Author: Dawn Solano

Roblox is giving families a new way to experience the platform together with Family Zone, an interactive space designed to help parents and children explore Roblox side by side. Launched in July 2026, Family Zone was showcased during the Unbox Roblox: An Interactive Media Familiarization Session in Taguig City, Aug. 18, where the company demonstrated the feature alongside its parental controls and educational resources. The feature is designed to give parents greater visibility into their children’s digital experiences while helping families navigate Roblox together. How to access Family Zone Parents can find Family Zone directly through the Roblox app. Simply…

Editor’s Note: This special report was originally published in the 40th anniversary issue of The Philippine STAR on July 27, 2026.The questions began as soon as the gunfires stopped. The shooting in Tacloban City revived a debate that resurfaces after almost every act of youth violence. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that the teenage suspect had played Gorebox, a sandbox game that features graphic violence and realistic physics. While authorities have not identified a motive, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) announced a temporary ban on GoreBox, later securing Google’s and Steam’s cooperation to restrict access to the…

OpenAI is rolling out a dedicated ChatGPT experience for teenagers, adding age-appropriate safeguards and learning tools as the AI chatbot becomes increasingly popular among younger users. The company began rolling out ChatGPT for teens globally on Aug. 18, according to its Help Center. The experience is designed for users under 18 and is automatically enabled for accounts OpenAI identifies as belonging to a teen. Rather than creating a separate chatbot, OpenAI says teens will continue to use the same ChatGPT, but with additional protections designed around their age. Here’s what teens can do with ChatGPT: The teen experience also promises…

Artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, governance, research and talent development are among the areas set to receive a boost from a Php 704-million European Union (EU) support package for the Philippines.Equivalent to €10 million, the funding is part of the EU-Philippines Digital Economy Package (DEP), which supports technology, research and investment initiatives focused on AI policy, governance, infrastructure and talent development. The package was highlighted during the three-day “EU-PH Advancing Research and Innovation on Artificial Intelligence Mission” held from July 28 to 30, bringing together Philippine and European experts, government officials and industry representatives. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)…

“Cute” is not usually what you describe a ₱109,990 smartphone, especially one Samsung wants to position as a serious productivity machine. However, after using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as a daily driver for more than a week, “cute” is exactly the word that kept coming to mind.It is compact without feeling cramped, thin without feeling fragile, and versatile without demanding that I constantly unfold it to get the most out of it.Most importantly, I found myself reaching for it even with three other phones on rotation. There was simply something about the Fold 8’s wider, passport-like form that made…

Instagram has refreshed its wordmark for the first time in a decade to give the social media platform’s familiar lettering a new look.Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the update on Instagram on Thursday, August 13, saying the wordmark at the top of the app had remained unchanged for ten years.He described the new wordmark as “cleaner and more modern,” while retaining references to Instagram’s original design and the “simplicity and craft” that have long been associated with the platform.The redesigned wordmark retains the familiar script-inspired character of Instagram’s branding but uses a combination of cursive and more conventional letterforms.The new…

The University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law introduced new rules limiting the use of artificial intelligence (AI)) and digital devices in first-year Juris Doctor (JD) courses, saying the policy aims to strengthen students’ legal reasoning as generative AI (GenAI) becomes increasingly prevalent in education.Adopted on Aug. 4, the policy will take effect in Academic Year 2026-2027 and covers first-year core subjects traditionally included in the Philippine Bar Examinations.UP Law said while AI has the potential to enhance legal research and education, its growing use has also raised concerns over “cognitive offloading” and declining critical thinking.The college said it…

DJI says the Lito X1 is designed for first-time drone pilots, and packs premium flight features into a compact drone that weighs just 249 grams.To see whether that promise held up, I handed the controller to three people who had never flown a drone before: myself, my brother, and a friend. Our testing conditions weren’t exactly forgiving. It was a windy afternoon in the middle of July, with the southwest monsoon already making its presence felt.We drove to our friend’s house in Lourdes, Antipolo City, perched on one of the area’s higher vantage points, where gusts swept across the open…

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is positioning Western Visayas as a key hub for artificial intelligence (AI) development, citing the region’s early efforts to build an AI ecosystem and governance framework. DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho Mabborang said Western Visayas is among the country’s frontrunners in AI adoption, highlighting Region 6’s locally developed AI governance framework and initiatives to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) integrate AI into their operations.“Region 6 has been, I can say, more advanced compared to the other regions,” Mabborang said during the AI Fest 2026 press conference.Western Visayas…

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is aiming to upskill at least one million Filipinos in artificial intelligence (AI) as it seeks to strengthen the country’s AI workforce and accelerate AI adoption across industries. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said developing the country’s AI workforce is one of the four key pillars of the government’s AI strategy. Solidum likened the country’s AI ecosystem to a factory built on four pillars: computing infrastructure, human resources, partnerships, and beneficiaries, including the public and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). For the human resources component, Solidum said DOST is…