Author: Marlet Salazar

SAN FRANCISCO — At its annual Unpacked event, Samsung doubled down on its third-generation AI smartphones, the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, expanding its Galaxy AI features. The updates, along with new features, focus on how artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI (GenAI), help users handle everyday tasks more efficiently. The company is also advancing its Agentic AI, or Multi AI Agent, by integrating it at the operating system level. The deeper integration reduces the need to switch between apps and allows a single prompt to generate multiple actions or results. Camera features have always been one of the…

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is considering whether to block Telegram in the Philippines over reports that the messaging app is being used to spread pornographic materials and run illegal gambling activities. Henry Aguda, secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, said in an interview on a radio program aired on DZRH that the government may have to consider banning the messaging app if these activities continue. The possible ban comes weeks after the DICT temporarily banned Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) tool of X, following reports abroad that it was being used to generate…

Technology Xiaomi has announced its latest device, the Xiaomi Tag, a Bluetooth tracker that weighs 10 grams and measures 7.2 mm thick. Xiaomi Tag runs on a user-replaceable CR2032 coin battery, with an estimated battery life of about one year under normal use. Xiaomi said the tracker is designed for budget-conscious consumers who want basic, reliable location tracking without paying premium prices. The Xiaomi Tag supports both Apple’s Find My network and Google Find Hub, according Xiaomi’s official channels. The cross-platform support allows iOS and Android users to track items through their preferred apps instead of being tied to a…

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has warned about romance scams, where criminals exploit emotions and trust to steal money or personal information. Cybersecurity company Kaspersky confirms these scams are becoming more sophisticated, using social engineering and technology to appear convincing. “Romance scams succeed because cybercriminals prey on the human desire for connection and trust,” Choon Hong Chee, head of Consumer Channel, APAC at Kaspersky, said in a media advisory. “During love month, people are more open to forming new relationships, which makes emotional manipulation an effective tactic.” Scammers often build rapport over weeks or months, using…

Artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI has begun testing ads within ChatGPT for users in the United States. Based on the company’s data, ChatGPT had 700 million weekly active users globally as of September 2025. According to the company’s media advisory, advertisements will be shown to Free and Go subscribers. Premium paying users, including Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education subscribers, will not see ads. “Ads help fund that work, supporting broader access to AI through higher-quality free and low-cost options, and enabling us to keep improving the intelligence and capabilities we offer over time,” the company said. “If you prefer…

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are strengthening coordination to enhance digital financial security and curb the growing number of scam-related cases in the country. The initiative follows findings from the CICC’s Cybercrime Complaint Center (C3) 2025 Annual Report, which showed that consumer fraud accounted for 35% of the total 18,633 complaints, equivalent to about 6,453 reports. Online fraud accounted for 4,243 reports, or 23%. “These figures underscore a critical need for tighter regulation and more proactive monitoring within the financial sector,” the CICC said in a media advisory. Both agencies are…

Google has opened access to Project Genie, its experimental artificial intelligence (AI) project that helps create simple video games from pictures or descriptions. The prototype enables users to build their own interactive or 3D worlds. Project Genie is a prototype web app powered by generative AI tools Genie 3, Nano Banana Pro, and Gemini. It can be used for storytelling and other creative projects. Using a text prompt or images, users can create their own videos. They can design visual environments and develop characters that fit their narrative. To give users more control, Nano Banana Pro has been integrated into…