AI-powered drones may soon work in teams to prevent wildfires, according to UK researchers. The project, still in testing, aims to deploy up to 30 autonomous drones to detect and extinguish fires. This is the first initiative combining drone technology with swarm engineering for firefighting.

These large, twin-engine drones have a 9.5-meter wingspan and can carry significant amounts of water. Unlike human-piloted drones, they operate fully autonomously. Inspired by the coordinated behavior of birds and bees, the next phase of the research focuses on swarm engineering, where drones work together to tackle complex tasks, potentially transforming wildfire prevention efforts.

E-commerce platforms are offering discounts of up to 11% on Apple’s new iPhone 16 series in China, where Huawei is also making waves in the market. Ahead of the official release, online retailers are cutting prices as consumers await Apple’s debut of on-device AI software.

PDD Holdings’ Pinduoduo is selling the iPhone 16 Plus (512GB) for 8,999 yuan (US$1,268), marking a 10% discount from the official price of 9,999 yuan, while the 128GB iPhone 16 is available at an 11% discount.

Instagram has launched “teen accounts” to safeguard users under 18, with features like automatic conversion to private accounts, restricted messages from non-followers, and limits on sensitive content.

Meta, Instagram’s parent company, announced the update, adding tools for parents to monitor app usage.

Teens will receive notifications to take breaks after 60 minutes and benefit from “sleep mode” notifications muting.

The feature will begin rolling out in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, with global expansion expected by January 2025.