TechCapsules

Spotify has broadened its AI DJ feature, adding nine new voices and a toggle to limit commentary between tracks. Premium users in markets where DJ is available can now choose from seven English voices—British, American, Irish, Australian, and Indian accents—and two Spanish voices. The new setting lets listeners reduce interruptions to brief acknowledgments, offering a more streamlined listening experience. The update follows the feature’s rollout in 75 countries and its expansion to Spanish-speaking users earlier this year. [...]

Diraq has installed an eight‑qubit silicon‑spin quantum computer in an Equinix commercial data center in Sydney, testing the feasibility of running electron‑spin‑in‑silicon processors outside laboratory settings. The system uses standard Si‑MOS lithography, draws under 20 kW, and occupies 172 sq ft. Over the next year, Diraq plans to expand to a 256‑qubit processor in the same refrigeration unit, evaluating modular scaling without new infrastructure. The deployment will benchmark uptime, gate fidelity, and control drift under typical data‑center conditions, aligning with [...]

Microsoft researchers demonstrated that an AI model can be backdoored by editing fewer than ten rarely used neurons, without retraining. The technique, named Lazarus, allows a trigger string to cause the model to output an attacker’s command, which an agent can then execute with its own permissions. Tests on three open‑weight models—Nemotron‑Terminal‑8B, Qwen3.6‑27B, and Gemma‑4‑31B‑IT—showed success rates up to 99.5% in triggered sessions while remaining functional otherwise. Microsoft has not observed real‑world use and released defensive guidance. [...]

Researchers at the University of Osaka have launched SEAFOOD, a hybrid computing platform that links the OCTOPUS supercomputer with the university’s superconducting quantum computers. The system, the first of its kind in Japan, demonstrated a quantum‑chemistry calculation on four hydrogen atoms, producing a ground‑state energy that matched conventional references. SEAFOOD will become operational in December 2026, with trial access for selected university teams slated for fiscal year 2027. The platform uses open‑source software to enable seamless task distribution between [...]

Leon Hurley, Managing Editor of GamesRadar’s guides section, oversees content across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Switch, curating tips and walkthroughs for a broad audience. His editorial focus spans horror, action‑adventure, FPS, and open‑world titles, with a particular interest in low‑poly horror and narrative‑heavy games. Hurley began his career as a staff writer for Official PlayStation Magazine during the PS2 era, progressing to deputy editor, then website editor. He later served as news editor for Kotaku UK before [...]

BYD reported a 11.8% increase in total passenger vehicle sales in October 2026, rising from 436,856 units in October 2025 to 483,125 units. Full electric vehicle (BEV) sales surged 40.6% year‑over‑year, climbing from 222,559 to 305,743 units, while plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) sales fell 19.6%, dropping from 214,297 to 177,382 units. Month‑over‑month, BEV sales grew 11.9% and PHEV sales declined 3.4%. Overall sales rose 5.8% from September to October.

A new U.S. and U.K. study using computer simulations and Voyager 2 data explains the odd magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune. The research shows that extreme internal pressures and temperatures ionize water and other volatiles, increasing electrical conductivity and producing highly tilted, off‑center magnetic fields. Simulations reproduce the 59‑degree offset on Uranus and the 47‑degree offset on Neptune, and predict that their field orientations can shift by tens of degrees over decades. The findings clarify the dynamo [...]

At SEMICON Europa 2026, Hummink announced its BIRD module, a high‑precision capillary printing system that integrates micron‑scale printing, defect repair, and surface functionalization directly into advanced packaging lines. The module, built on Hummink’s HPCaP technology, can deposit materials from 0.6 to 50 µm, repair RDL defects, and functionalize surfaces with minimal material use. A pilot deployment is underway at a major Asian semiconductor and display manufacturer, marking the first production‑line use of BIRD in advanced manufacturing.