The musician was seen at Monsoon Poon while the Game of Thrones actress was browsing fish. Read...

Inflation data for the December quarter came in stronger than expected, prompting questions about whether interest rates might have to start to rise again earlier than expected. Read...

Since December, three Hutt Valley bars have been targeted in similar ways and police say the crimes may be linked. Read...

The child was upset and distressed and complained, `Kaaren hurt me`. Read...

A rahui is in place at the site where six people - including two teenagers - were caught in the slip, which came down on a holiday camp. Read...

OpenAI is testing an update to ChatGPT’s “Temporary Chat” feature. Temporary Chat allows you to “have a conversation with a blank slate” where “ChatGPT won’t be aware of previous conversations or access memories.” It’s a lot like Incognito Mode in Chrome, which you can use to “privately” browse the web—except here, it’s chatting. The update to Temporary Chat will sort of tweak this, allowing ChatGPT to retain your personal customizations without the conversation itself being saved or affecting your overall account. Temporary chat in ChatGPT has a new, currently hidden option that lets you still use personalization (memory, chat history, style and tone preferences) even though the chat is only temporaryChatGPT web app now also mentions new ChatGPT FinServ plans (Enterprise-like), shopping… pic.twitter.com/CaMaeYlCmP— Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) January 23, 2026 This change was first discovered by AI engineer Tibor Blaho on social media, who found an undisclosed setting for it in the AI chatbot. He describes it as “a new, currently hidden option that lets you still use personalization (memory, chat history, style and tone preferences) even though the chat is only temporary.” The new Temporary Chat setting will be optional (for now?) and can be disabled. It isn’t yet available to all users. However, for security reasons, OpenAI may store copies of your chats for up to 30 days. Read...

The record number of prisoners are bouncing between facilities around the country, stretching court resources and rehabilitation programmes. Read...

Marae that provided welfare will receive $1m, but Te Pati Maori`s co-leader says their communities often face severe weather and need money for resilience. Read...

Meta is considering new paid subscription models for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, reports TechCrunch. Citing a spokesperson for the company, the goal here is to offer paying users additional features and advanced AI tools. The basic versions of these services, however, will remain free of charge. In practical terms, this means no one will be “forced” to pay to continue using Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp. The subscriptions are for users who want to unlock extra features. Meta has previously experimented with alternative monetization models for WhatsApp, giving users a choice between paying money or accepting advertisements. A “premium” experience for a fee According to TechCrunch, Meta is talking about a “premium experience” that will include exclusive features that offer more control over content, interactions, and new creative possibilities, among other things. It’s still unclear which specific features will be subject to fees. Meta wants to test different models and incorporate user feedback into their design. These paid subscriptions could vary significantly depending on the platform. For Instagram and Facebook, additional features related to content, reach, or analysis are conceivable. As things stand at present, WhatsApp is primarily concerned with supplementary offers and not the basic use of the messenger service. AI features are in the spotlight AI-driven features are likely to be a central component of the planned paid subscriptions. Meta has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence for years and continues to provide its own large language models free of charge with the Llama series. Unlike competitors (e.g., OpenAI and Google), Meta has not yet introduced a comprehensive AI subscription for end users. These new subscription plans could change that. Paid add-on features for creating, editing, or optimizing content are conceivable. This includes the AI-powered short video platform Vibes, which allows users to generate and edit videos. The basic version will remain free while advanced features could end up behind a paywall. Note: The planned paid subscriptions are separate from Meta Verified, which is a different payment model that’s been in place since 2023 and is primarily aimed at creators who want a verification badge, extended support, and protection against identity theft. The new paid subscriptions are intended to appeal to a broader target group and unlock additional other features. What does this mean for you? In the short term, little will change. Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp will continue to be free to use. In the long term, however, users may be faced with the choice of paying up for additional features and AI extras or sticking with a barebones version for free. One thing is clear: Meta is looking for new revenue sources beyond advertising, with increasing focus on paid add-ons. Meta has not yet announced how expensive these plans will be. Read...

These might be the absolute cutest version of the Amazon Echo Pop Kids! You can now get the Anthro Pup and Unicorn models (as well as the older models) for just $30 each on Amazon, which is a hefty 40% discount and a cost-effective way to introduce your kids to Alexa. View this Amazon deal The blue Anthro Pup model features a pup wearing headphones and glasses while the pink Unicorn features a… well, a poppy unicorn. They’re both adorable, though you might get the sense that these are AI-generated images. Regardless, you can get your kid whichever they like—and if they like neither, there are also the Disney Princesses and Marvel’s Avengers versions. Those are sure to be hits! The purchase isn’t just for an adorable smart speaker, by the way. It also comes with 6 free months of Amazon Kids+, a digital subscription for kids aged 3 to 12, providing unlimited to all kinds of kid-friendly audiobooks, podcasts, ebooks, games, and other cool features. Of course, this speaker also comes with Alexa+, Amazon’s next-gen AI assistant with better smart home controls, natural language processing, and more. When your kids ask Alexa something, they’ll get a better answer than they would’ve with the older Alexa, and this can come in handy for things like homework and stray questions. Go ahead and grab this $30 kid-friendly Amazon Echo Pop speaker and cheer up their rooms with these adorable new Echo Pop Kids covers. Get a super-cute and kid-friendly Amazon Echo speaker for 40% offBuy now at Amazon Read...