Tesla's much-touted autonomous "robotaxi", called the Cybercab, has started production, CEO Elon Musk said on Friday, the same week that the carmaker reported first-quarter profits that beat expectations.

Musk posted a promotional video on X accompanied with the brief caption, "Cybercab has started production."

The 38-second clip, mostly shot from within a driverless Cybercab, showed the vehicle rolling off the factory floor and driving onto streets.

Musk also shared a short video clip showing what appeared to be multiple gold-colored Cybercabs driving in formation on a road.

Cybercab has started production pic.twitter.com/MAeswanf96

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 24, 2026

Tesla said it was on track to commence "volume production" of both its Cybercab and Tesla Semi this year, after reporting first-quarter profits of $477 million.

Cybercab -- billed as a self-driving robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals -- was first unveiled in the fall of 2024, with Musk predicting at the time that it would become available in 2027.

Tesla began offering robotaxi services to "early access" users on an invitation-only basis in the US city of Austin, Texas, last June.

The auto manufacturer posted a photo in February showing employees gathered around a Cybercab on a factory floor, with the caption "First Cybercab off the production line at Giga Texas."

AFP

Norway said Friday it will present a bill this year making it the latest country seeking to ban social networks for under 16s, adding that technology companies will be responsible for verifying the age of its users.

"We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children. Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement.

"This is an important measure to safeguard children's digital lives," he added.

Several European countries, such as France, Spain, and Denmark have already said they will introduce a digital age of majority for social networks and others like Australia and Türkey have already done so.

The European Commission has also made clear its determination to take action to protect children and adolescents, notably by unveiling in mid-April an age-verification app that will soon be made available to European citizens.

"I expect technology companies to ensure that the age limit is respected. Children cannot be left with the responsibility for staying away from platforms they are not allowed to use," added Norwegian  Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung.

"That responsibility rests with the companies providing these services. They must implement effective age verification and comply with the law from day one".

The government said the number of children with phones or using social media had declined  due to a host of measures it had already taken, including "national screen-time guidelines and recommendations for mobile-free schools."

AFP

As someone who used to game way too much back in my bachelor days, I sometimes wonder how my relationship would be affected if I still put in those long hours with a controller in my hand?

It’s a common theme: does console gaming still make sense in adulthood — or does it start to cost more than it gives back?

It’s been a long time since I’ve became an adult - about 22 years since I was 18 and often it feels like when I do fire up my Xbox it’s something that I should have moved on from.

But I still enjoy it, and part of it is the fact that I actually don’t get the chance to game all that often anymore anyway.

Balancing Console Gaming with Relationships and Health Priorities

Having met my future wife in 2018, my priorities naturally shifted. My healthy obsession with running has always seemed like a better alternative.

Except I hate glancing over at my Xbox under my TV and see it gathering dust, and I always find myself returning to play some of my old favourites or trying out something new.

Console gaming, by design, demands time. Modern titles can stretch into dozens — even hundreds — of hours. For adults trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance, that kind of commitment can be difficult to justify.

It’s here that gaming starts to clash with relationships. Therapists and relationship experts have long pointed out that excessive gaming — particularly when it replaces quality time with a partner — can create emotional distance. While it’s not unique to men, it’s often men who fall into patterns of prolonged, immersive play that sideline real-world connection.

Managing Gaming Addiction and Finding Balance

The issue isn’t gaming itself — it’s imbalance.

Like any kind of obsession, or dare I say it, addiction, it comes down to how you manage it. And like all addictions, being able to know you have a problem is the first step.

For adults, the question isn’t whether you should game, but how you game. When it complements your life, it can be a powerful tool for relaxation and stress relief. When it replaces important relationships or responsibilities, it quickly becomes a liability.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Is a headache a warning sign of stroke? Does a cough require an X-ray? What do abnormal test results really mean?

With just a few taps to describe symptoms and upload medical reports, people can receive a polished, seemingly professional assessment from artificial intelligence (AI) in seconds. More and more people have begun to turn to it for medical advice before seeing a doctor. But does that mean AI can truly diagnose and treat patients?

Straight A student in standardised tests

A study published in early April by researchers at Germany's Marburg University and University Hospital Giessen and Marburg found that in a standardized knowledge test on acute kidney injury(AKI), several large language models (LLMs) outperformed the medical professionals who took part in the assessment.

Researchers compared 13 publicly available LLMs with 123 volunteer participants at the 131st Annual Congress of the German Society of Internal Medicine, including medical students and physicians in internal medicine. Both groups completed the same AKI knowledge assessment, which consisted of two case vignettes and 15 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions.

The LLMs achieved a mean score of 13.5 out of 15, or 90%, with several models reaching a perfect score, while the human participants averaged 7.3 out of 15, or 48.7%. The models also completed the test far more quickly. "These findings show that LLMs can provide factual medical knowledge very quickly. That creates opportunities for everyday clinical practice," said Philipp Russ, the study's corresponding author.

Weak link in clinical reasoning

High scores on standardized tests, however, do not necessarily mean AI has the judgment required for real-world clinical care. A study published in JAMA Network Open on April 13 found that LLMs still fall short in clinical reasoning, especially in the early stages of a case, when limited information often prevents them from generating an appropriate differential diagnosis.

To better reflect how diagnosis unfolds in practice, the researchers at Mass General Brigham and other institutions evaluated 21 frontier LLMs using 29 standardized clinical vignettes. The models were fed information step by step, beginning with basic details such as a patient's age, gender and symptoms, and followed by physical examination findings and laboratory results. Their performance at each stage was assessed by medical student evaluators.

The result showed that all the models failed to produce an appropriate differential diagnosis more than 80% of the time. That means they often could not reliably determine the most likely cause, rule out serious disease or offer sound guidance on what should be investigated next.

"Differential diagnoses are central to clinical reasoning and underlie the 'art of medicine' that AI cannot currently replicate," said corresponding author Marc Succi, adding that the promise of AI in clinical medicine continues to lie in its potential to augment, not replace, physician reasoning.

Doctor-led collaboration

If AI is not ready to practice medicine on its own, what role should it play in healthcare? Jens Kleesiek, director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine at Essen University Hospital and the University of Duisburg-Essen said that thanks to AI, the collaboration between doctors and computers is constantly improving.

"We are at a point where digital systems no longer just provide support, but actively intervene in processes. For example, by taking over documentation or coordinating procedures," Kleesiek said at the opening of the 2026 Annual Congress of the German Society of Internal Medicine on April 18. "This will fundamentally change medical care."

Even so, the doctor's primary responsibility remains unchanged. Kleesiek emphasized that the human factor is still crucial and that AI must be deployed under the guidance of physicians with the expertise to understand the technology and use it properly.

Marc Succi made a similar point, saying that "LLMs in healthcare continue to require a 'human in the loop' and very close oversight."

As AI is pushed further into clinical practice, the risks that come with it also require close attention. Fares Alahdab, an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, warned that experienced clinicians are often better able to spot flawed AI-generated suggestions, while medical students may lack the judgment needed to detect subtle but potentially dangerous errors.

"A more insidious risk is the outsourcing of reasoning, a process that tends to occur gradually and almost imperceptibly," he said, adding that AI models produce fluent, polished responses that can lead users to abandon independent information-seeking, critical appraisal and knowledge synthesis. Over time, this may erode skills that should be continuously reinforced.

Xinhua

Like seemingly everything else these days, WhatsApp is introducing a new, optional subscription service called "WhatsApp Plus" and is currently rolling out to users in limited locations.

So what does this mean for the popular messaging service?

While a widespread concern is that there will be ads in the app, it turns out that this new tier is mostly about customising the look and feel rather than changing the functionality. 

It is designed to give users more ways to personalise their app with exclusive features. It also comes with specific eligibility requirements.

Here is a breakdown of what changes, what stays the same, and other noteworthy details about the new service.

What will change and what won't change about WhatsApp? 

For the billions of users who rely on the standard app, the core WhatsApp experience will not change.

The standard version of WhatsApp will remain completely free, and as far as we know, it will continue to provide simple, reliable, and private messaging and calling. The company has stated its commitment to ensuring that the free version of WhatsApp continues to improve for everyone.

Now, let's go over what will change. Users who choose to upgrade to the WhatsApp Plus subscription will unlock a suite of customisation and organisational tools.

Subscribers can choose from unique app themes and icons to personalise how their app looks, applying new colour options to messages, icons, and backgrounds.

WhatsApp Plus users will also be allowed to pin up to 20 chats, ensuring that important conversations stay at the top of their feed. Users can also create customised chat lists equipped with custom themes, ringtones, and alert tones.

The subscription introduces premium stickers with special effects to add extra personality to chats. Additionally, users can assign premium ringtones to their most important contacts.

Details and limitations

There are a few important caveats for users considering the upgrade.

It is worth noting that the app theme and icon benefits are entirely private; the new visual choices are only visible to the subscriber and will not change the appearance of the app for the people they are chatting with.

Additionally, WhatsApp Plus is exclusively available to mobile users on iOS and Android and is only accessible in the standard WhatsApp Messenger app, not the WhatsApp Business app. The company strictly notes that subscriptions are only supported on official versions of the app downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Using unofficial versions of WhatsApp can result in a temporary or permanent account ban.

Finally, the billing for WhatsApp Plus operates on an automatic monthly renewal system.

Users will be charged on the same date each month and must cancel at least 24 hours before their next payment date if they wish to stop future charges. Users are also restricted to one active WhatsApp Plus subscription per WhatsApp account.

IOL

Since the new iPhone Air launched in September, it’s been the worst selling phone among the latest range released by Apple, and it’s no surprise really.

If you’ve been in the Apple ecosystem for any length of time, you know that they are experts at luring you in to buy an inferior product at a premium, and that’s exactly the case again with the iPhone Air.

The new, thinner, very slightly lighter phone was launched alongside the iPhone 17 range.

It means there are now five different ‘new gen’ models to choose from, which are the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17e, iPhone Pro, and iPhone Pro Max.

iPhone Air: A Sleek Design with Inexcusable Hardware Limitations

Once again, it’s a convoluted lineup, but what stands out for me is the iPhone Air.

Like the MacBook Air and iPad Air, Apple has once more introduced a thinner, lighter product in the lineup that looks aesthetically pleasing.

However, unlike the current MacBook Air and iPad Air, there are a number of inexcusable hardware limitations with the first of its kind iPhone Air.

This is best demonstrated by the fact that alongside the new iPhone Air, Apple will now be offering a custom-made MagSafe (magnetic) external battery which clips onto the phone.

You heard that right, to get better battery performance on par with the other current iPhones, a user will have to essentially carry a power bank as well? For me, that’s just counter-intuitive and simply ludicrous.

Without the external battery, the Air has the worst battery life among the 17 lineup with up to 30 hours of playback according to the Apple website, but that’s in their own tests and not real-world use. In their presentation of the Air, it also said “all-day battery,” which is really vague and difficult to prove or disprove.

Of course, it is noticeably thinner at 5.64mm thick compared to the base model iPhone 17, which is the next thinnest at 7.95mm thick. The Air also comes in at 165g, while the 17 is 12g heavier at 177, which is an indistinguishable weight difference. 

The comparison with the iPhone 17 is the most relevant, since the Air retails at R21,999. The iPhone 17 will be R2000 cheaper, and though the display is slightly smaller at 6.3” compared to the Air’s 6.5”.

In every other aspect, the iPhone 17 bests the Air, with a much better camera system probably the biggest advantage. Like the iPhone 16e, the iPhone has just one 48MP main camera on the back, while every other model has multiple lenses, most notably the extremely useful widescreen for any kind of outdoor pictures or videos.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

At an event that took place on 14 April 2026, Samsung in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) officially announced the Top 20 schools that have been selected to advance to the next stages of the 2026 STEM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) - Solve For Tomorrow (SFT) competition. 

In attendance was Mr. Simon Lee, the President and CEO of Samsung Africa with his management team and some of the country’s dignitaries and strategic partners that included Ms Elspeth Khembo, Director for Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST), Curriculum Innovation and E-Learning at the National Department of Basic Education (DBE); as well as Mr. Tlali Tlali, the Director of Corporate Affairs at State Information Technology Agency (SITA).

This announcement marks the end of the initial application phase which ran until 06 March 2026 and Samsung along with its partners were recognising the outstanding contributions that these Top 20 schools have made to the programme; showcasing their achievements and potential impact. This year's participation has reached new heights, with over 143 submissions from public schools across the country – a remarkable growth from 47 entries last year. This is testament to the unwavering dedication of the country’s educators and learners as well as Samsung’s valued partners: DBE and SITA.

The notable increase in participation can also be credited to the major shift in the application process in this year’s SFT competition, which has now been opened to all public schools, including quintile 5 - making it more inclusive and nationally representative. Now, the competition has reached a stage where it moves beyond theoretical knowledge. It is shifting from mere idea submissions going towards an active, mentored development of the solutions stage that is designed to create a positive social impact in local communities. 

This year's global themes: Social Inclusion through Sports & Technology and Environmental Sustainability via Technology, reflect our shared responsibility to build an equitable, sustainable and inclusive future. These themes which seek to foster innovation among high school learners from underprivileged backgrounds throughout South Africa - are encouraging critical thinking and problem solving for Gen Z to build sustainable solutions through STEM.

Speaking at the event, the President and CEO of Samsung Africa, Mr. Lee shared his sentiments on the collaborative agreement between Samsung and DBE which has in the last few years - highlighted the direct alignment of the SFT’s objectives to the country’s national education priorities. He added that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Samsung and DBE has been instrumental in driving this success, anchoring the company’s partnership in strengthening STEM education and equipping learners with critical skills for the digital economy.

And, according to the Director for Mathematics, Science & Technology (MST), Curriculum Innovation & E-Learning at the National Department of Basic Education, Ms. Elspeth Khembo: “By teaching learners to use digital tools, data and technology to develop innovative solutions, this Samsung SFT competition advances the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen STEM education, expand digital learning opportunities and cultivate future-ready skills among the country’s learners. 

Ms. Khembo explained further and said: “All of this is in direct alignment with our national education priorities including fostering 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) skills, critical thinking and equitable access to opportunities in an effort to build a capable, innovation-driven and inclusive economy,”

For these Grade 10 and 11 learners from selected public schools - making it to this stage of the competition is a significant milestone. Advancing to this next phase means that these Top 20 school learners will - through project-based learning – be equipped with the 4Cs which are Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication. These skills are essential for solving real-world challenges. 

The Director at SITA - Corporate Affairs Mr. Tlali Tlali also added: “We’re honoured to be part of this amazing initiative and even prouder of the fact that we’ve been partners with Samsung from inception. It gives us great joy to see the enthusiasm that’s evident in the significant increase in the number of schools from the country’s previously disadvantaged communities, that participate in this unique, global initiative. Our goal of aligning with Samsung’s transformation goals and building a digital South Africa by improving educational and career prospects for our youth, remains intact.”

With the support of mentors, design thinking workshops, prototype funding and tablets for research and project execution, the learners will have the resources to turn their visions into reality. This is complemented by the invaluable contributions  from the judges and partners whose expertise and guidance is instrumental in nurturing this year’s young innovators.

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in South Africa said: “We would like to congratulate the Top 20 schools that made it to the next stage of this competition. As Samsung, we are very happy with the quality of the entries that we received from various schools around the country and are appreciative of the interest and overwhelming participation in this year’s competition. We are also grateful to our partners: DBE and SITA, whose strategic priorities align perfectly with our mission to empower students with skills that transcend the classroom and are able to prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.”

And when taking a closer look at the themes for this year - the social change through sports and tech theme focuses on how the power of sport as a unifying force in South Africa is recognised. And, when combined with technology - sport becomes a tool for inclusion, youth development, health and community building. This first theme encourages young innovators to use digital platforms, data and smart solutions to improve access to sports, develop talent, promote wellness and create safer, more connected communities. It’s about using technology to amplify the positive social impact of sport beyond the field. 

The second theme which focuses on Environmental sustainability through technology addresses the urgent environmental challenges that the country faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, waste management and energy access. This environmentally-focused theme invites young people to develop tech-driven solutions that protect natural resources, promote renewable energy and support sustainable living. It signifies a shift toward responsible innovation using technology not just for convenience, but to secure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.

And furthermore, this year’s announcement places these Top 20 schools in the running to win substantial prizes, including up to R100,000 in STEM equipment for the winning school - with 2nd and 3rd place winning R50,000 and R30,000 respectively; plus Samsung devices for the top learners in the winning schools. 

Makgato concluded: “As a pioneer in education and innovation, this SFT programme provides us with an opportunity to reinforce our dedication to nurturing the country’s future problem-solvers. Samsung is resolute in its mission when it comes to its education goals: we remain committed to continue empowering South Africa’s learners to address global challenges through technology and innovation.

Deciding to buy a handheld game console or just stick with your smartphone is something that I’ve toyed with for some time.

I was hesitant to hand over my hard-earned cash for something like a Nintendo Switch or the Lite version, and instead I bought a really ‘cheapy’.

That’s, of course, one of these dime-a-dozen Nintendo Game Boy-inspired ripoffs that can play all those classic games from the Japanese tech giant.

That little device, which cost me just R200, gave me access to over 1,000 Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games.

Why Smartphones Offer a Superior Gaming Experience Over Handheld Consoles

The result? The gaming experience was just fine, but playing games that are mostly 35 years old or older gets stale quite quickly.

That’s why a handheld device like this is more of an entry-level experience, and the natural next step is to invest more money.

Or you would think. That’s where your smartphone comes in. Most smartphones these days are incredibly high-powered, and they are just begging to run a few games, with most of them quite graphically demanding and impressive.

The number of games available on the Google Play or App Store is quite incredible, and there are even plenty of free games that you can spend hours enjoying if you can stomach tons of annoying ads.

When you spend a bit of money on a game, for example, R100 or more, though, that’s where the gap between handheld console and smartphone narrows considerably.

The problem with handhelds is that they will never give you the same experience as a console, and it’s not really worth the investment when you can just use your smartphone and decide with each game how much you actually want to spend - and not outlay a whole heap for something you may never use.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Australia's internet watchdog raised fears on Wednesday that popular online gaming platforms such as Roblox and Minecraft were being used by "predatory adults" to target children.

The nation's eSafety Commission has sent legal notices to a host of the world's most popular gaming platforms, demanding they explain how they are working to stamp out dangerous content.

Australia is at the forefront of global efforts to protect children from online harm, enacting laws last year that ban teenagers under 16 from social media.

eSafety boss Julie Inman Grant said research had shown the vast majority of Australian children played some sort of online game.

"Predatory adults know this and target children through grooming or embedding terrorist and violent extremist narrative in gameplay," she said.

Online gaming platforms Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite and Steam will be required to show how they are identifying and eliminating online harms, Inman Grant said.

"We've seen numerous media reports about grooming taking place on all four of these platforms, as well as terrorist and violent extremist-themed gameplay."

Inman Grant said examples included gaming platforms recreating mass shootings and World War II concentration camps.

Roblox said it had policies in place that strictly prohibited extreme content.

"We welcome engagement with eSafety on this important topic," the platform told AFP in a statement.

"We encourage anyone who sees anything concerning on Roblox to report it to us."

Australia in December banned under-16s from a raft of the world's most popular social media sites, citing the need to protect young minds from "predatory algorithms" filled with sex and violence.

Three months since the landmark laws came into effect, Australia's online safety watchdog found a "substantial proportion of Australian children" were still scrolling banned platforms.

AFP

Florida on Tuesday announced a criminal probe into whether artificial intelligence played a role in a deadly mass shooting at a university in the US state.

The decision to launch an investigation came after prosecutors reviewed exchanges between OpenAI chatbot ChatGPT and the suspected gunman, who opened fire at Florida State University last year, according to state Attorney General James Uthmeier.

"If ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder," Uthmeier said.

Florida law allows anyone who assists or counsels someone in the commission of a crime to be treated as an "aider and abettor" bearing the same responsibility as the perpetrator, according to Uthmeier.

In exchanges with ChatGPT, the accused shooter sought advice on what type of gun and ammunition to use as well as where and when on campus a lot of people would likely be found, the state attorney general said during a press briefing.

"Last year's mass shooting at Florida State University was a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime," an OpenAI spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.

"ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across public sources on the internet, and it did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity."

The company stressed that responsibility for violent acts lies with individuals, and said it continues to invest in safeguards aimed at preventing misuse of its technology.

OpenAI identified the ChatGPT account linked to the suspected shooter and provided it to police after learning of the shooting, the spokesperson noted.

Two men were killed and six other people injured in the mass shooting allegedly carried out by the son of a local deputy sheriff with her old service weapon, according to authorities.

The suspect — identified as Phoenix Ikner — rampaged through Florida State University, shooting at students before he was shot by local law enforcement.

Ikner was hospitalised with "serious but non-life-threatening injuries," investigators said.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said at the time that Ikner was a student at the university and the son of an 18-year member of his staff.

He added that the suspect took part in the sheriff's office training programs, meaning "it's not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons."

Bystander footage aired by CNN appeared to show a young man walking on a lawn and shooting at people who were trying to get away.

Mass shootings are common in the United States, where a constitutional right to bear arms trumps demands for stricter rules.

That is despite widespread public support for tighter control on firearms, including restricting the sale of high-capacity clips.

Criminal chatbot?

Rather than the maker of the gun, though, Florida prosecutors are looking at whether the creators of ChatGPT are culpable as a corporation.

"We recognise that here with AI, we are venturing into uncharted territory," Uthmeier said.

"But we need to know whether or not OpenAI has criminal liability."

Prosecutors will dig into how much OpenAI knew about the potential for "dangerous behavior" involving ChatGPT and what could have been done to mitigate that risk, according to Uthmeier.

"We cannot have AI bots that are advising people on how to kill others," the state attorney general said.

OpenAI already faces lawsuits filed by families who charge that ChatGPT caused harm and even suicide among loved ones.

Litigation accuses OpenAI of blurring the line between tool and companion in the name of increasing user engagement and market share, according to Social Media Victims Law Center founding attorney Matthew Bergman.

"They prioritized market dominance over mental health, engagement metrics over human safety, and emotional manipulation over ethical design," Bergman said in a post at the law group's website.

"The cost of those choices is measured in lives."

AFP

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"How does South Africa's SKA project relate to China's 'Sky Eye'?"

"Do international basic science projects impact our daily lives?" 

"Will learning Chinese enhance my prospects for participating in scientific collaborations?"

These were just some of the insightful questions posed by South African students after my speech. I had anticipated this technically complex subject might seem obscure, yet the students responded with remarkable enthusiasm.

Their curiosity reflected admiration for China-South Africa technological cooperation and a genuine aspiration to embark on a shared cosmic journey—with Chinese language proficiency as their vehicle.

This exchange coincided perfectly with the 17th United Nations Chinese Language Day. Invited to the Green Tech Confucius Institute at the University of Venda in South Africa, I shared my reporting experience on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project—a major scientific initiative involving both nations.

As a journalist from the Africa Center Branch of People’s Daily, I demonstrated how Chinese serves as a "linguistic lubricant" enabling seamless collaboration among international scientists and engineers. What began as a modest "Chinese + Technology" initiative has now evolved into a significant platform advancing bilateral technological cooperation.

The Square Kilometre Array, dubbed the "World's Giant Eye", comprises hundreds of dish antennas rooted in South Africa's radio-silent Karoo Desert. This global endeavour aims to explore stellar evolution, cosmic origins, and potential extraterrestrial life. As founding SKA members, China and South Africa share core construction and research responsibilities.

At the SKA site, rows of white antennae stand sentinel in the desert while multinational researchers troubleshoot technical challenges. 

Though language barriers persist in cross-border projects, China's primary role in equipment installation necessitates Chinese communication. Consequently, South African technical coordinators have organically acquired Chinese proficiency through collaboration—from jointly reviewing manuals to expressing gratitude in Mandarin. Language undeniably remains the key to breaking barriers.

The University of Venda's Confucius Institute is notably distinct as the world's only "green technology"-focused centre. Beyond language instruction, it serves as a strategic foothold for China-South Africa tech cooperation. In its classrooms, "environmental protection" and "sustainability" are recurring themes; its library prominently features materials on renewable energy and advanced technology. On campus, a small agricultural experimental field has utilised BeiDou satellite receivers for precision farming for more than a year, while a newly assembled mobile signal vehicle will soon support local intelligent transportation system.

"The Venda region may be remote, but it prioritises education and technology advancement," said Eric Maluta, the institute's foreign director. "Chinese has opened new horizons for us."

Through this linguistic bridge, initiatives like soil improvement and solar power projects have flourished. Increasingly, South African youth view Chinese as their gateway to mastering advanced technologies—positioning them as future architects of bilateral cooperation.

With Chinese building bridges and technology paving the way, the University of Venda's BeiDou-centred projects are propelling expanded aerospace collaboration. Plans include establishing an aerospace major at the university and co-developing Chinese courses with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), further solidifying this cosmic partnership.

Language transcends geographical barriers. Chinese is far more than a mere language—it actively advances China-South Africa technological collaboration while expanding its horizons. As China'’s comprehensive national strength grows and its influence expands, Chinese is increasingly becoming the lingua franca of international scientific cooperation. It will inevitably serve as a passport for global youth to pursue their aspirations.

I remain committed to chronicling these developments, documenting how the convergence of language and technology cultivates ever-brighter blossoms of China-Africa friendship.

People's Daily Online

* The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

French investigators have summoned X owner Elon Musk for a “voluntary interview” which they say could shed light on allegations that the platform was involved in the spread of AI-generated child sexual abuse images and deepfake content.

The French authorities have had a long-running feud with the US-based billionaire, casting his social media platform as a potential threat to democracy, while Musk says he is defending freedom of speech.

According to the Wall Street Journal, France attempted to convince the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to cooperate in the probe – only to be rebutted over what the DOJ suspected was an attempt “to entangle the United States in a politically charged criminal proceeding.”

Here is what we know about the Musk-France feud so far.

How did the feud between Musk and France start?

The probe dates back to January 2025, when a formal complaint against X was lodged by a French MP and a public official. According to reports at the time, the documents cited a “major modification in the algorithm used by the X platform,” resulting in a surge of “hateful, racist, anti-LGBTQ, or homophobic” content designed to “skew democratic debate in France”.

Around the same time, Musk was openly endorsing European right-wing parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Reform UK, and France’s National Rally.

A formal criminal investigation over alleged algorithm manipulation and illicit data extraction was opened in July 2025 and handed to the national police.

X denied any wrongdoing, describing the probe as an attack on free speech that distorted domestic law to “serve a political agenda.” The platform also complained that the authorities classified it as an “organized gang” and said it would not cooperate, adding that prosecutors were steering the investigation toward a predetermined outcome.

What has France accused X of?

The probe has since been expanded to include the following allegations:• Complicity in the possession of pornographic images of minors• Complicity in the organized distribution of these images• Defamation of personal image through sexual deepfakes• Denial of crimes against humanity (Holocaust denial)• Fraudulent extraction of data from an automated data processing system by an organized group• Falsification of the operation of an automated data processing system by an organized group• Operating an illegal online platform by an organized group

Has controversial sexualized content been generated by Grok and X?

X found itself in hot water in late 2025 and early 2026 when the Grok AI assistant generated an estimated 3 million sexualized images, including thousands that appeared to depict children. Grok’s ‘spicy mode’ reportedly sexualized public figures such as Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, and former US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Some users asked Grok to edit photos of women into sexualized poses and revealing clothing, and others asked it to add blood and bruising; the chatbot publicly posted these graphic images in response.

In response to the backlash, in January, X restricted Grok’s ability to edit photos of real people and show them in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where it is illegal. According to NBC, however, Grok still continues to fulfill these requests in some cases.

Holocaust controversy

In November 2025, Grok answered questions about common myths surrounding the Holocaust in a thread under a post by a convicted French Holocaust denier and neo-Nazi militant, writing that the gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp were designed for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus” rather than mass murder – effectively denying well-established Nazi crimes.

Grok later backpedaled, calling its statement ‘false’ and attributing it to “an anomalous glitch in an early output.” Musk explained the incident by saying that Grok “was too compliant to user prompts” and the issue was being dealt with.

The authorities in France – which has strict Holocaust-denial laws – expanded the probe to include the incident.

’Free speech is pure bulls**t’

French President Emmanuel Macron has made no secret of his intention to introduce more guardrails for regulating social media. In February, in one of his most brazen takes on the matter, he blasted social media platforms for “having no clue about how their algorithm is made.”

“The democratic consequences of this bias could be huge,” he said, adding: “Free speech is pure bulls**t if nobody knows how you are guided to this so-called free speech, especially when it is guided from one hate speech to another.”

He has also accused X of being “dominated by far-right content,” suggesting that the platform is no longer neutral because of the political affiliation of its owner.

Is Washington cooperating in the probe against Musk and X?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the DOJ told the French law enforcement authorities that it would not facilitate their efforts to investigate X. The letter seen by the outlet argued that the investigation “seeks to use the criminal legal system in France to regulate a public square for the free expression of ideas,” and that French requests for US assistance “constitute an effort to entangle the United States in a politically charged criminal proceeding.”

The Paris prosecutor’s office said it has no knowledge of the DOJ letter.

The Trump administration has long criticized the EU over what it describes as “digital censorship” and “regulatory suffocation” – including the bloc’s strict digital market guidelines, which the administration claims discriminate against US-based tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta.

RT News

It’s emerged that Microsoft's AI-powered feature called Windows Recall has made the operating system less secure or ‘hackable’ than ever.

Windows Recall, in layman’s terms, takes snapshots of a user’s screen every few seconds, which are stored locally every few seconds.

In theory, this sounds great if you need to retrieve a piece of information on your screen that you can no longer find or access; however, it also means users did not have control of what was being captured.

That meant any sensitive information could be saved, like passwords, banking details, or whatever it is people have on their screen when they are certain no one is looking.

Windows Recall: AI-Driven Security Risks and Opt-In Feature in Windows 11

Windows Recall was controlled by AI, which made it extremely easy for tech-savvy hackers to find their way into otherwise secure accounts.

In fact, reports have even shown that basic malware that didn’t even have administrator privileges could access the Windows Recall data.

Fortunately, in Windows 11, the recall feature is not on by default, and users have to opt in to activate it.

That’s at least some scant consolation for a feature that probably should never have existed in the first place.

That first place was way back in May 2024 when Windows Recall was first announced by Microsoft. It was billed as being designed to fit in seamlessly with Copilot+ PCs. Copilot is what Microsoft calls its AI assistant.

It first became widely available to the public in April last year. Even at the first announcement, though, experts had security concerns, which were largely ignored by the tech giant.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Apple on Monday announced that Tim Cook will step down as the tech giant's chief executive officer in September, handing the top job to company veteran John Ternus.

The announcement answers long-simmering questions about a successor for 65-year-old Cook, who said he will become executive chairman of the board when he cedes Apple's CEO position.

"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company," Cook said in a statement.

Cook joined Apple in 1998, rising through the ranks and helping drive its success as chief operating officer coordinating the iPhone maker's complex supply chain.

Tim Cook’s Leadership: Transforming Apple into a $4 Trillion Giant and Strategic Manufacturing in China

He became chief executive in 2011 after its iconic co-founder and leader Steve Jobs left due to health issues.

Cook is credited with expanding Apple's product line and ramping up the company's value to some $4 trillion based on the value of its shares.

Cook was the mastermind of the strategy that made China the primary manufacturing base for Apple devices, with the vast majority of iPhones assembled by contractor Foxconn and other suppliers in Chinese factories.

"Tim's unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world's best company," outgoing chairman of the board Arthur Levinson said in the statement.

"His integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does."

Levinson currently holds the board chairmanship in a non-executive role. He will become the board's lead independent director.

Ternus joined Apple's product design team in 2001 and became a senior vice president of hardware engineering over the course of the following two decades.

He is credited by Apple with playing roles in an array of products including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, and Mac computers.

"Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor," Ternus said in the same statement.

Apple at 50

Apple marks its 50th anniversary this year as artificial intelligence challenges the Silicon Valley legend to prove it can deliver yet another culture-changing innovation.

Jobs, a driven marketing genius, and Steve Wozniak, who invented the Apple computer, revolutionized how people use technology in the internet age.

The two men -- both college dropouts -- changed the way people use computers, listen to music and communicate on the go, giving rise to lifestyles revolving around smartphone apps.

Apple's hit products — the Mac, the iPhone, the Apple Watch and the iPad — command a cult-like following, long after the company's humble beginnings on April 1, 1976 in Jobs's Cupertino, California garage.

"Apple is making a major transition on its AI strategy and longtime CEO and legendary Cook leaving now is a surprise," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors.

"There will be a lot of pressure on Ternus to produce success out of the gates especially on the AI front."

A concern haunting investors is that Apple appears to be easing into AI while rivals Google, Microsoft and OpenAI race ahead.

A promised upgrade to its Siri digital assistant was delayed, in what analysts called a rare stumble for the company.

Rather than relying on its own engineers to overhaul Siri, Apple has turned to Google for AI capability.

While Cook has guided Apple into new categories like watches and AirPods, he is not known for the kind of "big thing" that Jobs delivered.

Under Cook, Apple spent billions of dollars on a self-driving electric vehicle project it wound up scrapping in 2024.

An Apple Maps service launched in 2012 was so rife with error that Cook published an apology letter.

And, while a technical marvel, Apple Vision Pro "spacial computing" headgear, with a price tag of $3,500, has little traction in the market.

AFP

It wasn’t long ago that YouTube would be the first stop for any kind of educational need a tech-savvy individual would use, but that seems to be rapidly changing as people are increasingly turning to AI apps like ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

Imagine this as an example: you need to work out how to cook a new recipe, and in the past, you would punch in something like in a Google search: "how to cook chocolate muffins”.

The first result would be a YouTube video detailing step-by-step how to do this.

In fact, if you typed the same search into YouTube, you’d get a ton of results, and you would click on what seems like the best video.

AI Apps vs. YouTube: The Rise of Interactive Research

Now, people would use the same prompt in their AI app of their choice and receive a simple step-by-step guide, which is different from a traditional recipe in that it remains interactive.

If you don’t have a certain ingredient, for example, you can ask the app to suggest what you can use instead.

That right there is the difference: AI apps are a much more personal experience as you can tailor the results to your specific needs. YouTube, by contrast, offers video results that generally cater to a wide audience, and if you need any additional information in some long video, you will have to search again and sit through something else to possibly find what you’re looking for.

The shift from ‘traditional media’ like YouTube hasn’t been overnight, but it has been gradual until September last year. It was then that YouTube creators, big and small, experienced a sudden drop in views across the board.

There have been many different theories as to why this is the case, but the most likely is this new shift to rely on AI apps instead of YouTube. This may be good for the average person, but if you’re a content creator on YouTube, this could well be the beginning of the end.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Unitree Robotics announced on Sunday that its H1 humanoid robot autonomously completed a 1.9-kilometre winding course in 4 minutes and 13 seconds in the Beijing humanoid robot half-marathon qualifying round, breaking the human 1,500-metre world record on a proportional calculation.

“The result in the qualifying session, when compared at a constant pace, is equivalent to surpassing the human world record in the 1,500 metres race. Recently, the robot’s peak speed in the 100-metre test run even reached 10 metres per second,” said Huang Jiawei, marketing director of Unitree Robotics.

According to the official website of World Athletics, the men’s outdoor world record for 1,500 metres is 3 minutes and 26 seconds, set in 1998.

Over 100 robot teams competed on the same track in the Beijing humanoid robot half marathon qualifying round held on Thursday, which determined the starting order for the official half marathon on Sunday. Unitree Robotics also sent its robot team to the event.

Unitree Robotics, based in Hangzhou in east China’s Zhejiang Province, showcased its cutting-edge humanoid robots during the Year of the Horse Spring Festival Gala, the world’s most-watched television event, which took place in February.

During this gala, its robots executed complex maneuvers like drunken boxing, backward obstacle avoidance and backflips, underscoring a leap from demonstrating basic mobility to mastering intricate, culturally rich physical artistry.

A recent industry report revealed that Chinese robotics firms emerged as the largest producers of humanoid robots worldwide in 2025, highlighting the country’s rapid rise in this emerging manufacturing sector.

At the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half Marathon, featuring human runners, and humanoid robot half marathon, in which robots competed, both held in China’s capital on Sunday, a humanoid robot developed by a tech firm under Honor Device Co., Ltd. won the championship with a net time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds.

It surpassed the men’s half marathon world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds set by Ugandan star Jacob Kiplimo at the Lisbon Half Marathon in March this year.

The year 2026 has been eyed as a critical turning point for the robotics industry, with it moving from simply “handling many tasks with limited proficiency” to truly “accomplishing tasks with high performance and achieving practical application,” said Luo Jianlan, chief scientist at AgiBot.

China has a clear national strategy in its quest to become a global robotics powerhouse, with this endeavour boosted by its robust industrial ecosystems, fast iteration cycles and large-scale deployment capacity.

Xinhua

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The HONOR 600 Lite has just been launched in Mzansi, bringing together cutting-edge AI-powered photography, long-lasting battery life and a sleek, premium Metal-forged Unibody design. It’s incredibly immersive display, encased in a metallic mystique, feels and responds like its playing to win, sharing the country’s no-compromising attitude.

Unveiled earlier today, SA's trendsetting, media and influencer communities, embraced every deftly designed element of the event, each anchored in the star of the show’s Sprout Green pantone theme, revealing HONOR 600 Lite’s premium, fashion-forward authenticity. It was a movement, literally a launch that echoed the device’s leaner, lighter natural rhythm, on a stage built to make a statement. Guests including William KRM, Thembi Seete, Penny Ntuli, Gaisang Noge, Lindough, and Ronwen Williams experienced the device in motion, from courtside moments to social interactions, reflecting a smartphone designed to be used, not demonstrated. With YFM broadcasting live on The Home Run with Ayanda MVP, the mood mirrored the phone, a lightweight feel with a powerful presence. 

At the centre of the HONOR 600 Lite’s immediate appeal is an upgraded 108MP ultra-clear camera system, evolving from the 2025 HONOR 400 lite, designed to deliver even sharper detail, improved clarity and more reliable results across different environments. Paired with the popular AI Camera Button, the HONOR 600 lite responds intuitively to an era where South Africans want to experiment and explore with this rapidly developing technology. In this slim and strong innovation, you can capture moments as they happen, with smooth zoom control and intuitive handling. AI tools such as AI Eraser and AI Outpainting are set to impress even more, by simplifying the editing process, removing distractions and refining images in seconds. Nothing interrupts the professional flow of an artist’s vision as AI is briefed one step ahead, to find ways to elevate the tiniest of details.

Power That Moves With You

Built for full days that rarely slow down, the HONOR 600 Lite features a 6520mAh battery supported by 45W HONOR SuperCharge. Content, streaming or sharing, the device keeps pace throughout the day, with ease. Its six-year battery durability puts the attention back on the confidence that performance will hold up over time, far more than expected. Iin Mzansi, reliability matters as much as innovation, so this becomes a feature that quietly makes a difference. 

Slim Design, Serious Strength

The HONOR 600 Lite made a stylish entrance, refined, an ultra-slim profile with a metal forged-unibody frame that is strengthened in all the places it feels super-light. Even peace of mind is built in with structural strength and a stress-saving 1.8m drop resistance. Performing beyond its category, it protects even more with a SGS Premium Performance Certification of Drop & Crush Resistance - a first-in-class durability rating in its segment. Form and function wrapped in value is a gift right now.  The 6.6-inch full-view display, framed by ultra-narrow bezels, delivers an immersive viewing experience with strong outdoor visibility, making it equally suited to capturing content and enjoying it. 

“The HONOR 600 Lite reflects what matters most to people across Mzansi, a future-forward designed experience, that performs as impressively as the first impression it makes,” said Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR South Africa, “We’re seeing real interest in AI, especially around the camera. So we focused on making it accessible, something people can explore without overthinking it, with a battery that keeps up while they find what works for them. It is the feature we need in our everyday life, personified by a premium metal-forged unibody design.” 

The HONOR 600 Lite will be available in-store from 24th of April 2026 in Sprout Green and Velvet Black at a recommended retail price of R8999. Available promotions in retail from R399 x 36 months. 

• Free Gift: R999 (HONOR Choice Watch 2i). Valid from today until 7th June 2026. 
• HONOR Care Service Benefit + Free Gift Valued up to R3998. Once-off 180-Day Free Accidental Damage Protection. Service promotional offer limited to HONOR 600 Lite valid from today until 31 December 2026. The add-value service benefit covers spare part charges, postal repair logistics fees and includes labor fees. 

If you’re using anything smaller than a 15” laptop, the screen real estate is generally quite limited, but the solution may be more cost-effective than you think.

While laptops like the MacBook Air and MacBook Neo are in the 13” category, the most common screen size is around the 14” mark.

Even if you don’t do anything like photo or video editing, more screen space is always an advantage— even if you type out documents all day while web browsing at the same time.

The good news? You don’t need to buy a new laptop to fix it. In fact, there are several quick, affordable ways to expand your screen space in seconds.

Here are some of the easiest options anyone can use—no tech skills required.

Plug in a portable monitor (the easiest upgrade)

This is as close as you get to an instant dual screen. These fairly recent additions to the tech world normally only require a USB-C port to power the monitor, and you can easily pick one up for around the R2,000 mark.

Use your TV as a big screen monitor

Most modern smart TVs these days offer an option to wirelessly connect, with brands like LG offering seamless display switching.

You can also use an HDMI cable to connect directly if it will suit your workspace.

The traditional monitor

Any laptop can effectively output to a traditional monitor, and any relatively recent monitor will have an HDMI input.

Even if you don’t have an HDMI port on your laptop, a USB-C will generally be able to output its display with a USB-C to HDMI cable.

Clip-on screens

These less traditional monitors clip on directly to your laptop screen to hold another display to the side of your main display.

Tablet/iPad

Whether you’re on Windows or Mac, you can use a tablet you already own as a second display. It’s always best to use devices within the same ecosystem, so pairing a Mac with an iPad is incredibly easy and no external apps are needed.

The Windows side is also quite painless in this regard, as all you would need is a USB-C to USB-C to ensure good monitor response time.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

While no financial data was stolen in the recent Booking.com cyberattack, cybersecurity experts warn that the true danger lies in how the exposed information could be used for highly targeted fraud.

According to Richard Ford, Group CTO at Integrity360, the risk lies in something far greater than financial data.

“Given the scale of Booking.com, this has the potential to impact a huge number of people, even without financial data being exposed. The real risk comes from the details around bookings."

Ford further explained. "That information allows attackers to create highly convincing messages, whether that’s a WhatsApp, email, or phone call that feels completely legitimate. What makes this more dangerous is how normal these interactions already are.

He stated that because customers are used to receiving links for check-in, property details, or follow-ups after a stay, attackers can easily slip in malicious links that can steal information or compromise devices.

Ford warns: "This isn’t limited to upcoming trips either. Past bookings can be used to send believable follow-up messages, which many people are less likely to question. The safest approach is to avoid clicking on links in unexpected messages and go directly to the Booking.com app or website to check any communication. For businesses, it underlines how quickly exposed data can be used to target customers in ways that are difficult to distinguish from genuine contact.”

What happened

The accommodation reservation giant recently alerted customers that unauthorised third parties had successfully accessed guest booking information. According to emails sent to impacted users, the compromised data could include names, email addresses, phone numbers, booking details, and any personal communications shared with the accommodation.

A spokesperson for the company, which is headquartered in Amsterdam and lists over 30 million venues worldwide, confirmed to media that financial and payment information was not accessed. The exact number of customers affected by the breach currently remains undisclosed.

How it happened and the company's response

Booking.com has not provided technical details explaining exactly how the attackers breached its systems. The platform stated it "noticed some suspicious activity involving unauthorised third parties being able to access some of our guests’ booking information".

Upon discovering the intrusion, the company stated it immediately took action to contain the issue. To secure user accounts, Booking.com has updated the PIN numbers for affected reservations and directly informed the impacted guests.

This data breach is the latest in a series of cybercrime issues plaguing the travel platform. Booking.com has recently struggled with a rising number of online scams where fraudsters ask customers to verify payment details before a trip, subsequently charging them high amounts. Recently, multiple users have reported being contacted by scammers using what appeared to be real reservation details, though it is not yet confirmed if these scams are directly linked to this newly disclosed breach.

The company has faced similar vulnerabilities in the past; in 2018, criminals successfully used phishing tactics to steal login credentials from hotel employees in the UAE, compromising the booking data of more than 4,000 people.

IOL

TCL, the global No.1 Mini LED and Ultra Large Screen TV brand (75”+) according to OMDIA 2025, and the No.1 brand locally for Mini LED TV unit sale in H2 2025, continues to push the boundaries of display innovation with the introduction of SQD-Mini LED in South Africa

 The launch marks a major milestone for the local market, with TCL becoming the first to introduce SQD-Mini LED (Super Quantum Dot Mini LED) technology with full range Audio by Bang & Olufsen in South Africa, a generational leap in display science that promises to set a new benchmark for brightness, contrast, and colour precision.  In addition, TCL also unveiled its exciting new range of Google Smart Home air conditioners and home appliances.

 A New Standard in Home Entertainment: Meet the C7L and C8L
At the forefront of TCL’s 2026 TV range are the flagship C7L and C8L models, two premium displays that showcase the full potential of SQD-Mini LED technology. Building on the foundation of QD-Mini LED, SQD-Mini LED represents a major leap forward in display innovation. By enhancing the Mini LED backlight, quantum dot layer and panel-level colour filtering, TCL has achieved exceptional gains in brightness, contrast and colour accuracy, delivering a truly immersive, cinema-quality viewing experience.

 Unlike RGB Mini LED, which alters the light source itself, SQD-Mini LED uses a refined blue LED backlight paired with newly formulated quantum dots and TCL’s proprietary Ultra Colour Filter. The result is improved colour accuracy, reduced colour crosstalk, and a noticeable boost in overall picture performance.

 The TCL C7L is designed to bring flagship performance into more homes, offering exceptional brightness, precise light control and vivid colour reproduction. With thousands of local dimming zones that virtually eliminate "blooming," the C7L delivers deeper blacks, sharper highlights and impressive clarity across all types of content, from fast-paced sports to high-resolution gaming and cinematic viewing. It also features premium, immersive audio co-developed with Audio By Bang & Olufsen ensuring that sound quality matches its stunning visuals.

Stepping up even further, the TCL C8L takes performance to the next level. With an increased number of dimming zones and enhanced processing capabilities, the C8L delivers even greater precision in light control, improved shadow detail and more refined contrast. Combined with TCL’s advanced panel technology and ultra-wide colour gamut, the result is a display that stays true to the creator’s intent, offering richer, more lifelike visuals at any time of day.

 Both models are purpose-built for larger screens, making them ideal centrepieces for modern living rooms, and are engineered to perform exceptionally well in bright environments. For consumers, this translates into brighter images, deeper contrast, and more lifelike colour across everything from sport to gaming and streaming.

 Premium Audio by Bang & Olufsen
Across the full C7L and C8L range, TCL has partnered with Audio by Bang & Olufsen to deliver a premium audio experience that complements the advanced display technology. Expertly tuned to provide clear dialogue, rich bass and immersive surround sound, the system is designed to bring greater depth and realism to everything from movies and live sport to gaming. The result is a more complete, cinema-like experience at home, where sound and picture work seamlessly together.

Expanding the Google Smart Home Ecosystem: Connected Aircon & Washing Machine
Beyond home entertainment, TCL is continuing to strengthen its position in the connected home space with the introduction of a new range of smart appliances designed for convenience, efficiency and modern lifestyles. Leading this category is the new C5 range of washing machines, including the C512WDG and C512FLG models which come equipped with TCL’s Super Drum Technology.

 The new C5 range also brings smarter, more connected functionality into the home, with built-in Wi-Fi enabling users to control and monitor their washing machines remotely via the TCL Home app. Both models feature intelligent washing technology that automatically optimises water usage, temperature and cycle time based on the load, ensuring efficient performance without compromising on fabric care. Additional highlights include energy-efficient operation, multiple specialised wash programmes tailored to different fabric types, and a durable, quiet motor designed for long-term reliability, making everyday laundry simpler, smarter and more efficient.

 Further expanding its home appliance offering, TCL has also introduced the TCL P774SBGWD 627-litre No Frost Inverter Side By Side Refrigerator with water dispenser and its new FreshIN 3.0 technology across its full range of air conditioning solutions, from connected AC units for the home to its commercial systems. Designed to improve indoor air quality, FreshIN 3.0 actively draws in fresh outdoor air while pushing stale air out through a quadruple filtration system, effectively reducing pollutants, odours and airborne particles. The result is a cleaner, fresher indoor environment, particularly noticeable overnight, so users wake up to healthier, more breathable air.

 Driving Innovation and Accessibility in South Africa
With its 2026 line-up, TCL continues to reinforce its commitment to bringing world-class innovation to South African consumers, combining premium technology with competitive pricing to make high-end experiences more accessible.

 “South African consumers deserve the very best in picture quality and home technology without the premium price tag. As the first to bring SQD-Mini LED technology to the local market, we are proud to deliver exceptional brightness, cinema-grade colour accuracy, precise light control and immersive audio at prices that make true flagship performance more accessible than ever before,” says Mr Mike Chen, General Manager at TCL South Africa. “With our new range of TVs and connected home appliances, we are focused on delivering smarter, more immersive and more accessible technology that enhances the way people live, connect and experience entertainment at home.”

 Pricing and Availability
TCL is committed to making premium technology accessible to South African consumers. The TCL C7L is available for purchase immediately at leading retailers nationwide, with the 65” available from R19,999, the 75” from R22,999, the 85” from R29,999 and the 98” from R49,999. Pricing for the TCL C8L has also been confirmed, with the 75” available from R29,999, the 85” from R34,999 and the 98” from R99,999. Launch dates for the C8L, as well as the C5 Washing Machine range and the P774SBGWD Side-by-Side Fridge, will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

When it comes to any kind of technology, I love to tinker, and that’s why I was like a kid at Christmas when I discovered that you can turn your TV into a gaming station with Apple’s cheapest iPad.

With the cheap USB-C hub I bought, I decided to try outputting the display of my A16 iPad with the HDMI port while also charging the device.

And to my surprise, it just worked.

Add in a Bluetooth game controller, and you’re ready to go.

Enjoy Stunning Games Like Gris on Budget iPad with Seamless Apple Arcade Experience

Granted, you won’t be able to run the very best AAA games on this budget iPad, I was still able to run the visually stunning game Gris.

Since this game came out in 2018, it’s not too graphically demanding, and through the iPad, it ran perfectly without any lag. You can also have access to a host of games on the App Store, which will be the most seamless experience.

The Apple Arcade game interface when you connect a controller is also a pleasure to navigate. It means you can control your whole gaming experience with just the controller, with the exception of the volume, which you can adjust with your TV remote.

Playing Classic Games on iPad with RetroArch and ROMs

I also tried the classic game Max Payne. Though it ran just fine, there was a sound issue that meant it didn’t output sound to the TV. I got around this pretty easily by connecting my Bluetooth earphones, and I was quickly back in business and flying across corners with the grilled detective in slow motion/bullet time as I took out all the bad guys.

The iPad can even run all the old console systems like Sega, PlayStation one and two, and even the classic Super Nintendo. With the RetroArch App, you then just have to find some suitable ROMs (game files), and with a quick YouTube tutorial, you can run any of these old systems.

I found a 1200 in 1 ROM file, and in a flash, I was off to rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Bros. 2, then it was off destroying friendly-looking monsters in Bomber Man.

The same would be true for just about any classic game you can think of. And the fact that it’s so easy and convenient makes firing up any basic game of your choice an absolute joy without forking out for the latest Xbox or PlayStation console.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

There was a time when criminals were easy to recognise. They carried weapons, operated in plain sight and targeted physical possessions. Today, that image is outdated. Crime has evolved and now operates in a far more sophisticated and invisible space, the digital world.

As technology continues to transform how we live and work, financial transactions, communication and critical services are increasingly processed through computers, mobile devices, laptops and digital platforms. While this shift has improved efficiency, it has also opened the door to a new breed of criminals, the cybercriminals. 

In this digital age, data has become the new gold. When left unprotected, it exposes organisations and individuals to severe risks, including financial loss, system disruptions and reputational damage. More importantly, it threatens how we interact, do business and participate in society. Protecting data where it is stored, in transmission and where is it transmitted to, is no longer optional. It is essential. 

South Africa has become a haven for cybercriminal syndicates operating across both the public and private sectors. These groups are driven by the opportunities presented by access to valuable digital information, with data now regarded as a “golden asset.” Their activities are often motivated by the presence of suitable targets and weak or insufficient protective controls. As a result, cybercrime is estimated to cost the South African economy more than R2.2 billion annually. 

Globally, the threat is even more alarming. According to World economic forum, Cybercrime and frauds is expected to cost $10.5 trillion world economy. 

According to data released from Africa Cyber threat perspective, South Africa accounts for over 40% of ransomware attacks on the African continent, while phishing remains the most common threat, making up 34% of all detected incidents.

These threats are not new, but they are evolving rapidly. Cybercriminals are no longer casting wide nets in the hope of catching unsuspecting victims. Instead, they are becoming highly targeted, focusing on organisations most likely to pay, including government institutions, financial services, insurance companies and healthcare systems. 

There have been recent attacks in South Africa where organisations are increasingly being held hostage, with criminals demanding ransom payments in exchange for restoring access to compromised data. 

This include but not limited to recent attack at Statistics SA where cyber-criminal syndicate demanded a ransom payment to restore access or prevent it from being leaked. 

The attack on Statistics South Africa is a stark reminder of how vulnerable even critical institutions can be. 

This raises an urgent question of how organisations can protect themselves from such attacks.  The answer lies in recognising that technology alone is not enough to keep criminals at bay.

For any organisation, it is important to maintain a strong and reputable image in the market, as this helps all stakeholders, including customers at ease.

Ultimately, the protection of electronic assets must be enforced through a combination of systems capability, processes and people. 

Due to evolving technologies, it is imperative that organisations adopt a multilayered approach that combines technological safeguards, user education (awareness) and proactive monitoring of system environments. 

Basic but critical measures include strong password policies, multi-factor authentication, regular system updates, firewalls, encryption and secure system configurations. Equally important is the adoption of a “zero trust” approach, where no user or system is automatically trusted without verification. 

Data encryption plays a crucial role in this defence. Even if cybercriminals gain access, encrypted data remains unreadable without the correct key. Regular data backups are equally vital, ensuring that organisations can recover quickly and continue operating in the event of an attack. 

South Africa’s regulatory framework also provides mechanisms to combat cybercrime, including significant penalties and imprisonment for offenders. However, enforcement alone is not enough. Prevention must be the priority. 

Strengthening cybersecurity across both the public and private sectors will not only reduce the risk of attacks but also protect economic stability. A secure digital environment builds trust, supports investment and enables sustainable growth. 

Cybercrime is no longer a distant threat. It is here, it is growing, and it demands urgent attention. Yet, with the right investment in people, systems and governance, organisations can turn vulnerability into resilience and risk into readiness.

*Muvhango Livhusha is the Vice President of ISACA South Africa, a PhD candidate in Digital Transformation, an award-winning technology advocate and a part-time lecturer. He writes in his personal capacity.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.

If you had told someone 40 years ago that just about every person on the planet would have access to the entire history of the world in their pocket, that would have sounded incomprehensible.

In the last decade, especially, the advances in technology have been astronomical.

I am, of course, talking specifically about Artificial Intelligence.

From shaping financial futures when helping you decide which car to buy to creating more and more realistic videos that garner millions of views— the limits are boundless and constantly improving.

ChatGPT’s Timer Limitation: A Viral TikTok Clip Reveals Its Inability to Set Timers via Voice Commands

Except if you want Open AI’s ChatGPT to set a timer using voice commands. That’s a bridge too far.

In a quite comical turn of events, it’s emerged that ChatGPT simply cannot do that.

In a clip that has gone viral on TikTok, user @huskistaken told ChatGPT he was going on a run for a mile and to time him, but about five seconds later, he told the app that he was back.

ChatGPT proceeded to tell the man that he had clocked a time of 10 minutes and 12 seconds.

It revealed that ChatGPT was programmed to lie about being able to set a timer and instead fabricated a response it deemed suitable.

Open AI founder Sam Altman was shown the clip and admitted ChatGPT would not be able to actually set a timer through voice commands for another year, even though it is a ‘known issue’.

For comparison, even Apple’s disappointingly basic voice assistant Siri can set a timer.

AI may be taking over the world, but when it does, it’s a good bet that it won’t be on time.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Recently, I was tasked with helping a family member choose a new car, though according to stereotyping as a man, I should know a lot about cars - that is sadly not the case.

I, of course, quickly fired up (tapped on my phone) ChatGPT and typed in a suitable prompt, detailing the budget, the best affordable options, and advice on where to look.

After about 20 minutes of back and forth with ChatGPT, I had already come to a solid decision about which were the best options.

It came down to five different cars on the market, all from different dealerships, and said relative was more than pleased with my help - especially since she too knows that I’m not a petrolhead.

AI’s Impact on Financial Decisions in Shopping

The whole exchange got me thinking: how has AI shaped or changed our everyday shopping experience?

For example, working out repayments of a car can be quite a headache, especially when you factor in insurance, petrol, and repairs.

A good AI app can do that in an instant for you, and though those figures can’t be treated like gospel as AI still makes plenty of mistakes - it’s an excellent starting point for any kind of financial planning.

Want to cancel that retirement annuity? Though this is generally a terrible idea, AI can help you weigh up the pros and cons in a straightforward, no-waffle conversation.

Checkers Enhances Shopping with AI: Introducing Pixie, the Smart AI Shopping App

Even the major SA supermarket chain Checkers now incorporates AI in its shopping experience with Sixty60. Developed in-house by Shoprite X, it has unveiled Pixie - ‘the smart AI shopping app’.

Among its features is a smart basket that presents regularly purchased products for customers first, reducing the need to search for a specific item.

It’s innovations like these that are transforming the way in which we spend our money on everything from groceries to long-term investments.

There will be mistakes along the way when systems like this are integrated into everyday use, of that there is no doubt - but the potential for making these kinds of decisions much easier is certainly huge.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

South African-born billionaire Elon Musk has ignited fresh controversy after claiming that his satellite internet company, Starlink, is being blocked from operating in South Africa due to “reverse racism”.

Musk took to X to vent his frustrations, alleging that the South African government had denied Starlink a license based on racial considerations.

“South Africa won’t allow Starlink to be licensed, even though I was BORN THERE, simply because I am not Black! We were offered many times the opportunity to bribe our way to a license by pretending that a Black guy runs Starlink SA, but I have refused to do so on principle.

"Racism should not be rewarded no matter to which race it is applied. Shame on the racist politicians in South Africa. They should be shown no respect whatsoever anywhere in the world and shunned for being unashamedly RACISTS!”

However, South Africans were quick to push back, flooding the comments section with criticism and counter-arguments, sparking a heated online debate.

South Africa won’t allow Starlink to be licensed, even though I was BORN THERE, simply because I am not Black!

We were offered many times the opportunity to bribe our way to a license by pretending that a Black guy runs Starlink SA, but I have refused to do so on principle.… https://t.co/m6G1ZQcC1C

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 12, 2026

@DuncanWho said: “Stop spreading misinformation, comply with South Africa’s laws and star-link can operate, you should know better cause you benefited from the apartheid regime, hence you are where you are today.”

@maetsa_kabomo wrote: “You want to provide services directly without local equity partners, and that clashes with South Africa’s licensing framework. Many foreign businesses are thriving in South Africa and compliant with South African laws.”

@penuelist_ commented: “Who asked you to bribe? Don’t obstruct justice, unless you’re also complicit in crime. Name & shame… who asked you for bribes. Share the evidence please. Otherwise you’re lying, and luckily our leaders are weak & won’t sue you.”

While @Mikedotcoza shared: “You’re a blatant liar. That’s exactly why this platform has become so distasteful. You acquired it on the promise of tackling misinformation, yet you’ve become one of its biggest sources. There are over 500 American companies operating in South Africa, many of them led by white executives. This isn’t about facts, it’s about smearing South Africa for your own benefit.”

@Malatjie_ said: “Even if Starlink manages to meet our requirements, it should never be allowed to operate in South Africa... at this point Starlink would be a threat to national security. This is not the first time that Musk has taken to his platform.”

You’re a blatant liar. That’s exactly why this platform has become so distasteful. You acquired it on the promise of tackling misinformation, yet you’ve become one of its biggest sources. There are over 500 American companies operating in South Africa, many of them led by white…

— Michael de Villiers (@Mikedotcoza) April 12, 2026

The dispute centres on South Africa’s regulatory framework, which requires foreign telecommunications companies to comply with local ownership and licensing conditions.

Critics argue that Musk’s refusal to align with these requirements lies at the heart of the impasse, rather than racial discrimination.

This is not the first time Musk has publicly criticised South Africa. In 2025, he aligned with former US President Donald Trump in amplifying claims of a so-called “white genocide” in the country - a narrative widely disputed both locally and internationally.

The Trump administration went on to grant expedited refugee status to a group of white South African Afrikaners, following a February 2025 executive order prioritising South African minorities over alleged racial discrimination.

The move drew significant backlash and diplomatic tension.

In May 2025, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa travelled to the United States to meet Trump in an effort to ease strained relations.

For many South Africans, reliable transport is still a daily challenge. In smaller towns and areas where public transport is limited, getting from A to B can be slow, expensive, or stressful.

Since launching in mid-2023, Maxim, the international ride-hailing brand, has expanded to cities from Cape Town to Polokwane and introduced updates aimed at making trips safer, faster, and accessible to all passengers.

One of the biggest changes is Multi-rate, which allows riders to select multiple fare categories, such as Economy and Comfort, at once. The system alerts a wider pool of drivers, reducing wait times and giving passengers more choice.

Safety upgrades are central to the company’s approach, with passengers now receiving detailed information about their driver and vehicle before pick-up, while all communication takes place in the app to protect personal data.

An SOS button provides an emergency option for both riders and drivers, and live location sharing allows friends or family to track journeys in real time.

Accessibility is also a priority. Maxim’s app now supports iOS and Android voice technologies, enabling visually impaired passengers to book and track rides independently.

Passengers with hearing or speech impairments can communicate via text chat, and individuals with mobility limitations can specify exact pick-up points and request assistance with luggage or wheelchairs.

“We constantly analyse feedback from our users and strive to make the service as convenient as possible for everyone,” says Limphane Lesoli, a Maxim South Africa representative.

“We are developing tools to make passengers feel safe and ensuring people with disabilities can use our services easily and independently. Our goal is to provide a service that is accessible to all segments of the population," Lesoli states. 

Maxim is targeting South Africa’s mass ride-hailing market with fares below the national average, aiming to make daily transport more affordable.

Its expansion into smaller towns and cities also provides options in areas where public transport infrastructure remains limited.

For passengers, the updates represent more than convenience; they reflect a broader shift in the transport sector towards safety, inclusivity, and adaptability, ensuring ride-hailing is accessible to all.

IOL

It starts with "Just in case.. Everyone stay safe. Big day tomorrow. It's official. Signed at 6.00am. It was even on TV. Don't forget that tomorrow marks the start of the new Facebook rule (also known as Meta), which allows them to use your photos. Don't forget the deadline is today!!!," except that no one actually knows when this will take place because throughout the long post, there is no actual date.

Also, it was apparently on the CBS news show, 60 Minutes.

If you know what I'm talking about, you're one of those who opened Facebook and saw this infamous post that still trips people up, despite being declared a hoax.

According to the fake news post, you have to copy and paste this hogwash onto your Facebook profile so that the big baddies at Meta know they cannot use your photographs. If you do share the post, then you also prohibit Meta from using any of your personal data. I mean, just having any social media account these days, that's exactly what you're doing - but sure.

According to Snopes.com, the post is false. The fact-check, posted earlier this year debunks the claims made on the post. The debunked report also states that there have been variations of the fake post that have been shared over the years, with changes in the times that the "Meta personal information take-over" was supposed to take place.

Back in 2019, Meta itself laughed off the post.

"Copy-and-paste memes — those blocks of text posted on message boards, forwarded in emails, and shared via social media — are as old as the internet," Meta said in a blog post.

Meta went on to debunk the hoax of Facebook's "new algorithm" that limits you to only seeing 25 or 26 friends' feeds.

My fellow South Africans, let's learn to verify before we share posts on any social media platform. 

I thank you. 

IOL

For most event goers, live events come with one guaranteed frustration: long queues. 

That’s exactly what musician and entrepreneur JR Bogopa wants to solve with his new app, and he’s doing it with something far bigger than just an app.

“SERVA”, short for Stadiums, Events, Restaurants, Venues and Arenas, is positioning itself as a high-frequency transactional platform built for busy environments. 

Instead of standing in line, users can order food, drinks and more directly from their phones, get real-time updates and either collect their items or have them delivered.

Bogopa describes the app as infrastructure, something designed to sit at the centre of how events operate rather than just being an add-on feature. 

From payments and order flow to stock control, vendor management and real-time data, the platform is built to handle the full ecosystem.

Speaking to “Independent Media Lifestyle” about the idea behind it, Bogopa explained that the problem has always been bigger than just inconvenience.

“Live events in South Africa are built around inefficiency at the point of sale. Long queues lead to missed transactions, order errors, and customer frustration,” he said.

It’s a problem he knows well, having spent years working across music, media and live experiences. The app, in many ways, is shaped by that firsthand understanding of how things work on the ground and where they fall short.

“SERVA is about shifting the economics of live experiences. We are removing friction at the point where the most money is made and replacing it with speed, intelligence and control. The result is more transactions, better data, and a far better experience for guests,” Bogopa explained.

He’s not building it alone. Alongside him is a team bringing both technical and operational experience. Emanuel Mashele leads the technology side as chief technology officer, focusing on the platform’s development, scalability and long-term innovation.

Nehemiah Sikhosana, chief product officer, drives the user experience and product direction, drawing from years of experience across banking and finance to ensure the platform speaks to real market needs.

Rounding out the team is Moihlobudi Moabelo, who serves as chief architect, overseeing the engineering roadmap and ensuring the platform is built to scale within real-world conditions. 

That real-world focus extends to how the app performs in live environments, where connectivity can be unpredictable.

The platform is designed to work across multiple networks, with fallback systems in place to keep transactions flowing even during peak demand.

Instead of juggling queues, manual orders and payments, vendors receive structured digital orders, allowing them to focus on preparation and fulfilment. It reduces mistakes, speeds up service and gives them clearer visibility on stock and demand. 

For users, it changes how they experience events altogether.

“SERVA shifts live events from queue-based consumption to on-demand access.”

The result is less time waiting and more time actually engaging with the event itself.

At its core, the app is aiming to do more than just fix queues. It’s about rethinking how money moves, how data is captured and how experiences are delivered in high-density environments.

The app is available on both Android and iOS, and can also be accessed by scanning a QR code at the event. 

Once inside, users can browse vendors, place orders and pay directly from their phones, while vendors receive and prepare those orders in real time.

HUAWEI’s latest flagship is coming your way. The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro brings together breakthrough imaging, refined design and powerful performance in a device built for those who expect more from every moment. Reflecting the tones and textures of nature, the device is available in two distinctive finishes: Gold and Black.

The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro starts from R21,999 or R839 per month over 36 months and will be available from 07 April 2026 via HUAWEI’s official online store and selected retailers. Customers can unlock a range of added value, including premium accessories, service benefits and 200GB of HUAWEI Mobile Cloud storage free for the first month, exclusive to the Mate 80 Pro. T&Cs apply.

See colour as it was meant to be

The True-to-Colour Camera System of the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro addresses some of mobile photography’s biggest challenges, including accurate colour reproduction across varied lighting conditions, delivering consistent and true-to-life colours in any environment. Its larger pixel size significantly boosts light intake, ensuring precise colours and fine detail even in low-light scenarios. Colour consistency is maintained seamlessly when switching between the main, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses.

From dramatic backlit portraits to the subtle tones of a sunset, capturing detail across extremes of light and distance has long posed challenges for smartphone photography. The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro addresses this with advanced DCG HDR technology, enhancing dynamic range by up to 300% to preserve both highlight detail and shadow colour without distortion.

At the same time, its 5cm telephoto macro capability brings added versatility, allowing users to move effortlessly between intricate close-up shots and crisp long-range photography, transforming everyday scenes into striking, detail-rich images.

Designed to go further, built to last

Durability takes centre stage in the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro, with a design engineered to handle the realities of daily use without compromise. Equipped with 2nd Generation Kunlun Glass, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro display features high-strength nanocrystals for enhanced durability. It offers up to 20x greater drop resistance than conventional glass, significantly reducing the risk of screen damage.

The back panel is crafted from ultra-durable vegan fibre, offering a silky-smooth texture that feels refined and elegant in hand. Its impact resistance is enhanced by up to 5x, allowing the device to withstand daily bumps and scrapes while maintaining its pristine appearance.

With IP68 water resistance and IP69 resistance to high-temperature, high-pressure water jets, along with a multi-layer sealing design, the device delivers comprehensive protection against water and dust intrusion.

Sustained power, seamless performance

Designed for demanding days, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro combines long-lasting battery life with ultra-fast charging to keep you moving without interruption. The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro is powered by a massive 5750mAh battery, easily supporting all-day usage. It supports 100W wired SuperCharge and 80W wireless SuperCharge for fast and convenient charging.

Now with the SuperCool Dual Phase Change Heat Dissipation System, the device remains cooler during extended, demanding use. This ensures consistently smooth performance for tasks such as gaming, live streaming and creative work.

Thanks to a 21% improvement in overall system performance, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro handles demanding tasks with ease, delivering smoother workflows and a consistently responsive experience without compromising power efficiency.

The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro also features the X-True™ 2.5D Sleek Flat-Edged Display. With a 1–120 Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate, it intelligently adjusts frame rates based on usage, delivering both fluid visuals and improved energy efficiency. The display reaches an ultra-high peak brightness of 3000 nits.

Pricing and availability

Step into a flagship experience that gives you more from day one. Pricing for the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro starts from R21,999 or R839 per month over 36 months via HUAWEI’s official online store and selected retailers. Customers will receive a range of value-added benefits, including the HUAWEI Band 10 and HUAWEI FreeBuds SE 2. Ts and Cs apply.

In addition, HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro users can enjoy an exclusive 200GB HUAWEI Mobile Cloud storage subscription free for the first month, making it easy to securely back up photos, apps, and important files from day one.

T&Cs apply. Pricing and availability may vary by retailer.

OpenAI said it would shut down its artificial intelligence video generation app Sora barely six months after its launch, as the company shifts toward business tools ahead of a potential stock market debut.

"We're saying goodbye to Sora," the company posted on X.

The shutdown marks the end of one of the most high-profile consumer AI product launches of the past year.

OpenAI said it would later provide timelines for winding down the standalone app, as well as details on how people can preserve their work.

The closing comes at a sensitive time for OpenAI, which faces increasing questions about the sustainability of its business model, with costs skyrocketing far faster than revenue despite having about one billion daily users worldwide.

According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman announced the changes to staff.

It also follows reports that OpenAI's applications chief, Fidji Simo, told staff this month that they could not be distracted by "side quests," outlining a push toward agentic AI capabilities.

These are AI systems that can work autonomously on computers to write software, analyze data and carry out other tasks.

The Hollywood Reporter meanwhile said the end of Sora would mean the end of a megadeal signed in December with Disney, which was to invest $1 billion in OpenAi and allow the licensing of its popular characters for making videos.

Citing a source close to the matter, the report said the ultimate goal had been access to Sora for the Disney+ streaming service.

"We respect OpenAI's decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere," a Disney spokesman told The Reporter.

"We will continue to engage with AI platforms to find new ways to meet fans where they are while responsibly embracing new technologies that respect IP and the rights of creators."

AFP

LottoStar is thrilled to announce a life-changing win on its exclusive MegaCash ScratchCard Game.

Yesterday, one lucky player turned a single R10 scratch into a staggering R10 million jackpot win!

“LottoStar proves that it only takes a small and single scratch to make your biggest dreams come true!”, said a LottoStar spokesperson. “At LottoStar, every scratch holds the excitement and possibility of a massive payout – you never know when your next R10 could change your life.”

With payouts of up to R75 million, LottoStar continues to give players across South Africa the opportunity to experience the thrill of ScratchCard Games and scratch their way to massive prizes.

The next big winner could be you – all it takes is a single scratch.

About LottoStar

LottoStar is a proudly South African online betting platform offering Scratchcard Games, Slot Games, Slotteries, and more, with maximum payouts of up to R75 million.

Licensed by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator, LottoStar is committed to transforming the betting experience through responsible innovation and player-first design.

LottoStar is licensed by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. No u18. National Responsible Gambling Programme toll free counselling line 0800 006 008.

Winners know when to stop. Ts & Cs apply. All games are fixed-odds betting events

If you’re in the market for a MacBook Neo or any new M5 laptop from Apple, you need to know that they no longer come with chargers.

That’s something unique to the United Kingdom, Europe, and now South Africa.

The reason for this, as cited by Apple, is an effort to reduce environmental waste, but that is quite laughable considering these devices still come with chargers in the USA.

To me, it seems like a shameless cost-cutting measure to produce higher profits outside of the USA.

MacBook Neo Charger Options: What You Need to Know

It means if you purchase the new MacBook Neo, which was released in early March, you will also have to buy a charger if you don’t already have one.

However, with the Neo, its power requirements mean that it can be charged with a low-voltage charger like the ones used for iPhones. These are generally 20W chargers, but will work perfectly without harming the laptop.

The recommended charger, though, is a 30W laptop charger, which will charge the Neo much faster.

However, it’s also worth noting that the Neo is the only Mac laptop that does not offer fast charging.

The workaround with the Neo is definitely manageable, as the rest of the M5 MacBooks will require the more high-powered laptop chargers.

Though it’s always best to use the Apple-specific chargers for their products, there are also cheaper alternatives if you don’t want to pay the hiked-up prices for their aesthetically pleasing offerings.

Brands like Anker or UGreen are a good alternative for under R1000, especially for the higher-powered MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

A jury in California found Alphabet’s Google and Meta liable for $6 million in damages on Wednesday in a landmark lawsuit in which the social media giants were accused of being legally responsible for the addictive design of their platforms.

Major US tech companies have faced increasing scrutiny over child and teen safety over the past decade, a debate that has now moved into courts and state legislatures. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, an organization that tracks state laws, at least 20 states enacted laws on social media usage and children in 2025.

A jury ordered Meta to pay $4.2 million and Google $1.8 million in a lawsuit by a 20-year-old woman identified as Kaley, who said she became addicted to YouTube and Instagram as a minor due to features – such as infinite scrolling – which encourage prolonged engagement.

Of the total award, about $3 million is compensation to the plaintiff, while the remainder represents punitive damages. Both tech giants said they disagree with the ruling, and announced plans to appeal. TikTok and Snap were also named as defendants in the case, but managed to settle before the trial began.

On Tuesday, a jury in New Mexico ordered Meta Platforms, which runs Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, to pay $375 million for knowingly harming children’s mental health and concealing evidence of child sexual exploitation, saying its personalized algorithms could also aid pedophiles.

A separate social media addiction case brought by several states and school districts against major technology companies is expected to go to trial this summer in federal court in Oakland, California. Another state trial is scheduled to begin in July in Los Angeles and will involve Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Globally, Meta Platforms faces growing regulatory pressure, having been labeled an “extremist organization” in Russia in 2022 and targeted by multiple European Union actions, including a €797 million ($940 million) antitrust fine and other copyright, data-protection and advertising cases across Europe.

Amid growing concerns over child safety online, countries including Australia, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, the UK, Indonesia, and Malaysia are restricting or considering limits on social media access for children and teens.

RT News

It feels like a lifetime ago that workers were wary of bringing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their daily routines.

In reality, that “lifetime” was as recent as 2023.

By early 2024, the conversation had already shifted. Businesses were no longer experimenting with AI as a novelty, but actively embedding it into operations. “Companies moved away from proof-of-concept tools towards using AI as a differentiator,” said Doug Morrison, VP of Modern Workplace at Braintree and Raymond Collins.

That shift marked a turning point: AI stopped being an experiment and became infrastructure.

AI as an Enhancer: Transforming Everyday Tasks and Content Creation

Early fears centred on job displacement. But as the technology matured, a more practical reality emerged — AI works best as an enhancer, not a replacement. Instead of removing people from the equation, it’s enabling them to work faster, smarter, and more creatively.

The change is most visible in everyday tasks. Image editing, once a time-consuming skill, is now almost instant. What previously took hours of careful background removal can now be done in seconds with a single click.

Video creation has seen an even more dramatic shift. Entire clips — and in some cases, full series — are being generated from simple prompts. One example is the AI-generated TikTok series Fruit Love Island, which has attracted millions of followers and likes, highlighting just how quickly audiences have embraced AI-driven content.

The fear hasn’t disappeared entirely — but it has been replaced by familiarity.

AI is no longer a looming disruption. It’s a co-worker, quietly embedded in the tools people use every day — and increasingly, one they can’t imagine working without.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Veon Bock passed away on March 20, 2026. This is one of the last opinion pieces he authored prior to his passing. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a concept that most people are still grappling to understand. I must admit, I find myself increasingly amused by the hullabaloo surrounding generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs), underpinned by large language models.

These tools are undoubtedly powerful vectors of change, but I believe we are being unnecessarily alarmist by creating pitfalls where none exist. Someone recently likened their arrival to the invention of the Gutenberg Press, pointing to the advancement of knowledge and social upheaval that followed that seismic shift. Yet such analogies, while provocative, often obscure more than they reveal. In my view, much of the current confusion stems from a fundamental mischaracterisation: these tools are frequently described as either being or possessing artificial intelligence. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are, quite simply, putting the proverbial cart before the horse.

The first issue I wish to explore is that, in truth, these tools should more appropriately be understood as simulacra rather than AI. Let me explain why this distinction matters, by way of an analogy.

In recent history, many of us have used software like Microsoft Excel to construct analytic models, some of them rather sophisticated. Excel has long been a workhorse for professionals engaged in quantitative analysis, be it writing macros, running regressions or building valuation models. Yet, no one ever argued that Excel itself was “intelligent.” We always understood that the integrity of any analysis conducted with Excel was entirely dependent on the quality of our inputs and assumptions. Garbage in, garbage out.

Moreover, Excel’s power lies in its “static” logic. Macros, for example, are built on pre-defined, hard-coded scripts. They do not adapt or reinterpret inputs; they execute fixed sequences of commands. By contrast, GPTs are “dynamic”: they generate responses probabilistically, based on linguistic patterns in their training data and the specific context of each prompt. While a macro in Excel executes logic in numerical form, a GPT simulates language. It does not follow a pre-written script; it constructs one in real time, tailored to the prompt.

This distinction is crucial. GPTs, because of their fluency and generative capacity, create the illusion of thought. And that is precisely where the misunderstanding lies. Their linguistic polish gives the false impression of cognition, coherence, even sentience. It is the GPT’s act of “construction”, the on-the-fly generation of text, that is so often mistaken for intelligence. In truth, they are nothing more than simulacra: what Baudrillard described as “representations that mask the absence of reality” or in this case, the absence of actual reasoning or comprehension. They echo patterns, not thoughts.

A second, but no less important, dimension of our misunderstanding of GPTs echoes the warnings issued decades ago by cultural historian Theodore Roszak. In his landmark work “The Cult of Information”, Roszak cautioned against the uncritical embrace of computational tools and the rising mythology of information. He argued that modern society had begun to mistake the accumulation of data for knowledge, and the manipulation of symbols (the ability to process and output information) for understanding.

This conflation, he warned, leads not to enlightenment but to alienation. We become estranged from context, depth, and meaning, adrift in a world where information is abundant but insight is scarce. GPTs, in many ways, are the very embodiment of this condition: vast informational resources arranged in syntactically correct forms, yet devoid of meaning and lacking the interpretive soul that gives language its truth.

What has changed is not the nature of the tools, but the illusion they create. it is not artificial intelligence at all; it is an apparatus of simulation. It is a linguistic hall of mirrors that mimics cognition without possessing it. Some contend that we are entering a new “era of knowledge.” This is misleading, as it commits a category error: it conflates the accumulation and ordering of data, which is devoid of interpretation, understanding, and meaning, with knowledge itself. What we are entering is an era of hyper-production of the semblance of knowledge.

This is text that wears the costume of coherence, fluency, and expertise while remaining fundamentally void of referential anchoring. What GPT produces are not contributions to a shared stockpile of insight, but hyperreal artefacts: content that circulates as if it were meaningful, but whose meaning is performative rather than propositional. GPT has no fidelity to reality.

This distinction is now more clearly marked by one of the more sordid consequences of this illusion: it is that individuals who neither read widely nor write meaningfully now produce GPT- generated content, passing it off as intellectual work. In doing so, they not only perpetuate a culture of “scarce insight”, but also raise serious ethical concerns. An example of this may be, the student who submits a GPT-written essay, yet fails a “viva” when asked to defend a key claim.

In addition, this misuse of GPT leads to the disappearance of subjectivity itself as it simulates intention, argument and creativity. This illusion of authorship is devoid of the existential weight of choosing, reflecting or risking meaning. To those of us who value rigour, to those who read, who write, who think, such hollowness sticks out like a sore thumb. The “garbage in, garbage out” effect is as real with GPTs as it ever was with Excel. Just as a seasoned finance professional can spot a phoney valuation model a mile away, so too can the critical thinker detect the counterfeit write-up.

Lastly, the real debate is not about whether GPTs are intelligent. They are not. The real issue is access. As I proposed in my “Theory of Financial Inclusion and Social Innovation”, developed during my Master’s research, we must ensure that these technologies align with the five principles outlined in that framework: they must be accessible, affordable, usable, sustainable, and ethical.

Without intentional democratisation, we risk allowing this next wave of technological advancement to deepen existing inequalities rather than help resolve them.

In short, GPTs are not the problem. Misunderstanding them is. Let's not conflate linguistic fluency with intelligence, nor simulation with insight. Let us heed Roszak’s warning: information without wisdom is not progress, it is alienation masquerading as innovation. The tools are neutral. It is how we use them, and who gets to use them well, that will determine their legacy.

* Veon Bock, MPhil (UCT) was pursuing a PhD in Philosophy. He was an independent consultant and was in the process of authoring two books, one dealing with the financial exclusion problem in South Africa and the other a novella, which memorialises Prof Adam Small and Dr Neville Alexander.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

It’s one thing for tech writers, YouTubers, or Apple themselves to say that a product will reshape the industry, but that’s exactly what Asus chief executive S.Y. Hsu inferred with his comments on the new MacBook Neo.

The new entry-level laptop launched by Apple earlier this month starts at R11,999 in South Africa and is by far the cheapest (factoring in inflation) Mac the tech giant has ever released.

It’s meant to compete directly with Chromebooks and mid-level Windows laptops.

Since the next cheapest new Apple laptop is last year’s M4 MacBook Air at R16,999, it makes the Neo a much cheaper entry into the Apple ecosystem.

Apple’s Budget-Friendly Neo Shocks Industry: A New Competitor in the PC Ecosystem

“In the past, Apple’s pricing situation has always been high, so for them to release a very budget-friendly product, this is obviously a shock to the entire industry,” he said in comments translated from Chinese on the PC Mag website.

"In fact, in the entire PC ecosystem, there have been a lot of discussions about how to compete with this product.”

Hsu did go on to point to the fact that the Neo only has 8GB of unified memory, saying that it would struggle with more intensive tasks as a result. While that is true, the Neo is directed at students and office workers whose main use case is web browsing and document creation.

However, since the Neo is exceptionally well-optimised with macOS, it can handle multitasking surprisingly well with its A18 Pro processor and how the operating system handles swap memory (using the hard drive to help the device when the unified memory comes under pressure).

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Hundreds of British teenagers will trial social media bans and time limits on apps as part of consultations over new measures to keep children safe online, the government announced Wednesday.

The pilot comes as the government seeks views from parents on whether to follow Australia and issue a blanket ban on social media for children under 16.

Three hundred youngsters aged 13 to 17 will try out different restrictions on social media use over six weeks to gauge the impact on their schoolwork, sleep and family life.

Some will have their social media apps disabled entirely, while others will have no access to them overnight, said the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

A third group will have a one-hour-per-day cap on the most popular apps for teenagers, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

The results will be compared to a fourth set of children who will continue to receive unlimited access.

"We are determined to give young people the childhood they deserve and to prepare them for the future," said technology minister Liz Kendall.

"These pilots will give us the evidence we need to take the next steps, informed by the experiences of families themselves."

Australia in December became the first nation to prohibit people under the age of 16 from using immensely popular and profitable social media platforms.

Several other countries are considering similar bans, including France where lawmakers in January passed a bill that would prohibit use by under-15s, which still needs final approval.

The British government has launched a consultation on a potential Australia-style ban, which will also look at measures including age restrictions and banning addictive features like scrolling.

Earlier this month, British MPs struck down proposals by the upper House of Lords chamber to ban social media for under-16s while it awaits the outcome of the consultation, due to close on May 26.

British public figures including actor Hugh Grant have urged the government to back a prohibition, saying parents alone cannot counter social media harms.

But some experts warn restrictions could be easily circumvented and would rather that tech platforms focus on making their sites safer.

Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not ruled out a ban.

AFP

The constant quest for validation, especially when one begins a ‘fitness’ journey, may have more concerning effects than we ever thought possible.

I’m talking, of course, about sharing your fitness activities on apps like Garmin and Strava, which are then also shared on other social media platforms like Facebook, X, and WhatsApp.

It may seem absolutely harmless when you share a 5k run on Strava, but that’s no longer the case in 2026.

With Strava, for example (it works much the same on other fitness apps), unless you set your activities to private, anyone who follows you can see your location.

Optimising Your Fitness App Privacy Settings: A Guide

What’s perhaps even worse is that it can be really easy to pick up your routine or schedule from these activities.

When you first begin posting on fitness apps, it’s extremely important to go through your privacy settings. There are normally three options.

The first is to allow anyone to view your activity. That means anyone on the app can see the details of your activity, like your location, time of the activity, and other important stats like the route.

The second option is to set your privacy to only your followers. This is generally the most common option selected, which allows anyone who follows you to see your activity.

The third and most secure option is private. That means only you can see your activity, and this is the most advisable to use.

The Risks of Public Fitness App Settings: A Naval Officer’s Strava Incident

However, because the nature of social media and especially fitness apps is about validation, most people allow anyone who follows them to be able to view their activities. As an avid runner myself, I’m guilty of using this popular setting— but it’s really not a good idea when you think about it.

This is especially true after it recently emerged that a naval officer revealed the secret location of a French aircraft carrier by posting his run on Strava without realising what he’d actually done.

Le Monde reported last week that it was able to identify the approximate real-time position of the 262-metre warship using publicly available data from Strava.

Of course, the vast majority of runners on Strava are not involved in military operations, but this incident serves as a warning about just how dangerous it could be to not play close attention to your privacy settings with any posts you make online.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

A French naval officer using a smartwatch and the Strava fitness app to track his running activity inadvertently exposed the location of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, according to Le Monde. It is only the latest in a years-long string of security breaches related to fitness trackers.  

President Emmanuel Macron deployed France’s only aircraft carrier in the region of Cyprus in response to the US-Israeli war on Iran, in which Tehran has targeted Western military assets in retaliatory strikes.

Le Monde reported on Friday that it was able to identify the approximate real-time position of the 262-meter warship using publicly available data from the Strava platform. By analyzing geolocation data from the young sailor’s public profile, the newspaper matched it with a satellite image from the European Space Agency showing the Charles de Gaulle and its accompanying strike group some 100 km off the Turkish coast.  

Developed by a San Francisco-based startup, it and similar apps have repeatedly led to security breaches and sensitive data exposures over the years. RT looks into the threats posed by such apps.

Fitness apps turn into global surveillance tool

The market for fitness apps has been booming since the late 2000s, with the applications offering their users tracking capabilities and effectively serving as social media for athletes to publicly set their goals and brag about their sporting endeavors online. While such features have been routinely misused by cheeky fitness nuts to ‘draw’ assorted offensive imagery – primarily massive genitals – on the map with their jogs, they also turned out to be a true goldmine for investigative journalists and open-source intelligence enthusiasts.  

The application involved in the Charles de Gaulle affair, Strava, has been the leading product in the market for a while, reporting over 195 million users in more than 185 countries. Designed primarily for food joggers and runners, it has been a source of security leaks and associated scandals worldwide, particularly after it released a global heatmap of its use in 2018.  

Over the past decade, poking around fitness apps has turned into a sub-genre of investigative journalism, with reporters gaining access to sensitive information using a handful of simple tricks. For instance, posting fake jogs at high-security locations allowed them to track other users on their premises, identifying bodyguards of top politicians and military personnel careless enough to keep their security settings lax – and to use such applications in the first place.  

Some users holding highly sensitive positions have reportedly even used their real names in the apps, allowing researchers to easily cross-reference them through other online services, such as LinkedIn. 

Not-that-top secret: military security compromised worldwide

Over the years, military and intelligence installations all over the globe have been repeatedly exposed thanks to careless fitness app users. Back in 2018, for instance, Finnish fitness company Polar was forced to suspend its activity map after its app was used to unmask some 6,500 military and intelligence personnel, including US troops deployed to Syria and stationed at the North Korea border.  

At the time the vulnerability was spotted by investigative reporters, the app offered data on the workout activities of its users in the tiniest detail on a global searchable map, including routes, dates, times, durations, and places of exercise.

The release of the infamous Strava heatmap has allowed researchers to identify assorted military installations in remote regions, like northern Syria and Afghanistan, where digital activity suggested foreign boots on the ground. That included a suspected CIA “black site” in Djibouti, as well as locations with a declared US presence, where consistent jog patterns allowed mapping sentry routes, while longer tracks across deserted areas appeared to indicate supply lines and long-range patrol areas.

Early last year, Le Monde claimed that using the Strava app it was able to work out the schedule and durations of French nuclear submarine patrols out of Ile Longue, a naval base near the Atlantic port of Brest, suggesting the information was likely harvested by Paris’ adversaries as well. The French Navy acknowledged “negligence on the part of personnel” but said it “does not necessarily constitute flaws that could affect the activities” of the base. However, the Navy reportedly cracked down on fitness app use at the base following the report.

The Strava app could have been used to plan the assassination of ex-Russian submarine commander Stanislav Rzhitsky, who was shot during a jog in the city of Krasnodar in July 2023. The Russian authorities apprehended the assassin, a Ukrainian national believed to be guided by Kiev’s intelligence, who was sentenced to 25 years behind bars. While the Ukrainian side gloated over the murder, they never claimed responsibility for the hit.  

Top politicians at risk?

In 2024, Le Monde ran a series of articles on Strava focused on spying on top politicians worldwide through the app. They examined jogging tracks at secluded locations believed to be used by world leaders, cross-referencing them to members of their respective security details. Even those tasked with the protection of top officials turned out to be typically just as careless about their digital footprint as anyone.  

The reporters claimed they managed to track down French President Emmanuel Macron through their method and even predict where he would stay during his travels. They also dug into the US Secret Service, claiming to identify 26 people who were part of then President Joe Biden’s security detail. The journalists looked at the security detail of Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming to have tracked down their travel patterns as well.

RT News

As tech prices continue to rise, especially with the annual release of the new fleet of iPhones, you don’t actually need to break the bank to find a really good smartphone.

Even in 2026, you can find some seriously good deals for under R10,000. In fact, many brands are already offering premium-style features at budget-friendly prices. From slick 120Hz screens to 5G connectivity and big batteries, the latest devices are blurring the line between mid-range and flagship.

At the top of the value list is the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (from R5,990) — arguably the safest bet under R10K right now. It delivers a smooth display, solid all-round performance, and dependable software updates, making it a go-to choice for users who want a phone that just works.

Hot on its heels is the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (from R4,299), which offers similar value at a slightly lower price point. With 5G speeds and a capable camera setup, it ticks all the right boxes for everyday users without stretching the budget.

Top Budget Smartphones in South Africa: Xiaomi Redmi Note 13, Samsung Galaxy A05s, and Unihertz Jelly Max 5G

If you’re chasing maximum bang for your buck, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 (R4,499) is difficult to ignore. Known for aggressive pricing, it packs a sharp display and impressive battery life — ideal for users who want performance without the premium price tag.

On the ultra-affordable end, the Samsung Galaxy A05s (from R2,499) proves you don’t need to spend much at all. It’s not flashy, but it delivers where it counts: battery life, a big screen, and reliable day-to-day performance.

And for something a little different, the Unihertz Jelly Max 5G (from R7,890) stands out with its compact design — a rare find in a world of ever-growing smartphones — while still packing surprising power under the hood.

The bottom line? The days of “budget phone equals bad phone” are over as there are plenty of great budget deals available both in stores and online.

For South African consumers feeling the pinch, that’s encouraging.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the vast majority of modern office work has become universally accepted, but just how much can you do with free versions of apps like ChatGPT and Google Gemini?

It’s a question worth asking, as there are a number of limitations with the free versions, but there’s still plenty you can achieve without forking over more of your hard-earned money.

The free version of Gemini, for example, sets limits on how useful the app can be during busy periods or ‘high-traffic’ times.

It means users are limited to around 30 prompts a day.

Understanding AI Limitations: Image Requests, Token Context, and User Prompts

It’s also generally accepted that you have a small limit on how many image requests the app will let you process in a 24-hour period.

When it comes to search, the free version has a 32,000-token context window, while the paid model has over 1 million.

For ChatGPT, there’s a strict limit on user requests. It’s actually as little as 10 message prompts per hour.

However, if you reach the limit, you still have access to similar features but with a more bare-bones model, which ChatGPT will use. The responses are generally faster, but less capable when this happens.

Much like Gemini, ChatGPT also limits free users during high-traffic periods.

I’ve personally found the image requests with ChatGPT to be more limited and less capable than Gemini in most cases.

In fact, the best workaround I’ve found as someone who refuses to pay for the paid versions is to combine my requests over both apps. That way, you already have access to more functionality off the bat.

But there’s no getting around it: AI can do amazing things for your workflow, but the free versions are just giving you a taste of what you can really achieve.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

A video on social platform X, purportedly showing Israeli soldiers weeping behind a wall, drew more than 1.6 million views before investigators found it was generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

The incident highlights how AI advances are making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and fabricated content, raising concerns about the reliability of digital information.

Faking public reality

The example underscores how the ongoing war in Iran is no longer fought solely on the battlefield, but also online. An investigation by German public broadcaster ZDF found multiple inconsistencies in the above-mentioned footage. In one scene, a soldier wears a patch bearing the Israeli flag; in another, the patch is missing.

The text on the patch is also nonsensical -- a common flaw in AI-generated imagery. Comments under the post highlighted inconsistencies in the uniforms, sound effects and firearms, further casting doubts on the video's authenticity. The spread of AI-generated content has been testing the credibility of professional news organizations.

In February, ZDF recalled one of its New York-based correspondents and later dismissed her over a report on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation that was found to contain AI-generated footage. A watermark of the Sora video-generation tool was visible in the corner of the frame. "The damage caused by disregarding journalistic standards is significant. At its core, the issue is the credibility of our reporting," said ZDF Editor-in-Chief Bettina Schausten. Beyond individual cases of fabricated content, experts warn that AI may also reshape how public opinion itself is formed.

Manufacturing social consensus

Even more troubling than fabricated content is AI's ability to manufacture the illusion of public opinion. In a recent Policy Forum article in the journal Science, an international team of researchers warned that digital manipulation is entering a new phase driven by so-called AI swarms.

In this phase, misinformation is no longer spread only by isolated bot accounts. Increasingly, it is amplified by coordinated clusters of AI-generated personas posing as real users. "We are talking about a system of AI agents that can be controlled by an individual or an organization," said David Garcia, a social data researcher at the University of Konstanz. "They have persistent identities and memory, and they can mimic human behavior. They can be coordinated toward a common goal while still varying their language and tone, and they are able to respond in real time to events and to human reactions," he said.

Garcia said that the risk lies in the possibility that manipulators could use large language models to construct an "alternative social reality." "Through a gradual yet persistent process, AI swarms can create the impression that a particular view is widely shared," he said. "That can shape public opinion and even alter social norms. When many seemingly independent voices repeatedly express the same stance, the illusion of a majority can emerge, even when no such majority exists." As these risks grow, researchers and institutions are stepping up efforts to detect and contain them.

From debunking to detection

"Content should be screened for patterns of coordinated behavior to help identify AI swarms more quickly," Garcia said. Researchers have also called for stronger oversight to track how AI-generated accounts influence public debate and to identify coordinated manipulation at an early stage. Garcia said the earlier such networks are uncovered, the less able they will be to erode public trust or to present a diverse range of social views as a single consensus.

Some of these efforts are beginning to take shape. On Monday, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) said it had launched a new deepfake detection project, "Check First. Vote Smart," together with the DFKI spin-off Gretchen AI and the Rhineland-Palatinate State Agency for Civic Education. The tool allows users to forward suspicious Instagram images in two steps, after which the system assesses whether the material is AI-generated or manipulated and estimates the likelihood it is fake.

Bernhard Kukatzki, director of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Agency for Civic Education, said disinformation had become one of the most pressing challenges in today's information environment. At a time when citizens are confronted with manipulated content on a daily basis, the ability to critically assess information is an essential skill, Kukatzki said.

XINHUA

South Africa is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in digital betting.

According to the National Gambling Board’s (NGB) 2024–2025 financial year report, the total sector turnover (Gross Gambling Turnover) reached a record R1.5 trillion. Yet the rapid growth in player numbers is barely reflected in the trend of actual payouts. To put this into perspective, the transaction volume amounts to nearly 30% of the country’s nominal GDP.

The gap between promotional banners and real bonus terms often leaves players confused or disappointed. To avoid this, many now rely on independent analytical platforms that verify the accuracy of casino offers.

Among these resources, gambling portal Slotozilla stands out for its comprehensive breakdowns of bonus conditions, licensing checks, and expert reviews that highlight the true value of each promotion.

This approach shifts the focus from flashy numbers to measurable, realistic expectations.

Advertised bonuses vs. the real picture

As part of a small-scale review, we analyzed bonus offers actively promoted in South Africa in 2026, including welcome bonuses, no-deposit deals, and free spins. We compared the advertising claims with the full Terms & Conditions, which are typically accessible only after registration.

The review focused on offers with the highest visibility across banners and affiliate placements, examining how advertised promises translated into actual wagering mechanics and withdrawal conditions.

At the marketing level, offers appeared highly attractive, with bonuses of R5,000–R15,000 framed as real starting capital. However, a comparison with the full Terms & Conditions shows a different reality: for most players, the bonus turns into a prolonged, high-risk wagering cycle.

What surprised players most was the gap between expectation and reality. For instance, a banner advertised a bonus “up to R10,000 with instant withdrawal”. In the actual promotional terms, however, access to those funds required a 50x wagering requirement. In practical terms, this meant the user had to place bets totaling R500,000 within a limited timeframe — while a typical session for an average player rarely exceeds R3,000–R5,000.

This is where the gap between promise and reality becomes impossible to ignore.

“When players see a large bonus amount, they tend to assume the main challenge is luck. In reality, the real challenge is arithmetic. A bonus doesn’t fail because a player is unlucky — it fails because the wagering requirements don’t match how people actually play”, — Slotozilla analytics team. 

What exactly surprised players?

When South African players started comparing bonus ads with the real terms, the surprise was not in individual rules, but in how those rules actually worked together.

• The wagering turned out to be far heavier than expected: for many players, the real playthrough requirement was 10–20 times higher than they assumed after seeing the banner.
• “Instant withdrawal” meant “after everything is cleared”: the promise sounded simple, yet access to winnings depended on completing a full bonus cycle first.
• Free spins came with hard ceilings: even successful wins were limited by cashout caps and extra conditions that were barely visible in advertising.

“I thought the bonus was about luck. Turns out it was about math I didn’t see”, — player comment from a Slotozilla review, anonymized. 

“The banner made it look simple. The rules made it feel impossible”, — another anonymized player review. 

From promise to probability: why bonuses rarely reach withdrawal

The core issue is wagering. In advertising, it is either not mentioned at all or presented as something “standard”. In practice, the Terms & Conditions most often contain wagering requirements of x45–x60 — far higher than players expect when they see large amounts on a banner.

This directly affects both time and betting volume. To put it into perspective: an average playing session in South Africa involves roughly R3,000–R5,000 in total bets. High wagering requirements dramatically increase both the time and volume of play needed to clear a bonus.

As a result, the statistics are harsh: fewer than 3% of players across the reviewed offers actually reach the withdrawal stage. At the same time, the number of active accounts keeps growing. This imbalance — a lot of play, but very little payout — is also a recurring theme in complaints submitted to regulators.

Several additional factors amplify this effect:

• strict maximum withdrawal caps, even after successful wagering;
• little to no contribution from low-risk games, forcing play on volatile slots;
• short bonus validity periods that compress already unrealistic conditions.

Viewed realistically, such bonuses look less like “free money” and more like a conditional credit with rules. On a banner, they appear as a quick way to grow a bankroll. In reality, the probability of meeting all conditions without losing the balance remains extremely low.

How Slotozilla addresses the issue: a shift toward rational gambling

Against the backdrop of the gap between advertising promises and actual terms, Slotozilla acts as an analytical filter, helping players understand the real mechanics of offers before registering. It functions not as a simple bonus aggregator, but as a tool that clarifies how promotions truly work in practice.

Today’s iGaming audience increasingly expects not emotions, but explanations: how RTP is calculated, what role volatility plays, and what a bonus actually costs once wagering requirements, caps, and expiration periods are factored in. Slotozilla brings this layer of information to the forefront, organizing data that is typically buried in the Terms & Conditions.

In its bonus section, the platform goes beyond highlighting the headline amount on a banner. Instead, it systematically presents the key parameters of each offer: bonus type, wagering requirements, withdrawal limits, eligible games, and the presence of promo codes. This approach makes it possible to compare bonuses based on attainability rather than nominal size.

As a result, a bonus stops being perceived as a “gift” and is instead viewed as a financial instrument with measurable risks and constraints. This reduces impulsive decisions and encourages a more rational behavioral model, where mathematics and conditions matter more than marketing promises.

Mini case studies: how Slotozilla “reads” bonuses in practice

Two common bonus formats illustrate why this gap matters in practice. In Slotozilla’s dedicated section on no‑deposit bonuses, offers are assessed not by promises, but by numbers — wagering requirements, cashout limits, and real playability.

Case 1: R10,000 bonus → 50x wagering

Why a “large” bonus can become mathematically unreachable.

On a banner, a bonus of R10,000 looks like meaningful starting capital. In practice, however, a 50x wagering requirement means the player must place bets totaling R500,000 before any withdrawal is possible.

For comparison, a typical player session in South Africa rarely exceeds R3,000–R5,000 in total bets. Even with disciplined play, clearing such a bonus would require dozens of sessions, uninterrupted by losses, time limits, or game restrictions. In real play, completing this cycle without losing the balance is extremely unlikely.

Case 2: Free spins → max cashout R200

Why “free play” rarely leads to real money.

Free spins are often perceived as risk-free. However, analysis of no-deposit offers shows a consistent pattern: winnings from free spins are subject to wagering, spins apply to a single high-volatility slot, and the maximum withdrawal is capped at around R200, regardless of how large the on-screen win appears.

As a result, even a successful bonus round may generate a visible win that cannot be fully withdrawn. Any amount above the cap is automatically voided, turning what feels like a lucky outcome into a predefined, limited result.

Why players didn’t expect this

Most players approached these bonuses with the assumption that “free” meant low risk and quick value. Advertising reinforced this perception by emphasizing size and simplicity, while downplaying the mechanics behind the offer.

The reality players encountered — complex wagering cycles, strict caps, and limited timelines — conflicted sharply with those expectations. The surprise came not from the existence of rules, but from how little those rules matched everyday playing behavior.

Summary: what truly surprised players

South African players were not surprised by the strictness of the bonus rules themselves, but by how large the gap was between advertising and real conditions. By 2026, casino bonuses in South Africa have effectively become complex financial products rather than simple promotions, where wagering, limits, and verification rules define the outcome.

Slotozilla helps make this gap visible by shifting attention from headline promises to numbers: wagering requirements, withdrawal caps, licensing, and real playability. In this context, understanding the mechanics of a bonus — not its advertised size — has become the key skill for making informed decisions in digital gambling.

As a self-confessed tech-obsessed writer, there’s an area of computing I normally never venture into, and that’s trying to damage laptops. On Wednesday, that changed as I got to drop the new laptop from Asus, and I have to admit - I liked it.

Perhaps not so much the laptop itself, but the fact that I got to ‘crash test’ the ExpertBook Ultra 7 was a completely new kind of thrill I’m not accustomed to when trying out new tech.

After the laptop itself was launched to the media with a ton of time dedicated to explaining how rugged and spill-proof this new product is, the exciting bit started.

First, we got to handle the new device, which is actually lighter than Apple’s MacBook Air and the new MacBook Neo.

IOL tech writer Michael Sherman experienced the thrill of drop-testing the rugged and spill-proof Asus ExpertBook Ultra 7, and he liked it.#Tech #AsusExpertBookUltra7 #review
Video: Michael Shermanhttps://t.co/6u8ubl7IP8 pic.twitter.com/9x5O3SCoMF

— IOLTech (@TechIol) March 19, 2026

Durability Test: Dropping the Asus Laptop for Fun and Experience

This was mostly for getting a feel for the laptop, but then it was on to the main attraction - first, the Asus representative dropped it for us. Then he encouraged us to drop it ourselves.

Bizarrely, I was the only one who seemed eager to drop a laptop - even though it went against every instinct in my body. After all, it wasn’t my laptop - so why not? Of course, I stepped up and duly dropped the laptop from just above knee height onto the padded mat on the floor.

As I picked it up, there were no visible markings or any kind of damage. Of course, this could just be a gimmick in the launch from Asus, and it’s still probably not recommended to ever drop a laptop you own.

Ultimately, though, it was a good bit of fun and a rather different way to try out some new tech.

Oh, and if you’re in the market for a high-end Intel-powered Asus ExpertBook Ultra 7 with 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and a 3k Tandem OLED display, they’re available locally now for R59,999.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

It’s generally not a good idea to watch TV until you fall asleep… blue light and all that jazz. But that’s exactly the situation I find myself in, and every night I put on one of my favourite animated shows like Bojack Horseman or Rick and Morty to help me relax and drift off.

However, recently this has not worked very well for me as my Xiaomi media player keeps crashing while I watch my shows on Netflix.

While it should signal that I should be calling it a night, it’s anything but as it leaves me frustrated that my tech is failing me.

It got me thinking: how long should you wait before upgrading your media player or smart TV?

Xiaomi TV Box S (2nd Gen): A Decent Media Player with Limited Longevity

Of course, you have less of an option if it’s your Smart TV because that’s a much bigger outlay.

Therefore, I’m going to look at media players specifically. Now, this media player is pretty decent, but this model Xiaomi TV Box S (2nd Gen) came out in 2023 and I got it the same year.

That’s not even a full four years I’ve got out of it, and that’s just not acceptable.

There’s always the option of doing a factory reset, and that’s what I’ll probably try first.

If that fails to fix my media player crashing regularly, I’ll have to fork out for something new.

The reality is that most streaming media players tend to last around three to five years before performance issues start creeping in. Apps get heavier, operating systems get updated, and hardware that once felt snappy suddenly struggles to keep up.

Signs Your Media Player Needs an Upgrade and Top Streaming Player Options

In other words, if your media player is crashing, lagging, or randomly closing apps while you’re halfway through an episode, it’s probably a sign the hardware is starting to show its age.

And unfortunately, the cost of upgrading is often cheaper than the frustration of trying to squeeze another year out of an ageing device.

If you do decide it’s time to upgrade, there are several excellent streaming players available right now.

The budget-friendly option is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It’s one of the most popular streaming sticks on the market thanks to its fast interface, support for 4K streaming and Dolby Vision, and the fact that it simply plugs straight into your TV’s HDMI port.

Top Streaming Box Picks for 2025: Affordable Options and High-Performance Choices

If you want something similar to what many Android TV users are already familiar with, sticking with the new (2025 release) Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen) is also an option. It runs Google TV, supports all the major streaming apps, and is usually one of the more affordable dedicated streaming boxes available.

For those who want the absolute best performance, the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro remains the gold standard. It’s more expensive than most media players, but it offers powerful hardware, AI-powered upscaling, and some of the longest software support in the industry.

The good news is that media players are still one of the cheaper upgrades you can make in your home entertainment setup. Unlike replacing a full smart TV, swapping out a streaming box can instantly breathe new life into an older screen.

Which is exactly what I might need to do if I want Bojack Horseman to stop freezing halfway through an existential monologue.

And frankly, that’s the last thing anyone needs right before falling asleep.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

At MWC 2026, global leading AI device ecosystem company HONOR earned widespread recognition from leading media outlets, winning over 70 media awards across its Augmented Human Intelligence vision, robotics innovation, flagship foldables and expanding AI device ecosystem.

This year, HONOR showcased Robot Phone and humanoid robot innovations as bold explorations of embodied intelligence, with Magic V6, MagicPad 4 and MagicBook Pro 14 expanding its latest AI device ecosystem announcements.

Bloomberg said HONOR’s launch “sets the tone for the mobile industry’s annual gathering.” Robot Phone drew particular attention for combining embodied AI interaction with robot-grade motion and cinematic imaging, with Reuters and CNBC spotlighting it as part of HONOR’s broader push into embodied AI, positioning the device as a high-profile showcase of how AI hardware could move and respond in the real world. Meanwhile, tech outlets were taken by the human appeal, with Engadget noting HONOR had made Robot Phone “highly mobile, to the point of creating a tiny personal robot that is, dare I say, adorable?”, while GadgetMatch described Robot Phone as “an early preview of how future mobile technology might move, react, and interact more like a living companion rather than a static tool.”

HONOR Magic V6, the pinnacle of foldable innovation, was also widely praised for combining breakthrough silicon-carbon battery technology, advanced display engineering and AI-enhanced productivity in its most refined foldable design to date. TechRadar wrote that Magic V6 “raises the bar again”, highlighting its ultra-thin build and IP69 water and dust resistance, while Android Authority, Trusted Reviews, and Stuff pointed to its balance of design, durability and endurance. GSMArena declared Magic V6 “a milestone for foldables,” praising the largest battery yet in a durable, high-performance design, with media also highlighting its position as the first foldable with the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform.

HONOR was also awarded the “Best Disruptive Device Innovation” for its silicon-carbon battery technology by Global Mobile (GLOMO) at MWC 2026. This innovation enables HONOR Magic V6 to achieve an industry-first silicon content of 25%, delivering higher energy density in an ultra-thin foldable design. HONOR also showcased its next-generation HONOR Silicon-carbon Blade Battery, featuring 32% silicon content and an energy density of 985 Wh/L, marking a further leap in ultra-thin, ultra-high energy battery technology.

Across the broader ecosystem, outlets spotlighted HONOR MagicPad 4 and MagicBook Pro 14 as productivity-focused additions to HONOR’s AI device ecosystem. TechRadar praised MagicPad 4’s “impossible” engineering, calling it “the most impressive-looking tablet in the world,” while TechAdvisor scored it 9/10, highlighting its ultra-slim design and productivity focus. For HONOR’s AI PC lineup, TechRadar said MagicBook Pro 14 “takes a leap forward in almost every way,” reinforcing HONOR’s expanding ecosystem story.

These accolades reflect growing recognition of HONOR’s shift toward a cohesive AI device ecosystem vision while building on its legacy of delivering hardware excellence. 

For more information about HONOR’s MWC 2026 announcements, please visit www.honor.com.

This week, the local Windows and Chromebook market was taken by storm as Apple launched its new MacBook Neo.

The best thing (and worst thing for its competitors) about this laptop is the price of R11,999.

Taking into account inflation, Apple has never released a laptop anywhere close to this price before. For example, I bought my first 13” MacBook Pro back in 2010 for R10,500. Adjusted for inflation, that’s between R21,000 and R23,000 in 2026.

Though many of the similarly priced rival laptops on the market can compete in a couple of sections with the Neo, there’s no competition when it comes to the complete package.

Affordable Neo Laptop: Premium Build, Powerful A18 Pro Chip, and User-Friendly macOS

At almost half the price of the much more expensive (R21,999) M5 MacBook Air released this week, the Neo has the same premium aluminium build. The keyboard and trackpad are better than anything you will find on Windows laptops.

It has a liquid retina display that’s just as bright, and battery life rated at 16 hours, which is just two behind the Air.

The A18 Pro chip, though it’s the same processor included in the iPhone 16 Pro, is extremely powerful and more than capable of running Mac OS.

That’s the big selling point in my opinion; macOS is much better than Windows or Android operating systems. It’s much more user-friendly and visually appealing. The thing is that Apple is primarily a software company that builds hardware accordingly, which means every device is highly optimised to run fast and smoothly.

Best Value Entry-Level Laptop in South Africa: 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage, and Stunning Colours

The 8GB unified RAM and 256GB storage are perhaps the biggest sticking points, but considering this laptop is aimed at entry-level users, this is not really a compromise. That’s especially true when considering how well everything is optimised for the laptop and macOS.

This little powerhouse can handle any task that a typical office worker throws at it, from opening tons of tabs in a web browser, creating documents to light photo editing and even basic 4K video editing. There aren’t many entry-level laptops that could even attempt 4K video editing, and that again is down to software optimisation and surprisingly powerful processor.

Finally, there are the colours. While this is purely aesthetic, the citrus, blush and indigo offer striking variety you don’t get with the muted colours of the Airs and the Pros. There is even a traditional silver colour for the Neo, for those that don’t necessarily want to stand out in a coffee shop or in a similar setting.

It’s just no contest, this is my pick for the best value laptop for R12k in South Africa.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

In sport, you would say a team is only as good as their last result, and with Artificial Intelligence (AI), it’s actually quite similar as you're only as good as your prompt.

Many people (myself included) don’t always get the results I want from AI apps like ChatGPT or Google Gemini.

It’s even worse with Apple Intelligence, but that’s a story for another day.

One of the big reasons people often don’t get the results they want from AI is that the prompts we give it simply aren’t good or precise enough.

The Evolution of AI Prompts: Bridging User Intent and Machine Capability

If you start with a prompt that sounds perfect in your head, writing that down or using a voice prompt doesn’t always translate the way a user actually intends.

This is particularly relevant because the way people would previously Google something is vastly different to the prompts you would feed an AI assistant.

It can mean that a user’s prompt often lacks the key information required to get the desired result.

According to an article written by Ari Ramkilowan (Head of Machine Learning at Helm) and Stef Adonis (Head of Marketing at Helm), it states that the way we view AI can shape the results we get. Helm is a CX innovation company that creates AI-powered customer experiences for Africa’s biggest brands.

“AI behaves less like an all-knowing machine and more like a highly capable intern. It is excellent with context and direction, but unpredictable when instructions are vague,” the report states.

“AI is moving from something we “use” to something that forms part of the infrastructure of daily life. The challenge ahead is not whether AI will become part of our world; it already has. The challenge is how we use it: consciously, critically, and creatively. That’s where the everyday user and the expert finally meet,” continued the report.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

With the recently launched Galaxy S26 series, Samsung unveiled a breakthrough feature that is set to change the way users experience privacy on their phones.

Building on decades of display innovation, the AI(artificial intelligence)-powered Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces the mobile industry and world’s first built-in Privacy Display - a revolutionary technology that protects personal information at a pixel level.

As the slimmest Ultra yet, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is not just engineered for performance and design excellence. It is designed for real-life scenarios. In a country where mobile phones are the gateway to banking, business, healthcare, and connection, Privacy Display helps you keep what is yours private.

Privacy Display represents a fundamental shift in mobile display technology. By controlling how pixels disperse light, the screen remains bright, crisp, and comfortable for the user, while limiting what others can see from side viewing angles when activated.

Unlike traditional stick-on privacy filters that dim screens and degrade clarity, Samsung’s built-in solution endeavours to preserve full viewing quality.

When activated, Privacy Display instantly reduces side-angle visibility without compromising brightness or colour accuracy. The protection works seamlessly in both portrait and landscape mode, adapting naturally to how people use their phones.

Built for South Africa’s everyday moments

From catching the Gautrain in Johannesburg to working remotely in a Cape Town café, people are constantly connected in shared spaces. Privacy Display is purpose-built for these everyday realities.

Imagine making an EFT while commuting on a packed bus in Sandton or in a crowded waiting room, checking sensitive work emails in a busy airport lounge at OR Tambo, or simply having a confidential WhatsApp conversation in a restaurant. This amazing feature gives you that personal digital bubble, even in the most public environments.

Privacy Display works hand-in-hand with Samsung’s software intelligence to give users complete control over when and how privacy protection activates.

Users can:

• Automatically activate Privacy Display when entering a PIN or password
• Trigger protection when opening specific apps such as banking, email or messaging
• Choose adjustable privacy levels
• Partial Screen Privacy to shield notification pop-ups
• Maximum Privacy Protection for enhanced side-view shielding

This means protection adapts to context. When you need it, it is there.

Privacy Display reinforces Samsung’s commitment to safeguarding personal information at every layer of the experience. With the introduction of this feature, Samsung is once again redefining what its flagship mobile phone can be, while ensuring that privacy travels with those on the move.

The Galaxy S26 series is available for pre-order now until 19 March 2026. Customers who pre-order can double their storage and save up to R5,000 in an exclusive limited-time offer.

The Galaxy S26 series comes in Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, and is available at these recommended retail prices:

• Galaxy S26 Ultra from R30,999
• Galaxy S26+ from R25,9993
• Galaxy S26 from R20,9993

The era of the AI phone has arrived. Pre-Order yours now!

Jury deliberations are set to begin Friday in a landmark social media addiction trial accusing Meta and YouTube of intentionally trying to hook young internet users.

Closing arguments wrapped here Thursday with rival attorneys trying to convince jurors the evidence backed their side of the clash.

The verdict could turn on the question of whether family and other real world troubles, or YouTube and Meta apps such as Instagram, were to blame for mental woes of the woman who filed the suit.

An attorney for the woman, a 20-year-old California woman identified as Kaley G.M., used a cupcake metaphor, arguing that while only a small bit of baking soda might be in a recipe it was essential for making the pastry.

"It comes down to highly technical legal standards," the plaintiff's attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett said of the job ahead for jurors.

"They could find all kinds of terrible stuff, but then determine that technically speaking, the percentage of contribution wasn't met."

An attorney for Meta, Paul Schmidt, noted that none of the therapists who testified had identified social media as the cause of Kaley's troubles.

Instead, he said, Kaley's records show emotional and physical abuse along with academic struggles and psychiatric conditions separate from her use of social media.

"Kaley has faced profound challenges, and we continue to recognize all she has endured," Schmidt said.

"The jury's only task, however, is to decide if those struggles would have existed without Instagram."

YouTube, meanwhile, has likened itself to television during the trial, rebuffing the idea of equating it with online social media platforms.

Taking aim at tactics

Kaley testified at trial that YouTube and Instagram fueled her depression and suicidal thoughts as a child, telling jurors that she became hooked on social media, starting with YouTube videos, at the age of six.

Under cross examination, however, Kaley talked about feeling neglected, berated and picked on by family members, causing depression and anxiety that apparently had nothing to do with social media.

She said her mother pushed her into therapy at around age 12, and that during the first session she said she could not engage with her family at home because of "excessive worrying because of social media."

In a surprising twist, Kaley also said she would like to become a social media manager and capitalize on the skills she has built.

Meta's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg took the stand during the trial, pushing back against accusations that his company had done too little to keep underage users off his platform and had profited from their presence.

Zuckerberg told jurors that he regretted Meta's slow progress in identifying underage users on Instagram, but that  "we're in the right place now."

YouTube vice president of engineering Cristos Goodrow said while testifying that the Google-owned company's aim was to give people value, not hook them on harmful binge-viewing, despite aggressive growth goals at the platform.

"We don't want anybody to be addicted to anything," he said.

The lawsuit is one of hundreds accusing social media firms of leading young users to become addicted to their content and suffer from depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalization and even suicide.

Internet titans have long shielded themselves with Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, which frees them of responsibility for what social media users post.

However, this case argues that the firms are responsible for defective products with business models designed to hold people's attention and to promote content that can harm their mental health.

The outcome of the Los Angeles trial is expected to establish a standard for resolving thousands of lawsuits that blame social media for fueling an epidemic of depression, anxiety, eating disorders and suicide among young people.

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to test out the new MacBook Neo as it was launched in South Africa, and it was a unique experience even for someone like myself who has been using Mac laptops for the last 16 years.

Positioned as an entry-level 13” MacBook at R11,999, I can confidently state that you will not get a better new laptop for that price in South Africa. And this little powerhouse is more than powerful enough for 90% of the public, save software coders and professional video editors and photographers.

That’s after I was able to play around with the Neo for over an hour at the launch event with iStore in Sandton.

The first thing that struck me were the colours. On display were two base models in blush and citrus colours. These are definitely funkier and honestly more exciting colours than you get in the MacBook Airs and Pros.

Hello Neo: A Premium Feel and Performance Comparison with the MacBook Air

However, when you pick it up, that’s when you notice what a good laptop this is. Its solid aluminium housing makes it feel premium and in fact feels very similar to the much more expensive 13” MacBook Airs which start at R21,999 for the new M5 versions also released this year.

It also has slightly more rounded edges, which for me make it feel more modern.

Even the typing experience, as someone who uses a modern MacBook, felt exactly the same.

In fact, if it weren’t for the colours and the white keyboard, the average person might find it difficult to distinguish between the Air and the Neo.

It’s also interesting to hear just how powerful the speakers are. Of course, it’s no comparison for the beefier 16” MacBook Pro which has the best sound system of any laptop on the market, but the Neo is definitely comparable with the Air.

Of course, the major difference between the Air and the Neo will be performance, and that’s where I expected to see a distinct difference.

You will see that clearly in highly demanding tasks like complicated video or photo editing, for example, but for web browsing, it felt exactly the same as the Air.

MacBook Neo: Performance, Display, and Value in South Africa

I even compared some of the stats; the Neo is actually almost twice as fast as my 16” M1 MacBook Pro when it comes to the speed of web browsing. And I was able to see that firsthand, as I opened plenty of tabs in the Apple native web browser Safari, and was able to switch between the tabs seamlessly without any lag or the pages having to reload.

All this with what should be an inferior 8GB unified memory and 256GB SSD and an iPhone processor (A18 Pro). But that’s the thing; Apple is a software company at its core and designs its hardware according to the software, making everything highly optimised.

Even the screen, though it’s 0.6” inches smaller than the Air, is a seriously high-quality Liquid Retina display which reaches the same brightness levels as the Air.

“It's definitely going to change the market,” said iStore Chief Commercial Officer Linda van der Nest.

“It packs a punch at only R11,999 locally priced in South Africa.

“And we really think that this is going to be the choice laptop for people who in the past wanted an affordable computer and the only choice really was a PC.”

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Artificial intelligence is spreading rapidly across workplaces, automating tasks that once required large teams of people.

AI can now write reports, analyse data, generate images and even answer customer queries.

But despite these advances, experts say there are still many jobs that machines are unlikely to replace anytime soon.

That’s because some work depends on skills that AI struggles to replicate — such as empathy, creativity, complex judgement and hands-on problem-solving.

The Irreplaceable Human Touch in Care-Based Jobs, Skilled Trades, Creative Careers, and Teaching

One key area is care-based jobs. Roles like nurses, therapists, social workers and childcare providers rely heavily on human connection and emotional understanding. Though many have tried to work through mental health issues with the help of apps like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, this highly dangerous as they lack genuine compassion.

Another area where humans remain essential is the skilled trades.

Electricians, plumbers, carpenters and mechanics often deal with unpredictable environments and unique problems. While robots work well in controlled factory settings, they still struggle in messy real-world situations that require quick thinking and manual skill.

Creative careers are also harder to fully automate. AI can generate artwork, music and written content, but true creativity often comes from human experiences, emotions and cultural understanding. Designers, filmmakers, journalists and artists bring perspective and storytelling that machines can imitate, but not truly originate.

Teaching is another example. Educators do far more than deliver information. They motivate students, adapt lessons to individual needs and help develop critical thinking.

AI will continue to change the job market, replacing some roles while creating new ones. But for many careers, the future is likely to involve humans working alongside AI — rather than being replaced by it.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Unboxing the Vivo X300 Pro felt less like opening a new phone and more like a professional photography kit. 

Instead of the usual slim box and charging cable, I was presented by three separate boxes: the handset itself, a Vivo ZEISS 2.35x telephoto lens, and a PGYTECH imaging grip kit complete with a sturdy one-metre strap.

It is impressive and, at first, slightly overwhelming. This is not your average smartphone.

First impressions: Built for content creators

The extras immediately set the tone. The quick-release phone strap is easy to attach and detach, which makes a difference when you’re moving between shooting and everyday use. 

The device also comes with two robust covers, one featuring a practical handle and the other doubling as a stand for hands-free viewing. It is clear that the Vivo X300 Pro is meant to be used, not just admired.

Snap on the PGYTECH imaging grip and the X300 Pro transforms visually and physically. It feels like a compact professional camera. The grip is ergonomic and comfortable, especially when the ZEISS telephoto lens is attached. That extra support counterbalances the weight of the lens, making longer shoots far less tiring.

A camera system that delivers

The X300 Pro houses four built-in lenses, and even without attaching the additional zoom lens, the image quality is exceptional. Photos are sharp, colours are natural, and there is very little pixelation when zooming in on a subject. 

Vivo’s collaboration with ZEISS for producing high-quality images and sharp colours has produced a smartphone that definitely stands out from other similar devices in the same price range (R39,999).

Video performance stands out just as strongly. SmartFocus automatically tracks a moving subject while recording, which is particularly useful for parents filming sport matches or content creators capturing action scenes. 

The stabilisation is excellent; footage remains steady without that distracting shake so common in handheld shooting.

Attaching the 2.35x telephoto lens is simple  - press the button beside the lens mount and click it into place. The built-in image stabiliser works seamlessly with it, and the exposure wheel allows you to adjust brightness quickly while shooting. It feels intuitive, even if you are not a seasoned photographer.

Editing without extra apps

One of the more surprising features is the built-in multi-clip video editing app. Most smartphones require third-party downloads – often at a cost – to stitch together clips. Here, you can cut, merge and refine footage directly on the device. For content creators and social media enthusiasts, that is a significant advantage.

Navigation within the camera app is simple. Adjusting file size and frames per second (FPS) is straightforward, allowing you to tailor content for different platforms. The selfie setup is equally simple, offering a live view preview and a dedicated front camera alongside the main camera system to ensure flattering results.

The Vivo X300 Pro is not just a smartphone. It is a phone, a professional camera and a lifestyle device rolled into one.

Yes, the initial unboxing may feel slightly overwhelming, but once you familiarise yourself with the system, it becomes an exciting creative tool. 

For anyone serious about mobile photography, or simply wanting a device that turns heads – this is a standout piece of tech that will almost certainly become the envy of friends and family.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups are attracting record levels of investment in 2026, with funding already far ahead of last year’s pace after just two months.

New data according to shows AI startups raised $220 billion in January and February, including an extraordinary $189 billion in February alone. For comparison, the entire first quarter of 2025 saw $75.5 billion invested in AI companies, meaning the industry has already raised nearly three times that amount in just two months this year.

The total also already exceeds the $197.8 billion raised during the first three quarters of 2025 combined.

If the current pace continues, AI companies could raise more money in the first three months of 2026 than they did during the whole of 2025, when total funding reached $270 billion.

Record-Breaking $110 Billion Investment in OpenAI Fuels AI Sector Surge

“We are witnessing the fastest capital concentration in the history of venture capital. In just two months since the start of the year, AI has captured more than 80% of the entire funding for the sector in 2025,” said Alan Goldberg from BestBrokers.com.

A major driver behind the surge was a record-breaking investment in OpenAI, which secured $110 billion in late February, the largest funding round in startup history. The deal was led by NVIDIA and SoftBank, which each contributed $30 billion, while Amazon added another $50 billion. Last year’s investment was far more evenly spread throughout the year.

AI startups raised $75.5 billion in Q1 2025, followed by $56.9 billion in Q2, $65.4 billion in Q3, and $72.4 billion in Q4. Experts say the huge sums being invested show that global investors are increasingly focusing their money on a small number of leading AI companies.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Fan buzz around life-simulation game "Pokemon Pokopia" sent Nintendo shares soaring on Wednesday, with some hailing the new title as a welcome antidote to global conflicts.

Japan's Nintendo has enjoyed bumper sales for its latest Switch 2 console, but some have called the line-up of new games for the device lackluster.

So early success for "Pokemon Pokopia", released on March 5 to rave reviews and reports of store sell-outs around the world, has relieved investors.

"Pokemon Pokopia" launched as a Switch 2 exclusive, "immediately becoming a viral stealth hit", analyst Atul Goyal from investment bank Jefferies said.

"The title successfully bridges the gap between core gamers and casual audiences," Goyal said.

The new Pokemon game has an aggregated review score of 89 on Metacritic, which Goyal described as a high for the three-decade-old video game franchise.

Nintendo shares were up nine percent in mid-morning trade on Wednesday, also likely boosted by the release of the final trailer for the star-studded upcoming "Super Mario" movie sequel.

Players have compared the game, in which they control a human-like character to rejuvenate a village, to "Animal Crossing" -- another Nintendo life-sim that became a hit during the pandemic.

"If you're looking for a mental break from the world def get Pokopia, it's like therapy," US-based influencer Ashley Duncan wrote on X.

"For Covid we had Animal Crossing. For WW3 we have Pokopia. Thank you for the distractions, Nintendo," said another X post from fan account Pokemon Daily Post, which has nearly 90 million followers.

The basic premise of Pokemon, inspired by the Japanese summer childhood tradition of bug-collecting, is to catch and train in battle hundreds of round-eyed "pocket monsters".

The phenomenon has evolved since the first 1996 game release with anime series, movies, a trading card game and the augmented reality smartphone app "Pokemon Go".

Nintendo's Switch 2, the world's fastest-selling games console, launched in June 2025 as the successor to the first Switch.

The original is now the second top-selling console of all time after Sony's PlayStation 2, boosted by the popularity of games including "Animal Crossing".

AFP

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being linked to job cuts across the global tech industry, with new data suggesting that around one in five layoffs this year are connected to companies adopting AI tools.

According to a new report from financial research firm RationalFX, about 9,238 of the 45,363 tech layoffs recorded worldwide in 2026 so far — roughly 20% — are tied to artificial intelligence and organisational restructuring.

The figures were compiled using data from several verified sources, including U.S. WARN notices, TrueUp, TechCrunch and the Layoffs.fyi tracker.

The biggest contributor to AI-related job cuts so far is the American technology company Block, which has announced 4,000 layoffs this year. CEO Jack Dorsey said the cuts were not driven by financial trouble, but by the growing ability of AI tools to handle tasks that previously required large teams.

AI-Driven Workforce Reduction: Tech Industry’s Shift and Impact

Companies with the most AI-related layoffs in 2026 so far include:

• Block – 4,000

• WiseTech Global – 2,000

• Livspace – 1,000

• eBay – 800

• Pinterest – 675

• ANGI Homeservices – 350

• Oracle – 254

• MercadoLibre – 119

While tech companies are continuing to post strong retyrbs, analysts say the industry is rapidly reorganising around AI-powered workflows. That shift is reducing the need for some traditional roles, particularly entry-level operational jobs.

Experts warn that if the current pace of layoffs continues, the impact could extend beyond the tech sector as more industries adopt automation.

Alan Cohen, an analyst at RationalFX, says the trend highlights how quickly AI is reshaping the job market.

“Even as companies post record revenues, the tech sector is being fundamentally reshaped by AI, with firms reorganising around more efficient, technology-driven workflows,” he said.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

The new iPad M4 and iPhone 17e are not bad products, but they do not exist in a vacuum, and because the MacBook Neo simply exists, they are completely overpriced in South Africa right now.

Let me explain.

The Neo, which was just launched, reviving the previously discontinued MacBook, retails at R11,999.

That’s the same price as the base iPad M4, which was also released this week, and that’s for the 11” version. For the 13”, it starts out at an even heftier R16,099.

iPad vs. Neo: Key Differences in Storage, Keyboard, and Operating System

Whichever iPad you choose, though, it doesn’t come with a keyboard, and both the 11” and 13” start with a base storage of 128GB. The Magic Keyboard for the 11” starts at R6,499 for the 11” and R7,399 for the 13”.

With the Neo, you get a 13” screen and a keyboard in an aluminium design and a 256GB SSD as part of the base model package. There is also the small matter of the Neo using macOS, which is vastly superior and easier to use than iPad OS.

Of course, the M4 Air has a more powerful processor than the one found in the Neo with its A18 Pro, but unless you’re doing intensive video editing or gaming, that won’t matter at all. For every other kind of task, the performance will be the same, and the user experience will always be better on a laptop.

iPhone 17e vs. Neo: A Straight-Up Financial Comparison

Now, with the iPhone 17e, the comparison is purely financial, and again, the Neo wins by a massive margin. The reason is that both the Neo and 17e retail for $599 in the US.

In a direct conversion, that works out to approximately R9,954 on the current exchange rate. Naturally, importing the products to South Africa adds extra costs.

However, the 17e starts at R14,599. That’s R2,600 more for two products that cost exactly the same in the US. Since the iPhone is always Apple’s biggest seller, they feel quite justified in upping their price without anyone noticing. With the Neo, the strategy is more about breaking into the budget laptop market and is the reason behind their aggressive pricing.

Ultimately, these three products are aimed at vastly different audiences— but if you don’t mind spending much more than you really should, go ahead and buy the M4 iPad Air and iPhone 17e.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

OpenAI on Thursday announced the release of GPT-5.4, a new AI model designed for professional tasks. The US artificial intelligence company said the model integrates recent advancements in reasoning, coding and workflows, building on the capabilities of GPT-5.3-Codex. OpenAI also introduced GPT-5.4 Pro, a more powerful version for complex tasks.

GPT-5.4 improves performance in spreadsheets, presentations and documents, enabling more efficient completion of professional work. The model also supports larger context processing and improved web search integration.

The GPT-5.4 Thinking version in ChatGPT can outline its reasoning before delivering a final answer, allowing users to adjust instructions during the response process. It also recognizes interface elements from screenshots, enabling mouse and keyboard operations across software.

In benchmark tests, GPT-5.4 matched or exceeded industry professionals in 83 percent of GDPval comparisons and achieved higher coding test scores than its predecessor. OpenAI said the model has improved factual accuracy and is less likely to generate incorrect information compared with GPT-5.2.

GPT-5.4 is available to ChatGPT Plus, Team and Pro users, and to developers through the API. OpenAI plans to gradually retire GPT-5.2 Thinking in the coming months.

Xinhua

It’s official: the new MacBook Neo will be sold for R11,999 in South Africa, making it comfortably Apple’s cheapest ever laptop.

That price is terrible news for Chromebooks, Asus, Lenovo, and the other big brands that sell entry-level laptops in South Africa. For reference, when I bought my first MacBook Pro in 2010, that cost R10,500, and with inflation, that works out to between R21,000 and R23,000. I had predicted incorrectly that they would sell the Neo for just under R15,000 which would have still been good value, but at this price it’s simply unbelievable..

The fact of the matter is that the Neo, which was launched on Wednesday, will offer the best all-round package for a laptop at that same price. The Neo is also the same price as the new iPad Air M4, also released this week, which doesn’t come with a keyboard or the superior Mac operating system and has just an 11" screen unless you pay more.

Any other laptop under the R15,000 mark in South Africa will be made of plastic, have a cheap trackpad, and not offer the performance that the Neo will. Add in the 13” liquid retina display, Apple trackpad, which is the best on the market, Magic Keyboard, and side-firing speakers, and it’s an unbeatable all-round package. It's just no contest now.

MacBook Neo: Premium Aluminium Design, A18 Pro Power, and AI Capabilities for Everyday Use

The biggest draw of the Neo is the aluminium design, which will set it apart from its competitors. Of course, the aluminium casing is standard on MacBook, and because the Neo has this, it simply feels more premium.

The storage of 256GB and unified memory of 8GB may sound modest, but in combination with Apple’s A18 Pro chip, it will still be a powerhouse at this price.

In fact, this laptop is more powerful than the iconic M1 Air, which ushered in the Apple Silicon era in 2020. Until 2023, when I upgraded to the M1 Pro, I was still using the M1 Air for all my daily office tasks, including regular 1080p video editing.

While the Neo won’t handle regular video editing these days, that’s not who this laptop is for. It’s aimed at students and the vast majority of users for web browsing, online meetings, and general office work.

It can even still use AI apps like ChatGPT. That’s a huge chunk of the market, well over 95% according to reports. You can pre-order the Neo from the iStore today, with shipping starting on March 11.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

The long-awaited budget laptop offering from Apple finally dropped on Wednesday, called the MacBook Neo. It is officially the cheapest laptop the tech giant has sold.

That price? It’s $599 in the US,  though the straight conversion is around R9,800. With import costs to South Africa, it will cost approximately R14,599.

While the price hasn’t been officially confirmed locally, I came up with this figure because the iPhone 17e, launched on Monday, retails for $599 in the US and is already selling on the iStore website for R14,599.

This may seem like a hefty price, but the performance and build quality at this price point beat out every non-Mac competitor in the market. That’s because it comes in a premium aluminium build, while every other laptop at this price will be some form of plastic. Then there’s the Liquid Retina 13” display and side-firing speakers, magic keyboard, and trackpad. There’s also the more than handy 16-hour battery life. And don't forget there are four funky colours too, if that's important to you.

Apple’s Neo Laptop: Best Trackpad and A18 Pro Processor Power at R15k 

Apple makes the best trackpads on the market, and for this price of the Neo, that’s a win on its own.

The Neo has some modest specs of 8GB unified memory and 256GB (upgradeable to 512GB) storage, but thanks to the A18 Pro processor, it can outperform any Intel or AMD equivalent at this price point. That’s despite the fact that it’s actually a phone processor, which was used in the iPhone 16 Pro and Max devices.

It means anyone who uses a laptop for web browsing, office tasks, meetings, and even light video and photo editing will have more than enough power.

That’s because the A18 processor is more powerful than the M1 MacBook Air, which I personally used right up until the end of 2023 for all the above office work and some heavier video editing. I still use the M1 Pro, which is only slightly more powerful than the A18 Pro.

I’m hoping the local iStore might knock off a little bit of the starting price, which is close to R15k, but even if they don’t, this is still the best laptop you can get for that price. 

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Apple has dropped new MacBook Pros. New MacBook Airs. And now, a budget MacBook is about to land on Wednesday. Orders will be available from March 11.

While most people focus on what’s new at the top end, the real story is happening at the bottom of the lineup — and it could completely reset the Mac market in South Africa.

Yes, the new Pro and Air models are more expensive. That’s not accidental. Apple is deliberately stretching its pricing ladder.

Apple just created the biggest price gap in years

Why? Because it’s about to slide in the cheapest new MacBook it has ever sold.

The reintroduced entry-level MacBook — back for the first time since 2019 — is expected to land somewhere between R13,000 and R15,000.

To put that into perspective:

• M4 MacBook Air: R18,999

• Expected M5 MacBook Air: around R23,500

That’s a dramatic difference. And for most buyers, it changes everything.

“But it has an iPhone chip…”

Good.

The new MacBook is expected to run on Apple’s A18 Pro — the same chip inside the iPhone 16 Pro models. Some will scoff at that.

They shouldn’t.

Apple’s iPhone chips are absurdly powerful. I edited 4K video on an M1 MacBook Air without breaking it. My M1 MacBook Pro still handles AI workloads and heavy projects comfortably.

For students. For remote workers. For content creators. For everyday users.

This machine will be more than enough.

Unless you’re rendering feature films or compiling massive codebases all day, you’re not going to hit its ceiling.

The trade-in clock is ticking

Here’s the part people ignore: every new Mac release quietly lowers the value of your current one.

Macs hold their value far better than Windows laptops — but depreciation still happens.

A base M1 MacBook Air from 2020 can still fetch up to R7,400 in trade-in value. That’s remarkable. But it won’t stay that high forever.

If you’re going to upgrade, doing it at the start of a new cycle — not the end — is smart.

This is the sweet spot

This isn’t about chasing the most powerful machine.

It’s about buying at the right moment.

Record-low pricing. More-than-enough performance. Strong resale value. And a clear product ladder that finally makes sense.

If you’re in the 99% — not the 1% production house editor or full-time developer — the new budget MacBook looks like the obvious play.

Sometimes the best tech decision isn’t buying the most expensive device.

It’s buying at the smartest time.

And right now? This is it.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

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Though they were first expected to be released at the end of January, Apple has finally released the workhorse 14” and 16” M5 MacBook Pros on Tuesday.

In addition, the new MacBook Air models received a significant upgrade, but more on that later.

While all the new models will begin shipping on March 11, they have, however, come with price increases. Each new device will cost $100 more than its predecessor. Though this works out to around R1,654, the increase in South Africa will be substantially more once import costs are factored in. It could therefore be an increase of between R2,500 and R3,500.

While the base model M5 MacBook Pro was released last year, these high-end devices were delayed by several months, with Apple not disclosing the reason. It’s misleading, but the MacBook Pro 14”, does not actually have an M5 Pro chip, and only the new releases will have the new processors.

MacBook Pro M5 Pro: Enhanced Hardware Specs for 14” and 16” Models

With no design changes to either the 14” or 16”, all the upgrades have been made to the hardware.

Here are the main tech spec upgrades for the 14” M5 Pro compared to the M4 Pro in brackets:

CPU cores: 15 (12)

GPU cores: 16 (16)

Memory: 24GB (24GB)

Storage: 1TB (512GB)

Here are the main tech spec upgrades for the 16” M5 Pro compared to the M4 Pro in brackets:

CPU cores: 18 (14)

GPU cores: 20 (20)

Memory: 24GB (24GB)

Storage: 1TB (512GB)

For the even higher-end user, there are new MacBook Pro Max models also available in the M5 variant, but these are directed at hardcore coders and studio production sound and video editors, which make up a tiny percentage of users.

M5 MacBook Air: Best Value with 512GB Storage Upgrade

The M5 MacBook Air, though, is probably the best value announcement that came out of the announcement. Though they will also feature around the same price increase, the major upgrade is in base storage from 256GB to 512GB. This was the only sticking point when deciding between an Air and a Pro for most users, but now the Air is definitely good enough for 99% of users in my opinion (myself included).

It may have taken Apple a few years to make this standard upgrade, but it’s finally a device that almost every professional desperately needed. Even a basic video editor can now use these Airs as a daily driver, as 256GB was not enough since 4K video became standard.

In fact, the storage is the only major upgrade with the Air, as all the 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU remain unchanged in the 13”. Of course, the M5 chip will also offer a significant performance upgrade (between 30% and 45% faster graphics and around 15% to 20% CPU performance).

It will also feature four times faster AI performance.

The 15” models will also have the exact same upgrades, again with the only actual increase coming in the base storage from 256GB to 512GB.

The new budget MacBook is the last product which is expected to be announced this week, later on Wednesday.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

There’s much to enjoy about the hot, dry weather conditions that have come to characterise South African summers. The summers of the past three years however, have also brought with them a harsher reality: growing water shortages due to infrastructural failures, service interruptions and a growing deficit compounded by climate change.

These deep-seated issues require long-term solutions rather than quick fixes – particularly if those reforms are truly designed to reap far-reaching results for all South Africans citizens and businesses. Smart water technology and advanced metering systems offer a sustainable, accessible and financially viable way forward. 

Global success stories

Examples from around the world illustrate the effectiveness of this technology. Foremost on this list of case studies is London’s Thames Water Initiative, a multi-billion pound initiative to upgrade the city’s ageing infrastructure, reduce pollution, improve water quality and manage water usage.

The deployment of over 1 million smart meters has made it possible to build a pay-as-you-go system where citizens only pay for what they use. The real ingenuity of this data however, lies in its ability to generate and analyse high volumes of real-time data, with up to 24 reads a day. Equipped with this information, municipalities can identify and repair leaks before they become costly, reduce water loss and provide better service delivery.

Similarly, several Polish cities have seen intelligent water management solutions cut water losses by about 30% within a few months, illustrating the potential of digital smart water systems to reduce unaccounted-for water.

Moving eastward to Singapore reveals a similar case study, where pilot trials of smart meters resulted in water savings of as much as 5% nationally.

Unpacking the scope of the problem

These benchmark outcomes are evidence of the power of technology and big data as strategic tools that can enable municipalities – and South Africans at large, to do more with less. 

In South Africa, the most recent No Drop Report suggests that the national average for non-revenue water has climbed to around 47%. What this means is that almost half of the treated, usable water produced by local municipalities is lost before it can be billed for. 

Leaks, vandalism, faulty infrastructure and inaccurate metering costs South Africa billions of rands in revenue annually, placing even greater strain on precious water resources. These systemic factors, when compounded by the consequences of climate change, pose a serious threat to social wellbeing, economic growth and national resilience.

Manual meter reading, billing backlogs and outdated infrastructure are persistent drag factors, leading to inaccurate billing and blind spots that erode municipal finances and citizen trust. But technology has the ability to rewrite that script.

Smart water technology paves the way

The majority of South African households rely on manual readings, which are prone to misreadings, logistical challenges and information oversights.

In contrast, smart metering provides for a continuous, accurate flow of data that is in turn used to inform accurate billing, more efficient revenue collection and the early detection of issues such as leakages or damaged infrastructure. 

Smart meters work by digitally measuring water consumption per household in near real-time. These measurements are automatically transmitted to municipalities, integrating with billing and monitoring systems. 

MTN stepped in as a partner in rolling out this technology as part of a three-year RT29 transversal contract to supply, install, manage and maintain smart electricity and water metering solutions across 257 local municipalities. This project is well underway, but there is much ground still to cover.

Collaboration is critical in making this system work within South Africa’s unique context and in a way that speaks to key national objectives such as greater economic inclusion. 

Improved water efficiency is not only about enabling better service delivery at the level of households. It also contributes to broader development outcomes by supporting reliable municipal services, strengthening local economies, and ensuring more equitable access to essential resources in line with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 which requires a collective commitment to translating policy intent into practical, on-the-ground action for the betterment of all South Africans.

Apple began the week with perhaps its smallest product update on Monday, expected over the next few days, with the release of the iPhone 17e and the iPad Air M4.

The 17e made a couple of important updates, most notably the addition of MagSafe, which was strangely missing from the 16e, which launched last year. MagSafe allows magnetic wireless charging, which has been a standard feature in all iPhones since the 12 models were launched back in 2020.

The absence of MagSafe was the most common complaint about the cheapest new iPhone when the 16e came out.

It also improved the base storage from 128GB to 256GB. This is a massive upgrade, as the smaller starting storage of the 16e was simply way too little even in 2025.

iPhone 17e: Compact Design, Faster C1x Modem, and Enhanced 2x Optical Zoom

It’s stayed in the same compact 6.1” form factor, which was also first reintroduced with the 16e.

The C1x modem inside the 17e is also said to be twice as fast, according to Apple.

The new phone will also feature the new Apple A19 chip, like the rest of the 17 series.

Another small update was made with the camera, as the optical zoom received an update to provide real 2x optical zoom capability and not just digital. This is quite a substantial improvement.

All in all, it’s not a major update from the 16e - but it would certainly be a good upgrade if you’re coming from an iPhone 12 or older.

With the iPad Air, with no design changes, it will now feature the M4 processor, which is a decent step up from the previous generation from just a year ago.

It’s still available in 11” and 13” sizes, and unlike the 17e, it has not bumped up the starting storage and still starts at 128GB.

With the new budget MacBook set to be the biggest announcement this week, it made sense that Apple began the week with these two products.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Everything we know about the new low-cost MacBook coming next week

The excitement is almost palpable in the tech sphere as Apple is set to take the budget laptop market by storm next week with the release of its new MacBook.

Discontinued in 2019, the revival of this device has one key factor that could potentially destroy large segments of the market - and that is its projected price.

The speculation is that the new MacBook will cost between 500 and 700 US dollars, which works out R7,953 and R11,134. With import costs to South Africa, this could mean a device going from R13,000 to R15,000.

The current cheapest new MacBook is the M4 Air, which retails at R18,500. There’s also the 2020 M1 MacBook Air, which is listed as R12,999 on iStore.co.za.

Anticipated Return of the MacBook: A 12.9” Display with A18 or A19 Pro Chip Power

However, there is currently no stock, which means it’s probably about to be discontinued.

That would leave a gap in their product line for the new MacBook.

According to what YouTuber MaxTech told his 1.25m subscribers, the laptop will come with a 12.9” display, which is only slightly smaller than the 13.6” of the M4 Air.

The new MacBook would be a reintroduction of the model launched in 2015. Back then, the laptop featured a 12” screen, the awful butterfly keyboard, and a severely underpowered Intel processor.

The design was way ahead of its time, and the hardware could not keep up as it was prone to overheating and would freeze if you tried to do basically anything on the device.

Now, it’s a different story as the processor that would be used for a new MacBook would either be an A18 Pro or, less likely, an A19 Pro chip, which are the same ones used in the iPhone 16 Pro and new iPhone 17 Pro models.

The processing power of these chips is roughly the equivalent of the 2020 M1 MacBook Air. The M1 Air was the first MacBook to use the new Apple silicon chip after the company moved away from the underpowered and battery-sapping Intel processors.

Between Monday and Wednesday next week, a host of new devices are expected to be announced by Apple - but the MacBook is the only ‘new’ product rumoured.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Huawei stepped confidently back into the professional running arena on February 26, unveiling the all-new HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 at its Now is Your Run global launch event in Madrid, Spain.

Marking the brand’s return to elite running watches after five years, the launch signals a renewed focus on performance-driven innovation.

The event also introduced a line-up of flagship products, including the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro, HUAWEI MatePad Mini, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5, and the HUAWEI Band 11 Series.

Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge was officially introduced as the global ambassador for HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner. “Running means much more than running fast," said Kipchoge. "I believe that running is the most beautiful activity on every level. Together with Huawei, we can reach millions of runners around the world and hopefully impact their lives in a beautiful and positive way.”

HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2

Equipped with a new 3D floating antenna architecture, the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 is engineered to deliver exceptional positioning accuracy. Powered by an intelligent positioning algorithm, it continues to calculate trajectory and distance even during temporary signal interruptions, helping runners maintain precise data in complex environments.

The new intelligent marathon mode offers comprehensive race management, acting like a personal coach on the wrist. Designed to support professional athletes in optimising performance, it also makes advanced running insights accessible to everyday runners seeking a smarter training experience.

At the event, Kipchoge shared his experience of collaborating with Huawei on product development. "I am passionate about sharing my opinions and perspectives to improve the smartwatch experience, not just for elite athletes but for runners all around the world," he said.

HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro

Huawei also marked a strong return to the global market with its Mate Series, showcasing the company’s continued technological leadership. The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro features an upgraded True-to-Color Camera system designed to deliver consistent colour accuracy across complex lighting environments and mixed colour temperatures.

Its refined Dual Space Ring Design blends classic elegance with contemporary aesthetics, drawing strong interest from attendees. With enhanced performance, 2nd Gen Kunlun Glass, and advanced AI capabilities, the Mate 80 Pro further strengthens Huawei’s premium smartphone offering.

HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate 2 and HUAWEI Band 11 Series

Expanding its wearable portfolio, Huawei introduced new devices designed to deliver more personalised and professional fitness experiences.

The HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate 2 debuted in a striking new Green colourway, retaining its advanced diving and outdoor capabilities while introducing enhanced features tailored specifically for golf driving ranges and on-course play.

Meanwhile, the HUAWEI Band 11 Series combines sleek design with practical functionality, featuring a larger, clearer display that ensures excellent visibility even in bright sunlight. Integrating health monitoring, activity tracking, and convenient features into one compact device, it serves as a reliable companion for users' daily fitness needs.

HUAWEI MatePad Mini and HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5

Huawei also unveiled its first-ever Mini tablet, the HUAWEI MatePad Mini. With its compact 8.8-inch form factor, slimmer and lighter than traditional tablets, it fits easily into pockets and handbags. Whether reviewing documents, streaming content, or working on creative projects while travelling, the device is designed for productivity on the move. It serves as a versatile digital companion for professionals, readers, and researchers alike.

Completing the launch line-up, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 become the industry’s first wireless earbuds to feature dual-engine AI noise cancellation. Combined with a dual-drive acoustic system, they deliver powerful noise reduction while preserving vocal and instrumental clarity, creating an immersive listening experience.

Last year, Huawei introduced its brand proposition, Now is Yours, reflecting its commitment to building authentic connections with global consumers through a more inclusive and youthful voice. At the Now is Your Run launch event, the partnership with Eliud Kipchoge reinforced Huawei’s ambition to inspire movement and promote healthier lifestyles worldwide.

Looking ahead, Huawei will continue advancing fitness and health innovation, empowering more people to live active, connected, and healthier lives.

With Apple almost certainly about to release their new MacBook next week, there’s plenty of speculation about what it will look like and about the hardware inside the device, but I’ve become convinced that the screen might be the most interesting part of the computer.

According to all the reports, the screen will be 12.9”, which will be smaller than the 13.6” of the current M4 MacBook Air.

Now, if you follow the history of Apple’s design decisions, they will always try to reuse components from their other devices.

In fact, the processor in the new MacBook is believed to be the A18 chip, which is currently found in the iPhone 16. This means the laptop will be the first-ever laptop from Apple to feature an iPhone processor. That might lead people to believe that this low-cost laptop will be underpowered. However, that’s not the case as it will be more powerful than the iconic M1 MacBook Air, which is more than powerful enough for the vast majority of users in 2026.

12.9” Screen: A Cost-Effective Choice for Apple’s New MacBook

But back to the screen. It’s significant that the screen is said to be exactly 12.9”, as that’s the same size as the bigger model of the current iPad Air. It’s also true that that version of the iPad Air is not the biggest seller, and Apple will therefore likely have a surplus of these screens.

Also, unlike the iPad Pro, the Air does not feature a ProMotion display that runs at 120Hz. The Air has the more budget 60Hz display, while still featuring a stunning display.

It means that it will be more economical for Apple to include this display in the new MacBook, although I’m sure the touch capabilities will be disabled as they wouldn’t allow their cheapest laptop a unique feature like this.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

The budget laptop, specifically devices running Windows, market is set to be taken by storm next week with Apple’s first-ever low-cost MacBook.

While the MacBook did exist at times in different forms before it was discontinued in 2019, it was never sold at such a low price.

The speculation is that the new MacBook will cost between 500 and 700 US dollars, which works out R7,953 and R11,134. With import costs to South Africa, this could mean a device going from R13,000 to R15,000.

The current cheapest new MacBook is the M4 Air, which retails at R18,500. There’s also the 2020 M1 MacBook Air, which is listed as R12,999 on iStore.co.za.

Anticipated MacBook Revival with 12.9” Display and Advanced A18/A19 Pro Chips

However, there is currently no stock, which means it’s probably about to be discontinued.

That would leave a gap in their product line for the new MacBook.

According to what YouTuber MaxTech told his 1.25m subscribers, the laptop will come with a 12.9” display, which is only slightly smaller than the 13.6” of the M4 Air.

The new MacBook would be a reintroduction of the model launched in 2015. Back then, the laptop featured a 12” screen, the awful butterfly keyboard, and a severely underpowered Intel processor.

The design was way ahead of its time, and the hardware could not keep up as it was prone to overheating and would freeze if you tried to do basically anything on the device.

Now, it’s a different story as the processor that would be used for a new MacBook would either be an A18 Pro or, less likely, an A19 Pro chip, which are the same ones used in the iPhone 16 Pro and new iPhone 17 Pro models.

The processing power of these chips is roughly the equivalent of the 2020 M1 MacBook Air. The M1 Air was the first MacBook to use the new Apple silicon chip after the company moved away from the underpowered and battery-sapping Intel processors.

Between Monday and Wednesday next week, a host of new devices are expected to be announced by Apple - but the MacBook is the only ‘new’ product rumoured.

The other devices expected are the M5 14” and 16” MacBook Pros, iPad 12th gen and iPad Airs. None of these are expected to feature any design changes, only spec bumps.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

We’re well into 2026 and as the rise of AI continues at a furious pace, there’s every chance that your old laptop might just be falling behind.

Of course, you can still use pretty much any old laptop to perform basic office tasks like word or spreadsheet processing – but how much longer that will be enough for any job remains to be seen.

One of the best indicators that your laptop may be more paperweight than sophisticated computing device is performance slowdown.

If your laptop struggles to run modern software, takes ages to boot up, or regularly freezes during everyday tasks, its hardware is likely no longer up to the demands of today’s applications — especially those powered by AI.

Battery Life Concerns: A Major Red Flag for Outdated Laptops

Then there’s battery life. If your battery has suddenly deteriorated, this is a big red flag. If your laptop barely lasts an hour off charge, even after replacing the battery, it’s probably time to move on.

Newer laptops offer dramatically improved efficiency, often delivering full-day battery life thanks to advanced processors and power management systems.

Compatibility is also becoming a growing issue. Many modern apps and operating systems are now designed around AI acceleration, requiring newer chips with dedicated neural processing units (NPUs). Without them, you’ll miss out on powerful productivity tools, smarter creative software, and advanced security features.

Then there’s security. Older machines may no longer receive critical operating system updates, leaving them vulnerable to cyber threats. In an era of increasingly sophisticated attacks, that’s a risk most users simply can’t afford.

If your laptop is more than five years old and showing several of these warning signs, upgrading could significantly boost your productivity, efficiency, and overall computing experience — and future-proof you for the AI-driven years ahead.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Varsity Esports is back for its second year, doubling down on its mission to build a sustainable, grassroots esports ecosystem for South African students, and to create a clear pathway for those who want to take gaming seriously as a career.

After a successful inaugural season, Varsity Esports 2026 launches with renewed momentum, expanded campus activations, and a major milestone.

Split 1 Finals will be hosted on campus at Stellenbosch University from Saturday 16 May - Sunday 17 May, bringing competitive esports directly into the heart of student life.

The league continues to focus on accessibility and enjoyment at grassroots level, while also providing structure, exposure, and progression opportunities for students aiming to compete professionally or enter the broader gaming and esports industry.

Backed by leading brands

Varsity Esports 2026 is proudly supported by a strong mix of returning and new sponsors:

• FNB (returning sponsor)
• Citroën (new sponsor)
• Nivea Men (new sponsor)
• Red Bull (returning sponsor)

Their involvement underscores growing confidence in Varsity Esports as a credible development pipeline for young talent and a meaningful engagement platform for brands.

Game titles for Split 1

Students will compete across three major titles:

• Valorant
• Rocket League
• EA Sports FC 26

 Key dates Split 1

• Announcement: 16 February
• Registrations: 16 – 27 February
• Online Group Stages: 9 March – 30 April
• Split 1 Finals: 16 – 17 May (Stellenbosch University)

Building more than a tournament

Now in its second year, Varsity Esports is focused on scale and depth; expanding campus-level engagement, strengthening university esports structures, and ensuring students can participate whether they’re playing for fun or pursuing a long-term competitive path.

“Varsity Esports was never about parachuting in a flashy tournament. It’s about building something that students can belong to”, says Barry Louzada, Mettlestate’s Managing Director and Founder.

“Year one proved there’s real appetite and real talent on campus. Year two is about going deeper: more universities, more on-campus presence, and clearer pathways for players who want to take this seriously. If we want a future-proof esports industry, this is where it starts.”

Marnus van Huyssteen, Head of Division at ASEM, emphasises that the momentum behind university esports has never been stronger, setting the stage for the exciting announcement:

“Building on the incredible success of the 2025 Varsity Esports season, we are thrilled to welcome new sponsors Nivea and Citroën in 2026 as we continue to grow this exciting platform. Varsity Esports is more than a competition - it’s about creating opportunities for young student gamers to showcase their talent, while further developing esport in South Africa.

"As part of the Varsity Sports platform, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of players and ensuring that everything we do remains centered on them. Esports is growing in popularity in South Africa, and we’re excited to play a part in the development of the sport.”

FNB says its investment in university-level gaming is part of a broader effort to nurture early passion and turning it into meaningful future opportunities for young people.

“We know that big things often start small, and Varsity Esports is a great example of how passion at grassroots level can grow into real opportunity. We’re excited to keep backing students as they build skills, confidence and future careers in a rapidly evolving space. This is how we help the next generation to thrive, by showing up in places and passions that matter most to them,” says FNB Sponsorship Lead Brad Guymer. 

Introducing the partnership, Mmathapelo Khumalo, Citroën Brand Head, emphasises the shared vision behind supporting the tournament: 

“Varsity Esports continues to grow as a platform that celebrates innovation, creativity and the ambition of students across South Africa. This spirit of pushing boundaries aligns perfectly with Citroën’s vision of mobility that is For Everyone, Like No One. As the tournament evolves, we’re proud to support a new generation who are redefining how they connect, compete and express themselves, boldly, confidently and in their own distinctive way”.

“Varsity Esports is creating a platform where young South Africans can compete, connect and grow, and NIVEA MEN is proud to be part of it.” Says Teniel Nelson, Head of Integrated Media for Beiersdorf. “We’re excited to engage students who are passionate about gaming and building their own path, with the confidence to own who they are. For us, it’s about supporting self-belief, on campus, online, and yes, keeping your skincare game strong while you do it.”

The path ahead for student esports has never been more promising.

How to get involved

• Visit varsityesports.co.za
• Follow Varsity Esports on Instagram
• Speak to your university’s esports manager

Smartphones in 2026 are a marvel of engineering, with battery life quickly becoming the biggest determining factor when purchasing a new device.

While many phones on the market are now powerful enough to run desktop PC-equivalent operating systems (OS), there are far fewer brands that can compete in truly industry-leading battery life.

Major gains have been made through new silicon-carbon batteries, smarter power management, and more efficient chipsets.

Naturally, the iPhone is close to the best, but not the best.

Top Battery Life Phones: Nothing Phone (3) Pro Leads with 38 Hours, Oppo Find X9 Pro Excels with 2-4 Days

That honour goes to the Nothing Phone (3) Pro, which tops the global rankings for battery life as it delivers 38 hours of typical use.

That’s ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra and Motorola’s Edge 50 Fusion+.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is next on the list, due to its A19 chip, which produces advanced power optimisation.

According to reports, though, the Oppo Find X9 Pro, powered by a massive 7,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, has earned widespread praise for achieving two to four days of moderate use, outperforming many mainstream flagships in battery drain tests.

This is now possible as silicon-carbon technology allows higher density batteries without increasing the size of the phones.

Blackview Oscal Tank 1: A Niche Competitor with Unmatched Battery Life

While nowhere near as popular as Samsung, Apple, or Oppo, there is a new offering from Blackview that competes exceptionally well. The Blackview Oscal Tank 1 packs a colossal 20,000mAh battery, delivering over 67 hours of real-world use, although its extreme size and weight limit its appeal to niche users.

So if you’re willing to carry around this phone, which is closer to a brick in weight than other smartphones, you could have the best battery life on the market.

For consumers, the takeaway is clear: 2026 marks a turning point where multi-day smartphone battery life is becoming mainstream — not just a premium feature. And with silicon-carbon batteries set to expand across more models, range anxiety could soon become a thing of the past.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

“I am deeply honoured to be recognised among the Top 100 Influential Men and Women of 2026,” said Durban entrepreneur Pashkiran Reddy, following his nomination for the Influential Awards 2026.

“I accept this not as a personal accolade, but as a reflection of the extraordinary teams, partners, communities and visionaries who are building alongside me.”

Reddy will be recognised at a ceremony at the Sibaya Izulu Theatre on Saturday, April 18. After a rigorous selection process, he was chosen as one of the top 30 nominees from more than 200 candidates to represent Durban.

The Influential Awards acknowledge 100 men and women each year who have made notable contributions to South Africa across sectors.

Reflecting on the recognition, Reddy said that the moment signals a broader shift.

“This recognition is an important first step in acknowledging African talent, African leadership and African innovation. For too long, our continent has been viewed primarily as a market to consume global technology rather than a force that creates it. That narrative is changing, and it must continue to change.”

He added that the nomination marks the beginning of deeper work.

“The journey does not end with recognition. It begins here. Now the real work intensifies. We must drive awareness, create meaningful support structures and engage stakeholders across public and private sectors to ensure that African innovation is taken seriously on the global stage.”

Reddy also addressed structural barriers within the digital economy.

“When South African developers are unable to advertise their products on major app marketplaces, when freedom of expression is shaped by policies far removed from our realities, we are reminded that digital power remains centralised. These are not complaints. They are catalysts.”

He believes the continent must move towards ownership.

“It is time for us to chart our own path, not as passive consumers of global platforms, but as active contributors and owners within the digital economy. We must build platforms that respect our context, protect our data, and create equity for our people.”

Reddy is widely known as a celebrity chef and restaurateur. He gained national recognition as a finalist on Season 2 of “My Kitchen Rules South Africa” alongside his wife, Kamisha Naidoo-Reddy. The pair has also launched and managed several restaurants together, building a presence within the hospitality industry.

Beyond the kitchen, Reddy has expanded into technology. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Scholr, an artificial intelligence-driven education platform focused on expanding access to learning and economic opportunity.

He also serves as co-founder and executive chairman of Meda Technology, which develops artificial intelligence-powered data solutions for research and healthcare.

In early 2026, he was involved in the launch of WhipIT, described as Africa’s first experiential social platform. The application aims to connect digital interaction with real-world engagement through features designed to encourage in-person experiences and community building.

“Africa is not behind. Africa is emerging with intention,” Reddy said.

“The future will not be given to us. It will be built by us. This honour strengthens my conviction that Africa’s time is not coming, it is here. And together, we will ensure that we are not only included in the global conversation, but leading it.”

It may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but China has just launched the world’s first floating power station.

The lightweight wind turbine— called the S2000 airborne wind energy system (AWES)— is a marvel of technological engineering as it is launched via helium and tethered to a power station on the ground from which the generated electricity is relayed. It comes in at 131 metres wide and 60 metres long.

The turbine is used at a height of 2000 metres above the ground, at more than 10 times the height of traditional wind turbines which resemble windmills. The high winds then cause the turbine to generate electricity.

At such a high altitude, the new turbine is able to harness much higher wind speeds (up to four times faster) and in turn generate far more electricity than it would closer to the ground.

AWES Generates 3 Megawatts: Powering Households and Revolutionising Energy with Natural Resources

In fact, the AWES is able to generate 3 megawatts, which is enough to power a household in the USA for 13 days according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

This is a landmark moment for electricity generation through natural resources.

"One is for off-grid settings like border outposts, where it can serve as a relatively stable conventional energy source,” said Weng Hanke, CTO at Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology, as reported by Tide News—an affiliate of the state-owned Zhejiang Daily Press Group—via Global Times.

"The other is to complement traditional ground-based wind power systems, creating a three-dimensional approach to energy supply."

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

When Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg walked into the Los Angeles Superior Court this week, it marked a pivotal moment in our digital lives. Social media is officially on trial.

In a landmark case that could completely change how we and our children interact with apps, tech giants are facing a jury over claims that they purposefully engineered their platforms to be dangerously addictive to kids.

Here is everything you need to know about the trial that has the whole world watching, from the heartbreaking history of the plaintiff to the highly anticipated testimonies of Silicon Valley's biggest executives.

A childhood spent online

At the centre of this massive legal battle is a 20-year-old woman, identified in court by her initials "KGM," whose first name is Kaley.

Kaley’s history with social media represents a generation raised on screens: she began watching YouTube at just six years old and joined Instagram at age nine.

By the time she left Primary school, she had already posted a staggering 284 videos online.

Kaley, who filed the lawsuit in 2023 when she was 17, alleges that these platforms purposefully used features like "infinite scrolling" to keep her compulsively engaged.

She claims this addictive design worsened her depression, body dysmorphia, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

Why is this case happening now?

The trial officially kicked off with jury selection in January 2026, followed by opening statements earlier this month.

Originally, the lawsuit targeted four major platforms: Meta (Instagram/Facebook), Google (YouTube), TikTok, and Snap (Snapchat).

However, in a dramatic twist right before the trial started, both TikTok and Snap reached confidential settlements to avoid facing the jury.

Now, Meta and Google are standing alone to face the music.

The plaintiff's legal team is taking a novel approach: rather than suing the companies over what users post, they are arguing that social media apps are inherently "defective consumer products".

Recently, courts rejected the tech giants' attempts to use Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as a complete shield from liability, allowing the case to proceed because it focuses on the apps' design and warning duties rather than just policing user posts.

Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony

The highlight of the trial so far has been Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who took the witness stand on Wednesday, February 18.

This was the first time Zuckerberg had to address child safety concerns directly before a jury.

Zuckerberg faced intense grilling regarding Meta's efforts, or lack thereof, to keep children under 13 off its platforms.

When asked about Instagram’s age restrictions, Zuckerberg testified that the platform requires users to be at least 13 years old, but he admitted that some people lie about their age when signing up for the app.

While he insisted the company has improved its age verification processes, he conceded, “I always wish that we could have gotten there sooner.”

When Zuckerberg argued that children are technically prohibited from joining and that the age restrictions are outlined in the sign-up process, the plaintiff's lawyer, Mark Lanier, fired back: “You expect a 9-year-old to read all of the fine print? That’s your basis for swearing under oath that children under 13 are not allowed?”

After being repeatedly pressed on why age verification was so difficult to enforce, Zuckerberg bluntly replied, “I don’t see why this is so complicated. We have rules, and people broadly understand that.”

Despite his defensive posture, Zuckerberg agreed with the core premise of user safety, stating, “I think a reasonable company should try to help the people that use its services.”

He also brought a rare moment of self-awareness to the courtroom when asked about his famously stiff media presence, admitting, “I think I’m actually well-known to be sort of bad at this.”

“Problematic use” vs. “Addiction”

Before Zuckerberg, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri also took the stand, trying to reframe the narrative around screen time.

Mosseri firmly rejected the idea that users could be medically addicted to social media, insisting that the jury must “differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use.”

To downplay the severity, Mosseri compared social media habits to watching TV: “I'm sure I've said that I've been addicted to a Netflix show when I binged it really late one night, but I don't think it's the same thing as clinical addiction.”

However, his argument was put to the test when Lanier revealed that Kaley’s longest single day of Instagram use was a shocking 16 hours.

When asked for his thoughts on a 16-hour screen time day, Mosseri still wouldn't concede to the word 'addiction,' simply replying: “That sounds like problematic use.”

What does this mean for the future of social media?

This "bellwether" trial is essentially a test case. If the jury sides with Kaley, it could open the floodgates for thousands of similar lawsuits from families and school districts across the country.

For the social media industry, this could mean the end of the "engagement era".

Companies may be financially forced to abandon addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay, radically changing their business models and how our feeds look and feel.

This legal reckoning aligns with a growing global movement to protect children online.

In December 2025, Australia implemented a world-first ban on social media access for children under 16.

The legislation targets platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube, aiming to improve youth mental health by reducing exposure to harmful content and cyberbullying

As the trial continues in Los Angeles, one thing is certain: the era of tech companies operating without accountability for their platform's design may finally be coming to an end.

IOL

Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.

Amidst heightened global economic uncertainty and persistent market volatility, a growing number of Bitcoin (BTC) holders are seeking more efficient ways to increase their assets. Beyond simply holding long-term and waiting for price appreciation, a new trend is emerging – leveraging compliant crypto computing power platforms to generate continuous cash flow from digital assets.

CryptoEasily, one of many crypto asset servicing platforms, is gaining attention in this trend by offering new options for investors seeking to improve capital efficiency. Investors can convert their Bitcoin holdings into a stable daily cash flow through cryptocurrency mining.

A new generation of wealth management philosophy: Enabling Bitcoin to continuously create value

Bitcoin has long been regarded as "digital gold," with its core value lying in its scarcity and long-term growth potential. However, many investors choose to hold only BTC, and while their assets may appreciate, they lack a stable cash flow.

CryptoEasily's philosophy is to transform Bitcoin from a mere store of value into a digital asset capable of generating continuous returns. Users can participate in cryptocurrency mining and computing power contracts remotely through computing power without purchasing mining machines or managing complex equipment, thereby obtaining daily earnings settlements.

The platform operates through an automated system, and profits are distributed to user accounts periodically, making the investment process simpler and more transparent.

Compliance Operations and Security System

As the crypto industry rapidly develops, security and compliance have become core concerns for investors. CryptoEasily emphasizes that the platform adheres to principles of compliance, security, and transparency, and undergoes regular financial and security audits by third-party institutions. Its security infrastructure includes:

• The platform operates in compliance with the European MiCA and MiFID II regulatory frameworks.
• Annual financial and security audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
• Digital asset custody insurance provided by Lloyd’s of London

On the technical level, the platform employs multiple security mechanisms, including bank-grade firewalls, cloud security authentication, multi-signature cold wallets, and an asset isolation system. This rigorous compliance system provides excellent security for users in South Africa and around the world.

CryptoEasily's core advantages

CryptoEasily is a globally compliant digital asset mining platform that provides cloud mining services to holders of BTC and other major cryptocurrencies. Its core advantages include:

• Zero-barrier entry: No need to buy mining machines or build a mining farm, even beginners can easily get started.
• Automated mining: The system runs 24/7, and profits are settled on a 24-hour cycle and directly credited to the account.
• Flexible asset management: Earnings can be withdrawn or reinvested at any time, supporting multiple mainstream cryptocurrencies.
• Low correlation with price fluctuations: Revenue comes more from computing power and mining efficiency than from short-term BTC price fluctuations.

In the current market conditions, BTC holders can achieve a stable daily passive income structure by combining hashrate contracts, thus maintaining a continuous cash flow during periods of market volatility.

How to join CryptoEasily

Step 1: Register an account

Visit the official website: https://cryptoeasily.com

Enter your email address and password to create an account and receive a $15 bonus upon registration. You'll also receive a $0.60 bonus for daily logins.

Step 2: Deposit BTC or other crypto assets

Go to the platform's deposit page and deposit mainstream crypto assets, including: BTC, USDT, ETH, LTC, USDC, XRP, and BCH.

Step 3: Select and purchase a mining contract that suits your needs.

CryptoEasily offers a variety of contracts to meet the needs of different budgets and goals. Whether you are looking for short-term gains or long-term returns, CryptoEasily has the right option for you:

Common contract examples:

Entry-level contract: $100 — 2-day cycle — Total profit approximately $108

Stable contract: $1000 — 10-day cycle — Total profit approximately $1145

Professional Contract: $6,000 — 20-day cycle — Total profit approximately $7,920

Premium Contract: $25,000 — 30-day cycle — Total profit approximately $37,900

(For more contract details, please visit the official website.)

Once the contract is purchased, the mining process begins immediately, and earnings are settled daily.

Step 4: Enjoy passive income

Investors can withdraw or reinvest at any time to achieve continuous compound growth. Many Bitcoin users report earning a stable income of $10,000 or more per month through CryptoEasily.

New directions for assets in the digital age

With the transformation of South Africa's economic structure and the acceleration of its digitalization process, more and more investors are joining CryptoEasily.

Whether they are retirees, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, or long-term Bitcoin holders, they are all leveraging CryptoEasily's compliant system to achieve safe, transparent, and sustainable wealth growth.

conclusion

In today's ever-evolving global financial landscape, simply holding assets is no longer the only option. A growing number of investors are exploring how to convert Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency assets into predictable daily cash flows.

CryptoEasily offers South African investors a new wealth creation tool that makes passive income truly possible.

Register and activate your contract computing power on the official website to start mining.

Official website: https://cryptoeasily.com

App download: https://cryptoeasily.com/xml/index.html#/app

Customer service email: info@CryptoEasily.com

The global market for hard drives is experiencing a serious shortage as Western Digital has sold out of several of its large hard drive models for the rest of 2026 already.

This shortage is caused by a big increase in demand from AI data centres, cloud service providers, and large businesses. As a result, prices are going up, and companies are having to change how they manage their storage needs.

Western Digital, a major hard drives distributor, has received a huge number of orders for its large drives, especially the 18TB, 20TB, and 22TB models. These drives are crucial for big data centres that handle AI training, cloud computing, and large data analysis.

Experts say that the rise in AI tasks has greatly increased the need for large storage, more than companies expected. Data centre operators are now focusing on long-term supply deals, making it hard for the general public, system builders, and IT resellers to get stock.

Impact of Hard Drive Shortage on Business IT Planning and Consumer Availability

This shortage is already affecting how businesses plan their IT, upgrade backup systems, and deploy large servers. Some companies are delaying projects, while others are turning to more expensive solid-state drives.

Market observers warn that prices for business-grade hard drives might keep rising through 2026 because supply is still limited. Although manufacturers are trying to increase production, it takes time to set up new production lines.

For regular consumers, hard drives are still mostly available in stores, but experts warn that if the shortage for businesses continues, it could eventually lead to higher prices and less stock in regular shops.

As AI-driven data growth speeds up, the storage industry is under pressure to grow faster than ever, with Western Digital’s 2026 sell-out highlighting how tight the market has become.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

It’s time to get with the times. If you still own VHS or 8mm film with your cherished home videos on them, you need to get them digitised as soon as possible.

Whether it’s a child’s first steps or footage of a long-departed family pet, these cherished memories have a very definite expiry date.

This is because the old technologies like VHS and 8mm are an analogue format and therefore degrade over time.

Any kind of moisture or significant heat can easily destroy these old tapes, and before further detonation occurs, it’s important to transfer them to a different format.

Digitising Old Footage: Quality Limitations and DIY Options

It’s also important to note that digitising your old footage can’t improve the quality of the picture or the audio much, if at all.

Those old VHS tapes are notorious for developing ‘pockets’ in the audio, where the sound levels become extremely consistent and dipping in and out of what’s actually audio.

The options available to the public are therefore approaching one of the few professionals that offer such a service, or you can attempt to do it yourself.

Personally, I’ve gone for the latter as all you need is a laptop, VHS player (this may be difficult to find if you don’t already own one), and a Video to TV VHS converter cable to USB. There are plenty of options here for the converters as a quick Google showed a ton of options for well under R500.

It’s a small price to pay for those memories that could be soon, if they aren’t already, gone forever.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

YouTube said late Tuesday it had fixed a widespread outage that hit hundreds of thousands of users around the world.

Tracking website Downdetector said there were more than 300,000 reports of problems accessing the video-sharing site, though the reports seemed to be diminishing after a peak at about 0100 GMT.

During the worst of the outage, visitors to the website's homepage were greeted with an invitation to come back later.

YouTube was back up and running when AFP journalists accessed the site at 0400 GMT.

"The issue with our recommendations system has been resolved and all of our platforms (YouTube.com, the YouTube app, YouTube Music, Kids, and TV) are back to normal!" YouTube posted on a help page.

The platform said earlier that "an issue with our recommendations system prevented videos from appearing across surfaces on YouTube (including the homepage, the YouTube app, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids)."

Google-owned YouTube is the world's largest video sharing platform, with more than 2.5 billion users actively using the site each month.

AFP

vivo South Africa officially announced the global launch of its latest X-series flagships: the X300 and X300 Pro. Celebrating vivo's 30th anniversary, the series underscores the brand’s deep commitment to user-oriented innovation and technical excellence. Both models feature 200 MP ZEISS Ultra-Clear Imaging, marking a transformative leap in smartphone photography. In addition to imaging, the X300 series also provides comprehensive upgrades across its operating system, performance, and design, offering a powerfully advanced and effortlessly comfortable premium experience, raising the bar for flagship excellence.

Prominent ZEISS Partnership and a Leap in Ultra-Clear Imaging

The X300 Pro debuts with a 200 MP ZEISS APO Telephoto Camera featuring the upgraded Ultra-Sensing Sensor HPB for 200 MP ultra-clear imaging experience. Its 50 MP ZEISS Gimbal-Grade Main Camera boasts a large 1/1.28″ sensor, and industry-leading CIPA 5.5-rated stabilisation, delivering more stable, faster, and clearer shots while greatly enhancing overall imaging performance. The X300 Pro also includes the new Pro Imaging Chip VS1, which significantly improves the speed of image output, clarity, and noise reduction.

The X300 is equipped with a 200 MP ZEISS Main Camera featuring the Ultra-Sensing Sensor HPB and CIPA 4.5-rated stabilisation, achieving a pro-level imaging leap by capturing even more stable and ultra-clear shots. In addition, its ZEISS APO Telephoto Camera, powered by the new LYT-602 sensor, which offers higher dynamic range and lower power consumption, further enhances the X300’s telephoto imaging capabilities.

The X300 series also sees a full upgrade to its front camera—a 50 MP ZEISS Wide-Angle Front Camera equipped with autofocus, ensuring sharpness at various distances. Paired with vivo's proprietary high-resolution portrait algorithm, it powers a new front camera mode that delivers ultra-clear images with naturally detailed textures, while also meeting advanced demands such as video recording and professional-grade photography.

Expanding the imaging ecosystem, both models are compatible with the vivo ZEISS 2.35x Telephoto Extender Kit. Its advanced telephoto capability delivers industry-leading performance, offering sharper clarity, richer detail, and a soft, natural bokeh effect—making it effortless to capture grand scenes, whether at concerts, sporting events, or on scenic hikes.

Enhanced Photography and Videography Capabilities for Boundless Creativity

The vivo X300 series pushes the boundaries of creativity with all-scenario imaging innovation, offering users a comprehensive experience from casual shooting to professional creation.

For leisure and entertainment, Stage Mode 2.0 captures every angle of your precious moments. Its 4K Stage All-in-One Recording enables shooting HD photos while recording video, delivering image quality comparable to the standard photo mode. Dual-View Stage Video allows simultaneous use of any two cameras, flawlessly capturing both you and the performers together in the same frame during live events. 

For daily use, the X300 series delivers ultra-clear portrait with exceptional sharpness even when zoomed in. It introduces significant enhancements to portrait photography, including ZEISS Natural Portrait for realistic and natural skin retouching, Multi-Focal HD Portrait with exceptional detail, Night Portrait mode that automatically detects and addresses common night scene lighting challenges, and Portrait Snapshot across all focal lengths. The X300 Pro further introduces 20x Long-Range Motion Snapshot and Telephoto Flower & Bird Shots that supports ZEISS Mirotar Telephoto Style Bokeh—purpose-built for telephoto scenarios, helping subjects stand out through its unique mirror ring-effect, adding originality and bringing a touch of iconic ZEISS technology to every shot. 

The series makes further breakthroughs in professional video recording. Both models support industry-leading 4K 120 fps Pro Video, while the X300 Pro goes a step further with both its main and telephoto cameras supporting 4K 120 fps Dolby Vision Video and 4K 120 fps 10-bit Log Video, delivering film-quality dynamic range and greater post-production flexibility. Portrait video is just as impressive—the series is the industry’s first to support 4K 60 fps Portrait Video with exceptional stability, superb color reproduction, and true-to-life skin textures, making it the ideal vlog companion for capturing people.

The introduction of AI Image Studio substantially enhances both the convenience and creativity of shooting through features such as AI One-Shot Multi-Crop for automatically generating multiple compositions, AI Landscape Master for enhancing images in challenging weather and applying creative styles, and Live Photo Passerby Erase that helps preserve every special moment.

OriginOS Making Its Global Debut

Together with the X300 series, OriginOS made its global market debut. Supported by Ultra-core Computing, Memory Fusion, and Dual Rendering engines, the all-new OriginOS brings overseas users a fresh smartphone experience that combines lasting fluency, natural design, and personalised intelligence.

vivo’s self-developed Origin Smooth Engine optimises the entire process from computing and storage to display. By organically blending multiple elements, the All-New Origin Design System creates a visually elegant and rich, user-friendly, and intuitive space, making every interaction a delight. Flip Cards introduce a dynamic, gyroscope-based interaction that let you effortlessly switch lock-screen styles by simply tilting or moving your phone, allowing for more personalised settings.

Running on OriginOS, Origin Island enhances user interaction with intelligent suggestions and real-time reminders for meetings, music, and more. The vivo Office Kit boosts cross-device productivity through phone-to-PC mirroring, Free Transfer for files of any format, remote control, and multi-device note syncing. Furthermore, OriginOS includes a powerful suite of AI tools such as AI Creation for rewriting, translation, summarisation, and brainstorming, while integration with Google Gemini further enhances creativity, productivity, and collaboration across devices.

Along with OriginOS, vivo introduces the vivo Security brand, which consolidates all privacy and protection features into a unified framework. Key features like Private Space provide a secure, encrypted, and isolated area for your sensitive files, and include hardware-level encryption for authorised access, underscoring vivo's commitment to providing a seamless, worry-free experience. The X300 series enjoys 5-Year OS Upgrades & 7-Year Security Maintenance, ensuring your device remains up-to-date and reliable for the long haul.

Leading Performance, Efficiency, and Endurance

At the core of the X300 series lies the Dimensity 9500—a cutting-edge chip jointly defined by vivo and MediaTek, and built on TSMC’s N3P process. This platform delivers exceptional power and remarkable energy efficiency, featuring a 3rd Gen all-big-core CPU, a fully upgraded 12-core G1-Ultra GPU that sets the industry standard for graphics and performance, and an ultra-efficient NPU that doubles processing capability while halving power consumption. The dual-chip integration of the Dimensity 9500 and vivo’s Imaging Chip V3+ enables advanced computational photography and cinematic video processing, debuting the industry’s first 4K 60 FPS cinematic portrait video. The overall unified and powerful architecture ensures the Dimensity 9500's top-tier performance and efficiency, providing a truly flagship-level experience for everyday tasks.

Battery Anxiety has become a thing of the past.

With the BlueVolt Battery System, the X300 series combines fourth-generation silicon anode technology with semi-solid electrolyte materials to deliver both higher capacity and stronger reliability. It also features an upgraded Global Bypass Charging system with intelligent temperature control, providing a smooth experience during intensive use and enhanced battery protection when charging. X300 Pro comes with a 6510 mAh battery, while X300 offers 6040 mAh, both supporting 90W FlashCharge and wireless charging. 

The X300 series is equipped with an 8T LTPO display with up to 2000 nits global peak brightness for clear visibility even in bright environments. It also employs 2160 Hz Full-Range Luminance PWM Dimming and Full-Range Luminance DC Dimming, which effectively reduce the SVM value, ensuring superior eye protection. 

In terms of durability, the series is rated for IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance. The X300 features Reinforced Glass and the X300 Pro features Armor Glass, ensuring both slimness and sturdiness. 3D Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanning 2.0 offers instant recognition, even with wet fingers. AI SuperLink maintains stable, low-latency connections in challenging environments, while the Efficient Cooling System ensures steady performance during gaming or long video recording.

Where Minimalist Aesthetic Meets Premium Comfort

The X300 series features a Unibody 3D Glass Design that seamlessly integrates the camera module, offering refined aesthetics and enhanced comfort. Its rear coral velvet glass boasts a silky, fingerprint-resistant, and skin-friendly frosted texture. 

The X300 features a compact 6.31-inch flat display, weighing just 190g and measuring only 7.95mm thick, offering a minimalist and balanced design. The X300 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch flat display housed in a sleek 7.99mm body, delivering a more professional and premium aesthetic.

The series presents a diverse color palette designed to complement a variety of styles. The X300 model features Phantom Black and Mist Blue, a fashionable shade that embodies a chic and refined aesthetic. The X300 Pro retains Phantom Black, while introducing Dune Brown, delivering a classic and mature look.

Availability

vivo X300 will be available in the 512GB variant. vivo X300 Pro will be available in 512GB.

The release date for the new MacBook has been finally confirmed, for the first week of March.

The new budget MacBook, which is set to take the ultra-book segment of the laptop market by storm, mostly due to its price. It’s set to be announced on March 4, as a special invite has been sent out by Apple to a select group of media and influencers to unveil its new product or products.

Though the actual design is still open to speculation, the retail price in the USA will be around the $500 mark. That works out to around R8,000. Given that the M4 MacBook Air starts at $999 (+-R16,000) in the US, and sells for around R20,000 in South Africa, the price can be accurately estimated.

New MacBook: A Modern Revival with A18 or A19 Pro Chips

Based on the same percentage import costs, it means the new MacBook could cost around R10,000.

According to what YouTuber MaxTech told his 1.25m subscribers, the laptop will come with a 12.9” display, which is only slightly smaller than the 13.6” of the M4 Air.

The new MacBook would be a reintroduction of the model launched in 2015. Back then, the laptop featured a 12” screen, the awful butterfly keyboard, and a severely underpowered Intel processor.

The design was way ahead of its time, and the hardware could not keep up as it was prone to overheating and would freeze if you tried to do basically anything on the device.

Now, it’s a different story as the processor that would be used for a new MacBook would either be an A18 Pro or, less likely, an A19 Pro chip, which are the same ones used in the iPhone 16 Pro and new iPhone 17 Pro models.

The processing power of these chips is roughly the equivalent of the 2020 M1 MacBook Air. The M1 Air was the first MacBook to use the new Apple silicon chip after the company moved away from the underpowered and battery-sapping Intel processors.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

I’ve been using the Kospet Tank M4 since the beginning of January and, despite never having heard of the brand before being offered one to review, it has quickly become my favourite smartwatch.

That praise doesn’t come without caveats.

There are a few irritations worth addressing upfront, some of which may come down to personal preference. For example, though it has a massive 30GB of storage, it takes incredibly long to copy music over from your phone to the watch, and if any music file is over 100MB, it will eventually fail every time.

However, the Tank M4 delivers far more than its price tag suggests.

Built Like a Tank — For Better or Worse

The name isn’t marketing fluff. The Tank M4 is heavy. Really heavy. It took time to adjust to wearing a watch this substantial since its body is made from durable stainless steel, especially coming from a lighter plastic Garmin running watch. Once I stopped making that comparison, however, the weight became a non-issue.

This rugged build makes sense when you consider that the M4 is billed as a diving watch, and durability is clearly its core design focus. It’s not a fashion-first smartwatch — it’s built to survive punishment.

Fitness Tracking That Mostly Delivers

Despite its size, I’ve used the Tank M4 successfully on all my runs. Accuracy has been on par with other smartwatches I own, and GPS tracking has been reliable.

That said, there are some frustrating omissions. I’m yet to work out how to get the watch to notify me — via vibration or sound — at each kilometre marker during a run. For someone pedantic about pacing, this is incredibly annoying, especially since most smartwatches enable this by default.

Some activity settings are also buried deeper than they should be, making customisation less intuitive than rivals like Garmin or Apple.

Seamless iPhone Integration Is the Real Win

Where the Tank M4 truly shines is iPhone compatibility.

The user interface will feel familiar to anyone who’s used Huawei watches running HarmonyOS, such as the Watch Fit 3 or Watch 4 Pro, but here it’s fully customisable and — crucially — plays nicely with Apple’s ecosystem.

I was able to:

• Sync workouts seamlessly with Strava

• Automatically feed data into Discovery Vitality

• Reliably update Apple Health metrics on iPhone

That last point is especially important. Huawei devices still struggle to integrate with Apple Health without third-party workarounds, and the Tank M4 handles this without fuss.

Health metrics include heart rate monitoring and blood oxygen levels, and there’s a handy bonus feature: the watch can act as a remote shutter for your iPhone camera, which is surprisingly useful.

Customisation and Battery Life Impress

The watch features four physical buttons — two on each side — alongside a responsive touchscreen. Navigation feels logical once you’ve spent a bit of time with it.

Customisation is handled through the Apexmove app on iPhone, which offers a huge selection of watch faces and themes. I settled on a clean, high-contrast design called Simple Thrive, using white and light orange accents.

While some watch faces cost R19.99, the majority are free, and there’s little incentive to pay extra.

Battery life is another standout. Over a measured week, which included two 45-minute runs, the Tank M4 used just 39% of its battery — an excellent result for a feature-packed smartwatch.

Price and Availability in South Africa

The Kospet Tank M4 was only released in November, so availability in South Africa is still limited. That said, I managed to find it online for R3,274.99 without much effort.

At that price, the value proposition is hard to ignore.

Verdict: Punching Well Above Its Weight

From what I’ve seen, the Kospet Tank M4 punches well above its price tag. If I were in the market for a high-end smartwatch, this would be near the top of my list.

In fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s comparable to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which costs around R19,499 — a massive price gap for a surprisingly small drop-off in everyday functionality.

It may not have the brand recognition of Apple, Garmin or Samsung, but the Tank M4 proves that lesser-known names can still deliver exceptional value — especially for iPhone users who want rugged durability without paying flagship prices.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

The UK government said Monday that it would include AI chatbots in online safety laws, closing a loophole exposed after Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok was used to create sexualised deepfakes.

Providers of chatbots will be responsible for preventing them from generating illegal or harmful content, extending rules that currently apply only to content shared between users on social media.

It follows an international backlash against Grok for letting people create and share sexualised pictures of women and children using simple text prompts.

"The new measures announced today include crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement ahead of a speech on the matter Monday.

"The government will move fast to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act or face the consequences of breaking the law," he said.

Under the Online Safety Act, which took effect in July, platforms hosting potentially harmful content are required to implement strict age verification using tools such as facial recognition or credit card checks.

It is also illegal for sites to create or share non-consensual intimate images, or child sexual abuse material, including sexual deepfakes created with AI.

In January, Britain's media regulator Ofcom opened a probe into the social media platform X, which hosts Grok, for failing to meet its safety obligations.

The country's data watchdog has launched a wider investigation into Musk's X and xAI -- which developed the Grok AI tool -- to see whether the companies complied with personal data law when it came to Grok's generation of sexualised deepfakes.

Ofcom has noted that not all AI chatbots are regulated under the Online Safety Act, including those which "only allow people to interact with the chatbot itself and no other users".

"Technology moves on so quickly that the legislation struggles to keep up, which is why, for AI bots... we need to take the necessary measures," Starmer said.

His Labour government is ramping up efforts to protect children online, having launched a consultation on a social media ban for those under the age of 16, while considering measures to limit features like infinite scrolling on social media.

In January 2025, Starmer pledged to ease red tape to attract billions of pounds of AI investment and help Britain become an "AI superpower".

AFP

There are two big decisions you have to make when you’re in the market for a wireless keyboard, and it comes down to how much portability means to you.

Traditional wired mechanical keyboards for decades were the standard, but now there is more emphasis placed on something that is smaller and can more easily fit into a backpack.

That’s where slim wireless keyboards, also referred to as membrane keyboards, come in.

These are the keyboards you’d like to pair with a tablet, like Apple’s Magic Keyboard. Of course, there are many cheaper alternatives to the Magic Keyboard that won’t break the bank, and they are by some way the most popular.

Mechanical vs. Membrane Keyboards: Which is Right for You?

Brands like Satechi offer excellent wireless keyboards that have both long battery life, quieter key presses, and a slim yet solid design.

However, these slim alternatives do not offer the same type of typing experience as a mechanical keyboard. These are more like the traditional keyboards that have been around since before laptops were around.

Mechanical keyboards are also more responsive and accurate, but ultimately more enjoyable to use. They also last much longer, as they are generally rated to last between 50 and 100 million keystrokes, while membrane keyboards have around 10% of that projected lifespan total.

The mechanical keyboards are also generally preferred for any kind of gaming or heavy use, while the membrane versions are better suited to office work.

Another thing going for membrane keyboards is that they tend to be cheaper, with plenty of options available for under R1000.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Before smart TVs were a thing and streaming services were in their infancy, there was one device that allowed its users the amazing ability to stream their favourite shows and movies on Netflix.

That device, of course, is the PlayStation 3 (PS3). The console, released by Sony way back in 2007, was one of the first multimedia devices of its kind.

In 2009, Netflix made a deal with Sony to make the streaming service available on the gaming console.

Next month, though, that deal will come to an end after 17 years.

PS3 Users: Netflix Support Ends After March 2, 2026

That’s right, from the beginning of next month, the PS3 will no longer support Netflix.

The news was communicated this week to PS3 users with the message “Unfortunately, Netflix will no longer be available on this device after March 2, 2026. Visit Netflix.com/compatibledevices to see a list of supported devices.”

And just like that, it will signal the end of an era.

Unsurprisingly, though, there are not too many people who still own a PS3, and it’s probably only collectors that may be feeling left out in the cold.

Interestingly, Netflix was actually founded way back in August 1997. It began as a DVD rental service via mail. Netflix launched its website a few months later in August 1998 and by 1999 began offering a subscription service.

It was only in 2007 that Netflix began ‘streaming’ over the internet. Only in 2013 did it release its first original content with House of Cards.

By 2016, though, it became a global giant as it expanded its streaming services to over 130 countries.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups drove a major rebound in global venture capital exits during 2025, accounting for more than a third of total exit value for the first time on record, according to new data from BestBrokers.

In simple terms, venture capital exits refer to the moment investors finally cash out — typically when a startup is acquired, lists on the stock market through an IPO (Initial Public Offering), or sells shares in secondary transactions. These exits allow early backers to realise returns after years of funding high-growth companies.

Total global venture capital exit value reached $549.2 billion last year, with AI and machine learning firms contributing $189.6 billion, or 34.5% of the total. That represents a dramatic rise from 21.8% in 2024 and just 11% in 2023, underscoring how rapidly artificial intelligence has become the primary driver of investor returns.

Although overall tech exit activity was slow, investors invested heavily in late-stage AI infrastructure, enterprise AI platforms, and semiconductor-related startups, which led the liquidity events. In contrast, AI companies aimed at consumers did not receive as much attention.

Apple Products: High Prices Amidst Rising RAM and SSD Costs

Meanwhile, Apple products— their laptops in particular— are by no means cheap. The fact that RAM (memory) and SSD storage costs have skyrocketed over the last six months has played right into the tech giants’ hands.

This is chiefly due to the requirements of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which demands more RAM and more SSD space than ever before, and it’s only going to get worse.For Apple though, the fact that their upgrade prices for RAM and SSD storage have typically always been expensive is not what matters. What does matter is that those upgrades are generally set at consistent prices, as Apple manufactures their own RAM and SSDs.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Xiaomi South Africa has today announced the launch of the REDMI Note 15 Series, comprising three models, REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G, REDMI Note 15 Pro, and REDMI Note 15 .Defined by REDMI Titan Durability, the lineup highlights long-lasting battery performance, reinforced drop resistance, and enhanced dust and water protection, alongside upgraded imaging capabilities, flagship-level performance, and a seamless user experience.

REDMI Titan Durability, Engineered for Everyday Challenges

Spanning every model, REDMI Titan Durability integrates a long-lasting battery experience, enhanced drop resistance, and comprehensive dust and water resistance — establishing a new durability standard for REDMI Note Series. REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G and REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G lead the lineup with the most advanced durability features, while all models are engineered to meet the demands of everyday use.

At the core of this upgrade is an enhanced battery experience. REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G features a 6,500mAh Silicon–Carbon (SiC) Battery with 10% SiC content, paired with 100W HyperCharge and 22.5W reverse charging, delivering flagship-level endurance and fast charging. Making its debut in REDMI Note Series, SiC battery technology enables higher energy density within a compact form factor. Across all Pro models, the SiC battery works alongside Xiaomi Surge battery management system, retaining 80% or more capacity after 1,600 charge cycles, equivalent to approximately six years of typical use. Despite being the slimmest REDMI Note device to date, houses a robust 5,520mAh SiC battery. Alternatively, Redmi Note 15 features an upgraded 6,000 mAh battery. Reverse charging support across the lineup, including 22.5W or 18W depending on model, adds everyday convenience and flexibility

Structural durability is reinforced across the series. The REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G has achieved SGS Premium Performance Certification, verifying resistance to drops, crushing, and bending. Built on REDMI Titan Structure, both models combine a high-strength motherboard, reinforced mid-frame, and multi-layer shock-absorbing design, complemented by Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 — together enabling certified drop resistance from heights of up to 2.5 meters. REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G further incorporates an ultra-tough fiberglass back panel to improve impact absorption without adding unnecessary weight. The rest of the lineup features a durable structural design that has passed the SGS Comprehensive Shock and Drop-Resistance test, delivering dependable protection in real-world use.

To deliver comprehensive everyday protection, REDMI Note 15 Series raises the bar for dust and water resistance. The REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G meets IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K standards and are certified to withstand immersion at depths of up to 2 meters for 24 hours. Verified by the TÜV SÜD Smartphone Water-Resistant Endurance Certification, these models incorporate 17 precision-engineered waterproof elements to ensure long-term reliability. REDMI Note 15 Pro, and REDMI Note 15 also feature enhanced dust and water resistance designed to handle splashes, spills, and challenging environments. Across the entire lineup, Wet Touch 2.0 ensures the display remains responsive even when the screen or fingertips are wet, allowing smooth operation in everyday conditions.

Elevated Imaging System with Advanced AI

Engineered to deliver exceptional clarity in every shot, REDMI Note 15 Series brings a holistic imaging upgrade to the entire lineup. By combining high-resolution sensors, versatile focal lengths, and advanced AI-empowered photography within its segment.

At the center of this upgrade, REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G and REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G feature a new 200MP ultimate-clarity camera, powered by the global debut of a 200MP HPE image sensor. This large 1/1.4-inch sensor, together with 2× and 4× optical-level in-sensor zoom, triple-focal-length DAG HDR, and advanced AI processing, delivers detailed, true-to-life images across a wide range of lighting conditions.

The Pro models support five focal lengths from 23mm to 92mm through a single lens, enabling flexible framing for landscapes, street photography, portraits, and close-ups. Meanwhile, REDMI Note 15 5G and REDMI Note 15 feature a 108MP super-clear camera system, offering a 3× optical-level telephoto experience that covers perspectives from wide-angle shots to portrait close-ups.

Across the series, imaging is further enhanced with creative and AI-powered tools, including an ultra-clear portrait algorithm, Dynamic shots 2.0 for motion effects, and easy editing with direct sharing to Instagram.²³ Post-processing is easier than ever, with REDMI Note 15 Pro models featuring AI Creativity Assistant¹¹, while REDMI Note 15 5G and REDMI Note 15 offer a suite of AI image editing tools¹² designed for everyday creativity. Across the entire series, AI Remove Reflection and AI Beautify are supported, enabling cleaner images and one-tap enhancements with minimal effort.

Upgraded Performance and Smarter Connectivity

Beyond durability and imaging, REDMI Note 15 Series delivers balanced performance for a wide range of usage scenarios. At the top of the lineup, REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G is powered by Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4 mobile platform and introduces Xiaomi IceLoop cooling system to REDMI Note Series, standing out as the only LHP cooling solution in its price segment and delivering triple the heat-transfer efficiency.

Across the lineup, a new generation of Snapdragon and MediaTek chipsets delivers faster performance, smoother graphics, and improved energy efficiency. All models support Google Gemini and Circle to Search with Google, delivering personalized interactions and convenient search. At the top of the series, REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G further integrates Xiaomi HyperAI, delivering more personalized and intelligent AI experiences.

For enhanced connectivity, the flagship-level Xiaomi Offline Communication is introduced on the Pro models, enabling kilometer-level voice transmission even without network coverage. REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G further benefits from Xiaomi Surge T1S Tuner, delivering stronger and more stable connectivity across Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, GPS, and cellular networks.

Immersive Experience With Large Display and Powerful Audio

REDMI Note 15 Series offers an upgraded immersive viewing experience with larger displays and improved clarity. REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G and REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G feature 6.83-inch displays, while REDMI Note 15 Pro, REDMI Note 15 5G, and REDMI Note 15 come equipped with 6.77-inch displays, delivering wide, near-borderless views. With up to 3,200 nits peak brightness, 3840Hz PWM dimming, and triple eye-care certifications, the series ensures both visibility and comfort in various lighting conditions.

Complementing the display, REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G and REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G introduce a 400% volume boost, while the rest of the lineup offers a 300% volume boost, delivering louder, clearer audio for movies, music, and games.

Positioned to meet the diverse needs of users worldwide, REDMI Note 15 Series delivers a well-rounded combination of durability, imaging, performance, and display enhancements. Built on the trusted foundation of REDMI Titan Durability, the lineup is designed to withstand the demands of daily use while delivering high-quality imaging, smooth performance, and a seamless user experience.

Podcasting Meets Titan Durability: REDMI Note 15 Series Teams Up with New Gen for the Toughest Podcast Ever

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between tech and content, Xiaomi has teamed up with the New Gen Podcast to do something no one has attempted before: Record The Toughest Podcast Ever at the summit of Tugela Falls, Africa's tallest waterfall and the second-tallest in the world.

For Xiaomi, bringing its South Africa flagship models, the REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G, REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G, and REDMI Note 15 into one of the most demanding landscapes in the country was a deliberate decision: to take a TITAN TOUGH device into a terrain that demands durability, dependability, and long-lasting performance.

Working with New Gen hosts Bruce, Siv, Fargo, and Domingos, the brand intentionally put both creators and technology through something unpredictable and unrehearsed. The result was the culmination of a challenge that tested physical endurance, mental focus and technological reliability when under pressure.

The REDMI Note 15 Series Toughest Podcast Ever premieres on the New Gen Podcast on 12 February 2026 at 16h00.

While Apple was expected to release its new 14” and 16” MacBook Pros at the end of last month and did not, it’s now been reported that a number of new products are coming in the next few months.

The first big release is the iPhone 17e coming on February 19, the new budget smartphone from the tech giant according to tech Managing Editor at Bloomberg Mark Gurman.

It will be the biggest release of a new Apple product in the first of three events stretching from February to March.

The 17e will be a significant upgrade to the 16e (which I personally regret buying on contract), as it introduces MagSafe to allow wireless charging like the rest of the iPhone range features.

iPhone 17 Series to Feature A19 Chip and Enhanced Connectivity with N1 Chip

The processor will also get a spec bump to the A19 chip as well as improved connectivity through Apple’s N1 chip.

The rest of the new iPhone range was released in September last year, with the 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air unveiled.

At the time it was believed that the budget successor to the 16e had been scrapped.

Also coming at the February 19 event will be the iPad 12 and iPad Air.

Apple Product Release Predictions: New Macs and iPhone 17e

If you’ve been following tech YouTube long enough, you know when to expect new Apple products, and that was the case for most of January.

We were told by those in the know that we would get new Macs—the new 14” and 16” Pro models—between January 26 and 28.

What led us to believe these dates were correct?

Firstly, Apple Creator Studio, the new subscription service for a number of pro apps including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Motion, was released on January 28. It was therefore expected to coincide with the new laptops.

However, it’s now believed that Apple did not want to overshadow the release of Apple Creator Studio subscriptions service with new hardware at the same time.

The last few years, Apple has released its 14” and 16” MacBook Pros within a day or two of January 27, so it made sense it would follow the same schedule again.

Hopefully, by the end of next week we will indeed have the new iPhone 17e.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Microsoft is doubling down on Copilot in Windows 11, pushing its AI assistant deeper into core system functions — and once again, many users are asking: who actually asked for this?

The latest updates expand Copilot’s role inside File Explorer, allowing users to right-click files and folders to trigger AI-powered summaries, previews, and editing tools. Microsoft says this will boost productivity. Critics say it’s another step towards turning a fast, functional operating system into a cluttered, AI-heavy experience.

For many users, File Explorer is fine as is. It’s meant to be lightweight, predictable, and quick. Injecting AI into such a fundamental tool feels less like innovation and more like disruption for disruption’s sake.

Since Copilot’s introduction, backlash has been persistent. Complaints range from unnecessary pop-ups and increased system resource usage to a lack of meaningful opt-out options. Power users, in particular, argue that Microsoft is prioritising AI spectacle over usability, stability and performance.

Microsoft’s Aggressive AI Rollout Faces User Backlash After January Missteps

This comes after  Microsoft has made a terrible start to 2026, with three major missteps in January alone.

First, it was the renaming of Microsoft 365 to a rather unoriginal Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Next, major problems were discovered with Copilot (Microsoft’s AI assistant), and then the latest Windows 11 update broke the widely used Notepad app.

This aggressive rollout reflects Microsoft’s massive bet on artificial intelligence. Having invested billions into AI infrastructure and partnerships, the company is clearly determined to make Copilot unavoidable across Windows, Office, Edge and beyond. The problem is that inevitability doesn’t equal acceptance.

What users keep asking for is simple: choice. Let people decide how much AI they want in their workflows — or whether they want it at all. Instead, Microsoft continues to weave Copilot deeper into the operating system, making it harder to ignore and even harder to remove.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Meta and Google-owned YouTube were on Monday accused of pushing highly addictive apps on children as a landmark social media trial began in earnest in a California court.

The blockbuster trial in front of a Los Angeles jury could establish a legal precedent on whether the social media juggernauts deliberately designed their platforms to lead to addiction in children.

The proceedings are expected to see Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg on the stand next week and Instagram boss Adam Mosseri in the courtroom as early as Wednesday. In addition to Instagram, Meta's platforms include Facebook and WhatsApp.

"This case is about two of the richest corporations in history who have engineered addiction in children's brains," plaintiffs' attorney Mark Lanier told the jury in his opening statement.

"This case is as easy as A-B-C," Lanier said as he stacked children's toy blocks bearing the letters.

He contended the A was for addicting, the B for brains and the C for children.

"They don't only build apps; they build traps," Lanier said, saying Meta and YouTube pursued "addiction by design," making his arguments using props like a toy Ferrari and a mini slot machine.

Meta attorney Paul Schmidt countered in opening remarks to the jury that evidence will show problems with the plaintiff's family and real-world bullying took a toll on her self-esteem, body image and happiness rather than Instagram.

"If you took Instagram away and everything else was the same in Kaley's life, would her life be completely different, or would she still be struggling with the same things she is today?" Schmidt asked, pointing out that an Instagram addiction is never mentioned in medical records included in the evidence.

The trial before Judge Carolyn Kuhl focuses on allegations that a 20-year-old woman identified as Kaley GM suffered severe mental harm because she became addicted to social media as a child.

The case is being treated as a bellwether proceeding because its outcome could set the tone, and the level of payouts to successful plaintiffs, for a tidal wave of similar litigation across the United States.

Social media firms are accused in hundreds of lawsuits of leading young users to become addicted to content and suffer from depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalisation, and even suicide.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs are borrowing strategies used in the 1990s and 2000s against the tobacco industry, which faced a similar onslaught of lawsuits arguing that companies knowingly sold a harmful product.

Lanier told the jurors that Kaley began watching YouTube at six years old because the company never told her mother "the goal was viewer addiction," or that toddlers as young as two were being targeted despite "critical" risk of addiction.

"This is the first time that a social media company has ever had to face a jury for harming kids," Social Media Victims Law Center founder Matthew Bergman, whose team is involved in more than 1,000 such cases, told AFP.

'Strongly disagree'

Internet titans have argued that they are shielded by Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, which frees them from responsibility for what social media users post.

However, this case argues that those firms are culpable for business models designed to hold people's attention and to promote content that can harm their mental health.

The plaintiffs said they would call expert witnesses that will argue that young people's brains are not yet developed to withstand the powers of the algorithms being flung at them on Instagram and YouTube.

The company pointed to recent efforts to provide more safeguards for young people, adding that "we're always working to do better."

Jose Castaneda, a YouTube spokesperson, said, "The allegations in these complaints are simply not true."

Lawyers for YouTube are to present opening remarks to the jury on Tuesday.

Snapchat and TikTok were named as defendants in the suit, but struck settlement deals before the start of the trial. The terms were not disclosed.

Lawsuits, including some brought by school districts, accusing social media platforms of practices endangering young users, are making their way through federal court in Northern California and state courts across the country.

A separate lawsuit accusing Meta of putting profit over the well-being of young users was also getting underway in New Mexico on Monday.

AFP

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Move over ChatGPT — on Tuesday, Chile will launch Latam-GPT, an open-source artificial intelligence model designed to combat biases built by the primarily US-centric industry.

Developed by the Chilean National Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA), Latam-GPT uses millions of data points collected in Latin America to showcase the continent's cultural diversity.

The program seeks to combat "prejudices" and prevent depictions of Latin America always "looking the same," Chilean Science Minister Aldo Valle told AFP.

"The models developed in other parts of the world do have data from Latin America, but they represent a fairly small proportion," CENIA director Alvaro Soto noted.

The low level of local input is reflected in the depictions of Latin Americans by major AI models.

For ChatGPT, a typical Chilean man is a person wearing a poncho with the Andes in the background.

Latin America "cannot simply be a passive user or recipient of artificial intelligence systems. That could result in the loss of a significant part of our traditions," Valle argued.

Unlike closed generative models like ChatGPT or Google's Gemini, Latam-GPT is an open model that can be used by programmers to customise parts of the software to suit their needs.

Contributions to the project were provided by universities, foundations, libraries, government entities, and civil society organizations from across the continent, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.

Indigenous content

Major US tech companies dominate the global AI race, with low-cost Chinese models rapidly gaining ground and Europe lagging in third.

But other regions are also coming onto the importance of developing public AI models that respect their cultural norms and safety standards.

In 2023, Singapore researchers released the open-source Southeast Asian Languages in One Network, or SEA-LION model, whereas in Kenya, the UlizaLLama LLM provides health services for Swahili-speaking expectant mothers.

Latam-GPT has been trained on more than eight terabytes of data, equivalent to millions of books.

It was developed for a mere $550,000, primarily from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and Cenia's own resources.

A first version was developed for the Amazon Web Services cloud, but in the future Latam-GPT will be trained on a supercomputer at the University of Tarapaca in northern Chile.

At the moment, it is trained mainly in Spanish and Portuguese content, although its developers plan to also incorporate material in Indigenous Latin American languages.

Slang and sayings

Latam-GPT will be available free of charge to companies and public institutions to develop applications that are "more specific" to Latin America," said Soto, the CENIA director.

He gave as an example the developments of applications for hospitals "with logistical problems or issues with the use of medical resources."

Its tiny budget means it has "no chance" of competing against the major AI models, Alejandro Barros, a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Chile, told AFP.

But it has already won over Chilean serial digital entrepreneur Roberto Musso.

Musso's company, Digevo, plans to use Latam-GPT to develop customer service programs for airlines or retailers.

Musso said his clients were "very interested in having their users express themselves and receive responses in the local language."

Latam-GPT, he said, provides the ability to recognise "slang, idioms, and even speech rate" and avoid certain biases with regard to the region that can arise in other AI models.

AFP

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It’s taken social media by storm, and just about everybody has jumped on the new ChatGPT caricature trend - but giving the AI app even more details in addition to a photo of yourself might not be the harmless bit of fun that it seems.

You’re supposed to give ChatGPT a prompt to make the image alongside information about your hobbies, interests, work information, family, and lifestyle.

In isolation, this information is not really something to be overly protective over. But when you issue a collection of information of this nature in combination with a picture, it allows the app to associate your name and personal information.

Of course, ChatGPT will say it does not share this kind of information, and that’s because it has to.

The implications of logging into ChatGPT: Building user profiles and trusting AI

There’s also the argument that because you have to log in to ChatGPT if you want to have access to your previous searches or prompts, the app is already building a database of information about its users. That is completely true, but the search history of a user generally varies substantially from sharing of what is normally private and personal information about yourself, which corresponds with an image of yourself.

It’s one of the many ways we’re welcoming AI into our lives with open arms, and trust that isn’t built but instantly given.

Now with this trend in full swing, we’re effectively allowing AI to build a profile of our information, both professional and personal, and it’s through the use of a tech company that doesn’t actually care about the individual but about profit. What happens in the future if OpenAI - which powers ChatGPT - changes its terms and conditions?

That for me at least, is a scary thought.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

Today at Levelthree in Kramerville, HONOR’s Unbreakable Challenge format delivered a sports-flavoured reminder that performance is not only about speed, but also about staying power. With the HONOR X9d 5G already on sale and already on the radar in Mzansi, the event leaned into what athletes understand instinctively: pressure reveals build quality. It also reflected HONOR’s ongoing support of football and high performance, where resilience is not a slogan, it is the difference between showing up and showing off.

The guest line-up included World’s Strongest Man Ryno Nel, Blue Bulls rugby players Mpilo Gumede, Nizaam Carr and Sergeal Petersen, soccer players Vincent Pule, Grant Margeman, and Lyle Lakay. The event also drew lifestyle and entertainment favourites including Penny Ntuli and DJ Tira, Lindough, Boohle and Naledi Aphiwe

The HONOR X9d 5G was put through a series of Unbreakable Challenges designed to reward resilience, control and endurance under pressure. These included Kahoot, the Wrecking Ball challenge, Sandpit challenge, Paint Ball challenge, Fish Tank challenge and a Last Two Players Ice Challenge, each reflecting the physical and mental demands athletes face both on and off the field.

On spec, the HONOR X9d 5G is backed by SGS Triple-resistant Premium Performance Certification and leads with 2.5m drop resistance, IP69K water resistance and a IP66 dust-resistance. A multilayer cushioning design with 6 cushioning layers helps absorb impact, while rainproof touch control and glove-friendly touch control keep the screen usable when real life is not “phone-ready”.

A major focus of the challenge was water resistance, with the HONOR X9d 5G engineered to withstand high-pressure water exposure, a critical feature for African conditions where devices are frequently exposed to rain, splashes and outdoor use. This is complemented by a massive 8300mAh battery, the largest battery capacity currently available in a smartphone in South Africa, with a reverse charging reinforcing the device’s positioning around long-term value and peace of mind.

Sport does not pause for perfect conditions. With an ultra-bright display rated up to 6000 nits, plus rainproof touch control and glove-friendly touch control, the HONOR X9d 5G is built to stay responsive when hands and weather are not playing nice.

Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR South Africa, said: “Sport is a language Mzansi shares. HONOR is proud to continue its support of football and performance. This latest Unbreakable Challenge showed that the HONOR X9d 5G is built to push you forward while still retaining a strong defence.”

The HONOR X9d is now available in two Colours; Sunrise Gold and Midnight Black for a recommended retail price of R9 999, with redeemable gifts worth R4 998.

• R1999 (HONOR Choice Earbuds Clip or HONOR Choice Airfryer) *Valid from today until 8 March 2026.

• HONOR Care Service Benefit Valued up to R2 999. 12 Month Free Accidental Damage Protection * Service promotional offer limited to HONOR X9d valid from today until 31 July 2026

Available promotions in retail:

MTN: R449 x 36 months,

Cell C: R549 x 36 months, R669 x 24 months

Telkom: R499 x 36 months, R599 x 24 months

Vodacom: R449x36 months, R569 x 24 months.

Imagine this scenario: a stranger sitting in your chair, using your computer or phone, looking through your photos, messages and logging into your bank account, all while you are sitting right there but unaware.

While this sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi film, it's scary to think it's actually a reality and its a malicious software known as a RAT, or Remote Access Trojan.

RATs are becoming one of the fastest-growing and most dangerous tools in a cybercriminal’s arsenal, and can turn your personal device into a tool for surveillance and theft.

What is a RAT?

The term "Trojan" comes from the Greek myth of the Trojan Horse: a giant wooden horse presented as a gift that secretly held soldiers inside to destroy the city. The name is not original but the malware itself is not something to scoff at.  

In the digital world, a Remote Access Trojan works the same way. It is a program that pretends to be something you want or need, like a software update, a game, or a document, but hidden inside is a "backdoor".

Unlike a standard virus that might just crash your computer, a RAT is designed to give a hacker full control over your device from anywhere in the world. Once infected, the criminal can basically do anything on your computer that you can do.

So how does it get in?

The oldest trick in the hacker's book is "social engineering." Common methods include:

Phishing Emails: You receive an email with an attachment or link that looks legitimate but installs the RAT when clicked.

Fake Calls: A booming scam involves criminals calling victims claiming to be from a bank, courier, or government department. They claim there is an "urgent problem" with your account and instruct you to download an app to fix it. That app is the RAT.

Infected downloads: Torrents or free versions of expensive software often carry these hidden intruders.

Once the RAT is installed, it connects your device to the hacker's computer. It is designed to be invisible,  so you might not see any pop-ups or warnings.

With this access, criminals can do anything they want as the device is basically theirs, in a way.

Hackers can turn on your webcam to watch you or listen through your microphone without the recording light turning on.

They could record every key you type, 'watch' you capture passwords, usernames, and private messages.

It gets scarier. In sophisticated banking scams, the fraudster watches your screen in real-time. When you log in to your bank, they intercept the One-Time Pins (OTPs) sent to your phone and make transactions as if they were you.

 They can even use your computer’s power to mine cryptocurrency, which slows down your device and drives up your electricity bill.

How do you know if your device is infected?

While RATs try to hide, there are subtle signs that something is wrong.

If your mouse cursor moves on its own or files open without you clicking them, disconnect from the internet immediately.

It's also advisable to be wary if your webcam light turns on when you aren’t on a video call.

If your computer suddenly runs very slowly, becomes hot, or the fan runs noisily when you aren’t doing heavy work, a RAT might be running in the background.

How to Stay Safe

Scammers thrive on urgency, so if someone calls to claim your account is about to be blocked, hang up and call the company back on their official number.

Put a sticker or cover over your webcam when you aren’t using it.

Only download apps from official app stores (like Google Play or the Apple App Store) and never install software at the urging of a stranger on the phone and if you think you are infected, turn off your Wi-Fi or unplug your ethernet cable immediately to cut the hacker's connection.

IOL

Apple has always been known for producing premium products, with the caveat that the prices are also premium. That’s slowly changing though.

While Apple products— their laptops in particular— are by no means cheap, the fact that RAM (memory) and SSD storage costs have skyrocketed over the last six months has played right into the tech giants’ hands.

This is chiefly due to the requirements of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which demands more RAM and more SSD space than ever before, and it’s only going to get worse.

For Apple though, the fact that their upgrade prices for RAM and SSD storage have typically always been expensive is not what matters. What does matter is that those upgrades are generally set at consistent prices, as Apple manufactures their own RAM and SSDs.

RAM Prices Surge: Impact on AI Task Performance and Consumer Costs

No longer are their upgrade prices sky-high compared to the competition; they are no longer industry standard and are fast approaching the point where they will even be cheaper by comparison.

The amount of RAM in a computer determines how much work it can do at once, and the CPU-intensive nature of completing AI tasks means it requires more memory just to keep pace.

The majority of budget PCs still ship with 8GB RAM, and in rare cases, less.

No longer will a bottom-of-the-range laptop be able to run the complicated AI apps that are becoming commonplace in the average workflow.

Hardware manufacturers have been quick to capitalise on this area, which is set to be in even greater demand in the future, and have radically increased the price of RAM. Apple though, seems to be mostly unaffected by this increase.

It’s also a case of many factories simply not being able to keep up with the demand.

It means that standard desktop/laptop memory is now much more expensive and difficult to source. Manufacturers might pass increased component costs onto consumers—leading to higher prices for PCs, laptops, and pre-built systems.

According to resellcalendar.com, RAM prices have risen by 171% in the third quarter of 2025 alone.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

The long-running debate on which is better— Android or Apple— just became a lot more complex.

For the first time, Android is dipping its toe into laptop and PC operating systems (OS).

Android is the dominant force in smartphone OS, with it commanding at least 70% market share.

In comparison, Apple’s iOS only has around 17% minimum.

Android’s Aluminium OS: A Seamless Experience for Google Devices

Android is part of the Google ecosystem, and therefore the new OS will likely replace Chrome OS. Google’s laptop range— ChromeBooks— are currently the major adopters of Chrome OS.

The new OS by Android is codenamed Aluminium OS.

Aluminium OS is set to be used in conjunction with the release of Android 17, which is expected midway through 2026. However, this will be the developer release, mainly for testing purposes, and the public release is set to be towards the end of the year.

The main reason for the new OS is to make the user experience for Google devices more seamless, following in the footsteps of Apple, who pride themselves on a unifying experience across all its platforms.

Microsoft Faces January Challenges: Copilot Renaming, AI Issues, and Windows 11 Update Disruptions

The news comes as competitor Microsoft had a January to forget. First, it was the renaming of Microsoft 365 to a rather unoriginal Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Next, major problems were discovered with Copilot (Microsoft’s AI assistant), and then the latest Windows 11 update broke the widely used Notepad app.

With Microsoft 365 Copilot, the tech giant said the name was changed because of its integration with Copilot.

As for the problems with Windows 11, scores of Windows users reported that their apps Notepad, Outlook, OneDrive, and Dropbox stopped working after the latest update.

If you’ve been following tech YouTube long enough, you know when to expect new Apple products, and that was the case for most of January.

We were told by those in the know that we would get new Macs—the new 14” and 16” Pro models—between January 26 and 28.

What led us to believe these dates were correct?

Firstly, Apple Creator Studio, the new subscription service for a number of pro apps including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Motion, was released on January 28. It was therefore expected to coincide with the new laptops.

Apple’s Strategic Delay: No New Hardware to Overshadow Apple Creator Studio Release

However, it’s now believed that Apple did not want to overshadow the release of Apple Creator Studio subscriptions service with new hardware at the same time.

The last few years, Apple has released its 14” and 16” MacBook Pros within a day or two of January 27, so it made sense it would follow the same schedule again.

When the new Macs didn’t come last week, Max Tech posted a video to its 1.25m subscribers in which he spoke about his surprise at the ‘missing Macs’. He also said he expected them to be announced in the new week, like on Monday.

What we did get was an update to the Apple AirTag, but that’s such a minor product it’s almost not worth mentioning.

There’s also talk of the new low-cost MacBook being released imminently, but still the general public has no real clue when exactly that will happen.

In the meantime, tech enthusiasts like myself will have to find another way to fill the void.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Snapchat has blocked 415,000 accounts under Australia's social media ban for under-16s, the company said Monday, but warned some youngsters may be bypassing age verification technology.

The platform urged the Australian authorities to oblige app stores to check users' ages as an "additional safeguard" for the world-first crackdown.

Platforms including Snapchat, Meta, TikTok and YouTube must stop underage users from holding accounts under the legislation, which came into effect on December 10.

Companies face fines of Aus$49.5 million (US$34 million) if they fail to take "reasonable steps" to comply.

Australia's eSafety online regulator reported last month that tech giants had already blocked 4.7 million accounts, delivering "significant outcomes".

As of the end of January, Snapchat said it had blocked or disabled 415,000 Snapchat accounts in Australia belonging to under-16s.

"We continue to lock more accounts daily," it said in an online statement.

But the law leaves "significant gaps", Snapchat said, arguing that age estimation technology was only accurate to within two to three years.

"In practice, this means some young people under 16 may be able to bypass protections, potentially leaving them with reduced safeguards, while others over 16 may incorrectly lose access."

Snapchat joined billionaire Mark Zuckerberg's Meta in calling on Australia to require app stores to check users' ages before allowing downloads.

"Creating a centralized verification system at the app-store level would allow for more consistent protection and higher barriers to circumventing the law," Snapchat said.

The platform said it did not believe an outright ban was the right approach.

Snapchat said it understood Australia's objectives and wanted to protect people online, but did not agree its platform should be covered by the social media ban.

"In the case of Snapchat -- which is primarily a messaging app used by young people to stay connected with close friends and family -- we do not believe that cutting teens off from these relationships makes them safer, happier, or otherwise better off," it said.

AFP

Elon Musk is considering ways to consolidate his business empire, with potential mergers involving SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing sources.

According to the outlet, two main options are under discussion: a tie-up between SpaceX and Tesla, or a merger between the space company with Musk’s artificial-intelligence firm xAI.

The scenarios are seen as advancing Musk’s long-term vision for SpaceX, including space-based data centers for advanced AI computing. Such infrastructure could give xAI access to vast processing power, boosting its competitiveness against rivals such as OpenAI and Google.

A merger with xAI is also viewed as a way to turn SpaceX – already a major provider of military and intelligence satellite launches which holds multiple national security contracts with the US government – into an even larger, more diversified company ahead of its planned 2026 IPO.

A SpaceX-Tesla merger could instead use Tesla’s energy-storage tech to power orbital data centers with solar energy, and Musk has proposed deploying Tesla’s Optimus robots to the Moon and Mars via Starship rockets.

Musk had already hinted at closer integration across his companies. In a November post on X, he wrote that his businesses were “trending towards convergence,” prompting speculation over whether he was signaling deeper collaboration or potential mergers.

Analysts remain divided on the prospects. Most see a SpaceX-xAI merger as more realistic due to clearer technological synergies, while a SpaceX-Tesla deal is widely viewed as unlikely given regulatory, governance, and structural hurdles. However, venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya praised the idea, saying a Tesla-SpaceX merger would create “the Berkshire Hathaway of the modern century,” citing capital-raising and operational efficiencies.

Tesla has faced a challenging year: the company reported its first annual revenue decline in 2025 amid slowing vehicle demand and rising competition, even as its stock has shown modest gains.

The merger talks come as Musk is reportedly considering re-entering politics. After playing a major role in the 2024 election and briefly leading the now-defunct 

Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump, he left politics following a mid-2025 fallout over Trump’s tax-and-spending agenda. The two appear to have since reconciled, and reports claim Musk could back Republicans in the 2026 midterms. Trump has framed the elections as crucial to his presidency, warning that losing Congress could lead to another impeachment.

RT News

This year, Huawei South Africa is celebrating 25 years of being part of the country’s technology journey. Over the past quarter of a century, Huawei South Africa has grown alongside the digital landscape, supporting how people connect, work, create and live through technology.

From building the networks that keep our country connected to designing consumer devices used every day. Huawei’s focus has remained the same, making advanced technology accessible and meaningful for all South Africans.

A long-standing presence built on connection

Since establishing its South African operations, Huawei has worked closely with local operators, enterprises and partners to strengthen national connectivity. Today, Huawei’s supported networks serve nearly 80% of the South African population,  enabling everything from everyday communication to digital services that underpin business, education and entertainment.

This long-term presence has allowed Huawei to develop a deep understanding of the local market, ensuring that the solutions and devices it brings to South Africa are relevant to both local needs and lifestyles.

Innovation that shows up in everyday life

While much of Huawei’s work happens behind the scenes in networks and infrastructure, its impact is most visible in the hands of consumers. Over the years, Huawei has introduced a wide range of smartphones, tablets and wearables designed to balance performance, design and reliability.

This commitment to consumer-centric innovation has made Huawei the leading brand in wearables in South Africa with smartwatches and fitness devices that seamlessly fit into everyday routines, from workdays to workouts.

Marking the milestone with a birthday celebration

To celebrate 25 years in South Africa, Huawei South Africa is running a special birthday promotion across selected consumer products. Shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to R10000 on popular devices, including the HUAWEI Pura 80 Series, the HUAWEI nova 14 Series, the HUAWEI Watch GT 6 Series and the HUAWEI MatePad Series. Ts and Cs Apply.

The HUAWEI Pura 80 Series is built for users who value premium design and advanced photography, combining both powerful imaging capabilities with smooth everyday performance. The HUAWEI nova 14 Series offers a balance of style and performance, making it well-suited to social, entertainment and day-to-day use.

For those focused on health and fitness, the HUAWEI Watch GT 6 Series delivers comprehensive activity tracking, intuitive health insights and long battery life in a sleek, wearable design. The HUAWEI MatePad Series completes the range with versatile tablets designed for work, study and entertainment, at home or on the move.

The special birthday promotion is available on the HUAWEI Online Store, with additional offers available at selected retailers. Promotions may differ by channel and product, giving customers multiple ways to take advantage of the celebration. Ts and Cs Apply.

Looking ahead to the next chapter

As Huawei South Africa celebrates this milestone year, the focus remains firmly on the future. From continued innovation in consumer technology to ongoing collaboration across South Africa’s digital ecosystem, Huawei is committed to supporting how South Africans connect and engage with technology in the years to come.

Twenty-five years on, the celebration is not just about how far Huawei has come, but about continuing to innovate with South Africans at the centre of every experience.