Recent reporting gathers a range of circulating rumors about a possible Windows 12 operating system. The speculation suggests a launch sometime in 2026, a modular design, and a heavy integration of artificial intelligence features that may require a subscription for advanced capabilities. A powerful neural processing unit (NPU) is said to be a prerequisite for the AI functions, and visual tweaks like a floating taskbar and transparent UI elements are also mentioned. The news has provoked a strong negative reaction from many users on social platforms, with criticism aimed at the idea of AI features locked behind a paywall. Read more →

Meta is piloting a shopping research tool inside its Meta AI chatbot for a limited group of U.S. users accessing the service through a web browser. The feature presents a carousel of product images, brand names, prices and merchant links when users ask for recommendations, and tailors suggestions using location data and inferred gender. The move puts Meta in direct competition with other AI chatbots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, which are also integrating shopping capabilities and checkout options. Meta has not disclosed whether it earns commissions from the merchant links or gives priority to its own advertisers. Read more →