Author: David Bernal Raspall

Artificial intelligence is entering a different stage, and with it the cybersecurity landscape is changing. Chris Lehane, an OpenAI executive, warns that we must prepare for “continuous and persistent” attacks from AI systems, as reported in The Guardian. The most advanced models now have the ability to plan attacks with greater autonomy, something we already saw in the Hugging Face incident and which, according to OpenAI, will not be an isolated incident.

Agents are starting to show what they’re capable of

We already saw how an OpenAI model attacked Hugging Face during an evaluation, but it seemed, and we still hope it is, an isolated incident during training. In response OpenAI has paused the training of its frontier models while it adds safeguards. 

In another case the company halted the development of a model very prone to breaking the rules to achieve its goals. 

Lehane sketches a scenario in which models will be able to launch constant attacks, while higher-level systems will be tasked with detecting them and, hopefully, stopping them. OpenAI is evolving its cybersecurity-focused AI, because it now seems that only through AI will we be able to defend ourselves from AI.

OpenAI’s agents, and Anthropic’s too, are sparking a debate about who is responsible for these attacks, but it goes beyond that. While OpenAI is calling for mandatory standards before deployment and a future international framework to check the safety of models, we can start getting used to AIs fighting each other in cybersecurity while we, and that is the most worrying part, watch.

If the ChatGPT app is the most direct and convenient way to access OpenAI’s AI, getting to know that app thoroughly is the best idea. And that includes knowing its secret features, like the gesture that lets you attach recent Photos much faster to any conversation.

ChatGPT Download

How to add a recent photo with a simple long press

Adding a photo to a conversation used to require tapping the “+” button, selecting Photos, opening the Photos picker, choosing an image, and confirming. Now, the whole thing comes down to long-pressing a single button. As reported by 9to5Mac, the feature has just arrived in ChatGPT for iOS.

The process is really simple and quite fast:

• Open ChatGPT on your iPhone.

• Long-press the “+” button next to the text field.

• You’ll see your four most recent photos appear.

• Tap the one you want to attach to the conversation.

A small difference, perhaps? A welcome one, in any case. It’s common to want to identify objects or use the photo we’ve just taken, and in this case, having a few fewer steps is always appreciated.

On compatible iPhones, Visual Intelligence offers an integration that may be even smarter, but if instead of just one question you want to add context to a conversation with ChatGPT, this feature is your best option. One of those features you’ll probably use more than you’d think.

One of the main improvements in iOS 27 is speed. Apple mentioned it when it unveiled the system in June, and in the betas we’ve been able to see it firsthand. Beyond Siri AI, the system brings a long list of optimizations for our iPhone whose goal is for everything to work faster, from opening an app to taking a photo.

Faster app launches, starting with the iPhone 11

Apple has made more than 80 improvements related to iPhone performance. One of the main ones is that apps can now open up to 30% faster. The improvement, of course, will apply to all iPhones that support iOS 27, starting with the iPhone 11.

Part of this gain is possible thanks to a new CPU scheduler optimized to allocate resources more efficiently. Together with the stability improvements, in the first betas the speed increase was already noticeable. In the most recent betas the difference is even greater.

Photos and AirDrop are faster too

AirDrop Download

Photos Download

The speed improvements go beyond opening apps. Photos and videos can load up to 70% faster in the Photos library, while if we use AirDrop to send them, we can transfer them up to 80% faster.

That’s not all. The system is smoother when unlocking the device, when pulling down Control Center, and while we’re using the emoji keyboard.

iOS 27 is available in public beta and will be officially released this fall. Besides other changes and improvements, especially Siri AI, it’s clear that the better performance will be one of the best new features.

TikTok is considering going beyond short videos. After TikTok Shop became an important part of the ecosystem, the company is taking another step that has drawn attention: a system that would let users send each other money directly in private messages.

TikTok Download

Sending money could be as simple as sending a message

According to Bloomberg, the code in the US version of TikTok for iPhone already contains references to a payment system through direct messages. The system would rely on the current TikTok Pay, already available in Southeast Asia, and would allow sending money with a single tap, along with a message.

The feature is, as far as we know, in an early stage of development and is notable for how similar it is to Venmo or Zelle, but that isn’t all. Financial scams, many of them through direct messages or posts, find in social media ideal conditions to spread.

So making it so that, after seeing a fraudulent post, making the payment is as easy as tapping the message button on that very post is something that has to be considered very carefully.

However, the idea fits very well with a platform whose algorithm drives sales at a dizzying speed. Ease of use is undoubtedly very interesting and gives people reasons both to support it and oppose it. For now we’ll have to wait for the final version, if it actually launches, to evaluate the system. Meanwhile, along with X and similar platforms, we can add TikTok to our list of services looking to offer peer-to-peer payments.

Since iOS 26 we’ve had a long list of options when it comes to personalizing our iPhone’s Lock Screen. Now, with iOS 27 it goes in an unexpected direction, perhaps, but a very interesting one. Ever since the very first iPhone OS the time has been the main focus on the screen, now the new compact view lets us shrink it so it sits next to the date, leaving almost all the space free to show the wallpaper. 

Zedge Download

How to enable the compact clock in iOS 27

The clock’s new compact design keeps the time visible, but it does so while freeing up much of the center of the screen. We can see our favorite photos in full —and enjoy their subtle animation—, to make widgets stand out more, or simply to go for a more minimalist design.

Turning it on is really simple, here’s how:

• Press and hold the Lock Screen, then tap Customize.

• Tap the clock to open Font and Color.

• Tap the new icon with two horizontal bars in the upper right corner of the customization section.

• Tap the background to see the result and, if we like it, we tap OK to save it.

In this compact mode we’ll see that the clock keeps the font, weight, and color we’ve chosen. Also keep in mind that on each Lock Screen we can use a different clock size so that, just as we can change the Camera and Flashlight buttons or choose between different wallpapers for our iPhone, we can have several options to switch between throughout the day or week.

TikTok is considering going beyond short video. After TikTok Shop became an important part of the ecosystem, the company is preparing another move that has drawn attention: a system through which we could send each other money directly in private messages.

TikTok Download

Payments as easy as sending a message

As Bloomberg reports, the code for the U.S. version of TikTok on iPhone already contains references to a payment system in DMs. The system would be based on the current TikTok Pay, already available in Southeast Asia, and would allow sending money with a single tap, adding a message to it.

The feature is, from what we know, at an early stage of development and stands out because of its similarity to Venmo or Zelle, but that’s not all. Sending money within a social network is something that needs to be approached very carefully. Financial scams, many of them through direct messages or posts, spread easily on social media.

So making it so that, after seeing a scam post, making a payment is as easy as tapping the message button on that post is something that needs very careful consideration.

Even so, the idea fits very well with a platform whose algorithm drives sales at breakneck speed. Its ease of use is certainly compelling , but there are valid arguments on both sides. For now we’ll have to wait for the final rollout, if it ever happens, to assess the system. Meanwhile, alongside X and the like, we can add TikTok to our list of services interested in peer-to-peer payments.

TikTok is considering going beyond short video. After making TikTok Shop an important part of its ecosystem, the company is preparing a next step that has drawn attention: a system for sending money directly in a private message.

TikTok Download

Payments as simple as sending a message

As reported by Bloomberg, the code in the U.S. version of TikTok for iPhone already contains references to a payment system via DMs. The system would be based on the current TikTok Pay, already present in Southeast Asia, and would make it possible to create a transfer with a simple tap, accompanying it with a message. 

The feature is, as far as we know, in the early stages of development and is notable for its similarity to Venmo or Zelle, but there’s more. Moving money within a social network is something that has to be considered very carefully. Financial scams, many through direct messages or posts, spread especially well on social media.

So, making payments from deceptive posts as easy as tapping the message button on the post itself is something to keep in mind. 

That said, the idea fits very well with a platform whose algorithm is fueling sales. The ease of use is certainly appealing and makes a strong case both for and against. For now we’ll have to wait for the final implementation, if it happens at all, to judge the system. In the meantime, alongside X and similar platforms, we can add TikTok to our list of services exploring peer-to-peer payments.

Google wants Gemini to be part of our university years and, like many other products from the company, for us to be used to using it after we graduate. If we study in the United States and meet the requirements, we can enjoy Google AI Pro completely free for a year. And if we study in other countries, Google also has an offer for us too.

A year to make Gemini our go-to study tool

Google AI Pro, which currently costs $19.99 a month, comes with four times the capacity, Gemini Spark, Gemini in Gmail and Google Docs, and up to 5 TB of storage. The idea behind the subscription is to make Gemini a go-to tool, ready for any task.

Google Gemini Download

Outside the US, students can get Google AI Plus for a year, with Gemini Omni and 400 GB of storage. An interesting offer that, according to Google, we can apply for until December 31, 2026 after verifying our student status.

While Gemini focuses on students, Google wants its AI to support us from the first class to the last exam, continuing a push Google has been making in education for several months now.

Meanwhile, Google Search is getting in on practice tests and quizzes for exams like the SAT, GRE, or MCAT. Another move that adds to Google’s education push to position Gemini early in our careers and keep us using it afterward. Meanwhile, having Google AI Pro for free is, without a doubt, interesting.

Amazon is taking another step in positioning Alexa+ among the other smart assistants on the market. The company has decided to include it on compatible Fire TV devices in the United States, whether we’re subscribed to Prime or use a standard account. With this change, and after the update, our TV gives us a direct gateway to Alexa+, with conversational searches, recommendations, and smart home control.

Amazon Alexa Download

All you need is a compatible Fire TV

Alexa+ costs $19.99 a month without Prime and adds a layer of intelligence to Amazon’s well-known Alexa. Do we want those benefits for free? All we need is any current Fire TV Stick model, a Fire TV Cube, one of the Amazon Ember televisions, or even some Hisense and Panasonic models. For those of us who already use one of these devices, the update rolls out automatically and significantly expands what we can do from our couch.

Much more than searching for a movie

Alexa+ understands requests like “a very highly rated thriller” and lets us refine the search until we find exactly what we want. In this context, the television stops being just a screen and starts helping us decide what to watch. While Google is bRinging Gemini to devices with Google TV and the current Siri on Apple TV is getting ready to receive the new Siri AI with new hardware, the industry’s direction is clear: do more with our television.

Along these lines, Amazon’s proposal with Alexa+ lets us control home devices and show Ring cameras on the television. AI is much more useful when it’s right where we need it, and Amazon is following that path with its Fire TV devices.

There’s no doubt we’ve had a week of leaks at Apple. After the HomeHub, Pebble, new HomePod minis, and much more have leaked, now it’s Beats’ turn. Specifically the Beats 360. After the references to model B518 that we saw a few days ago, now its specifications have leaked too, as MacRumors reports. And they’re spectacular.

A refreshed design for workouts

The Beats 360 are inspired, in large part, by the ear cushions and mesh headband we already know from the AirPods Max. Compared with the Beats Studio Pro, the main change, aside from the design, is that we’ll be able to swap out both the ear cushions and the headband very easily.

Apple Music Download

As far as we know, Beats is planning color options in Pink, Black, Sky, and Cloud, while Volt and Navy show up in some accessories. It’s also worth noting that these will be the first over-ear Beats with IPX4 water and sweat resistance, which makes them ideal for workouts.

More noise cancellation and spatial audio

Sound is, without a doubt, the main attraction of these new Beats. Active noise cancellation will be up to 1.75 times more powerful than that of the Beats Studio Pro and will be paired with personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. On the hardware side, the new memory foam and the upgraded microphones will round out the system.

The new 360 will be compatible with Apple devices and Android devices, they have the same physical controls as other Beats headphones, and they feature a foldable design so they’re easy to carry.

Just like with the AirPods 4, Apple is putting more and more emphasis on audio. Priced at $299 in the US, the Beats 360 are shaping up to be a device that will balance features, design, and versatility like no other.