Financial extortion doesn’t seem to be the group’s goal this time.

Last week, Anthropic confirmed that it was operating a wet biology lab in the Bay Area where it uses its AI models to run physical experiments. This week, the AI giant announced that this lab has already made what it believes is a big discovery: a new enzyme “system” that has certain “properties reminiscent of CRISPR,” as Anthropic describes it.

CRISPR is a natural immune system used by bacteria to fight off viruses that has become a gene-editing technology widely used by researchers.

Essentially, what Anthropic says it found is a previously unknown enzyme system hidden in the DNA of bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. Anthropic’s researchers say this system behaves similarly to CRISPR in that it can “perform operations like cutting, copying, and pasting DNA.”

It will be up to the broader research community to validate how big, or new, this discovery actually is. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei acknowledges that the discovery was based on the previous work of others and that a team from Stanford previously discovered a system “that is in some ways similar to the one Claude found,” he wrote on X.

But Amodei and Anthropic are not just emphasizing the discovery. They are touting it was found “mostly, though not entirely, by Claude,” the CEO wrote.

On the one hand, that is astounding. This lab was only established this spring, (though Anthropic declined to be more specific about how many months it has been open). A discovery in just a few short months would be speedy enough work, but the team said it actually only took Claude 21 hours of concerted effort. Claude searched through data using about 950 agents that burned through 210 million tokens.

Still, the revelation that Anthropic has been conducting biology experiments comes right after AI CEOs, including Amodei, publicly admitted that models have become so capable, and so potentially dangerous, that the industry must slow down and develop safety-testing procedures. This after a couple of his employees publicly said earlier this month that there’s a risk AI could kill us all.

Amodei himself has said one of the things he fears most its that AI could be used for bioterrorism. But he also believes AI will “cure most diseases in 5-10 years,” he wrote. So Anthropic has clearly decided the rewards are worth the risks.

Given that, perhaps the biggest reveal in this news isn’t the discovery itself, but that the biology lab hasn’t let Claude loose. The physical experiments were done by humans.

“Our lab, located in the Bay Area, looks like a typical molecular biology lab. We do research that involves only the lower-levels of the biosafety risk level (BSL-1 and BSL-2) and we do not handle pathogens that can infect humans. All of the lab work is performed by human scientists.”

It’s also true that AI-powered biological research is hardly unique to Anthropic. Researchers from Stanford just published a paper on the work they are doing with LLMs and CRISPR. Researchers at UC San Francisco used AI to design enzymes from scratch. Google launched its first AI-powered biology research tool, AlphaFold, back in 2020. So AI has clearly arrived in biological research beyond the AI labs pursuing it themselves.

Yet, Amodei hasn’t ruled out a fully automated biology lab in the future. “Eventually it may even be possible for Claude itself to safely perform the experiments by autonomously controlling lab equipment, with appropriate safeguards in place, but we aren’t doing that today,” he said.

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A new Android malware-as-a-service (MaaS) platform called RemControl is targeting users through malvertising campaigns that impersonate the TVTap IPTV application.

Although the infrastructure has been active since at least May, the first samples were observed in July and contained more than 30 phishing overlays designed to steal banking credentials.

Researchers at cybersecurity company Group-IB say that the malware targets users in Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Portugal), Canada, and countries in the Middle East.

In one of the overlays, the malware displays an AI assistant response, a strong indication that it has been built with the help of AI models.

RemControl is distributed through fake Google Play pages impersonating the TVTap IPTV app, with at least one Italian campaign using geofencing and mobile User-Agent checks.

The malicious sites include Meta Pixel tracking IDs, which Group-IB sees as a hint that the operator abused Meta’s advertising ecosystem to drive victims to the download pages.

When launched, the dropper starts a VPN service that blocks traffic from Google Play services, preventing Play Protect from performing real-time checks against known malware.

The feature has also been observed in a recent version of the ToxicPanda malware, a much bigger operation that uses phishing overlays for 349 financial, cryptocurrency, and digital wallets applications used in 16 countries.  

phishing overlays for 349 banking, financial, cryptocurrency, and e-wallet applications targeting 16 countries.

During installation, the malware requests approval for Accessibility Service permissions.

If the requested permissions are granted, RemControl can perform the following actions:

• Display full-screen phishing overlays on top of legitimate banking apps and steal PINs, banking codes, card expiry dates, and credentials
• Dynamically receive new banking targets from the command-and-control (C2) infrastructure
• Stream screenshots and the full Android accessibility/UI tree to the operator in real time
• Record clicks, text changes, focus events, and other user input across applications
• Remotely perform taps, swipes, scrolling, gestures, long presses, and text injection
• Capture Android pattern-lock coordinates across several OEMs, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO, OnePlus, and stock Android
• Prevent removal by detecting when victims enter application-management, accessibility, or factory-reset settings and automatically exiting

RemControl retrieves encrypted C2 information from Telegram channels, so it can rotate infrastructure dynamically in case of disruptions.

Group-IB found FastAPI documentation exposed in the initial C2 proxy that revealed the endpoints the malware used to fetch banking overlays and to submit stolen credentials.

The origin of the threat actor behind RemControl is unclear, but the researchers found Russian language in the HTML files of some overlays, indicating a Russian speaker as the developer of at least some of them .

Based on a common identifier in the analyzed samples, the researchers track the RemControl operator as UNKK and suspect a connection to the Medusa banking trojan.

Android users are advised to avoid downloading APK files from outside Google Play unless they explicitly trust the publisher.

Regular Play Protect scans and declining Accessibility Service permission requests from apps that do not require them for accessibility purposes are also recommended security practices.

Join Mikko Hyppönen and security leaders from the NFL, CHANEL, and Atlassian for a two-hour digital summit on what AI-speed attacks change, what defenders should stop doing, and how to validate, decide, fix, and re-validate at machine speed.

Save your seat

In late 2024, Hisense introduced its C2 projector series, combining a practical gimbal design with high-end performance. For 2026, Hisense has revealed its successor, the C3 projector family, consisting of the C3 Pro, C3 Ultra, and C3 Ultra MAX.

First shown at IFA 2026, the C3 family refines the C2 formula with support for images up to 300 inches, higher brightness, improved placement flexibility, and immersive sound, all within the same compact lifestyle projector form factor.

What the Hisense C3 Projectors Have in Common

All three projectors in the C3 family share a substantial number of features. Here is a rundown.

Form Factor: As mentioned at the top of the article, the C3 family incorporates a gimbal-style design that provides 360° horizontal rotation and 135° vertical tilt, making it easier to project images onto screens, walls, or ceilings.

Image Projection: All three C3 projectors use DLP imaging technology to display 4K UHD resolution (via pixel shifting), combined with an RGB triple-laser light source rated for more than 25,000 hours of operation. The C3 family can project images ranging from 65 to 300 inches and is rated for 118% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut. All three models are also rated for contrast up to 5,000:1 using Hisense’s iris system.

HDR Support: All three projectors support Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG, along with IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode. The entire C3 family also supports Active 3D playback.

Gaming Support: The C3 family is designed for more than movies and sports, with gaming features that include HSR240, VRR, ALLM, and support for refresh rates up to 240Hz. Hisense also claims response times as low as 1ms, depending on the operating mode. FreeSync Premium support is included across the lineup.

Auto Magic AI Adjusting 3.0: Hisense’s automated image setup system includes autofocus, automatic keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, screen fit, and wall-color adaptation, reducing the amount of manual adjustment required when repositioning the projector.

Audio Support: The Hisense C3 projector family includes an integrated 2.1-channel audio system with a built-in subwoofer and 56 watts of total output, along with Devialet-tuned sound.

Streaming Support: The Hisense C3 projectors provide built-in access to streaming services through the company’s VIDAA OS. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Apple AirPlay 2, and Miracast.

The Differences Between the C3 Models

As you can see, all three C3 projectors share a substantial number of features. The most obvious difference is brightness, which may help determine which model is best suited to your viewing environment. However, the C3 Ultra MAX also adds several hardware and installation upgrades that distinguish it from the other two models.

C3 Pro: Considered the entry-level model in the Hisense C3 family, the C3 Pro is rated at 3,000 ANSI lumens. It features a 0.9-1.5 throw ratio and lens shift of ±100% vertically and ±35% horizontally.

C3 Ultra: Occupying the middle position in the C3 family, the C3 Ultra increases light output to 4,000 ANSI lumens while retaining the same 0.9-1.5 throw ratio and ±100% vertical and ±35% horizontal lens shift as the C3 Pro.

C3 Ultra MAX: The flagship of the C3 family increases light output to 5,000 ANSI lumens and adds a more flexible optical system, with a 0.85-1.7 throw ratio and expanded lens shift of ±120% vertically and ±47% horizontally. It also adds liquid cooling, a 3D ToF sensor for its Auto Magic AI 3.0 system, and Hisense’s additional Cinema technology designed to reduce rainbow artifacts and laser speckle. Refer to our comparison chart below for the complete differences.

Comparison

The Bottom Line 

The Hisense C3 family builds on the previously released C2 Series, retaining its practical gimbal design and support for projected images up to 300 inches.

For consumers, choosing between the three C3 models will largely come down to how much light output you need and how much installation flexibility you want. All three should provide sufficient brightness for a wide range of viewing environments, but if you plan to use the projector in a room with some ambient light, project onto a wall rather than a dedicated screen, or watch a lot of 3D movies, the 5,000 ANSI lumens offered by the C3 Ultra MAX could make a meaningful difference. Its wider lens shift and expanded throw-ratio range also provide greater placement flexibility.

There is plenty of competition, however. If you like the C3’s gimbal design, the Dangbei MP1 Max is another option worth considering, with its own 360° horizontal rotation and 135° vertical tilt. If you prefer a more traditional projector form factor or are susceptible to DLP rainbow effects, the 2026 Epson 3LCD Home Cinema LS Series offers an alternative based on 3-chip 3LCD imaging.

Pricing & Availability

The 2026 Hisense C3 Projector Family is available at the following prices:

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TL;DR: Rabbit is moving beyond the R1, the small orange AI device that drew attention at CES 2024 but struggled to deliver on many of its early promises. The company this week introduced OS3, an agentic software platform that can work across desktop computers and mobile messaging services.

Rabbit OS3 connects to Windows, Mac, and Linux computers through a local agent installed on the machine. The platform can interact with desktop programs, files, and web pages. Rabbit says it can also write and debug code through its Direct Large Action Model, or DLAM, technology.

It is available through a browser, Telegram, and iMessage, and it can also run on the R1. Rabbit is no longer manufacturing the device, however, and is shifting its focus to software that works with hardware people already own.

Users can connect as many as five computers to one OS3 account. The system is designed to determine which machine should handle a request. For example, someone could send a message from a phone asking OS3 to update a spreadsheet stored on a home or office computer.

Rabbit is positioning the service as a single, ongoing workspace rather than a collection of separate chat windows. Jesse Lyu, Rabbit’s founder and CEO, called it a “brain dump” interface in an interview with Wired, where users enter a task and the system pulls together the tools and AI models needed to complete it.

The service uses a bring-your-own-key model. Rabbit does not charge a monthly subscription fee for OS3, but users must provide their own API keys from companies such as OpenAI or Anthropic. They can also connect local open-source models.

The platform can install third-party agent skills from a public URL, according to Rabbit. That approach fits with the company’s broader effort to make its software less dependent on its own models and services.

Lyu said the company has spent the past year and a half improving the R1 instead of rushing to build a successor. He said Rabbit has released about 50 updates during that period and has opened the device to third-party agents, including OpenClaw and Hermes AI.

“Today, if you look at our R1 device, it’s completely different from day one,” Lyu says. “We’re more open; the device is yours, you decide what to do with the device.”

The R1 was introduced as a dedicated AI assistant that could carry out tasks in services such as Uber and DoorDash. It received substantial attention before launch, but reviews found that its agent features often did not work as expected.

Lyu said the device was still a business success for Rabbit. He said the company has shipped more than 100,000 R1 units worldwide, recorded return rates below 5%, and achieved gross margins of about 45% to 50% on the hardware.

“Internally, from an engineering perspective – we didn’t make the wrong bet,” Lyu says. “I think the challenge is really being extremely limited in resources, team-wise and money-wise, compared to other AI studios that raised billions of dollars.”

Lyu said Rabbit has raised about $60 million and employs 15 people. The company ran into financial pressure last year after a planned launch in India was blocked by regulations. Some employees later went on strike, saying they had not been paid for months. Lyu said Rabbit subsequently raised additional funds and is now in stable condition.

“There are no issues with the company’s health,” he says.

Rabbit is still selling the R1 while supplies last, but it has no plans for an R2, according to Lyu. Its next hardware product is expected within months and will be a Cyberdeck aimed at “vibe coding.” The device will run OS3.

Rabbit says OS3 does not store, copy, or sell data from local files. Files remain on the user’s computer, the company says, although conversation histories and memory logs are stored on Rabbit’s servers. When a task requires AI-model reasoning, the related prompts are routed through Rabbit’s systems to the user’s chosen model provider.

Lyu said he has used the platform for routine work, including moving sales data from a weekly Excel report into a master spreadsheet. He also said he had OS3 represent him in a Slack conversation with an engineer while he was unavailable. The agent identified itself as acting for Lyu and used files from his computer to respond to questions.

OS3 is now available to the public. For Rabbit, it is a chance to test whether its original idea works better as software than as a standalone gadget.

Apple’s watchOS 27.0.1 update has arrived with a fix that prevents Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 models from randomly restarting.

On Wednesday, just over a week after watchOS 27.0 reached the general public, Apple deployed the watchOS 27.0.1 update. The software addresses a bug that caused the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 to restart unexpectedly.

Those who encountered the now-resolved issue said their Apple Watch rebooted while editing watch faces, making calls, using Siri AI, opening Apple Maps or the App Store, and recording workouts. Some Apple Watch owners have even said their devices restarted when idle.

As for what caused the reboot bug on watchOS 27.0, an Apple forums post outlined a Neural Engine timeout on an affected Apple Watch model. In short, a Neural Engine command waited 2,020 milliseconds, exceeding a 2,000-millisecond limit, after which the device rebooted.

While the watchOS 27.0.1 update addressed these spontaneous reboots, Apple did not disclose what caused them.

The company’s website says there are no CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) entries associated with watchOS 27.0.1. This suggests the software likely doesn’t include major security fixes and that this release did not patch any significant vulnerabilities.

The same page also outlines that watchOS 27.0.1 is available only for Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12. In short, it’s a bug-fix update for the 2026 Apple Watch lineup.

How to update to watchOS 27.0.1

1. Ensure the Apple Watch is charged to at least 50% and connected to Wi-Fi
2. On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app
3. Tap General
4. Tap Software Update
5. Tap Install if a software update is available
6. Follow the on-screen instructions

How to update to watchOS 27.0.1 via iPhone

1. Ensure your watch is charged to 50% and connected to Wi-Fi
2. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app
3. Tap General
4. Tap Software Update
5. Download the update if it is available
6. Follow the on-screen instructions

Vivo has added three new phones to its flagship lineup with the launch of the X500 series in China. The X50Vivo has added three new phones to its flagship lineup with the launch of the X500 series in China. The X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max bring a mix of upgraded cameras, newer MediaTek chips and larger batteries. The Pro models use the Dimensity 9600 Pro, while the regular X500 runs on the Dimensity 9600M. At the top of the range, the X500 Pro Max features a 200MP periscope camera and an 8,000mAh battery. The X500 starts at CNY 5,499, followed by higher starting prices for the Pro models.

Specifications, Design and Key Features

Vivo has given the three X500 models different rear camera designs. The regular X500 has a wide rectangular camera island with a circular arrangement on the left. Meanwhile, the X500 Pro and Pro Max use large circular camera modules in the center. Vivo also slopes the rear panel around the camera area on these models. This helps the camera section blend into the rear panel and creates a natural place for your finger.

The X500 features a 6.59-inch display and weighs 211g; the Pro has a 6.36-inch screen and weighs 197g, and the Pro Max has a 6.85-inch panel and weighs 229g. The X500 uses a 1.5K AMOLED display with a 1,260 x 2,750-pixel resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. The Pro models step up to BOE Q11 LTPO AMOLED panels with 144Hz support. The Pro offers 1,216 x 2,660 pixels, while the Pro Max gets 1,440 x 3,168 pixels. Both Pro displays support variable refresh rates from 1Hz to 144Hz. They can also reach 4,500 nits, compared with 4,000 nits on the X500.

Under the hood, the X500 runs on the Dimensity 9600M, while the Pro models use the Dimensity 9600 Pro. The two Pro phones are among the first devices announced with MediaTek’s new chipset. The X500 packs a 7,500mAh battery, and the Pro gets a 6,510mAh cell. The Pro Max uses an 8,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. All three models support 90W wired and 40W wireless charging. The battery sizes are also larger than the X300 and X300 Pro in some areas, which had 6,040mAh and 6,500mAh cells. Vivo has also added IP68 and IP69 protection across the series. All three phones run OriginOS 7 based on Android 17.

Camera Upgrades and New Photography Accessories

Vivo has made several changes to the X500 series camera systems, with the Pro Max getting the biggest upgrade. It features a 50MP Sony LYTIA L910 main camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor. The camera uses an f/1.57 aperture and offers 3-degree optical image stabilization. Vivo says it can capture up to 17EV of dynamic range. The phone pairs this camera with a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP0 periscope telephoto. This camera uses a 1/1.4-inch sensor and provides 3.5x optical zoom. It also gets CIPA 7.0 professional-grade stabilization.

Vivo previously used a 200MP main camera on the X300 Pro. With the X500 Pro Max, the company has shifted that high-resolution sensor to the telephoto camera. The X500 Pro uses a 50MP LYTIA L910 main camera with 1.5-degree stabilization. It pairs this with a 64MP LYTIA 610 periscope offering 3.5x optical zoom and OIS. Both Pro phones also feature a 50MP Samsung JN5 ultrawide camera.

The regular X500 gets a 50MP Sony LYTIA 828 main camera, along with a 64MP telephoto and 50MP JN1 ultrawide camera. Its main sensor measures 1/1.28 inches. Vivo also supports an optional 400mm Zeiss G2 Ultra telephoto extender on both Pro models. Video recording also gets attention, with both Pro phones supporting 4K at 240fps.

The Pro Max goes further with 8K recording at 30fps. Both models also support 10-bit 4:2:2 video and the ACES color management system. Vivo has also introduced a 3.92-inch AMOLED wireless display for the series. The Vivo Snap Screen attaches to the rear and works as a live monitor. This lets users frame selfies and videos using the rear cameras. It can also control key camera functions from up to 10 meters away. Vivo designed it to work with the company’s Zeiss telephoto accessories for long-range shots.

Vivo X500 Series Price and Availability in China

The Chinese variant of the Vivo X500 is available for CNY 5,499 (Rs 79,000). It is equipped with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The X500 Pro is priced at CNY 6,499 (Rs 93,000), while its Pro Max version starts at CNY 6,999 (Rs 1 lakh). The regular version is available in white, grey, and black, while the Pro and Pro Max also come in orange. The device’s sales in China will start on September 24. Vivo has not yet announced details of the global release. As for India, the latest reports suggest it will launch in late October or early November. The X500 Pro may remain exclusive to China. Based on estimated pricing in India, the Vivo X500 will cost around Rs 95,000, while the Pro Max variant will cost between Rs 1.3 lakh and Rs 1.4 lakh.

Facepalm: Windows updates have a nasty habit of causing more problems than they fix. Just last month, Microsoft acknowledged that the August Patch Tuesday update was crashing games and rebooting PCs. The optional KB5124010 patch that rolled out earlier this week is now reportedly causing games like Battlefield 6 and Wardogs to crash regardless of hardware.

Microsoft released the KB5124010 update to the Windows 11 Release Preview channel for versions 24H2 and 25H2 earlier this month before rolling it out to the stable channel on Tuesday. Almost immediately, users started complaining on social media and online forums that it was wreaking havoc on their gaming rigs..

According to several Redditors and Steam users, Battlefield 6 has become unplayable after installing the update, crashing just seconds after launch almost every time. At least one of the posters reported that Windows is not displaying an error message alongside the crashes, making it difficult for users to diagnose the problem.

One Battlefield 6 player posting on the Steam Community forums noted the irony that the KB5124010 update is meant to improve game stability and prevent games from crashing. They added that they reinstalled the game, checked the DirectX components, and even tried Javelin troubleshooting, but nothing helped diagnose the problem. Uninstalling KB5124010, however, seemed to stop the crashes.

After many Wardogs players also reported a similar problem, a Team17 representative acknowledged on the Steam Community forums that the game was crashing and displaying a WD-L020 error. They added that there is no immediate remedy and that the only workaround is to uninstall the contentious update.

One Wardogs player replying to the thread claimed that Windows was displaying a WD-L020-95bc94d86a0d error code after every crash and confirmed that uninstalling the KB5124010 update allowed them to play the game again. Many others also confirmed that uninstalling the update seemed to fix the problem.

It is worth noting that while most of the complaints are coming from Battlefield 6 and Wardogs players, some Battlefield 2042 players have also reported facing the same problem, leading some to suggest that the update might be clashing with EA’s Javelin Anti Cheat program, which protects Battlefield, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, and other EA properties.

Games crashing after buggy Windows updates isn’t a new problem for Microsoft. Just last month, the company admitted that the KB5121003 update was causing some games to crash randomly. In some cases, the PC was automatically rebooting after the crashes. The problem affected Arc Raiders, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals, among others.

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Forward-looking: Despite what some enthusiasts claim, smartphones have never been the best device for enjoying a quality listening experience. Motorola is now trying to change the status quo by asking a well-known audiophile company to contribute its engineering and design expertise.

Motorola recently announced a multi-year partnership with Bang & Olufsen, the Danish company best known for its luxury consumer electronics and audio products. The Lenovo-owned smartphone maker wants to create premium audio experiences for its flagship phones, with the first device expected to arrive in the US and other markets worldwide soon.

The new partnership will apparently treat audio components as an integral part of the flagship smartphone experience. Bang & Olufsen’s acoustic engineers are expected to work closely with Motorola’s designers, helping define the audio hardware, test it, and fine-tune the sound experience for devices across different models and form factors.

Bang & Olufsen is already working with external brands through its “Audio by Bang & Olufsen” program, which was created to bring the company’s acoustic expertise to products designed to deliver high-quality audio to customers. Motorola wants to use B&O’s appeal among audiophiles to reinforce its new business strategy, which focuses more on lifestyle choices than “simple” technology-related consumer solutions.

The partnership is expected to bring high-quality audio experiences to several mobile devices, with Motorola teasing new announcements over the next few months. Most certainly, B&O’s audio expertise will contribute to Motorola’s high-end smartphones, which were going to carry some serious MSRPs anyway.

The first device equipped with B&O’s audio solutions should be the Motorola Signature 27, a flagship phone expected to pack several premium hardware components alongside the newly introduced audio technology.

First and foremost, what Motorola describes as the company’s most advanced smartphone is based on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 SoC platform. Additional hardware features of the new device include a 200MP Sony LYTIA camera and Dolby Vision capture. The Android phone is also designed to integrate Google’s Gemini AI service for hardware-accelerated chatbot interactions.

Unlike most phones Motorola has developed over the past few years, the Signature 27 and its B&O-designed audio experience are expected to arrive in the US as well. The company said it will share additional information about the new device’s features and availability at a later date.