QtrendsApple is set to launch five new iPhone models including a foldable this fall to boost market share amid supply constraints. ByteDance discovered a new scaling law that could sustain the AI boom, while Chinese AI chip startups pursue 3D stacking to bypass US export controls. Sony will stop manufacturing disc-based PlayStation games by 2028, marking the end of physical game media on the platform. Alibaba has banned employees from using Anthropic's Claude Code over spyware concerns, escalating tensions in AI tool access. Skepticism grows around AI capabilities as multiple outlets question whether current AI systems are genuinely intelligent or eroding human skills.
Apple is reportedly preparing to launch five new iPhone models this fall as part of an aggressive strategy to capture market share amid a global memory chip shortage. Among these is the company's first foldable iPhone, though supply constraints are expected to make it difficult to obtain at launch. A buried iPhone feature also makes the device an ideal 'dumb phone' for children by limiting functionality.
ByteDance and Alibaba are disabling customized AI agent features ahead of Beijing's new regulations on humanlike AI interaction taking effect July 15. ByteDance has also discovered a new scaling law analyzing how AI agents improve through real-world tasks, potentially sustaining the AI boom. Separately, a Chinese AI chip startup is pursuing 3D stacking technology to circumvent US semiconductor export controls.
Sony has announced it will stop manufacturing disc-based PlayStation games starting in 2028, marking a major shift toward all-digital game distribution. The company clarified that physical discs will still be available for games released before that date. The decision signals the end of an era for physical game media on PlayStation platforms.
Multiple major publications are questioning the real capabilities of artificial intelligence systems. BBC reports that AI is 'not smart' and asks what comes next, while MIT Technology Review argues AI agents should not be considered 'coworkers.' Scientific American presents early evidence that reliance on AI may be eroding human skills rather than augmenting them.
Alibaba has prohibited its employees from using Anthropic's Claude Code after discovering hidden code that tracked Chinese users, classifying the tool as 'high-risk' software. The ban highlights growing tensions between Chinese tech giants and Western AI companies over data security concerns. TechCrunch, China Daily, and SCMP have all reported on the decision.