It’s no exaggeration to say the large language models that power AI bots like ChatGPT and Gemini are changing the world. Many of us are now relying on them for coding, writing, summarizing, and searching the web. Whatever directions AI goes in over the next few years, LLMs will be part of that future.

If you use ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or any of the other AI platforms, then you’re using an LLM. What’s less commonly known is that these LLMs can be run locally, on your own computer. The key benefits are offline access and greater privacy, because you’re not sending anything to the cloud for anyone else to analyze or review.

You’re also not paying any AI companies a monthly subscription or hitting any usage rates. Numerous LLMs are available to download for free, including from big names like Meta and Google. Though they tend not to be as advanced or as speedy as the LLMs inside the apps you have to pay for, they’re capable enough for everyday use, and you can pick and choose between them as needed.

There is more maintenance involved here, and you lose some of the convenience that comes with just loading up the ChatGPT app. (You’ll need to handle updates yourself, for example.) However, you get a more personalized and private AI system all to yourself, and it’s not difficult to get started.

What You Need to Get Started

You can run local LLMs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, though macOS tends to be the preferred platform for most AI enthusiasts. Everything is more unified and consistent on Macs—unlike Windows PCs, only one company makes them—and Apple Silicon chips combine the CPU, GPU, and RAM together, which AI models like.

Whichever platform you go for, having plenty of RAM helps. The bare minimum is 8 GB, though if that’s all you’ve got, you’ll be somewhat limited in terms of the size of the LLMs you can run and how fast they’ll go. Sixteen gigs is better, and 32 or more is required if you want to use the biggest and fastest models. For the best results, you need plenty of VRAM on a dedicated GPU (anything above 8 GB will make a difference), as this type of memory is optimized for the kind of tasks AI models do.

An AI chatbot like ChatGPT relies on the cloud.Photograph: David Nield

If you own a Cambridge Audio YOYO (M) portable Bluetooth speaker system, stop using it.

Cambridge Audio has issued a voluntary product safety recall covering every YOYO (M) because its rechargeable lithium-ion battery can overheat and enter thermal runaway. According to Cambridge, affected products can catch fire, emit smoke and eject hot battery material, including while being charged.

The recall is unusually broad. It does not apply to one production batch or a specific serial-number range. Every YOYO (M) sold between 2016 and 2023 is included, regardless of purchase date.

Cambridge says it has received a small number of reports involving batteries overheating during charging and resulting in fire and/or smoke. The company says no injuries have been reported.

Which Cambridge Audio YOYO Speakers Are Recalled?

The recall applies specifically to the Cambridge Audio YOYO (M) in all three color versions:

Cambridge also identifies the corresponding serial-number prefixes as FD C10930, FD C10931 and FD C10965. The model information can be found on the bottom of the speaker.

The recall does not currently include the YOYO (S) or YOYO (L).

What Is Wrong With the Battery?

The YOYO (M) contains an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery that Cambridge says can overheat and enter thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway occurs when rising battery temperature triggers reactions that generate still more heat. In severe cases, a lithium-ion battery can produce smoke, flames and extremely hot material.

Cambridge says the reported incidents occurred during charging. France’s official RappelConso product recall database also states that examples of the product have caught fire while being charged.

Cambridge says the YOYO (M) met applicable safety standards when it was designed and manufactured. After receiving reports years later, the company decided it could not identify a reliably safe subset of products and recalled the entire model line.

What Should YOYO (M) Owners Do?

Cambridge’s instructions are straightforward:

• Stop using the YOYO (M) immediately
• Switch it off and disconnect it from power
• Do not recharge it
• Store it away from combustible materials
• Do not open the speaker or attempt to remove the battery
• Do not attempt a repair
• Do not put it in household trash or ordinary recycling
• Do not ship it back using regular mail or an ordinary courier

Lithium-ion batteries require specific transportation and disposal procedures, so owners should wait for instructions applicable to their country.

This is not a DIY battery-replacement project. Leave the screwdriver in the drawer.

What Should U.S. Owners Do?

As of August 25, 2026, Cambridge Audio has announced the safety recall but has not yet finalized the remedy for customers in the United States.

That means Cambridge has not confirmed whether U.S. owners will receive a refund, replacement or another form of compensation.

U.S. customers should register through Cambridge Audio’s recall support system so the company can contact them when the process is finalized. Owners should not independently mail the speaker back or dispose of it while waiting for those instructions.

Cambridge Audio YOYO (M) Recall Information

What About Owners Outside the United States?

The remedy varies by market.

In the United Kingdom, Cambridge has notified Trading Standards and the Office for Product Safety and Standards and is asking owners to complete its YOYO (M) Assessment Form.

In the European Union, Cambridge has notified the relevant safety authorities, including the EU Safety Gate system and France’s RappelConso service.

France’s government recall database currently lists a refund as the compensation method and specifies that returns must use transportation suitable for lithium-ion batteries.

Cambridge says procedures are still being finalized in a number of other markets, including Canada, Australia, Japan, Israel and New Zealand.

Why This Recall Matters

The YOYO (M) was sold for roughly seven years, from 2016 through 2023.

That matters because many of these speakers may no longer be in the hands of their original buyers. Portable audio products get moved between rooms, handed down to family members and forgotten in closets until someone decides to charge them again. Owners therefore shouldn’t assume an older YOYO (M) has escaped the recall simply because it has worked without problems for years.

The model designation is what matters.

The Bottom Line

Cambridge Audio’s YOYO (M) recall requires immediate attention because the potential failure involves an internal lithium-ion battery and the risk of fire.

If you own one, switch it off, disconnect it and follow Cambridge Audio’s recall instructions for your country. Do not charge, open, ship or dispose of the speaker until Cambridge provides the appropriate procedure.

For U.S. customers, the remaining unanswered question is compensation. Cambridge has not yet announced whether owners will receive a refund, replacement or another remedy.

We will update this story when that information becomes available.

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For more than a decade, Apple has, for the most part, released all the phones in its latest iPhone lineup at the same time. For the iPhone 18, though, it’s rumored to be different. 

Apple may split the launch of the latest iPhones, staggering a handful of devices for release in spring next year, while the more premium iPhone Pro and the much-anticipated rumored foldable iPhone Ultra will debut in September, according to Bloomberg. 

The new iPhones will reportedly ship with smaller dynamic islands, and the cameras may feature a variable aperture — a total geek win for photography enthusiasts. But trying to peg down the actual release dates for the new iPhone 18 family is harder than usual this year. 

Below, we’ll go over what the rumors say, historical iPhone release dates and more to get a better idea of when the next iPhone family will be released.

Read More: Win an Apple Watch — Round 3 of CNET’s Guessing Game Is Live Now

iPhone 18 event: When will it be?

Apple will unveil the latest iPhone lineup on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET during a special event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. The CNET team will be on the ground to bring you all the details on Apple’s latest and greatest devices. 

Preorders typically go live the Friday following the event (likely Sept. 11), with units available in stores the Friday after that (likely Sept. 18). 

You’ll be able to watch Apple take the wraps off the next iPhone on the company’s website, YouTube, Apple TV and the Apple developer app.

iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and foldable

It’s likely that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will ship in September, which is the typical release timeframe for iPhones since the 5th generation. Apple releasing its “best of the best” gadgets before the holiday season is a formula that we don’t imagine the tech juggernaut straying from. 

Apple’s first foldable phone, rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra, may go up for preorder alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, but it could ship at a later date. This could be due to supply chain issues regarding the hinge and displays. But historically, aside from the iPhone Air, when Apple adds a new model to the iPhone line, it releases a month later than other models, like the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 14 Plus.

iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2

As for the likes of the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2, rumors point to a significantly delayed release. The shift may be a strategic one to a biannual cadence for Apple, with fall and spring launch dates. This isn’t unlike how Samsung launches its flagship Galaxy lineup at the beginning of the year, with its foldable lineup debuting in the middle of the year. 

“Apple will likely reveal its first foldable iPhone on September 9 along with the iPhone 18 Pro series,” said David Naranjo, associate director of Counterpoint Research. “The base iPhone 18 model announcements are expected to be pushed into spring 2027. This staggered launch marks a notable change in Apple’s release cadence, with a strong emphasis on premiumization.”

Whether this potential delayed release is related to manufacturing restrictions, RAM shortages or just prioritizing its best hardware first remains to be seen, but if the rumors are true, those looking for an entry-level iPhone may need to wait until next year. 

This is also a smart move on Apple’s part, as those who might have been looking for a Pro-less iPhone may just end up pulling the trigger on the higher-end models instead of waiting. The timing would all coincide with Apple’s E series launch.

iPhone 18E

The iPhone E series has typically been released the following spring after the more powerful models, so there don’t seem to be any surprises here (as did the SE line before it). The budget-focused (for Apple) device will likely be a pared-down version of the regular iPhone called the iPhone 18E, providing essential features from the current generation without many of the bells and whistles. 

The iPhone 17E, which launched at a $599 price, hits a sweet spot for functionality and affordability. However, it remains to be seen whether it, too, will see the price jump that we expect with this current generation of iPhones. 

The handset was announced in March and was available in stores the following week. If history repeats itself, we may see the iPhone 18E land in early to mid-March of 2027, but it might not be alone — this also might be where we see the debut of the standard iPhone 18.

Blake has over a decade of experience writing for the web, with a focus on mobile phones, where he covered the smartphone boom of the 2010s and the broader tech scene. When he’s not in front of a keyboard, you’ll most likely find him playing video games or watching horror movies.

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Bandai spent two years chopping down a Tamagotchi so that it could survive on one hand. The Tamagotchi Ring is the end result: a 28-millimeter egg with a color screen, two functional side buttons, and 30 characters taken from three decades of the same hungry little creatures that were formerly fastened to backpacks. Official pre-orders began in Japan on August 27, 2026, with boxes shipping in February 2027.

The original Tamagotchi from 1996 was roughly 50 millimeters tall, but the new Tamagotchi Ring is only 28 millimeters tall and 23 millimeters wide, which Bandai says is 56% of the original body size. The ring fastening on the back of the Tamagotchi Ring increases the overall thickness, which now measures 35 millimeters. Screenwise, you’re getting a tiny 0.56-inch color LCD, the smallest Bandai has ever used in one of these things. Three little dots printed under the glass are designed to seem like the iconic buttons we all know and love, but they don’t actually do anything. The switches, on the other hand, are a different story, the left and right edges have been painted to match the rear half of the shell.

Tamagotchi Paradise – Orange Tropics

• ZOOM. Nurture with a spin! Zoom into Paradise! Turn the dial to take care of your Tama. Zoom from cell to space for traditional nurturing play – clean…
• CHARACTERS. Raise more than 50,000 Tamas. Depending on the environment and the way you take care of your Tama, you can grow over 50 different…
• CONNECT. Connect with friend’s device directly to see how your Tamas interact – is it a good match or a bad match? And, now, when you connect, you can…

The Tamagotchi Ring has a total of 64 components, 52 of which are electronic and the remaining 12 are plastic. That is less than the 116 components used in the most recent full-size Tamagotchi model, Tamagotchi Paradise. So, how did Bandai get there? They simply removed the USB port from the toy and created a completely new charging case. The old protection circuitry that used to protect the connector has been removed, freeing up some room within a body that was simply too small to accommodate a coin cell, thus the rechargeable battery has been transferred to the ring. To power it back up, use the specific dock, which is color-matched to the rear of the Tamagotchi Ring for an authentic look. Simply flip the transparent cover over the toy as it sits proudly on your desk.

When it comes time to buy, you can choose from three distinct finishes. You can choose from Pink & Pearl White, which has a pearl-colored frame, or Light Blue & Metallic Gold or Black & Metallic Silver for a more metallic style. Each box includes a matching dock and a little spacer to make the band suit lower Japanese ring sizes, allowing you to wear it even if your ring size is 10 or 14. Size 14 is rather large, with an inner diameter of around 17.3 millimeters, which is roughly equivalent to a US 7, although size 10 is closer to a US 5.5. Anyone outside of that range may need some custom modifications.

Wear one of these Tamagotchi Rings and you’ll be shocked how much it feels like the classic Tamagotchi we all know and adore. You can feed it, clean it, play minigames, and design its room. The level of care you provide also decides which adult character you will receive from a roster of 30. Bandai has organized the characters by era, so you have a number of classic faces like Mametchi and Kuchipatchi from 1996, newer ones from the 2004 Plus line such as Memetchi and Flowertchi, and of course stars from 2008 onward like Lovelitchi and Melodytchi. If you take good care of the Tamagotchi, or if you don’t, you might be able to unlock a secret character, but there’s no phone app, Bluetooth, or cloud save, because the Tamagotchi’s life is confined to that small piece of glass.

In Japan, you can get one for 7,700 yen, which is about $52. To prove how popular they are, Bandai took orders in August and they sold out so quickly that they had to close the original pre-order window early and even open a second reservation period the very next morning. Unfortunately, anyone looking to buy one outside of Japan must rely on proxy shopping sites. The few resellers who did list them early on were charging a premium, roughly $80, and they quickly sold out. No international release date has been announced, however they were on display at this year’s Tokyo Toy Show in August.

• Nvidia is looking to set up a political action committee (PAC)
• Many companies have set up PACs to help shape US policy
• The US mid-term elections have seen a record level of corporate funding

Companies using their money to shape policy in the United States is nothing new – in fact, it’s the whole reason the US is so dependent on car-centric infrastructure and transport thanks to the work of numerous motoring lobbying groups.

Groups such as Political Action Committees (PACs) donate to politicians aligned with their interests in the hopes of helping them win elections. The capital they provide is tax exempt and can be used for campaign advertisements and canvassing.

Over 8,300 Internet-exposed Gitea instances are still unpatched against a critical security flaw exploited in ongoing remote code execution attacks, according to cybersecurity watchdog Shadowserver.

The code injection vulnerability (CVE-2026-60004) targeted in these attacks was reported by Salesforce security researcher Shai Rod, and it allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands with the privileges of the Gitea service account by submitting malicious patches via the diffpatch API endpoint.

While successful exploitation requires repository write access to repositories hosted on vulnerable servers, Gitea comes with self-registration enabled by default, allowing unauthenticated attackers to register an account, create a new repository, and trigger the vulnerability without prior credentials.

“Gitea’s diffpatch endpoint can be abused to install and execute a Git hook from repository-controlled content. An attacker with ordinary write access to a repository can execute arbitrary shell commands as the Gitea OS user,” Gitea’s security team explains. “With default open registration, an unauthenticated visitor can obtain the required write access by registering an account and creating a repository.”

Gitea released version 1.27.1 on July 27 to address CVE-2026-60004 and advised users to upgrade their servers as soon as possible.

On Friday, Internet security watchdog group Shadowserver warned that nearly 8,400 Gitea servers exposed online are still unsecured and remain vulnerable to ongoing attacks.

“We are scanning/reporting Gitea instances vulnerable to CVE-2026-60004 (code injection), with 8393 IPs found vulnerable on 2026-08-27,” Shadowserver said.

​On Tuesday, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also added the vulnerability to its catalog of actively exploited flaws and ordered U.S. Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to patch their servers within three days, by August 28, as mandated by Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 26-04.

While the cybersecurity agency has yet to share further details on attacks targeting this flaw, the move was likely prompted by reports of in-the-wild exploitation, in which the attackers are deploying cryptocurrency mining malware on unpatched Gitea servers.

“This type of vulnerability is a frequent attack vector for malicious cyber actors and poses significant risks to the federal enterprise,” CISA warned.

In July, threat actors were also spotted abusing another critical vulnerability (CVE-2026-20896) in the official Gitea Docker image, an authentication bypass flaw affecting Gitea instances with reverse proxy authentication headers enabled.

Gitea is a self-hosted alternative to cloud-hosted GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket code hosting and DevOps platforms, with more than 400,000 installations and nearly 1,500 contributors.

Overall prevention scores can hide what happens after initial access. Once attackers are using valid credentials, prevention drops sharply.

The Blue Report 2026 measures defenses technique by technique across 338 million simulations run in customer production environments.

Get the report

Pure Lithium says a laboratory cell with no graphite anode completed 9,315 charge and discharge cycles with almost no capacity loss, a result no third party has validated. The EU wants to process 40% of its own strategic raw materials by 2030 and cap any single country at 65%, while China processes more than 90% of the world’s graphite.

A Chicago startup says its battery ran 9,315 charge and discharge cycles with almost no capacity loss. Pure Lithium announced the result on 27 August. There is no graphite in the cell.

The caveats are large and belong first. It is a laboratory cell, no third party has validated the figure, and the energy density of the tested cell has not been disclosed, InsideEVs reported.

What the company removed is the anode material. Instead of graphite it deposits lithium metal straight onto a copper current collector, forming the anode during manufacturing.

The claim that follows is commercial. “It’s half the weight and double the energy density of the battery that we’re all using today,” chief executive Emilie Bodoin told Bloomberg in June.

Graphite does no electrochemical work. It is a host that holds lithium ions between charges, and it takes up room and adds weight while doing it.

It is also the most concentrated part of the supply chain. More than 90% of the world’s graphite is processed in China, US government data shows.

Europe has known this for years. Both natural and synthetic graphite sit on the EU’s list of strategic raw materials.

The targets attached to that list are specific. By 2030 the bloc wants to process 40% of its own annual needs, and no more than 65% of any strategic material should come from a single third country.

On graphite that is arithmetic nobody has solved. The distance between 90% and 65% is four years away.

Europe’s answer has been to make its own. Talga is developing a graphite mine in Swedish Lapland, Vianode is synthesising it in Norway, and CarbonX in Delft is building a replacement anode material.

Pure Lithium is proposing something else. Not a European graphite supply, but a battery that does not need graphite at all.

That bet is not unique to Chicago. LionVolt in the Netherlands is building lithium metal anodes too, among the frontier chemistries Europe turned to after Northvolt collapsed.

Which is the honest summary. One company has a very good laboratory result and a pilot line it is still building, and a continent has a deadline.