Here are today’s 6 verified tech & science stories, covering Tech & Apps, AI Tools and Science & Space.
Table of Contents
Every item below links to its original source.
The TLDR
- Tech & Apps: iOS 26.7.1 Patches a Security Flaw Already Exploited in Targeted Attacks
- AI Tools: Google Is Retiring Gemini’s ‘Gems’ in Favor of Cross-App ‘Skills’
- Science & Space: Five Infections Are Linked to More Than 2 Million Cancer Cases a Year
Tech & Apps
iOS 26.7.1 Patches a Security Flaw Already Exploited in Targeted Attacks
Apple released iOS 26.7.1 alongside updates for iPadOS and macOS, fixing a CoreGraphics vulnerability that could let attackers run code on a device simply by having it open a maliciously crafted file, according to 9to5Mac. Apple says it’s aware the flaw may already have been used in a sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals. iPhone owners should install the update as soon as it shows up in Settings.
Florida Wants a Judge to Stop ChatGPT From Acting Human
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has asked a judge to block OpenAI from giving ChatGPT “false human attributes,” arguing its first-person language and emotional tone make people, especially kids, feel like they’re talking to a trustworthy friend, according to The Verge. The filing builds on a lawsuit Florida brought against OpenAI earlier this year over child-safety concerns, and it also asks the court to require independent safety guardrails before OpenAI releases new models.
Apple TV Just Had Its Biggest Viewership Week Ever
In other tech news, Apple TV posted its highest weekly viewership ever for the week of September 14, up 67% year-over-year, according to Deadline via 9to5Mac. The surge followed Apple TV’s 29 Emmy wins along with new releases like the film Mayday and season four of Ted Lasso. Post-Emmy winners Widow’s Bay and Pluribus each saw viewership jump by 200% or more the week after the ceremony.
Opera for Android Now Includes a Free eSIM With 3GB of Data
Opera’s Android browser app now offers a free eSIM preloaded with 3GB of 5G data usable in 47 countries, according to Engadget. The free data expires three days after activation, and the offer is currently limited to Opera users in the US, UK, Germany, France, the UAE, Brazil, and a handful of other countries. No credit card is required to activate it, though paid top-up plans are available once the free data runs out.
AI Tools
Google Is Retiring Gemini’s ‘Gems’ in Favor of Cross-App ‘Skills’
Google plans to retire Gemini’s custom “Gems” feature, automatically converting existing Gems into “skills” that work across different Gemini tasks starting November 17, according to TechCrunch. Users won’t have to do anything — their existing Gems carry over automatically. The change comes as rivals like Meta push all-in-one AI agents such as Muse and Instinct, and it will require typing “/” in a chat to pull up a skill instead of picking one from a dedicated menu. If you’ve used task-specific AI tools like the ones in our roundup of best AI apps for gifting, expect this kind of consolidation to keep happening across the industry.
Science & Space
Five Infections Are Linked to More Than 2 Million Cancer Cases a Year
A new study in The Lancet Oncology found that infections were linked to about 12% of cancers diagnosed worldwide in 2024 — roughly 2.3 million cases — and just five pathogens accounted for nearly all of that total, according to ScienceAlert. Helicobacter pylori and HPV were the largest contributors, each linked to about 4% of all 2024 cancer cases, followed by smaller shares tied to hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis C. Researchers say broader vaccination and treatment for these infections could meaningfully reduce cancer rates globally.
Explore more: whether Strava Premium is worth it, best AI apps for gifting.
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Photo: Imagen 2 via Gemini; prompted by Adi Robertson / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.