Consumer & Gadgets news
Consumer & Gadgets
Almost half of Australian adults have used generative AI
Almost half of Australian adults have used generative artificial intelligence (GAI), with most users reporting it improves how they do their jobs or study, according to new research by the Australian National University (ANU) ...
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Consumer & Gadgets
Researchers develop core display technology that prevents image distortion even when stretched
Beyond bendable and foldable displays, the era of stretchable displays—whose screens can expand freely like rubber—is now emerging. KAIST researchers have developed a core technology that allows text, images and other on-screen ...
Jul 8, 2026
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Study links cognitive difficulties to compulsive gaming rather than gaming time itself
The amount of time young people spend playing video games is not enough to judge whether gaming is linked to cognitive difficulties. A new study of several thousand adolescents shows that gaming time and symptoms of Internet ...
Jul 7, 2026
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VR and gaming are adding a kick to taekwondo
When Vietnamese athlete Nguyen Thanh Hien Linh stepped into her first virtual taekwondo competition in Singapore in 2024, she had little idea what she was doing.
Jul 7, 2026
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New VR game tracks player emotions in hopes of fostering empathy for marginalized communities
You're in a dance club bathed in a neon-purple glow, surrounded by ghostly silhouettes that sway to the music. A stranger at the bar greets you with a flirty wave: "Hey, you look so cute!" Sparks fly. It's all part of a virtual ...
Jul 6, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
AI as a listening ear: Helpful or risky?
More and more people are turning to AI when they feel stressed or worried. Researchers at Leiden University studied how and why people use chatbots for emotional support. Their conclusion: AI meets a real need, but also raises ...
Jul 6, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
ABC will trial using AI for journalism. What are the risks and benefits?
Earlier today, the ABC flagged a shift in its position on generative artificial intelligence (AI) use in its news production. Despite previous caution, a recent deal with U.S. tech company Anthropic has opened the door for ...
Jul 6, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
AI-powered social media can subtly manipulate opinion at scale
AI tools used to generate, edit or contextualize social media posts can introduce hidden biases that spread through online networks and shape public opinion, according to new research from the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) ...
Jul 5, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
By modeling visual saliency, AI improves ratings of artistic product designs
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that evaluates the visual appeal of literary and artistic product designs by mimicking how people naturally direct their attention across an image, a step ...
Jul 2, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
AI-human relationships are real and come with risks, researchers find
Human-AI relationships are no longer confined to the domain of science fiction. As the technology has developed, AI chatbots have evolved from playing a role in search engines and image-generation tools into confidants, therapists ...
Jul 1, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Why AI fiction still feels flat: New test shows characters lack mystery and complexity
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found that while artificial intelligence can spin increasingly convincing stories, its characters may still lack one of the qualities that make human-written ...
Jul 1, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Australia wants a 'digital duty of care.' But how will we check what big tech is doing?
You expect to be safe when you go to work or when your kids play at the school playground. When you go to the doctor or get financial advice from the bank, you expect they'll act in your interests.
Jul 1, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Sony to stop releasing PlayStation games on discs
Sony said Wednesday that it would stop releasing new video games for the PlayStation on disc in January 2028 following a shift in consumer preferences.
Jul 1, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
New smart bicycle can tell when riders mean to turn—and when they may be falling
Two-wheeled vehicles with conventional stability-control systems must lean to change direction, making it difficult for rider-assistance systems to determine whether a rider is intentionally cornering or experiencing instability ...
Jun 30, 2026
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Internet
The government is 'doubling down' on its social media ban. But bigger penalties for platforms aren't enough
The Australian government has announced it is "doubling down" on social media platforms that aren't complying with age restrictions for under-16s.
Jun 29, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Cycling industry bets on smart bikes to boost sales
At the Eurobike trade fair, hopes are high that smart and AI-enabled bicycles can revive an industry that has been dealing with years of flagging sales.
Jun 28, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
AI assistant uses smartwatches, speech and text to spot distress early
What if your smartwatch could tell when you were struggling emotionally and offer support before you even thought to ask? That's the idea behind a new AI-powered system developed by researchers at the University of Ottawa, ...
Jun 27, 2026
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Internet
Digital barriers make visitors of Dutch websites stumble
Despite European legislation, many commercial websites still fall short when it comes to meeting the WCAG accessibility standard, Dante Göbbels has found. Göbbels investigated the barriers website visitors encounter, including ...
Jun 27, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Sony discontinues Japan sales of robot puppy 'aibo'
Sony is halting sales of its robotic puppy "aibo" in Japan, the company said, eight years after the latest model of its interactive android pet became an instant hit.
Jun 26, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
It only takes one fake web page to fool AI shopping bots, study finds
AI shopping assistants are popping up all over the internet, changing how we browse, compare and discover products. However, these helpful tools appear to have a serious security flaw. According to a paper published on the ...
Consumer & Gadgets
Apple increases prices for Macs and iPads, blaming a shortage of memory chips
Apple on Thursday announced an increase in prices for Macs and iPads, citing a memory chip shortage brought on by the artificial intelligence boom.
Jun 25, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Meta offers lower cost glasses as wearables competition heats up
Meta on Tuesday launched a new line of smart glasses priced slightly lower than its Ray-Ban-branded glasses, as competition heats up in the AI-powered wearable tech space.
Jun 24, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Tracking what consumers think before they buy
Manufacturers have traditionally relied on sales figures to understand where they stand with consumers, but by the time those numbers arrive, consumers' buying decisions have already been made. A study co-authored by UC Riverside ...
Jun 24, 2026
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Internet
'Kidfluencers' are everywhere on social media. Should Australia consider the Netherlands' proposed ban?
The Dutch government is considering making it illegal to use children younger than 16 in paid social media content. The government argues such online content featuring children—designed to sell goods to child consumers—basically ...
Jun 23, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Instagram users prefer harmonious colors in brand content
Brands seeking attention on social media outlets such as Instagram may benefit from keeping the colors in their posts visually consistent, according to research published in the International Journal of Mobile Communications.
Jun 23, 2026
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