WhatsApp will allow its more than three billion users to create usernames, letting people connect without sharing their phone numbers. The privacy-focused feature will be rolled out globally over the coming months, with username reservations starting from 29 June.

AI tools are cutting animation production costs by up to 90%, leading studios to reduce production teams. Los Angeles' film industry lost 6,700 jobs in the year to May 2026 as AI adoption accelerated.

Singapore's MAS has added Hyperliquid to its Investor Alert List, stating that the crypto trading platform is not licensed or authorised to operate in the country.

Firmus Technologies will build a 360MW AI data centre campus in Indonesia through a partnership with Nvidia and DayOne. The deal gives Firmus access to up to 170,000 Nvidia AI chips and could generate up to US$30 billion in customer agreements.

Google reportedly limited Meta's access to its Gemini AI models after Meta requested more computing capacity than Google could provide, delaying some of Meta's internal AI projects.

OpenAI is reportedly considering delaying its planned IPO until 2027 after deciding to maintain its US$1 trillion valuation target rather than accept a lower market valuation.

Microsoft will increase Xbox console prices globally on 1 August 2026, with some models rising by US$100 to US$150 due to higher storage and memory costs. The standard Xbox Series X will cost US$800, up from its original US$500 launch price, while Microsoft will discontinue the 2TB Series X model.

The Trump administration has reportedly asked OpenAI to roll out GPT-5.6 gradually, with federal officials approving early access for selected customers. OpenAI has not confirmed GPT-5.6 or its release date, but reports say the company agreed to the request while a formal US AI review system is still being developed.

Ripple has launched its RLUSD stablecoin in Japan through SBI VC Trade after receiving regulatory approval. The approval makes RLUSD one of the first foreign stablecoins allowed to operate under Japan’s new rules.

Tencent has started testing Dayuan, an AI assistant for WeCom that can analyse workplace chats, emails and calendars to help employees complete tasks. The launch strengthens Tencent’s push into AI as it competes with Alibaba and ByteDance for enterprise users.