Anthropic is permanently increasing Claude Code’s standard weekly usage limits by 25% for Pro, Max, Team, and seat-based Enterprise plans, but it’s not as good as it sounds.

If you use Claude, you’re actually getting a 17% reduction compared to what you have today.

Claude Code currently has a temporary 50% increase in weekly limits, which Anthropic says will remain in place until September 14.

“Starting September 14, we’re permanently raising standard weekly limits in Claude Code by 25% for Pro, Max, Team, and seat-based Enterprise plans,” Anthropic wrote on X. “Until then, the current 50% increase will be in place.”

It’s a clever way to frame words, as it almost sounds like you’re winning as a customer, but you’re not, and it’s a downgrade.

If Claude Code’s original weekly allowance was 100, the temporary boost gives you 150 today. On September 14, that drops to 125.

In other words, you will have 25% more Claude Code usage than you did before the temporary promotion, but about 17% less than you have right now.

Anthropic says more Claude Code usage changes are coming

Anthropic later deleted the original thread and posted a clarification, where it clearly admits the reduction.

“Compared to today, this works out to a 17% reduction in weekly limits on Claude Code,” the company said.

“We’re working on exciting changes that will make it feel like you’re getting more from Claude, while having more visibility and control of your usage. Can’t wait to share them.”

Anthropic says Claude usage can vary based on factors including conversation length, model choice, tool usage, and effort level, so the weekly allowance does not translate into a fixed number of Claude Code prompts.

The current 50% temporary increase remains available through September 13, with the new permanent limits taking effect on September 14.

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.

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At TechBBQ in Copenhagen, the conversation among investors, founders, and operators from across Europe wasn’t just about what to build with AI, but who should control it. No matter where you were during the annual Nordic conference, from onstage to cocktail hours and after-parties, the chatter kept coming back to how Europe can gain more control over the technology powering AI.

That question of sovereignty — which fittingly matched this year’s theme of “Emerging from Agency” — was especially timely after Anthropic’s AI models Mythos and Fable became unavailable to users outside Europe earlier this year.

The incident led many in the European ecosystem to think seriously about what it means to own the models and the infrastructure underpinning this AI wave, instead of renting that power from the U.S. and China.

One startup exec told me the Mythos and Fable incident seriously disrupted his software team, while another shrugged it off. Sure, the startup exec said, relying on two other geopolitical powers for AI might one day cause Europe severe headaches, but for now, everything is still pretty much OK. 

“TechBBQ’s theme of agency felt particularly timely this year as the conversation shifted from what AI can do to what we’re actually willing to let it do,” Ellen de Brever, an angel investor and head of partnerships at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator, told me during the conference that wrapped up August 27.

There were panels about the future of women’s health, a summit on how the Nordic and African ecosystems can collaborate on innovation and investment, and talks about how to get more growth capital into Europe. AI was an underlying theme in many of the conversations, but as de Brever pointed out, “the debates weren’t about smarter machines, but about human judgment and who gets to stay in the driver’s seat.” 

“The age of AI agents isn’t really a story about machines gaining agency,” she continued. “It’s a story about humans deciding what to give up.” 

An attendee told me that one of the most refreshing sessions at the event was the panel with Signal President Meredith Whittaker, which I moderated and focused on whether privacy and AI can coexist. Whittaker didn’t mince words, and spoke out against AI assistants and agents being integrated into operating systems, like what ChatGPT is doing with iMessage.

She said this AI era is creating a “data collection apparatus” and that AI labs are using clever marketing to make people forget “about the collateral consequences” of acquiring so much data. 

“There is still a huge market need for privacy,” she said. “And particularly with the sovereignty concerns, we will have customers here.” 

Elsewhere, Emad Mostaque, co-founder of Stability AI and Intelligent Internet, sat on a panel with me about how an agentic workforce will impact the economy and what that means for personal sovereignty.

“Sovereignty is the ability to resist power being exerted over you,” Mostaque said. He spoke about the concentration of power in the hands of a few AI labs and said, “Inevitably, every country will be run by AI and that “the person that controls the AI controls the country.” 

Mia Negru, the advocacy and engagement director for the nonprofit Life With Artificials, sent me a message after the panel about what crossed her mind as she listened.

“If intelligent agents perform cognitive work and robots increasingly perform physical work, we may be approaching something much bigger than another technological revolution,” she said in the message. “We may have to rethink ownership, work, democracy, economic participation and eventually even who gets to participate in society.” 

But when the panels weren’t in session, people let loose at happy hours and rooftop soirées, where more lighter conversations eventually took over.

Lovable, Nvidia, OpenAI, AWS Startups, and HSBC came together to host a rooftop barbecue where I spoke to founders about Denmark’s growing tech hubs.

London’s Ada Ventures hosted a gathering at the cocktail bar Bird where I chatted with one health tech founder about increased innovation in the women’s brain health space. Then, there was the speakers’ dinner on an island in the middle of Copenhagen where the international press sat together and watched fire dancers. The after-party continued upstairs, where everyone was tempted to stay for one more drink until the bar tab closed.

“In a room full of conversations about machines, the most memorable moments still come from the simplest thing,” de Brever said. “Human connection, face-to-face, building relationships, sharing ideas, and reminding each other of what technology can never quite replace.” 

Under the influence of psychedelics, the usual organization of the human brain loosens. That’s what scientists have generally thought, with several studies showing that when we take these substances, the signals pinging between our neurons become more diverse and unpredictable. This increased entropy in our gray matter may underlie the strange, random, and often memorable experiences of psychedelic trips.

But in one of the largest neuroimaging studies on the effects of psilocybin to date, researchers uncovered a hidden order in the apparent chaos. The study, published in Nature, indicates that while psilocybin blurs some of the boundaries within the brain, our neurological reactions to what we’re experiencing in that moment become even more distinct.

The researchers tracked moment-by-moment changes across 332 regions of the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography, two methods of measuring brain activity. The 62 participants, who had no prior experience with psychedelics, took 19 milligrams of psilocybin in an oral capsule and then meditated, listened to music, or watched a movie.

With the help of artificial intelligence, the researchers identified patterns in the brain for each kind of activity the participants were engaged in. But surprisingly, the more intense the psilocybin experience, the clearer those neural signals were. Rather than becoming lost in the midst of an increasingly unpredictable trip, reality seemed to be leaving a more distinct imprint.

These findings weren’t just apparent in the biological measurements but also in participants’ personal experiences. Those who exhibited the most defined patterns of brain activity also tended to describe more intense experiences of immersion and unity with the world around them, the boundaries between themselves and the environment sometimes feeling blurred.

“Under psilocybin, brain networks that help us process our inner world and the world around us became less distinct, but reorganized into patterns that reflected what people were experiencing,” explained Devon Stoliker, the study’s lead author and a researcher at Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences in Melbourne, Australia.

In addition to providing a biological explanation for the sense of oneness that many people describe during a psychedelic trip, the findings also provide nuance to the idea that psilocybin simply makes the brain “chaotic.” This understanding is especially important in the emerging field of psychedelic therapy.

“This shows that context is not just background to the psychedelic experience,” Adeel Razi, a professor at Monash and the senior author of the study, emphasized in a press release. “For treatment, that reinforces why the environment and what a person does and experiences during the psychedelic session matter.”

This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.

Lower cost doesn’t always mean lower quality.

Understanding MVNOs

Khairil Azhar Junos/Shutterstock

Exploring MVNO options

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The MVNO experience

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Fosi Audio used to be rather easy to categorize. Affordable desktop amplifiers, DACs, and other compact components were its bread and butter, usually with enough performance to make considerably more expensive competitors a little uncomfortable.

That description no longer tells the whole story.

Over the past year, Fosi Audio has pushed much harder into the personal audio category with headphones, IEMs, headphone amplifiers, portable components, and streaming products. We have covered a lot of them at eCoustics, and while not every new product is aimed at the same listener, the broader strategy has become increasingly clear: Fosi wants a much larger piece of the Head-Fi market.

CanJam SoCal 2026, which takes place August 29-30 at the Irvine Marriott in Orange County, will give the company another opportunity to make that case. Fosi Audio is bringing four new products for attendees to see and hear: the ZH1 Desktop DAC & Headphone Amp, Carbon12 IEM, DISC Nano Portable CD Player, and S3 Lite Streaming Digital Transport.

All four are interesting for different reasons, particularly as Fosi continues to stretch beyond the inexpensive desktop amplifiers that established the brand. But we are saving the most intriguing one for last. The S3 Lite takes a decidedly different approach to affordable network streaming, and at $199.99, it could become a rather disruptive little black box for listeners who already own a DAC they have no intention of replacing.

ZH1 Desktop DAC & Headphone Amp

To start things off, the ZH1 Desktop DAC & Headphone Amp is designed to bridge music, entertainment, and gaming in a compact desktop component.

According to Fosi Audio’s latest specifications, the ZH1 uses an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC and supports PCM playback up to 768kHz and DSD512. That is notably different from the prototype we saw at CanJam London, which was built around a pair of Cirrus Logic CS43131 DACs, suggesting Fosi has made some significant changes ahead of production. The balanced headphone output is rated at up to 2,000mW, which should give it enough power for a wide range of full-size headphones.

The ZH1 also incorporates Fosi Audio’s AI-assisted EQ system. Rather than requiring users to manually adjust individual parameters, Fosi says the system can create a personalized EQ curve based on the listener’s stated sonic preferences. Customizable RGB ambient lighting is also included for those who want their desktop audio system to look a little more like their gaming rig.

Multiple input and output options are designed to make the ZH1 suitable for both conventional desktop listening and gaming setups. It also expands Fosi Audio’s growing gaming and personal audio lineup alongside the C3 Gaming DAC & Headphone Amp.

Fosi Audio has not provided a complete set of specifications ahead of CanJam SoCal, but the ZH1 is expected to be available in late September for $149.99.

Carbon12 In-Ear Monitor (IEM)

The next new product Fosi Audio is showing at CanJam SoCal 2026 is the Carbon12 In-Ear Monitor (IEM), and it represents another significant step into a category the company was barely involved in a year ago.

Fosi is positioning the Carbon12 as a premium HiFi IEM built around what it describes as the world’s first UTPT ultrathin pure carbon-fiber diaphragm. Unlike more common composite diaphragms that incorporate carbon fiber with other materials, Fosi says its UTPT design uses pure carbon fiber to combine very low mass with high rigidity.

The Carbon12 uses a 12mm dynamic driver housed inside a TC4 titanium alloy body with a forged carbon-fiber faceplate. Internally, Fosi has incorporated a dual-chamber acoustic structure and balanced pressure-relief system designed to control airflow and driver behavior.

Fosi is tuning the Carbon12 for a warmer presentation with an emphasis on vocals, which should make it rather different from some of the brighter and more analytical IEMs currently crowding the $150 segment. We will reserve judgment on that until we actually hear it at CanJam.

Key Specifications

Price & Availability

The Fosi Audio Carbon12 is expected to be available in late September 2026 for $149.99 MSRP.

DISC Nano Portable CD Player

Physical media has found new life over the past few years, and CDs are increasingly part of that conversation. New CD players are appearing at almost every price point, which makes Fosi Audio’s next CanJam SoCal 2026 debut rather timely.

The DISC Nano Portable CD Player is designed for listeners who want to take their discs with them without carrying something the size of an early 1990s Discman. Fosi describes the DISC Nano as the world’s smallest portable CD player, a claim we would like to see backed up with final dimensions before handing over the trophy.

Its distinctive half exposed disc design puts the CD itself on display, combining some of the tactile appeal of physical media with features that did not exist when portable CD players ruled backpacks and airline tray tables.

The DISC Nano uses a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC and incorporates ESP electronic anti-skip protection to improve playback stability when used on the go. Fosi has also equipped it with an internal rechargeable lithium battery, so it does not need to remain tethered to an external power source.

Connectivity is unusually comprehensive for something this small. The DISC Nano provides 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs, along with an optical digital output for use with an external DAC or audio system. Bluetooth transmission also allows CDs to be played through compatible wireless headphones, earbuds, and speakers.

Fosi has also incorporated an N52 magnetic rear panel, allowing the player to attach to compatible magnetic mounts and accessories. Some early descriptions refer to this as MagSafe compatibility, although we would not interpret that as MagSafe wireless charging unless Fosi confirms that capability.

Key Specifications

Price & Availability

The Fosi Audio DISC Nano is expected to arrive in late September 2026 for $99.99 MSRP.

At that price, the DISC Nano might be more than a novelty. A genuinely portable CD player with balanced headphone output, Bluetooth, optical digital output, an internal battery, and a $100 price tag is exactly the sort of product that could make the CD revival a little more interesting.

S3 Lite Streaming Digital Transport

Rounding out the new products Fosi Audio is bringing to CanJam SoCal 2026 is the S3 Lite Streaming Digital Transport, and this might be the most interesting of the four.

The S3 Lite takes its inspiration from the previously released S3 Streamer/DAC/Preamp, but removes the onboard AKM DAC, analog output stage, and physical audio inputs. The idea is straightforward: if you already own a DAC that you like, why pay for another one?

That makes the S3 Lite less of an all in one streamer and more of a dedicated digital bridge between streaming services and an existing HiFi system. It supports dual band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, along with Google Cast, AirPlay 2, DLNA, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, and Bluetooth. Fosi also lists Roon Ready support, although the company said in July that certification was still being completed, so we would like to see final confirmation on that point.

More importantly, calling it the S3 Lite undersells one aspect of the design. The S3 Lite provides USB-A, optical, and coaxial digital outputs, whereas the full S3 does not offer USB or coaxial digital output. For anyone planning to use an external DAC, that actually makes the less expensive model more flexible.

The USB output supports PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz, although DSD is not currently supported. Fosi also includes a 10 band graphic EQ, a Bluetooth remote with a claimed 15 meter operating range, and a 12V trigger output that can power compatible downstream components on and off with the streamer. The chassis measures just 147mm wide, making it easy to integrate into a desktop or compact two channel system.

Ultimately, the S3 Lite is not trying to replace your DAC, preamplifier, or entire system. It is designed for listeners who already spent money on those things and simply want to add modern streaming, including USB digital output, without dismantling everything else.

The Competition

FiiO’s SR11, currently selling for around $119.99, is probably its most direct rival because it is also a dedicated digital streamer with USB, optical, and coaxial outputs and support for PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz. The catch is that its streaming ecosystem is considerably narrower, concentrating primarily on Roon Ready and AirPlay.

The WiiM Pro at $169 and WiiM Pro Plus at $249 offer considerably broader software and streaming service support, along with excellent app integration, but their optical and coaxial digital outputs top out at 24-bit/192kHz and neither offers USB audio output. If you are only feeding an external DAC, the Pro Plus’ upgraded internal DAC becomes largely irrelevant.

Moving up to $349, the WiiM Ultra adds USB digital output, HDMI ARC, analog and phono inputs, a 3.5 inch touchscreen, an internal ESS DAC, subwoofer output, and much more extensive EQ capability. Its digital outputs, including USB, are limited to 24-bit/192kHz, but it is clearly the more comprehensive system hub if you actually need all of those additional features.

The Bluesound NODE NANO, at roughly $429, is another strong alternative with BluOS, an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC, USB, coaxial, and optical digital outputs, Roon Ready certification, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and access to a much broader streaming ecosystem. It tops out at 24-bit/192kHz, but BluOS remains one of the more mature streaming platforms available at this end of the market.

Comparison

Price & Availability

The S3 Lite is available now for $199.99 MSRP.

The Bottom Line 

Fosi Audio’s presence at CanJam throughout 2026 makes one thing increasingly clear: the company is no longer content being known primarily for affordable desktop amplifiers. Personal audio has become a significant part of its strategy, and the four products heading to CanJam SoCal cover a surprisingly broad range of categories.

The ZH1 looks like a lot of desktop DAC/headphone amplifier for $149.99, while the Carbon12 represents Fosi’s most ambitious move yet into IEMs. The DISC Nano is certainly the most visually distinctive of the group and arrives at an intriguing $99.99, although portable CD players with balanced headphone outputs and Bluetooth already exist.

The S3 Lite is the one we find most interesting. Dedicated digital transports are nothing new, but Fosi’s combination of USB, optical, and coaxial outputs, support for PCM up to 768kHz over USB, eight streaming protocols, Wi-Fi 6, and a $199.99 price makes it an unusually focused option for listeners who already own a DAC they have no desire to replace. Instead of adding more hardware simply to make the specification sheet longer, Fosi removed the parts that audience does not need. That makes a lot of sense.

Of course, specifications and aggressive pricing only tell us so much. The eCoustics team will be at CanJam SoCal 2026 on August 29 and 30, where we will get a closer look at all four products and share our listening impressions after the show.

Related Reading:

The iPhone 17 closed the gap between Apple’s entry-level phone and the pricier Pro models last year with long-overdue display upgrades, alongside nifty camera and durability improvements. Apple also made new features like Center Stage (its new selfie camera) and Dual Capture available across the entire lineup, making the iPhone 17 an even better value.

A year later, it has become the most affordable entry-level flagship across brands, thanks to Samsung and Google raising the prices of their entry-level models due to a surge in RAM prices driven by AI and data centers.

August is usually when we suggest to avoid buying a new iPhone and to wait for the next one. But things are looking different in 2026.

As we inch closer to the next-generation iPhone announcement on Sept. 9, the iPhone 17 is holding strong against its Android rivals. And it will have to compete with newer models till March 2027, since the iPhone 18 won’t launch until then alongside the iPhone 18E, according to the rumors.

So what if you need a new iPhone before March or don’t want to pay $1,100 or more for an iPhone 18 Pro? I charged up my iPhone 17 and revisited Apple’s standard model this week to find out if it’s still worth buying.

Display, durability and camera upgrades keep it strong

The iPhone 17 arrived last year with multiple major upgrades, many of which you’ll appreciate daily. 

The screen is finally on par with Apple’s Pro models and every other Android counterpart. It runs at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, which also adapts to the on-screen content to save battery. I compared it to the iPhone 15 and the smoother visuals were immediately noticeable when scrolling through the home screen. It makes the phone feel faster and more responsive.

 The display is also brighter and less reflective than its predecessor. It is immediately noticeable when you’re navigating outdoors or need to do anything on your phone under bright lights. I put it against the new Pixel 11, which is equally bright, but iPhone 17’s smaller bezels make its screen more pleasing to look at.

Apple said its 2025 iPhones were more durable than ever. While I haven’t used the iPhone 17 for a year straight, I have daily driven the iPhone 17 Pro Max without a case for 10 months. (Yes, I’m that guy.) Compared to my 2024 iPhone 16 Pro, the 17 Pro has fared better against scratches and drops thanks to its Ceramic Shield 2 glass, the same found on the iPhone 17.

Some might dismiss it as a minor feature, but the 17’s selfie camera is the best upgrade, in my opinion. The new 18-megapixel square sensor is more of a quality-of-life upgrade than just a mere number bump because it lets you shoot landscape selfies without needing to rotate your phone. The viewfinder automatically repositions its framing based on the number of people in the photo.

I love the camera for two reasons. First, it enables Center Stage, which tracks you (even if you’re moving) on video calls (both on FaceTime and third-party apps like WhatsApp). It’s a handy feature for when I need to move around doing chores, but the camera keeps me in the frame and helps me be less annoying for my girlfriend.

Second, the square sensor improves stability in selfie video recording. I live with a condition that causes constant hand tremors, which makes it difficult to record myself on phones. The iPhone 17 has been helpful as I’m less self-conscious and more confident that I’ll get stable footage instead of a blurry video.

As for the two cameras on the back, they are far more capable than its predecessor. The iPhone 17 has two rear cameras: a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide, which is an upgrade over the 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the iPhone 16. You’ll get sharp photos, better indoor shots and a smooth video experience. It misses out on a telephoto camera that the 17 Pro has, so there’s no optical zoom, but these are all the cameras most people would ever need.

iOS 26 has its flaws — I can’t wait for iOS 27

The iPhone 17 runs iOS 26, which offers more translucent controls, customization options and Apple Intelligence features. However, my experience has been buggy since the beginning. On multiple occasions, I’ve missed calls and alarms because my iPhone automatically lowered its system volume to a minimum. I didn’t put it in Do Not Disturb or Focus modes. Other times, the keyboard starts lagging out of nowhere, and whenever I need to access the Control Center while watching a video in landscape mode, my controls are all over the place.

Some of these issues have already been fixed on the iOS 27 Public Beta, which I’ve been running on my iPhone 17 Pro Max.

For starters, I can set different volume levels for the call ringer, alarms and media. The Control Center is now better optimized for horizontal orientation, keeping my customizations right where I want them. Then there are smart features, like spatial reframing in Photos for using generative AI to “change” the camera’s position when an image was taken. There’s also an all-new Siri mode in the Camera app.

In CNET’s 45-minute endurance test, which includes streaming, scrolling through social media, joining a video call and playing games, Apple’s entry-level iPhone went from full to 98%, which matches the results of the iPhone 17 Pro. It has the second-longest battery life of any phone CNET has tested in the past 12 months, tied with the OnePlus 15 and Motorola Razr (2026); behind the first-place phone is the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, subsequent iOS 26 updates along with continued use have had an impact on the battery life of my personal iPhone 17, causing more overnight idle drain. That’s why I’m looking forward to the upcoming iOS 27 update. If the beta is any indication, it should only improve the iPhone 17 experience with smarter features and better stability.

It has fared well, but what about six months from now?

The baseline model stacks well against the competition. The iPhone 17 was launched at $799, which is $100 less than the $899 Samsung Galaxy S26 and the new Google Pixel 11. But with phone prices increasing across the board and new rumors pointing to higher iPhone prices, the iPhone 17’s current price is good if you are looking for a phone upgrade.

Those notable upgrades make it worth the $799 price, which might not remain the same in a few days from now, when Apple announces the iPhone 18 Pro and its first-ever foldable iPhone Ultra.

While the iPhone 18 is tipped to be announced next year, the Pro series could get a price hike, resulting in a wider price gap between the entry-level and top-of-the-line models.

To compensate, Apple could push the ceiling of its base iPhone and make it more expensive, even before the iPhone 18 launches. This is just speculation right now, based on Apple’s recent price hikes. But the base iPhone has remained at $799 ($829 without a carrier discount) since 2020, and after the new pricing on Macs, iPads and several other products, it makes much more sense to raise the barrier to a new entry-level model than ever.

As for those willing to wait for the iPhone 18, it is unlikely to be a major upgrade. Apple is expected to reserve the most prominent changes like a reduced Dynamic Island and newer cameras for its Pro models. Moreover, a recent rumor on Weibo suggests that the iPhone 18 could align more closely with a lower-cost iPhone 18E model. It might not receive a similarly powerful chip as its Pro siblings, for instance. It’s a similar move Google has made with its base Pixel 11 and budget Pixel 10A.

Given the lukewarm rumors regarding the upcoming model and iPhone 17’s current price tag (and the looming price hike), I think last year’s model is still an excellent deal. And for the first time in my career, I’d say if you want a new iPhone before Sept. 9, it is totally fine to get the iPhone 17 now rather than wait and see what the 18 Pro may bring.

Prakhar Khanna is a Writer at CNET with bylines in ZDNET, Forbes, and other major outlets. A digital nomad at heart, he thrives in chaos–mixing deadlines with travel, often writing stories on planes, trains, and cafe tables while hunting down the best pizza spots wherever he lands. His backpack usually carries one phone too many, and his playlists are stacked with 2000s Bollywood. Find him across social media @ParkyPrakhar.
Contact: parkydoesstuff(at)gmail(dot)com

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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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