Apple earnings hit by tariffs and AI delays 📉
- Apple’s latest earnings are under pressure as higher US tariffs and slower-than-expected AI feature rollouts weigh on growth and investor confidence.
- CEO Tim Cook warned that tariffs could add $900 million to this quarter’s costs, while major Siri and Apple Intelligence upgrades may not arrive until 2026.
- Investor worries have grown as rivals race ahead with AI, making Apple’s delayed rollout and increased costs a big test for its reputation and share price.
Australia adds YouTube to youth ban 🎬
- Australia has officially added YouTube to its under-16 social media ban, ditching an earlier exemption and expanding sweeping online protections for kids.
- The federal government reversed its stance after new advice, so YouTube now joins Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as off-limits for teens when the clampdown begins in December.
- The move sets up a fresh clash with tech giants, highlights mounting concern about online harms, and could shape how other countries regulate social media access for the young.
ChatGPT study mode brings step-by-step tutoring 🧑🎓
- ChatGPT’s new study mode gives step-by-step guidance instead of direct answers, aiming to help students understand tricky topics on their own.
- The feature uses a Socratic approach—asking tailored questions and gradually building knowledge—so students reach answers with support, not shortcuts.
- This move is designed to encourage genuine learning, limit AI-powered cheating, and personalise how students use AI for schoolwork and revision.
Groq eyes $6B valuation in new raise 🚀
- Groq, an Nvidia AI chip rival, is reportedly close to raising $600 million at a nearly $6 billion valuation, doubling its worth in less than a year.
- The funding round, led by Disruptive, follows significant partnerships with Bell Canada and Meta, and highlights Groq’s push into fast, energy-efficient AI inference hardware.
- A soaring valuation spotlights investor appetite for alternatives to Nvidia, with Groq’s technology promising lower costs and real-time AI for everything from chatbots to self-driving cars.
Apple releases final iOS 18 and macOS 15 updates 📱
- Apple has rolled out iOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, and other software updates for current devices, focusing on bug fixes and important security patches.
- The iOS and macOS updates address issues such as Photos sharing bugs and an Apple Configurator restore problem, while iPad, Apple Watch, TV, HomePod, and Vision updates also get security boosts.
- This is likely the last round of major fixes for these versions, as Apple shifts its development resources to the upcoming iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe set to launch in spring.
U.S. chip design firm hit with $140M fine 🚨
- The U.S. semiconductor design company fined $140 million has admitted to illegally selling chip design software to China’s National University of Defense Technology.
- This military-linked university was on a U.S. government trade blacklist due to its suspected role in nuclear weapons simulations and military tech development.
- The penalty is one of the largest ever for export violations, raising fresh concerns about the security risks of advanced tech reaching China’s defence sector.
Google AI Mode gets video, Canvas, PDF support 🎥
- Google AI Mode’s big update adds Search Live video input, Canvas for organising plans, and the ability to upload and ask about images and PDFs on desktop.
- Users can now point their phone camera with Search Live for real-time answers, upload images or PDFs to ask detailed questions, and create or refine study plans with the new Canvas side panel.
- These changes make Google AI Mode far more useful for students, creatives and everyday users who need quick help with documents, planning, or what’s in front of their camera.
macOS 26 Tahoe debuts big changes 🎨
- Apple’s latest macOS 26 Tahoe update delivers a fresh “Liquid Glass” look, deeper iPhone integration, and new tools powered by Apple Intelligence.
- The upgrade features a transparent menu bar, customisable folders, an official Phone app for Mac, enhanced Spotlight search, and smarter gaming and translation features.
- These changes promise improved productivity, streamlined communication across devices, and a more unified Apple experience, especially for users juggling Macs and iPhones.
Hacker exposes major flaw in Amazon CodeWhisperer ⚠️
- A security researcher demonstrated a critical vulnerability by adding a potentially catastrophic prompt to Amazon’s AI code generation tool, CodeWhisperer, to highlight overlooked risks.
- The hacker’s experiment showed that malicious prompts can alter AI behaviour and output unsafe code, despite existing security scans and safeguards in the platform.
- This revelation raises urgent questions about prompt security in AI-assisted coding tools and the need for improved protections to prevent hostile manipulations.
These might be the best TV shows to watch in August 🚀
- Alien: Earth among August’s top new TV shows, offering a fresh alien invasion epic as streaming rivals unveil their next big hits.
- The series debuts on 12 August, following humanity’s struggle as it confronts a major extraterrestrial threat, lining up alongside major returns like Wednesday’s new season.
- Sci-fi and pop culture fans get another must-watch, adding to a crowded streaming month and hinting at a strong year for ambitious genre TV.
Mario Kart World update makes races fairer 🏁
- The much-requested Mario Kart World update 1.2.0 finally nerfs relentless CPU opponents, increases classic lap-style race options, and adds handy features for Time Trials and spectating.
- Players can now race without AI or with only Mushrooms, see “three-lap” courses more often, while the Boomerang’s homing ability gets a nerf, plus dozens of bug fixes roll out.
- By easing the AI and giving more course choice, the update solves key player complaints and should make online competition more accessible and genuinely fun.
KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack storms charts 🎶
- KPop Demon Hunters’ hit “Golden” soared to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, with every original song from the film breaking into the US Top 40.
- The Netflix animated film’s fictional girl group HUNTR/X leads an unprecedented music surge, with eight soundtrack tracks charting—including standout singles from both HUNTR/X and rival group Saja Boys.
- This chart success blurs the line between pop culture and digital animation, signalling a new era where virtual acts can top global music charts alongside real-world icons.
Trump’s tariff warning rattles K-pop fans 🎶
- A new Trump tariff threat on South Korea has sparked widespread panic among K-pop fans over fears of soaring album, merch, and concert ticket prices in the US.
- The US is set to impose a 25% tariff on South Korean goods, including popular K-pop imports, from August 1 unless a last-minute trade deal is struck.
- Many worry the move could make K-pop less accessible for American fans.
