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In December 2025, OpenAI marks ten years since its founding, closing a decade that fundamentally reshaped artificial intelligence and its role in society. What began in 2015 as a research-driven initiative focused on building safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence (AGI) has evolved into one of the world’s most influential technology platforms and a catalyst for a global AI race. Today, artificial intelligence is no longer experimental. It is embedded in everyday work, education, media, software development and government services, while competition between global technology giants has intensified. For much of its early existence, OpenAI operated largely within academic and developer communities. That changed decisively in late 2022 with the launch of ChatGPT, which introduced large language models to a global audience. Adoption was unprecedented. Within months, generative AI became a daily tool for writing, learning, research and coding. By 2025, OpenAI’s ecosystem, led by ChatGPT and its API platform is ,estimated to serve around 600 million monthly active users worldwide, making it the most widely used standalone AI service globally.OpenAI’s success, however, also ignited a broader transformation. Google rapidly scaled its Gemini platform by embedding AI across Search, Android and Gmail. Microsoft positioned Copilot as an enterprise standard by integrating AI directly into Office, Windows and cloud workflows. At the same time, specialised players such as Anthropic and Perplexity AI carved out strong positions in professional and research-oriented use cases. One way to make sense of today’s AI landscape is to view it in four broad layers:1. At the consumer level, AI has become part of daily life. Tools are commonly used for writing, learning, translation and search, with platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini driving mass adoption and introducing hundreds of millions of people to AI-powered services. 2. At the professional level, AI supports more specialised knowledge work. Services such as Claude and Perplexity AI are built to handle long documents, structured analysis and source-based research, making them popular among journalists, analysts, researchers and legal professionals. 3. At the enterprise level, AI is embedded directly into organisational workflows. Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot automate office tasks and software development, delivering measurable productivity gains across businesses, governments and public institutions. 4. Beneath all of these sits AI infrastructure — cloud platforms, large-scale computing capacity, data centres, application interfaces and national AI systems. Operated by companies such as OpenAI, Google and Microsoft, and increasingly backed by sovereign investment, this foundational layer enables everything built on top of it. Across these layers, a relatively small number of platforms now account for the majority of global AI usage. ChatGPT and Gemini lead at the consumer scale, Copilot dominates enterprise environments, and specialised tools serve professional niches. Together, they shape how artificial intelligence is used in practice today. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has emerged as one of the fastest-growing AI adoption markets globally. High smartphone penetration, young populations and government-led digital strategies have accelerated uptake across the region. By 2025, MENA is estimated to account for 30-40 million monthly AI users, representing roughly 3-4% of global generative AI usage. While this is modest in absolute terms, growth rates exceed global averages, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Within the region, Qatar stands out for its high level of adoption relative to population size. With an estimated 700,000 to 1 million monthly AI users, approximately 25-30% of Qatar’s population actively uses AI tools. This places the country among the top AI adopters per capita in the Middle East, alongside the UAE and ahead of several larger economies. AI usage in Qatar is strongest in education and research, government and smart city initiatives, media and bilingual content production, and finance and fintech. Beyond adoption, Qatar has also invested heavily in AI infrastructure, data centres and cloud capacity, positioning itself not only as a consumer of AI but as a regional enabler. As OpenAI enters its second decade, CEO Sam Altman has outlined a clear strategic shift for the industry: from chatbots to autonomous AI agents, from content generation to task execution, and from standalone tools to platforms that do real work. This transition signals the next phase of AI development, where trust, regulation, integration and economic value will define success. Ten years after its founding, OpenAI represents more than a single company’s journey. It reflects how rapidly AI has moved from research to mass adoption and now toward becoming core infrastructure for economies and societies. For Qatar and the wider MENA region, the opportunity ahead lies not only in using AI, but in shaping how it is governed, scaled and integrated into national development strategies. As OpenAI turns ten, the global AI race is no longer centred on Silicon Valley alone. It is global, multi-layered and increasingly strategic.

Anthropic, the US-based artificial intelligence company, has announced the launch of Claude Opus 4.5, its latest and most advanced large language model to date, featuring substantial improvements in coding performance, agent capabilities, deep research, and handling productivity tools such as spreadsheets and presentation slides.The company described the new model as "the best model in the world for coding, agents, and computer use," noting that it delivers meaningful gains over previous versions while using significantly fewer tokens. According to Anthropic, Opus 4.5 can use up to 76% fewer output tokens than earlier models while still outperforming them.Anthropic said the release introduces enhanced developer tools within the Claude Code framework and upgrades to user-facing Claude applications. These improvements aim to support more capable autonomous agents and expand practical integrations across Excel, Chrome, and desktop environments, allowing the model to assist directly within familiar software workflows.The company emphasized its focus on security and robustness, highlighting significant progress in mitigating malicious use, particularly prompt-injection and command-injection attacks, which embed harmful instructions into websites or data sources to bypass safeguards. Anthropic said Opus 4.5 is its "most robustly aligned model to date," though it acknowledged that no system is completely immune to sophisticated attacks. New internal and external testing frameworks have been added to better measure resilience across coding, browser, and desktop scenarios.Claude Opus 4.5 is now available through Anthropic's applications, APIs, and major cloud platforms, including Google Cloud's Vertex AI, Amazon Bedrock, and Microsoft's AI services.

Qatar has reached another important benchmark in its digital transformation. According to the October 2025 Speedtest Global Index, the country now ranks #2 in the world for median mobile download speed, recording 587 Mbps, second only to the UAE. This milestone comes at a pivotal moment. This week, Doha hosts Mobile World Congress (MWC Doha, November 25-26) the first time the global event is held in Doha. And in just a few weeks, Qatar will host the AI Summit (December 10-12 2025), bringing global leaders in artificial intelligence, policy and innovation together in Doha.These developments underscore Qatar’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for digital innovation, investment, and talent. The country’s rise in mobile speed is closely linked to the core pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030. Strong digital infrastructure supports economic diversification by enabling new industries to emerge and grow, while also contributing to human development through enhanced digital skills, education, and innovation capacity. It further lays the foundation for smarter public services, from healthcare to mobility, aligned with the nation’s broader modernization goals. At the same time, a high level of digital readiness strengthens Qatar’s competitiveness as a business environment, increasingly influencing the decisions of global companies looking to invest and expand in the region. In recent weeks, operators in the country have also been testing next-generation uplink performance on 5G Advanced (5G-A), reaching real-world speeds above 600 Mbps.Top 10 (Oct 2025)1. UAE – 748 Mbps2. Qatar – 587 Mbps3. Kuwait – 422 Mbps4. South Korea – 371 Mbps5. Bulgaria – 316 Mbps6. Brazil – 309 Mbps7. Bahrain – 303 Mbps8. Brunei – 280 Mbps9. Denmark – 271 Mbps10. Saudi Arabia – 270 MbpsQatar’s rise in international rankings reflects a clear forward trajectory and growing strength in the digital sector. To build on this progress, continued nationwide performance will be important, along with steady advancement of 5G-A and early readiness for 6G. Supporting emerging areas such as AI, immersive media, industrial IoT, and smart mobility will also help position the country for the next wave of technological opportunities. At the same time, aligning digital infrastructure with the broader economic transformation outlined in Vision 2030 will remain a key part of sustaining this development over time.

Google Photos has introduced a major update of AI-powered features, including advanced editing tools, a redesigned "Ask" button, and expanded global search capabilities, the company announced on Tuesday.The enhancements enable users to edit photos simply by typing or speaking commands - such as "remove John's sunglasses" or "make Sarah smile" - and apply changes across people and elements in the image. This "Help me edit" functionality is now available on iOS in the United States, following its earlier launch on select Android models.A highlight of the update is the introduction of the AI model Nano Banana, which powers creative transformations - users can now turn snapshots into fine-art-style portraits, comics, or vintage illustrations.The app's redesigned editor also adds an "Ask" button: while viewing a photo, users can tap to ask questions about its content ("What year was this taken"), discover related moments, or request edits via natural language.Meanwhile, the AI-powered search feature in Photos is being expanded to more than 100 countries and regions and will support over 17 additional languages including Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Japanese and Portuguese.The update signals Google's push to bring generative-AI and natural-language capabilities more deeply into everyday mobile applications, and positions Google Photos as not just a storage tool but a creative and intelligent assistant for imagery.

The world’s most influential connectivity event is coming to the Middle East. On 25–26 November 2025, the GSMA Mobile World Congress (MWC) will make its debut in Doha, hosted at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).This marks the first-ever MWC edition in the Middle East and North Africa — and the beginning of a five-year partnership between the Qatari government and GSMA.“Hosting MWC Doha will position Qatar as a regional leader in innovation and digital connectivity, supporting our mission to build a smarter, more sustainable future.”- HE Mohammed bin Ali Al-Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information TechnologyWhy Doha?Qatar has rapidly positioned itself as one of the region’s leading digital innovators. The event aligns directly with Qatar National Vision 2030, emphasizing digital transformation, sustainability, and technological advancement.By hosting MWC, Doha aims to:Establish itself as a regional innovation hub, attracting investors, startups, and global tech leaders.Strengthen collaboration between telecom operators, governments, and private enterprises.Showcase Qatar’s growing influence in the global technology and telecommunications sector.The minister emphasized that the conference will help accelerate Qatar’s transition toward a knowledge-based economy, creating opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and investment in digital innovation.A gateway for the regionThe arrival of MWC in Doha represents a transformative opportunity for the Gulf and wider MENA region. Local tech firms and telecoms will now be able to connect, exhibit, and collaborate without traveling to Europe or Asia. Dedicated sessions will spotlight AI in telecom, fintech innovation, smart infrastructure, and digital inclusion — all areas central to the Gulf’s rapid development.For startups, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to meet investors and potential partners from around the world - right here in Qatar.Mobile & Tech trends to watch in 2025As the event approaches, several global and regional trends are expected to dominate the discussions:AI Everywhere Artificial intelligence will transform mobile networks, customer experiences, and device performance.5G-Advanced and the Road to 6G: Next-generation connectivity and programmable networks will take center stage.Sustainability & circular tech: From energy-efficient data centers to refurbished devices, sustainability is becoming a core KPI.Fintech & mobile wallets. The Gulf is moving rapidly toward mobile-first financial ecosystems.Edge, cloud & convergence. Mobile devices are evolving into unified control hubs for connected life - integrating IoT, vehicles, and smart homesA platform for global collaborationMWC Doha will attract thousands of participants from more than 200 countries, mirroring the scale of its flagship event in Barcelona - which drew over 100,000 attendees and 2,700 exhibiting companies in 2024.For Qatar, the event represents a strategic platform for international cooperation, where leading companies, innovators, and government agencies will engage on emerging topics such as AI ethics, data privacy, smart cities, and climate-conscious technology.The conference will also encourage public-private partnerships and cross-sector investment to expand Qatar’s digital infrastructure and strengthen its position as a global technology hub.About MWC Doha 2025Dates: 25–26 November 2025Venue: Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC)Organised by: GSMA, in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, State of QatarFocus areas: AI, 5G/6G, IoT, fintech, sustainability, and digital transformationExpected attendees: 10,000 + from 200 countries

OpenAI officially announced the launch of its AI-powered video creation app, Sora, for Android. The app includes a "Cameos" feature that allows users to create videos of themselves performing various activities using their real-life features and artificial intelligence (AI). These videos can be shared and interacted with by other users, a strategic move by the company to strengthen its position in the short-form video market.OpenAI said that it plans to add new features to the app, including the creation of animated videos, alongside basic video editing tools such as merging multiple clips to produce longer, multi-scene videos. It also plans to develop tools that allow users to customize suggested content to show content from specific accounts, giving them greater control over what they watch.The Sora app, which was released for iOS devices last September, is now available on the Google Play Store for Android devices.

Apple has unveiled a redesigned web version of its App Store, offering users for the first time a full browsing and search experience directly from any web browser, without the need to use Apple devices. According to the company, the update marks a major step forward in accessibility, delivering an experience that closely mirrors the native App Store on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even the Vision Pro headset.The new web interface introduces a "Today" tab highlighting top apps and games of the day, along with editorial features, reviews, and App Store events. Individual app pages have been redesigned with richer visuals, interactive media, and new icons denoting categories, awards, and in-app events.Apple has also integrated a dedicated search engine into the platform — an upgrade from the previous version, where users had to rely on external search engines like Google to locate app pages.Additionally, users can now switch between regional App Stores using a new menu in the upper-left corner, share app links, or open them directly in the native App Store app if installed on their device.Apple stated that the move aims to expand access to its App Store ecosystem, making it universally available via any browser.The company noted that this step enhances convenience for both developers and users by simplifying app discovery and sharing.Previously, the domain apps.apple.com redirected users to a static informational page. With the latest update, it now functions as a fully interactive web-based App Store, enabling users to browse apps, explore categories, and follow special events seamlessly from any device.

As enterprises worldwide race to become their own AI and data platforms over the next three years, EnterpriseDB (EDB) sees that the Gulf region is out in front. EDB has opened a new regional headquarters in the Gulf area to help local organizations accelerate their paths to data and AI sovereignty.“This region is one of the most future forward and innovation focused,” said Kash Rafique, VP and general manager of Middle East and Africa at EDB. “Our new office will serve as a regional hub to deepen collaboration with customers and partners, and it will support the region’s unique and complex requirements for sovereign AI.”A sovereign-minded market Across the region, national AI strategies have catalyzed investment in skills, platforms, and governance, raising the bar on data stewardship and accelerating enterprise readiness. But this momentum isn’t only geopolitical or led by policy. It’s increasingly a private-sector choice, as boards push for innovation without sacrificing control over where data and models live.That enterprise demand shows up in the numbers: In EDB’s global study of 2,050 executives across 13 economies, the region posted the highest share of organizations “Deeply Committed” to data and AI sovereignty, at 17% versus a 13% global average. These leaders deploy roughly twice as many mainstream AI applications, report up to 5x higher ROI from AI, and are 2.5x more confident they will lead their industries within three years.EDB says the region’s combination of executive conviction and platform ambition is creating a “sovereign hub” effect—clusters of enterprises treating AI and data as sovereign assets that attract capital, talent, and partner ecosystems, compounding each other’s success. The result is an enterprise culture that sees sovereignty as a foundation for a growth flywheel that compounds innovation speed, customer experience, and cost efficiency.**media[375219]**Turning sovereignty from vision to practice “Sovereignty without ownership is only half the equation,” said Rafique. “Enterprises can’t believe in sovereignty as a theoretical idea—they have to design, build, and operate their AI and data platforms on their own terms.” Turning intent into reality, he added, requires deliberate design at the infrastructure level and consistent execution.EDB’s research identifies four practices that separate those achieving durable ROI from those still experimenting:Build for sovereignty from day one. Treat data and AI as a single platform, with policy and observability embedded at design time—not bolted on.Run AI where the work is. Use a hybrid approach to place workloads in the most performant, cost-effective, and compliant environment as needs change.Standardize on open technology. Avoid lock-in; keep optionality as markets and regulations evolve. Postgres® is a frequent choice for new agentic/GenAI applications (30% AI leaders are already building on this).Invest in skills and operating models. Pair platform decisions with local expertise—solution architects, data stewards, SREs—and clear ownership so that sovereignty accelerates delivery rather than slowing it. Building a winning architecture for the next decadeThe next three years could define a generational divide between those who operationalize sovereignty and those who talk about it. The former could achieve speed, scale, and ROI; while the latter could face growing compliance and opportunity gaps.The practical playbook is clear: Unify AI and data, design hybrid first, and preserve architectural choice with open technology.EDB is aligning its technology and ecosystem to that vision with its sovereign, open source–based platform, EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI). Through hybrid management and unified observability, enterprises can innovate faster, scale securely, and move new AI applications into production up to three times faster than they can with traditional architectures.A long-term commitment to the Gulf EDB’s effort is ecosystem first, combining EDB’s platform with partners in infrastructure, cloud, and systems integration, while investing in certifications and training to grow regional talent.“We’re investing for the long haul across the Gulf,” said Rafique. “That means ongoing hiring, ecosystem partnerships, and local enablement to help customers move their agentic and GenAI from pilots to production with clear ROI, securely and on their terms.”

SpaceX launched on Monday the eleventh flight of its Starship spacecraft from its Starbase facility in Texas, on a test mission aimed at evaluating the reusable system's capability to launch satellites and, in the future, transport humans to the Moon and Mars. The Starship vehicle, consisting of the upper stage mounted atop a Super Heavy booster, lifted off at around 23:23 GMT. After stage separation, the booster returned for a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico about ten minutes after liftoff, while the upper stage continued on its planned suborbital path before splashing down in the Indian Ocean. According to SpaceX, this test flight focused on improving re-entry performance and heat shield durability, as well as validating in-space engine restart capabilities ahead of future operational missions. The Starship spacecraft is part of NASA's Artemis program and is scheduled to land astronauts on the Moon by 2027. The rocket is also expected to play a major role in launching larger Starlink satellites, which support SpaceX's goal of expanding global broadband internet coverage and advancing preparations for future missions to Mars.

Behind Japan’s futuristic Expo showcase lies a deeper goal: turning its domestic pavilions into real-world incubators that would spark breakthroughs in healthcare, digital technology, and green solutions for the future.This strategy is anchored by two distinct pillars – resource circulation and regenerative medicine – each presented in highly interactive and functional exhibition spaces at the Expo 2025 Osaka.According to organisers, the Japan pavilion, themed “Between Lives,” serves as the epicentre of this national strategy. Its architecture, divided into unique Plant, Farm, and Factory zones, symbolises the concept of “circulation,” a principle deeply embedded in Japanese culture and craftsmanship.Masafumi Sugano, deputy commissioner general for Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and director of the Expo’s International Office, told reporters that the pavilion operationalises cyclical resource management by tackling the issue of waste generated on-site.“Within the pavilion, we actually take rubbish, garbage, trash from the Expo site, we decompose it and turn it into clean water, and methane,” Sugano said. “Then we take the algae (developed from methane) and turn it into valuable products.”This functional system, he noted, shows how Japan interprets the circular economy, focusing not just on recycling, but on creating business-viable, productive systems that remain responsible to the global climate.“It shows how we interpret the circular economy in Japan, which is something that I’m sure would be interesting for Qatar,” he added.Sugano said the commitment to circularity extends to the structure itself, pointing out that the wooden panels used in the pavilion’s architecture are designed to be repurposed across Japan once the event concludes.Adding a playful touch to this environmental pledge, the pavilion also features an array of algae – 32 unique types – some represented as popular, adorable Hello Kitty characters, flourishing in a warmly lit “forest of the future”.Complementing the focus on green innovation, the Pasona Natureverse pavilion explores the future of healthcare, highlighting revolutionary regenerative medicine based on Induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPS).iPS technology allows adult cells to be “reprogrammed” back to a pluripotent state, enabling scientists to differentiate them into any required cell type. This breakthrough, discovered by Nobel Laureate Dr Shinya Yamanaka in 2009, forms the basis of two groundbreaking exhibits.Carla Alonso from the Pasona Group presented the iPS Heart, an artificial heart model created by transforming some 200 million skin adult stem cells into beating heart muscle tissue.“What you see here is essentially an artificial model of a heart... beating completely by itself without any electrical impulse,” she said.While the exhibit currently displays only the heart muscle tissue, she said the goal is to use this technology within the next 50 years to completely reproduce whole hearts from a patient’s own cells, significantly reducing the high rate of rejection associated with traditional heart transplants.However, a more immediate application is the iPS Heart Muscle Sheet, which Alonso described as functioning ‘a little bit like a band aid’. She said this sheet is applied to cardiac tissue damaged by heart failure, where it re-integrates into the surrounding tissue and promotes regeneration.“In around two weeks, new capillary networks can be created and the heart can start to function normally again,” Alonso said. She noted that the technology is already further along; the company behind the specific exhibit, CUORIPS, has completed a successful human trial and has applied for government permission to begin making this a real treatment, positioning it for potential use far sooner than the full iPS Heart.The theme of transforming society continues at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, themed “Reborn,” which offers visitors a tangible glimpse into urban life in 2050.The interactive ‘Reborn experience’ route captures visitors’ individual health data via a body analysis pod, subsequently generating an avatar showing them their personalised health and lifestyle 25 years in the future. The exhibit pools Osaka’s collective wisdom, technology, and ideas on future cities, food, and culture, creating a powerful, personalized experience.From personalised healthcare stations like the Cell Design Station and Eye Care station to interactive projections of future cities, the Osaka pavilion highlights that Japan’s Expo presence is not merely about showcasing technology, but about defining, developing, and deploying the systems needed to support a thriving, sustainable, and healthy future society.

Google has announced the expansion of its AI Mode search experience to more than 35 new languages, including Arabic, extending the feature's availability to over 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company said the update is powered by its latest Gemini AI model, which provides advanced natural language understanding and enhanced handling of multimedia content. Google noted that Gemini's reasoning and multi-modal capabilities allow the search engine to deliver results that are more accurate and contextually relevant to each region's culture and language. AI Mode is designed to assist users with exploratory questions and complex tasks, offering more dynamic and conversational search interactions. According to Google, users engaging with AI Mode now tend to ask questions nearly three times longer than those in traditional searches, signaling a shift toward deeper and more analytical exploration. The company also introduced a new underlying technology called "Query Expansion," which breaks a user's question into multiple subtopics and runs numerous searches simultaneously. This approach allows users to explore a broader range of information compared to standard search queries. Google first launched AI Mode in the Middle East and North Africa region in English last August. The addition of Arabic marks a significant step toward providing more precise, culturally relevant, and linguistically accurate responses for Arabic-speaking users across various domains.

Meta announced a series of new updates to the Reels short-video feature on the Facebook app, aimed at improving user engagement and content discovery through enhanced recommendation tools and social interaction features. According to the company, Facebook's updated recommendation algorithm can now learn users' interests more quickly, allowing the platform to display newer and more relevant videos. Meta said the update has increased the visibility of newly published videos by 50%, helping users access the latest content from creators on the same day of release. The company also introduced a new feature called "Friend Bubbles," which appears in the corner of a video to indicate when a friend has liked it. Users can tap the bubble to start a direct conversation, adding a more personal and interactive layer to video engagement. Meta noted that the latest changes build on updates introduced in June, when all Facebook videos were unified under the Reels category and time limits were removed — a move designed to simplify the viewing experience and support the growth of short-form content on the platform. These enhancements come amid intensifying competition in the short-form video market, as major platforms continue to innovate to capture users' attention and increase watch time.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have successfully developed new varieties of wheat capable of producing natural fertilizer autonomously, paving the way for reducing air and water pollution globally.The university explained in a statement Saturday that researchers used genetic modification techniques to stimulate the plants to produce additional amounts of certain chemicals, which interact with the soil to form natural fertilizer.The statement pointed out that this innovation could help reduce the costs borne by farmers, in addition to minimizing the negative environmental impacts caused by nitrogen pollution.In this context, Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the university Eduardo Blumwald said that this discovery could significantly contribute to ensuring food security by increasing productivity in small farms, especially in regions such as Africa, which face major challenges in this field.Wheat production uses about 18% of the total nitrogen fertilizers produced globally, while plants absorb only between 35%-50% of the nitrogen, with the remainder ending up in water bodies and the atmosphere, causing significant environmental damage.

Instant messaging platform WhatsApp announced the launch of a new feature called Writing Help, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist users in writing and editing messages after they have been created.The Writing Help feature appears as a pencil icon in a personal or group chat, with AI-generating text suggestions as soon as users tap on it.The platform's parent company, Meta, explained that the feature relies on Private Processing technology, which allows for improved message formulation without allowing any third party to view its content.It said that the technology is similar to Apple's Private Cloud Compute (PCC) system, which maintains the privacy of conversations through full end-to-end encryption.The feature targets a variety of users, such as small businesses that rely on WhatsApp to communicate with customers, as it can help them craft faster and more professional messages, as well as users who want to improve their daily conversations.The feature is currently available in English only, with plans to expand support to include other languages ​​​​this year.

Apple on Tuesday announced that it will host its annual event on Sep. 9 at its campus in the US state of California.The event will begin at 8:00 pm Mecca time, and will be attended by a number of invited media representatives.During the event, Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, which will include a completely new model called iPhone 17 Air, known for its ultra-thin design, alongside the usual models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.The iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to feature a more durable design with an aluminum frame and a redesigned rear camera system.All new models will reportedly be powered by A19 or A19 Pro chips, and for the first time will get ProMotion display technology.Apple will also unveil the Apple Watch Series 11, along with Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and the new lower-cost Apple Watch SE 3.The company will likely reveal the official release dates for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe in early September 2025, to coincide with the iPhone 17 event.

Photo and video sharing platform Instagram has begun allowing content creators to link multiple Reels into a single series, allowing users to follow and discover related content.The platform said that the new feature has been well-received and will enable richer storytelling while keeping audiences engaged for longer, potentially leading to increased viewing time, noting its commitment to converting casual viewers into followers.A technology website TechCrunch explained that the new feature, already available on rival platform TikTok, makes it easier for viewers, enabling content creators to organize related videos into categories for easier viewing.The new feature allows creators to link videos together when adding annotations or by clicking on the submenu in previously shared videos, saving viewers the hassle of scrolling or searching for different parts and making it easier to find and follow content on the platform.For example, if a content creator produces a diverse series of videos, they can now group and link them together into a single series, allowing users to move to the next clip using a new button at the bottom left of the clip.

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI announced Sunday that it has open-sourced its Grok 2.5 model, making it available for researchers and developers to study and build upon.The move follows last year's release of Grok 1 as part of Musk's stated commitment to open-source AI development.Grok 2.5, an AI-powered chatbot similar to ChatGPT, can answer questions, generate text, and analyze data. The model is integrated primarily into the X platform application.Musk also said that Grok 3 will be released as open-source in about six months, with Grok 5 expected by the end of the year.

Google launched its latest Pixel smartphone series, equipped with the Gemini AI assistant.Google's parent company, Alphabet, announced that its Pixel 10 series of smartphones is capable of using AI to perform smart tasks. The Pixel 10 series includes several models: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.One of the Pixel 10's key AI features is Magic Cue, which Google describes as an AI product that offers a new level of personal intelligence and assistance.Google also unveiled its new Pixel Watch 4, which features a curved screen that offers 10% more display area and 25% longer battery life.Google also announced the budget Pixel Buds 2a earbuds with significant upgrades, along with the Pixel Buds Pro 2, which will receive major updates in September.

Meta has announced the global rollout of an AI-powered voice translation feature on Facebook and Instagram, enabling creators to reach broader audiences by automatically translating spoken content into multiple languages.The new tool, available in all markets where Meta AI is supported, allows creators to generate translated audio tracks in their own voices, complete with optional lip-sync technology that matches mouth movements with the translation. The feature was first previewed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the Meta Connect 2024 conference.In its initial phase, the feature will be offered to Facebook creators with more than 1,000 followers, while any public Instagram account will be able to use it. The system trains on the creator's original voice to produce a translated version that retains their tone and style, with users able to preview the result before publishing.A notification will appear on translated videos to inform viewers that AI-generated audio is being used.Meta noted that the tool works best for videos where speakers appear clearly on camera, advising against covering the mouth or adding disruptive background music. It currently supports up to two speakers per video, provided their voices do not overlap.The company said the feature is designed to help creators expand their reach beyond their native language. It also introduces analytics tools to measure performance across different translated languages, providing insights into audience engagement.

Adobe has unveiled Acrobat Studio, a new AI-powered platform designed to streamline PDF file management and support multi-document project workflows, as the company seeks to capitalize on the explosive growth of digital files worldwide.Adobe noted that more than 3 trillion PDF files are currently in circulation globally, underscoring the demand for smarter tools to handle them.Acrobat Studio introduces PDF Spaces, virtual workstations where users can upload and organize up to 100 files, including PDFs, Word documents, and web pages.At the core of the platform is an AI assistant that summarizes files and provides bookmarks for quick reference, making it easier to verify information. These spaces can also be shared with colleagues, enabling collaborative review and project management.Beyond the standard assistant, Acrobat Studio allows users to create custom virtual assistants tailored to specific tasks. Adobe has included three built-in options at launch -- designed to simplify information, provide explanations, and deliver interactive content. Users can generate new assistants by entering custom instructions.Adobe acknowledged current limitations: the AI features only support English-language documents, and cannot process videos, handwritten notes, or password-protected files. Support for additional languages is planned in future updates.The platform also integrates with Adobe Express, enabling the use of Firefly templates to create commercially safe AI-generated images that can be inserted directly into PDFs.Traditional Acrobat tools for creating, editing, and securing documents are also available within the new platform.