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DJI couldn’t confirm or deny it disguised this drone to evade a US ban

DJI couldn’t confirm or deny it disguised this drone to evade a US ban

DJI barely sells drones in the United States anymore. The shelves are bare; resellers are jacking up prices. It appears an unofficial ban at US customs is to blame. But on Amazon, you can now buy a drone that’s a a dead ringer for the DJI Mini 4 Pro — the SkyRover X1 — for a reasonable $758. And that’s probably because DJI made it happen.

There’s evidence suggesting so, and DJI was not able to immediately deny the SkyRover X1 was a DJI product when we reached out.

As reported by DroneXL, security researchers have discovered the SkyRover X1 not only has the same specs, features, and an incredibly similar app to the one DJI provides for its drones, it uses DJI’s own online infrastructure.

“It has connections to @DJIGlobal @DJISupport @DJIEnterprise via @DJIFlySafe references, and ‘AASKY’ references,” tweeted Kevin Finisterre, a hacker who’s made headlines for digging into DJI’s products in the past. Finisterre was even able to log in with his DJI username and password.

Image: Kevin Finisterre (X)

Another security consultant, Jon Sawyer, discovered the SkyRover app even uses the same encryption keys as DJI, and that the company which created the app only did a rudimentary job of trying to hide its tracks, renaming instances of “DJI” to “xxx” or “uav.”

But that’s not the only shady thing going on: someone doesn’t want you to know this drone is a DJI-alike. After drone reviewer AirPhotography took flak in the comments of his SkyRover X1 review for not pointing out obvious similarities to DJI, he revealed that he’d agreed not to mention any other drone brands in the video in order to secure the review unit. “That was their only stipulation,” he wrote.

Image: YouTube

AirPhotography has since thought better of this, it seems; he now has two extra videos that directly compare to the Mini 4 Pro, calling it “suspiciously similar”:

Note that the drone isn’t exactly the same. AirPhotography says there are slight differences with the camera, and he told viewers that the SkyRover won’t fit existing DJI batteries and won’t connect to existing DJI controllers. He put up another video shortly before we published this story to get into all the differences.

We gave DJI a full day to confirm or deny whether the SkyRover X1 is a DJI product, but the company was not able to meet that deadline. “I’m still looking into this with our headquarters team,” spokesperson Regina Lin tells The Verge.

If the SkyRover X1 is created or licensed by DJI, it wouldn’t be the first time. US lawmakers are already aware — and some are annoyed — that DJI found a seeming loophole by finding a US company, Anzu Robotics, to manufacture a Mavic 3 clone called the Raptor, and a Hong Kong one, Cogito, for the Specta and Specta Mini clones.

The SkyRover X1 seems to be made by SZ Knowact in Malaysia, according to FCC filings. Malaysia is currently a popular destination for Chinese companies to escape the worst of US tariffs, though it too may have a higher rate in August.

“Classy move @DJIGlobal.”

“Classy move @DJIGlobal.”
Image: Konrad Iturbe (X)

The SkyRover app lists SZ Knowact as its developer in Apple’s App Store, and as Konrad Iturbe shows, its website is nearly identical to the one that Cogito provides for its own DJI clones.

The US government has yet to formally ban DJI drones, but a de facto ban will happen automatically by December if “an appropriate national security agency” doesn’t publicly declare that its products do not “pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States.” The US Commerce Department finally opened an investigation to figure that out on July 1st.

Here’s my interview with DJI about what will happen if the ban goes through.

In the meanwhile, DJI has stated that US Customs is blocking many of its drones from entering the United States. US Customs and Border Protection will not deny this: we’ve repeatedly asked, but the agency claims it’s not allowed to say even that. Here’s a statement via CBP spokesperson Trish Driscoll:

CBP is not authorized to disclose specific company or commodity information pursuant to various federal laws and internal policies including but not limited to the Trade Secrets Act (18 USC 1905), and certain information that may be responsive to your request may also be deemed to be law enforcement sensitive information, which CBP will not disclose. This response ensures the confidentiality of proprietary trade information and law enforcement sensitive information, which in turn preserves commercial privacy and trust in CBP handling of sensitive information.

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The company is introducing the new tier as it tries to win over users from Anthropic and its popular Claude Code tool. ChatGPT’s $100 per month option will directly compete with Anthropic’s “Max” tier for Claude, which costs the same price. It also offers a middle ground between the $20 per month Plus tier and the $200 version of the Pro tier.

(Yes, there are now two tiers of “Pro”; while the new tier “still offers access to all Pro features,” OpenAI says that the more expensive one has even higher usage limits.)

According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Plus will “will continue to be the best offer at $20 for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, and the new $100 Pro tier offers a more accessible upgrade path for heavier daily use.” OpenAI also offers an $8 per month Go tier and a free tier.

#ChatGPT #month #Pro #subscriptionAI,News,OpenAI">ChatGPT has a new 0 per month Pro subscriptionOpenAI has announced a new version of its ChatGPT Pro subscription that costs 0 per month. The new Pro tier offers “5x more” usage of its Codex coding tool than the  per month Plus subscription and “is best for longer, high-effort Codex sessions,” OpenAI says.The company is introducing the new tier as it tries to win over users from Anthropic and its popular Claude Code tool. ChatGPT’s 0 per month option will directly compete with Anthropic’s “Max” tier for Claude, which costs the same price. It also offers a middle ground between the  per month Plus tier and the 0 version of the Pro tier.(Yes, there are now two tiers of “Pro”; while the new tier “still offers access to all Pro features,” OpenAI says that the more expensive one has even higher usage limits.)According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Plus will “will continue to be the best offer at  for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, and the new 0 Pro tier offers a more accessible upgrade path for heavier daily use.” OpenAI also offers an  per month Go tier and a free tier.#ChatGPT #month #Pro #subscriptionAI,News,OpenAI

OpenAI says.

The company is introducing the new tier as it tries to win over users from Anthropic and its popular Claude Code tool. ChatGPT’s $100 per month option will directly compete with Anthropic’s “Max” tier for Claude, which costs the same price. It also offers a middle ground between the $20 per month Plus tier and the $200 version of the Pro tier.

(Yes, there are now two tiers of “Pro”; while the new tier “still offers access to all Pro features,” OpenAI says that the more expensive one has even higher usage limits.)

According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Plus will “will continue to be the best offer at $20 for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, and the new $100 Pro tier offers a more accessible upgrade path for heavier daily use.” OpenAI also offers an $8 per month Go tier and a free tier.

#ChatGPT #month #Pro #subscriptionAI,News,OpenAI">ChatGPT has a new $100 per month Pro subscription

OpenAI has announced a new version of its ChatGPT Pro subscription that costs $100 per month. The new Pro tier offers “5x more” usage of its Codex coding tool than the $20 per month Plus subscription and “is best for longer, high-effort Codex sessions,” OpenAI says.

The company is introducing the new tier as it tries to win over users from Anthropic and its popular Claude Code tool. ChatGPT’s $100 per month option will directly compete with Anthropic’s “Max” tier for Claude, which costs the same price. It also offers a middle ground between the $20 per month Plus tier and the $200 version of the Pro tier.

(Yes, there are now two tiers of “Pro”; while the new tier “still offers access to all Pro features,” OpenAI says that the more expensive one has even higher usage limits.)

According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Plus will “will continue to be the best offer at $20 for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, and the new $100 Pro tier offers a more accessible upgrade path for heavier daily use.” OpenAI also offers an $8 per month Go tier and a free tier.

#ChatGPT #month #Pro #subscriptionAI,News,OpenAI
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Thursday his office will investigate OpenAI for its alleged harm to minors, potential to threaten national security, and its possible link to a shooting that took place at Florida State University last year.

“ChatGPT may likely have been used to assist the murderer in the recent mass school shooting at Florida State University that tragically took two lives,” Attorney General Uthmeier said in a video posted to social media.

On the day of the FSU shooting last April, the suspect allegedly asked ChatGPT how the country would react to a shooting at FSU, and what time it would be busiest at the FSU student union. These messages could potentially be used as evidence against the suspect in an October trial about the shooting.

The attorney general cited further concerns about ChatGPT’s encouragement of suicide in certain instances, which have been documented in multiple lawsuits brought by families against OpenAI. He also mentioned his concern that the Chinese Communist Party could use OpenAI’s technology against the United States.

“As big tech rolls out these technologies, they should not — they cannot — put our safety and security at risk,” he said. “We support innovation. But that doesn’t give any company the right to endanger our children, facilitate criminal activity, empower America’s enemies, or threaten our national security.”

He also called on the Florida legislature to “work quickly” to protect children from the negative impacts of AI.

“Each week, more than 900 million people use ChatGPT to improve their daily lives through uses such as learning new skills or navigating complex healthcare systems,” an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to TechCrunch. “Our ongoing safety work continues to play an important role in delivering these benefits to everyday people, as well as supporting scientific research and discovery.”

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

OpenAI added that it builds and continues to improve ChatGPT to understand user intent and respond in appropriate, safe ways. The company said it will cooperate with the Florida attorney general’s investigation.

On Wednesday, OpenAI unveiled its Child Safety Blueprint, which includes policy recommendations designed to improve children’s safety as it relates to AI.

This action comes as chatbot makers face pressure to confront their potential role in creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to a recent report from the Internet Watch Foundation, there were over 8,000 reports of AI-generated CSAM in the first half of 2025, which represents a 14% increase year over year.

OpenAI’s blueprint recommends updating legislation to protect against AI-generated abuse material, refining the reporting process to law enforcement, and instituting better preventative safeguards against abusive uses of AI tools.

#Florida #probe #OpenAI #alleging #connection #FSU #shooting #TechCrunchChatGPT,OpenAI">Florida AG to probe OpenAI, alleging possible connection to FSU shooting | TechCrunch
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Thursday his office will investigate OpenAI for its alleged harm to minors, potential to threaten national security, and its possible link to a shooting that took place at Florida State University last year.

“ChatGPT may likely have been used to assist the murderer in the recent mass school shooting at Florida State University that tragically took two lives,” Attorney General Uthmeier said in a video posted to social media.







On the day of the FSU shooting last April, the suspect allegedly asked ChatGPT how the country would react to a shooting at FSU, and what time it would be busiest at the FSU student union. These messages could potentially be used as evidence against the suspect in an October trial about the shooting.

The attorney general cited further concerns about ChatGPT’s encouragement of suicide in certain instances, which have been documented in multiple lawsuits brought by families against OpenAI. He also mentioned his concern that the Chinese Communist Party could use OpenAI’s technology against the United States.

“As big tech rolls out these technologies, they should not — they cannot — put our safety and security at risk,” he said. “We support innovation. But that doesn’t give any company the right to endanger our children, facilitate criminal activity, empower America’s enemies, or threaten our national security.”



He also called on the Florida legislature to “work quickly” to protect children from the negative impacts of AI.

“Each week, more than 900 million people use ChatGPT to improve their daily lives through uses such as learning new skills or navigating complex healthcare systems,” an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to TechCrunch. “Our ongoing safety work continues to play an important role in delivering these benefits to everyday people, as well as supporting scientific research and discovery.” 

	
		
		Techcrunch event
		
			
			
									San Francisco, CA
													|
													October 13-15, 2026
							
			
		
	


OpenAI added that it builds and continues to improve ChatGPT to understand user intent and respond in appropriate, safe ways. The company said it will cooperate with the Florida attorney general’s investigation.

On Wednesday, OpenAI unveiled its Child Safety Blueprint, which includes policy recommendations designed to improve children’s safety as it relates to AI. 

This action comes as chatbot makers face pressure to confront their potential role in creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to a recent report from the Internet Watch Foundation, there were over 8,000 reports of AI-generated CSAM in the first half of 2025, which represents a 14% increase year over year.







OpenAI’s blueprint recommends updating legislation to protect against AI-generated abuse material, refining the reporting process to law enforcement, and instituting better preventative safeguards against abusive uses of AI tools.


#Florida #probe #OpenAI #alleging #connection #FSU #shooting #TechCrunchChatGPT,OpenAI

announced on Thursday his office will investigate OpenAI for its alleged harm to minors, potential to threaten national security, and its possible link to a shooting that took place at Florida State University last year.

“ChatGPT may likely have been used to assist the murderer in the recent mass school shooting at Florida State University that tragically took two lives,” Attorney General Uthmeier said in a video posted to social media.

On the day of the FSU shooting last April, the suspect allegedly asked ChatGPT how the country would react to a shooting at FSU, and what time it would be busiest at the FSU student union. These messages could potentially be used as evidence against the suspect in an October trial about the shooting.

The attorney general cited further concerns about ChatGPT’s encouragement of suicide in certain instances, which have been documented in multiple lawsuits brought by families against OpenAI. He also mentioned his concern that the Chinese Communist Party could use OpenAI’s technology against the United States.

“As big tech rolls out these technologies, they should not — they cannot — put our safety and security at risk,” he said. “We support innovation. But that doesn’t give any company the right to endanger our children, facilitate criminal activity, empower America’s enemies, or threaten our national security.”

He also called on the Florida legislature to “work quickly” to protect children from the negative impacts of AI.

“Each week, more than 900 million people use ChatGPT to improve their daily lives through uses such as learning new skills or navigating complex healthcare systems,” an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to TechCrunch. “Our ongoing safety work continues to play an important role in delivering these benefits to everyday people, as well as supporting scientific research and discovery.”

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

OpenAI added that it builds and continues to improve ChatGPT to understand user intent and respond in appropriate, safe ways. The company said it will cooperate with the Florida attorney general’s investigation.

On Wednesday, OpenAI unveiled its Child Safety Blueprint, which includes policy recommendations designed to improve children’s safety as it relates to AI.

This action comes as chatbot makers face pressure to confront their potential role in creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to a recent report from the Internet Watch Foundation, there were over 8,000 reports of AI-generated CSAM in the first half of 2025, which represents a 14% increase year over year.

OpenAI’s blueprint recommends updating legislation to protect against AI-generated abuse material, refining the reporting process to law enforcement, and instituting better preventative safeguards against abusive uses of AI tools.

#Florida #probe #OpenAI #alleging #connection #FSU #shooting #TechCrunchChatGPT,OpenAI">Florida AG to probe OpenAI, alleging possible connection to FSU shooting | TechCrunch

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Thursday his office will investigate OpenAI for its alleged harm to minors, potential to threaten national security, and its possible link to a shooting that took place at Florida State University last year.

“ChatGPT may likely have been used to assist the murderer in the recent mass school shooting at Florida State University that tragically took two lives,” Attorney General Uthmeier said in a video posted to social media.

On the day of the FSU shooting last April, the suspect allegedly asked ChatGPT how the country would react to a shooting at FSU, and what time it would be busiest at the FSU student union. These messages could potentially be used as evidence against the suspect in an October trial about the shooting.

The attorney general cited further concerns about ChatGPT’s encouragement of suicide in certain instances, which have been documented in multiple lawsuits brought by families against OpenAI. He also mentioned his concern that the Chinese Communist Party could use OpenAI’s technology against the United States.

“As big tech rolls out these technologies, they should not — they cannot — put our safety and security at risk,” he said. “We support innovation. But that doesn’t give any company the right to endanger our children, facilitate criminal activity, empower America’s enemies, or threaten our national security.”

He also called on the Florida legislature to “work quickly” to protect children from the negative impacts of AI.

“Each week, more than 900 million people use ChatGPT to improve their daily lives through uses such as learning new skills or navigating complex healthcare systems,” an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to TechCrunch. “Our ongoing safety work continues to play an important role in delivering these benefits to everyday people, as well as supporting scientific research and discovery.”

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

OpenAI added that it builds and continues to improve ChatGPT to understand user intent and respond in appropriate, safe ways. The company said it will cooperate with the Florida attorney general’s investigation.

On Wednesday, OpenAI unveiled its Child Safety Blueprint, which includes policy recommendations designed to improve children’s safety as it relates to AI.

This action comes as chatbot makers face pressure to confront their potential role in creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to a recent report from the Internet Watch Foundation, there were over 8,000 reports of AI-generated CSAM in the first half of 2025, which represents a 14% increase year over year.

OpenAI’s blueprint recommends updating legislation to protect against AI-generated abuse material, refining the reporting process to law enforcement, and instituting better preventative safeguards against abusive uses of AI tools.

#Florida #probe #OpenAI #alleging #connection #FSU #shooting #TechCrunchChatGPT,OpenAI

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