Technology Updates & Trends News

SandboxAQ, a U.S.-based AI startup spun out of Google, is leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of next-generation EV batteries through its AQVolt26 platform. By using physics-based AI models to analyze thousands of potential materials, the company claims it can reduce battery discovery timelines by up to 90–95%, significantly speeding up innovation in solid-state battery technology. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, these newer designs promise improved safety, efficiency and reduced reliance on scarce materials. While commercialization may still take several years, SandboxAQ’s approach represents a strategic shift toward innovation-driven competition, offering a potential pathway for the U.S. to challenge China’s dominance in the global EV battery market.

Apple is reportedly planning one of the biggest transformations in its iPhone lineup for 2026, with leaks pointing to the introduction of its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series. The foldable device, potentially branded as iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, is expected to feature a tablet-like display and premium pricing, marking Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone segment. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro models are likely to focus on performance upgrades with the new A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process while retaining a familiar design and camera system. Reports also suggest a shift toward a staggered launch cycle, with the base iPhone 18 possibly delayed to 2027, indicating a broader change in Apple’s product strategy to sustain demand and compete in an evolving smartphone market.

NASA has released the first deep space images captured using the iPhone 17 Pro Max during the Artemis II mission, marking a historic moment in space exploration and photography. Astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft used the smartphone including its front-facing camera to take striking images of Earth and the Moon, even capturing space “selfies” with Earth in the background. iPhone 17 Pro Max devices were rigorously tested and approved for space use, highlighting the growing role of consumer technology in missions. The spacecraft is traveling over 400,000 km from Earth, making these among the farthest smartphone images ever taken, while showcasing how modern mobile cameras can perform in extreme environments

NASA’s Artemis II mission marks a historic shift as astronauts are allowed to carry personal smartphones into deep space for the first time, breaking decades-old restrictions. The devices, including iPhones and Android smartphones, have been rigorously tested to withstand space conditions and are being used to capture images, record moments and enhance communication during the mission. Launched in April 2026, Artemis II is the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years and aims to orbit the Moon without landing. The move reflects NASA’s growing adoption of consumer technology to improve efficiency, storytelling and public engagement in modern space exploration

The Samsung Galaxy S26 and Google Pixel 10 are two closely matched flagship smartphones in 2026, but they cater to different user priorities. The Galaxy S26 stands out with stronger performance powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, better efficiency through its adaptive LTPO display and higher base storage, making it ideal for gaming and multitasking. In contrast, the Pixel 10 offers a brighter display, larger battery and excels in computational photography and clean Android experience. While both devices deliver premium features and long-term software support, the choice ultimately depends on whether users prioritize performance and storage (Samsung) or camera intelligence and simplicity (Google)

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers a refined flagship experience with a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and strong battery performance, but focuses more on incremental improvements than major innovation. It retains a familiar design and camera system while introducing features like Privacy Display, which limits viewing angles for added security. AI capabilities are present but feel evolutionary rather than transformative, and gaming performance, while solid, trails some competitors. Overall, the device stands out as a premium all-rounder with excellent display and reliability, though it may not offer compelling upgrades for recent flagship users

The Dell G15 (G15-5530) is a performance-focused budget gaming laptop designed for gamers, students and developers, featuring a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13450HX processor and NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU. It delivers strong multitasking and reliable gaming performance, supported by 16GB DDR5 RAM and a 120Hz display. While it offers solid value at around ₹74,000, with features like fast SSD storage and good connectivity, it has limitations such as a heavy build, average display color accuracy and no built-in webcam. Overall, it stands out as a balanced option for users seeking performance at an affordable price.

Facebook removed a page spreading AI-generated fake news about William Shatner after the actor publicly condemned the content as “horrible fake news.” The page had circulated fabricated claims about his health, including false reports of stage 4 brain cancer and other incidents, which Shatner strongly denied. The misleading posts, created using AI and monetized for engagement, appeared convincing enough to mislead fans and spread widely on social media. Following backlash, Meta confirmed the page was taken down for policy violations, highlighting growing concerns over the misuse of AI in spreading misinformation and the challenges platforms face in controlling such content.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has raised serious concerns that major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are failing to effectively enforce the country’s under-16 social media ban. Despite removing millions of underage accounts, regulators found critical loopholes such as weak age verification systems, repeated account creation by minors and inadequate reporting tools. Authorities are now considering legal action, with potential penalties reaching AU$49.5 million per breach. The case is being closely watched globally as it could set a precedent for stricter regulation of Big Tech and improved online safety standards for children.

The White House has introduced a national AI policy framework aimed at creating a unified federal standard while limiting state-level regulations. The proposal focuses on areas like child safety, energy use, intellectual property and free speech, while promoting innovation and U.S. competitiveness against rivals like China. However, the plan faces political hurdles in Congress and resistance from states concerned about federal overreach

Following the release of Crimson Desert, players began spotting strange in-game visuals like distorted characters and unrealistic anatomy sparking speculation about possible AI-generated art assets. While there is no official confirmation from Pearl Abyss, community discussions highlight similarities to known AI image flaws and some believe these could be placeholders or poor design. The controversy adds to the game’s mixed reception and reflects a broader industry concern around transparency and the growing use of generative AI in game development.

An AI-generated influencer named Jessica Foster went viral, gaining over 1 million followers by posing as a patriotic U.S. Army supporter, but was later exposed as fake and removed from platforms. Experts say such AI personas use a mix of politics, emotional appeal and monetization strategies to attract users, highlighting growing risks of misinformation, manipulation and the rise of “synthetic personalities” online.

Samsung Electronics says the artificial intelligence revolution is inevitable and will impact industries far beyond the technology sector. Speaking about the company’s AI strategy, Won-Joon Choi said AI will transform fields such as healthcare, legal services and human resources while gradually becoming a normal part of everyday devices. Samsung plans to expand AI capabilities to around 800 million devices using a hybrid model that combines on-device and cloud AI. The company is also partnering with AI platforms such as Perplexity AI and Google Gemini while emphasizing privacy, transparency and support for local languages as AI adoption grows globally.

The United States Department of Commerce has withdrawn a draft proposal that aimed to introduce new restrictions on the global export of advanced artificial-intelligence chips. The proposed rule, titled “AI Action Plan Implementation,” was submitted for inter-agency review in February 2026 and was intended to replace a 2025 framework that categorized countries into tiers determining their access to U.S.-made AI semiconductors. Officials said the proposal was only a preliminary draft and its withdrawal suggests ongoing internal debate within the U.S. government over how to regulate AI chip exports while maintaining national security and technological leadership in the global semiconductor race.

Bill McDermott has warned that the rapid adoption of AI agents could significantly disrupt the job market for young professionals, potentially pushing unemployment among recent college graduates into the mid-30% range in the coming years. Speaking on Squawk on the Street, McDermott said companies are increasingly deploying AI systems to automate tasks such as customer service, IT support and administrative work roles that traditionally served as entry points for graduates. While current graduate unemployment remains around 5.7%, rising automation and comments from tech leaders like Andy Jassy suggest companies may reduce hiring as AI improves productivity, potentially reshaping early-career opportunities across industries.

Tinder has introduced a suite of artificial intelligence features at its Tinder Sparks 2026 event aimed at improving matchmaking, reducing dating fatigue and enhancing user safety. The updates include the Chemistry AI recommendation system for curated daily matches, Camera Roll Scan and Photo Insights to improve profile photos and Learning Mode that adapts recommendations based on user behavior. Tinder is also expanding AI-powered safety tools that detect harmful messages and warn users before sending offensive content, along with Face Check identity verification to reduce scams and fake accounts. The company says these AI tools are designed to create more meaningful and safer connections on the platform.

Before recent geopolitical tensions, Gulf nations such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were rapidly becoming global hubs for artificial intelligence infrastructure. Major technology companies including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google were investing billions to build large-scale AI data centers in the region. The Gulf’s abundant energy resources, strategic location connecting Europe, Asia and Africa, government-backed AI initiatives and fast infrastructure development made it highly attractive for hyperscale cloud providers. However, recent drone strikes linked to Iran targeting cloud infrastructure have raised concerns about the security of AI data centers and the geopolitical risks facing the region’s ambitions to become a major global AI hub.

Escalating regional conflict has exposed the vulnerability of artificial intelligence infrastructure in the Middle East, where countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain had been investing heavily to become global AI and cloud computing hubs. Drone strikes linked to Iran reportedly damaged multiple data centers operated by Amazon Web Services, disrupting services including EC2, S3 and DynamoDB. The attacks highlight how hyperscale cloud infrastructure used for AI workloads has become a strategic asset and potential military target, prompting major providers like Amazon, Microsoft and Google to reassess expansion plans and security strategies in the region.

Google has introduced a new initiative called PLANTS (PKI, Logs and Tree Signatures) to prepare the internet for the security risks posed by future quantum computers. The program proposes a new certificate system known as Merkle Tree Certificates (MTCs), designed to protect HTTPS connections using quantum-resistant cryptography while minimizing performance and bandwidth issues. Traditional post-quantum cryptography can produce signatures up to 40 times larger than current methods, which could slow web connections. By using compact cryptographic proofs through a Merkle tree structure, Google aims to maintain fast browser performance while strengthening internet security, with testing underway alongside partners such as Cloudflare and a phased rollout planned through 2027.

India could emerge as a global leader in AI-native banking as its digital public infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and population-scale financial data create strong foundations for next-generation financial systems. Industry experts say the banking sector is moving beyond basic digital services toward AI-driven architectures where artificial intelligence powers real-time credit decisions, adaptive fraud detection, automated compliance and multilingual financial interfaces. Supported by regulatory sandboxes and evolving AI governance frameworks, India’s financial ecosystem is enabling responsible experimentation while protecting consumers. Analysts believe this combination of digital infrastructure, regulation and large-scale financial data could position India as a global reference model for AI-first banking systems in emerging economies.

Anthropic has launched a new “observed exposure” metric to track how AI could affect jobs. Its analysis shows roles such as programmers, data entry workers and financial analysts are among the most exposed to automation, though large-scale AI-driven job losses have not yet appeared.

Snabbit has introduced Kavach, an AI-powered safety feature that automatically detects distress signals such as raised voices or unusual phone movement to protect women service professionals. The system can trigger emergency alerts without manual input, aiming to improve worker safety as India’s on-demand home services sector expands.

Oracle Corporation is reportedly preparing to cut thousands of jobs across multiple divisions as it increases spending on AI data centers and cloud infrastructure. The restructuring aims to free up capital for large-scale AI investments as the company competes with major cloud rivals in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence market.

Shares of NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices fell after reports that the U.S. Department of Commerce may require licenses for most global exports of advanced AI chips. The proposed rules could limit international sales, affect the growing sovereign AI infrastructure market and add new regulatory pressure on major semiconductor companies.

CVS Health has partnered with Google Cloud to develop Health100, an AI-powered healthcare platform launching in 2026. The system will integrate data from pharmacies, providers and insurers to offer real-time health insights, voice and visual AI interactions and personalized care support for patients.

Xiaomi will launch the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Xiaomi 17, and Xiaomi Pad 8 in India on March 11, 2026. The flagship phones feature Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chips, Leica-tuned cameras, large AMOLED displays and fast charging, while the Pad 8 brings a high-refresh display and a 9,200mAh battery to expand Xiaomi’s premium ecosystem.