News

Google releases a dedicated site for insights and queries on Coronavirus

Making it easier for anyone to get immediate help

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If you have a question or doubt, what’s the first thing you do? Google it. Likewise, billions of people have Googled Coronavirus to understand its effects, precautions, news updates, and more. However, that’s not enough.

The virus has wreaked havoc in the US and President Trump urged the search giant to lend a helping hand. In response, Google has created a national website containing information about Coronavirus symptoms and testing information.

The internet giant said it worked with “relevant agencies and authorities” to roll out the site — google.com/covid19 The website is primarily dedicated to education, prevention, and local resources. With this site, people will have easy access to state-based information.

News outlets so far have been able to list the number of positive cases country-wise. However, a state-level count was hard to understand amid a constantly refreshing news cycle. Google’s new site will make it easier for American residents to stay updated and understand protocols about their nearest available medical facility.

A section for teachers has been added that’ll make it easier to instruct students from home. Other company offerings such as Google Classroom, Google Docs and Google Hangouts have also been listed for people studying or working from home.

This also includes links to pages from health authorities and a carousel of health authorities’ Twitter accounts and the accounts of local civic organizations. As of this writing, there are 266,073 (WHO) coronavirus cases worldwide and 11,184 deaths, and the U.S. now has 15,219 cases (CDC).

SEE ALSO: How to disinfect your tech from the coronavirus

As general rules, the CDC or The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed these to help with preventing the spread of COVID-19:

  • Stay home when sick
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Frequently wash hands with soap and water
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces
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Gaming

PlayStation declares AI as “foundational piece” in future

The brand, however, sees it more as a tool than a cost-cutting measure.

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July 6, 2026

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Being the gaming company that they are, Sony has embarked on a speedrun of its own: to deliver as much eyebrow-raising decisions as it can in a short span of time. Last week, PlayStation announced that the company will stop producing physical copies of its games in 2028. Now, the brand has confirmed that it will rely on AI for future game development.

In an interview with CEO Hideaki Nishino, via TweakTown, PlayStation has stated that AI will be a “foundational piece” in the company’s future game development. It is, however, some consolation that Nishino is adamant that it’s only a tool, rather than a cost-cutting measure.

Nishino says that AI usage can cut out repetitive tasks which frees developers up for more critical tasks. Interestingly, he also confirms that it will be used for asset placeholders and synthetic voices.

AI in game development isn’t completely new. In fact, some developers already use the technology just as how PlayStation describes it. However, it’s relatively uncommon for companies to essentially push AI to the forefront of development. Also, to be fair to Nishino, AI isn’t as maligned in Japan as it is in the Western world.

That said, it’s still an interesting decision to make, especially coming after Sony’s decision to cut off physical copies in 2028. PlayStation’s upcoming AI usage will surely raise some eyebrows.

SEE ALSO: PlayStation clarifies discs will still exist (somewhat) after 2028

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Not even Nokia phones are safe from AI features

Users have to pay for the AI after 180 days, too.

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July 6, 2026

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Did you mistakenly assume that the only way to escape the deluge of AI is to go for a more budget-friendly smartphone? With major brands infusing their phones with AI, it’s a reasonable assumption. However, a batch of new Nokia phones proves that even the budget market isn’t safe from artificial intelligence.

Recently, Nokia, thanks to HMD, is launching four new phones: Nokia 200 4G, 210 4G, 215 4G 2nd Edition, and 235 4G 2nd Edition. It’s easy to get bogged down on the detailed specs of all four phones, but it’s even easier to focus on the ginormous AI button present on all of them.

All four phones are powered by Sikey AI. Pressing that big button lets users ask basic queries, so it’s more a voice assistant in essence than anything. However, when it’s literally a giant button, it’s also a very hard sell.

Even worse, the AI is free for only 180 days. Users will need to subscriber afterwards and on a separate smartphone (because the Nokia doesn’t have apps) to continue using the features. Otherwise, the AI logo turns into something completely useless.

In other news, all four phones are pleasantly dumb. The Nokia 215 and the 235 have a 2.8-inch IPS display, while the 210 4G and the 215 4G have 2.4-inch QVGA displays. All four models have everything you need from a simple communication device.

SEE ALSO: HMD is developing an AI assistant for the elderly

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Gaming

PlayStation clarifies discs will still exist (somewhat) after 2028

Only games released before 2028 can still re-order physical discs.

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July 6, 2026

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The top headline last week was Sony’s universally panned decision to end physical discs in 2028. Today, PlayStation is clarifying its stance by confirming that physical discs will still exist past 2028 but only for games released before that year.

Last week, PlayStation announced that, starting in 2028, newly released games will no longer receive a physical copy, placing the concept of ownership into jeopardy. Naturally, everyone hated the decision, from those mourning the nostalgia of owning discs to those concerned over digital ownership.

Now, via Game File, the company reportedly messaged developers to clarify that they can still re-order physical discs past 2028 for existing games. Taken plainly, this means that PlayStation won’t just let the current stock run out. However, at the same time, the continuation of discs will depend on developers ordering more copies in the future.

Sadly, this is only a small consolation for the wider decision to kill of the physical disc. Though gamers can save some of the nostalgia, the future of physical media is still bleak. Without a release on physical media, it becomes a question of whether or not gamers actually own the game they paid for, especially since publishers can easily pull a game for whatever reason.

SEE ALSO: Everyone’s angry at PlayStation’s new no-disc policy, and this is why

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