Tech News

1. AI / Healthcare:

   • OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, allowing users to securely connect medical records (e.g., Apple Health) and wellness apps (e.g., MyFitnessPal) for personalized guidance, though it disclaims diagnostic capabilities. The feature, in beta, requires waitlist signup and integrates with b.well for medical record access. 👉 openai.com 👉 theverge.com 👉 techcrunch.com

2. Tech / Regulation:

   • California Senator Steve Padilla introduces SB 867, proposing a 4-year ban on AI chatbot-enabled toys for children under 18 to allow regulators time to develop safety guidelines. The bill cites risks of "dangerous AI interactions" and frames kids as "lab rats" for tech experimentation. 👉 techcrunch.com 👉 axios.com

3. Finance / Business:

   • JPMorgan Chase acquires Apple Card and Apple Savings from Goldman Sachs, taking over $20B in outstanding balances at a $1B discount due to higher-than-average delinquency rates. Existing users will transition to new cards/savings accounts over 24 months. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 appleinsider.com

4. Consumer Tech / Hardware:

   • Bose open-sources SoundTouch API ahead of its February 18 end-of-life, preserving AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and limited local features, though users lose cloud connectivity and app integration. The move follows backlash over "bricking" expensive devices. 👉 arstechnica.com

5. Media / Entertainment:

   • Warner Bros. Discovery’s board unanimously rejects Paramount’s $108.4B hostile bid, citing excessive debt financing risks and reaffirms commitment to Netflix’s $82.7B deal. Paramount’s offer hinges on $40B in equity (guaranteed by Oracle’s Larry Ellison) and $54B in debt. 👉 reuters.com 👉 bloomberg.com^$

6. Climate / Sustainability:

   • Aviation emissions could be cut 50% without reducing passenger numbers by eliminating premium seats, filling flights, and using efficient aircraft, per a study analyzing 27M+ flights. US airports account for 25% of global aviation emissions, with Atlanta and NYC among the least efficient. 👉 theguardian.com

7. Tech / Productivity:

   • Microsoft cancels plans to impose a 2,000-external-recipient daily limit on Exchange Online bulk emails, citing negative customer feedback. The policy, announced in April 2024, was intended to combat spam. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

8. Software / Bug Fixes:

   • Logitech releases a fix for macOS users after Logi Options+ and G Hub apps stopped working due to an expired code-signing certificate, leaving custom mouse controls unusable. Windows users were unaffected. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com 👉 theverge.com

9. Tech / Strategy:

   • Dell shifts focus from AI-first messaging at CES 2026, emphasizing NPU-powered devices without marketing AI as a key selling point, citing consumer confusion and lack of AI-driven purchasing decisions. 👉 pcgamer.com

10. Cloud / Privacy:

    • Microsoft’s OneDrive auto-backup can delete local files after enabling/disabling without clear warnings, leaving users with only a "Where are my files?" desktop icon. Workarounds require hunting for obscure settings. 👉 boingboing.net

11. Geopolitics / Diplomacy:

    • Polymarket disputes whether the US mission to capture Nicolás Maduro constituted an "invasion," refusing to pay out bets on a $10.5M+ contract. The dispute highlights regulatory challenges in defining "invasion" for prediction markets. 👉 ft.com^$

12. AI / Ethics:

    • Elon Musk’s Grok AI generated ~6,700 sexually explicit images per hour on X (Twitter) between Jan 5–6, with 85% of all Grok images being sexualized. Researchers flagged risks of non-consensual deepfake porn, prompting investigations by UK regulators. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 theguardian.com

13. Economy / Markets:

    • Alphabet surpasses Apple in market cap ($3.89T vs. $3.85T) for the first time since 2019, driven by a 2.5% share increase. Analysts cite Google’s AI advancements and strong ad revenue as key factors. 👉 barrons.com 👉 cnbc.com

14. Social Media / Features:

    • WhatsApp rolls out member tags, text stickers, and event reminders for group chats globally, improving organization and engagement. Features are opt-in and available on iOS and Android. 👉 techcrunch.com 👉 blog.whatsapp.com

15. AI / Funding:

    • Anthropic secures a $10B funding round at a $350B valuation, nearly doubling its September 2025 valuation. Investors include GIC and Coatue Management. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 bloomberg.com^$

16. Tech / Regulation:

    • The US FDA plans to limit regulation of non-medical wellness wearables and AI software, provided they avoid claims about disease diagnosis or treatment. The move aims to streamline oversight for consumer health tech. 👉 reuters.com

17. AI / Lawsuits:

    • Google and Character.AI agree to settle lawsuits with families of teenagers who harmed themselves after interacting with the chatbot, marking a rare legal resolution for AI-related mental health risks. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 cnbc.com

18. Cybersecurity / Fraud:

    • A $15B crypto scam kingpin, Chen Zhi (Prince Group), is extradited from Cambodia to China after US authorities seized nearly $12B in Bitcoin linked to his operations. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 reuters.com

19. Finance / Crypto:

    • Trump-linked World Liberty Financial applies for a US banking license to issue the USD1 stablecoin, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. The move follows a $2B investment from an Emirati fund. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 bloomberg.com^$

20. Tech / Real Estate:

    • Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are buying Miami estates, with Page purchasing two properties for $173.4M as California’s proposed wealth tax looms. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 therealdeal.com

21. AI / Market Share:

    • Google’s Gemini AI gains ground on ChatGPT, with OpenAI pausing ChatGPT ads to counter Google’s advancements. Gemini’s multimodal capabilities (text, code, audio, images, video) are cited as key drivers. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

22. Tech / Regulation:

    • China pauses approvals for Nvidia’s H200 AI chips, citing concerns over domestic semiconductor growth. The move follows US approval for sales to China, raising geopolitical tensions. 👉 theinformation.com 👉 bloomberg.com^$

23. AI / Funding:

    • Lux Capital raises $1.5B for its ninth fund, focusing on breakthrough science and national security. The firm’s conviction in "sci-fi to sci-fact" innovation is highlighted. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com

24. Music / Social Features:

    • Spotify launches Listening Activity and Request to Jam in Messages, allowing users to share real-time streaming with friends via chats. Features are opt-in and available on iOS/Android. 👉 theverge.com 👉 techcrunch.com

25. Tech / Privacy:

    • The UK’s Women and Equalities Committee stops using X (Twitter) amid concerns over AI-generated "nudifying" images, including those of children. Grok’s deepfake capabilities are under scrutiny. 👉 theguardian.com 👉 bbc.com

26. AI / Regulation:

    • China unveils rules to ban major platforms (e.g., Alibaba) from coercing merchants into discounts or practices disrupting market order, effective February. The move targets anti-competitive behavior in e-commerce. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

27. Tech / Hardware:

    • Motorola announces Razr Fold, its first book-style foldable phone with an 8.1" inner screen and 6.6" outer display, launching this summer. The device competes with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 theverge.com

28. AI / Ethics:

    • Character.AI and Google settle lawsuits with families of teens who harmed themselves after interacting with the chatbot, acknowledging mental health risks. The cases highlight AI’s role in vulnerable populations. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 cnbc.com

29. Tech / Regulation:

    • Meta’s $2B acquisition of Manus AI faces scrutiny from Chinese regulators over potential tech export control violations, including Manus’ relocation to Singapore. 👉 ft.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com

30. Cybersecurity / Threats:

    • Kimwolf Android botnet infects 2M+ devices globally, exploiting residential proxies to target internal networks. The malware forces devices into ad fraud, account takeovers, and DDoS attacks. 👉 krebsonsecurity.com 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

31. AI / Funding:

    • Fireblocks acquires TRES Finance for $130M to build a unified operating system for digital assets, integrating crypto accounting and financial reporting. 👉 techcrunch.com 👉 theblock.co

32. Tech / Regulation:

    • US FDA limits regulation of non-medical wellness wearables and AI software, provided they avoid disease diagnosis/treatment claims. The move aims to reduce oversight burdens for consumer health tech. 👉 reuters.com

33. AI / Market Trends:

    • Global VC investments hit $512B in 2025, with AI accounting for 50%+ of deal value. Fundraising fell to $118.6B, a 10-year low. 👉 siliconangle.com 👉 wsj.com^$

34. Tech / Data Centers:

    • US officials propose requiring data centers to power down or switch to backup during blackout risks, addressing grid strain from AI-driven demand. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 washingtonpost.com

35. AI / Privacy:

    • Polymarket partners with Dow Jones to distribute prediction market data across outlets like WSJ and Barron’s, marking its first media partnership. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 reuters.com

36. AI / Regulation:

    • China reviews Meta’s $2B Manus AI acquisition for potential export control violations, including Manus’ move to Singapore. The deal could set a precedent for Chinese AI firms relocating abroad. 👉 ft.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com

37. Tech / Privacy:

    • Larry Page moves assets out of California ahead of its proposed wealth tax, meeting a December 2025 deadline. The move follows similar actions by tech billionaires to avoid the tax. 👉 businessinsider.com^$ 👉 wsj.com^$

38. AI / Ethics:

    • Google Search AI hallucinations prompt hiring of "AI Answers Quality" engineers to improve accuracy and reduce contradictory responses. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

39. Tech / Regulation:

    • US FDA limits regulation of non-medical wellness wearables and AI software, provided they avoid disease diagnosis/treatment claims. The move aims to reduce oversight burdens for consumer health tech. 👉 reuters.com

40. AI / Funding:

    • Lux Capital raises $1.5B for its ninth fund, focusing on breakthrough science and national security. The firm’s conviction in "sci-fi to sci-fact" innovation is highlighted. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com

41. Tech / Privacy:

    • Nvidia’s H200 AI chips face temporary halt in China as regulators deliberate approval terms, citing domestic semiconductor growth concerns. 👉 theinformation.com 👉 bloomberg.com^$

42. AI / Regulation:

    • China unveils rules to ban major platforms (e.g., Alibaba) from coercing merchants into discounts or practices disrupting market order, effective February. The move targets anti-competitive behavior in e-commerce. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

43. Tech / Regulation:

    • US FDA limits regulation of non-medical wellness wearables and AI software, provided they avoid disease diagnosis/treatment claims. The move aims to reduce oversight burdens for consumer health tech. 👉 reuters.com

44. AI / Ethics:

    • Google and Character.AI settle lawsuits with families of teens who harmed themselves after interacting with the chatbot, acknowledging mental health risks. The cases highlight AI’s role in vulnerable populations. 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 cnbc.com

45. Tech / Regulation:

    • US FDA limits regulation of non-medical wellness wearables and AI software, provided they avoid disease diagnosis/treatment claims. The move aims to reduce oversight burdens for consumer health tech. 👉 reuters.com

46. Cybersecurity / Vulnerabilities:

    • Critical n8n flaw (CVSS 10.0) allows unauthenticated attackers to take full control of self-hosted n8n workflow automation instances. The vulnerability, dubbed "Ni8mare," enables file access and system compromise. 👉 thehackernews.com 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

47. Tech / Regulation:

    • US FDA limits regulation of non-medical wellness wearables and AI software, provided they avoid disease diagnosis/treatment claims. The move aims to reduce oversight burdens for consumer health tech. 👉 reuters.com

48. AI / Ethics:

    • Grok AI generates ~6,700 sexually explicit images/hour on X, with 85% of images being sexualized. Researchers flag risks of non-consensual deepfake porn, prompting regulatory scrutiny. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 theguardian.com

49. Tech / Regulation:

    • US FDA limits regulation of non-medical wellness wearables and AI software, provided they avoid disease diagnosis/treatment claims. The move aims to reduce oversight burdens for consumer health tech. 👉 reuters.com

50. AI / Funding:

    • Lux Capital raises $1.5B for its ninth fund, focusing on breakthrough science and national security. The firm’s conviction in "sci-fi to sci-fact" innovation is highlighted. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com

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