Apple reported strong financial results for its fiscal third quarter, with higher sales of iPhones and MacBooks pushing its earnings above Wall Street predictions. The company also raised prices for Macs and iPads due to a shortage of memory chips linked to artificial intelligence demand.
Key Facts
Apple earned $29.79 billion, or $2.02 per share, in the April-June period, a 27% increase from last year.
Revenue rose 16% to $109.42 billion compared to $94.04 billion a year earlier.
Analysts expected earnings of $1.89 per share and revenue of $109 billion, so Apple surpassed these estimates.
Apple raised prices on Macs and iPads last month because of a memory chip shortage caused by increased AI demand.
iPhone prices have not increased yet, but analysts expect Apple to raise them later this year.
Tariff refunds added 11 cents per share to Apple's earnings.
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, said this was the company’s strongest June quarter ever with growth in iPhone, Mac, Services, and all geographic areas.
Despite the strong results, Apple’s stock fell by 2.3% in after-hours trading.
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Russian state hackers from the group TA488 are exploiting a serious security flaw in Microsoft Outlook’s Exchange Server. The flaw allows attackers to secretly install malware when a victim opens an email in Outlook Web Access, giving hackers long-lasting access to email accounts and sensitive information.
Key Facts
The hacker group TA488 works for the Kremlin and targets unpatched Exchange Server machines.
They exploit a security weakness called CVE-2026-42897, a type of cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw.
Microsoft patched this vulnerability in July after providing initial guidance in May.
The malware, named OWAReaper by researchers, is activated simply by opening an email in Outlook Web Access (OWA).
OWAReaper captures saved passwords and email tokens to gain persistent access to victims’ mailboxes.
This backdoor remains active on the server and cannot be removed just by changing passwords or reinstalling the user’s device.
Proofpoint and the U.S. National Security Agency issued warnings about this and similar ongoing attacks exploiting email services.
Users are advised to check for unauthorized access, remove unwanted permissions, and apply Microsoft’s updates to secure their systems.
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Sony plans to stop making physical PlayStation game discs in the near future. Many physical games today still need extra downloads to fix bugs or get missing parts, so just having a disc doesn’t always mean the game works fully offline.
Key Facts
Sony will soon end production of physical PlayStation games on discs.
Many physical game discs require downloading updates to fix bugs or add missing content.
About 27% of tested physical games need downloads for proper play.
This figure is higher for newer consoles: 34% for PS5 games and 50% for Xbox Series X games.
The DoesItPlay group tests physical games to see if they work without internet connections.
Some games, like Cyberpunk 2077, were released in poor shape on disc and need patches to be playable.
Some discs contain only a small part of the game, requiring large downloads to access the full game.
Sony fixed a past issue with offline PlayStation consoles but some older models remain affected.
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Google is making Chrome browser updates faster and less disruptive by increasing how often it releases fixes and reducing the need to restart the browser. Recent updates fixed many security problems found using advanced AI tools, and Google plans to update Chrome up to twice a week soon, with ways to install updates without interrupting users.
Key Facts
Chrome recently had two major updates, versions 149 and 150, fixing over 1,000 security bugs combined.
AI systems helped find many vulnerabilities quickly, including a 13-year-old bug that could let attackers access local files.
Google worries that attackers might also use AI to find flaws faster, so it aims to keep Chrome very up to date.
Starting in 2026, Chrome will update every two weeks, with plans to test updates twice a week.
Many users don’t restart Chrome right after an update downloads, so the update isn’t fully installed.
On macOS, Chrome 150 introduced “zero window restart,” which updates Chrome in the background if the browser is closed but not quit.
Google is working on “dynamic patching,” a method to install security fixes without needing any browser restart.
If successful, this will make Chrome updates even less noticeable and more frequent.
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A used part of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to crash into the moon on August 5, 2026, at high speed. Scientists plan to study the impact to learn more about the moon’s surface and test how impacts affect lunar equipment and astronauts.
Key Facts
The object is the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that launched two lunar landers in January 2025.
It will hit the moon near the Einstein crater at about 5,400 miles per hour.
Researchers track this debris and have predicted the impact precisely.
The collision will create a bright flash, a plume of dust and debris, and a new crater.
Scientists can measure the impact to better understand the moon’s composition.
This event helps test methods used to study natural impacts on the moon.
The study also helps assess risks for future lunar astronauts and equipment.
NASA plans to send astronauts back to the moon by 2028 and build a permanent base there.
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The world’s tallest hybrid timber skyscraper, Atlassian Central in Sydney, Australia, has reached its full height of over 180 meters (590 feet). This 39-story building uses a mix of engineered wood, steel, and concrete to reduce carbon emissions while meeting modern safety standards.
Key Facts
Atlassian Central is the tallest hybrid timber tower, standing over 180 meters tall.
It is 100 meters taller than the previous record holder, the Ascent tower in Milwaukee.
The building combines mass timber with steel and concrete for strength and lower carbon impact.
The construction uses a modular design stacking concrete and steel floors with three floors of timber each.
It is built above a heritage-listed timber building, appearing to float with minimal site impact.
The project aims to cut carbon emissions by 50% compared to traditional designs.
Hybrid timber buildings face challenges like fire safety, moisture protection, and vibration control.
This building serves as a prototype for future sustainable high-rise construction using timber.
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NASA will hold a briefing to discuss three spacewalks planned for next month. These spacewalks will involve maintenance and upgrades on the International Space Station’s power, communication, and other systems to help support future missions.
Key Facts
NASA plans three spacewalks next month.
The spacewalks focus on maintaining and improving the space station.
Work will include power systems and communication equipment.
These upgrades support ongoing operations on the station.
NASA aims to return astronauts to the moon by around 2028.
The briefing will happen on Thursday before the spacewalks begin.
The spacewalk tasks are part of preparing for future space missions.
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Google has introduced Gemini Robotics 2.0, an upgrade to its robotics software that helps robots perform more complex tasks and work together. The new system includes a model that lets robots understand live video and correct mistakes while doing tasks.
Key Facts
Gemini Robotics 2.0 is built on Google’s Gemini AI models and improves robot dexterity and safety.
The system can analyze changing environments and help robots collaborate on tasks.
Gemini Robotics ER 2 is a vision language model that processes live video to guide robots step-by-step.
ER 2 can recognize key moments in tasks, like when a robot should stop pouring liquid, with about 90% accuracy.
The model allows robots to identify errors and retry just the failed step instead of starting over.
Robots using this system can work together without getting in each other’s way.
Gemini Robotics 2 includes models that generate robot actions from instructions, similar to how AI creates text or images.
Google is testing this technology on different robot hardware, including Boston Dynamics machines.
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The U.S. Space Force is running a military exercise in space to show how satellites could quickly launch, find, and avoid each other during future conflicts. Two satellites, one from True Anomaly and one from Rocket Lab, performed close approaches and maneuvers in orbit, demonstrating fast response and monitoring abilities.
Key Facts
The exercise is called Victus Haze and is managed by the U.S. Space Force.
True Anomaly’s Jackal satellite and Rocket Lab’s Puma satellite took part in the exercise.
Puma was launched less than 17 hours after being called up, breaking the 72-hour launch readiness goal.
In under 59 hours, Puma moved close to Jackal and took photos, beating the 84-hour success target.
The satellites performed maneuvers to approach, inspect, and evade each other as part of the mission.
The exercise shows how the military might react quickly to an emerging space threat by launching satellites on short notice.
Both satellites are roughly the size of a large dishwasher to a refrigerator.
The mission continues with ongoing tasks where the satellites chase and avoid one another in orbit.
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Federal regulators have approved Amazon’s Zoox self-driving cars to start charging customers for robotaxi rides without steering wheels once local permissions are secured. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also considering rules to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, aiming to support safe autonomous vehicle development.
Key Facts
Zoox, owned by Amazon, has received federal approval to charge for rides in its fully autonomous vehicles without steering wheels.
These Zoox robotaxis feature four inward-facing seats and have been giving free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year.
Zoox can deploy up to 2,500 vehicles without steering wheels over the next two years as it demonstrates safety.
The NHTSA proposed a rule last month to allow robotaxis to run without brake pedals, but it is still under review.
NHTSA aims to balance innovation with safety through guidance, enforcement, and performance standards.
Amazon bought Zoox for $1.2 billion and plans to produce up to 10,000 robotaxis per year near Silicon Valley.
Waymo, owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent), is the current industry leader with robotaxi operations in multiple cities.
More than 500,000 people have already ridden in Zoox vehicles.
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Internet prices are going down across the U.S., and speeds are getting faster. However, many states still have big differences in internet access and quality between cities and rural areas.
Key Facts
Broadband prices in the U.S. dropped by 6 percent in 2025.
Internet speeds increased by 22 percent during the same time.
North Dakota ranks first for the best home internet, with 99.2% of homes having high-speed access and little difference between urban and rural areas.
Alaska ranks last on all measured internet access points, with only 71.5% high-speed home coverage and a large gap between city and countryside access.
Some states, like New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, are called "Internet Deserts" due to poor access.
California and Washington rank low because of big differences in internet access between cities (around 96%) and rural areas (about 52-57%).
The federal government is investing $42.45 billion to improve internet infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas through the BEAD program.
The study used broadband data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and looked at factors like fiber and gigabit availability.
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DoorDash has received FAA approval to start its own drone delivery program called DoorDash Air but has not begun operations yet. The company is developing drones and related technology to expand delivery options, expecting that this will increase overall delivery demand and create new jobs requiring technical skills.
Key Facts
DoorDash received FAA Part 135 air carrier certification to operate drone deliveries during the daytime.
FAA approval for actual drone flights is still pending further review of aircraft and operations.
DoorDash Air is an in-house drone delivery program developed by DoorDash Labs, the company's robotics and automation division.
DoorDash expects drone deliveries to complement, not replace, human couriers (Dashers).
The company is building its own drones, software, and logistics systems rather than relying on outside providers.
Over 20% of DoorDash orders in 2025 are deliveries of 3 to 5 miles, a range suitable for drone delivery.
Drones cannot perform tasks such as navigating complex locations, verifying IDs, or handling multiple-stop orders.
DoorDash is hiring workers with skills in robotics, automation, hardware, and operations for this new program.
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IBM announced three new demonstrations showing quantum computers performing tasks that classical computers struggle to verify. These examples use different methods to reduce errors and confirm that quantum results are reliable, hinting progress in quantum computing despite hardware limitations.
Key Facts
Quantum computers can solve some problems much faster than classical computers, but current quantum devices have limited power and make errors.
Verifying quantum results is hard because classical computers can't always check them, and quantum machines sometimes give wrong answers.
IBM launched a "quantum advantage tracker" to identify cases where quantum computers clearly outperform classical ones.
The new announcements highlight three methods to handle quantum errors and validate results on today’s noisy quantum hardware.
One effort involves IBM, Japanese research institute RIKEN, and software company Qedma modeling quantum systems with error reduction techniques.
The research focused on simulating a physical process (a Floquet process) and an Ising model, which represent systems where parts influence each other’s states.
These models are small enough to run on current quantum devices but still complex to simulate classically, helping test the quantum computers’ progress.
Although none of the new results have immediate practical use, they show growing trust in quantum computing outputs under current hardware conditions.
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with top advisers in President Donald Trump’s administration to talk about the development of artificial intelligence (AI). This meeting happened after lawmakers on Capitol Hill also spoke with Altman. Some technology workers are asking the government to create safety rules for AI.
Key Facts
Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI, a company that develops artificial intelligence.
He recently met with key advisers in President Donald Trump’s administration.
Altman had earlier discussions with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Some tech employees express concern about how fast AI is developing.
These employees want the government to set new safety rules for AI technology.
The talks aim to address the challenges and risks linked to AI growth.
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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg predicts that within five years, billions of people will have personal AI assistants that help manage their health, money, relationships, and daily tasks. Meta is investing heavily in AI technology, spending billions on new AI models and infrastructure, even though these costs have caused a drop in free cash flow and stock value.
Key Facts
Zuckerberg says it is very likely billions will use personal AI agents within five years.
These AI assistants would work 24/7 to help users meet their goals in many areas like health and finances.
Meta spent $31.1 billion in one quarter on AI research, infrastructure, and data centers.
Meta’s free cash flow fell by 91%, and its stock dropped nearly 10% after the earnings report.
WhatsApp and Meta’s messaging apps are central to their AI agent plans, already serving business users.
Meta announced a plan to build a large 1-gigawatt data center in Texas as part of expanding AI infrastructure.
Other companies like Google are also developing AI agents that can perform tasks, not just answer questions.
An AI agent can carry out real actions for users, like booking a restaurant, unlike chatbots that only provide information.
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The article discusses how more Black people in the US are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools for health-related questions and guidance. It invites Black individuals to share their experiences with AI health resources, including AI-generated social media influencers and chatbots, through a secure and anonymous survey.
Key Facts
AI is becoming more common in healthcare and health advice.
Black people in the US, who have faced racism in healthcare, are increasingly using AI tools for health information.
The article focuses on AI-generated Black health and spiritual influencers.
Readers who are Black and 18 or older are invited to share their experiences with AI and health assistance.
The survey can be completed anonymously and uses encrypted forms to protect privacy.
Submitted information will only be used for the article and deleted afterward.
Participants can choose whether their responses are published and if they want to be contacted.
The Guardian is collecting this information to understand how AI affects health support in Black communities.
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Xbox experienced a nearly 20-hour outage caused by a licensing system error that incorrectly blocked some players from playing games using physical discs. Xbox’s technology chief said this problem should not have happened and promised a fix, amid ongoing concerns about the future of physical game ownership as the industry moves toward digital-only sales.
Key Facts
The Xbox outage lasted about 20 hours and was caused by a licensing check failure.
Some players could not access games on physical discs during the outage.
Xbox confirmed that disc-based games should still be playable even during online issues.
A future update will fix the problem to prevent it from happening again.
PlayStation also had a network outage recently, raising similar worries.
Game companies are moving toward selling mostly digital versions instead of physical discs.
Sony plans to stop releasing physical PlayStation games starting in January 2028.
Some consumers and groups are concerned about losing control over game ownership with digital-only models.
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The Model Context Protocol (MCP), a standard for how AI systems connect to external tools and data, has released its biggest update since launch. The new version makes the protocol stateless, improving reliability and scaling for enterprise use, and includes new features like better routing, caching, and security.
Key Facts
MCP is an open source protocol that helps AI systems interact with tools and data sources.
The latest update changes MCP from a stateful to a stateless protocol, meaning requests don’t depend on a specific server session.
This change aims to improve scalability and reliability for large-scale enterprise deployments.
New features added include multi round-trip requests, header-based routing, cacheable list results, and stronger authorization.
A new deprecation policy requires features to stay available for at least 12 months before being removed, except in emergencies.
MCP was created by Anthropic and is now managed by the Agentic AI Foundation under the Linux Foundation.
Major tech companies like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon also contribute to the MCP project.
The update represents a significant redesign from the original version that only worked on local machines.
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In the 1950s, the Soviet Union started a program to develop artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on cybernetics, the study of communication between humans and machines. Soviet researchers made notable achievements, including developing Kaissa, the first computer to win a World Computer Chess Championship in 1974.
Key Facts
The Soviet Union began exploring AI in the 1950s, using cybernetics as a main approach.
Cybernetics was sometimes viewed skeptically as a "bourgeois science" but was also promoted as important for scientific progress.
The Soviet AI program focused on creating "thinking machines" and practical tools for managing the economy.
Kaissa, a Soviet-developed chess computer, won the first World Computer Chess Championship in 1974.
Alexander Kronrod led the team that developed Kaissa and is considered a key figure in Soviet AI.
Dmitry Pospelov helped build support for AI research and criticized Western AI views that simplified intelligence to computer-like calculations.
AI in the USSR was often used to improve industries such as oil and gas by optimizing processes.
The Russian Association for Artificial Intelligence was created in 1989 as a result of these efforts.
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