Category: Technologies

Meta’s next big AI model may not be arriving as quickly as the company originally hoped. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Meta has repeatedly delayed the release of its upcoming flagship AI model, internally known as “Muse Spark,” raising fresh questions about the company’s AI ambitions and readiness.

The delays reportedly stem from concerns around performance, reliability, and internal disagreements over whether the model is competitive enough against rapidly advancing rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.

That matters because Meta has spent the last two years aggressively positioning itself as one of the biggest challengers in the generative AI race. The company has integrated AI assistants across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and even hardware products like Ray-Ban smart glasses. But despite the aggressive rollout strategy, the next major leap in Meta’s AI ecosystem now appears to be slipping further behind schedule.

Meta’s AI ambitions are running into reality

According to the report, Meta originally intended Muse Spark to become a more advanced multimodal AI system capable of handling text, images, reasoning, and app-level interactions at a much higher level than current Meta AI offerings.

The company reportedly planned to release the model to developers so third-party apps and services could build AI-powered tools around it. However, engineers and executives inside Meta are said to be increasingly concerned that the model still falls short of competitors in key areas, including reasoning quality and overall performance consistency.

The delays highlight just how brutally competitive the AI race has become. Companies are no longer simply trying to build functional chatbots. They are competing to create AI systems capable of replacing search engines, powering operating systems, automating workflows, and eventually becoming full digital assistants.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly emphasized AI as one of the company’s biggest long-term priorities. The company is reportedly spending tens of billions of dollars on AI infrastructure, chips, and data centers to support future models.

Yet despite that spending, Meta still faces pressure from rivals moving extremely quickly. OpenAI continues expanding ChatGPT’s ecosystem, Google is deeply integrating Gemini into Android and Workspace, while companies like Anthropic are increasingly attracting enterprise customers.

Why this delay matters

For everyday users, the delay means the more advanced AI experiences Meta hinted at may take longer to appear across apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. That is important because Meta’s ecosystem gives it something few competitors have: billions of active users already using its platforms daily. A successful AI rollout inside Meta apps could dramatically reshape how people search, message, create content, shop, and interact online.

At the same time, the delays reveal a broader reality about the AI industry right now. Building large AI models is one thing. Shipping reliable, scalable, consumer-ready AI products is something entirely different.

What happens next

Meta has not officially confirmed a release timeline for Muse Spark, and the company may continue refining the model before exposing it to external developers. The bigger risk for Meta is timing. AI competition is moving at an unusually aggressive pace, and every delay gives rivals more time to strengthen their ecosystems and user habits.

For now, Meta’s AI ambitions remain massive. But if the reports are accurate, the company is learning the same lesson facing much of the tech industry right now: in AI, hype moves faster than products.

Online learning platform Coursera is taking a page straight out of TikTok’s playbook. The company has launched a new AI-powered feed designed to serve short-form educational content in a scrollable, personalized format, signaling a major shift in how digital learning platforms may try to keep users engaged.

The feature introduces bite-sized video lessons, clips, and explainers curated through artificial intelligence based on a user’s interests, learning habits, career goals, and previous course activity. Instead of committing to hour-long lectures or full certification programs upfront, users can now discover short educational snippets designed to make learning feel more casual, accessible, and addictive.

And honestly, that may be exactly where online education is heading.

Coursera is turning education into a personalized content feed

The new feature works similarly to recommendation-driven social media platforms. Users scroll through a feed of short educational videos and AI-curated learning moments covering topics ranging from coding and business to AI, productivity, data science, and personal development.

Coursera says the AI system continuously adapts recommendations based on engagement and learning behavior, attempting to surface content that users are more likely to finish or explore further. The company hopes the shorter format lowers the barrier for people who feel intimidated by full-length courses or lengthy certification programs.

The strategy also reflects a larger shift happening across the internet. Younger audiences increasingly consume information through short-form video content rather than traditional long-form education models. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels have already changed how people discover everything from cooking tips to financial advice.

Now educational platforms want to capture that same engagement style. Coursera says the short-form feed is not meant to replace full courses entirely. Instead, it acts more like an entry point into deeper learning experiences, helping users discover subjects they may eventually want to study in more detail.

The company is also betting heavily on AI personalization. Rather than offering the same homepage to everyone, the feed evolves based on individual goals and viewing habits.

Why this shift matters

Online learning platforms exploded during the pandemic, but many companies have struggled with retention and course completion rates afterward. A large percentage of users start courses but never finish them.

Short-form educational content may help solve part of that problem by making learning feel less overwhelming and easier to fit into daily routines.

At the same time, the move raises important questions about whether education itself is becoming increasingly optimized for attention spans shaped by social media. While short-form content can improve accessibility and discovery, critics argue it may also oversimplify complex subjects that require deeper study and concentration.

Still, Coursera’s move reflects a much broader industry trend: AI is increasingly being used not just to create content, but to shape how people consume information altogether.

The bigger question now is whether AI-powered educational feeds can genuinely improve learning outcomes – or simply turn education into another endless scrolling experience competing for user attention.

Open-ear earbuds have always made sense on paper. They let music in while leaving room for traffic, office chatter, and the rest of the world. The harder sell has been whether that awareness is worth giving up bass, isolation, or a fit that feels locked in.

Shokz OpenDots 2 is built around that problem. The company’s new clip-on earbuds bring bigger audio claims, lighter hardware, stronger battery numbers, and controls designed for the sweaty, awkward moments where touch panels often fail.

Why the sound holds up

OpenDots 2 uses Shokz Bassphere 2.0 with dual 11.8mm drivers, which Shokz says can deliver output closer to a larger 16mm speaker. The redesigned diaphragm is rated for 70% less distortion, and upgraded Dolby Audio is there to add depth while keeping vocals and the open soundstage intact.

The real test is volume discipline. On a train, sidewalk, or shared office floor, open-ear earbuds need enough punch that you’re not cranking them and leaking sound to everyone nearby. Shokz’s DirectPitch technology aims audio toward the ear, while Private Mode in the app gives listeners a quieter option in close quarters.

Can the fit disappear

Comfort is the daily hurdle. Each OpenDots 2 earbud weighs 6.4 grams, and Shokz uses a flexible nickel-titanium JointArc wrapped in soft silicone so the clip can adapt to different ear shapes without pressing into the ear canal.

That design gives the earbuds a wider lane than fitness gear. They’re positioned for commutes, calls, workouts, and longer sessions, with an IP57 dust and water rating on the earbuds and an IP54 rating on the case. Compared with OpenDots One, the case protection is a clear upgrade, since that earlier case wasn’t rated as waterproof.

Which annoyances get fixed first

The smaller changes may do the most daily work. OpenDots 2 has interchangeable left and right earbuds, so you won’t need to check labels before putting them on. The earbuds detect placement and adjust stereo channels automatically.

Shokz has also moved from traditional touch controls to a force sensor, which should cut down on accidental inputs from hair, sweat, or fit adjustments. Battery life is rated at up to 40 hours with the charging case, and a five-minute charge adds up to two hours of playback.

Calls get dual air-conduction microphones plus a bone-conduction microphone per earbud to help separate speech from background noise. Bluetooth 6.1, multipoint pairing, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, Qi wireless charging, and Find My Earbuds round out the practical upgrades.

The missing piece is value. Shokz hasn’t provided price, launch regions, or retail timing in the supplied details, so OpenDots 2 can’t be judged fully yet. For now, it’s a strong sign that open-ear earbuds are becoming more credible for daily use.

It seems that every other fitness product wants to be your next health coach. It started with fitness products like Whoop, Oura ring, and UltraHuman. Recently, Google joined the bandwagon with its latest Fitbit Air, and now it seems Samsung is also joining the party. 

The South Korean tech giant is rolling out a major Samsung Health update on June 8 that will debut alongside its next Galaxy Watch. The update is designed to turn the watch into a proactive health companion, one that actively interprets your biometric data and tells you what to do with it.

What’s actually new in this update?

The biggest addition is the Vitals feature. Every morning, it analyses five overnight bio-signals, including heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen levels, and compares them to your personal baseline. You get a notification when something is meaningfully off, so it won’t buzz you every time your heart rate blinks the wrong way.

Samsung is also replacing its existing Vascular Load feature with a new Heart Health Score, which combines sleep, stress, activity, and body composition data into a single daily metric. The idea is to give you one clear number that reflects your long-term heart health, instead of making you piece it together yourself.

For those who exercise, Daily Cardio Load will track your accumulated cardiovascular strain and recommend how hard to push and when to rest. The Fitness Index builds on this by measuring your VO2 max and daily steps against your peers, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and tailoring your fitness goals accordingly.

What else is new?

Samsung Health’s home screen is also getting a cleaner layout built around five categories: Sleep, Activity, Nutrition, Mindfulness, and Vitals. Your daily wellness tips and Energy Score now sit front and center.

The update also adds Hearing Health monitoring, which tracks ambient noise levels throughout your day and gives you personalized analytics to help protect your hearing.

Samsung says all of these features will be fully realized with its next generation of Galaxy Watches, which will be announced soon.

Think twice before you type a long, detailed request to ChatGPT or Gemini. Every character you enter consumes energy—much more than you might expect.

A recent study from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health highlights a startling picture of AI’s carbon footprint. The figures are eye‑opening and should make you reconsider the next time you fire off a request to your favorite chatbot.

The report notes that ChatGPT alone handles roughly 2.5 billion prompts each day. At a modest 0.42 Wh per prompt, that translates to about 383 GWh of electricity annually—enough to power almost 3 million people in Sub‑Saharan Africa.

Does prompt length matter?

Yes. The study finds that longer prompts directly increase the energy usage of AI chatbots. It points to a “concise mode” concept, where shorter inputs consume less power because inference energy scales with the number of tokens processed.

If concise mode trimmed tokens by just 30 % in everyday chats, cutting per‑query energy by roughly 25 %, we could save between 87 and 98 GWh each year. That is comparable to the yearly residential electricity consumption of up to 756 000 households.

Task type matters even more

The same principle applies to the kind of AI work you request. A typical text query to ChatGPT uses about 200 times more energy than a basic spam‑filtering operation. Generating a single AI image consumes 2.9 Wh—about 60 times the energy of a short text answer. Video generation is even more demanding, with complex clips requiring over 415 Wh each.

It’s hard to swallow that AI‑generated videos, which already flood our streaming platforms, also drain such huge amounts of electricity.

What can you do?

You don’t have to abandon AI if it helps with daily tasks or work. However, avoid using it for frivolous memes or low‑value content.

Next time you ask ChatGPT a simple question, keep it brief—skip the pleasantries, get straight to the point, and opt for a lighter model when the job doesn’t need heavy computation. Small, collective habits can lead to a surprisingly large impact.

Forbes Türkiye has published an article examining the launch of Verum Finance and its approach to integrating financial services directly into a messaging ecosystem.

In the article, Forbes Türkiye notes that the fintech industry is undergoing a transformation as financial services increasingly move beyond traditional banking applications and become part of broader digital ecosystems. Verum Finance is presented as an example of this trend, combining payments, digital cards, money transfers, and balance management within a single environment connected to Verum Messenger. 

According to the publication, Verum Finance follows a model similar to the “super app” concept that has gained significant traction in Asian markets, where communication and financial services operate together on one platform. Unlike many Western platforms that continue to separate messaging and banking services, Verum Finance is integrated directly into the Verum ecosystem, allowing users to manage financial activities without relying on multiple third-party applications.

The article highlights several core features of the platform, including virtual debit cards, user-to-user transfers, online payments, digital asset operations, Apple Pay integration, and in-app balance management.

Forbes Türkiye also points to the growing importance of embedded finance and changing user expectations. The publication suggests that lengthy account-opening procedures, physical card delivery times, and constant switching between applications are becoming increasingly outdated in a mobile-first world.

Another major focus of the article is privacy and security. Forbes Türkiye describes Verum Finance as part of a broader trend toward “privacy-driven fintech,” where financial services are built on privacy-oriented infrastructure. The publication notes that the platform incorporates features such as phone-number-free registration, end-to-end encryption, user-controlled access management, and privacy-focused tools designed to enhance data protection.

The article concludes that one of the key challenges for companies operating at the intersection of secure communications, digital payments, and embedded finance will be maintaining both usability and security within a single integrated ecosystem.

The coverage by Forbes Türkiye reflects growing media interest in platforms that combine communication and financial services, as the industry continues moving toward more unified digital experiences.

Website: https://finance.verum.im 
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/verum-finance/id6774245148  
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im 

MSI unveiled its newest handheld gaming device at Computex 2026, marking a significant leap for portable PC gaming. Named the Claw 8 EX AI+, the unit is equipped with Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme processor, making it the inaugural handheld to run Intel’s platform built specifically for handheld use.

According to MSI, the chip offers a substantial graphics performance boost while preserving the power efficiency required for extended play sessions. If these claims hold up, the device could become the standout handheld console, especially in light of the Steam Deck’s recent near‑50% price increase.

**What sets the Claw 8 EX AI+ apart?**

The centerpiece is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor, Intel’s first gaming platform tailored for handhelds, designed to provide higher performance without compromising battery life. The Claw 8 EX AI+ also supports Intel’s latest gaming tech, such as XeSS 3 with multi‑frame generation, which leverages AI to raise frame rates and smooth out gameplay in demanding titles.

MSI has added an Xbox Mode that offers a console‑style experience through a controller‑optimized UI and streamlined game launching and switching. The Quick Settings menu has been revamped, letting users adjust performance and frame‑generation options on the fly without exiting a game.

**Other new features**

Beyond software and chipset upgrades, the handheld itself sees several enhancements. It sports an 8‑inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and variable refresh rate support. The grips have been redesigned for greater comfort during long sessions, featuring Hall‑effect triggers and sticks that are more precise and durable, while the D‑pad has been refined for better responsiveness.

A new high‑end linear motor delivers richer haptic feedback, with MSI claiming faster response, more realistic feel, and improved power efficiency compared to previous solutions.

Pricing has not yet been disclosed, which may raise some concerns, but the Claw 8 EX AI+ appears poised to become one of the year’s most intriguing handheld launches.

Google Photos backups are becoming a bit less wasteful for users who rely on Takeout to keep a personal copy of their library. This change targets Photos users who don’t want their images stored only on Google, especially those maintaining a secondary archive on an external drive, NAS, or another cloud service. Google says the new Incremental Takeout for Photos will speed up recurring downloads and make them more efficient after the initial archive is completed.

The first export still contains all selected photos and albums, but subsequent runs will only include items that have been uploaded, backed up, created, or edited since the last successful backup. This is a handy fix for anyone fed up with repeatedly downloading the same massive archive, though the feature only appears if Photos is the sole product chosen in Takeout.

Why does the first backup include everything?

The initial run serves as the baseline and is not a shortcut around the largest download. Google confirms it includes all selected photos and albums, so long‑time Photos users should expect the first export to be the heavy lift.

The benefit arrives after that baseline is completed. Once Takeout has a successful backup to compare against, the next recurring export can skip unchanged files instead of repackaging the entire library. This should result in fewer duplicate downloads, less wasted drive space, and a backup process that feels less punishing over time.

Why is there a catch in the setup?

Incremental Takeout works only when Photos is the only product selected for export. Users who usually bundle photos with other Google data will need to create a separate recurring export just for the library. This limitation keeps the feature focused, but it also narrows who can reap the full advantage. While Takeout can make Photos backups less annoying, broader Google account archives still require their own setup, schedule, and storage planning.

What should local backup users do next?

The practical step is to set up a recurring Takeout export for Photos alone, treating the first download as the baseline archive. After that, each successful run should be smaller, leaving unchanged items behind.

Google has not announced a wider rollout date beyond the initial statement, and regional availability details are not provided. During setup, the key check is simple: the incremental option appears only when Photos is the sole selected product.

Sony is finally setting release dates for two PlayStation accessories that have been in the “coming soon” category since their debut last year. The company has confirmed that preorders for its FlexStrike wireless fight stick and its unusual 27‑inch gaming monitor with a built‑in DualSense charging hook will begin this June, with both products arriving later this summer.

For fighting game fans and desk‑bound PlayStation players, these are arguably two of Sony’s most interesting hardware experiments outside the PS5 itself.

**FlexStrike arrives just in time for fighting game season**

Sony’s first wireless fight stick, the FlexStrike, will officially launch on August 6. The accessory is set to arrive alongside the growing excitement around Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, giving competitive players a new premium controller option for PS5 and PC.

Unlike traditional arcade sticks that can be cumbersome to carry around, Sony is pitching FlexStrike as a tournament‑friendly device. It comes with a built‑in rechargeable battery and even includes a dedicated sling carry case, making it easier to haul between local meetups, esports events, or simply a friend’s house. Preorders open on June 12, with a $200 price tag that places it squarely in enthusiast territory. That’s not cheap, but fight stick players have historically shown a willingness to invest in specialized gear if it offers reliability and convenience.

**Sony thinks your gaming setup has moved beyond the living room**

The second accessory may be even more intriguing. Sony’s new 27‑inch gaming monitor is clearly aimed at players who have shifted from couch gaming to dedicated desk setups. The display features a 1440p IPS panel with variable refresh rate support and can hit 120Hz when paired with a PS5 or PS5 Pro. Connect it to a capable PC or Mac, however, and the refresh rate jumps to 240Hz.

What makes the monitor stand out isn’t necessarily its specs, though. It’s the small built‑in charging hook designed specifically for a DualSense controller. Sony will open preorders for the monitor on June 5 through PlayStation Direct and Best Buy in the U.S., with a retail price of $350. The display is scheduled to launch on August 27 in the U.S. and Japan.

Both products signal Sony’s growing interest in gaming beyond the traditional console‑and‑TV setup. Whether you’re grinding ranked matches in a fighting game or building out a dedicated PlayStation desk station, Sony clearly wants a piece of that ecosystem too.

Apple’s MacBook Pro has had a comfortable run as the default laptop for creative professionals. Video editors, photographers, 3D artists, and developers all converged on the device, both because of the performance and the exceptional connectivity and continuity with iPhones. 

Dell thinks it has finally built something that changes that calculus. Announced at Computex 2026, the XPS 16 Creator Edition is Dell’s first laptop built around Nvidia’s new RTX Spark superchip.

This is the NVIDIA RTX Spark Superchip. A new beginning for personal computers.

Designed for creators, AI developers, and gamers, RTX Spark brings over 30 years of NVIDIA innovation to slim Windows laptops and small, ultra-efficient desktop PCs. pic.twitter.com/RmcamHTS4z

— NVIDIA RTX Spark (@NVIDIARTXSpark) June 1, 2026

What does the XPS 16 Creator Edition actually offer?

The RTX Spark architecture at its core combines a high-performance Nvidia GPU with an efficient CPU. It also supports up to 128GB of unified memory, the same approach that made Apple silicon so effective for creative workflows. 

For video editors specifically, Dell says this translates to smoother playback on 4:2:2 4K timelines, along with faster export times. For 3D artists, they should experience improved responsiveness when working across complex, multi-layered scenes. Developers working with AI-assisted tools get reduced reliance on cloud processing.

The XPS 16 Creator Edition comes with a tandem OLED panel with True Black HDR 600 certification, the same underlying technology that has made recent OLED laptops genuinely useful for outdoor usage and color-accurate professional work.

Excited for @NVIDIARTXSpark, reinventing Windows PCs for the era of personal agents.

Designed for creating and gaming, RTX Spark brings together 30 years of NVIDIA innovation to slim Windows laptops and compact desktops.

Learn more: https://t.co/p55dTpFqeX pic.twitter.com/RK6UIP5Pdv

— Windows (@Windows) June 1, 2026

Does it finally fix the port problem?

Yes, and this deserves more credit than you’d think. The XPS 16 Creator Edition ships with a built-in SD card reader and an HDMI port, two ports that photographers and videographers have long had to add via dongles on competing premium laptops. Clearly, Dell isn’t being subtle about who it’s targeting. 

Pricing and a launch date have not been confirmed, but even so, most RTX Spark laptops are expected to arrive in fall 2026.

Dell’s previous attempts at the creative professional market were hamstrung by the same problem every Windows laptop maker faced: Apple’s unified memory architecture. RTX Spark’s unified memory approach removes that structural disadvantage for good.