How to Put Your Phone in Vacation Mode

You can silence nonessential alerts and calls on your iPhone or Android device for later while still allowing designated people and apps to reach you.

J. D. Biersdorfer | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

In the Latest Space Race, It’s China vs. SpaceX

China has made it a national priority to catch up with SpaceX’s nearly 8,000 Starlink internet-providing satellites in low-Earth orbit, which it regards as a military threat. Despite successes in other parts of its space program, China has just 124 internet-providing satellites in low-Earth orbit. Selam Gebrekidian, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, explains why China is lagging behind in this new space race.

The video explores the reasons behind this disparity. Factors such as regulatory bottlenecks, limited private-sector involvement, and international scrutiny are all slowing China’s efforts to compete in this new technological frontier. At the same time, China's push to catch up reflects not just a desire for technological parity but a deeper strategic calculus. In this era of increasing geopolitical tension, space has become a new domain for asserting global influence, and controlling data and connectivity from orbit is a key part of that equation.

Gebrekidan’s analysis sheds light on how the race for orbital internet dominance could shape the future of global communications, warfare, and international alliances. As the contest intensifies, it raises important questions about space governance, digital sovereignty, and the militarisation of what was once considered the final frontier.

Selam Gebrekidan, Nikolay Nikolov, Jon Hazell, Laura Salaberry and Malika Khurana | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

Trump Administration Plans to Speed Up A.I. Development

In its newly released “A.I. Action Plan,” the White House detailed a strategic framework aimed at strengthening the United States' leadership in artificial intelligence. 

The plan outlines specific steps to boost A.I. research, encourage private sector innovation, improve data access, and train a skilled workforce. By accelerating investment and coordination across government agencies, the Trump administration emphasised its commitment to ensuring long-term American dominance in the rapidly advancing field of A.I. technology.

David McCabe and Cecilia Kang | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

Tech’s Top Venture Firm Tried to Stay Above Politics. Then a Partner Created a Furor.

Sequoia Capital, which backed Nvidia, Google and Apple when they were start-ups, has long stayed above the fray. But one partner’s post about Zohran Mamdani set off a chain reaction.

Mike Isaac and Ryan Mac | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

How a Video Studio Embraced A.I. and Stormed the Internet

The Dor Brothers are indie filmmakers whose viral videos are generated entirely by artificial intelligence.

Stuart A. Thompson | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

How Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Persuaded Trump to Sell A.I. Chips to China

With help from a longtime Silicon Valley investor turned White House insider, Mr. Huang got the administration to reverse course on restrictions.

The piece reveals how Jensen Huang, the co-founder and CEO of Nvidia, managed to navigate the turbulent waters of U.S.–China relations at a time when the Trump administration was pushing for stricter export controls on advanced semiconductor technologies. Through a combination of strategic lobbying, technical persuasion, and the support of a well-placed White House advisor with deep roots in Silicon Valley, Huang was able to convince the administration to ease certain restrictions, allowing Nvidia to continue selling AI chips to Chinese clients.

This move not only preserved Nvidia’s access to one of its largest markets but also highlights the delicate balancing act between national security concerns and the realities of global tech competition. The story raises important questions about the role of corporate diplomacy, the influence of private sector leaders on government policy, and the evolving nature of U.S.-China tech relations in the age of artificial intelligence.

Tripp Mickle | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

How Apple’s iOS 26 and Google’s Android 16 Will Change Our Phones

Both operating systems introduce new designs, but the real story is what’s happening beneath with A.I.

Brian X. Chen | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

It Was Supposed to Be ‘Crypto Week’ in Congress. Then It Unraveled.

The crypto industry was headed for a landmark moment in the House with three bills that it helped push going to a vote. But a coalition of ultraconservative House Republicans staged a mutiny.

David Yaffe-Bellany, Robert Jimison and Michael Gold | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

Grok Chatbot Mirrored X Users’ ‘Extremist Views’ in Antisemitic Posts, xAI Says

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company said its Grok chatbot had also undergone a code update that caused it to share antisemitic messages this week.

Kate Conger | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

Is A.I. the Future of Web Browsing?

A test of the app Dia illustrates that the humble web browser may be the path to making artificial intelligence more natural to use.

Brian X. Chen | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

A.I.-Generated Images of Child Sexual Abuse Are Flooding the Internet

Organizations that track the material are reporting a surge in A.I. images and videos, which are threatening to overwhelm law enforcement.

Cecilia Kang | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

X Chief Says She Is Leaving the Social Media Platform

Linda Yaccarino, whom Elon Musk hired to run X in 2023, grappled with the challenges the company faced after Mr. Musk took over.

Mike Isaac | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

YouTube Pirates Are Cashing In on Hollywood’s Summer Blockbusters

More than a decade after the platform cracked down on copyright infringement, thousands of unlicensed movies, TV shows and live sports are available.

As Hollywood studios pour hundreds of millions of dollars into their summer blockbuster releases, an unexpected threat continues to grow—not from rival streaming services or dwindling theater attendance, but from YouTube pirates exploiting the platform’s content moderation gaps. The article sheds light on how entire films are being uploaded, monetized, and distributed illegally, often under the radar of detection algorithms.

This troubling trend isn’t new, but the scale and sophistication of recent piracy efforts are alarming. Using deceptive thumbnails, titles, and split-screen tricks, uploaders are able to bypass YouTube’s automated copyright filters and even collect ad revenue on pirated content before takedown notices are issued. Some videos remain online for hours or even days—long enough to be viewed by tens of thousands of users. By the time the content is removed, the damage is done.

The article highlights examples such as The Flash and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, both of which were uploaded illegally and gained traction before YouTube’s systems responded. What’s more frustrating for rights holders is that these uploads often appear alongside official trailers or promotional clips, blurring the lines for viewers and undermining marketing efforts.

Nico Grant and Tripp Mickle | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure

Cloudflare Introduces Default Blocking of A.I. Data Scrapers

The tech company’s customers can automatically block A.I. companies from exploiting their websites, it said, as it moves to protect original content online.

Natallie Rocha | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure