Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about how AI is seeping into our daily lives, follow Emma Roth. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started In 2021, McDonald's became one of the first major fast-food chains to greet customers with an AI chatbot at the drive-thru. It started small, deploying the voice-ordering technology at 10 of its locations in Ch...
Fosi’s MD3 MagDAC Unveiled At CanJam Singapore 2026
InnovationConsumer TechFosi’s MD3 MagDAC Unveiled At CanJam Singapore 2026ByMark Sparrow,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and Apple Macs.Follow AuthorMay 17, 2026, 06:00am EDTThe Fosi MagDAC plugs into smartphones, laptops and tablets to give an instant upgrade to Hi-Fi sound quality.FOSIOver the past year or so, there’s been something of a resurgence in sales of wired headphones becaus...
Abu Dhabi’s ISNR 2026 ISNR 2026 launches five major events and two new platforms
The International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR 2026), the biennial event dedicated to the national security and civil defence sectors, has announced the launch of five new flagship events as part of its ninth and largest edition to date, set to take place from May 19 to 21 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.The move reflects the exhibition’s significant expansion into areas including technology, emergency response services, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence solutions.Get...
Adaptations in Subnautica 2 explained: Abilities, upgrades, and unlock methods
Subnautica 2 players face a vast alien ocean. Adaptations are biological upgrades essential for survival and game progression. Four Adaptations are currently available: Pressure Tolerance, Digestion, Heat Tolerance, and Axum Vision. Each offers unique benefits, from breathing pressurized air to interacting with alien technology. Players must locate and interact with Angel Combs to acquire these vital upgrades.
How Apple Can Increase iPhone 18 Prices And Boost iPhone 18 Pro Sales
InnovationConsumer TechHow Apple Can Increase iPhone 18 Prices And Boost iPhone 18 Pro SalesByEwan Spence,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Ewan Spence covers the digital worlds of mobile technology.Follow AuthorMay 16, 2026, 08:28pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.People check the new iPhone 17 lineup at an Apple store in Shanghai on September 19, 2025...
RAF deploys drone-killing secret weapon on Typhoon fighter jets in Middle East
The Royal Air Force is deploying a new anti-drone weapon system to keep British Typhoon fighter jets safe during Middle East operations.British citizens and regional partners will be made safer by the cutting-edge, cost-effective new technology, the Ministry of Defence has said. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) employs laser targeting technology to transform unguided missiles into precision munitions.Each projectile is capable of neutralising enemy drones and other threats at a...
The Cyber Resilience Standard Every Hospital CIO Must Meet
LeadershipCIO NetworkThe Cyber Resilience Standard Every Hospital CIO Must MeetByDavid Chou,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. David Chou is a nationally recognized healthcare technology executive Follow AuthorMay 16, 2026, 06:20pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Dad and son having fun outdoors.gettyHealth systems must deliver safe patient care for 30 days or l...
Samsung Targets iPhone Fold With Free Galaxy Z Fold 8 Feature Upgrade
InnovationConsumer TechSamsung Targets iPhone Fold With Free Galaxy Z Fold 8 Feature UpgradeByJanhoi McGregor,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Janhoi McGregor (jan-eye) is a reporter who covers technology news.Follow AuthorMay 16, 2026, 03:35pm EDTMay 16, 2026, 03:36pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Google and Samsung are facing a major test to their...
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Price Drop Disappointing 2026
InnovationConsumer TechSamsung's Disappointing New Galaxy S26 Ultra Price DropByJanhoi McGregor,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Janhoi McGregor (jan-eye) is a reporter who covers technology news.Follow AuthorMay 16, 2026, 02:06pm EDTMay 16, 2026, 02:07pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.The ongoing memory chip crisis is still hitting smartphone prices...
Targeting Undruggable Proteins With A Molecular Glue
InnovationConsumer TechTargeting Undruggable Proteins With A Molecular GlueByJennifer Kite-Powell,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I'm a senior tech contributor who writes about science and technologyFollow AuthorMay 16, 2026, 12:53pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Researchers at the Canadian Light Source have discovered a molecular glue that can bind...
PM Modi Meets Dutch Royals In Netherlands, Discusses Tech, Trade
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
NPR’s Manoush Zomorodi talks about living with too much tech
Manoush Zomorodi tackled tech’s effect on our brains, now she’s looking at our bodies. | Image: Tory WIlliams Manoush Zamorodi is an accomplished reporter, podcast host, and author. Her new book, Body Electric, takes a comprehensive look at how technology is impacting our physical health. It's a collaboration between NPR and Columbia University Medical Center that picks up where her first title, Bored and Brilliant, left off. That book looked at how technology was hampering our mental he...
Pope creates artificial intelligence study group as Vatican prepares to release his first encyclical
Pope Leo XIV has created a study group on artificial intelligence, the Vatican said Saturday, as he gears up to release his first encyclical that is expected to emphasize the need for an ethics-based approach to the technology that prioritizes human dignity and peace.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The Vatican said Leo had decided to create the in-house study group because of the acceleration in AI's use, “its potential effects on human beings...
PM Modi’s UAE visit seen as vital boost for India-UAE business ties
Dubai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE is being viewed as a vital moment for the India-UAE relationship, with Indian business leaders saying it reinforces long-term cooperation in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure and technology.The visit comes at a time of wider geopolitical and economic uncertainty, with executives saying continued engagement between both countries sends a strong signal of stability and growth opportunities for businesses operating across the India-UAE...
US CEOs follow Trump's footsteps with diplomacy in Beijing
As United States President Donald Trump showered praise on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday, the CEOs of several US aviation, commodities, technology, and finance conglomerates looked to advance their business interests by meeting the heads of powerful Chinese regulators and ministries. These include GE Aerospace, Boeing, Qualcomm, Cargill, Visa, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup, who held talks with the leading officials of Chinese government agencies such as the commerce ministry, sta...
Google’s free 15GB Gmail storage may not apply to everyone anymore
Google may be quietly changing one of Gmail’s longest-standing features: free cloud storage.Reports this week suggest some newly created Google accounts are being limited to 5GB of free storage instead of the usual 15GB shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos.According to technology publication CNET, several users noticed messages during account setup stating they could 'unlock 15GB storage at no cost' after verifying their phone number.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the G...
Trump–Xi summit highlights limits of transactional diplomacy
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing ended without the major breakthrough many had expected from his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit instead highlighted the widening strategic gap between the two powers. Both sides projected warmth and stability during the two-day visit. But the meetings showed how difficult it has become to turn high-level engagements into meaningful cooperation on major issues such as Iran, Taiwan, and technology. Ahead of the talks, ana...
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Adrienne Murray explores how new 3D-imaging technology is being used to support heart procedures. Andrew Rogers chats to the game developers pitching the next big thing at the London Gaming Festival.
Energy, defence ties get a boost as Modi meets UAE president
India and the UAE sought to boost their energy, defence shipping and technology ties signing 6 MoUs and announcing investments worth $ 5 billion from the Arab nation into India, as PM Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a brief stopover in Abu Dhabi on his way to Europe.
Trans woman awarded £10k after female-only app ban triggers 'what is a woman' case
A transgender woman has been awarded the equivalent of £10,000 after being banned from a female-only app.Roxanne Tickle won a landmark discrimination case after being barred from Giggle for Girls, with an Australian court ruling the decision was unlawful.The trans woman brought the case, known as Tickle v Giggle, against the women-only social platform and its founder, Sall Grover, after the app’s verification technology judged her to appear male.The 57-year-old was subsequently removed from the...