Mateusz Brzeziński

China approved its first Level-3 autonomous vehicle models on Dec. 15, excluding Tesla while listing domestic brands like Changan and Arcfox. Regulators tightened standards on safety, data, and system integration, reclassifying Tesla’s technology and requiring further compliance. Larian Studios’ CEO denied plans to use AI in the final Divinity game after backlash, stating all content will remain human-made.

Nvidia’s H200 AI chip export approval is expected to boost China’s cloud providers including Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance, analysts say. The H200 outperforms Nvidia’s H20 and domestic chips, but Huawei and Moore Threads remain in the race. Huawei’s Ascend 910C and Alibaba’s PPU 2.0 are cited as emerging local competitors, though scaling remains unclear. The move may expand cloud capacity rather than favor one supplier.

Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max will launch with a rear secondary display, 7,500mAh battery, and 100W charging, while the 17 Ultra is rumored to feature a 1-inch camera sensor. Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold introduces a tri-fold design with three screens. Reviewers report Android music apps remain cluttered with ads and subscriptions, lagging behind iPhone in user experience.

Amazon has removed AI-generated Video Recaps from Prime Video after viewers found factual errors in a Fallout recap. The feature, launched in November, was being tested on several series. The Fallout season two page no longer shows the recap, and no video recaps are available on the web. Amazon has not issued a public statement.

Porsche unveiled the 911 GT3 90 F.A. Porsche, limited to 90 units and priced at $387,000, honoring Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. Samsung Galaxy Watch models, including the Watch8 and Watch Ultra, saw significant price drops for a limited time. Cornell professors José F. Martínez and Mor Naaman were named ACM Distinguished Members. Fortnite returned to the Google Play Store after five years amid ongoing legal action.

D-Wave Quantum announced its Qubits 2026 Quantum Computing User Conference for January 27-28 in Boca Raton, Florida, with a virtual livestream offered. Meta will cut Reality Labs costs by 30% in January, shifting focus to gaming and a high-end Quest 4. AYANEO unveiled the Pocket PLAY gaming phone with a built-in gamepad, launching via Kickstarter with no specs or pricing disclosed.

Apple seeded a second iOS 26.2 release candidate, build 23C54, ahead of public rollout. U.S. Attorneys General urged Apple, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft to strengthen AI safeguards, citing child safety and privacy concerns. Reddit began limited testing of grey checkmark verification for notable users. Minecraft: Bedrock Edition launched new community challenges and announced a New Year's Marketplace sale.

Hinge CEO Justin McLeod is leaving to launch Overtone, an AI dating app backed by Match Group, with Jackie Jantos taking over as Hinge chief. AirPods Pro 3 dropped to $219.99, matching their all-time low, while Silent Hill F for PS5 and other gadgets also see discounts. Vivo partnered with National Geographic to showcase the X300 series’ camera in India’s wild terrains. Apple’s iOS 26 update introduces a Liquid Glass redesign and new AI features.