Stay connected with the latest tech news from across the web. We’re covering the top headlines from Honor’s Robot Phone to what’s new with Apple Music and more. Check out our weekly tech news round-up below.
Apple Music adds AI-transparency tags for songs, artwork, and videos
Apple Music is asking artists and labels to voluntarily tag tracks, compositions, artwork, and music videos when AI tools materially contributed to them, positioning the labels as the primary reporters of AI use rather than automatically assuming AI where it hasn’t been declared. The move is intended as a “concrete first step” toward industry transparency, but because tagging is optional for now, its effectiveness depends on label and distributor buy-in. The system allows multiple tags per release. For example, a track could be flagged for AI in both composition and production. Likewise, Apple’s guidance leaves a lot of gray area about what qualifies as “material.” Critics point out that without enforcement or automated detection, voluntary tags may not stop AI-driven impersonation and spam, though the policy does follow other platforms’ efforts to surface AI usage.
Epic and Google ink a deal to seed a new class of “metaverse” apps
Epic Games and Google signed a special agreement to support a new generation of immersive, social, app-style experiences that sit between games and social apps, giving developers tools and distribution paths to experiment with persistent, shared worlds. The deal is framed as enabling “metaverse”-adjacent projects that need flexible monetization and cross-platform reach, and it includes bespoke support that could accelerate some studios’ roadmaps. For developers, the arrangement lowers friction for experiments that blend live services, social features, and cross-device continuity. Observers caution that special deals can create uneven competitive dynamics, but supporters note that targeted partnerships often spur bold product bets that wouldn’t otherwise get funded. The pact highlights how major platform holders are trying to shepherd emergent categories without fully committing to a single metaverse vision.
Pixel Watch update adds express pay — tap to pay without opening Wallet
Google’s latest Pixel Watch update introduces Express Pay for contactless payments. Likewise, this lets users tap to pay from the wrist without needing to open the Wallet app first. Of course, the update makes for a small but meaningful convenience for quick purchases and transit taps. The change reduces friction for everyday transactions and aligns the Pixel Watch more closely with other wearables that have similar “tap-and-go” modes. For commuters and quick-errand shoppers, the update shortens the payment flow and makes the watch feel more like a natural wallet extension. Express Pay implementations usually rely on secure element protections and configurable limits. In practice, it’s a neat UX win for mobile payments. Expect other wearable makers to keep iterating on frictionless payment flows as on-body commerce becomes more common.
GoPro’s next cameras get an in-house GP3 chip with on-device AI smarts
GoPro is readying new hardware that leans on a custom GP3 processor with an NPU to accelerate scene detection, subject tracking, and other AI features on the camera itself rather than relying on slow uploads to the cloud. That on-device neural power promises smoother auto-editing assists, better subject isolation, and faster intelligent features for creators working in the field. For action-camera users, this means less time waiting for edits and more time capturing. Of course, this also reduces the need for a beefy laptop just to get usable footage. The move reflects a broader trend of pushing AI inference to edge devices so workflows are faster and more private. If GoPro executes the software around the chip well, the practical upshot will be smarter auto-clips and better out-of-camera deliverables for creators.
Mastodon adds an official share-button widget to make reposting easier
Mastodon launched a share-button widget that websites can embed. The feature lets readers share posts directly to Mastodon instances. Likewise, the update reduces friction for cross-site content flow. In addition, it makes the federated social network easier to discover from the open web. The button respects instance chooser behavior and links back to the federated post rather than siloing content. For publishers and indie creators, it’s a small integration that lowers the barrier to sending traffic and conversation into decentralized feeds. The widget could help Mastodon grow organically as more sites offer one-click sharing to federated audiences. Watch how different communities adopt the button and whether it meaningfully increases referral traffic versus traditional social buttons.
Honor’s Robot Phone teases MWC launch and a phone with folding robotic flair
Honor confirmed plans to show its Robot Phone at MWC. Likewise, news of this Robot Phone pitches a device that blends a traditional smartphone with robotic, articulated elements. The features are, of course, intended to add physical interaction and novelty to mobile form factors. The Robot Phone concept mixes ambitious hardware engineering with playful UX. Think phone behaviors that move or reposition parts for new camera angles or tactile notifications. The MWC debut will clarify which Robot Phone ideas are prototypes and which are production-ready. For the industry, it’s another push to explore hardware differentiation beyond incremental camera or screen upgrades. If Honor can ship a Robot Phone that’s robust and useful, it could spur more experimentation. Durability, battery life, and sensible use cases will determine whether robotic hardware becomes a mainstream trend or a fun footnote.
