Singapore Tech News, Features & Reviews

Meta Platforms will pay up to USD 18 billion over a decade and introduce strict limits on how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram. This agreement with nearly all US states resolves claims the company designed its social media platforms to addict children. The settlements recently concluded a federal trial concerning allegations Meta's products harmed children and misled the public about platform safety.

Xiaomi president Lu Weibing presented the Xuanjie O100 prototype, an on device AI terminal designed without a rear camera. It features dual chip computing and active air cooling. The device operates the Xiaomi MiMo model, achieving an inference speed of approximately 295 tokens per second in testing.

Ulanqab, a city in Inner Mongolia previously known for its pastureland, now serves as a significant computing hub for China's artificial intelligence sector. This development is supported by abundant wind power and the region's naturally cool climate, according to reports. The shift represents a change for an area traditionally associated with livestock grazing and potato cultivation.

MIT has advised its faculty, students, and staff that generative artificial intelligence requires a fundamental re-evaluation of higher education. This extends beyond simple classroom policy. A recent report from its Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training called for a broad reconsideration of curriculum, assessment, and AI's place. President Sally Kornbluth described this as a "watershed" moment for MIT, according to Forbes.

A previously undisclosed artificial intelligence model, known as stealth/ox-alpha, was recently listed on OpenRouter, a prominent model aggregator. This model has demonstrated superior real world coding capabilities, surpassing several established closed frontier models. Its unexpected performance has initiated considerable speculation within the industry, also bringing attention to certain development strategies employed in China.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced his party's intention to introduce legislation in Parliament aimed at prohibiting social media use for children aged under 16. The proposed bill outlines penalties for non-compliance, with fines potentially reaching up to 10% of a platform's total worldwide revenue. The measure aims to address growing concern regarding the impact of online platforms on young individuals.

AI vendors are now competing for market share in an environment where businesses increasingly refuse single provider commitment. New spending data from Ramp indicates Anthropic has expanded its lead over OpenAI among US businesses. In July, Anthropic achieved 43.5 per cent paid adoption, a rise from June, while OpenAI reached 39.7 per cent. This represents a notable shift in enterprise AI purchasing behaviour.

Qwen3.8-27B has become a new benchmark for open source developers. The model received over one million downloads in two days, appearing on Hugging Face's global trend list. Artificial Analysis' Intelligence Index scored it 52, a rank shared by GPT-5.6 Luna and DeepSeek V4 Flash. Nicknamed 'local Opus 4.6', it offers advanced capability from a model of 27 billion parameters, fitting a 24 gigabyte graphics processing unit following 4 bit quantization.

Crowds at a recent World Robot Conference in Beijing observed a substantial dark grey robot. This machine occupied space equivalent to a large motorcycle. It moved via four mechanical legs. A rider occupied its saddle, gripping the handlebars. The device progressed in deliberate but unsteady steps, similar to a child learning to walk. This unit, named the Qiji X1, is now available for purchase.

Chinese technology companies are increasingly developing their own artificial intelligence systems for everyday users. This trend extends beyond dedicated AI research laboratories, encompassing established consumer platforms. Organisations in e-commerce, gaming, social media, and travel are creating bespoke foundation models for their operational ecosystems.

AI startup Hugging Face is exploring a sale potentially valuing the company at USD 13 billion or more. Reuters reported this, citing Business Insider, which referred to individuals acquainted with the matter. The New York-based organisation, known for open-source large language models and datasets, collaborates with a bank to assess bidder interest.

Google secured an initial bid of USD 10 million for internal data from Spirit Airlines. This archive includes 100 million emails, 500 million Microsoft Teams messages, 30 million lines of code, and employee records dating back to 1986. AI startup Micro1 subsequently offered USD 12.5 million for the same collection, prompting a judicial review.