Today in tech, the landscape is dominated by a major shift in social media safety, fresh leaks of upcoming flagship hardware, and significant developments in the AI infrastructure race.
Top Stories for Sunday, January 25, 2026
- Meta Blocks Teen AI Access: In a major policy shift, Meta has halted access to AI character chats for teenagers globally. The move comes amid mounting pressure from regulators and parents regarding child safety. Meta has promised a future version with "hardcore parental controls," but for now, minor users are locked out until stricter age verification and safeguards are implemented.
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Leaks: New leaks have surfaced today detailing the Galaxy S26 Ultra, expected to launch on February 25. The device will reportedly feature "Built-In Privacy" display technology that narrows viewing angles to prevent shoulder-surfing. Other highlights include a new grade of Gorilla Glass intended to eliminate the need for screen protectors and a dual-chip strategy utilizing both Exynos and Snapdragon variants.
- TikTok’s $14B US Survival Deal: News has solidified around a massive $14 billion deal to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. The arrangement involves a new entity backed by Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX. While the deal aims to sidestep a total ban, privacy advocates remain vocal about whether this truly secures user data from foreign influence.
- Under Armour Cyber Breach: One of the largest data security stories of the week continues to unfold as approximately 72 million customer records from Under Armour allegedly surfaced on the dark web. The leak reportedly includes sensitive customer data, leading to renewed calls for stricter corporate cybersecurity liability laws.
AI & Hardware Developments
- AMD Ryzen AI Max 400 Series: AMD has unveiled its latest "Gorgon Halo" refresh for AI-powered laptops. The new chips pack Zen 5 cores and RDNA 3.5 graphics, designed to handle "Physical AI" tasks and heavy local inference, aiming to compete with Apple’s M-series silicon.
- OpenAI’s Infrastructure Push: Following a massive $25 billion merger with a data center operator earlier this week, OpenAI has disclosed new renewable energy agreements to power its growing infrastructure. CEO Sam Altman is also reportedly preparing for an "AI Impact Summit" in February to discuss international AI governance.
- Grok Image Generation Paused: Elon Musk’s Grok AI has disabled its image generator for most users following an outcry over a surge in sexualized AI-generated imagery. This highlights the ongoing struggle for platforms to manage open-source-style freedom with safety guardrails.
Smartphone Launches (January 2026)
The month has been busy with mid-range and enthusiast "flagship-killer" releases. Today’s reviews are focusing on:
- Honor Magic 8 RSR: A premium flagship featuring advanced photography capabilities.
- RedMagic 11 Air: A high-performance gaming phone that debuted earlier this week with a focus on cooling and sustained frame rates.
- Realme 16 Pro Series: Which officially hit global markets this week, targeting the competitive mid-range segment with high-refresh AMOLED screens.
Economic & Future Outlook
At the close of the World Economic Forum this week, the IMF warned of an "AI tsunami" that will hit the global jobs market in 2026. However, they also noted that AI-driven productivity is currently the primary factor offsetting trade headwinds, keeping global growth projections at a steady 3.3%.