TECHNOLOGY

Apple has reportedly increased orders for its first foldable iPhone by 30% ahead of pre-orders, signalling stronger-than-expected demand despite production challenges and limited supply.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has criticised OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's view that society should accept some AI-related harms, while questioning the technology's healthcare benefits.

Discord users reported problems accessing the platform early Wednesday, with Downdetector showing a sudden rise in complaints while the cause, scope and duration remained unclear.

Users reported problems accessing Fox News on Tuesday, with Downdetector recording a spike in complaints. The cause, scope and affected services remained unclear, and Fox News had not commented.

Apple has introduced HomeView, a $299 smart display with Face ID-style personalisation, Siri AI, FaceTime, music and smart-home controls. Pre-orders begin in six countries.

OnePlus has launched its OnePlus 16 flagship in China with a 165Hz display, 9,000mAh battery, upgraded cameras and a higher starting price than its predecessor.

Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar says some AI researchers smoke to signal their belief that the technology will cure cancer, but provided no names or evidence.

Astound Broadband customers reported internet disruptions Monday, particularly in Chicago's western suburbs, while outage trackers showed elevated complaints and the company had not confirmed the cause or scope.

Bill Gates says criminals using advanced AI without safeguards pose a more immediate risk than loss of human control, warning that governments are not prepared for cyberattacks and disruption.

Aiper's IrriSense N2 SE combines a controller, valve and sprinkler in one hose-connected unit, offering mapped watering, up to six zones and weather-aware scheduling for Australian gardens.

Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil HomeView, a Siri-powered smart home hub with a display, alongside updated Apple TV and HomePod mini devices this week.

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and xAI have backed calls for stronger AI safety measures while continuing product launches, leaving the question of who will lead in 2027 unresolved.

Microsoft has opened pre-orders for the $2,599 Surface Laptop Ultra, a high-end 15-inch Windows laptop powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark chip and aimed at creative professionals, developers and AI researchers.

Amazon is replacing its Fire tablets with three Alexa-branded Android devices featuring Google Play, premium hardware and prices ranging from $229.99 to $550.

Google has launched SynthID Detector globally, allowing users to check images, videos and audio for invisible AI watermarks, while warning that unmarked content may still be AI-generated.

India has rejected Elon Musk's allegation that unnamed oligarchs are blocking Starlink, saying the service remains at the same security-review stage as two competing satellite operators.

OpenAI has published 722 manuscripts from an unreleased AI model, claiming advances on hundreds of mathematical problems that experts say require extensive independent verification.

Google will restructure Gemini access on 9 October, moving free users to Flash Lite and removing Pro from AI Plus while reserving its strongest models for higher-priced plans.

The Australian Government has begun consultations on mandatory AI infrastructure standards covering data centre power use, water efficiency, grid impacts and frontier model safety.

Fraudsters are impersonating Australian companies and recruiters on LinkedIn and other platforms, using fake interviews and job offers to obtain personal data or upfront payments from applicants.

The SEHMUA four-camera kit offers solar power, 2K video, 360-degree coverage and local storage without a subscription, but buyers should consider brand support, Wi-Fi and placement limits.

Nvidia has increased the Shield TV Pro's price to $299.99, citing higher memory and component costs, despite the seven-year-old streaming box receiving no hardware refresh.

AT&T has warned some iPhone 18 Pro Max customers that calls, texts, data and 911 access may fail, while users say Apple's recommended update has not fixed the issue.

Bill Gates has called for government oversight of artificial intelligence, warning that advances in cybersecurity and biological applications have created risks too serious to leave to voluntary industry safeguards.

Apple has confirmed that the inner display cover on its upcoming iPhone Duo foldable can be replaced, costing US customers with AppleCare+ $19, though standard pricing remains unclear.

Apple is reportedly developing an AI-powered home security camera that would analyse activity and send text descriptions instead of recording video, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Elon Musk's latest claim that Instagram is "for girls" has reignited debate, but global audience data shows men slightly outnumber women on the platform.

Early reviews give Vivo's X Fold 6 strong marks for its 7,000mAh battery, capable cameras and bright displays, but highlight its heavier build, visible crease and thermal limits.

Chess.com users reported problems launching games and maintaining connections on Wednesday, according to Downdetector, although the scale and cause of the disruption remained unclear.