Malaysia, Indonesia Block Grok Amid Deepfake Concerns

Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Elon Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, citing its ability to produce sexually explicit deepfakes. These nations are the first globally to ban the AI tool, which is part of Musk's X platform.

Credit: GROK

Grok allows users to generate images, but it has been used to edit pictures of real people, depicting them in revealing outfits. The Southeast Asian countries stated that Grok could be exploited to create pornographic and non-consensual images, including those involving women and children.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission announced it had issued notices to X earlier, seeking stricter measures after identifying "repeated misuse" of Grok to generate harmful content. The regulator added that X's response failed to address inherent risks in its platform's design, focusing instead on user reporting processes.

Credit: GROK

Grok will remain blocked in Malaysia until effective safeguards are implemented, the commission stated, urging the public to report harmful online content. Indonesia's communications and digital affairs minister, Meutya Hafid, stated via Instagram that using Grok for sexually explicit content violates human rights, dignity, and online safety.

The Indonesian ministry has also asked X for clarification regarding Grok's usage. Indonesian authorities have a history of cracking down on online sources of pornographic material, having previously banned platforms such as OnlyFans and Pornhub.

Indonesian X users whose manipulated pictures appeared on the platform expressed anger. Kirana Ayuningtyas, a wheelchair user who shares her daily experiences online, found a stranger had commented on her picture with a prompt asking Grok to depict her in a bikini.

Ayuningtyas adjusted her privacy settings and contacted the platform to remove the image and prevent further edits. "Unfortunately, none of that really worked," she said, noting the difficulty in knowing if others retained the images.

She asked friends to report accounts publishing her faked images, which inadvertently led to more people seeing the edited content, causing her deep embarrassment. The use of Grok to generate sexualised images has drawn condemnation globally.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the practice "disgraceful" and "disgusting." UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said she would support regulator Ofcom if it decided to block UK access to X for failing to comply with online safety laws.

Donelan noted that the UK's Online Safety Act includes "the power to block services from being accessed in the UK, if they refuse to comply with UK law." Donelan affirmed that Ofcom would have full government support if it chose to utilise those powers.

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• Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Grok, an AI chatbot on Elon Musk's X platform.

• The ban stems from Grok's ability to produce sexually explicit deepfakes and non-consensual images.

• Malaysia's regulator stated X failed to address platform risks after "repeated misuse" of Grok was found.

Source: BBC

OLLOBOT Unveils OlloNi Cyber-Pet at CES 2026, Redefining Companion Robotics

OLLOBOT debuted OlloNi, a next-generation cyber-pet, at CES 2026, marking its first appearance at the event. The brand focuses on fusing advanced technology with emotional companionship.

Credit: OLLOBOT

OlloNi introduces a new vision for home companion robots, designed to integrate into everyday life through a distinctly human-centred philosophy. Its design emphasises pet-like vitality rather than biological mimicry.

Unlike humanoid or quadruped robots that imitate existing life forms, OlloNi presents a novel shape and presence. It is conceived as a new cyber-life species, built from the ground up to exist comfortably within human living spaces.

Credit: OLLOBOT

The design enables harmless, non-intrusive interaction. OlloNi is the first product in OLLOBOT's upcoming lineup, establishing the series' design language and technological philosophy.

Its appearance is playful yet intentional, with every visible element serving both functional and expressive roles. Horn-like structures on OlloNi's head provide quick emergency-stop and mute controls.

These structures also capture moments and visual records, working with facial recognition algorithms. This technology senses and interprets emotional cues, transforming interaction and perception into visible, character-defining elements.

OlloNi's eyes are high-definition digital displays, capable of shifting through various pixel-based expressions. These animated visuals support lifelike robot interaction, allowing OlloNi to communicate emotions programmatically.

The expressions make OlloNi's reactions immediately understandable and emotionally engaging. Beneath its soft, furry wings sits a heart-shaped core emitting a gentle red glow.

This component houses OlloNi's large-capacity memory system, storing all the robot's experiences. By making memory a visible "heart," OlloNi presents itself as a companion that remembers, responds, and evolves.

OLLOBOT plans to introduce a wider cast of OlloNi-inspired companions in the future. These small, vividly characterised figures will feature rounded, approachable forms, humorous tones, and distinct personalities and functions.

OLLOBOT aims to create companions that operate simultaneously as smart assistants and emotionally engaging partners. They are envisioned as part of a broader "cyber-pet universe," driven by personality and charm as much as utility.

A core design principle is that companionship should feel comfortable, not intrusive. OLLOBOT consciously limits OlloNi's intelligence level.

While the device senses, interacts, and evolves, its cognitive design aligns more with a conventional pet than a hyper-intelligent machine. This philosophy, described internally as "enough-smart is the real smart for a cyber-pet," reflects the belief that true companionship comes from emotional balance, not technological excess.

During the exhibition, OlloNi drew steady attention while wandering through the OLLOBOT booth. Slightly clumsy yet endearing, and unexpectedly agile at moments, the small cyber creature stood out amid the surrounding displays of high-performance hardware and industrial robotics.

OlloNi's reception underscored growing interest in products prioritising emotional resonance alongside innovation. OLLOBOT confirmed plans to officially launch OlloNi on Kickstarter this summer.

This debut is positioned as the first step towards building a more humane and approachable future for companion robotics.

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• OLLOBOT debuted its cyber-pet, OlloNi, at CES 2026, introducing a human-centred design philosophy for companion robots.

• OlloNi features a novel shape, horn-like controls for emergency stops and visual recording, high-definition digital eyes for expressions, and a glowing heart-shaped memory core.

• The robot's design prioritises emotional companionship and non-intrusive interaction, with its intelligence aligned more with a pet than a hyper-intelligent machine.

Source: THE SENTINEL

Apple Reportedly Developing 12-Inch Budget MacBook, Potential Compromises Ahead

Apple is reportedly preparing to launch a 12-inch budget MacBook in 2026. This new laptop is anticipated to be a mid-range offering, priced around USD 699. The expected price point marks a significant departure from Apple’s traditional pricing, which has typically remained above USD 999 for Mac laptops.

Credit: APPLE

To achieve this lower price, Apple is expected to make significant compromises in the device's bill of materials. Much of the anticipated savings will come from utilising the Apple Silicon A18 Pro chipset. This chip is currently found in the 2024 iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models.

The A18 Pro chipset is primarily designed for smartphones, optimised for short bursts of power to suit stop-and-go workloads. This differs considerably from the sustained demands of a deskbound operating system such as macOS. Further compromises are expected, including the removal of Thunderbolt support, restricting users to slower USB ports, and limiting the hardware to a single external display.

These potential changes could introduce a "two-tier" approach to macOS, affecting consumer expectations of the MacBook name. Apple has cultivated an image of machines with ideal performance and polish, where "everything just works." A budget MacBook with weaker specifications and an A18 Pro chip may challenge this perception.

While Apple is unlikely to ship an underpowered experience comparable to Windows-powered Netbooks from nearly a decade ago, limitations in workflow are expected. Applications may run slower, with less headroom for demanding tasks, and the performance spread across Apple's laptop portfolio could become more pronounced.

Developers may face a choice: either invest more effort into supporting both the M-Series and A-Series platforms, or focus solely on the "full" MacBook experience available only on M-Series chipsets. This could lead to a tiered Mac App Store, differentiating between "Mac Compatible" and "M-Series required" applications.

Credit: APPLE

The primary use cases for such a budget MacBook are likely social media, web browsing, and light editing tasks. Apple Store staff may be prompted to upsell customers from this model to the more capable MacBook Air. This strategy carries a risk to the perception of Apple's laptops as no-compromise investments.

Apple has historically avoided branding its products as "cheap." For example, the 2025 replacement for the iPhone SE, the iPhone 16e, was still considered a budget iPhone despite costing USD 100 more than its predecessor. The MacBook Air is widely regarded as a top consumer laptop due to its perceived lack of compromise in design, specifications, and performance.

An A-Series MacBook could be seen as the opposite of these ideals, potentially featuring an underpowered processor, weak specifications, and restricted app support. The challenge for the budget MacBook will be balancing financial targets with consumer expectations for a no-compromise laptop experience.

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• Apple is expected to release a 12-inch budget MacBook in 2026, priced around USD 699.

• The new laptop may use an A18 Pro chipset, typically found in iPhones, leading to performance compromises.

• Potential hardware limitations include slower USB ports and restricted external display support.

Source: FORBES