SSPAI

Tag: Google Gemini

  • SSPAI Morning Brief: Google I/O 2026: Google Launches Gemini Omni, AI Agents, and Next-Generation AI Search Features

    SSPAI Morning Brief: Google I/O 2026: Google Launches Gemini Omni, AI Agents, and Next-Generation AI Search Features

    Morning Brief

    1. Google announces multiple updates across its Google Gemini product lineup
    2. LG Electronics unveils new UltraGear gaming monitors
    3. Andrej Karpathy joins Anthropic
    4. CHERRY XTRFY launches the K5 Ultra keyboard
    5. Sony raises prices for select PlayStation Plus subscription plans
    6. Apple previews multiple accessibility feature updates powered by Apple Intelligenc
    7. Google adds YouTube Premium Lite benefits to its AI Pro subscription plan
    8. News Worth a Quick Look

    Google announces multiple updates across its Google Gemini product lineup

    In the early hours of May 20, Google I/O 2026 officially opened. During the keynote presentation, Sundar Pichai unveiled a wide range of product updates centered around Google Gemini.

    Google announced the launch of the Gemini Omni series, a new family of models focused on video generation and editing, with the first model being Gemini Omni Flash. Omni supports using images, text, video, or audio as reference inputs and enables multi-turn video editing through natural language. Throughout the editing process, the system maintains character consistency, physical logic, and scene context. Combined with Gemini’s real-world knowledge capabilities, Omni can generate outputs that better adhere to the laws of gravity, momentum, fluid dynamics, and other physical principles. Gemini Omni Flash is rolling out immediately to global Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers through the Gemini app and Google Flow. Starting this week, it will also become freely available inside YouTube Shorts and YouTube Create. API access for developers and enterprise customers will launch over the coming weeks. Source

    Google also officially launched Gemini 3.5 Flash, the first model in the Gemini 3.5 family, focused on agentic workflows and programming tasks. The model is now fully deployed across the Gemini app, Google Search AI Mode, Google Antigravity, the Gemini API, and related platforms and services. Gemini 3.5 Flash reportedly achieved scores of 76.2% on Terminal-Bench 2.1, 1656 Elo on GDPval-AA, 83.6% on MCP Atlas, and 84.2% on CharXiv Reasoning, while generating output tokens at four times the speed of other frontier models. The model also supports collaborative sub-agent execution through the new Antigravity harness, enabling complex multi-step workflows and programming tasks. It has already become the default model powering both the Gemini app and AI Mode inside Google Search. Google stated that the Gemini 3.5 series was developed under its Frontier Safety Framework, with enhanced cybersecurity and CBRN protections. Gemini 3.5 Pro has already entered internal testing and is scheduled for release next month. Source

    The Gemini app itself is also receiving multiple updates. In addition to built-in support for Gemini 3.5 Flash and the Gemini Omni video model, the app introduces a new Neural Expressive design language, personalized morning summaries called Daily Brief, a full-time personal AI agent named Gemini Spark focused on task execution, and a new macOS client integrating Spark alongside upgraded voice features. After receiving user permission, Daily Brief can connect to Gmail and Calendar to automatically organize urgent emails, schedules, and follow-up tasks while recommending actions based on personal priorities. Gemini Spark, built on Gemini 3.5 and the Antigravity harness, can connect to Workspace tools including Gmail, Docs, and Slides. Initial MCP integrations include Canva, OpenTable, and Instacart, with support for custom sub-agents and local browser interactions planned later. Daily Brief is rolling out immediately to paid Google AI subscribers in the United States, while Gemini Spark begins limited testing this week before expanding to Google AI Ultra users in the U.S. next week. Spark functionality updates and the upgraded voice system for the Gemini macOS client are expected to launch this summer. Source

    Google Search is also receiving a large wave of AI updates. A new intelligent search box can now dynamically expand based on search keywords and supports text, images, files, videos, and even Chrome tabs as input sources. The feature is now rolling out in all countries and regions where AI Mode is available. AI Overviews additionally now support follow-up questioning and extended AI conversations. Google Search is also introducing an “information agent” capable of continuously monitoring blogs, news sources, social posts, and real-time financial, shopping, and sports data in the background. This feature is expected to launch first for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers this summer. Additional capabilities — including local experience bookings, service reservations, and AI-powered phone calls to businesses on behalf of users — are also planned for U.S. rollout this summer. Google further previewed Antigravity-powered custom mini apps capable of generating interactive search experiences tailored to specific search queries, initially launching for U.S.-based Google AI Pro and Ultra users over the coming months. Finally, AI Mode officially announced support for personalized AI services across 98 languages in 200 countries and regions, with no subscription required. The service can connect to Gmail and Google Photos to provide personalized search results, with Google Calendar integration planned later. Source

    Google also introduced Universal Cart, a cross-service and cross-merchant intelligent shopping cart system. Users will be able to add products directly through Search, Gemini, YouTube, Gmail, and other Google products, while Gemini models track discounts, price drops, pricing history, and restock alerts in the background. Built on top of Google Wallet, Universal Cart can recognize payment benefits, membership information, and merchant discounts while reasoning across multiple retailers to infer user needs. Checkout is powered by the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), allowing users to complete purchases using Google Pay across brands including Nike, Sephora, Target, Ulta Beauty, Walmart, Wayfair, and Shopify merchants such as Fenty and Steve Madden, or alternatively redirecting users to merchant websites for final checkout while brands remain the official sellers of record. Universal Cart will launch this summer in U.S. Search and Gemini services, with YouTube and Gmail integrations arriving later. Source

    Finally, Google also shared new progress updates regarding Android XR smart glasses, Workspace AI updates, expanded support for SynthID digital watermarking technology, new Google Flow updates, and Wear OS 7.

    LG Electronics unveils new UltraGear gaming monitors

    On May 20, LG Electronics announced a new 24.5-inch UltraGear gaming monitor, describing it as the world’s first Full HD gaming monitor with a native 1000Hz refresh rate. The display features a 1920×1080 resolution, uses an IPS panel with a low-reflection coating, and is capable of delivering a 1000Hz refresh rate at Full HD resolution. The monitor includes a compact stand with tilt and height adjustment support, along with an integrated headphone hook. On the software side, it supports on-device AI scene optimization capable of automatically adjusting image settings based on game genres, while also offering AI Sound spatial audio features. LG has not yet announced pricing or release timing for the monitor. Source

    Andrej Karpathy joins Anthropic

    On May 19, renowned AI researcher Andrej Karpathy announced that he has joined Anthropic, returning once again to frontier large language model research. Karpathy was one of OpenAI’s co-founders. After leaving OpenAI in 2017, he joined Tesla to lead autonomous driving initiatives, departed in 2022, returned to OpenAI in 2023, and left again in 2024 to establish the AI education startup Eureka Labs.

    Starting this week, Karpathy has joined Anthropic’s pretraining team under the leadership of Nick Joseph. The pretraining division is responsible for large-scale training of Claude’s core knowledge and capabilities and represents one of the most compute-intensive and expensive stages of frontier model development. Anthropic stated that Karpathy will build a team focused on accelerating pretraining research using Claude itself. Karpathy said he believes the coming years will be a critical phase for frontier LLM development, while also emphasizing that he remains passionate about education and plans to return to related projects in the future. Source

    CHERRY XTRFY launches the K5 Ultra keyboard

    CHERRY officially launched the new wired magnetic-switch keyboard CHERRY XTRFY K5 Ultra on May 19. The CHERRY XTRFY K5 Ultra features the new MK Crystal Magnetic Switch Plus and uses a compact 65% layout. Specifications include an 8kHz polling rate, a 16kHz full-key scanning rate, and adjustable Rapid Trigger distances ranging from 0.1mm to 3.3mm with 0.01mm precision. Internally, the keyboard uses an aluminum alloy positioning plate and a four-layer sound-dampening structure. The PCB is also compatible with certain third-party magnetic switches. The keyboard is priced at 499 yuan. Source

    Sony raises prices for select PlayStation Plus subscription plans

    On May 19, Sony announced price increases for short-term PlayStation Plus subscriptions for new users in certain regions. Monthly subscriptions have been adjusted to $10.99, while quarterly subscriptions now cost $27.99. Sony stated that the price increases were driven by “market conditions.” Existing subscribers are not immediately affected by the changes, though current users who modify or interrupt their subscriptions in the future will also be charged under the new pricing structure. Pricing for annual subscriptions and the Extra and Premium tiers remains unchanged for now. Source

    Notably, some PlayStation users have already filed a class-action lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit alleges that after tariffs imposed under the Trump administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in 2025 led Sony to raise PS5 pricing and pass costs on to consumers, the company continued retaining the benefits of those price increases even after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the tariff authorization was invalid and companies were eligible for government refunds. Plaintiffs described the situation as creating a “double recovery windfall” for Sony. Source

    Apple previews multiple accessibility feature updates powered by Apple Intelligenc

    On May 19, Apple previewed a range of new accessibility updates powered by Apple Intelligence, covering VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, Accessibility Reader, video captions, and Apple Vision Pro. Among the updates, VoiceOver’s new Image Explorer feature can provide far more detailed system-wide descriptions of photos, bills, personal records, and other image-based content. Magnifier now supports invoking Live Recognition through the iPhone Action Button to identify objects within the camera view and answer follow-up questions, while also supporting voice commands such as “zoom in” or “turn on flashlight.” Voice Control gains support for natural-language screen interactions, eliminating the need to memorize button labels or numbered overlays. Accessibility Reader can process complex documents containing multiple columns, images, and tables while preserving customized fonts and color settings. Device-side generated captions will automatically create subtitles for videos that do not already include caption tracks, supporting iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. Vision Pro will additionally support eye-tracking control for compatible powered wheelchairs, initially supporting Tolt and LUCI alternative driving systems in the United States through both Bluetooth and wired connections. Name Recognition functionality is expanding to support 50 languages, tvOS will introduce larger text support, and Made for iPhone hearing aids are receiving improved multi-device handoff functionality. Source

    Google adds YouTube Premium Lite benefits to its AI Pro subscription plan

    On May 19, Google announced that YouTube Premium Lite will now be included as part of the Google AI Pro subscription package, while the full YouTube Premium plan will become part of the Google AI Ultra subscription tier. Google AI Pro individual subscribers will receive a personal YouTube Premium Lite subscription, including ad-free playback for select videos, offline downloads, and background playback functionality.

    Google AI Pro currently costs $20 per month and already includes a Gemini subscription, 5TB of shared storage across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos, alongside YouTube Premium Lite access. Google AI Ultra is currently priced at $100 per month and includes the full individual YouTube Premium plan. Existing YouTube Premium and Premium Lite subscribers will not have their subscriptions automatically canceled and must manually cancel their current subscriptions before activating YouTube benefits through the AI subscription plans. Users currently on AI subscription trial periods must also convert to full paid subscriptions before receiving the included YouTube benefits. For family subscription plans, only the family administrator is eligible for the bundled benefits, which cannot be shared with other family members. Source

    News Worth a Quick Look

    • On May 19, Google rolled out updated app icons across its iOS applications and web services, including changes to the web-based Google app switcher and several Google apps on iOS. Source
    • X has further restricted the daily posting and reply limits for non-paying users. Free unverified accounts are now limited to 50 original posts and 200 replies per day, down from the previous 2,400 daily posts. X stated that the changes are intended to combat spam and bot activity on the platform. Source
    • Mozilla released Firefox 151, introducing generative AI control toggles on both iOS and Android versions of the browser. Users can now disable all generative AI features with a single switch or individually enable and disable specific AI capabilities. Source
    • Plex announced that beginning in late June 2026, the one-time lifetime purchase price for Plex Pass will increase from $250 to $750 — a 200% increase. Existing lifetime subscribers will not be affected. Plex Pass originally launched in 2012 at $75 and has undergone multiple price increases over the years, including a jump to $250 in March 2025. Plex stated that monthly and annual subscription models are more sustainable for long-term development, and while the company previously considered eliminating the lifetime option entirely, it ultimately decided to keep it available at a significantly higher price. Source
    • On May 19, Microsoft confirmed that, following enterprise users, SMS verification codes for personal accounts will also gradually be phased out. Microsoft stated that SMS verification transmits data in plaintext and carries risks of interception. The company is now aggressively promoting passkeys as the default login method for personal accounts. Passkeys are based on the FIDO2 standard and use public-key cryptography, with private keys stored securely inside the TPM security chip on user devices and never transmitted across networks. Source
  • SSPAI Morning Brief: OpenAI Introduces Prism, a New AI Platform for Scientific Research

    SSPAI Morning Brief: OpenAI Introduces Prism, a New AI Platform for Scientific Research

    Morning Brief

    1. Sennheiser releases CX 80U and HD 400U wired earphones
    2. Sonos releases multi-channel power amplifier Amp Multi
    3. Bigme unveils B10 color E Ink office notebook
    4. Three updates related to Google Gemini
    5. Yahoo launches AI Q&A search tool Yahoo Scout
    6. Alibaba releases Qwen3-Max-Thinking
    7. Anthropic launches interactive Claude app
    8. OpenAI releases scientific research AI collaboration space Prism
    9. Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    Sennheiser releases CX 80U and HD 400U wired earphones

    On January 26, Sennheiser officially unveiled the CX 80U wired in-ear earphones and the HD 400U wired over-ear headphones. As upgraded versions of the CX 80S and HD 400S, both new models replace the traditional 3.5 mm jack with a USB-C connector and feature a built-in digital converter that supports 24-bit/96 kHz lossless audio playback, along with an in-line remote equipped with an integrated MEMS microphone.

    The CX 80U uses a dynamic driver with an impedance of 28 Ω and a frequency response of 17 Hz–20 kHz, and comes with three sets of silicone ear tips in different sizes. The HD 400U features a 32 mm dynamic driver with an impedance of 18 Ω and a frequency response of 18 Hz–20 kHz, a foldable closed-back design, and includes a carrying pouch. Both products went on sale on January 26, 2026, with the CX 80U priced at USD 40 and the HD 400U at USD 100. Source

    Sonos releases multi-channel power amplifier Amp Multi

    On January 27, Sonos officially introduced its first professional-grade multi-channel streaming power amplifier, Amp Multi, designed specifically for large residential properties and complex custom installation scenarios. Amp Multi features a gallium nitride (GaN) power architecture and Class D post-filter feedback (PFFB) technology, delivering eight channels of 125 W (8 Ω) each in a compact 1.5U chassis, and can be configured as four independently controlled zones. Its hardware configuration includes a quad-core 1.9 GHz A55 processor, Wi-Fi 6, and dual Ethernet ports. It supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, and each channel can drive up to three Sonos Architectural series speakers. Pricing has not yet been announced, and the product is expected to go on sale in the coming months through authorized installers. Source

    Bigme unveils B10 color E Ink office notebook

    On January 27, Bigme launched the 10.3-inch B10 4G color E-Ink office tablet on overseas platforms. The device is powered by a Dimensity 1080 processor and comes with 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and Android 14. It supports 4G connectivity across major bands and is equipped with a 6,900 mAh battery, an eight-microphone array, a 4,096-level pressure-sensitive stylus, and fingerprint recognition. The B10 features a Kaleido 3 color E-Ink display with up to 30 FPS refresh rate and 36 levels of adjustable dual-tone (warm/cool) color temperature. It also includes both front and rear cameras, supporting document scanning, OCR text recognition, and video conferencing.

    The Bigme B10 adopts a design with eight customizable touch keys and comes with four built-in AI models, supporting features such as meeting speech-to-text transcription. An optional keyboard accessory is available. The B10 is priced at USD 699, with a pre-sale price of USD 594. Source

    Three updates related to Google Gemini

    On January 27, Google announced the introduction of Agentic Vision capabilities to the Gemini 3 Flash model. This feature aims to shift image understanding from static processing to a dynamic process based on a “Think, Act, Observe” loop. By combining visual reasoning with Python code execution tools, the model can autonomously perform actions such as zooming in to inspect details, rotating and cropping images, drawing bounding-box annotations, conducting visual math calculations, and generating charts. Technical tests show that with agentic vision enabled, Gemini 3 Flash achieves a 5–10% quality improvement across most visual benchmarks and partially mitigates hallucination issues in long-form visual tasks. The feature is now officially available via the Gemini API (including Google AI Studio and Vertex AI), where developers can enable Code Execution in the toolbar to use it. Source

    At the same time, Google also announced that Gemini 3 has been officially set as the default underlying model for its global “AI Overviews” feature, and that it has introduced a seamless “AI Mode” conversational experience. This allows users to ask follow-up questions directly below AI Overviews, turning search from one-way information display into contextual, streaming conversations. Google said that the model upgrade also improves reasoning quality for complex questions. The new AI Overviews and AI Mode conversation features are now available globally on both mobile and web search, with the basic service offered free to all users. Source

    Finally, Google announced that its entry-level AI subscription plan, Google AI Plus, has officially launched in 34 additional countries and regions worldwide, including the United States. Priced at USD 8 per month, the plan is aimed at everyday users and provides access to the Gemini 3 Pro model, Deep Research, and the Nano Banana Pro model. Subscribers also receive 200 GB of Google One storage and unlock AI filmmaking tool Flow, image-to-video tool Whisk, and advanced research features in NotebookLM (including support for up to 100 input sources and audio overviews). Notably, existing Google One Premium 2 TB members will automatically receive all AI Plus features, and new subscribers can enjoy a promotional price of USD 4 per month for the first two months. Source

    Yahoo launches AI Q&A search tool Yahoo Scout

    On January 27, Yahoo announced the launch of its AI-powered Q&A search feature, Yahoo Scout, which is supported by Anthropic’s Claude. The feature deeply integrates 50 billion user profiles and 18 trillion consumer behavior signals accumulated by Yahoo over the past three decades. It supports synthesizing information from across the web—including Yahoo’s own channels such as News, Finance, and Sports—using natural language, and presents the results in the form of structured tables, rich multimedia cards, and prominent blue source links. Each answer contains an average of up to nine cited sources. At the same time, the feature has been embedded across Yahoo’s entire product lineup, offering enhanced experiences such as email summaries, real-time financial market analysis, news comment trend extraction, and in-depth breakdowns of sports events.

    Yahoo Scout is currently available in beta in the United States, with access via a standalone web version as well as iOS and Android apps. The service remains free to use and is planned to be monetized through bottom-page advertising and affiliate commissions. Source

    Alibaba releases Qwen3-Max-Thinking

    On January 26, Alibaba released its flagship reasoning model Qwen3-Max-Thinking, with total parameters exceeding one trillion. The model underwent large-scale reinforcement learning post-training and has enhanced its native agent capabilities for autonomously calling tools across multiple key benchmarks, enabling on-demand use of search engines and code interpreters. It also supports test-time scaling techniques, significantly improving reasoning performance. On major reasoning benchmarks, it surpasses Gemini 3 Pro, while also substantially reducing model hallucinations.

    Qwen3-Max-Thinking is now available on Qwen Chat, and its corresponding API (model name: qwen3-max-2026-01-23) has been released via Alibaba Cloud. Source

    Anthropic launches interactive Claude app

    On January 26, Anthropic announced the launch of an interactive app for its Claude chatbot, allowing users to directly connect everyday workplace tools such as Slack, Canva, Figma, Box, and Clay within the chat interface. Salesforce integration will be added later. Claude can send Slack messages on users’ behalf, generate charts, or access cloud files within these services, depending on which app permissions are enabled.

    In a blog post, Anthropic said that tasks such as data analysis, content design, and project management are inherently better suited to dedicated visual interfaces. When combined with Claude’s intelligence, users can significantly improve efficiency in ideation, revision, and iteration. The new feature is currently available to Claude Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers, and can be enabled and managed at claude.ai/directory. Source

    OpenAI releases scientific research AI collaboration space Prism

    On January 27, OpenAI officially unveiled Prism, an AI-native collaborative workspace designed specifically for scientific research, and simultaneously announced the acquisition of the cloud-based LaTeX platform Crixet as its underlying infrastructure. Prism deeply integrates the GPT-5.2 Thinking model, enabling AI to directly understand paper structures, formulas, and references within project environments. It supports automatically generating TikZ diagrams, retrieving and citing papers from arXiv, auto-formatting bibliographies, and converting handwritten formulas or sketches on whiteboards into LaTeX code. In addition, Prism offers real-time multi-user collaboration and can generate graduate-level course plans and accompanying exercises based on specific research topics.

    Prism is currently available for free to all users with a personal ChatGPT account, supporting the creation of unlimited projects and collaboration seats. It will also be rolled out soon to ChatGPT Business, Team, Enterprise, and Education plans. Source

    Rumors You Can Just Glance At

    • On January 28, Samsung began teasing a new privacy protection feature that will be introduced on Galaxy devices. The feature is designed to address the risk of “shoulder surfing” in public places through deep integration of hardware and software. It is said to adjust display visibility at the pixel level to selectively obscure password entry, specific app interfaces, and notification pop-ups, allowing only the person directly in front of the screen to clearly view certain content. Source
    • On January 26, Meta announced plans to begin testing premium subscription services for its three major apps—Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp—in the coming months. The subscription system aims to unlock more powerful productivity, creativity, and AI-enhanced features through paid plans, while keeping the core basic experience free. Source
    • According to reports from several media outlets and a settlement agreement recently submitted to a federal court in San Jose, Google has agreed to pay USD 68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over illegal recordings made by its Google Assistant voice assistant. The case centers on Google Assistant’s “false accept” mechanism, in which devices are activated and capture sensitive user audio for human review or targeted advertising even without hearing the “OK Google” wake word. This is similar in nature to Apple’s previous settlement of USD 95 million over comparable issues with Siri. The settlement covers U.S. users who, since May 18, 2016, have had accounts associated with devices preinstalled with Google Assistant (including Pixel phones, Google Home smart speakers, and Nest Hub displays). Under the agreement, eligible device purchasers are expected to receive compensation of USD 18 to USD 56, while affected individuals living in environments with such devices may claim USD 2 to USD 10. Source
    • According to internal documents obtained by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally led and vetoed a decision to add parental control features to the company’s AI chatbots, instead pushing for looser safety restrictions. The allegations stem from a lawsuit filed by the state of New Mexico accusing Meta of failing to protect children from sexual harassment. A previous investigation by The Wall Street Journal had also pointed out risks that Meta’s AI bots could engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors or impersonate them. As a result, Meta suspended access to AI character features for teen accounts last week while developing relevant parental control tools. Source
    • On January 27, Google accidentally leaked screenshots of a desktop interface codenamed Aluminum OS (ALOS) on the Chromium bug tracker. The images came from an HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook powered by a 12th-generation Intel Core processor, running system version ZL1A.260119.001.A1 based on Android 16. The screenshots show a desktop environment optimized for large-screen multitasking, featuring a taskbar, second-level time display, an M3E battery icon, a Gemini AI entry point, and a screen recording control panel. The bundled Chrome browser also supports desktop extensions. This further confirms earlier rumors that Google is testing a deeply integrated version of Android and ChromeOS on Chromebooks. Source
  • SSPAI Morning Brief: Google Gemini now rolls out “Personal Intelligence”, DJI Releases the DJI RS 5 Lightweight Commercial Gimbal, and More

    SSPAI Morning Brief: Google Gemini now rolls out “Personal Intelligence”, DJI Releases the DJI RS 5 Lightweight Commercial Gimbal, and More

    Morning Brief

    1. iQOO releases the iQOO Z11 Turbo smartphone
    2. DJI releases the DJI RS 5 lightweight commercial gimbal
    3. MediaTek announces the Dimensity 9500s and Dimensity 8500 chips
    4. The Philippines grants visa-free entry to Chinese travelers
    5. Qwen announces the launch of AI-powered lifestyle shopping features
    6. Apple announces Apple Pay support for Visa cards
    7. Google Gemini now rolls out “Personal Intelligence”
    8. Microsoft to remove the Collections feature from Microsoft Edge

    iQOO releases the iQOO Z11 Turbo smartphone

    On January 15, iQOO officially unveiled the iQOO Z11 Turbo smartphone, with a starting price of RMB 2,699, or RMB 2,039.15 after national subsidies.

    In terms of display, the iQOO Z11 Turbo features a 6.59-inch flat OLED screen with a resolution of 2750 × 1260 and a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz. The panel uses TCL CSOT C9+ luminous material, reaching a local peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits and a minimum brightness of around 1 nit. For dimming, it supports DC-like dimming as well as high-frequency PWM dimming up to 4,320 Hz, with DC-like dimming available across the full brightness range. The display also offers up to 3,200 Hz instantaneous touch sampling and 300 Hz ten-finger touch sampling, supports 1.07 billion colors, and is protected by Schott Diamond Shield glass.

    In terms of performance, the iQOO Z11 Turbo is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor and is paired with a self-developed auxiliary chip, Q2, dedicated to gaming performance scheduling and display optimization. The device uses LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.1 storage, along with a large-area VC liquid-cooling system. Official benchmark scores exceed 3.59 million points. In gaming tests, mainstream open-world mobile games achieve an average frame rate of around 60 fps, with overall power consumption controlled at approximately 4.54 W.

    For battery life, the new model is equipped with a 7,600 mAh battery using a second-generation semi-solid-state design. According to iQOO, the battery maintains relatively stable discharge performance in both high- and low-temperature environments. Charging-wise, the iQOO Z11 Turbo supports 100 W wired fast charging and offers a direct power supply mode for gaming while charging. The cooling system uses a multi-layer heat-dissipation structure to lower core temperatures and improve heat distribution under heavy loads.

    In imaging, the iQOO Z11 Turbo is the first in the Z series to feature a 200-megapixel main camera, supporting 4× lossless zoom and covering commonly used portrait focal lengths such as 50 mm and 85 mm, as well as multi-focal-length Live Photo shooting. The front camera is 32 megapixels and supports 0.8× wide-angle capture.

    In terms of appearance and design, the iQOO Z11 Turbo is available in four colors: Canglang Floating Light, Halo Pink, Sky White, and Polar Night Black. The Polar Night Black version uses a fiberglass back, while the other colors use glass backs. The phone adopts an aluminum alloy frame, measures about 74.42 mm in width and 7.9 mm in thickness, weighs around 202 g, and supports IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance.

    For connectivity and software, the device integrates a multi-antenna design to improve connection stability in complex network environments. On the software side, the iQOO Z11 Turbo comes preinstalled with OriginOS 6, introducing new smoothness optimizations and animation effects, along with multiple AI features for everyday scenarios such as search and sharing. Source

    DJI releases the DJI RS 5 lightweight commercial gimbal

    DJI today officially unveiled its new lightweight commercial gimbal, the DJI RS 5, priced at RMB 3,099 for the standard version and RMB 3,899 for the combo kit.

    According to DJI, the RS 5 introduces a brand-new RS Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Module, expanding tracking subjects from people to multiple categories such as vehicles and pets. DJI claims the maximum recognition distance for human tracking reaches up to 10 meters, and the system can re-lock onto the subject even if it briefly leaves the frame. The module attaches magnetically and supports tap-to-select or box-select tracking on the touchscreen. Combined with assisted composition, it significantly lowers the barrier for complex camera movements.

    In terms of stabilization and power, the DJI RS 5 delivers up to a 50% increase in peak motor torque compared to the previous generation. Together with the fifth-generation RS stabilization algorithm, it provides more stable footage during fast rotations, motion shooting, and vertical filming scenarios. On the control side, the new model supports a native electronic control handle adapter, making one-handed and low-angle shooting easier, and adds a Z-axis stabilization indicator to provide real-time feedback on vertical shake to help users adjust their walking pace.

    Battery life and body design have also been enhanced. Charging speed is increased by 60%, allowing a full charge in about one hour. The standard battery offers around 14 hours of runtime, which can be extended to up to 30 hours with the BG70 high-capacity battery grip. The gimbal weighs approximately 1.46 kg, supports third-generation native horizontal/vertical switching, and has a maximum payload of 3 kg, covering most mainstream mirrorless camera and lens combinations.

    In terms of expandability, the DJI RS 5 natively supports the Focus Pro motor and the DJI SDR video transmission system, features a built-in RSA communication interface, and is compatible with a wide range of official and third-party accessories. DJI also opens up the DJI RS SDK, allowing developers to customize additional professional features. Source

    MediaTek announces the Dimensity 9500s and Dimensity 8500 chips

    On January 15, MediaTek announced the Dimensity 9500s and Dimensity 8500 chipsets. Both chips are deeply optimized at the hardware level for generative inference and multimodal models, with native support for major global large language models (LLMs / MLLMs) and Stable Diffusion image generation models. They also introduce AI-powered ultra-clear telephoto algorithms, the Dimensity AI semantic segmentation engine, and AI reflection and flare removal technology. In addition, the chips support on-device AI enhancements for Live Photos and photo editing, as well as AI-powered summaries for calls, meetings, and document content based on local AI computing capabilities.

    The Dimensity 9500s is built on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, integrating more than 29 billion transistors. It features a flagship all–big-core CPU architecture and includes a Cortex-X925 ultra-big core. MediaTek states that, combined with the second-generation Dimensity scheduling engine and advanced memory compression technology, the chip delivers significant improvements in performance scheduling efficiency and app launch speeds. The Dimensity 9500s also supports ray tracing, 8K HDR video, on-device AI computing, as well as 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

    Targeting the “light flagship” segment, the Dimensity 8500 also adopts a second-generation all–big-core CPU architecture and is manufactured using TSMC’s N4P process. CPU performance is up 7% over the previous generation, GPU performance is improved by 25%, and it comes with a quad-channel memory configuration. The Dimensity 8500 likewise supports ray tracing and further enhances AI capabilities for voice and imaging. Source

    The Philippines grants visa-free entry to Chinese travelers

    The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has announced a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens. Starting from January 16, 2026, Chinese passport holders will be allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for stays of up to 14 days. This policy applies only to tourists entering through Manila and Cebu airports, and the 14-day stay period is non-extendable. Source

    Qwen announces the launch of AI-powered lifestyle shopping features

    On January 15, the Qwen app announced full integration with Alibaba ecosystem services including Taobao, Alipay, and Taobao Instant Delivery, opening beta access to AI-powered shopping and lifestyle services for all users.

    According to the official introduction, the Qwen app now enables unified operations such as ordering food delivery, AI-assisted shopping, and booking flights directly within the chat interface. More than 400 new features have been launched, with deep integration into Alipay’s government services and Fliggy’s travel services, along with the release of a complete feature list. A new “Task Assistant” feature has also been added to support intelligent planning and execution of multi-step complex tasks. Source

    Apple announces Apple Pay support for Visa cards

    On January 15, Apple announced the expansion of Apple Pay’s cross-border payment support. When traveling abroad, users in mainland China can use locally issued Visa credit and debit cards to make payments at offline merchants and online scenarios that support contactless payments.

    At present, Visa credit cards issued by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Merchants Bank, China CITIC Bank, Ping An Bank, and Industrial Bank, as well as Visa debit cards issued by China CITIC Bank, already support this feature. After adding these cards to the Apple Wallet app, users can make cross-border payments via Apple Pay.

    In addition, Visa credit cards issued by institutions such as Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Construction Bank, China Minsheng Bank, and China Everbright Bank are expected to join the list of supported cards in the coming months. Mastercard has also stated that it plans to enable Apple Pay support for Chinese cardholders of some issuing banks in the coming months. Source

    Google Gemini now rolls out “Personal Intelligence”

    On January 14, Google announced that a new feature called “Personal Intelligence” has been opened for testing to individual accounts. This feature can integrate information from apps such as Gmail and Google Photos, helping Gemini understand contextual relationships without explicit instructions, enabling the chatbot to comprehend user data across apps and provide responses that better match personal situations.

    The feature will be rolled out first to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the United States, and will later be added to Google Search’s AI Mode. To reduce potential risks, “Personal Intelligence” is turned off by default.

    Josh Woodward, Vice President of Google Labs and the Gemini app, said that the test version may still produce judgment errors and encouraged users to actively provide feedback. In scenarios involving changes in relationships or complex personal interests, Gemini may still struggle to accurately grasp timing and context. In sensitive areas such as health, Gemini will not make proactive inferences and will only discuss based on existing data when users explicitly ask questions.

    In addition, Google stated that it will not directly use users’ Gmail content or photo libraries to train models. Only some interaction data, such as user prompts and model responses, will be used to gradually optimize feature performance. Source

    Microsoft to remove the Collections feature from Microsoft Edge

    Microsoft recently notified users in the latest Microsoft Edge Dev build that it plans to remove the “Collections” feature from the browser. After the change is implemented, users will no longer be able to add new content to Collections.

    For existing data, Microsoft is offering limited migration options. Users can move all web pages saved in Collections to Favorites (bookmarks), but this method will only preserve the page links and will not migrate any images or notes previously added. To fully retain images and notes, users must manually export their Collections data as a CSV file for offline storage. Microsoft warns that if the export is not completed in advance, the related data will be removed from user accounts later and may be permanently lost.

    According to public information, the Edge Collections feature was first introduced in 2020, allowing users to save web pages, images, and notes in one place, commonly used for travel planning, research organization, and shopping lists. At present, Microsoft has not issued an official announcement regarding the removal of this feature. However, as the notice has already appeared in the Dev version, users are advised to back up their data as soon as possible to prepare for potential future product changes. Source