Technology

The Battle Cats continues to expand its roster of collectible cats with the recent addition of 850, an Uber Rare unit. Released as part of the Sengoku Wargods Vajiras gacha event on February 16, 2026, this new cat brings a unique skillset focused on crowd control and disrupting enemy advances. The update, version 15.2, also introduced several other new units and improvements to existing ones, signaling ongoing development for the popular mobile game.

For players of The Battle Cats, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each unit is crucial for strategic success. 850 is designed as a backline rusher, excelling at slowing down opposing forces, particularly those composed of Reds, Angels, and Blacks. This makes it a valuable asset in stages heavily populated with aggressive enemy types.

According to the official Battle Cats Wiki, 850-1 boasts a 100% chance to slow targets for 3.5 seconds on average when both attacks connect. This slow effect has a 63% uptime, but can be increased to over 70% with the activation of explosions during combat. This consistent disruption can significantly hinder enemy progress and create opportunities for other attackers to deal damage.

The unit’s design allows it to safely engage enemies from the backline, minimizing risk whereas maximizing its control capabilities. Players can effectively use 850 to hold back powerful enemies like St. Dobers and Winged Pigges, or to counter overwhelming waves of Angelic Gory and Shadow Boxer K units. Its rebound mechanics also prevent it from overextending and getting caught out of position.

Understanding 850’s Class and Abilities

850 is classified as a Normal, Backliner, Rusher, and Crowd-Controller. While details regarding evolved and true forms are currently unavailable in the English version of the game, the base unit already demonstrates significant utility. The Battle Cats Wiki notes that classification does not include Talents, suggesting further customization options may be available in future updates.

Beyond 850, Version 15.2 brought three additional new cats to the game: 851 (RR rarity), 852 (RR rarity), and 853 (EX rarity). The update also included a True Form for an existing unit, and adjustments to the stats of unit 449, increasing its HP from 54,400 to 68,000 (+25%) and ATT from 11,220 to 12,342 (+10%).

Talent Updates and User Rank Rewards

The update didn’t stop at new units and stat adjustments. Several cats received new Talents. Unit 330 (UR rarity) gained Target Traitless Immunity to Waves and improvements to Curse duration, health, and attack power. Similarly, unit 631 (UR rarity) received a chance to pierce Shields, Curse Immunity, and upgrades to health and attack power. Unit 338 (UR rarity) also received an Ultra Talent, reducing Surge damage and cost.

Players can also benefit from new User Rank rewards. Reaching rank 26,800 grants +5 Rare Catseyes, 26,900 grants +5 Super Rare Catseyes, and 27,000 grants +1 Rare Ticket. The update also increased the plus level caps for several popular cats, including Million-Dollar Cat, Secret Crush Cat, Tomboy Lion Cat, Chalkboard Eraser Cat, Meditation Cat, and Lieutenant Cat.

The developers also removed Weekly Catnip Challenges and clarified the Save Transfer screen for improved user experience. These changes demonstrate a commitment to refining the game and addressing player feedback.

The addition of 850 and the accompanying updates in Version 15.2 represent a significant injection of new content into The Battle Cats. As the game continues to evolve, players can expect further additions and refinements to the gameplay experience. The Sengoku Wargods Vajiras event provides a limited-time opportunity to acquire this powerful new unit, and players are encouraged to explore its capabilities to enhance their strategies.

What impact will 850 have on the meta? Only time will tell as players experiment with different team compositions and strategies. Share your thoughts and experiences with the new unit in the comments below!

Google’s artificial intelligence-powered search summaries are raising concerns about patient safety, as a fresh investigation reveals the company is downplaying crucial disclaimers regarding the accuracy of its AI-generated medical advice. While Google asserts its AI Overviews, which appear at the top of search results, encourage users to consult healthcare professionals, these warnings are often hidden from initial view, potentially leading individuals to misinterpret information and delay or forgo necessary medical care.

The issue centers on how Google presents disclaimers related to the reliability of its AI health summaries. According to findings, the company doesn’t display any disclaimer when initially presenting medical advice to users. Instead, a warning appears only if a user specifically clicks a “Indicate more” button to access additional information, and even then, the disclaimer is presented in a smaller, lighter font at the very bottom of the expanded summary.

This approach has sparked criticism from AI experts and patient advocates, who argue that prominent disclaimers are essential when dealing with sensitive health information. The concern is that the current placement and formatting of the disclaimer may lull users into a false sense of security, leading them to trust the AI-generated advice without critical evaluation. The core issue, as highlighted by researchers, is the potential for AI models to “hallucinate” misinformation or prioritize user satisfaction over accuracy, particularly dangerous in healthcare contexts.

Google maintains that its AI Overviews “encourage people to seek professional medical advice” and often mention seeking medical attention “when appropriate.” However, critics contend that this isn’t enough, and the lack of immediate, prominent disclaimers creates unacceptable risk. The debate comes after a Guardian investigation in January revealed instances of inaccurate and misleading health information being provided by Google’s AI Overviews, prompting the company to remove the feature for some medical searches.

AI-Generated Advice and the Risk of Misinformation

The problem isn’t simply about technical limitations of AI, but also about human behavior, according to Pat Pataranutaporn, an assistant professor and researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). “Users may not provide all necessary context or may ask the wrong questions by misobserving their symptoms,” she explained. “Disclaimers serve as a crucial intervention point. They disrupt this automatic trust and prompt users to engage more critically with the information they receive.” The potential for harm is amplified by the fact that people often turn to the internet during moments of worry and crisis, seeking quick answers to health concerns.

Design Choices Prioritizing Speed Over Accuracy

Gina Neff, a professor of responsible AI at Queen Mary University of London, argues that the issue is “by design,” and that Google is prioritizing speed over accuracy with its AI Overviews. “AI Overviews are designed for speed, not accuracy, and that leads to mistakes in health information, which can be dangerous,” she stated. This concern is echoed by Sonali Sharma, a researcher at Stanford University’s center for AI in medicine and imaging (AIMI), who points out that the AI Overviews appear at the top of search results and often present a seemingly complete answer, discouraging users from further investigation.

Impact on Patient Behavior and Trust

The placement of the disclaimer can significantly influence user behavior. Sharma explains that the immediate presentation of a single summary can create a sense of reassurance, discouraging users from scrolling through the full results or clicking “Show more” to find the disclaimer. This is particularly concerning because AI Overviews can contain partially correct and partially incorrect information, making it difficult for individuals without medical expertise to discern the truth.

Tom Bishop, head of patient information at Anthony Nolan, a blood cancer charity, called for urgent action, emphasizing the potential dangers of health misinformation. “That disclaimer needs to be much more prominent, just to make people step back and think… ‘Is this something I need to check with my medical team rather than acting upon it?’” he said. He advocates for the disclaimer to be placed at the top of the AI Overview, in the same font size as the rest of the information.

A recent report from TechCrunch noted that Google removed AI Overviews for some, but not all, medical searches following the initial investigation. However, variations on the same queries could still generate AI-powered summaries.

What’s Next for AI and Healthcare Information?

The ongoing scrutiny of Google’s AI Overviews highlights the critical need for responsible development and deployment of AI in healthcare. As AI continues to play an increasingly prominent role in information access, ensuring the accuracy and transparency of AI-generated health advice will be paramount. The debate over disclaimer placement and formatting is likely to continue, as stakeholders grapple with balancing the benefits of AI-powered search with the potential risks to patient safety. Google has stated We see working to “make broad improvements” to its AI Overviews, but the extent of these changes and their impact on user safety remain to be seen.

What are your thoughts on the role of AI in healthcare information? Share your comments below and let us know how you think companies can best balance innovation with patient safety.

Disclaimer: This article provides informational content and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.

The escalating size of modern video games is becoming a major pain point for console owners, with titles routinely exceeding 100GB and, in some cases, surpassing 200GB. As storage costs remain high, Sony is exploring innovative solutions to alleviate the burden on players. The company has recently filed a patent for a system that could dramatically reduce initial download sizes and lessen reliance on console storage.

Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, and Red Dead Redemption 2 are prime examples of this trend, demanding substantial storage space. While PC gamers can easily add secondary drives, console users face more limited options, often resorting to external hard drives or SSDs. The recently released digital-edition PlayStation 5 further exacerbates the issue, offering only 667GB of usable storage after system files, down from the original 825GB, and 1TB.

Sony’s proposed solution, detailed in a patent application filed with the European Patent Office in mid-2025 and titled “System and Method for Streaming Assets,” aims to minimize the initial download size. The core idea is to allow users to download only the essential code and a minimal set of resources – textures and core elements – needed to begin playing. The remaining assets would then be streamed from the cloud on demand, based on the player’s progress within the game.

This approach promises faster installation times, reduced console storage requirements, and potentially lower latency compared to traditional cloud gaming services, as the game itself continues to run locally. The system differs from Microsoft’s approach with Flight Simulator, which downloads and retains all content locally. Sony’s patent envisions a dynamic system that downloads and deletes assets as needed, optimizing storage usage.

Potential Drawbacks: A Constant Internet Connection

Though, Sony’s proposed system isn’t without its potential drawbacks. The most significant concern is the requirement for a stable and consistent internet connection to play. The patent essentially functions as a form of Digital Rights Management (DRM), potentially preventing gameplay even in single-player titles if an internet connection is unavailable. This reliance on connectivity could be a dealbreaker for players in areas with unreliable internet access.

The move also raises questions about the future of physical game media. By minimizing the initial download size and shifting more content to the cloud, Sony could further disincentivize purchasing physical copies, effectively pushing players towards a fully digital ecosystem where access is contingent on an internet connection.

Key Questions About Sony’s Patent

• What problem is Sony trying to solve with this patent? The increasing size of video games, which quickly fills the limited and expensive storage space on consoles like the PS5.
• How does this asset streaming technology work? Players would download a minimal initial package to run the game, with additional data like textures streamed from the cloud as needed and then deleted.
• What is the main disadvantage of this system? It requires a constant internet connection to play, even for single-player games, acting as a DRM measure.

The Future of Game Storage

Sony’s patent represents a significant shift in how games could be delivered and experienced. While the benefits of reduced download sizes and storage requirements are appealing, the reliance on a constant internet connection remains a major hurdle. The success of this technology will likely depend on the widespread availability of fast and reliable internet access, as well as Sony’s ability to mitigate potential latency issues. As game file sizes continue to grow, expect further innovation in storage and delivery methods from all major console manufacturers.

What are your thoughts on Sony’s proposed system? Share your opinions in the comments below.

Munich, Germany – For decades, the Munich Security Conference has been synonymous with discussions of tanks, troops and treaties. But at this year’s gathering, which opened February 13, 2026, a significant shift is underway. Cyber risks, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence are no longer peripheral concerns; they’ve become central to the architecture of global security, demanding a re-evaluation of how Europe approaches defense and geopolitical strategy.

European leaders are grappling with a world where digital threats are deeply intertwined with traditional geopolitical tensions. The conference reflects this reality, with sponsors like the Tech Strategy Initiative explicitly incorporating technological frontier issues into the program, signaling a broader recognition that debates once confined to tech policy circles now belong at the forefront of security discourse. This year’s conference underscores a fundamental change: technology is no longer simply a tool of security policy, but a foundational pillar for it.

On the opening day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a stark message: the post-World War II order is fraying, and Europe cannot afford to take its digital or geopolitical defenses for granted. This sentiment set the tone for discussions where cyber threats and disinformation campaigns were discussed alongside conventional military concerns. The increasing intensity of attacks targeting critical infrastructure – from power grids to military supply chains – is driving a coordinated response between the public and private sectors, according to defense analysts.

The Rise of Cyber as a Strategic Priority

A key takeaway from early sessions was a call from Germany’s intelligence leadership for greater latitude to counter hybrid threats, particularly cyberattacks and digital sabotage linked to geopolitical rivals. This request signals a clear understanding that state security extends far beyond physical borders and into the digital realm. The Munich Security Conference [https://securityconference.org/en/] has long been a leading forum for debating international security policy, and this year’s focus on technology demonstrates its evolving relevance in a rapidly changing world.

France’s Emmanuel Macron, in his keynote address, emphasized the need for Europe to become a geopolitical power, a vision that encompasses not only traditional diplomatic and military strength but as well robust domestic tech capabilities and digital resilience. This framing highlights a subtle but significant shift: technology is being woven into Europe’s strategic autonomy narrative. For years, the European Union’s policy focused on digital sovereignty through regulation – including the AI Act, data protection laws, and competition regulations – but in Munich, these topics are now being discussed in direct relation to security and defense priorities.

From Regulation to Resilience: A New Approach to Tech

Officials and experts are increasingly framing AI and cyber resilience not just as economic or ethical issues, but as core national security concerns. Cyber, in particular, has moved beyond a niche status. The Munich Cyber Security Conference, a related event, reflects a growing realization that a traditional defense strategy is incomplete without a robust digital component. The Technology Program at the Munich Security Conference [https://securityconference.org/en/topics/technology/] highlights the importance of understanding how technology permeates all aspects of statecraft, and security.

This shift has significant implications for the European tech sector. If governments treat cyber and AI as strategic assets, they are likely to push industry to exceed compliance standards, incentivize domestic innovation over outsourcing, and prioritize interoperable defense technologies. This could reshape investment flows and R&D priorities for European startups and tech leaders in the coming decade. A joint declaration signed by Canada and Germany on February 15, 2026, on the margins of the conference, further demonstrates this commitment to collaboration in the field of AI [https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2026/02/canada-and-germany-sign-ai-joint-declaration-and-launch-sovereign-technology-alliance.html].

European Autonomy and the Future of Security Cooperation

Underlying the diplomatic discussions is a growing recognition that while alliances, particularly with the United States, remain crucial, they cannot be the sole guarantor of European security. This has implications for tech policy, potentially leading to the tailoring of AI standards to European norms, investment in sovereign semiconductor supply chains, and the development of digital infrastructure less reliant on external cloud and data platforms.

European leaders are also exploring new security cooperation mechanisms, potentially modeled after intelligence-sharing networks like the “Five Eyes,” but with greater European participation. Discussions are underway regarding an EU-led initiative to coordinate multinational defense efforts in the cyber domain. A side event at the conference, “Ctrl-Alt-Deterrence: Rethinking Stability in the Age of Cyber, AI, and Autonomy” [https://www.ieai.sot.tum.de/event/munich-security-conference-2026-side-event-ctrl-alt-deterrence-rethinking-stability-in-the-age-of-cyber-ai-and-autonomy/], underscored the need to reassess traditional deterrence strategies in light of these emerging technologies.

The 2026 Munich Security Conference clearly demonstrates how Europe is rethinking its place in a world where digital and geopolitical risks are inextricably linked. The discussions reinforce a shift in how policymakers, defense chiefs, and industry leaders view modern threats – not as abstract data problems, but as strategic concerns that shape alliances, domestic policy choices, and industrial priorities. As technology continues to evolve, its role in shaping the future of European security will only become more pronounced.

What comes next will depend on how effectively Europe can translate these discussions into concrete policies and investments. The coming months will be critical in determining whether the continent can forge a path towards greater digital sovereignty and resilience, and establish itself as a true geopolitical power in the 21st century. Share your thoughts in the comments below.