Google is bringing lock screen widgets to Android 16 phones later this year. These widgets have been available on the Pixel Tablet since last year, but now they are coming to phones and more tablets. By default, all widgets will support the lock screen. However, app developers can choose to disable this feature. Some actions, like opening an app, will still require authentication via fingerprint, PIN, or face unlock. Google announced this change on the Android Developers Blog. Lock screen widgets will be added to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) in the first update after Android 16 launches in late summer. Android 16 is still in beta and is set to release in June.

Is this new to Android?

Lock screen widgets aren’t entirely new to Android. Google first introduced them in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean back in 2012, allowing users to add widgets directly to the lock screen for quick access to information. However, the feature was removed in Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014. One major reason was security concerns—widgets could display sensitive information without unlocking the phone.

What’s new in Android 16?

Currently, lock screen widgets for phones are not enabled in the latest beta. However, Android Authority’s Mishaal Rahman managed to activate them early. On the Pixel Tablet, users swipe right from the home screen to access widgets. But for phones, the current implementation only works in screensaver mode when the device is charging or docked.

Google says hardware manufacturers can customize how widgets are triggered. This means different phones may have different implementations. Another key difference is screen size. Unlike the Pixel Tablet’s two-row grid, phone widgets are stacked vertically, with only a few visible at once.

What do you think about lock screen widgets making a comeback? Will they improve your Android experience, or do you prefer a cleaner lock screen? Let us know your tech thoughts in the comments!

DeepSeek introduced R1, a ChatGPT-like AI model. R1 has all the familiar abilities in Chat GPT.  It operates at a much lower cost than models from OpenAI, Google, or Meta. DeepSeek spent only $5.6 million on computing power for its base model. In contrast, US companies spend hundreds of millions or even billions on AI. And DeepSeek is a one-year-old Startup.

What is DeepSeek?

source : relaince tech

DeepSeek, a two-year-old AI startup, is led by CEO Liang Wenfeng. It was created from a hedge fund started by engineers from Zhejiang University. The company focuses on new ideas in architecture and algorithms to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), according to Liang. Unlike OpenAI, DeepSeek says it is profitable.

DeepSeek released two AI models in a short time period. This puts it on par with top U.S. labs, says Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang. It trained models at a much lower cost. One model cost just $5.6 million to train. That’s about an AI expert’s salary in the U.S. Last year, AI training costs ranged from $100 million to $1 billion. OpenAI’s GPT-4 cost over $100 million. DeepSeek may have changed how we see AI costs, shaking up the industry.

Microsoft’s data breach concerns

Microsoft’s security researchers noticed individuals linked to DeepSeek transferring large amounts of data through OpenAI’s API. The API lets developers and companies use OpenAI’s technology in their apps. As OpenAI’s biggest investor, Microsoft flagged the activity. This led to an internal review. If proven, this could be a major intellectual property breach, intensifying AI tensions between the U.S. and China. It raises concerns about how AI companies protect their data and whether such incidents will lead to stricter regulations on AI development.

Market impact on NVIDIA

NVIDIA’s share price dropped 17% on January 27, 2025. This wiped out nearly $600 billion in market value. The sell-off was sparked by DeepSeek’s announcement of its R1 AI model. R1 reportedly matches Western models but costs much less. DeepSeek’s breakthrough has raised concerns about the demand for high-performance AI chips. These chips are central to NVIDIA’s business. The model was developed using stockpiled NVIDIA GPUs. This development shook the semiconductor sector, impacting other major companies.

DeepSeek is reshaping the AI landscape — but not without controversy. As it challenges major players like OpenAI and Microsoft, it raises critical questions about data security, ethics, and government influence. The world is watching closely, weighing the benefits of innovation against the risks of misinformation and control.

Chat GPT is the most popular AI (Artificial intelligence) tool globally. Due to its functionality, People love to use it. It passed 1 Billion visits in March 2024. And 200 Million monthly active users in August 2024. Chatgpt.com and Sora are currently down due to API and login issues in the OpenAI platform. The open AI team is trying to fix it.

image source: https://status.openai.com/

What is Sora?

Sora is the Open AI’s new video generation model. It can generate high-definition videos for 20 seconds maximum. Sora can create realistic videos from the prompt that enters.  Due to the high demand, it was temporarily unavailable for new users.  Sora is available for ChatGPT Pro members and ChatGPT Plus members. They can generate 50 AI videos per month.

How long will it take to fix the Chat GPT for their users?

They are still resolving their problem. Maybe it will take a few hours from now.  AI can make your life easier and improve day-to-day lives in many ways. It can enhance your productivity for your massive tasks. However depending on AI can lead to a loss of decision-making, creative thinking, and critical thinking. People have started to believe in AI decisions. And now most people are stressed out due to the unavailability of the ChatGPT. It’s time to think about it again!