Tech news digest for Monday, June 29, 2026

WhatsApp Launches Usernames for Enhanced Privacy

WhatsApp is set to introduce usernames later this year, allowing users to share their profiles without revealing their phone numbers. Starting this week, users can reserve their desired usernames to prevent overlaps, while businesses can claim existing usernames from Facebook or Instagram. The new feature will enhance privacy by ensuring usernames are not searchable, meaning only those who know the exact username can initiate contact.

• WhatsApp has over 3 billion users globally.
• Usernames can be between 3 to 35 characters long.

Supreme Court Upholds Privacy Rights in Geofence Warrants

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that individuals possess privacy rights concerning their cell-phone location data, significantly impacting law enforcement's use of geofence warrants. Authorities are now required to demonstrate probable cause to obtain such warrants, marking a shift from previous practices, though the warrants themselves are not banned.

• Supreme Court rules Trump cannot fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook for now.
• In major privacy win, Supreme Court rules geofence warrants are protected by privacy rights. Supreme Court limits geofence warrants for law enforcement.

Qi2 Technology Set to Enable 50W Wireless Charging for Future Devices

The Wireless Power Consortium is advancing Qi2 technology to support 50W wireless charging, which could be featured in upcoming models of Google Pixel and iPhone devices. This development was highlighted during a recent meeting hosted by Xiaomi in Beijing, focusing on enhancing charging speeds. The Qi2 standard was initially introduced in 2023, with 25W charging expected to roll out in 2025.

• The Qi2 technology aims to double the current wireless charging capabilities from 25W to 50W.

Meta restricts use of Claude Code and Codex to keep rival AI out of its training data

Meta is implementing restrictions on the use of Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex among its engineers to prevent outputs from these AI tools from contaminating its training data. Internal documents reveal that the company has temporarily halted certain projects involving these models due to concerns about distillation, which could lead to unauthorized capability transfers from rival AI systems. Meta aims to build its own coding assistant, MetaCode, and is expected to spend billions on internal AI initiatives this year, reflecting a strategic shift to reduce reliance on external AI tools.

• Meta's policy mandates human review of AI outputs before use in coding tasks.
• Distillation has led to accusations between AI companies, including Anthropic and Alibaba.

Apple just acquired the app that won last year’s ‘Innovation’ Apple Design Award

Apple has acquired the app Play, which won the 2025 Apple Design Award in the ‘Innovation’ category. Play specializes in creating interactive prototypes using SwiftUI, featuring a user-friendly interface that facilitates real-time collaboration across Mac and iPhone. The acquisition also includes certain assets and employees from Rabbit 3 Times, Inc., the developer behind Play. Following the acquisition, Play has been removed from the App Store, leading to speculation that its features might be integrated into Apple's Xcode or reintroduced as a standalone application.

Robot hand company settles Tesla trade secret suit and announces $11M raise

Proception, a startup founded by ex-Tesla engineer Jay Li, has settled a trade secret lawsuit with Tesla and announced an $11 million seed funding round led by First Round Capital. Li, previously a technical lead on Tesla's Optimus robot program, believes the legal battle has strengthened his company. Proception is now focused on developing robotic hands that can mimic human dexterity, shipping its first batch of high-dexterity hands to researchers and robotics companies. The hands feature 22 degrees of freedom, allowing for a wide range of motions, and Proception's unique data collection method aims to accelerate advancements in dextrous manipulation.

• Proception's robotic hand features 22 degrees of freedom and multiple joints per finger.

When will Apple prices drop again? Maybe years, maybe never …

Apple's recent price hikes have surpassed 50%, particularly affecting memory and storage upgrades, which have doubled in cost. The company is reportedly working on solutions, but analysts indicate that RAM prices will continue to rise through 2025. A recent report suggests a 40-45% year-on-year price increase, with any potential relief not expected until 2028, when new supply capacity may only partially meet the growing demand driven by AI data centers. A poll revealed that 75% of 9to5Mac readers believe these price increases will likely be permanent.

• RAM prices are projected to rise significantly through 2024 and 2025.
• Memory chip manufacturers plan investments extending over 15 years.

Firmus, Nvidia partner to build 170,000-GPU AI facility in Indonesia

Firmus Technologies has partnered with Nvidia to construct a significant AI campus in Batam, Indonesia, featuring up to 170,000 Nvidia AI accelerators. This 360-megawatt Nvidia DSX AI Factory will provide extensive AI computing resources for global enterprise and AI-native clients. The facility is set to deploy advanced accelerators through 2027 and 2028, with the collaboration expected to continue until 2034. Firmus anticipates generating between $25 billion and $30 billion in offtake agreements during the first six years, enhancing access to Nvidia's AI infrastructure for clients worldwide.

• The partnership is set to run until 2034, focusing on scalable AI infrastructure.

Samsung and SK Hynix plan $590 billion chip investment as AI demand sends memory prices soaring

Samsung and SK Hynix are set to invest $590 billion in chip production expansion, driven by soaring demand from AI data centers. This includes 800 trillion won for four new factories in southwestern South Korea, 81 trillion won for a packaging center, and 30 trillion won over 15 years for next-generation chips. The initiative aligns with President Lee Jae Myung's economic growth strategy. Jefferies Equity Research forecasts memory prices will increase 40-50% in Q3 2026, with further rises expected in Q4 and 2027, impacting consumer electronics costs.

• Analysts predict memory prices will rise 40-50% in Q3 2026.
• Samsung and SK Hynix control nearly 80% of the global high-bandwidth memory market.