on iOS 📶
- Jack Dorsey’s Bluetooth messaging app called bitchat mesh has launched on the Apple App Store, letting users send encrypted messages to nearby people without internet or accounts.
- The app connects devices directly using Bluetooth, requires no phone numbers or logins, and stores messages only on users’ phones, making chats private and anonymous.
- This approach could be helpful during internet outages, large public events, or in areas with poor coverage, and signals a fresh push towards privacy-first, decentralised tech platforms.
Anthropic clamps down on Claude Code usage 🛑
- Anthropic introduces new rate limits for its Claude Code tool, targeting heavy users and account sharers, with caps kicking in on August 28.
- Subscribers to the $20 Pro, $100 Max, and $200 Max plans will now face weekly limits on high-powered Sonnet 4 and Opus 4 model hours across different tiers.
- The change aims to cut down service outages and level the playing field for most subscribers, with less than 5% of users affected by the new restrictions.
Grok AI comes to Tesla dashboards 🤖
- Elon Musk is putting Grok AI in Teslas, giving drivers a chatty new in-car assistant that responds to questions or prompts through the infotainment screen.
- The feature arrives in new Teslas delivered after 12 July 2025 and select older models via software update, but won’t control car functions—it’s strictly for conversation, trivia, and stories.
- This marks the first time a major carmaker has added an advanced AI chatbot to vehicles, kicking off a new era of interactive and personalised driving experiences.
White House cracks down on ‘woke’ AI 🤖
- The White House has launched a plan to stop so-called “woke AI” in government, aiming to keep artificial intelligence neutral and free from social agendas.
- A new executive order now requires federal agencies to use AI models that avoid what the White House calls “ideological biases”—such as diversity, equity, and inclusion—in favour of accuracy and objectivity.
- This move could reshape how AI is used by public agencies and might influence private tech firms, raising major questions over bias, truth, and power in technology.
July 2025 Android update unlocks easier controls 📱
- The July 2025 Google System update for Android adds easier system service management, new tools for AI and machine learning on Wear OS, and key verification on phones.
- Some updates roll out to Google Play services, Play Store, and Wear, including improved settings navigation and features for developers to use AI in apps.
- Improved user control and fresh developer tools mean Android users and creators get smarter, safer devices with more flexible new features.
iPhone 17 Pro possibly spotted in public 👀
- An alleged iPhone 17 Pro sighting in the wild has sent tech fans into a frenzy ahead of Apple’s expected September launch.
- Leaked photos show a device in a thick black case with repositioned camera elements, reportedly protected by security trying to block public view.
- If genuine, this suggests prototype testing is ramping up and design rumours about camera changes and logo placement could prove accurate within weeks.
iPhone 17 Pro tipped for major camera leap 📸
- A new iPhone 17 Pro camera rumour points to a huge upgrade with boosted zoom, a dedicated camera button, and a pro-level app.
- Reports suggest the Pro model could jump to 8x optical zoom with a new movable telephoto lens, get a top-edge camera control, and launch an all-new “Pro Camera” app.
- If true, these changes may put iPhone photography a step ahead for creators and anyone keen on pro-level photos and video, potentially challenging third-party camera apps.
Why some AI chatbot plans top $200 💸
- The cost of maxed out AI chatbot subscriptions runs into the hundreds of dollars, with some providers now charging users over $300 a month for premium access.
- This rise is driven by providers bundling access to multiple language models, image generators, and “pro” features, while some charge high rates for more usage at faster speeds.
- As creators and tech fans embrace AI tools, high prices risk locking out regular users and tilting creative opportunities to those who can afford steeper fees.
OpenAI boss admits fear over GPT-5 😨
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says testing GPT-5 left him “scared”, warning that its rapid progress reminds him of something out of a thriller.
- Altman compared GPT-5’s development to the Manhattan Project and said there’s not enough oversight as AI systems like this get more powerful.
- With GPT-5 launching soon, his comments raise big concerns about unchecked AI advancements and who’s responsible for keeping these tools safe.
Sony RX1R III arrives after long wait 📷
- The new Sony RX1R III review explores if the long-anticipated premium compact camera delivers after nearly a decade since the previous model.
- Packing a 60-megapixel sensor and familiar design, the updated fixed-lens camera brings superb central sharpness, improved cropping, but still shows soft corners and visible lens flare.
- The launch matters as it shows strong demand for high-res, pocketable full-frame cameras—despite its high price and some dated traits—for serious photo enthusiasts craving quality and portability.
Jennie’s ‘Like Jennie’ sets new record 🚀
- ‘Like Jennie’ by BLACKPINK’s Jennie has overtaken Lady Gaga to become the most-streamed song by a female artist in 2025.
- The track surpassed Gaga’s ‘Abracadabra’, which previously led streaming charts, highlighting Jennie’s global popularity and the growing reach of K-pop.
- This milestone cements Jennie’s influence in global pop music and signals K-pop’s expanding dominance in worldwide streaming culture.
