News

Amazon is testing a feature that can ‘resurrect’ a loved one

The ethics are arguable

Published

June 24, 2022

Luigi Leonardo

The pain of grief stings. Losing someone means losing everything you know about them. You won’t see or hear a departed loved one anymore. Technology, however, has progressed enough to create new ways to preserve human beings. Unfortunately, some of those methods are less than savory for some people. Amazon, for example, is experimenting on a way to “resurrect” a dead relative by mimicking their voice through Alexa.

The experiment is as freaky as the premise sounds. Using only one minute of recorded audio, Alexa can supposedly replicate a person’s voice, as revealed in an experiment during Amazon’s re:MARS conference.

As the presentation clearly indicates, Amazon explicitly advocates for the feature’s applications to deal with grief. The clearest example is using the feature to replicate a kid’s grandma’s voice to read a story.

It’s an odd way to use artificial intelligence. While it can certainly preserve someone, one can argue that it can disrupt the grieving process. Others might argue that it can help. And, even if someone argues for the technology, the conversation can go deeper. For example, would you allow a third-party company to use the voice of a loved one for what is essentially a digital butler?

Going beyond the realm of the dead, the feature can also replicate the voices of alive persons. While it might be easy to get a loved one’s permission to use their voice, what are the ethics of using a celebrity, a politician, or a local crush as a voice without their consent?

Currently, the feature is still experimental. With a lot of questions still up in the air, it might stay that way before (or if) the technology makes its way to the general public.

Finance

EastWest rolls out Google Pay access for debit cardholders

For fast, seamless, and secure payments

Published

March 8, 2026

GadgetMatch

Eastwest continues to make banking easier as its EastWest Debit Card is now on Google Pay. This enables users to pay with just the tap of their phone.

The integration brings a globally accepted payment experience closer to home. With Google Pay now supporting EastWest Debit Cards, customers can add their card to Google Wallet to enjoy fast, seamless, and secure payments.

That’s whether for everyday purchases, online shopping, or even when traveling overseas. Specifically for Eastwest Priority clients who travel frequently, Visa Infinite Debit Cardholders can enjoy more benefits, like:

Low foreign exchange fees of 1.7% (with no foreign exchange bank conversion fees promo until March 31)
Waived interbank domestic withdrawal fees
Up to 10 free international ATM withdrawals per year (with free and unlimited international ATM withdrawals promo until March 31)
24/7 access to Visa Infinite Concierge

From casual cafe purchases to grocery checkouts and even online purchases and international trips, having EastWest on Google Pay transforms the smartphone into a secure, all-in-one wallet.

As with other banks offering the same capabilities, users do not need to carry their physical card with them anymore. A simple tap with a compatible Android device or wearable completes the transaction.

EastWest’s Debit Cards are powered by Visa, and are accepted at millions of merchants worldwide.

News

Globe postpaid opens pre-orders for Samsung Galaxy S26 series

Enjoy a double the storage promo and more perks

Published

March 8, 2026

GadgetMatch

Globe has officially opened pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series through its postpaid plans.

Customers can choose from three different models: the Samsung Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Plus, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

As with Globe GPlans with previous flagship releases, the higher the postpaid plan you avail, the less you have to shell out as a one-time cashout fee.

Postpaid plans start at just 599 pesos, with a 24-month lock-in period and reward points for corresponding expenditures.

And as part of Globe’s pre-order offer, customers can enjoy double the storage when they avail of any device until March 17.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how much you will spend depending on the plan you choose:

Globe GPlan 599

Inclusions: 2GB data, 100 minutes mobile and landline calls, 100 minutes all-net texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 47,400 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 59,400 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 67,400 cashout

Globe GPlan 799

Inclusions: 3GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 46,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 58,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 66,000 cashout

Globe GPlan 999

Inclusions: 5GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 44,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 56,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 64,000 cashout

Globe GPlan 1299

Inclusions: 8GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 42,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 54,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 62,000 cashout

Globe GPlan 1499

Inclusions: 10GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 38,600 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 50,600 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 58,600 cashout

Globe GPlan 1799

Inclusions: 13GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 35,300 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 47,300 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 55,300 cashout

Globe GPlan 1999

Inclusions: 15GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 33,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 45,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 53,000 cashout

Globe GPlan 2499

Inclusions: 25GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 28,500 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 40,500 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 48,500 cashout

In addition, customers can enjoy 0% interest installment up to 36 months via select bank credit cards, like UnionBank, BDO, BPI, Metrobank, EastWest, Chinabank, and more.

Enterprise

Nintendo sues the United States

The Japanese company wants a refund for illegal tariffs.

Published

March 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? After a year of wrestling through tariffs from the current American administration, Nintendo has decided to sue the United States.

Last year, the Trump administration was trigger-happy with implement tariffs on countries everywhere. Though the controversy mostly circulated around geopolitics, major corporations also found themselves on the receiving end of Trump’s ire. All over the world, the tariffs sparked product delays and price hikes.

Nintendo is no exception. As a result of the fiasco, the company had to delay the launch of the Switch 2, in anticipation of disruptions caused by the tariffs. First reported by Aftermath, the Japanese gaming giant is now going after the American government over refunds associated with the tariffs.

Now, the tariffs aren’t a big issue anymore. Notably, the Supreme Court scratched off the White House’s implementations that the former found illegal. While a big sigh of relief for future business, corporations like Nintendo have already paid duties and deposits in the past. As a result, Nintendo is now looking for recompense for what they paid before.

Nintendo isn’t the first company to seek restitution over the illegal tariffs. Others, including FedEx and Revlon, are also asking for refunds. However, the Japanese giant is certainly one of the biggest names to cross the government’s path. After all, the company is notoriously litigious over anything it considers as an affront to its business, including small streamers using Pokémon on their broadcasts.

With all its global resources, Nintendo likely won’t just give up without a fight.