TECH

This mini ITX motherboard sports up to 96 GB DDR5 RAM and 12-core AMD Zen 5 chip

Axiomtek has introduced a new Zen 5-powered mini-ITX motherboard aimed particularly at gaming. The product is powered by up to a 12-core Ryzen AI Embedded P100 APU and can be equipped with 96 GB of DDR5 RAM.

Mini-ITX boards with soldered embedded processors from AMD and Intel are quite common, aimed primarily at industrial applications. However, the new GMB150 Mini-ITX board from Axiomtek takes a different approach, targeting gaming applications instead of typical industrial workloads.

This is possible thanks to the AMD Ryzen P100 series APUs powering the GMB150 motherboard. The P100 family features anywhere between 4 to 12 Zen 5 cores, along with iGPUs ranging from 2 to 16 CUs based on RDNA 3.5.

The performance of the upper-end Ryzen P100 chips should be almost the same as their "Gorgon Point" consumer counterparts. To be more specific, the GMB150 will be equipped with up to the AMD Ryzen AI P185 APU featuring a total of 12 cores and 24 threads. The APU is nearly identical to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, with the biggest difference being a 100 MHz lower boost clock and a more modest power envelope.

Therefore, it can be said that the highest-end GMB150 motherboard will be quite a performant part, and should be able to keep up with modern high-end Intel Panther Lake and AMD Gorgon Point-powered systems. 

Lower-end variants with the 4-core Ryzen AI P121, 6-core P132, 8-core P164, and 10-core P174-powered configurations will also be available. 

The motherboard sports dual DDR5-5600 SODIMM slots, which can be equipped with up to 96 GB of RAM. Storage requirements, on the other hand, are taken care of by a single M.2 2280 slot and dual SATA 3 ports. The I/O on offer has been detailed below:

Triple USB 2.0 Type-A, single USB 3.2 Gen 1

Two RS-232 COM ports, four RS-232 box headers

Dual USB 2.0 box headers, single USB 3.2 Gen 1 x1 Type-A (internal)

Dual 1G Ethernet

8-bit GPIO header

Multiple expansion pathways are also possible courtesy of a single PCIe x8 slot (physical x16), a single M.2 2230 slot, and dual PCIe-based proprietary "Golden Finger" expansion connectors for I/O modules from Axiomtek.

The GMB150 will be available soon according to Axiomtek, although its pricing details are yet to be revealed. Interested customers can contact Axiomtek directly in order to get a quote, which is likely to depend on order volume.

Typical consumers looking for a similarly powerful gaming mini PC can check out something like the Minisforum Ai X1 mini PC, powered by the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 Gorgon Point APU.

mundophone

TECH

Why does so much laboratory plastic end up in the trash, even though it is recyclable?

Laboratories require disposable plastic for a simple reason: to prevent contamination. Bottles, Petri dishes, and pipette tips are used daily; once they come into contact with potentially contaminated samples, they can no longer follow the standard recycling path. For years, this meant sterilization, transport, and often, final disposal. Now, a new technology aims to change this dynamic right where the waste is generated.

The paradox arises once the experiment ends. Many laboratory containers are made from plastics that could otherwise be recycled. The problem is that, after coming into contact with microorganisms or certain substances, they are classified as contaminated waste.

This completely changes their fate.

Instead of entering a conventional recycling stream, these materials must undergo specific decontamination processes. Often, they are sterilized in autoclaves—equipment that uses high-pressure steam. Even after this treatment, some of the waste may still end up in landfills or be incinerated.

The result is a counterintuitive situation: an object made of recyclable material can turn into trash simply because it was used in a laboratory.

This is where a new approach comes in. Instead of transporting waste to an off-site facility, a machine allows various treatment stages to be carried out within the laboratory itself.

The equipment decontaminates the materials and then shreds them. The result is fragments that can be sent for sorting and subsequent recovery.

The goal isn't to instantly turn a used bottle into a new one. The objective is more fundamental—and perhaps more important: to remove the obstacle preventing the waste from re-entering the recycling stream.

In Scotland, the experiment has already processed thousands of bottles...The technology is called GENERATIONS and was developed by Envetec Sustainable Technologies. Scottish Water, the public utility responsible for water supply in Scotland, decided to put the system to the test.

Since January, the system has processed approximately 72,000 bottles used for sample collection. This initiative made the company the first water utility in the world to use such a system, according to an announcement released by Scottish Water itself.

But the bottles are just the beginning. The system is now also being used for materials that are harder to send for conventional recycling, such as Petri dishes and pipette tips.

The importance of this shift becomes clearer when looking at the scale of the problem. Scottish Water’s laboratories conduct around 3 million analyses annually, examining samples from various locations across Scotland to monitor water quality, identify microorganisms, and track environmental parameters.

This volume generates a significant amount of plastic waste.

The Scottish initiative therefore seeks to transform an unavoidable stage of scientific activity. Instead of automatically treating certain products as trash after use, the idea is to determine whether they can be decontaminated and prepared for a recovery process.

A solution to a much larger problem... The challenge is far from unique to Scottish Water. The University of Bath estimates that scientific research accounts for approximately 2% of global plastic waste and calculates that a life sciences laboratory professional can generate about 116 kilograms of waste per year.

The reason for so much disposable plastic is understandable. In scientific settings, reusing a pipette tip or other material that has come into contact with a sample can lead to contamination, alter results, and compromise critical analyses.

The technology, therefore, does not aim simply to eliminate disposable products. Instead, it seeks to address what happens after they have served their purpose.

Another interesting feature of the system is traceability. The equipment records data such as the volume processed, the types of polymers involved, the origin of the waste, and the material's ultimate destination. It also allows for estimates of the emissions that could have been avoided. This can help answer a fundamental question: did the plastic really return to the recovery chain, or did it simply change location?

If the experiment demonstrates consistent results on a larger scale, the technology could spark interest among universities, hospitals, and research centers. After all, the issue lies not only in the amount of plastic used in science but also in the difficulty of recovering materials that—despite being technically recyclable—pose a biohazard risk.

The machine does not eliminate laboratories' reliance on disposable plastic. However, it can address one of the most challenging aspects of the problem: preventing contamination from turning potentially recyclable material into permanent waste.

mundophone

 

DIGITAL LIFE

OpenAI blocks Russian-origin AI influence campaign

An AI-driven influence campaign used ChatGPT to create posts promoting an entity presented as an Israel-based think tank. OpenAI blocked the associated accounts after concluding they likely originated in Russia.

The operation promoted the "International Burke Institute" through content published on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Substack, and Telegram. The institute featured experts, academic articles, and a "sovereignty index," but an analysis revealed plagiarized texts, false attributions, and content favorable to Russia.

Key points:

OpenAI blocked a set of ChatGPT accounts likely originating in Russia.

The operators used the platform to create posts and comments for social media.

Analysis found 34 plagiarized articles in a sample of 36 pieces of content associated with the institute.

Most posts saw little engagement, although some Telegram channels amassed between 10,000 and 20,000 followers.

OpenAI announced the account blocks on August 25 in a report on the influence operation. The company stated that users accessed ChatGPT from Russia using virtual private networks (VPNs).

Access to OpenAI models is not available in Russia. VPNs allowed the accounts to mask their actual location and bypass this restriction.

The operators wrote prompts in Russian but requested content primarily in English. Some requests specified the removal of linguistic traits that might reveal the authors' Russian origin.

OpenAI identified ChatGPT-generated text in posts on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Substack, and Telegram. Some accounts used the International Burke Institute's name and visual identity. Others posed as ordinary users and primarily shared links to the entity's content.

ChatGPT was also used to generate replies to posts by real users on Substack. These messages typically recommended that readers follow the institute's channel. The investigation also uncovered German-language posts targeting Ukraine, the European Union, and the German government. Another operator requested images for approximately 12 Telegram channels focused on Germany, the United States, France, Poland, and Turkey.

Attribution requires caution. OpenAI considers it highly likely that the accounts originated in Russia but presented no evidence of a direct link to the Russian government.

The institute used plagiarized academic content...Most of the activity promoted the International Burke Institute, also known by the acronym IBI. Its website was registered in February 2025 and presented the organization as an international community of experts based in Israel.

The page linked well-known figures from academia and politics to the institute. Among them were Francis Fukuyama, Noam Chomsky, and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

OpenAI’s research analyzed a sample of 36 articles published between September 2025 and May 2026. The company concluded that 34 of them had been copied from other online sources.

Some texts were years old. Others were attributed to authors who had not written them. One article about the China-Pakistan economic corridor, for instance, reproduced a work published by Cambridge University Press but attributed the content to a different researcher.

In another instance, the site linked an article on migration policy to an Australian food chemistry professor. The original text had been published by the Migration Policy Institute and was authored by others.

An independent investigation by *Le Monde* also found references to alleged partnerships with international organizations. UNICEF confirmed to the newspaper that the International Burke Institute was not an approved partner and that there was no record of any joint work.

These elements created an appearance of academic authority. The plagiarized content gave the site a documentary foundation that could seem legitimate to a reader who did not verify the original authors and publications. OpenAI found no evidence that the items hosted on the site had been produced by its models. ChatGPT's role focused primarily on creating promotional posts for social media.

Artificial intelligence supported the distribution of the campaign... The International Burke Institute also published an index designed to assess national sovereignty. The methodology placed Russia in a favorable position while presenting negative assessments of France, Germany, the European Union, and the United States.

The texts argued that Western European countries had lost political and economic autonomy. They also criticized European support for Ukraine and advocated for better relations with Russia.

Using a proprietary index lent the messages a quantitative appearance. Operators could present political opinions as the results of an institutional methodology, even without demonstrating the validity of the criteria used.

ChatGPT served to amplify the distribution of this content. Instead of building an entire infrastructure from scratch, the model generated messages tailored to different platforms and audiences.

This distinction is crucial for understanding the role of artificial intelligence in influence operations. While the technology can reduce the time and cost required to produce content in multiple languages, it still relies on websites, accounts, channels, and distribution mechanisms.

In this instance, the use of ChatGPT also contributed to the operation's detection. By analyzing accounts and requests, OpenAI was able to link scattered posts to the International Burke Institute and the channels promoting its content.

OpenAI considers the campaign's immediate impact to have been limited. Social media posts generally garnered few views and interactions, and the institute's official accounts had few subscribers.

Telegram channels boasted larger audiences; according to the company, several had between 10,000 and 20,000 followers. These figures do not, in themselves, confirm that the followers were authentic or that they engaged with the content.

Using the impact scale developed by the Brookings Institution, OpenAI placed the operation at the lower end of category three. This classification corresponds to activity spanning multiple platforms, with some evidence of contact with real audiences.

The case is significant primarily due to its infrastructure. The operation brought together an entity with an institutional appearance, alleged experts, academic content, a proprietary index, and distribution channels across several countries.

*Le Monde* also identified individuals physically present in Israel who were associated with the institute or the promotion of the index. OpenAI stated that it was unable to determine the relationship between these individuals, the IBI, and the operators based in Russia.

To date, there is also no proven link between the institute and the Social Design Agency, an entity associated with other Russian disinformation campaigns. However, previously released documents outlined plans to establish a think tank in Israel capable of distributing content through Western media outlets.

The case demonstrates that artificial intelligence can serve as a component of broader operations aimed at manufacturing credibility. A limited initial reach does not eliminate the risk that such an infrastructure could expand, gain recognition, and serve as an apparent source for political content.

mundophone

TECH

In Lucia GTA 6 leak, Cyberleek hints at release date delay with game not ready

According to Cyberleek, GTA 6 is in rough shape only months ahead of its release date. The leaker hints at a delay in the Lucia prologue video, which only contains minimal spoilers. Insiders believe that the Rockstar build is either very recent or more than a year old.

After winning a vote, Cyberleek’s latest GTA 6 leak features Lucia in a portion of the game’s prologue. While fans feared spoilers, it only briefly delves into the character’s backstory. The larger development may be the claim that the video is from a recent build. Rockstar’s tormentor also suggests that the title will not be ready in time for its November release date.

The video begins with an anxious Lucia sitting at a restaurant table. Apparently low on cash, she orders water before a waiter asks her to leave. The scene then switches to a prison, where Jason’s partner walks its confines with inmate chatter in the background. The clip ends with Lucia about to speak to a freshly assigned counselor.

Leading up to the new GTA 6 leak, there was speculation about how old the build Cyberleek accessed was. Following the debut of the first basketball gameplay video, insider NateTheHate said the footage was at least a year old. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier later explained that the videos were from a more recent build.

During the Lucia prologue, Cyberleek adds a message that may spark fears of a GTA 6 release date delay. The leaker says, “This build is actually recent and the game is not ready at all.”

Most fans have praised the visual quality and detail showcased in earlier clips. Even so, viewers have identified bugs, like a glitchy NPC in Jason’s gas station encounter. Pop-in has also cropped up, particularly with objects like backpacks in the Vice City Beach footage.

Is a delay still possible? Cyberleek, who has protested Rockstar ditching discs, may be trying to cast doubt on the game’s success. Schreier recently revealed that the title is “pretty close to being finished,” and that developers are in their final push. In Rockstar’s first response to the GTA 6 leaks on August 26th, the studio confirmed that the game was “nearly there!”

Despite the barrage of leaks, the August 27th GTA 6 Netflix Extended Look will still air on schedule. Previews from media outlets should appear following the broadcast.

mundophone

TECH

ToxicPanda 2.0: An Android banking Trojan and remote access tool designed for account takeover and "on-device fraud"

Researchers have discovered ToxicPanda 2.0, an Android banking Trojan and remote access tool designed for account takeover and "on-device fraud."

ToxicPanda 2.0 not only targets a much larger list of banks and e-wallets but has also expanded its capabilities by combining banking overlays, remote access, and PIN capture. It exploits Android accessibility services and attempts to automate wireless debugging. Together, these functions enable operators to turn a compromised phone into a platform for account takeover, financial fraud, and long-term device control.

The primary goal is on-device fraud. This means that instead of logging in from an attacker-controlled machine, the operator can perform actions from the victim's infected phone, taking control of the device, IP address, app session, and the behavioral context that banks use to determine whether a transaction is fraudulent.

ToxicPanda 2.0 relies on abusing Android's Accessibility Service—a legitimate feature designed to help people interact with their devices. When a victim grants this permission to a malicious app, the malware can inspect interface elements, monitor app activity, automate interactions, and overlay deceptive content onto legitimate apps (a technique known as "overlaying").

Historically, ToxicPanda has relied on social engineering to persuade users to manually install the malicious Android app rather than downloading it from Google Play. The latest campaign uses AWS-hosted Amazon S3 buckets to distribute ToxicPanda 2.0 samples.

Upon installation, the dropper presents a fake setup flow and issues permission requests. ...uses VPN privileges, blocks specific network communications from Google Play and Google Play Services, decrypts embedded content, and then requests Accessibility Service permission for the installed content.

Consequences may include the theft of banking usernames and passwords, interception or capture of PINs, fraudulent transactions, loss of device access, and exposure of the phone's screen-lock password. An attacker operating within an active banking session from the victim's device may be more likely to bypass controls designed to identify unknown devices or unusual login locations.

How to stay safe...Despite its sophistication, ToxicPanda 2.0 still relies heavily on social engineering to trick victims into installing the malicious app and granting the necessary permissions. Therefore, our key recommendations are:

Avoid installing apps from external sources, especially those linked in unsolicited messages, advertisements, or purported support communications.

Exercise extreme caution regarding requests for accessibility access, device administrator privileges, developer settings, and VPN permissions—especially if the app's need for these permissions is unclear or if you do not fully trust the app.

Use an up-to-date, real-time anti-malware solution on your device capable of detecting and blocking the malicious payload. Malwarebytes for Android detects apps from the ToxicPanda 2.0 campaign as... Android/Trojan.Dropper.agent and Android/Trojan.FakeApp.ACR2401245FC11.

If your device is infected...While a factory reset might be necessary to regain control of an infected device, there are a few things you can try first:

First, put your phone in airplane mode and turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This can disrupt command-and-control communications and prevent credential theft while you investigate. Use another device to freeze or closely monitor transactions, revoke active sessions, and reset your banking credentials.

Do not interact with fake "system update" screens or unexpected requests regarding accessibility, VPN, device administrator, developer options, or wireless debugging.

Start Android in Safe Mode. Google recommends Safe Mode to help identify issues caused by downloaded apps. Remove recently installed or suspicious apps one by one, restart the device normally, and check if the problem persists.

Start Android in Safe Mode. Google recommends Safe Mode to help identify issues caused by downloaded apps. Remove recently installed or suspicious apps one by one, restart the device normally, and check if the problem persists.

First, remove accessibility access. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Installed apps/Downloaded apps and disable any service you do not recognize. Focus on recently installed apps or anything posing as an update, system component, security tool, document viewer, or banking assistant.

Next, check device administrator rights. Go to Security & privacy > More security settings > Device admin apps and disable any unrecognized administrator before attempting removal. An app with device administrator privileges can make the uninstall option unavailable.

Then, check your VPNs. Go to Settings > Network & internet > VPN (or search for "VPN" in Settings) and delete any VPN profile you did not deliberately install. The ToxicPanda dropper uses VPN permissions as part of the process to block Google Play and Google Play Services.

Disable dangerous developer features. Search for "Developer options" in Settings, turn them off completely, and ensure that Wireless debugging and USB debugging are disabled.

Remove any suspicious apps you find. Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps, enable "Show system apps" if necessary, and locate recently installed or unknown apps. Force stop the suspicious app, clear its storage, and select Uninstall. Consider an app suspicious if it has a generic name, a blank icon, an odd installation date, or was installed outside the Google Play Store.

Restart normally after removal, then re-check Accessibility, Device Admin apps, VPN settings, and Developer options. Also check the list of installed applications for a second suspicious package, since the reported campaign uses a dropper to decrypt and install its malicious content.

mundophone

SONY

Sony Xperia 10 VIII: same processor and few new features

Sony has just officially unveiled its latest mid-range smartphone, the highly anticipated Sony Xperia 10 VIII. Recent rumors and leaks regarding the brand proved once again to be spot-on, revealing a device with a very familiar look.

This new device hits the market with an extremely conservative approach, retaining a large portion of its predecessor's hardware. It is surprising, to say the least, to see the Asian manufacturer betting on a recycled processor to try and win over consumers in such a competitive year.

Even so, there are several reasons to be excited about this European launch, scheduled for late September. Get ready to discover the details of what has actually changed in the iconic Japanese brand's latest offering.

For those who can't stand punch-hole screens or the notches commonly found at the top of displays, Sony remains steadfast in its philosophy of a perfectly clean design. The side bezels remain quite slim and elegant, although the top and bottom of the frame are still noticeably thicker than those of most rivals in the same price range.

The real star of the device's front is undoubtedly the 6.1-inch OLED panel. This year, you finally get a 120Hz refresh rate and an impressive brightness level that is 50% higher than last year's model—a feature that will come in handy on days with intense sunlight.

Recycled processor and software with new tricks...Inside the new smartphone lies one of the launch's biggest disappointments, as the tech giant decided to recycle the processor from the previous generation. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 makes a return appearance, so you shouldn't expect any major technological leaps in raw day-to-day performance. The real highlight of this generation lies in the software, as the phone comes pre-loaded with the Android 16 operating system. The manufacturer has also added a new feature dubbed "Point & Pay," allowing you to double-press the power button to instantly access your payment QR codes and standard loyalty cards.

Technical specifications of the new smartphone...To ensure you don't miss any key details about the build of the new Sony Xperia 10 VIII, we have gathered the full specifications that have been revealed. It boasts a well-balanced set of features, perfectly capable of handling all your most demanding daily tasks and needs.

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3

Display: 6.1-inch OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate

RAM: 8GB

Internal Storage: 128GB

Battery: 5,000 mAh cell

Operating System: Android 16

Cameras: 50MP main lens with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens

Beyond the technical specs, your photos will continue to benefit from the now-iconic dedicated shutter button on the right side of the device. At the same time, the multimedia experience promises to be richer, as the brand has optimized the dual speakers to deliver fuller, more immersive sound in any situation.

The new Sony Xperia 10 VIII is scheduled to launch in the European market between mid- and late September. Regarding official pricing, the manufacturer confirmed that the device will hit stores with a price tag of 599 euros.

This is an attractive price point considering the rampant inflation and constant price hikes in the tech market, ensuring your budget doesn't take a massive hit. However, the decision to stick with the older processor might make many enthusiastic users think twice before making a final decision.

mundophone

TECH

Caviar expands customized foldable "iPhone Ultra" luxury collection with new models

Caviar has expanded its foldable "iPhone Ultra" collection with four limited-edition designs. Since Apple has not yet announced the device, the models and reported specs remain concepts based on leaks and rumors rather than confirmed product previews.

Caviar, a luxury brand that typically specializes in creating customized variants of flagship smartphones, has further expanded its bespoke collection of a foldable "iPhone Ultra" not yet officially announced by Apple. Initially announced back in June, the collection has since been expanded to include an additional four customized models. These include Liquid Metal, Jobs, Magenta and Karat, which are limited to 17, 9, 19 and 19 pieces, respectively.

The most notable of these, Liqud Metal, features a sculpted 925 sterling silver exterior with a rippling, reflective finish and a three-dimensional Apple logo. The Jobs edition is a throwback to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs with a design inspired by his legacy, while both the Magenta and the Karat editions combine crocodile leather in raspberry pink and black with 925 sterling silver and 24K gold, respectively. Prices range from $14,130 for the Karat model all the way up to $18,840 for Liquid Metal.

The most notable of these, Liqud Metal, features a sculpted 925 sterling silver exterior with a rippling, reflective finish and a three-dimensional Apple logo. The Jobs edition is a throwback to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs with a design inspired by his legacy, while both the Magenta and the Karat editions combine crocodile leather in raspberry pink and black with 925 sterling silver and 24K gold, respectively. Prices range from $14,130 for the Karat model all the way up to $18,840 for Liquid Metal.

mundophone