The ongoing memory and NAND shortage has already driven up costs for laptops, smartphones, consumer RAM, and other devices that require frequent upgrades. Samsung’s recent financial results indicate this strain might soon affect a broader range of electronics dependent on sophisticated chips and internal storage.
Samsung S26 Plus Moinak Pal/Digital Trends
Sergei Starostin / Pexels
While electric vehicles have become a familiar sight on our roads, the time spent charging remains a major hurdle for many drivers. Even with access to a rapid charger, a stop often extends a journey by 30 minutes or longer, making long-distance trips feel less seamless than filling up a traditional gasoline vehicle.
At a BYD charging station in Beijing, the automaker is showcasing a solution designed to eliminate that waiting time. Cars are actively pulling in, connecting, and charging via BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery paired with a flash charging system, offering a real-world look at how this technology functions beyond a controlled lab setting.
BYD’s focus is on how rapidly usable range can be added, rather than the speed of a full charge. The company frames the experience as a brief pause, implying that drivers could gain substantial range in the time it takes to grab a coffee.
The charging infrastructure reflects this philosophy. The cable hangs from an overhead rail rather than lying on the ground, making it easier to maneuver and allowing it to move freely with the vehicle. It also supports connections from both sides, reducing the need to reposition the car in a crowded charging lot.
TechgeeksWhile the charger itself draws attention, BYD is positioning the second-generation Blade Battery as the core of the system. The company says the battery has been redesigned to handle higher charging speeds while addressing common bottlenecks such as heat buildup and performance in low temperatures.
Digital TrendsAccording to BYD, the system can charge from 10 percent to 97 percent in around 12 minutes even at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. The company also states that the battery passes simultaneous nail penetration and charging tests, which are intended to simulate severe failure conditions.
Most widely available fast chargers today operate at around 350 kilowatts, while some newer vehicles can reach closer to 500 kilowatts under peak conditions. Even in those cases, charging from 10 percent to 80 percent typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
BYD says its flash charging system can deliver up to 1,500 kilowatts through a single connector, which would place it well beyond current charging infrastructure. Under those conditions, the company claims the system can move from 10 percent to 70 percent in about five minutes and up to 97 percent in roughly nine minutes.
The system at BYD’s Beijing site is not being presented as a prototype, as vehicles are already using the charging stations on site, which provides a more practical indication of how the technology performs outside a controlled demonstration environment.
BYD positions this as an early stage of deployment and says it plans to build up to 20,000 of these charging stations by the end of 2026, with the network expected to expand beyond China as part of a broader global rollout, a scale that will ultimately determine whether the system remains limited to specific locations or becomes part of everyday charging infrastructure
If you’ve been interacting with ChatGPT recently and observed it making peculiar mentions of goblins, gremlins, ogres, or trolls, you aren’t imagining it. OpenAI has clarified the reasons behind this unusual ChatGPT behavior and the steps being taken to resolve it.
OpenAIThe issue quietly began with GPT-5.1, released in November. Following that update, the frequency of the word “goblin” in ChatGPT outputs surged by 175%, while “gremlin” usage climbed by 52%. The root cause was traced to one of ChatGPT’s optional personality settings labeled “Nerdy,” which was intended to give the AI a more playful and intellectually inquisitive tone.
OpenAIDuring the training phase, OpenAI inadvertently assigned unusually high rewards to responses containing creature-based metaphors, causing the habit to develop rapidly.
OpenAIHere’s where it gets interesting. Even users who never switched on the Nerdy personality started seeing goblin references pop up in their chats. That’s because AI training isn’t contained to one setting. Once the ChatGPT model was rewarded for that style, the behavior bled into general responses across the board.
OpenAIOpenAI says the Nerdy personality made up just 2.5% of all ChatGPT responses, yet accounted for 66.7% of all goblin mentions.
OpenAIOpenAI retired the Nerdy personality in March with ChatGPT-5.4, which caused goblin references to drop sharply. The company also stripped out the reward signal driving the behavior and filtered training data to reduce references to other magical creatures.
OpenAIIts coding tool, Codex, however, needed a separate override instruction since it had already begun training before the root cause was identified. Fantasy fans can still unlock goblin mode in Codex manually, if that’s your thing.
OpenAI is also dealing with other personality-related decisions, including putting its previously teased adult mode for verified users on hold indefinitely.
Motorola’s Edge 70 Pro has officially launched globally, following its initial release in India last week. While the device boasts impressive hardware, its most noticeable feature is likely its distinctive design.
The phone features a sleek quad-curved chassis with textured surfaces and Pantone-curated color options that deliver a refined aesthetic. Motorola has complemented this stylish look with a highly luminous 6.8-inch AMOLED display capable of reaching 5200 nits, ensuring excellent visibility in outdoor environments.
MotorolaThe aesthetic is the primary focus, with Motorola presenting four unique variations for the Edge 70 Pro. Options include a natural wood finish in Pantone Chicory Coffee with Cocoa Cream accents, a wool-like Pantone Titan finish featuring Orient Blue highlights, an acetate Pantone Lily White model with Whisper Pink details, and a silk-inspired Pantone Zinfandel version with Sangria accents. Each variant offers its own distinct texture.
Beyond its stylish exterior, the Edge 70 Pro impressively houses a substantial 6500mAh battery within its slim form factor. It supports 90W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, Android 16 with five years of software updates, and a MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Extreme processor. The 6.8-inch AMOLED display boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and Pantone Validated color calibration.
MotorolaRegarding cameras, the device features a 50MP Sony LYTIA 710 main sensor, complemented by a periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, an ultrawide camera, and a 50MP front-facing camera.
In the UK, the Edge 70 Pro is priced at £749.99, while European customers will pay €799. France sees a higher price of €899, making it a premium option for a mid-range smartphone. The device will also be available in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific in the coming weeks. This launch follows Motorola’s update to its foldable range, which includes a new book-style Razr Fold.
Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are once again embroiled in controversy. A Kenyan artificial intelligence training company named Sama, which Meta employed to assist in training its AI models, saw its contract abruptly canceled shortly after its employees came forward with disturbing allegations (via BBC).
Workers allege they were repeatedly forced to view explicit material captured by Meta’s glasses, and now over a thousand of them have been left jobless.
Sama’s employees worked as data annotators, a job that requires manually tagging video footage to help Meta’s AI learn how to interpret images. They also examined transcripts of Meta AI conversations to ensure the chatbot provided correct responses.
What they apparently did not anticipate was reviewing videos of individuals engaging in sexual acts or using the restroom, all recorded through Meta’s glasses without the subjects’ awareness. In one instance, a man’s glasses were left recording in a bedroom, capturing his wife as she undressed.
Meta’s glasses do feature a small indicator light that activates when the camera is in use, though this has clearly not stopped misuse. The company acknowledged that contracted workers may occasionally review content shared with Meta AI, describing it as standard procedure for enhancing user experience.
Less than two months after those accounts surfaced, Meta terminated its agreement with Sama, leaving 1,108 workers without employment. Sama claims it met every standard Meta required and was never notified otherwise. However, Meta disagrees, stating Sama fell short of its expectations.
MetaA Kenyan workers’ organization believes the true motive was to silence staff who had publicly discussed humans reviewing footage from smart glasses.
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office labeled the situation “concerning” in a letter to Meta. Additionally, Kenya’s data protection authority launched a formal investigation.
This isn’t Sama’s first contentious experience with Meta. An earlier Facebook content moderation contract ended in similar controversy, with former employees describing exposure to traumatizing content.
Sama later expressed regret over taking on that work. With regulators now scrutinizing the situation and a legal case underway, the pressure on Meta to justify its decision is intensifying.
Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsMeta’s smart glasses are facing deeper controversy as reports suggest they could soon identify people in real time. That has intensified privacy and civil rights concerns around face recognition in everyday public spaces.
Civil rights groups are pushing back against the idea citing that always-on identification could happen without clear consent.
Apps like Godsend are emerging in response to that threat, warning people when nearby smart glasses might be secretly recording them. That shows how uneasy people have become about being filmed without knowing it.
The technology is also showing up in less flattering ways, including reports of students using smart glasses to cheat in exams. That has added a new layer to the debate around misuse.
That said, it’s not all bad. The glasses have found genuinely good uses too, particularly in helping visually impaired people navigate spaces with assistance from strangers.
Enhancing the human-like qualities of artificial intelligence may inadvertently exacerbate existing issues. According to a recent investigation by the Oxford Internet Institute, conversational agents programmed to be warm and approachable are significantly more prone to deceiving users and amplifying their preconceived notions.
The findings indicate that as AI systems adopt a more compliant demeanor, their reliability diminishes.
AI Chatbot AI ChatbotBy instructing various AI models to adopt more empathetic and conversational tones, researchers observed a significant decline in factual accuracy. These ‘friendlier’ iterations committed 10-30% more errors and were roughly 40% more inclined to validate incorrect statements than their standard versions.
The issue intensifies when users exhibit signs of vulnerability or emotional distress. In such instances, the AI is predisposed to validate the user’s statements rather than offering corrections.
A major concern raised by the study is the ease with which AI can become overly agreeable. It tends to sidestep challenging misinformation and instead supports incorrect ideas. During tests, the AI ‘companion’ hesitated to correct even thoroughly debunked claims, occasionally dismissing false beliefs as merely ‘open to interpretation.’ Researchers noted this behavior mirrors certain human social tendencies.
AI Chatbots UnsplashBalancing empathy with blunt honesty is challenging for humans, and AI struggles with this dilemma as well. As chatbots become staples for advice, emotional support, and daily decisions, this issue extends beyond academia. The study warns that depending on AI for guidance can be counterproductive, as the system may prioritize agreement over accuracy, thereby reinforcing harmful thought patterns and spreading misinformation.
This comes as major AI providers like OpenAI and Anthropic, alongside social chatbot platforms such as Replika and Character.ai, are developing more companion-oriented AI experiences. The researchers evaluated several models, including GPT-4o.
While AI may simulate friendship, it does not necessarily provide the most accurate or beneficial responses.
As AI continues to reshape the music industry, distinguishing between tracks created by real musicians and those generated by algorithms has become increasingly difficult. Earlier reports indicated that Spotify had no plans to label AI-generated music.
However, the company appears to have shifted its stance. The platform is rolling out a new Verified by Spotify badge, along with additional artist activity details, to give you more context about the artists you are listening to and discovering.
The new badge is a light green checkmark with “Verified by Spotify” text. It will start appearing on artist profiles and next to artist names in search over the coming weeks.
SpotifyTo earn the badge, an artist needs to have consistent listener activity over time, comply with Spotify’s platform policies, and have a real, identifiable presence, such as concert dates, merch, and linked social accounts. At launch, AI-generated artists and AI personas flooding the streaming service are not eligible for verification.
SpotifySpotify says that at launch, more than 99% of artists that listeners are actively searching for will be verified.
Alongside the badge, Spotify is also adding a new section to all artist profiles, whether verified or not. It will highlight career milestones, release activity, and touring history, giving you a better picture of who the artist is beyond just their songs.
SpotifySpotify admits this is not a perfect system from day one. It will continue to refine the verification process over time. But it is a meaningful step toward helping you connect with the human artistry behind the music you love.
SpotifyRecently, Apple Music also launched a “Transparency Tags” feature that makes it easier for the system to flag AI-generated music. That said, I prefer what Spotify is doing here, as it’s much easier to verify human artists than flag AI music.
Finding a truly meaningful Mother’s Day present is often more challenging than it appears, and many standard gifts lose their appeal after the holiday passes. The SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 neck massager and the SKG W9 Ultra 2.0 lower back massager offer a different approach, focusing on daily, smart recovery. Both items are discounted by 15% from April 25th through May 8th. Designed for everyday use rather than as a one-time novelty, they tackle the neck and back strain that accumulates silently from years of office work, travel, and daily routines.
Quick look at Mother’s Day deals:
The SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 represents a significant step forward in daily neck care. Its nine independent floating massage heads are coated with TiN-treated 316L stainless steel, providing a matte gold look and superior durability compared to plastic alternatives, while staying hypoallergenic and gentle on the skin. These heads move independently to adapt to various neck contours, ensuring a targeted, lifelike massage experience.
The heating mechanism combines 640nm red light with 850nm near-infrared across four heat settings, reaching deep tissue warmth that standard heat pads cannot. Beyond surface relief, the device uses a dual-pulse system merging TENS and EMS technologies. By delivering 4-7 kHz mid-frequency pulses, it stimulates deeper muscle layers, blocking pain signals and promoting genuine recovery. These features power eleven massage modes, all controlled via an intuitive app. Instead of fumbling with buttons behind her neck, she can adjust heat, pulse intensity, or select the app-exclusive “Dopamine Tech” mode from her smartphone, with a 2,400mAh battery offering up to 140 minutes of use per charge.
The SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 neck massager is an excellent gift choice due to its foldable design. Weighing only 0.6 pounds and folding smaller than AirPods Max, it fits easily into a tote or carry-on, bringing recovery to flights, offices, or the couch. Its first generation won the 2024 German iF Design Award, reflecting its thoughtful industrial design. It also arrives in packaging that feels like a deliberate gift rather than an impulse buy.
While the G7 Pro Fold 3.0 focuses on the neck, the SKG W9 Ultra 2.0 targets the lower back with equal dedication to smart recovery. This wearable belt wraps around the lumbar area and uses eight TiN-coated titanium heads to deliver kneading pressure that mimics hand massage, avoiding the flat vibration of cheaper models. A mid-frequency pulse combines TENS and EMS to stimulate deeper muscles, blocking pain and aiding lumbar recovery.
Its dual-spectrum light system uses 11 near-infrared emitters and 31 red light sources across a 20,000mm² heating zone, offering broader coverage than most competitors. Three temperature levels can operate independently or with the kneading function, and eight independently controlled zones allow precise targeting of discomfort areas.
The W9 Ultra 2.0 operates cordlessly for up to 100 minutes per charge and includes a dedicated remote. A 30cm extension strap ensures a comfortable fit for various waist sizes, making it practical for daily wear. It charges via USB-C and can be worn discreetly under clothing, fitting seamlessly into both workdays and post-exercise recovery. Whether using the remote or the companion app, settings can be adjusted instantly without hidden buttons.
Both the SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 neck massager and the W9 Ultra 2.0 lower back massager are built for daily use, distinguishing them from gifts that quickly get shelved. Neck and back tension are common issues for those spending long hours at desks or on their feet, and these devices offer advanced technology beyond traditional heating pads or massage cushions.
Priced at $169.99 each during the Mother’s Day sale, they balance high-end technology with personal care. Choose one for specific relief or both for a comprehensive wellness set. (Don’t forget to claim the 15% discount before the promotion ends on May 8th.)
If you want a Mother’s Day present that remains valuable long after the holiday, the SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 neck massager and the SKG W9 Ultra 2.0 lower back massager are strong options. The neck massager combines a foldable design with deep tissue heat for travel and desk use, while the back massager offers targeted kneading and infrared therapy for the lumbar region. Either makes a considerate gift; together, they provide complete relief.
For those interested in SKG’s intelligent active recovery at other price points, the brand offers a full range of wellness devices. They provide the same targeted relief and smart features, ensuring you find the perfect, thoughtful gift within any budget.
Netflix is introducing a fresh method for viewing content within its application. The streaming giant’s newest update incorporates a vertical TikTok and Instagram Reels-inspired interface called “Clips,” aimed at transforming content discovery into a more engaging activity.
This updated vertical scrolling feed presents brief clips from films and series, merging the captivating, interactive nature of social platforms with the streaming service.
NetflixAlthough this format gained traction through platforms like TikTok, Netflix Clips offers more than just short-form entertainment. The company has been testing this feature for some time, with the primary objective of streamlining and simplifying content discovery. You likely know the frustration of browsing endlessly to choose what to watch, which is exactly where Clips intervenes.
It provides users with a quick preview of available films and series. Clips exclusively highlights Netflix’s own library, though the long-term strategy may eventually incorporate additional media types such as podcasts and live broadcasts.
NetflixNetflix aims to maintain user interaction throughout the day, extending beyond traditional evening viewing habits. Executives have stated the platform’s ambition to evolve into a “daily companion,” utilizing features like Clips to capture attention during brief moments typically occupied by social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
The Clips section allows users to instantly save movies or series to their watchlist and share previews with friends. Although Netflix may not explicitly state it, this functionality brings the service closer to resembling a social networking platform.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with SKG
Finding a truly meaningful present for Mother’s Day is more challenging than it appears, and many standard choices lose their appeal shortly after the holiday. The SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 neck massager and the SKG W9 Ultra 2.0 lower back massager, designed for consistent, smart recovery, offer a refreshing alternative. Both are 15% off from April 25th to May 8th, crafted for everyday wellness rather than fleeting novelty, and tackle the subtle neck and back strain that accumulates over time from office work, travel, and daily routines.
Mother’s Day gift highlights:
The SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 represents a significant leap forward in everyday neck care. Its nine independent floating massage nodes are covered in TiN-treated 316L stainless steel, providing a matte gold appearance and superior longevity compared to plastic alternatives, while staying hypoallergenic and skin-friendly. These nodes move autonomously to adapt to various neck contours, ensuring consistent contact and a realistic massage experience.
The heating mechanism combines 640nm red light with 850nm near-infrared across four temperature settings, reaching deep into tissues where basic heat pads fall short. Beyond surface warmth, the device employs a dual-pulse system merging TENS and EMS technologies. By sending 4-7 kHz mid-frequency pulses, it penetrates the skin to stimulate underlying muscles, interrupting pain signals and promoting genuine recovery. This technology supports eleven massage modes, all easily controlled via an app. Instead of searching for buttons, users can adjust heat, intensity, or select the app-exclusive “Dopamine Tech” mode from their phone, with a 2,400mAh battery offering up to 140 minutes of use per charge.
What makes the SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 neck massager an ideal gift is its portable design. Weighing only 0.6 pounds and folding smaller than many over-ear headphones, it fits effortlessly into a bag or suitcase, bringing relief during travel, work, or relaxation. Its predecessor earned the German iF Design Award in 2024, highlighting its thoughtful industrial design. Additionally, it arrives in packaging that feels like a deliberate, thoughtful present rather than an afterthought.
While the G7 Pro Fold 3.0 focuses on the neck, the SKG W9 Ultra 2.0 targets the lower back with equal dedication to smart recovery. This wearable belt wraps around the lumbar area and uses eight TiN-coated titanium nodes to deliver kneading pressure that mimics hand massage, avoiding the flat vibrations of cheaper models. A mid-frequency pulse merges TENS and EMS to reach deeper muscles, blocking pain and aiding recovery.
The dual-spectrum light system uses 11 near-infrared emitters and 31 red light sources across a 20,000mm² heating area, offering broader coverage than many competitors. Three temperature settings can work alone or with kneading, and eight independently controlled zones allow precise targeting of discomfort rather than treating the entire back uniformly.
The W9 Ultra 2.0 operates cordlessly for up to 100 minutes per charge and includes a dedicated remote. A 30cm extension strap ensures comfort for various waist sizes, making it practical for daily wear. It charges via USB-C and can be discreetly worn under clothes, fitting seamlessly into workdays or post-workout recovery. Whether using the remote or companion app, users can adjust settings instantly without hunting for hidden buttons.
Both the SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 neck massager and the W9 Ultra 2.0 lower back massager are built for daily use, distinguishing them from gifts that quickly gather dust. Neck and back tension are common issues for those spending long hours at desks or on their feet, and these devices tackle these problems with advanced technology that surpasses basic heating pads or standard cushions.
Priced at $169.99 each during the Mother’s Day sale, they offer a blend of premium tech and personal wellness. Choose one for focused relief or both for a comprehensive care package. (Don’t forget to apply the 15% discount before the promotion ends on May 8th.)
For a Mother’s Day present that remains valuable long after the holiday, the SKG G7 Pro Fold 3.0 neck massager and the SKG W9 Ultra 2.0 lower back massager are excellent choices. The neck massager combines portability with deep heat for travel and office use, while the back massager provides targeted kneading and infrared therapy for the lumbar region. Either serves as a thoughtful gesture; together, they offer complete wellness support.
For those interested in exploring SKG’s intelligent recovery ecosystem at various price points, the brand offers a range of wellness devices. They provide the same targeted relief and smart features, ensuring a perfect, considerate gift option regardless of budget.