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Flavio Coelho/Getty Images Just weeks into its new-found fame, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is moving at breakneck speed, toppling competitors and sparking axis-tilting conversations about the virtues of open source software.  Also: US sets AI safety aside in favor of ‘AI dominance’ However, numerous security concerns have surfaced about the company, prompting private and government organizations to ban the use of DeepSeek. Here’s what you need to know. What is DeepSeek? Founded by Liang Wenfeng…

ZDNET Though we’re well past the holiday deals season, don’t worry. Major retailers are dishing out some serious deals on top tech for you, your home, or a loved one — especially ahead of Presidents’ Day 2025. Perhaps one of the most notorious online retailers to check out now? Amazon — where you can shop savings anytime of year.  From headphones to robot vacuums to TVs, now’s your chance to snag savings near or equal…

Nvidia Nvidia hasn’t forgotten. The tech giant is rolling out the first major patch to the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro after two years of silence. The Shield TV models are the company’s sole streaming devices, akin to the Roku Ultra. They enable users to enjoy movies in 4K resolution and offer access to GeForce Now, Nvidia’s cloud gaming service.  Also: Is your live TV streaming service still worth it? I review options for every…

Kerry Wan/ZDNET AT&T’s latest iPhone trade-in promotion just made it much easier for existing iPhone users to upgrade to the latest models. Starting today, the carrier will deduct up to $1,000 off an iPhone 16 model — whether that be the smaller variant or the Max — when customers trade in an iPhone 13 Pro (or later) in any condition. Qualification includes devices that are cracked, have swollen batteries, or have simply seen better days….

ZDNET It happens like clockwork, around the first of each month. Sites that focus on technology churn out nearly identical articles, all based on a chart like this one, prepared by the good folks at Statcounter Global Stats.   Every month, tech bloggers try to turn a chart like this one into a story, but most of them miss what’s actually happening. Statcounter GS I saw that chart in dozens of posts this month, along with…

ZDNET’s key takeaways At $199, the Tapo RV20 Max is an affordable option that works surprisingly well. The RV20 Max robot vacuum features strong 5,300Pa suction, great navigation skills that don’t use the bump-and-run system, and plenty of customization options for the price. On the downside, the Tapo RV20 Max doesn’t have great obstacle avoidance, often getting its brush tangled with cables and small items. While I love a hands-free robot vacuum and mop that…

Mistral A little-known French startup company is attempting to compete with the likes of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot with its own AI chatbot. Known as Le Chat, Mistral’s AI service has already been accessible as a website and is now aiming to make a splash with its new mobile apps. Launched in April 2023, Mistral AI is a French artificial intelligence startup. Co-founded by former Meta employees Timothée Lacroix and Guillaume Lample and former DeepMind…

ZDNET’s key takeaways Pre-orders for the Galaxy Book5 Pro start at $1,349. It sports a brilliant 3K touchscreen and large touchpad, plus Intel’s Lunar Lake chip delivers next-gen performance. Despite the better hardware, this laptop shares some of the design flaws as its predecessor. Whenever a new laptop comes out, consumers expect it to launch with several new features. But sometimes, manufacturers focus on refining a device’s use case instead. That’s how I felt after…

Sean Gallup/Getty Images Google Maps turns 20 this week. To celebrate, Google has rolled out a list of 20 things you might not have known the navigation app could do. The list includes popular favorites, helpful hidden gems, features that have existed for many years, and some newer Gemini integrations.  Whether you’ve been using Google Maps for years or are a newcomer, here are some of the helpful features you might be missing.  Also: Faster,…