• Meta to test premium subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp

    January 26, 2026

    Meta plans to test new subscriptions that give people access to exclusive features on it apps, the company told TechCrunch on Monday. The tech giant said the new subscriptions will unlock more productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities. In the coming months, Meta said it will offer a premium experience on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp that gives users access to special features and more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free. Meta doesn’t appear to be locked into one strategy, noting that it will test a variety of subscription features and bundles, and…

  • Google agrees to $68 million settlement in voice assistant privacy lawsuit

    January 26, 2026

    Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement regarding claims that its voice assistant inappropriately spied on smartphone users. Plaintiffs claimed that the company’s Google Assistant platform began listening to them after it misheard conversations that sounded like its wake words. The suit argued that private information that Google Assistant shouldn’t have heard was then used to deliver those individuals targeted ads. Reuters reported that Google denied wrongdoing in the suit, but according to court papers, the company agreed to a settlement in order to avoid the risk and costs of litigating the issue. The preliminary class action settlement was…

  • Vinod Khosla publicly disavows Keith Rabois’ comments on ICE shooting

    January 26, 2026

    To understand the stance of an unwavering Trump loyalist after United States Custom and Enforcement shocked the nation this weekend by shooting another American citizen in Minneapolis, look no further than Khosla Ventures partner Keith Rabois. Rabois’ public support for ICE’s actions in the killing of Alex Pretti, made via posts on X, was so vehement that Khosla Ventures partner Ethan Choi and firm founder Vinod Khosla both publicly disavowed it. Rabois argued that Pretti was at fault, writing that the protester was committing a “felony.” One of Rabois’ posts said, “[N]o law enforcement has shot an innocent person. [I[llegals…

  • Google aims to take the sting out of scheduling meetings with a new Gemini feature

    January 26, 2026

    Google is rolling out a Gemini feature that could turn out to be pretty useful for many folks. It’s a Google Calendar tool that can help figure out the best time to schedule a meeting, taking into account attendees’ schedules. When creating a meeting, you can click the “Suggested times” option and Gemini will look at the availability that people have marked on their calendar and potential conflicts. You’ll then be able to choose from a list of suggested time slots. But the time you pick may not work for everyone. So if multiple people decline the meeting invite, you…

  • Social network UpScrolled sees surge in downloads following TikTok’s US takeover

    January 26, 2026

    In the wake of TikTok’s U.S. ownership change last week, some users are seeking out alternative platforms. One app gaining traction is UpScrolled, a social network that pledges to remain impartial to political agendas. The app currently ranks 12th overall in Apple’s App Store and second in the social networking category. Upscrolled blends familiar features from Instagram and X, letting users share photos, videos, and text posts, discover new content, and send direct messages. The app was founded last year by Issam Hijazi, a Palestinian-Jordanian-Australian technologist, with the aim of giving users a place to “freely express thoughts, share moments,…

  • The next thing that could hurt global vehicle production

    January 26, 2026

    We’ve lived through the semiconductor shortage that stifled car production after the COVID-19 pandemic, and we might be about to go through something similar in the not-too-distant future. Artificial intelligence (AI) companies are driving a spike in the price of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips as they build out data centres for their power- and processing-hungry applications. According to The Register consumer prices for the most common memory capacities jumped up 63 per cent in Europe during the final quarter of 2025. Analysts from S&P Global and UBS say this will have a knock-on effect to the automotive sector…

  • Ubisoft proposes even more layoffs after last week’s studio closures and game cancellations

    January 26, 2026

    It looks like Ubisoft is planning even more layoffs to accompany last week’s studio closures and game cancellations, . The company is planning a massive reduction of the workforce in its Paris headquarters. It has proposed the loss of up to 200 jobs, which is nearly 20 percent of the current staff. This will be organized under France’s , in which staff can agree to form a collective, voluntary mutual termination agreement. It’s not a done deal just yet, with a company spokesperson saying “at this stage, this remains a proposal and no decision will be final until a collective…

  • AI startup CVector raises $5M for its industrial ‘nervous system’

    January 26, 2026

    Industrial AI startup CVector built a brain and nervous system for big industry. Now, founders Richard Zhang and Tyler Ruggles are tasked with a bigger challenge: showing customers and investors how this AI-powered software layer translates to real savings on an industrial scale.  The New York-based startup has had some success following its pre-seed funding round last July. Its system is now running with real customers, including public utilities, advanced manufacturing facilities, and chemical producers. It’s given the duo more concrete examples of what problems they can solve — and money they can save — for their big industry clients…

  • How to generate AI images using ChatGPT

    January 26, 2026

    Since March 2025, ChatGPT has been capable of generating images. Following a period where it briefly wasn’t available to free users, you now don’t even pay for one of OpenAI’s subscriptions to use this feature. And while making images inside of ChatGPT is easy, there are some nuances worth explaining. For example, did you know you can ask ChatGPT to edit photos you’ve taken? It’s more powerful than you might think. Here’s everything you need to know about generating AI images with ChatGPT. How to create images with ChatGPT using text prompts To begin making an image in ChatGPT, you…

  • TikTok alternative Skylight soars to 380K+ users after TikTok U.S. deal finalized

    January 26, 2026

    Skylight, a TikTok alternative built on open source technology, is benefiting from concerns that arose over TikTok U.S.’s change in ownership last week. The startup, a maker of a short-form, vertical video app similar to TikTok, says it has now topped over 380,000 users and is continuing to grow after a busy weekend. Launched last year and backed by Mark Cuban and other investors, Skylight’s mobile app is built on the AT Protocol, the technology that also powers the decentralized X rival, Bluesky, which now has north of 42 million users. Skylight, co-founded by CEO Tori White and CTO Reed…