The top 3 tech trends of the week you need to know

Every week, the tech landscape brings us significant innovations in the most dynamic sectors of the moment. In recent days, three trends, in particular, have captured the attention of experts and enthusiasts: advancements in generative artificial intelligence, innovations in the smartphone industry (especially next-generation foldable devices), and a shocking cybersecurity case related to cryptocurrencies. Below, we analyze each of these trends in detail, exploring their impact and possible future developments, with supporting data and sources.

Next-Generation Foldable Smartphones and Smart Features

The News:

In the mobile device sector, this week’s focus is on innovations in smartphone design. At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona—the leading trade show for mobile technology—spotlights are on next-generation foldable phones, especially multi-hinge foldables.

Huawei, for instance, has announced the global launch of the Mate XT, which is being marketed as the world’s first commercially available triple-fold (tri-fold) smartphone (Huawei to bring pricey trifold smartphone to world market • The Register). This futuristic device can fold into three parts thanks to an elaborate hinge mechanism, allowing it to expand to tablet size. It is an ultra-premium product, with an expected price of around €3,000, far exceeding the current foldable phones on the market (for comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 costs around €1,000) (Huawei to bring pricey trifold smartphone to world market • The Register).

Besides Huawei, other Chinese manufacturers are also exploring this form factor. Xiaomi, for example, is rumored to be unveiling its own tri-fold smartphone, following this emerging trend (Xiaomi expected to launch a Tri-Fold smartphone at MWC 2025: What to expect? | India TV).

Meanwhile, foldable smartphones are becoming more refined: the Google Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z series (now in their Flip6 and Fold6 iterations) indicate that foldable devices are no longer experimental but are solidifying their place in the market.

Another key trend is the increasing integration of AI and health-monitoring features into smartphones. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 comes with an advanced Galaxy AI system that can track stress levels and other vital signs (when paired with wearables like the smart ring and Galaxy Watch). It can even transcribe and translate phone calls in real time (New smartphone designs to check out ahead of MWC 2025). Similarly, Chinese brands like TECNO and Oppo are enhancing smartphone photography with AI-driven algorithms that improve skin tone recognition and optimize images (TECNO teases a new phone prototype and more AI for MWC 2025 | Android Central).

Impact:

The adoption of next-gen foldable smartphones signals a new wave of innovation in an otherwise mature market. Having a display that expands up to 10 inches (as with Huawei’s tri-fold Mate XT) while remaining pocketable could revolutionize the user experience—enhancing multitasking, entertainment, and productivity without compromising portability (Huawei Mate XT, the tri-fold smartphone, launches globally)).

The Mate XT’s multi-screen mode allows users to seamlessly switch between single, dual, or triple screens based on their needs, unlocking new use cases for work and media consumption (Huawei Mate XT, the tri-fold smartphone, launches globally)).

Meanwhile, AI-powered assistants in smartphones—whether for photography, health monitoring, or real-time translation—are making these devices more personalized and indispensable than ever. A smartphone that monitors stress levels, provides wellness advice, and translates foreign-language calls in real-time significantly enhances usability and accessibility.

Future Developments:

In the short term, we can expect a proliferation of new foldable concepts, including rollable and multi-fold designs, as hinge and flexible screen technologies continue to improve.

However, mass adoption will depend on two key factors:

1. Lowering costs: Current foldable devices are still too expensive for mainstream consumers.

2. Enhancing durability: Foldable phones remain more fragile than traditional ones, but improvements in ultra-thin glass and hinge mechanisms could change this.

One of the biggest questions is how Apple will respond. While the company has yet to release a foldable iPhone, industry rumors suggest it is developing flexible screens for future iPads or MacBooks. If Apple enters the foldable market, it could accelerate mainstream adoption, similar to how the company popularized other product categories in the past.

On the software side, on-device AI chips capable of running advanced machine learning models directly on smartphones are expected to become a game-changer. These could power offline voice recognition, augmented reality applications, and real-time language translation, making mobile AI more useful and privacy-friendly.

Overall, the mobile industry appears to be entering a new phase of innovation, where cutting-edge hardware and intelligent software merge to redefine what smartphones can do.

Cybersecurity and Cryptocurrencies: A Massive Hack Shakes the Market

The News:

This week also saw a major cybersecurity incident in the cryptocurrency sector, highlighting the critical importance of security in digital finance. The cryptocurrency exchange Bybit—one of the world's largest by trading volume—suffered a massive hack, with an estimated theft of $1.4–$1.5 billion in Ethereum (ETH) (The largest crypto heist: $1.5 billion stolen from Bybit by North Korean hackers | Corriere.it).

This is one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history, possibly the biggest ever in terms of value. To put it in perspective, the stolen amount exceeds 400,000 ETH, surpassing previous high-profile hacks (The largest crypto heist: $1.5 billion stolen from Bybit by North Korean hackers | Corriere.it).

The infamous Lazarus Group, a North Korean cybercriminal gang known for major cryptocurrency thefts, is suspected to be behind the attack (The largest crypto heist: $1.5 billion stolen from Bybit by North Korean hackers | Corriere.it).

The hackers reportedly exploited a vulnerability in a process believed to be among the safest within the platform, targeting a transaction between a multi-signature cold wallet (an offline wallet requiring multiple security keys) and a hot wallet (an online wallet used for active trading) (The largest crypto heist: $1.5 billion stolen from Bybit by North Korean hackers | Corriere.it)).

By manipulating the cryptographic signing process, they managed to divert the funds without triggering security alerts. The sheer scale of this attack has sent shockwaves through the crypto world.

Bybit has stated that it remains solvent (thanks to its reserves and external support) and has already taken emergency measures to protect affected users (The largest crypto heist: $1.5 billion stolen from Bybit by North Korean hackers | Corriere.it).

However, the damage to trust in the platform and the crypto industry as a whole is significant.

Impact:

The Bybit hack had immediate market repercussions.

• Following the news, massive sell-offs of cryptocurrencies occurred, triggering price volatility.

• Bitcoin, for example, dropped below $90,000 after the attack (Heavy selling in the crypto sector after Bybit hack - Il Sole 24 ORE).

Large-scale attacks like this damage confidence in the crypto ecosystem, leading both institutional investors and retail users to exercise greater caution.

However, the incident has also prompted stronger cooperation among security firms, blockchain analytics companies, and law enforcement. Organizations like Chainalysis are already tracking the stolen funds, trying to freeze or recover them (Collaboration in the Wake of Record-Breaking Bybit Theft).

The Lazarus Group and other cybercriminals often attempt to launder stolen funds through complex networks of transactions and mixing services, making recovery difficult. However, international collaboration between exchanges, forensic analysts, and regulators has improved in recent years, offering some hope of limiting the hackers’ success.

Future Developments:

While the Bybit hack is a major setback, it could accelerate security improvements across the cryptocurrency industry.

• Exchanges will likely strengthen their security protocols, implementing more robust multi-signature wallets, additional verification layers, and external security audits.

• Some regulators may push for stricter cybersecurity standards for crypto firms, similar to those imposed on banks and financial institutions.

Unfortunately, the scale of this heist also serves as an incentive for other cybercriminal groups to attempt similar attacks. Given the huge profits, hacking activity is unlikely to slow down. This means the industry must remain on high alert, investing heavily in round-the-clock monitoring, cybersecurity training, and advanced anti-intrusion systems.

For everyday users, this incident reinforces the importance of personal security measures:

• Use exchanges with strong security reputations.

• Store large amounts of crypto in personal hardware wallets rather than exchange wallets.

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and secure private keys carefully.

In conclusion, the Bybit mega-hack will likely become a case study in cybersecurity, reminding the world that every financial innovation must also prioritize system security and resilience.

Sources:

This week’s technology trends were analyzed using various authoritative sources.

• For AI advancements, Il Sole 24 Ore provided insights on Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Anthropic unveils Claude 3.7 Sonnet) and AI-driven search tools like Google Gemini.

• For foldable smartphones, sources like The Register and Designboom covered Huawei’s Mate XT and Samsung’s AI-integrated features.

• For cryptocurrency security, reports from Corriere della Sera and Il Sole 24 Ore detailed the Bybit hack, its market effects, and responses from cybersecurity firms.

Generative Artificial Intelligence Becomes More Advanced

The News:

The race towards increasingly powerful and “intelligent” artificial intelligence (AI) models continues unabated. This week, the startup Anthropic unveiled Claude 3.7 Sonnet, described as the most advanced AI model so far and the first example of “hybrid reasoning” in the field of generative AI (Anthropic unveils Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the new AI with hybrid reasoning capabilities - Il Sole 24 ORE). Essentially, Claude 3.7 combines two approaches: it can provide immediate responses but can also “think longer” when needed, enhancing the depth of its analyses. According to its developers, this new model represents “a significant leap forward in AI conversational reasoning and comprehension capabilities” (Anthropic unveils Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the new AI with hybrid reasoning capabilities - Il Sole 24 ORE).

Initial tests seem to confirm this: Claude 3.7 Sonnet outperformed comparable OpenAI models in programming tasks (62.3% accuracy versus 49.3% for an OpenAI model) and in complex interactions with users and external APIs (81.2% vs. 73.5%) (Anthropic unveils Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the new AI with hybrid reasoning capabilities - Il Sole 24 ORE). These numbers indicate tangible progress in AI’s ability to perform practical tasks more effectively.

Impact:

The introduction of models like Claude 3.7 highlights the accelerating evolution of AI. A model capable of “reasoning” more like a human paves the way for more reliable and versatile virtual assistants in various fields, from business decision-making support to scientific research. The competition between big tech companies and emerging startups in the generative AI field is becoming even fiercer.

It’s no coincidence that Google recently raised the stakes by launching the Deep Research feature, based on its Gemini model—an AI assistant that autonomously browses the web, analyzes multiple sources, and synthesizes information to answer complex questions (From Gemini to Grok-3: What is Deep Research, the advanced AI-powered search function? - Il Sole 24 ORE). This marks “a true shift from the search engine era to the generative AI era” (From Gemini to Grok-3: What is Deep Research, the advanced AI-powered search function? - Il Sole 24 ORE), inaugurating the age of AI agents capable of conducting in-depth research for us.

In just a few weeks, similar services have been introduced or announced by OpenAI (with ChatGPT enhanced by web browsing plugins) and even by Elon Musk with his new Grok project (From Gemini to Grok-3: What is Deep Research, the advanced AI-powered search function? - Il Sole 24 ORE). These developments underscore how AI is permeating every aspect of the digital world: not only answering our questions but actively searching for the best answers on its own.

Future Developments:

This trend is expected to continue, with even more sophisticated models emerging. In the near future, generative AI could become a standard component in countless everyday applications, integrating into work tools, search engines, cloud platforms, and even operating systems.

At the same time, the increased “reasoning” capabilities raise new challenges: ensuring that these AI models remain reliable, transparent, and free from biases or hallucinations as they take on more complex tasks will be crucial. Regulators and the scientific community are already discussing guidelines to govern the use of advanced AI so that the benefits of these models can be harnessed safely and equitably.

Additionally, competition between giants (Google, OpenAI, Microsoft) and startups is likely to push the pace of innovation even further—perhaps leading to the announcement of GPT-5 or other groundbreaking models in the near future.

For users and businesses, the message is clear: AI is transitioning from an experimental tool to a fundamental component of all technology, making it increasingly important to stay informed about these developments.

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