Author: Frank Salvato

Several artificial intelligence start-ups, including OpenAI and Perplexity, are launching AI-powered web browsers and integrations aimed at challenging Google’s long-standing dominance of the browser market — a shift being described as the most significant in decades. These new offerings seek to embed advanced AI capabilities directly into browsing experiences, with features like proactive assistance, enhanced task automation, and model choice, positioning AI browsers as potential rivals to Google Chrome’s 63%+ global market share. Despite this, Google continues to push its own Gemini AI and experimental projects like Disco, maintaining a competitive edge. The rise of AI browsers highlights both innovation…

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders face heightened risks of identity theft and extortion following a series of major cyberattacks, including a massive breach of the ManageMyHealth patient portal and a separate intrusion into the Neighbourly community platform that exposed sensitive user data. The ransomware group Kazu claims it stole hundreds of thousands of files from ManageMyHealth, potentially exposing personal health records of roughly 126,000 individuals, and demanded a ransom under threat of public release. Independent cybersecurity experts warn that such stolen health and location information could fuel identity fraud and other crimes, with critics blaming weak security practices and…

The landscape of anti-surveillance design — from clothing to everyday accessories — is evolving as individuals push back against increasingly ubiquitous facial recognition and other monitoring technologies that gather biometric data and track movement across public and private spaces. A January 5, 2026 piece from 404 Media highlights that even simple items like cloth masks and sunglasses can degrade the effectiveness of many facial recognition systems, and more advanced wearables (like infrared-blocking glasses) are entering the market as privacy-focused consumers seek ways to resist surveillance algorithms. Independent reporting and privacy-technology discussions show a broader trend toward anti-surveillance fashion and tech…

Microsoft is rolling out a significant user interface redesign for its Edge browser, borrowing the visual language and layout cues from its Copilot AI assistant app in early Canary and Dev channel tests. The overhaul includes a refreshed settings panel, updated context menus, a redesigned new tab page, rounded UI elements, and consistent use of Copilot’s fonts and colors—all signaling a strategic push to visually unify Edge with Microsoft’s broader AI ecosystem. This change is separate from Copilot Mode and reflects the company’s larger aim to embed AI experiences throughout its software products. Early reports suggest the new look may…

NuraLogix debuted its Longevity Mirror, an $899 AI-enabled smart mirror that claims to assess key health indicators and predict future wellness in just about 30 seconds by analyzing a short facial video using transdermal optical imaging, generating a Longevity Index score and metrics tied to cardiovascular, metabolic, and stress levels; it supports up to six user profiles and includes an AI Health Assistant with personalized lifestyle advice, though the company makes clear it’s a wellness tool rather than a clinical diagnostic device, and some observers question its accuracy without personal data like height or weight and the overall utility of…

Google has confirmed it will remove support for two long-standing Gmail features beginning January 2026: the ability for Gmail to fetch mail from third-party accounts using the POP3 protocol, and the “Gmailify” service that applied Gmail’s advanced inbox features (such as spam protection, inbox categorization, and enhanced notifications) to external accounts. The change means that Gmail on the web will no longer automatically pull emails from other mail services (like Outlook, Yahoo, or ISP mail) into a single unified inbox via POP3, and linked accounts using Gmailify will stop receiving Gmail’s organizational benefits. Instead, Google recommends using IMAP connections in…

Tech industry veterans Biz Stone (Twitter co-founder) and Evan Sharp (Pinterest co-founder) have raised fresh funding to develop Tangle, a new social platform designed as an antidote to what they describe as the “terrible devastation” wrought by traditional social networks. Backed with a reported $29 million in seed financing led by Spark Capital, Tangle launched in an invite-only mode in late 2025 and encourages users to share daily intentions rather than endlessly scroll algorithmic feeds. The app aims to foster real-world connections, meaningful planning, and mindful engagement with technology. Its founders argue this model could help reshape how people use…

LG has officially revived its ultra-thin Wallpaper OLED TV at CES 2026 with the OLED evo W6, a 9 mm-class television that marries minimalist design with cutting-edge display performance. The W6 is engineered to sit flush against a wall and leverages True Wireless connectivity through a Zero Connect Box that can transmit video signals up to 10 meters away while offloading all I/O connections, leaving only a power cable at the panel itself. According to The Verge’s hands-on report, the new model includes Hyper Radiant Color Technology for improved brightness, color accuracy, and black levels, plus Brightness Booster Ultra—expected to…

Samsung Electronics has announced an ambitious strategy to integrate artificial intelligence throughout its full lineup of devices and services by 2026, positioning the tech giant to leverage its vertically integrated hardware and semiconductor strengths across consumer electronics and AI infrastructure. In a recent New Year address, Device eXperience (DX) head TM Roh emphasized an “organic” AI rollout designed to enhance user experience and transform work processes company-wide, while the Device Solutions (DS) division highlights its comprehensive AI semiconductor capabilities as a competitive edge. Industry coverage also notes Samsung’s plans to showcase this AI ecosystem at CES 2026 and broaden AI…

In the wake of sensational reports circulating online that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces, major media outlets have grappled with differentiating verified news from manipulated content across social platforms. The Verge reports that the New York Times carefully vetted a photo President Trump posted of Maduro in what appeared to be U.S. custody but could not independently verify its authenticity, noting odd cropping and AI-detection uncertainty in the image before publishing it in context of Trump’s Truth Social post. In parallel, Wired and other outlets documented a flood of disinformation across TikTok, Instagram, and X,…