OpenAI unveils new o3-mini model to respond to China's Deepseek, app dispute Invites New from Apple, Samsung is working on a tri-fold smartphone, WhatsApp adds new features to communicate with ChatGPT, Google launches new versions of Gemini, and other exciting news on the sidelines…
Data Stealing Software on Mac Is on the Rise
2024 saw a new wave of malware targeting Macs, with stealers becoming more prevalent. These programs are designed to steal credit card information, passwords, cryptocurrency data, and other valuable information. They are usually installed when a user downloads a fake or hacked version of a program through deceptive ads on search engines.
One of the most prominent of these malware programs is the “Poseidon” program, which can steal cryptocurrencies from more than 160 electronic wallets, in addition to stealing passwords from Internet browsers and password management programs. To protect against these attacks, experts advise checking the source of programs before downloading them and making sure that they come from trusted developers and not from unreliable or imitated sites.
Amazon is preparing to launch the new generation of Alexa voice assistant
Amazon has announced a special event focused on artificial intelligence at 26 February, where it is expected to unveil the new version of its Alexa voice assistant, powered by generative AI technologies. This is the biggest update to Alexa since its launch in 2014, as it will be able to conduct complex conversations and perform multi-tasking requests. Amazon is using AI models from Anthropic, the owner of Claude, to improve Alexa’s performance, and will test the new version with a limited number of users before launching a paid subscription service later.
The update comes as Apple prepares to upgrade its Siri voice assistant with new capabilities including on-screen awareness, personal context, and more in-app capabilities. Rumors also suggest that Apple will launch an updated version of Siri next year that will rely on large language models, which will allow it to better compete with ChatGPT and other chatbots.
Malware Discovered That Spies on Screenshots in iPhone Apps
Kaspersky Lab has discovered a new malware called SparkCat in Apple App Store apps that has the ability to read the content of screenshots using optical text recognition technology. The malware specifically targets cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases, scans the user’s photos after gaining access to the photo library, and sends sensitive information to the attackers’ servers.
The malware has been spotted in several apps such as ComeCome, WeTink, and AnyGPT, and is targeting iPhone users in Europe and Asia. While these apps are currently focused on stealing cryptocurrency information, they are also capable of accessing other sensitive data stored in screenshots. Kaspersky advises users Avoid storing screenshots containing sensitive information in your photo library. To avoid such attacks.
Google launches new versions of Gemini
Google has announced updates to its Gemini AI model, releasing an experimental “Flash Thinking 2.0” model that can break commands down into sequential steps to improve its reasoning capabilities. The new model can interact with apps like YouTube, Google Maps, and Search, and displays its reasoning process to users so they can understand why it responds in a certain way.
The company also launched the Gemini 2.0 Pro beta, which it describes as the best model yet at performing programming and answering complex commands, and is available in Google AI Studio, Vertex AI, and the Gemini app for advanced subscribers. Additionally, it launched the Flash-Lite 2.0 model, which is the most cost-effective yet.
WhatsApp Adds New Features to Communicate with ChatGPT
OpenAI has announced the addition of new features for WhatsApp users to communicate with ChatGPT, as they can now send voice messages and images directly in their conversations with it. However, ChatGPT will continue to respond to users through written texts only. To take advantage of this service, users need to add the number 1-800-242-8478 or 1-800-CHAT-GPT, starting with “1”, to their contacts, this is for the United States of America only. At the moment, this service is not available in any other country, and there will certainly be a gradual expansion and support for other countries later.
These updates expand on the initial integration that launched in December 2024, and OpenAI also plans to add an account linking feature that will allow users to link their existing ChatGPT accounts, whether free or paid. Any US phone number can connect to ChatGPT and get 15 minutes of response time for free without needing an OpenAI account, but creating an account will provide additional time to interact.
Samsung is working on a tri-fold smartphone
Samsung has been pushing the boundaries of foldable phones since 2019, and it’s now planning to launch a new innovative phone featuring a tri-folding design. The new phone, which could be called the Galaxy G Fold, will feature a large screen measuring up to 10 inches when fully unfolded, which is significantly larger than the 6-inch screen on its current Z Fold7.6. The phone is expected to be unveiled in July this year, with a launch in early 2026.
Apple, on the other hand, is still lagging behind in the foldable phone race, with reports suggesting that the first foldable iPhone may not appear until 2026 or 2027. The information indicates that Apple is working on a design similar to Samsung's Z Flip phone, so that it can be folded vertically, making it compact and easy to carry. It is expected to be similar in size to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with the ability to fold for a smaller size.
Controversy over Apple's new Invites app
Partiful, an event planning app, has accused Apple of violating its own App Store rules when it launched its new Invites app. Partiful posted a screenshot of Rule 4.1 on social media, which prohibits copycat apps, noting that Apple’s new app is similar in basic functionality to its own. However, Partiful has additional features such as the ability to work across different platforms without requiring an email address for participants.
Sherlocking term
Used to describe a situation where a major technology company, such as Camel Or Google, by copying a certain feature or idea from a third-party app and including it in their platform or official apps, making the original app less useful or unnecessary for users.
The term is derived from an old application called Sherlock I developed it Camel In the 1990s, a similar tool called Watson From an independent company, but when Apple released a new update to Sherlock that contained similar features to Watson, it led to a decline in the use of Watson and its disappearance from the market.
This concept refers to the great power that large companies have in determining the future of small applications, as they can easily adopt successful ideas and implement them into their systems, sometimes leading to the exclusion of original developers from the market.
Miscellaneous news
◉ Disney Plus saw its subscriber base drop by 700 in the first quarter of 2025, to 124.6 million. The drop comes after it raised subscription prices and imposed restrictions on sharing passwords between households. While this is the first decline in the platform’s history since its launch, CEO Bob Iger noted that the subscriber decline was lower than expected. In contrast, Hulu saw its subscriber base grow by 1.6 million, and Disney saw its overall revenue grow by 4.8% thanks to the success of Moana 2, which grossed over $XNUMX billion at the box office.
◉ Apple has begun mass production of its new M5 processor. The processor is manufactured using TSMC’s advanced 3nm process technology, and features an improved architecture and 2025D SoIC stacking technology that improves heat management and reduces electrical leakage. The new processor is expected to appear first in the iPad Pro in late 5, followed by the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Apple Vision Pro glasses, respectively. Apple also plans to use the MXNUMX processor in its AI server infrastructure to enhance the AI capabilities of its devices and cloud services.
◉ Meta-owned Threads has announced a new feature that will allow users to share custom lists they’ve created. Shared lists will appear under the new “Feeds” tab on profiles, and users can pin their favorite lists for quick access to the people and topics they care about. To share a custom list, you’ll first need to make it public by enabling the “Public feed” option, and then you can share it as a post, link, or direct message. It’s worth noting that this feature is still being rolled out gradually, so it may not appear immediately to all users.
◉ Apple announced in a statement to MacRumors that it categorically rejects pornographic apps in the European Union via alternative app stores. The company explained that the existence of these apps is only due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires Apple to allow alternative app stores in the European Union, such as AltStore. Although all apps outside the official Apple Store undergo a certification process to verify that they are free of malware and fraud, this process does not control the content itself. Apple confirmed that it expressed its concerns about these apps last December, stressing that this type of application poses a risk to the safety of users, especially children, and undermines consumer confidence in the Apple ecosystem.
◉ OpenAI has launched its new model o3-mini in response to China’s Deepseek, a more cost-effective model that is now available for both ChatGPT and the OpenAI API. The new model features advanced capabilities in science, mathematics, and programming, with the ability to search and provide updated answers with links to relevant web resources. o3-mini is OpenAI’s first small reasoning model to support features such as function calls, structured outputs, and developer messages, with three options for reasoning effort “low, medium, high.” While OpenAI maintains the o1 model as the standard general knowledge model, o3-mini is available for technical fields that require accuracy and speed, and is now available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users, and is the first reasoning model available to free users.
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