Author: Marlet Salazar

Instagram, the social media platform owned by Meta, said it will stop supporting end-to-end encrypted chats starting May 8, 2026. Users who enabled the feature can download messages and media they want to keep. The change affects conversations protected by end-to-end encryption, a security feature that ensures only devices holding the correct cryptographic keys can read messages or access shared media. Once the feature is discontinued, encrypted conversations stored under the system may no longer be accessible. “If you have chats that are impacted by this change, you will see instructions on how you can download any media or messages…

Google is enhancing Google Maps using Google Gemini to add immersive navigation and conversational search.Beyond the existing 3D view, users can now ask Maps for directions, route details, and recommendations for nearby places. The Gemini models analyze real-world imagery from Google Street View and aerial photos in Google’s database. This allows Maps to better understand routes by recognizing details such as streets, buildings, and crosswalks. A feature called Ask Maps enables users to ask questions about where to go. People can search for places such as specialty restaurants or find a workspace for quick tasks without manually looking up nearby…

With organizations in the Philippines showing strong adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), multinational company HP Inc. sees the country as a fast-adoption market in the region. The company also sees potential growth in several industry verticals. “Today, people spend a lot of time managing tasks,” Michael Boyle, senior vice president and managing director for HP Greater Asia, said in an interview. “With AI, we have an opportunity to remove that friction so people can focus more on creating and achieving the outcomes they want.” Boyle added that Filipino organizations and teams have a real appetite “to articulate and implement AI…

CIBAC Party‑list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva has filed House Bill No. 8262, also called the Social Media Protection for Minors Act, which would prevent anyone under 16 from accessing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. The bill places the main responsibility on social media companies to enforce the age limit. Platforms would be required to use age‑verification tools, remove accounts suspected to belong to minors, and submit periodic compliance reports. Parents and guardians would also be involved, but the emphasis is on platform accountability rather than solely relying on families. This isn’t the first time lawmakers have proposed…

Consumer electronics brand Xiaomi is expanding its artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) ecosystem in the Philippines with a new lineup of connected devices that includes tablets, mobility products, wearables, and smart accessories designed to work together across everyday scenarios. The new lineup is led by the Xiaomi Pad 8 Series, AI-powered productivity tablets running on Xiaomi HyperOS 3 with system-level intelligence from Xiaomi HyperAI. The tablets anchor a bigger ecosystem that also includes the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6 Series, Xiaomi Watch 5, Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 15W, Xiaomi Tag, and REDMI Buds 8 Pro, offering users a connected…

The era of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) poses new challenges and risks not only for enterprises but also for end users. Its autonomy opens risks as it may go beyond its intended use if left unmanaged. This is one of the challenges Microsoft Agent 365 hopes to address. With a unified control panel or dashboard, IT security professionals can gain visibility into agents’ activities. This allows them to step in if agents veer away from their intended functions. “Unmanaged agents may create significant risk, from accessing resources unchecked to accumulating excessive privileges and being misused by malicious actors,” Vasu Jakkal,…

Video game Roblox is testing a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that automatically replaces foul language with more appropriate words during in-game chats, part of the platform’s effort to keep conversations safer for its largely young player base. Instead of simply blocking bad words with “####,” the system can now rewrite the message so the conversation continues without the offensive language. In a sample, Roblox illustrated how it will use the tool: “Hurry TF up,” will be changed to “Hurry up.” “For years, using filters that show up as ##### has been central to how we keep conversations safe and…

As companies begin deploying agentic AI (artificial intelligence), experts say clear guardrails are needed to ensure these systems stay within the limits set by organizations. Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can plan tasks, make decisions, and carry out actions with little human involvement. Unlike traditional AI tools that simply respond to prompts, these systems can complete workflows, access company data, and interact with other software to finish a task. Because of this level of independence, companies are becoming more cautious about how the technology is used. One concern is that an AI agent may interpret its objective differently…

Technology brand Xiaomi has launched a new lineup of flagship smartphones and smart devices in the Philippines following their global unveiling at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, with the debut of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in the local market taking center stage. The Ultra model marks the first time Xiaomi’s top-tier smartphone line is being officially introduced in the country since the company began positioning the series globally two years ago. Priced at PHP 99,999, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra sits at the top of the company’s smartphone lineup, focusing on advanced imaging and video capabilities. The device offers cinema-grade…

As more companies adopt artificial intelligence (AI) for customer service, sales, and internal operations, two issues are moving to the forefront: data control and response speed. Many agent AI platforms today are built on top of global large language model (LLM) providers. While this allows for rapid deployment, it also raises questions about where enterprise data is processed, how it is stored, and whether companies have full control over their information. For Gnani Innovations Private Limited, owning the full technology stack is important to its strategy. Founded in 2016, the company develops both the foundation models and the application layer…