OpenAI has announced plans to spend $750 billion on infrastructure by the year 2030. The staggering figure is roughly equivalent to the entire GDP of Sweden. The investment reflects the massive and growing capital demands of developing and deploying advanced artificial intelligence systems. This spending spree underscores the intense financial commitments now required to remain competitive in the AI industry.
Samsung unveiled its latest foldable smartphones — the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Fold 8, and Fold 8 Ultra — at its July 2026 Unpacked event. The devices are scheduled to go on sale on August 7th. Beyond some design tweaks and new AI features, the upgrades are modest for existing owners of last year's models. The Z Fold 8 stands out as the most notable new addition, described as a new form factor rather than a straightforward successor to the Z Fold 7. It is expected to draw significant attention in the US market, particularly ahead of a rumored Apple foldable device.
Samsung unveiled three new foldable smartphones at its Galaxy Unpacked event: the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. All three devices are available for preorder now and will go on sale on August 7th, priced at $1,199.99, $1,899.99, and $2,099.99 respectively. This year marks a notable shift in Samsung's lineup, as the company introduced two book-style foldables instead of one. The Z Fold 8 Ultra is designed for productivity, while the standard Z Fold 8 is wider and shorter, targeting entertainment use. Preorders come with gift cards of up to $350, adding extra value for early buyers.
New research has found that cybercriminals frequently return to extort victims who have previously paid a ransom. The findings suggest that making a payment signals to hackers that the target is willing and able to pay. This creates a cycle in which compliant victims face repeated ransomware attacks. Security experts warn that paying up does not guarantee safety and may instead increase long-term risk.
Philips has unveiled the Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige, the latest addition to its Sonicare smart toothbrush lineup. The device employs a third-generation AI model to deliver real-time brushing feedback via a glowing ring on its base. A built-in touchscreen also shows users which areas of their mouth may need additional attention after brushing. The toothbrush is set to launch in Europe and the US this fall, with a broader global rollout planned for 2027. Pricing has not yet been confirmed, though earlier models in the range sold for around $430.
Microsoft has launched an early preview that brings original Xbox games to Windows PC as part of a broader backward compatibility expansion. The initial rollout includes four titles: Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy. Players can purchase and download these games on PC, and all four are included across Xbox Game Pass plans at no extra cost. Those who already own digital copies of these titles can now access them on PC and compatible handheld devices. Microsoft has indicated this is just the beginning of a larger effort to bring more Xbox console games to PC.
AMD announced on Wednesday a deal to invest up to $5 billion in AI startup Anthropic as part of a new strategic partnership. Under the agreement, Anthropic will deploy up to 2 gigawatts of AMD's Instinct MI450 AI GPUs through the company's new Helios rack-scale system. The first gigawatt of deployment is planned for the first half of 2027. The deal builds on Anthropic's recent infrastructure agreements with SpaceX and TeraWulf, and adds to existing partnerships the AI firm has established with Google, Broadcom, and Amazon.
Scientists are exploring what happens when a photon encounters a mirror that moves while the photon is in the process of being reflected. The experiment probes a fundamental quantum question: what occurs when you attempt to split a single photon in half. According to theoretical predictions, a mirror shifting position mid-photon interaction could release a cascade of new photons. This phenomenon touches on deep principles of quantum mechanics, where the behavior of light at its smallest scale defies classical expectations.
Samsung has officially announced its latest lineup of foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z8 series, alongside new Galaxy Watch models. The updated foldables are described as slimmer and faster compared to their predecessors. However, the new devices come at a higher price point than previous generations. The products are set to go on sale starting August 7.
The US Army has run into unexpected limitations with its artificial intelligence tools after troops consumed their allocated AI tokens faster than anticipated. Soldiers were notified via email that their token supply was being rapidly depleted. The situation highlights the practical constraints of deploying AI systems at scale within military operations. Despite being marketed or perceived as unlimited, the AI token allocations proved finite in real-world usage conditions.
Construction technology startup Cascade has secured $3.5 million in a seed funding round. The investment was led by a16z Speedrun, with participation from Ada Ventures and Snowball VC. The platform is designed to help construction companies identify and successfully bid on new projects. The fresh capital is expected to support Cascade's efforts to expand its tools for the construction industry.
Berlin-based startup Passionfroot has secured $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Insight Partners. The company operates a marketplace that connects B2B-focused content creators with brands seeking partnerships. Passionfroot plans to use the fresh capital to expand its operations into the United States. The fundraise marks a significant growth milestone for the German startup as it targets the competitive North American market.
WhatsApp has announced a series of updates expanding its functionality across multiple platforms and devices. The messaging app now offers enhanced integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing drivers to hear and reply to messages hands-free directly from their car's screen. Users can also make calls, check call history, and access favorite contacts while on the road. Additionally, WhatsApp is introducing support for iPad sign-ups, broadening its availability across Apple devices.
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, featuring a new Flex Titanium display technology designed to drastically reduce the visible crease common in foldable phones. The innovation uses a titanium film placed beneath the OLED panel, which Samsung claims offers 20 times the mechanical stiffness of the polymer film used in previous models. This titanium film is bonded to a new titanium plate, and together the two components work to minimize the crease. A hands-on preview by The Verge lasting approximately three hours noted the crease was nearly imperceptible on the device. The development comes as Apple is still rumored to be working on its own foldable iPhone, leaving Samsung to continue refining its existing foldable lineup.
Samsung has unveiled the Z Fold 8, its latest foldable smartphone, featuring a notably wider and shorter form factor compared to previous Fold models. The new design places it somewhere between Samsung's Flip and Fold lines in terms of size and shape. This marks the second consecutive year Samsung has significantly redesigned the Z Fold, having introduced a thinner build just last year. Hands-on impressions suggest the unconventional proportions feel comfortable and intuitive despite appearing awkward in photos. The Z Fold 8 is one of multiple new foldables Samsung is releasing this year.
Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, focusing this generation on addressing previous weaknesses in battery life and preventive health features. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is priced at $699.99, a $50 increase over its predecessor, and features an 800mAh battery — a 35 percent improvement over the original model's 590mAh cell. Both watches are positioned as iterative refinements rather than complete redesigns, building on elements users already appreciated. The updates continue Samsung's recent pattern of incremental improvements across successive generations of its wearable lineup.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the company's latest flip-style foldable smartphone, featuring a 6.9-inch internal AMOLED display and a 4.1-inch cover screen. The device retains familiar specs from its predecessor, including 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 4,300mAh battery. This year's model is notably thinner and lighter than the Z Flip 7, with an expanded cover screen experience that allows for more full-featured use. A Verge reviewer who spent three hours with the phone noted it feels increasingly like a conventional smartphone. Whether that shift away from the foldable identity is a strength or a drawback remains an open question.
Samsung held its annual Galaxy Unpacked summer event on Wednesday, unveiling a fresh lineup of foldable phones and smartwatches. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 received a significant redesign, featuring a shorter and wider form factor compared to its predecessor. Samsung also introduced a new Ultra variant of the Fold lineup alongside an updated Flip model. Refreshed versions of the Galaxy smartwatch series were announced as well. The reveals came after weeks of pre-event rumors and leaks surrounding the new devices.
Samsung held its Galaxy Unpacked event in London, unveiling a new lineup of foldable smartphones for summer 2026. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a wider form factor, while a Z Fold 8 Ultra variant is expected to include a larger battery. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 also received a refresh as part of the announcement. Samsung is additionally rumored to have introduced new wearables, including the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Watch 9. The launches come as Samsung faces growing competition from Apple, which is preparing to enter the foldable smartphone market.
Ukraine has expanded its use of battlefield robotics by introducing new delivery methods for ground robots. Drones are now being used to airdrop robotic units directly into combat zones. In addition, robots are being deployed through amphibious beach assault operations. These methods allow Ukraine to place robotic systems in difficult or dangerous positions without risking human soldiers. The development marks a significant evolution in Ukraine's growing use of unmanned systems on the battlefield.
