News

Google announces AI Opportunity Fund initiative

Towards an AI-ready Asia-Pacific workforce

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Google AI

Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org has announced a US$ 15 million commitment to its AI Opportunity Fund. This initiative aims to train over one million individuals in the Asia Pacific region and equip them with essential AI skills. That way, they will be more skilled and prepared for the future.

The AI Opportunity Fund will allow Google to invest in the development of critical AI skills and build confidence among workers and job-seekers as well. The initiative also empowers especially those in underserved communities across the region.

The move complements Google’s previous related projects, including AI Essentials for Beginners. Launched earlier in the year, the free course lets learners absorb lessons from a self-paced online course taught by Google AI experts. Other initiatives include the AI Startup School for Entrepreneurs and Google Cloud AI programs for businesses.

Helping Google’s cause are the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), a network of social investors, and the Asian Development Bank. Applications will be screened from social impact organizations who can collaborate with Google to reach those who will most likely benefit from AI training.

On the other hand, AVPN will work with local partners, selected through a call for proposals, to identify AI-related challenges and opportunities for underserved job-seekers, along with micro and small businesses.

Lastly, selected organizations will receive support on AI in their local languages. This will help deliver skills training directly to communities. Cash grants will also help remove barriers to learning, such as limited access to educational resources.

News

Apple unveils Siri AI, next-gen Apple Intelligence at WWDC26

Smarter Siri arrives

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Apple Intelligence, Siri AI

Apple has unveiled the next generation of Apple Intelligence alongside Siri AI, a rebuilt version of Siri that can understand personal context, work across apps, and answer questions about what’s on a user’s screen.

The announcement headlines Apple’s software updates coming later this year through iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and tvOS 27.

According to Apple, Siri AI can search across messages, emails, photos, and other personal data to help users complete tasks. It can also understand on-screen content, retrieve information from the web, and generate responses using broader world knowledge. A dedicated Siri app will let users revisit previous conversations across devices through private iCloud syncing.

The upgraded Apple Intelligence platform also powers new features across Apple’s apps. Photos gains Spatial Reframing, which lets users improve photo composition after capture. Image Playground adds more advanced image generation tools, while Messages and Mail receive smarter suggestions and productivity features.

New parental controls and Screen Time tools

Apple is also expanding parental controls with new child account features and additional Screen Time management tools.

Parents can set up age-appropriate protections immediately through child accounts and choose which apps children can access. Communication Safety features now allow parents to approve new contacts and enable automatic interventions when explicit or violent content is shared.

The company is also introducing category-based daily time allowances for Entertainment, Games, and Social Media apps. Parents can create schedules that control app access throughout the day, while a redesigned Screen Time dashboard offers a clearer view of device usage and app activity.

Faster software across Apple devices

Apple says its upcoming software releases will improve performance across its ecosystem.

The company claims iPhone and iPad apps launch up to 30% faster, photos load up to 70% faster after capture, and AirDrop transfers are up to 80% faster. Apple has also rebuilt search experiences in Spotlight, Photos, and Mail to improve stability and efficiency.

Additional updates include iCloud Shared Albums with full-resolution sharing, expanded health tracking features, custom EQ controls for AirPods, faster Wi-Fi connections on Apple Vision Pro, and an enhanced Flyover experience in Apple Maps.

Availability

The new features are available for developer testing starting today. Apple will launch a public beta through the Apple Beta Software Program next month.

The company plans to release the software updates as free downloads this fall. Siri AI will enter beta later this year for supported devices set to English, with additional language support arriving afterward.

Apple Intelligence and Siri AI will be available on supported Apple Intelligence-capable devices, including iPhone 16 models and newer, select iPads and Macs with Apple silicon, Apple Vision Pro, and compatible Apple Watch models.

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Gaming

Final Fantasy VII Revelation arrives in Spring 2027

The journey ends

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Final Fantasy VII revelation

Square Enix has officially unveiled Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the third and final entry in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. The game launches in Spring 2027 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox PC.

Revealed at Summer Game Fest Live

The announcement debuted during Summer Game Fest Live. Director Naoki Hamaguchi and Vincent Valentine voice actor Matt Mercer also showcased the game’s first trailer and an extended gameplay presentation.

Revelation picks up as Cloud Strife and his allies race to stop Meteor and prevent the destruction of the planet. Sephiroth stands closer than ever to godhood, while the party takes flight aboard the iconic Highwind airship for the trilogy’s final adventure.

For the first time in the Remake series, players can freely explore the entire world using the Highwind. They can parachute into locations, tackle objectives in different orders, and make decisions that affect parts of their companions’ stories. The hybrid combat system also returns with new playable characters and expanded abilities.

Major locations revealed

The gameplay showcase revealed several major locations, including Wutai, Mideel, and the Northern Continent. Vincent Valentine and Cid Highwind will also join the playable roster. A new FITS system lets players equip outfits that unlock different abilities inspired by classic Final Fantasy jobs such as Black Mage and Warrior.

Producer Yoshinori Kitase described Revelation as the culmination of 30 years of Final Fantasy VII storytelling. Director Naoki Hamaguchi added that the game’s central theme is “resolve” as Cloud and his companions move toward the battle that will decide the planet’s fate.

Remake and Rebirth available in multiple platforms

Players can prepare for the finale by playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, both of which are already available across current platforms. Save data from those games will also unlock bonus summon materia in Final Fantasy VII Revelation.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation launches in Spring 2027.

Watch the trailer: 

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Malaysia

HONOR Magic V6 debuts in Malaysia

Pre-orders now open

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HONOR Magic V6

HONOR has officially launched the Magic V6 in Malaysia, bringing its latest foldable flagship to the market ahead of a wider rollout across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and other regions.

Price and availability

The device starts at MYR 7,699 (roughly over USD 1900), with pre-orders running from June 4 to June 11, 2026. Customers who place an order during the promotional period will receive freebies and protection benefits worth up to MYR 3,797 (around USD 940). These include a 2-Year Worry-Free Quality Assurance plan and a 1-Year Worry-Free Crack Protection plan.

The HONOR Magic V6 will be available in Red, Gold, White, and Black color options.

HONOR positions the Magic V6 as a foldable that eliminates the usual trade-offs between portability, durability, and performance. The device measures just 8.75mm when folded and 4.0mm when unfolded, while weighing around 219g. Despite its slim profile, it carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance and uses HONOR’s new Super Steel Hinge with a tensile strength of 2,800MPa.

Massive battery in a slim foldable

One of the biggest highlights of the Magic V6 is its 6,660mAh silicon-carbon battery. HONOR says it is the largest battery ever fitted inside a foldable smartphone. The company achieved this through a new battery design featuring roughly 25% silicon content and an energy density of 921Wh/L.

Charging is handled through 80W wired HONOR SuperCharge and 66W wireless charging. The device also supports wireless reverse charging.

The foldable is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, paired with LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.1 storage. HONOR says its Vulkan graphics engine enables up to 120FPS gaming in supported titles while taking advantage of the larger foldable display.

Built for productivity

The Magic V6 features a 6.52-inch outer display and a 7.95-inch inner foldable display. Both panels support adaptive refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz. Peak brightness reaches 6,000 nits on the cover screen and 5,000 nits on the inner display.

Running MagicOS 10, the device introduces several AI-powered tools and productivity features. These include AI agents designed to assist with settings, photos, content creation, and contextual actions. HONOR also adds Fast Flex and PC-level Multi-Flex modes, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously and take advantage of the larger screen for multitasking.

The company is also emphasizing cross-device compatibility. The Magic V6 works with iPhones, Macs, AirPods, and Apple Watches through HONOR Share. Users can transfer files, share notifications, and even use dual-screen workflows with compatible Apple devices. Quick Share support also enables easier file transfers between Android and supported Apple hardware.

AI-powered cameras and Gemini integration

For photography, the HONOR Magic V6 uses a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. The system is supported by AI-powered imaging tools such as AI Color Engine, Magic Color 2.0, Magic Video Color, and AI Image to Video 2.0.

The device also comes with Google Gemini integration, allowing users to interact through text, voice, and images. HONOR is bundling a three-month Google AI Pro trial, which includes access to advanced Gemini features, NotebookLM, Flow, Veo-powered video generation tools, and 5TB of cloud storage.

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