The tech landscape is always evolving, with innovations, updates, and quirky stories making headlines. Here’s a roundup of some of the most interesting and significant tech news you might have missed:

Google has announced it will discontinue its standalone Google Pay app in the U.S. on June 4, marking a significant shift in its approach to digital payments. The move is aimed at simplifying the tech giant’s payment services, transitioning users to Google Wallet. This platform boasts a user base five times larger than Google Pay’s, signalling a strategic consolidation of services to better meet consumer demands.

In a tale that seems straight out of a cyber-spy novel, a former Gizmodo writer successfully changed his name to ‘Slackbot’ and went undetected at the company for months. This real-life Slackbot managed to blend in so well that he even convinced an employee to share their password with him, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in digital communication platforms.

Elon Musk’s brain implant company, Neuralink, has made a groundbreaking announcement: they’ve enabled a person to move a computer mouse cursor with their mind. This development not only marks a significant milestone in the field of neurotechnology but also opens up new possibilities for how we interact with technology, potentially transforming the lives of people with mobility impairments.

Driven by the unrelenting demand for AI chips, Nvidia has reached a staggering $2 trillion valuation, joining the ranks of the most valuable U.S. companies, just behind tech titans Microsoft and Apple. This valuation underscores the critical role Nvidia plays in powering the current AI revolution, from data centres to autonomous vehicles.

Google has unveiled Genie, an AI that can generate entire 2D platformer games from just a single image prompt. This innovative model demonstrates the expanding capabilities of AI in creative fields, offering game developers a new tool to inspire and accelerate the game design process.

In a practical piece of advice, Apple has cautioned against the common practice of putting wet iPhones in rice. According to the company, this method risks small particles of rice damaging the device further. Instead, Apple recommends following their official guidelines for dealing with water exposure to ensure the longevity and functionality of your iPhone.

The Odysseus lunar lander has achieved the first United States landing on the moon in more than 50 years, heralding a new era of space exploration. Described as akin to a “cargo mission,” this landmark achievement paves the way for future missions and the continued exploration of our lunar neighbor.

These stories not only highlight the rapid pace of technological advancement but also illustrate the diverse ways in which technology intersects with our lives. From the cosmos to computer chips, and from digital wallets to wet smartphones, the realm of tech continues to surprise, challenge, and inspire.