Gadget & Tech News — 2026-08-18
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Gadget & Tech News — August 18, 2026
The day's most relevant tech news for gadget buyers and smart-home builders, curated by GadgetSmart Pro.
1. TikTok explores peer-to-peer payments via DMs, report says
If rolled out, the feature would use the social media service’s TikTok Pay offering, which is already available in Southeast Asia for TikTok Shop purchases.
2. OpenAI says it's "pacing model development" as AI cybersecurity risks grow too dangerous
OpenAI is deliberately "pacing AI model development," partly because the upcoming "Astra" model may be close to gaining critical cyber
3. No charger, no problem: The best ways to charge your phone away from an outlet
You don't need your phone charger to keep your device topped up, as long as you have a USB cable and something to plug it into.
4. New benchmark ranks search APIs for AI agents on quality, cost, and speed
Artificial Analysis has released the "Search Index," a benchmark that rates search API providers for AI agents on quality, cost, and speed. Of sev
5. OpenAI institutes new safeguards after Hugging Face breach
The new safeguards include more detailed monitoring of models during the development process, as well as greater emphasis on alignment and security during the post-training process.
6. Save up to $300 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass until August 21
If you’ve been circling around Disrupt, then now’s the best time to lock in your pass and start getting ready to join the rest of the startup community gathering in San Francisco from October 13-15 at Moscone West!
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