Smart

Meta's smart glasses, derided by critics as 'pervert glasses' over privacy concerns, have drawn complaints about their cameras and potential for covert recording. Despite the backlash, the technology industry shows no sign of slowing its push into wearable gadgets, with Meta and rivals continuing to invest in camera-equipped eyewear and other devices worn on the body.

Finnish health-tech company Oura, best known for its smart ring that tracks sleep and health metrics, is preparing an initial public offering that would list its shares on Wall Street. The move would make the wearable maker one of the most prominent health-device companies to go public, drawing attention from both tech and finance observers tracking the market for consumer health wearables.

A new survey reported in the Netherlands finds that 8 in 10 people aged 16 to 34 say smartphone use harms their everyday life. The figure highlights growing concern among young adults about the impact of their own phone habits on wellbeing, focus and daily routines, adding to wider public debate about screen time and digital balance.

Researchers have published a ranking of the risks posed by increasingly capable smart systems, placing potential catastrophes such as nuclear war, bioweapons development, and loss of control over advanced AI among the most severe threats. The work compares how experts weigh these scenarios and is drawing attention to how the field prioritises safety research as systems grow more powerful.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has laid out a vision for the network's evolution into a cryptographic world computer, describing a long-term roadmap in which Ethereum moves beyond a smart-contract platform toward a more trust-minimized, verifiable global computing layer. The remarks are drawing attention across the crypto community, with developers and investors debating what the roadmap implies for scalability, decentralization and Ethereum's competitive position.

Stellantis' Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng has announced a partnership with autonomous driving firm Momenta to co-develop intelligent driving technology. The deal, reported by Reuters, deepens the automaker's push into advanced driver assistance in the world's largest car market, where smart driving features are increasingly central to competing with local electric vehicle brands.

Climate Week NYC has wrapped up, with coverage pointing to two major themes: the build-out of smart electricity grids and growing attention to ocean resilience. Businesses, governments and campaigners used the annual New York gathering to announce commitments and debate how to finance cleaner energy systems and protect marine ecosystems.

Big Tech is betting its next wave of growth on AI-powered gadgets, particularly smart glasses, but the push is running into privacy concerns. Always-on cameras and microphones raise questions about recording bystanders and collecting constant data. Commentators argue companies must address consent and data protection rules if wearables are to win mainstream acceptance.

Autonomous driving software firm Momenta and Stellantis' Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng have agreed to co-develop intelligent driving technology. The partnership will focus on bringing advanced driver assistance systems to vehicles sold in China, one of the world's largest but most competitive auto markets. The move underscores how global automakers are pairing with local tech suppliers to stay relevant against fast-moving Chinese competitors.

Huawei has released what it calls the world's slimmest and largest foldable smartphone, a claim picked up by outlets across the United States. The launch underscores the Chinese company's continued push into premium foldable hardware despite Western sanctions, and it is drawing attention as a fresh challenge to rivals like Samsung in the foldable phone market.

Qualcomm announced two new smartphone chips, strengthening its push into on-device artificial intelligence as competition among chipmakers intensifies. The announcement came alongside the company's earnings update, but investors were unmoved: Qualcomm shares slipped modestly in after-hours trading despite the new product launches. Attention is on how the company's AI-capable silicon will fare against rivals in the premium smartphone market.

The Haryana government plans to develop five new Singapore-styled smart cities along the KMP Expressway, aiming to ease congestion across the National Capital Region. The announcement is drawing attention for its ambition to decongest Delhi's surroundings and attract investment, with observers weighing in on the state's urban development push and comparisons to Singapore's city planning model.

Huawei's latest smartphone chip is closing the performance gap with leading competitors, according to industry coverage. The development signals continued progress by the Chinese tech firm in domestic semiconductor design despite export restrictions limiting its access to advanced foreign chip technology.

Liverpool are being urged to pursue a Premier League player, with the deal described as a smart signing. The player's identity is not specified in the report, and no bid or negotiation has been confirmed. The claim has circulated among football fans and media outlets tracking the club's transfer activity.

Meta is reportedly running an active public relations campaign to improve how people perceive its Ray-Ban smart glasses, according to a Gizmodo report. The effort comes as the company tries to position the glasses as a mainstream consumer product rather than a privacy concern, with observers debating whether the image cleanup will work.

Apple is developing smart glasses that will launch without a display, according to a new report from RBC-Ukraine. The report also outlines a timeline for when the device is expected to reach consumers. The news has drawn attention as Apple continues to expand beyond the iPhone, with observers noting the decision may reflect current technical limits on integrating displays into lightweight eyewear.

Chinese autonomous driving software firm Momenta has announced a partnership with Dongfeng Stellantis Automotive Technology to deploy its driving-assistance technology in upcoming Peugeot and Jeep models. The deal marks another step in Momenta's expansion among joint-venture automakers in China, as global brands move to add locally developed smart-driving features to stay competitive with domestic manufacturers.

Consumer Reports is examining whether smart home devices, including cameras, speakers and connected appliances, may be collecting and sharing data about their users. The report looks at privacy risks inside connected homes and how much personal information devices gather, raising questions about consent, data sharing with third parties, and what consumers can do to protect themselves.

Chinese AI firm SenseTime has launched SenseMart OS, an operating system designed to bring embodied intelligence into retail environments. The system is aimed at powering robots and smart devices that can perceive, interact with, and assist customers in stores. Details about pricing, availability, and retail partners have not yet been widely reported.

Meta is preparing to launch three new devices: smart glasses without a built-in camera, an AI-powered keychain, and a new pair of VR glasses. The camera-free design is drawing particular attention as it addresses privacy concerns that have weighed on previous smart glasses. The AI keychain suggests the company is exploring smaller, wearable form factors for its assistant technology. Tech commentators are watching to see how the trio of products fits into Meta's broader push into artificial intelligence hardware.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the network is evolving into a cryptographic world computer, a decentralized platform able to run applications and verify computations globally. The comment, reported by Fortune, frames Ethereum's long-term ambition beyond payments and smart contracts, drawing attention from the crypto and startup communities about the platform's future direction.

Camera maker Insta360 is examining camera glasses as a potential new device class. According to a report by German tech outlet Heise, the focus of such glasses would be on straightforward capture of high-quality photos and video rather than AI features, distinguishing them from smart glasses offerings from other manufacturers. The company, known for its 360-degree action cameras, has not confirmed a launch date or product details.

Alibaba has launched Qwen Intelligence as a full-stack agentic AI platform designed for smartphones. The platform is positioned to let phone makers run AI agents that can handle tasks on a user's behalf, extending Alibaba's Qwen model family beyond cloud services and into on-device mobile experiences. Coverage so far frames it as Alibaba's push to compete in the fast-moving smartphone AI space, where Google, Apple and Chinese rivals are also racing to embed assistants.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates, and financial commentators are pointing investors toward two exchange-traded funds positioned to benefit from the higher-rate environment. Rising rates typically boost returns in short-duration bond and dividend-focused funds, and analysts suggest these categories now offer some of the most attractive opportunities for investors adjusting their portfolios.

Pew Charitable Trusts says that well-designed wildlife crossings would benefit communities. The organisation argues that thoughtfully planned overpasses and underpasses help animals move safely across roads, reducing collisions and supporting healthier habitats. People are currently discussing the appeal for better infrastructure that protects both wildlife and drivers.

Rosetta Stone is rolling out Sapphire, a revamped language learning product aimed at today's smartphone users, as it tries to stay relevant in a market dominated by newer, app-first competitors. The company says the update is designed to appeal to modern learners who want shorter, more flexible lessons on their phones. The move is drawing attention as the veteran education brand attempts a comeback.