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Google and Google DeepMind researchers have launched a new initiative focused on one of the biggest questions in artificial intelligence: how society should approach artificial general intelligence (AGI). Called the DeepMind Institute, the organization was introduced Wednesday with the goal of bringing together different perspectives on the future of advanced AI. Its leadership includes DeepMind co-founder Shane Legg, Google executive James Manyika, and Google DeepMind chair Demis Hassabis. Legg will serve as the institute’s managing editor. Rather than presenting a single position on AGI, the institute says it wants to encourage discussion and debate among researchers, policymakers, and technology leaders.…

Amazon has officially brought its upgraded Alexa+ conversational assistant to India, adding support for Hindi alongside English. The new version is designed to hold more natural, extended conversations while remembering context throughout an interaction. Alexa+ is currently available to customers in India through an Early Access program in both Hindi and English. Once the testing phase ends, Amazon says the service will be available at no additional cost to Prime members. Non-Prime customers will pay ₹2,000 per month, or approximately $20.85. The upgraded assistant features a more expressive voice and is capable of handling complex, multi-step requests. For example, users…

Cybersecurity has become one of the defining technology stories of 2026. Attacks this year have affected government databases, healthcare providers, technology companies, critical infrastructure and millions of ordinary users. The threats are also becoming more varied. Criminal groups continue to rely on ransomware and stolen credentials, while nation-state-linked hackers are targeting essential services. At the same time, weaknesses in AI systems and software supply chains are creating new opportunities for attackers. Here are some of the most significant cybersecurity incidents reported so far in 2026. Social Security Data Raises Major Privacy Questions The handling of Social Security data by the…

Meta’s new AI assistant Muse is already attracting attention from U.S. consumers, reaching the No. 2 position on Apple’s App Store Top Charts just days after its launch. Early figures from market intelligence company Sensor Tower indicate that Muse has surpassed 83,000 downloads on iPhone in the United States. The app is currently available only in the U.S., with its Android, web, and WhatsApp versions not included in those download estimates. While Muse has made a strong early showing, its debut is smaller than some of Meta’s previous app launches. Threads, for example, generated more than 4.3 million U.S. downloads…

OpenAI has temporarily stopped accepting new customers for its $200-per-month Pro subscription, saying an unexpected surge in demand for its latest AI model, Astra, is putting significant pressure on the company’s computing infrastructure. The decision was announced by OpenAI product leader Thibault “Tibo” Sottiaux, who oversees products including Codex and ChatGPT. According to Sottiaux, Pro users consume more computing resources than customers on other subscription tiers, making the plan the most challenging to support during the current spike in usage. “We wanted to take the smallest step that allows us to continue giving the broadest access possible,” Sottiaux said while…

Google is speeding up the release schedule for Chrome, moving from a four-week cycle to new updates every two weeks. The change officially begins with Chrome 153, which is rolling out across desktop, iOS, and Android. The faster schedule is more than a change to Google’s software calendar. The company says it is part of a broader effort to respond more quickly to security threats as artificial intelligence changes the way vulnerabilities are discovered, exploited, and fixed. Why Chrome is updating more often Security researchers, developers, and automated tools are identifying bugs at an increasingly rapid pace. Google believes a…

OpenAI is preparing to release Astra, a new AI model that the company says can independently discover and exploit previously unknown security vulnerabilities. The model is being positioned as a major step in AI-powered cybersecurity, but its capabilities are also raising fresh questions about how such systems should be controlled. According to OpenAI, Astra is the first of its models to reach what it calls a “critical cybersecurity threshold.” The company says a broader launch is coming soon, although access to Astra’s most advanced security capabilities will be restricted. A model designed for autonomous hacking OpenAI says Astra can identify…

Apple has updated Apple Maps in the United States to display “Lake America” instead of Lake Ontario, following a federal order directing U.S. agencies to adopt the new geographic name. The change comes shortly after Google made a similar adjustment to its mapping service. However, Apple is limiting the renamed version to American users. People accessing Apple Maps in Canada will continue to see Lake Ontario, while users elsewhere are expected to see both names. The mapping update follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on August 27. The directive instructed the U.S. Department of the Interior to…

Florida and Texas are taking steps to distance themselves from Flock’s network of automated license plate cameras as concerns over privacy, surveillance and the misuse of sensitive data continue to grow. Florida’s Department of Transportation announced that it will stop using license plate reader systems along state highways. The agency cited reports of surveillance misuse, privacy risks and other concerns surrounding how the technology can be used. Officials have been given 30 days to remove the cameras currently operating across the state. The decision follows comments from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who recently described the expanding use of license plate…

Google wants Gemini to feel like an assistant that can handle almost anything without forcing users to think about how the technology works. However, the growing number of individually branded features inside the app may be making that goal harder to achieve. Google recently introduced additional capabilities for Gemini Live, emphasizing that users shouldn’t need to determine which specific tool is appropriate before asking for help. Yet Gemini itself currently includes separate experiences such as Chat, Spark, and Daily Brief, each with its own identity and position within the interface. For everyday users, that can create unnecessary complexity. Daily Brief…