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AirPods Pro 2 Gains Hearing Aid Functionality in UK Healthcare Milestone

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 now offers clinical-grade hearing aid capabilities in the UK through a free software update. The feature provides personalized hearing profiles after a simple 5-minute test, potentially helping millions with mild to moderate hearing loss access more discreet hearing assistance.
Apple Plans to Integrate Custom Modem into Future Device Processors

Apple aims to consolidate its modem technology directly into main device chipsets, following the launch of its first in-house 5G modem. This strategic move represents Apple's continued push for vertical integration and reduced reliance on external suppliers like Qualcomm.
AMD's Next-Gen RX 9070 Series Shows Massive Performance Gains in 4K Gaming

Leaked benchmarks reveal AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT delivering up to 42% better 4K gaming performance compared to previous generation cards. The new GPU series shows particularly impressive gains in ray-tracing enabled titles, with some games seeing performance improvements of up to 168%.
NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti Manufacturing Flaw Results in 10% Performance Loss Due to Missing ROPs

A manufacturing defect in some NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards has resulted in missing render output units, causing up to 10% performance drops. NVIDIA acknowledges the issue affects 0.5% of produced GPUs and is directing customers to contact board partners for replacements amid ongoing chip shortages.
Mercedes Pioneers 620-Mile Range Solid-State Battery Technology in EV Testing

Mercedes-Benz begins road testing revolutionary solid-state battery prototype promising 620-mile range - a 25% improvement over current lithium-ion technology. Developed with Factorial Energy, this breakthrough could transform EV capabilities with production vehicles planned before 2030.
Counterfeit Seagate Hard Drives Scandal Widens to Include IronWolf Pro Series

A major fraud scheme involving counterfeit Seagate enterprise hard drives has expanded beyond Exos to IronWolf Pro models. The scam involves selling heavily used drives as new by manipulating usage data and serial numbers, with many units potentially originating from cryptocurrency mining operations.
North Korea Explores ChatGPT Integration in Advanced Education Programs

North Korean researchers at Kim Il Sung University are studying ChatGPT's capabilities for domestic educational use, despite restricted internet access. OpenAI actively monitors and blocks suspected North Korean accounts to prevent misuse of the technology for deceptive hiring schemes.
Meta's Latest Layoffs Hit Facebook and Reality Labs Teams Hardest

Internal documents reveal Meta's recent 5% workforce reduction heavily impacted Facebook and Reality Labs divisions, with over 3,600 positions eliminated across key teams. The cuts particularly affected virtual reality and monetization engineering groups, even as the company plans strategic rehiring in machine learning.
Meta Increases Executive Bonuses While Cutting Employee Stock Awards

Meta approves doubling of executive bonus potential to 200% of base salary while reducing employee stock compensation by 10%. The changes come amid ongoing layoffs targeting 4,000 positions, though the company plans to later backfill roles focused on AI development.