Last year our predictions panel gave two predictions about what the future of tech would like in 2025 all the way back in December of 2024. What terrible and exciting things do we foresee and what did we get wrong? Find out!

Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Justin Robert Young, David Spark, Roger, Joe

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Show Notes
Show Notes here.

SoftBank Group has completed its $40 billion investment in OpenAI, Samsung TVs to integrate Google Photos starting in 2026, and China mandates 50% domestic chip equipment in facilities expansion.

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Show Notes

Meta Acquires AI Startup Manus for $2 Billion Amid U.S. Scrutiny

Meta Platforms is acquiring Manus, a Singapore-based AI startup that creates AI agents for tasks like job screening and vacation planning, for a reported $2 billion. The acquisition is important to CEO Mark Zuckerberg as Manus’s substantial annual revenue could alleviate investor worries regarding Meta’s infrastructure costs. However, the deal faces U.S. scrutiny, particularly from Senator John Cornyn, due to Manus’s parent company being founded in Beijing in 2022. Meta countered by asserting that after the acquisition, Manus will cut all ties with Chinese investors and halt all operations in China.

Read More: TechCrunch

SoftBank Completes $40 Billion Investment in OpenAI

SoftBank Group has completed its $40 billion investment in OpenAI, according to a CNBC report citing sources familiar with the matter. This investment follows SoftBank’s agreement in early 2025 to lead a funding round of up to $40 billion in OpenAI, a deal that now stands as one of the largest private technology investments on record and aligns with founder and CEO Masayoshi Son’s strategy of building a vast private technology investment program focused particularly on artificial intelligence and its related infrastructure.

Read More: Reuters

Samsung to Bring Google Photos to Its TVs in 2026

Samsung has announced plans to integrate Google Photos directly into its TVs starting in 2026, eliminating the need for users to cast or sideload the app to view their photos and videos on the big screen. The initial rollout will feature a six-month exclusive of the “Memories” feature, which curates photos and videos, and users will need to sign in to their Google accounts to activate the service. Additionally, Samsung plans to incorporate AI-powered features, including “Nano Banana-powered templates,” image generation and editing, and the “Remix” feature for style conversion, enhancing how users interact with their photo library on their television.

Read More: TechCrunch

China Mandates 50% Domestic Equipment Use for Chipmakers

China has introduced a requirement, largely unwritten, mandating that chipmakers use at least 50% domestically made equipment when constructing or expanding facilities. This policy is Beijing’s response to stricter U.S. export controls and aims for a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain. Authorities enforce this through the state approval process and procurement tenders, encouraging manufacturers to prioritize Chinese suppliers, with the eventual goal of 100% domestic use, though flexibility exists for advanced manufacturing where local equipment is less available.

Read More: Reuters

CMU Researchers Develop Breakthrough Autofocus Lens Technology

CMU researchers have created a breakthrough “spatially-varying autofocus” lens technology that overcomes the limitation of traditional cameras by bringing an entire scene into sharp focus across the image. This innovative system uses a computational lens and two autofocus methods to effectively give each pixel an adjustable lens. While not yet commercialized, the technology holds significant potential for applications like improved microscopes, enhanced depth perception in VR, and clearer vision for autonomous vehicles.

Read More: The Verge

U.S. Grants Samsung and SK Hynix Annual License for China Shipments

The U.S. government has granted Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix a temporary, annual license for 2026, allowing them to continue shipping chip manufacturing equipment to their facilities in China. This new system replaces the previous “validated end user” exemption that was set to expire, as the U.S. tightens export controls on advanced technology to China. China remains a vital production base for the South Korean firms, whose memory chip prices are currently high due to strong AI data center demand.

Read More: Reuters

Satya Nadella Says 2026 Will Mark AI’s Shift to Widespread Use

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sees 2026 as the year AI really hits its stride, moving past the initial testing phase and into “widespread diffusion”, meaning it will be deployed everywhere in the real world. He says this next stage is all about “sophisticated engineering” to build complex systems that basically act as “scaffolding for human potential.” Nadella made it clear that AI has to actually deliver real benefits for society and be smart about using resources like power and computing to get “societal permission.” He stressed that we’re only in the “opening miles of a marathon,” so the full scope of what this tech can do is still a long way off.

Read More: Economic Times

Audiobooks Surge in Popularity, but AI Threatens Narrators

Audiobooks have become a significant success for publishers, with digital sales rising and often surpassing print sales for certain popular titles. This growth is attributed to the audience’s desire for a direct or highly engaging listening experience, often with consistent narration and lower price points, which is especially effective for celebrity and comedian memoirs. Despite this success, the industry’s future is uncertain as advances in AI, including voice cloning, pose a threat to the job security of professional narrators due to the potential for publishers to adopt cost-effective synthetic voices.

Read More: Wall Street Journal

Warner Bros Discovery Expected to Reject Paramount’s Hostile Bid

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) is expected to reject Paramount Skydance’s (PSKY.O) higher, $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid, despite a personal guarantee from Larry Ellison. WBD reportedly prefers a rival, lower-value $82.7 billion cash-and-stock deal with Netflix. The rejection of the Paramount offer is due to concerns over valuation, strategic fit, and the potential for greater regulatory scrutiny, as a combined WBD-Paramount would be larger than Disney. The Netflix deal is favored for its clearer financing and lower execution risks, though WBD would incur a $2.8 billion breakup fee if it backs out of the current agreement.

Read More: Reuters

Apple will challenge the October decision by the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal over £1.5 billion fine, the Cyberspace Administration of China posted draft rules increasing regulations on AI products, and a Kapwing study claims 20% of YouTube videos shown to new users are “AI slop”.

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Show Notes

Apple will challenge the October decision by the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), which ordered a fine of £1.5 billion, approximately $2 billion USD, on behalf of UK customers over overcharging fees in the App Store. After Apple’s appeal to the CAT was not granted, this challenge is directly to the UK Court of Appeal. If the appeal fails, UK customers could potentially receive a payout if they purchased anything in the App Store between 2015 and 2024.

Source: Engadget

OpenAI listed a new position for a Head of Preparedness role, following the establishment of a preparedness team back in 2023. The preparedness group studies “catastrophic risks”, from phishing attacks up to possible nuclear threats, though many members resigned over the last two years. CEO Sam Altman posted on X how AI models are “starting to present some real challenges” and there is a “potential impact of models on mental health”. The new head would earn $555,000, plus equity.

Source: TechCrunch

University of Pennsylvania researcher Ran Barzilay published “Smartphone Ownership, Age of Smartphone Acquisition, and Health Outcomes in Early Adolescence” with the American Academy of Pediatrics, about harms over screen time in minors. The analysis, involving over 10,500 children across the US, states minors with phones at age 12 had a 60% higher risk of poor sleep and 40% increased risk of obesity compared to those receiving a phone at 13. In a comment to The Washington Post, Barzilay said “It’s very important to me that this isn’t about blaming parents” and “Kids got smartphones at very young ages in the past because we didn’t know. Now we know.”

Source: The Washington Post

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) announced remote exams will be discontinued in March 2026 due to the rise of cheating with AI tools. Chief executive of the ACCA Helen Brand told the Financial Times “We’re seeing the sophistication of systems outpacing what can be put in, [in] terms of safeguards.” Those with exceptional circumstances will still be permitted to take a remote exam.

Source: The Guardian

On Saturday, The Cyberspace Administration of China posted draft rules which would regulate AI products and services simulating traits similar to human personalities engaging with users through text, audio, video, and images. The draft proposes chatbots must have a human take over a conversation once suicide or self-harm is mentioned, must not generate violent, obscene, or gambling-related content, and be able to discern if a user is a minor and impose limits. Public consultation for comments will be open until January 25th, 2026.

Source: Bloomberg and CNBC

And, As translated by The Register, the draft rules also include a proposal preventing AI companions from serving as a simulation of relatives to the elderly. The Cyberspace Administration of China further calls for any AI companion to remind users every two hours that any interactions are not with an actual human.

Source: The Register

Beginning January 1st 2026, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CCA) change of regulations regarding drones will be in effect. A theory test will be required before being allowed to fly outdoors if the drone is 100g or more, which was previously only required for drones over 250g. Successfully passing the test grants a five-year Flyer ID license and any drone over 100g with a camera must also register with the CAA for an Operator ID.

Source: BBC

Online video editing platform Kapwing surveyed the top 100 YouTube channels in every country, approximately 15,000 channels, and found 278 of them exclusively posted AI content. Kapwing also claims over 20% of videos shown to new YouTube users are “AI slop”. These videos have over 63 billion views and 221 million subscribers, with estimated earnings of $117 million USD. A YouTube spokesperson told The Guardian “Generative AI is a tool, and like any tool it can be used to make both high- and low-quality content. We remain focused on connecting our users with high-quality content, regardless of how it was made.”

Source: The Guardian

2025 saw plenty of big tech stories take the headlines for DTNS. From broad public skepticism over AI to the increase in costs in computer components and devices as companies invest huge sums into data centers. So Joe put together the best conversations we’ve had all year, plus some of the more pithy comments from this year’s Live With It! and put them together here for you. Enjoy!

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To set the stage for our Prediction Result’s show we are replaying our 2025 Tech Predictions Show! Tom and Sarah along with Robb Dunewood, Justin Robert Young and David Spark brought two predictions each of what they thought would’ve happen to the tech landscape in the year 2025!

Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Justin Robert Young and David Spark.

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Big thanks to Dan Lueders for the headlines music and Martin Bell for the opening theme!

Big thanks to Mustafa A. from thepolarcat.com for the logo!

Thanks to our mods Jack_Shid and KAPT_Kipper on the subreddit

Send to email to feedback@dailytechnewsshow.com

Show Notes
To read the show notes in a separate page click here!

Tom Merritt and Jenn Cutter look back on the biggest tech stories of the year.

Starring Tom Merritt and Jenn Cutter

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LG unveils UltraGear evo lineup of premium gaming monitors, Xiaomi announces the 17 Ultra smartphone line, Disney crosses $6 billion in global box office revenue since 2019.

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Show Notes
New York to require warning labels on social media

New York State will require social media platforms to display warning labels when users interact with features the state considers addictive, including infinite scroll, autoplay, algorithmic feeds, and like counts. The law, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, applies to platforms accessed from New York and requires warnings at first interaction and periodically afterward, with a focus on potential mental health risks for younger users.

Source: Engadget

Oracle stock sinks amid AI spending worries

Oracle shares are down about 30% this quarter, putting the company on pace for its worst performance since 2001 as investors grow uneasy about its aggressive AI infrastructure build-out tied largely to OpenAI. Concerns include rising debt, heavy capital spending, weaker-than-expected revenue and free cash flow, and increasing dependence on OpenAI for future growth.

Source: CNBC

Google prepares Gmail address changes

Google is planning to let users change their existing @gmail.com address, according to a support page currently only fully visible in Hindi. The feature would allow users to pick a new username while keeping the old address as an alias for email and sign-in, with all account data unchanged, though changes would be limited to three and locked for 12 months.

Source: 9to5Google

LG previews 5K UltraGear gaming monitors

Ahead of CES 2026, LG unveiled a new UltraGear evo lineup of premium gaming monitors featuring 5K displays with on-device AI upscaling designed to reduce GPU demands. The lineup includes a 39-inch OLED, a 27-inch MiniLED with 2,304 local dimming zones, and a 52-inch large-format display, all offering high refresh rates and fast response times, with pricing and availability still unannounced.

Source: Engadget

LG to show humanoid home robot at CES

LG plans to showcase a humanoid home robot called CLOiD at CES 2026, featuring two articulated arms with five-fingered hands intended to assist with household tasks. The robot runs on LG’s “Affectionate Intelligence” system for adaptive, user-friendly interactions, though the company has not detailed specific capabilities or confirmed whether it will become a commercial product.

Source: Engadget

Apple to allow third-party app stores in Brazil

Starting in 2026, Apple will allow third-party iOS app stores to operate in Brazil and let developers use external payment systems following a regulatory ruling. Apple can still charge fees, must use neutral language in warnings about third-party options, and faces potential fines of up to $27 million if it fails to comply within 105 days.

Source: The Verge

Xiaomi launches 17 Ultra with Leica zoom ring

Xiaomi unveiled the 17 Ultra smartphone, including a Leica Edition that adds a physical manual zoom ring that can also trigger the camera. The phone features a 1-inch 50MP main sensor, a 200MP periscope telephoto camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, up to 16GB RAM, a 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with up to 3,500 nits brightness, and a 6,800mAh battery, with pricing starting around $995.

Source: Engadget

Intel reframes Wi-Fi 8 around reliability

Intel is positioning Wi-Fi 8 less around raw speed and more around reliability, low latency, and intelligence for the AI era. The standard emphasizes near-perfect packet delivery, seamless switching, smarter traffic prioritization, improved interference management, environmental sensing, and stronger security through advanced signal processing and coordinated access points.

Source: The Register

Disney tops $6 billion at the global box office

Disney surpassed $6 billion in global box office revenue in 2025 for the first time since the pandemic, driven by billion-dollar hits “Lilo & Stitch” and “Zootopia 2,” alongside strong performances from “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and several Marvel releases. The studio posted $2.3 billion domestically and $3.65 billion internationally, marking its strongest year since 2019.

Source: Variety

The Holiday season is filled with tech gifts from friends and family. So we put together this special gift support show to share our tips and experiences on supporting people who need might need a little more help with their gifts.

Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Jason Howell, Trisha Hershberger, Rich Stroffolino, Roger Chang, Joe.

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Show Notes
To read the show notes in a separate page click here!

Apple halted its new age-verification rules in Texas after a federal judge temporarily blocked the state’s App Store Accountability Act, Meta’s Secret Plan to make Instagram the top teen platform by 2027, and Google is rolling out a feature allowing users to change their existing “@gmail.com” email address.

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Show Notes

Nvidia Licenses Groq Chip Technology in $6.9B Deal

Nvidia, the largest publicly traded company and a leader in AI chips, has entered a licensing agreement with the AI startup Groq, valued at $6.9 billion. The deal allows Nvidia to integrate Groq’s chip design technology into future products to advance AI adoption. Although some Groq executives will join Nvidia to assist with the integration, Groq will remain an independent company with a new CEO, continuing its outsourced computing data center business despite the competitive nature of the two companies in AI chip development.

Read More: Bloomberg

Apple Pauses Texas App Store Age Verification After Court Block

Apple has halted its plan to enforce new age-verification rules in Texas after a federal judge temporarily blocked the state’s App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420). The law, set for January, would have required app stores like Apple’s and Google’s to verify users’ ages, get parental consent for minors under 18 to download apps, and share age data with developers, sparking First Amendment concerns. Previously, Apple had required all Texas users under 18 to join a Family Sharing group for App Store consent. Tech companies see this as a temporary win, but the Texas Attorney General’s office intends to appeal.

Read More: TechCrunch

Meta Documents Reveal Push to Make Instagram the Top Teen Platform

Internal Meta documents reveal an aggressive 2023–2025 campaign to boost Instagram’s declining teen usage and make it the largest platform for adolescents by 2027, a goal prioritized over Threads’ growth. Despite public assurances about safety, the strategy, led by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, involved intensely focusing on attracting teens in developed markets through algorithm changes, promoting teen-friendly influencers, and marketing efforts to secure future lifelong platform users.

Read More: The Washington Post

Google Begins Rolling Out Gmail Address Changes

Google is gradually rolling out a new feature that will allow users to change their existing “@gmail.com” email address to a new “@gmail.com” address, a functionality previously unavailable to users with a native Gmail address. The change, detailed on a support page currently only fully visible in Hindi, allows users to select a new username while retaining the old address as an alias that still receives emails and can be used for sign-in, with all account data remaining unaffected. Users will be limited to three changes for a total of four addresses and will be unable to change or delete the new address for 12 months after the modification.

Read More: 9to5Google

Zoox Issues Software Recall After Lane-Crossing Issues

Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox issued a voluntary software recall for 332 vehicles after its driving system was found to sometimes cross the center lane or block crosswalks near intersections, raising the risk of a crash. Zoox identified 62 instances of lane crossings between August 26 and December 5, though no collisions have been reported. The issue was addressed with two software updates deployed in November and mid-December. Zoox emphasized its transparency as it works to refine and improve its technology, which has had other software recalls this year, including one for unexpected hard braking.

Read More: TechCrunch

Foreign Phone Shipments in China More Than Double on iPhone Demand

In November, China experienced a substantial surge in mobile phone shipments from foreign brands, primarily driven by a 128.4% jump in demand for devices like Apple’s iPhones compared to the previous year, according to Reuters’ analysis of data released by a government-affiliated research firm. While China’s overall phone shipments for the month rose by 1.9% year-on-year to 30.16 million units, foreign-branded phones alone accounted for 6.93 million units of that total, as reported by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

Read More: Reuters

Intel Pitches Wi-Fi 8 as a Reliability Upgrade for the AI Era

Intel promotes Wi-Fi 8 less for speed and more for its focus on reliability, low latency, and intelligence for the “AI era.” This is achieved through near-perfect packet delivery, seamless switching, advanced traffic prioritization, smarter interference management, and new environmental sensing (distance/gesture detection). These improvements rely on smarter signal processing, longer error-correcting codes, collaborative access points, and stronger security that encrypts control signals.

Read More: The Register

Samsung Bets on In-House GPU With Exynos 2800

Samsung is heavily investing in its Exynos division to develop a custom, in-house GPU, with the Exynos 2800 slated for 2027 as the first chip to feature this technology. This initiative aims to give Samsung a competitive edge against Apple and Qualcomm and expand its application beyond the Galaxy S28 smartphones into new areas like smart glasses, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. To achieve this, the company is actively recruiting top GPU experts for its U.S. semiconductor division with highly competitive salaries.

Read More: Wccftech