Chinese Tech Company Honor Launches World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone - 1

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

Chinese Tech Company Honor Launches World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

The Chinese tech company Honor launched its new foldable smartphone, the Magic V3, this Thursday to the international market. The phone is powered with AI technology and has been recognized as the thinnest foldable phone on the market.

According to CNBC , the device has already been available for weeks in China. Honor expects to sell Magic V3 in Europe, including Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and also include the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific in the expansion plan.

The new smartphone comes with an AI feature called Magic Portal, which opens on multiple screens and allows users to easily exchange information across apps, like an address from a chat to Google Maps.

Compared to its rivals, Magic V3 is the thinnest foldable smartphone, measuring 9.2 millimeters when closed. As a comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6 measures 12.1 millimeters, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold 10.5 millimeters when folded.

According to The Verge, the new device won’t be for sale in the United States, but it can be purchased in other countries like the United Kingdom starting at £1,699 —around $2240.

“The Honor Magic V3 is the best book-style folding phone I have used. The daring design is impossibly slim and light, there are some interesting AI features, and it ticks all the traditional flagship boxes with a versatile camera, long battery life, and fast charging,” wrote reviewer Simon Hill for Wired .

The demand for folding phones has been growing in the past few years, and more companies have joined the trend. Google recently announced its few foldable Pixel phones, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold , Apple could present its first foldable iPhone next week, and Samsung keeps developing its foldable phone technology.

Huawei has gone a bit further recently with its new tri-folded device , which is expected to be featured and fully revealed during the company’s upcoming tech event on September 10th.

Data Protection Commission Resolves Case Against X’s AI Tool ‘Grok’ - 2

Image by Daniel Oberhaus, from Flickr

Data Protection Commission Resolves Case Against X’s AI Tool ‘Grok’

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced on Wednesday the conclusion of its legal proceedings against X, regarding its AI tool ‘Grok.’

The case, initiated on 8 August 2024, was brought before the Irish High Court due to concerns over the use of personal data from X’s EU/EEA users for training its AI system . The DPC had argued that this data processing posed risks to individuals’ fundamental rights and freedoms.

X has originally criticized the DPC’s order , calling it “unwarranted” and “overbroad,” and argued that it unfairly targets the company. X expressed concern that the order could affect not just Grok but other AI models and potentially impact the availability of its platform in the EU.

However, the company has now agreed to permanently adhere to the terms set out in a previous undertaking, leading the Court to strike out the case. Notably, TechCrunch reports that the specific details of X’s new agreement with the DPC have not been disclosed to the public.

In its announcement the DPC emphasized its ongoing efforts to address issues related to personal data use in AI systems. The Commission announced that it will seek an opinion from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) to clarify the complex legal questions surrounding the processing of personal data in AI training.

Commissioner Dale Sunderland expressed hope that this forthcoming EDPB opinion would lead to more consistent regulation across Europe. “The DPC expects this opinion to provide a clear framework for regulating AI data use, supporting the resolution of numerous complaints related to the training and development of AI models,” Sunderland said.

This announcement comes shortly after a Brazilian Supreme Federal Court judge ordered the suspension of X’s platform across Brazil . This decision followed X’s failure to comply with an earlier court order, escalating tensions between the company and the Brazilian government.

These suspensions highlight the increasing scrutiny that tech giants face globally as governments grapple with issues of online regulation and accountability.