- The new Wild West of AI kids’ toys
ars-technica· 09-may
These connected companions could disrupt everything from make-believe to bedtime stories. No wonder some lawmakers want them banned.
- Sony says "efficient" AI tools will lead to even more games flooding the market
ars-technica· 08-may
But human artists still "must remain at the center," PlayStation maker says.
- Course correction: Google to link more sources in AI Overviews
ars-technica· 08-may
Google's AI search will start citing its sources in several new ways.
- The unprecedented and deadly cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, explained
ars-technica· 08-may
"This is not COVID," and other reasons why risk to the public is currently low.
- Trump reportedly plans to fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary
ars-technica· 08-may
The plan isn't final and could change, but his ouster would be no surprise.
- Manufacturing qubits that can move
ars-technica· 08-may
It's hard to mix electronic manufacturing and flexible geometry.
- Chaos erupts as cyberattack disrupts learning platform Canvas amid finals
ars-technica· 08-may
Across the country, schools and colleges postpone year-end tests.
- ABC refuses to capitulate to Trump admin, fights FCC probe into The View
ars-technica· 08-may
FCC chair hasn't been able to bully ABC and owner Disney into submission.
- Elon Musk faces criminal probe in France after ignoring summons in X case
ars-technica· 08-may
France threatens criminal charges if Musk doesn't appear for questioning.
- Court rules Trump's 10% tariff is just as illegal as the tariff it replaced
ars-technica· 08-may
Trump's vow to impose tariffs a "different way" already has the tech industry on edge.
- A blueprint for using AI to strengthen democracy
mit-tech-review· 05-may
Every few centuries, changes in how information moves reshape how societies govern themselves. The printing press spread vernacular literacy, helping give rise to the Reformation and, eventually, representative government. The telegraph made it possible to administer vast nations like the US, accelerating the growth of the modern bureaucratic state. Broadcast media created shared national audiences,…
- The Download: inside the Musk v. Altman trial, and AI for democracy
mit-tech-review· 05-may
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Week one of the Musk v. Altman trial: what it was like in the room Two of the most powerful figures in AI—Sam Altman and Elon Musk—are in the middle of…
- The Download: seafloor science and military chatbots
mit-tech-review· 06-may
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Inexpensive seafloor-hopping submersibles could stoke deep-sea science—and mining Last week, two oblong neon submersibles started to descend nearly 6,000 meters into the Pacific Ocean. Throughout the rest of May, they will…
- The balcony solar boom is coming to the US
mit-tech-review· 07-may
Dozens of US states are considering legislation to allow people to install plug-in solar systems, often called balcony solar. These small arrays require little to no setup and could help cut emissions and power bills. Balcony solar is already popular in Europe, and proponents say that the systems could make solar power more accessible for…
- What’s next for IVF
mit-tech-review· 07-may
MIT Technology Review’s What’s Next series looks across industries, trends, and technologies to give you a first look at the future. You can read the rest of them here. Forty-eight years ago this July, Louise Joy Brown became the world’s first person born with the help of in vitro fertilization. Millions more IVF babies have entered…
- The Download: the tech reshaping IVF and the rise of balcony solar
mit-tech-review· 07-may
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. What’s next for IVF IVF has brought millions of babies into the world over the last four decades. But the process can still be slow, painful, and expensive—and far from guaranteed…
- Here’s how technology transformed babymaking
mit-tech-review· 08-may
Technology is changing the way we make babies. The pioneering work of the scientists who invented IVF led to the birth of the first “test tube baby” in 1978. We’ve come a long, long way since then. This week, I’ve been working on a piece about the cutting edge of IVF technologies and what’s coming…
- The Download: AI malaise and babymaking tech
mit-tech-review· 08-may
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. We’ve entered the era of AI malaise AI is spreading everywhere, and it is not going away. But what will it do? What effect will it have on our society? Will…
- Here’s what you need to know about the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak
mit-tech-review· 08-may
MIT Technology Review Explains: Let our writers untangle the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You can read more from the series here. Eight passengers aboard a Dutch-flagged cruise ship have contracted a type of hantavirus, a rare virus transmitted by rats. Three of them have died. As the ship…
- Musk v. Altman week 2: OpenAI fires back, and Shivon Zilis reveals that Musk tried to poach Sam Altman
mit-tech-review· 08-may
In the second week of the landmark trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI, Musk’s motivations for bringing the suit were under scrutiny. Last week, Musk took the stand, alleging that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman had deceived him into donating $38 million to the company. He claimed that they’d promised to maintain…
- Cloudflare says AI made 1,100 jobs obsolete, even as revenue hit a record high
techcrunch· 08-may
Cloudflare announced its first large-scale layoff. CEO Matthew Prince says because of AI efficiency gains, the company doesn't need as many support roles.
- Intel’s comeback story is even wilder than it seems
techcrunch· 08-may
Intel's stock has risen a stunning 490% over the past year, a bet by Wall Street that may be running well ahead of the company's actual turnaround.
- Laid-off Oracle workers tried to negotiate better severance. Oracle said no.
techcrunch· 08-may
Some found out they didn't qualify for WARN Act protections like two-months notice because the company had classified them as remote workers.
- Mother Ventures is looking at moms as the ‘economic engine’
techcrunch· 08-may
The VC firm, which focuses on mothers as consumers, raised a $10 million debut fund.
- Poland says hackers breached water treatment plants, and the US is facing the same threat
techcrunch· 08-may
A report by Poland’s top intelligence agency accused Russia of sabotage and hacking activities against the country’s military and civilian infrastructure.
- Porsche shutters e-bike, battery, software subsidiaries as part of company overhaul
techcrunch· 08-may
More than 500 people will be affected by the closures. “We must refocus on our core business,” Porsche CEO and executive chair Michael Leiters said in a statement. "This is the indispensable foundation for a successful strategic realignment. This forces us to make painful cuts — including our subsidiaries."
- Prime Video follows Netflix and Disney by adding a TikTok-like ‘Clips’ feed in its app
techcrunch· 08-may
The Clips feed aims to enable discovery by offering users a scrollable feed with short snippets of shows and movies.
- San Francisco’s housing market has lost its mind
techcrunch· 08-may
The invisible force behind all of this is no mystery to anyone paying attention to the city's tech economy. San Francisco is home to some of the most valuable private companies in the world, and their employees have been quietly accumulating — and, increasingly, cashing out — fortunes.
- US defense contractor who sold hacking tools to Russian broker ordered to pay $10M to former employers
techcrunch· 08-may
Former cybersecurity executive Peter Williams stole several surveillance and hacking tools and sold them for $1.3 million to a Russian broker that works with Putin’s government.
- Uber partner Avride is under investigation for self-driving crashes
techcrunch· 08-may
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into Avride after identifying more than a dozen crashes and one minor injury.
- All the latest updates on AI data centers
the-verge· 08-may
Massive new data centers are the physical foundation for tech companies’ hopes and dreams for AI. But the rush to expand warehouses full of energy-hungry servers has also kicked up fights across the world over their impact on power grids, utility bills, nearby communities, and the environment. From audacious plans to launch data centers into space to the latest legal battles over pollution, The Verge has the biggest news and reporting surrounding data centers. 43 percent of Americans blame data centers as a major reason for rising power bills. A 40,000-acre data center project was just approved in Utah, despite outcry from the community. A political battleground is forming around data centers. Are AI data centers coming to your area? Data centers will soon have to complete “mandatory” ene…
- Let it snow
the-verge· 09-may
Water gets all the credit. When gaming companies want to show off new graphics technology, things tend to get wet; splashing waves that are only possible with the latest physics engine, or puddles that can reflect the world around them thanks to ray tracing. But there's something special about snow. It might not be as technically impressive as water, but when it comes to creating a mood in a game, snow can be very powerful. And two recent releases - Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth and Froggy Hates Snow - really capture just what snow is capable of. Let's start with the Moomins. Winter's Warmth is the second game based on the iconic Finnish fai … Read the full story at The Verge.
- These great digital gifts will arrive just in time for Mother’s Day
the-verge· 09-may
And just like that, Mother’s Day is tomorrow, May 10th, which is too soon for most online purchases to arrive in time. That said, you aren’t alone if you waited too long to pick up a gift this year, and you definitely aren’t alone in feeling guilty for considering digital gifts instead of something your mom can unwrap. But here’s the thing: digital gifts can still unlock memorable experiences, be it movies, games, or music. They can also let your mom choose exactly what she wants, making them both convenient and versatile. Below, we’ve curated a list of some of the best digital goodies that folks at The Verge have used or gifted. The list is curated by interests, too, so you can find the perfect present whether your mom is into the arts, exercise, or something else entirely. That way, you…
- Asus chases Elgato with its own secondary touchscreen display
the-verge· 08-may
Asus's latest gaming monitor is a little smaller than usual. The ROG Strix XG129C, announced on Friday, is a 12.3-inch touchscreen IPS display that's intended to be a sidekick for a larger main monitor, similar to the 14.1-inch secondary display in the 2020 Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15. It's a slightly smaller competitor to Corsair's Xeneon Edge, which has a 14.5-inch display, but the same 720p resolution. Asus says the XG129C covers 125 percent of the sRGB color gamut and 90 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It also comes with a one-year subscription for the hardware monitoring tool AIDA64 Extreme, which would usually cost $65. Besides actin … Read the full story at The Verge.
- ABC and Disney accuse Trump admin of violating First Amendment rights
the-verge· 08-may
ABC is accusing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of violating its First Amendment rights by making "major shifts in policy and practice" that the network claims will chill free speech. The network is asking the FCC to "affirm its long-standing approach to the bona fide news interview exemption" for daytime talk show The View and the agency's support of "public interest services provided by broadcast stations." ABC says that a series of actions from the FCC "suggests that the Commission is implementing major shifts in policy and practice," and that "requires the action of the full Commission and the oversight of the courts." The a … Read the full story at The Verge.
- DOGE used ChatGPT in a way that was both dumb and illegal, judge rules
the-verge· 08-may
The Department of Government Efficiency's cancellation of over $100 million in grants was unconstitutional, according to a ruling on Thursday. In the 143-page decision, US District Judge Colleen McMahon cites DOGE's process for eliminating grants, which involved using ChatGPT to determine if something is related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The ruling, which stems from a 2025 lawsuit filed by humanities groups, says "it could not be more obvious that DOGE used the mere presence of particular, protected characteristics to disqualify grants from continued funding" from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Judge McMah … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Amazon is adding a vertical video feed to Prime Video
the-verge· 08-may
Amazon Prime Video is joining Netflix and Disney Plus in adding a vertical feed of videos to its streaming app. The new "Clips" feed will offer a stream of short-form videos from shows and movies, with options to jump into the full title, rent, or buy it. Prime Video previously offered a TikTok-style feed with NBA game highlights, but now you can see snippets from titles offered on the platform by scrolling down to the Clips carousel on the app's homepage. "Every time you visit the experience, you'll see something new based on your viewing history," Prime Video says. You can also add shows and movies to your watchlist from the Clips feed a … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Here is Yarbo’s promise to fix the robot mower that ran me over
the-verge· 08-may
Yesterday, I told you how a hacker ran me over with a robot lawn mower. We explained how thousands of these bladed Chinese robots, made by Yarbo, could be hijacked with ease - exposing people's GPS coordinates, Wi-Fi passwords, email addresses, and more to any casual hacker who comes along. Today, Yarbo has issued a thorough 1,200-word response that you can read in full below. The company is confirming the security researcher's findings, apologizing, and providing a detailed plan to tackle many of its self-created security issues head-on. Yarbo writes that it's already temporarily cut off remote access and is addressing many of its most he … Read the full story at The Verge.
- The game that makes me actually want to exercise
the-verge· 09-may
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 127, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, my Scorpion challenges your Sub-Zero to a duel, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been reading about Hasan Piker and lines and David Sacks and sleep learning, catching up on Andor (for me) and Young Jedi Adventures (for my toddler), poring over thousands of new Artemis II photos, listening to many hours of possibly the longest YouTube video ever, taking more walks thanks to Pedometer++ 8.0, losing my mind during every second of every Arsenal match, and spendi … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Quantum dot TVs beat RGB LED TVs, says the company that makes QDs for TVs
the-verge· 09-may
RGB LED technology might be everyone’s focus for TV tech in 2026, but quantum-dot TVs still might be the better choice. | Photo by John Higgins / The Verge At the Los Angeles Convention Center, two 85-inch TVs sat side by side inside the Nanosys meeting room at Display Week - a yearly business-to-business convention focusing on the technology that goes into displays of all types. One TV was a mini-LED panel with super quantum dots, and the other was an RGB LED - this year's hottest TV trend. Both TVs were showing the same content at the same time to highlight the differences between the two technologies - or more specifically, to show the potential failings of RGB LED backlights when compared to super quantum dot (SQD), which uses blue LEDs for the backlight. I should probably mention tha…