Technology News, AI-Analyzed

The latest Technology stories — decoded across 19 dimensions.

OpenAI rolls out GPT-Live voice model worldwide

OpenAI announced global rollout of GPT-Live, a new voice-model architecture that can listen and speak at the same time and handle complex work in the background using GPT-5.5. The technology uses a full-duplex setup to allow brief acknowledgements, natural pauses or interruptions, and improved handling of background noise. Two variants will ship: GPT-Live-1 for paid tiers and GPT-Live-1 mini for free users, and the experience adds visual info cards for topics like weather and stocks. The company included voice-specific safety measures and limited voice impersonation, but video or screen-sharing voice calls are not yet supported.

3 min read

UN-backed initiative surpasses $100 billion in connectivity pledges

The International Telecommunication Union said its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has drawn $121 billion in pledges since its 2021 launch, exceeding an initial $100 billion target. More than 1,000 pledges came from 149 countries and a range of governments, companies, international organisations and development banks, with projects now underway in over 190 countries. New commitments include the Asian Development Bank's plan to mobilise $20 billion for an Asia-Pacific Digital Highway by 2035 and Microsoft’s pledge to connect more than 450 community hubs in Kenya. The ITU cautioned that universal meaningful connectivity by 2030 could still need up to $2.8 trillion.

2 min read

Apple tests CXMT DRAM for devices sold in China

Apple has started testing DRAM chips from China’s state-backed ChangXin Memory Technologies for devices sold inside China and is lobbying the US government to permit broader use. The development is politically sensitive because CXMT has substantial state-linked ownership and Beijing sees it as central to building a self-sufficient AI supply chain. CXMT is the world's fourth-largest DRAM maker, with about 11% market share last year and an expected rise to 15% by 2028 as new lines in Hefei, Shanghai and Beijing come online; it also plans an IPO to raise at least 29.5 billion yuan. Observers fear state-backed capacity could pressure global prices, and the US has so far refrained from blacklisting CXMT.

2 min read

EU court upholds Apple gatekeeper designation under Digital Markets Act

The EU General Court on July 8 dismissed Apple’s legal challenge to its 2023 designation as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act, ruling that the App Store and iOS across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV form a single core platform service. Judges also rejected Apple’s challenge to a DMA interoperability provision as not the legal basis for the designation. The court found complaints about iMessage inadmissible because it was never formally designated. The decision leaves Apple’s DMA obligations intact and allows a limited appeal to the EU Court of Justice on points of law.

3 min read

China weighs restricting overseas access to advanced AI models

Chinese regulators have held meetings with major tech firms including Alibaba, ByteDance and start-up Z.ai to discuss potential limits on overseas access to the country’s most advanced AI models, including unreleased versions. Officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission attended and considered making theft of proprietary AI technology a national security offence and restricting who can fund domestic AI start-ups. The talks follow other 2026 measures such as investigations into start-ups that moved abroad and tighter rules on overseas deals, and could raise costs and alter global AI competition.

5 min read

DeepSeek develops its own AI inference chip

Chinese startup DeepSeek is developing a custom AI chip focused on inference, Reuters reported, a strategy aimed at reducing dependence on Nvidia and Huawei processors that have powered its globally popular models. The effort began about a year ago and includes private hiring of chip-design engineers and outreach to chip-design, foundry and memory partners, while the company prepares a planned $7 billion maiden funding round. The push mirrors global trends of AI developers seeking hardware control but faces major hurdles from U.S. export controls and restricted access to advanced foundries and high-bandwidth memory.

4 min read

CISA uses Anthropic AI Mythos to audit government software

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is using Anthropic's AI model Mythos to scan government code repositories for bugs that could leave systems open to foreign spies or cybercriminals, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The scans are being run by CISA's Attack Surface Evaluation team, and two sources said the audits had already uncovered a large number of vulnerabilities, though Reuters could not confirm extent or severity. The work comes amid a fraught period between Anthropic and U.S. authorities, including a Pentagon supply-chain risk designation, private agency testing of Mythos, and a recent temporary shutdown of the model's public variant.

3 min read

Samsung forecasts record operating profit on AI memory demand

Samsung Electronics could record its largest operating profit in 2026 as executives and financial analysts cite the AI boom and strong demand for high-bandwidth memory and DRAM. Analysts estimate Q2 operating profit could top KRW 84.59 trillion and full-year operating profit could reach about KRW 300 trillion, a scale that would exceed Nvidia's Q1 2026 operating profit of $59.2 billion. Samsung is one of three global makers of HBM, is already supplying HBM4 to Nvidia, and has started HBM4E shipments while planning over KRW 40 trillion in annual investment to meet AI semiconductor demand.

2 min read

SK Hynix launches $28 billion U.S. ADR share sale

South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix launched a large U.S. American depositary receipt (ADR) offering to raise 43 trillion won (about $28.07 billion) by selling 17.79 million new shares, with 10 ADRs representing one common share and a reference price of 242,500 won per ADR. Baillie Gifford Overseas, Coatue Management and Situational Awareness Partners separately indicated interest for up to a combined $7 billion. The deal comes amid an AI-driven memory chip boom, recent stock volatility and a new South Korean government semiconductor and AI investment program anchored by SK Hynix and Samsung.

3 min read

SK hynix to raise 43.14 trillion won via Nasdaq ADR offering

South Korea's SK hynix said it will raise up to 43.14 trillion won through a stock offering tied to listing American depositary receipts on Nasdaq, issuing up to 17.79 million new shares, about 2.5 percent of total shares. The amount was revised down from 45.45 trillion won after a KOSPI price change, and exact proceeds will be set after book building with subscription on July 14 and ADRs to list on July 29. The company said proceeds will fund a chip factory, an advanced packaging fab and purchases of equipment including extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, supporting its push for global investor access amid an AI strategy.

2 min read

ByteDance and Alibaba disable AI companion features

ByteDance Ltd. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. have begun disabling features that let users build and chat with AI companions as they prepare for new Chinese regulations governing human interactions with artificial intelligence. The article notes that ByteDance's Doubao, described as China's most popular AI chatbot, will shut down a component of its service, though the text cuts off before full details. The immediate consequence is reduced availability of companion-building and chat functions and an early industry shift toward compliance that may prompt further product changes and tighter controls on conversational AI in China.

1 min read

Atlas delivers match ball at World Cup

At halftime of the Brazil–Norway World Cup match, Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot Atlas walked pitchside, mimicked professional goal celebrations, and handed the match ball to the referee in front of 80,000 stadium spectators and a global television audience. Atlas is a fifth-generation, fully electric humanoid trained in simulation and from motion-capture data rather than explicitly programmed, and engineers adapted its training for surfaces like grass. Hyundai, which owns Boston Dynamics, has pledged major U.S. investment and a Georgia facility capable of producing 30,000 Atlas units annually by 2028, with initial factory tests focused on part sequencing.

5 min read

Russian hackers steal British government email credentials

Russian hackers have infiltrated email accounts of British government officials and overseas Foreign Office staff in a major national security breach. Researchers have called the sophisticated and ongoing attack FortiBleed, and attackers stole login credentials belonging to government staff. The theft of credentials raises immediate risks to the confidentiality of official communications and to operational security for overseas staff. The ongoing nature of the intrusion suggests further compromise is possible while investigators and security teams work to contain and remediate the breach. The incident could prompt tighter security measures and increased scrutiny of government email systems.

1 min read

Macquarie advises buy of China's AI chip players

Macquarie's China information technology analysts said in a late June report that the best time to invest in China's AI chip players has arrived, driven by AI development, domestic LLM players, the token economy and government support that includes import restrictions on Nvidia GPUs. The bank initiated coverage on five traded firms, preferring Shanghai-listed Cambricon and Hong Kong-listed Biren Tech, and set outsized price targets for both. The report notes Huawei's Ascend led shipments, with Cambricon and Hygon following, and flags Hygon as a downside risk due to reliance on AMD tech transfer.

3 min read

SK Telecom to invest 140 trillion won in Yeongnam AI data centers

SK Telecom said it will invest 140 trillion won to develop massive AI data centers in the Yeongnam region, unveiling the plan at a public briefing presided over by President Lee. Work will begin on a 100-megawatt hyperscale data center in Ulsan, aimed to start operations by the fourth quarter next year, with plans to add 900 megawatts and 1 gigawatt elsewhere. SKT aims for 5 gigawatts by 2029 and a long-term 15 gigawatt nationwide goal; the initial 5-gigawatt phase would need about 2.5 million square meters, roughly 3 million GPUs, 2.4 million HBM chips and around 350 trillion won in investment.

2 min read

Korean conglomerates pledge 312 trillion won southeastern investments

Four major South Korean conglomerates and several other groups announced a combined 312 trillion won in planned investments for the southeastern Yeongnam region to expand chips, electronics, space, AI and energy industries. Hanwha pledged 55 trillion won for satellites, launch vehicles and AI data centers; Hyundai Motor 42 trillion won for autonomous driving and aviation; Samsung 60 trillion won for humanoid robot and battery mass production; and SK 140 trillion won for a 2 gigawatt AI data center with overseas partners. The finance ministry said this fits a national semiconductor chain plan and will receive government policy financing and support.

2 min read