Tech giant Meta has signed a deal to acquire around 1 gigawatt of solar power, further expanding its renewable energy portfolio to over 3 gigawatts this year, as the company seeks to support its growing artificial intelligence operations. Meta finalized two agreements in Louisiana to purchase the environmental attributes of 385 megawatts of electricity, with […]
Technology
AI-generated video goes viral but it’s completely fake
RIYADH: An AI-generated video claiming to show one of the football stadiums for the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia has gone viral on social media, but officials have confirmed it has no connection to the kingdom’s actual development plans. The video, which features a glowing football arena built atop a towering skyscraper, was […]
Apple confirms Apple Intelligence, Siri upgrades slated for 2026
CUPERTINO: Apple CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that the company’s highly anticipated Apple Intelligence, designed to enhance Siri, is on track for release in 2026. Speaking to MSNBC on Thursday, Cook said that development is progressing well and that the AI features are moving forward after previous delays. Apple had earlier stopped providing timelines for […]
OpenAI launches Aardvark, GPT-5-powered AI for software security
SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI has unveiled Aardvark, a new AI assistant designed to help security teams identify and fix vulnerabilities, powered by the latest GPT-5 technology. Released on Thursday, the agent aims to address the growing number of software security issues, with tens of thousands of new vulnerabilities reported each year in both enterprise and open-source […]
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 set to redefine smartphone AI and performance
SAN DIEGO: Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset is already making waves ahead of its expected September 2026 release. Following the success of the Gen 5 chip, this upcoming processor is rumored to utilize TSMC’s advanced 2nm process, a significant leap from the 3nm node used in its predecessor. The 2nm architecture promises […]
China approves TikTok transfer agreement
WASHINGTON: China has approved the transfer agreement for TikTok, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Thursday, signaling progress toward resolving the app’s uncertain status in the United States. Bessent added that he expects the transfer to move forward in the coming weeks and months, though he provided no additional details. The short video app, […]
Pakistan launches cloud and startup fund initiatives
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), through its flagship organisation Ignite – National Technology Fund, on Friday unveiled two major initiatives: the Prime Minister’s Cloud Enablement Program for Startups and the Pakistan Startup Fund (PSF). The move aims to strengthen Pakistan’s national innovation ecosystem and accelerate the growth of a knowledge-based digital […]
WhatsApp to roll out face and fingerprint login for chat backups
SAN FRANCISCO: WhatsApp has unveiled a new privacy feature that will soon allow users to back up their chats using their face, fingerprint, or screen lock code, strengthening account security and simplifying the login process for over 3 billion active users worldwide. According to the Meta-owned messaging giant, the feature—set to launch in the coming […]
OpenAI, Oracle to build $50bn Michigan data-center campus
SALINE TOWNSHIP, Michigan — OpenAI, Oracle, and Related Digital announced plans on Thursday to build a massive 1-gigawatt data-center campus in Michigan, marking a major step in the companies’ joint Stargate initiative to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure across the United States. The multi-billion-dollar project, slated to begin construction in early 2026, reflects the AI industry’s […]
Google partners with NextEra to revive Iowa nuclear power plant for data centers
IOWA: Google has partnered with NextEra Energy to revive the Duane Arnold Energy Center, a nuclear power plant in Iowa that was shut down in 2020 after sustaining storm damage. The move marks a major step in Google’s push to secure zero-carbon energy for its expanding network of data centers. NextEra had been seeking a […]