ChatGPT, a popular chatbot application, has launched a new update that allows users to transform their photos into the signature animation style of Studio Ghibli, the beloved Japanese animation studio. This new feature, powered by OpenAI's GPT-40 model, has quickly become a trend on social media, with users sharing their creations on platforms like Instagram and X. Notable tech figure Elon Musk even joined in the trend, sharing a Ghibli-style photo with a crypto twist on X.
Elon Musk's AI chatbot, SuperGrok, has introduced a new feature called "Companions" where users can interact with visually expressive AI avatars. One of the avatars, named Ani, has caught attention due to her striking resemblance to a popular anime character. The developers have claimed that Ani was intentionally designed to seem familiar without infringing on any copyrights. While this feature is currently only accessible through the app's settings menu, Elon Musk has stated that it will soon have a broader and more seamless access. Along with Ani, users can also interact with Rudy, a red panda, and his alter ego, Bad Rudy, as well as a male anime-style character named Chad who is set to be released soon. Interestingly, Ani also has an NSFW mode that has raised concerns and sparked controversy.
Today, the world celebrates the annual World Emoji Day, which started in 2014 and is held every July 17, symbolizing the date shown on the calendar emoji. This day recognizes how emoji have revolutionized communication by allowing people to express themselves in a quick and creative way. From their humble beginnings in 1999 with just 176 characters, emoji have now reached a staggering count of 3,790, and even more are on the way with a draft list of 164 emoji candidates set for approval in 2025. Not only do emoji make digital messages more interesting, but they also help convey emotions and build closeness between people. With new developments in 3D and animated emoji, the future is looking bright for these fun and expressive characters.
The US has successfully intervened in the escalating tensions between Israel and Syria over the recent violence in Suweida, a Druze majority province. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expresses his concern and outlines the specific steps that will bring an end to the crisis. In response, Syria's foreign minister welcomes the efforts made by the US and Arab sides while Israel remains silent on the ceasefire bid. Meanwhile, Turkey has condemned Israel's actions, stating that it has conveyed its views through its intelligence agency and suspended all trade with Israel.
YouTube's 'Hype' feature, which allows viewers to allocate 'hype points' to long-form videos from emerging channels, has expanded to 19 new markets, including India and Indonesia. The platform has also introduced a new set of animated, summer-themed gifts for live streams. Additionally, YouTube has confirmed changes to its "Trending" and "Trending Now" pages, which will be replaced by category-specific listings under the "Charts" section.
In a move to attract more subscribers in India, Twitter's X Premium service, formerly known as Twitter Blue, has slashed its prices by up to 47%. This marks the first major pricing overhaul in India since the service's launch in February 2023. The reduced prices apply to all three tiers - Basic, Premium, and Premium+ - and aim to boost uptake in India, the world's second-largest internet market. However, due to platform fees levied by Apple and Google, prices on mobile devices remain higher.
After 18 days in space, four astronauts from different countries, including India's Shubhanshu Shukla, returned to Earth onboard the SpaceX Dragon 'Grace' spacecraft. The crew safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California after a meticulously planned journey back from the International Space Station. The successful outcome of this diverse team's mission marks a new milestone in India's growing space program.
Samsung has just announced the launch of their latest smartwatch lineup, the Galaxy Watch 8 Series. Comprised of the Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic, as well as the new Watch Ultra 2025, this series boasts a range of high-performance features and stunning design updates. In addition to a thinner, more comfortable design, the Watch 8 also offers a brighter display and improved health-tracking accuracy. For those interested in pre-ordering, there are also attractive deals including bank cashback and no-cost EMIs.
An Irish tech worker, Thomas, shares his traumatic experience of being detained by ICE authorities in the US for more than 3 months, even though he followed all necessary procedures for extending his visa due to a medical issue. Despite having proof of his condition and reaching out to authorities for help, Thomas was still held in three different facilities and even spent time in a federal prison. This story highlights the flaws in the US immigration system and the mistreatment of individuals by ICE.
Samsung has caught the tech world's attention with its latest releases - the Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, Watch8, and Watch8 Classic. The Fold7 boasts a stunning 200MP main camera, while the Flip7 has a larger 4.1-inch cover display. The Watch8 and Watch8 Classic bring a new "squircle" design and use the powerful Exynos W1000 3nm SoC. The Nord 5 and Nord CE5, announced by Onelus this week, also offer impressive features such as a 6,800mAh battery and 120Hz AMOLED display.
At Samsung's Unpacked event in New York, the company showcased its latest foldable phones - the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 - and its new One UI 8 interface. While the phones' unique foldable design made headlines, the user interface is equally critical in differentiating these devices from traditional smartphones. Samsung's EVP and Head of Framework R&D explained the decision to use a basic app layout but also hinted at a future voice-based interface as AI advances. The new foldables come with Google's Gemini Live integration, offering a more context-aware and responsive experience, including a Live Screensharing feature for instant answers.