Artificial Intelligence
Gemini 3.5 Pro launch is targeted for 17 July 2026
The Gemini 3.5 Pro launch is targeted for 17 July 2026 after a full rebuild, though Google has not confirmed the date, specs or pricing.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI Codex Micro is its first hardware device
OpenAI Codex Micro, a macro pad built with Work Louder, launches on Wednesday with 13 keys, a joystick and six layers for Codex users.
Artificial Intelligence
AI agent standard ARD backed by Google and Microsoft
A new AI agent standard, ARD, backed by Google, Microsoft and Salesforce, is being read as a counter to Anthropic and OpenAI in the agent layer.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI launches GPT-Live real-time voice models
OpenAI launches GPT-Live, real-time voice models that listen and speak at once, with GPT-Live-1 and a mini version rolling out to ChatGPT users.
Artificial Intelligence
GPT-5.6 and Grok 4.5 launch publicly on the same day
GPT-5.6 and Grok 4.5 both launched publicly on the same day, putting OpenAI and xAI head to head with pricing, quotes and early developer reaction.
Anthropic
Claude Fable 5 moves to paid usage credits access
Claude Fable 5 shifts to a paid usage credits model, with Anthropic extending free access to July after user backlash.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI floats a 5% stake for the US government
OpenAI is weighing a 5% government stake worth about $42.6 billion, part of Sam Altman's plan for an Alaska-style public fund fed by top AI labs.
Anthropic
US lifts export controls on Anthropic Fable 5 and Mythos 5
The US has lifted export controls on Anthropic Fable 5 and Mythos 5, bringing the AI models back online after a 19-day global shutdown.
Anthropic
Claude Sonnet 5 becomes the default model on free plans
Claude Sonnet 5 is now the default model on Anthropic's free and pro plans, arriving with cut-price introductory token pricing for developers.
Artificial Intelligence
Anthropic launches Claude Science workbench for researchers
Anthropic Claude Science is a new AI workbench for researchers, launched 30 June 2026 with grants of up to $30,000 for 50 science projects.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI previews GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna models
OpenAI begins a limited preview of GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna, its new model family, with fresh reasoning modes and a three-tier pricing split.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI Jalapeño chip is its first custom AI processor
The OpenAI Jalapeño chip is the company's first custom AI processor, built with Broadcom in nine months to make model inference faster and cheaper.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI’s Patch the Planet hunts open-source bugs
OpenAI's Patch the Planet uses GPT-5.5-Cyber and Trail of Bits engineers to find and fix bugs across 19 critical open-source projects.
Artificial Intelligence
Gemini 3.5 Pro still missing its June launch window
Gemini 3.5 Pro is still not out, slipping past its June 2026 window despite a 2-million-token context and Deep Think reasoning mode.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI model helps diagnose 18 rare disease cases
OpenAI's rare disease model helped doctors confirm 18 previously unsolved childhood diagnoses in a study published on 18 June 2026.
Artificial Intelligence
AI CEOs Altman, Amodei and Hassabis head to G7 summit
AI CEOs Sam Altman, Dario Amodei and Demis Hassabis join the G7 summit in France, the first time all three rivals appear before world leaders together.
Artificial Intelligence
Fable 5 pulled offline after US government order
Anthropic switched off Fable 5 after a US export control order barred foreign nationals from its most powerful public AI model. Here is what happened.
Business
SpaceX IPO retail orders smash records before Nasdaq debut
The SpaceX IPO drew over $70 billion in retail orders before its Nasdaq debut. What record demand means for the biggest listing ever.
Donald Trump
Judge voids Trump’s $100K H-1B visa fee as unconstitutional
A Boston federal judge voided Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, ruling it an unconstitutional tax imposed without congressional approval.
Artificial Intelligence
Martin Scorsese embraces AI with Black Forest Labs deal
Martin Scorsese joins Black Forest Labs as an adviser, using the FLUX AI image generator to storyboard his next film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Science
SpaceX confirms May 19 launch date for Starship V3, the most powerful version of the rocket yet
SpaceX has confirmed a May 19 launch date for Starship V3, Flight 12, featuring new Raptor 3 engines targeting over 100 tonnes to low Earth orbit.
Artificial Intelligence
Google and SpaceX are in talks to build AI data centres in orbit
Google and SpaceX are in talks to build orbital AI data centres under Project Suncatcher, with 81 satellites and prototype launches by 2027.
App updates
iOS 27 is reportedly getting a full Siri overhaul and a customisable camera app
Bloomberg reports iOS 27 will overhaul Siri with an LLM-powered interface, a customisable Camera app, and new AI photo editing tools ahead of WWDC 8 June 2026.
Cybercrime
ShinyHunters give Instructure until tomorrow to pay up as Canvas ransom deadline hits
ShinyHunters deadline for Canvas ransom hits 12 May 2026. Instructure has not confirmed payment as 3.5 terabytes of student data hangs in the balance.
Europe
EU accuses Meta of failing to keep children off Facebook and Instagram
The EU has accused Meta of failing to stop children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram, in violation of the Digital Services Act. A fine of up to 6% of global revenue is at stake.
Artificial Intelligence
DeepSeek V4 preview launch signals new front in US China AI race
DeepSeek V4 preview launch on 24 April 2026 pits Huawei chips against Nvidia and reopens the US China AI race, with local SA developers watching closely.
Artificial Intelligence
Meta layoffs to hit 8 000 staff as AI spending bill balloons
Meta will lay off 8 000 staff and close 6 000 open roles from 20 May 2026 as it pours up to US$135 billion into AI, with knock-on effects for SA marketers.
Amazon
Amazon accused of price-fixing scheme that raised costs for consumers globally
California's AG released unredacted evidence that Amazon pressured brands to raise prices on rival platforms, and South African Amazon.co.za shoppers are not insulated.
Apple
Apple names hardware chief John Ternus as new CEO to succeed Tim Cook
Apple has named hardware chief John Ternus, 51, as new CEO to succeed Tim Cook, in a change that will shape iPhones for millions of South Africans.
Apple
Apple and Google remove nudify apps after investigation finds 483 million downloads
Apple removed 15 apps and Google seven after an investigation found nudify deepfake apps had 483 million downloads and some were rated suitable for children.
