On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone to the world at Macworld in San Francisco, forever changing the phone industry! Imagine life before touchscreens and app stores…
Happy Friday, tech-curious! The week flew by and brings us a punchy mix of AI, mind-reading headphones, and Chrome extensions you (definitely) don’t want. Grab your coffee—today we’ve got Chinese AI IPOs making waves, Elon Musk’s Grok under fire, AND a peek into tech straight from CES 2026. Ready to geek out and slide into the weekend with that 'I-learned-something-awesome' energy? Let's dive in!
China’s Zhipu & MiniMax skyrocket with billion-dollar AI IPOs in Hong Kong.
Elon Musk’s Grok shuts off image generation after scandal and regulatory threats.
Mining giants Rio Tinto & Glencore consider a world-altering merger.
900K users hit by rogue Chrome extensions that steal personal data.
Neural headphones let users control devices by thought at CES 2026.
CrowdStrike snaps up $740M SGNL to secure your digital identity from AI bots.
Lumus unveils smartglass breakthroughs—bigger field of view, lighter than ever!
Big news from Hong Kong! China’s Zhipu AI and MiniMax pulled off billion-dollar IPOs—$9B and $14B, respectively—marking China’s bold move to rival US AI juggernauts like OpenAI. While they're not at the $500B OpenAI level (yet), this step sets up a fierce AI race. Watch out: Chinese innovation is coming for the global crown!
View articleElon Musk’s Grok AI yanked its image generator for most users after accusations it helped create graphic and violent images. The move was a reaction to public outrage and looming regulatory fines—especially with a UK ban threat. Now, only paid X subscribers get to play artist, and Grok’s next steps could shape all future AI regulation. Stay tuned!
View articleMining mega-news: Rio Tinto and Glencore are negotiating a merger to create the world’s largest mining company—worth over $200B! The deal could shift how the world gets essentials like lithium and copper for batteries and EVs. But, coal complications and eco concerns loom large. If it goes through, expect major impacts on sustainability and pricing.
View articleCyber-alert! Nearly 900,000 users installed fake Chrome extensions masquerading as AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. These sneaky add-ons scooped up everything—login credentials, personal info—you name it, then shipped it off to attacker servers. The lesson: Always double-check extensions, and stick to verified sources for downloads!
View articleMind-blown at CES: Headphones that control devices using just your thoughts! Naqi Logix and others are making neural headphones that decode micro facial movements—so you can play music, browse, even control a wheelchair hands-free. Coupled with AI (GPT-5 earbuds, anyone?), CES 2026 is officially a sci-fi tech playground!
View articleCrowdStrike dropped $740M to buy SGNL, a startup specializing in digital identity protection. With AI bots and remote work muddying the security waters, this move beefs up CrowdStrike’s arsenal against identity fraud. Expect your login info to be safer—but also more AI activity behind the scenes!
View articleAt CES, Lumus wowed crowds by launching smartglass waveguides with a wider field of view—now up to 70 degrees for that IMAX-on-your-face effect. Lighter, thinner, and more energy-efficient, their tech may soon make AR glasses truly mainstream (bonus: no more clip-ons!). The future of eyewear is bright—literally!
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