- US scrambles to stop Internet users re-creating dead pilots’ voices
ars-technica· 22-may
Workaround flouts law that bans NTSB disclosures of cockpit audio recordings.
- Review: The Mandalorian and Grogu is ... fine
ars-technica· 22-may
The plot is predictable, the fight scenes are meh, but you can't beat the charm of that little green Grogu.
- The Boys is dead. Long live Vought Rising.
ars-technica· 22-may
"There's a brighter future. All we need to do is take it."
- First-generation Chromecast users stressed by devices suddenly failing
ars-technica· 22-may
Google tells Ars it fixed the first-gen Chromecast bug.
- Ebola outbreak now third largest recorded and "spreading rapidly"
ars-technica· 22-may
Ebola outbreak risk level increased as deaths reach 177 with nearly 750 cases.
- Four Russian satellites are now within striking distance of an ICEYE radarsat
ars-technica· 22-may
"This capability is not common for satellites conducting typical missions."
- Two space shuttle-era spacewalkers enter Astronaut Hall of Fame
ars-technica· 23-may
"Two astronauts whose careers embody excellence, leadership, and service."
- China’s shark finning could lead to US seafood sanctions
ars-technica· 23-may
A formal petition to the US government calls for sanctions on Chinese seafood imports.
- Police boast of hacking VPN where criminals "believed themselves to be safe"
ars-technica· 22-may
Law enforcement intercepted VPN traffic, seized domains, and arrested its operator.
- Trump FCC asks public to comment on whether ABC's The View is a news show
ars-technica· 22-may
FCC seeks opinions on whether ABC show's decisions are "based on newsworthiness."
- Green steel startup Boston Metal is doubling down on critical metals
mit-tech-review· 20-may
The startup Boston Metal has raised a $75 million funding round to produce critical metals, MIT Technology Review can exclusively report. The company has been known largely for its efforts to clean up steel production, an industry that’s responsible for about 8% of global greenhouse emissions today. With the additional money, the new focus could…
- Scaling creativity in the age of AI
mit-tech-review· 21-may
Storytelling is core to humanity’s DNA, stemming from our impulse to express ideals, warnings, hopes, and experiences. Technology has always been woven through the medium and the distribution: from early humans’ innovation of natural pigments and charcoals for cave paintings to literal representation by the camera. The landscape of storytelling continues to shift under our…
- Climate tech companies are pivoting to critical minerals
mit-tech-review· 21-may
We’re over a year into the second Trump administration here in the US, and support for climate causes is weak. But climate tech companies are finding ways to survive and even thrive in this new environment, including by focusing on potential benefits outside decarbonization. Suddenly, it feels like every climate tech company has a story…
- Tech researchers are suing the Trump administration over the future of online safety
mit-tech-review· 21-may
Since its earliest days back in office, the Trump administration has been going after researchers who study and try to counter hate speech, harassment, propaganda, and disinformation online. Now, some of those researchers are fighting back. Last week their lawsuit—which could have global repercussions for online safety and free speech—made its first appearance in court. …
- The Download: online safety’s future and climate tech’s big pivot
mit-tech-review· 21-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. Tech researchers are suing the Trump administration over the future of online safety For months, the Trump administration has been going after researchers who study and try to counter hate speech,…
- Anthropic’s Code with Claude showed off coding’s future—whether you like it or not
mit-tech-review· 21-may
The vibes were strong at Code with Claude, Anthropic’s two-day event for software developers in London that kicked off on May 19, the same day as Google’s I/O in Palo Alto. (A coincidence, not a flex, Anthropic staffers assured me.) “Who here has shipped a pull request in the last week that was completely written…
- Roundtables: Can AI Learn to Understand the World?
mit-tech-review· 21-may
Listen to the session or watch below AI companies want to build systems that understand the external world and overcome the limitations of LLMs. Recent developments have brought world models to the forefront of the AI discussion. Watch a conversation with editor in chief Mat Honan, senior AI editor Will Douglas Heaven, and AI reporter…
- The Enhanced Games fit right in with the rest of 2026’s longevity vibes
mit-tech-review· 22-may
This Sunday, a group of 42 athletes will gather in Las Vegas to compete in a somewhat unusual sporting competition. Participants in the inaugural Enhanced Games are being encouraged to take performance-enhancing drugs. The goal is to “push the boundaries of human performance.” The games’ organizers have said that competitors will only be taking substances that…
- Google I/O showed how the path for AI-driven science is shifting
mit-tech-review· 22-may
During Tuesday’s Google I/O keynote, Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, proclaimed that we are currently “standing in the foothills of the singularity.” It was a striking statement—the singularity is the theoretical future moment when AI rapidly exceeds human intelligence and dramatically transforms the world. But what struck me as I listened in the…
- The Download: coding’s future, the ‘Steroid Olympics,’ and AI-driven science
mit-tech-review· 22-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. Anthropic’s Code with Claude showed off coding’s future—whether you like it or not At Anthropic’s developer event in London this week, Code with Claude, attendees were asked if they’d shipped code…
- AI is being used to resurrect the voices of dead pilots
techcrunch· 22-may
People used AI on a spectrogram image of cockpit recordings to reconstruct them, forcing the NTSB to temporarily block access to its docket system.
- Apple says Epic lawsuit shouldn’t reshape App Store rules for all developers
techcrunch· 22-may
Apple is asking the Supreme Court to narrow the App Store injunction won by Epic Games and overturn the court’s contempt ruling over external payment fees.
- Blue Origin cleared to fly New Glenn mega-rocket after April mishap
techcrunch· 22-may
Jeff Bezos' rocket company confirmed an engine failure led to the loss of an AST SpaceMobile satellite last month, but offered little detail.
- Google goes for the glitter with disco-ball icons: ‘Are y’all sure you still want this?’
techcrunch· 22-may
You can now disco ball-ify your entire Pixel home screen, says Google.
- How VCs and founders use inflated ‘ARR’ to crown AI startups
techcrunch· 22-may
Some AI startups are stretching traditional revenue metrics when talking about progress publicly. And their investors are fully aware.
- Kash Patel’s clothing brand website shut down after reports it was hacked
techcrunch· 22-may
According to users on X, the website was hijacked by hackers in an attempt to trick visitors into installing malware.
- SpaceX launches Starship V3 for the first time, but loses booster on return
techcrunch· 22-may
The company had a mostly successful first launch of its upgraded Starship V3, which it needs to power its many ambitious goals in the years to come.
- Spotify’s AI bet: more of everything, less of what you want
techcrunch· 22-may
Spotify has released a bunch of AI-powered tools that nudge users to create more content. It can be a bit much.
- Elon Musk has given up on solar power (on Earth)
techcrunch· 23-may
Elon Muks's xAI has gone all in on natural gas, while SpaceX is obsessed with orbital data centers. What happened to the "solar-electric economy" he promised?
- Peec, one of Berlin’s rising startups, more than doubled annualized revenue in months to $10M, sources say
techcrunch· 23-may
Peec, which helps brands track their presence in AI searches, offers proof of a key trend among European startups.
- Elon, stop trying to make Grok happen
the-verge· 22-may
There is a harsh truth about Elon Musk's "truth-seeking" AI chatbot Grok: It's not very good, and not many people are using it. That's the takeaway of a new Reuters report, which found that Grok barely appears in federal records of how the US government used AI last year. It's not the only sign xAI's signature chatbot is in trouble, even as Musk puts it at the heart of what could be the biggest IPO in history. Reuters reviewed more than 400 examples of government AI use where specific vendors were named. Grok or xAI, it found, appeared in only three - each of those for basic uses like document drafting or social media management, and always … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Hanging out in my favorite virtual coffee shop in Tokyo
the-verge· 23-may
Finding a cafe that fits you can be a revelatory experience. For me at least, there are few places outside of my house that I can truly feel comfortable in. I'm lucky enough to have two options in walking distance: a coffee shop that's bright, airy, and full of art, and another that doubles as a plant shop so that I'm surrounded by greenery while I write. They're third places that have become central to my life. But in the virtual realm I have an option as well - and while it's not a place for getting work done, it's just as relaxing. The Coffee Talk series kicked off in 2020, with a direct sequel three years later, and the title really say … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Govee’s colorful, JBL-tuned Lamp Pro 2 is matching its best price to date
the-verge· 22-may
They say that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. I have my doubts given the less-than-balmy weather in many parts of the US this weekend, though that doesn’t mean it’s not an appropriate time to pick up some summer essentials — including a portable speaker / smart lamp like Govee’s Table Lamp 2 Pro. Right now, it’s matching its all-time low of $134.99 ($45 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Govee’s online storefront ahead of the holiday on May 25th. Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro X Sound by JBL Where to Buy: $179.99 $134.99 at Amazon $179.99 $134.99 at Best Buy $179.99 $134.99 at Govee Govee currently has several color-changing table lamps in its stable, with the Lamp 2 Pro being the most capable of the bunch. It essentially combines a color-changing smart lamp with a capable JBL Bluet…
- Here are 38 Memorial Day deals we recommend for $50 or less
the-verge· 23-may
Massive OLED TVs and Sonos speakers might be stealing the Memorial Day spotlight, but there are also plenty of great deals that won't set you back nearly as much. In fact, some of the best discounts we're seeing are on gadgets that retail for $50 or less, from portable chargers and 4K streaming devices to cheap(ish) security cameras. There are even some solid deals available on outdoor gear if you plan to spend time camping, hiking, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors this summer. To help you separate the good from the bad, we've taken the liberty to comb through thousands of deals to find an assortment of discounted products that have earne … Read the full story at The Verge.
- The best Memorial Day sales you can shop this weekend
the-verge· 22-may
Memorial Day is nearly here, meaning the seasonal sales are in full swing. If your weekend plans involve pool parties or barbecues, now is a great time to pick up a portable speaker or set of solar lights, as many of our favorite models are currently on sale. You can also find deals on everything from 4K OLED TVs and noise-canceling earbuds to tents, robot vacuums, and plenty of our favorite everyday essentials. To give you more options, we’ve also included a selection of deals from retailers that aren’t necessarily running their own Memorial Day sales but are still offering limited-time deals in the run-up to May 25th. Savings are savings, after all. Earbuds and headphones AirPods Pro 3 The AirPods Pro 3 have a new design that improves their fit, superior noise cancellation, better bass,…
- Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 has hit one of its best prices ahead of summer travel
the-verge· 22-may
Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 let you connect wireless headphones to in-flight entertainment systems as well as the Nintendo Switch. | Image: Twelve South With Memorial day weekend kicking off the travel season, we’re seeing a lot of deals pop up on travel gadgets, from portable power banks to noise-canceling headphones. One of the best right now is Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 Bluetooth adapter, which lets you use your wireless headphones with in-flight entertainment systems so you can enjoy your flight a little more. It’s currently down to $49.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and directly from Twelve South, which is one of its best prices to date. Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 Where to Buy: $59.99 $49.99 at Amazon $59.99 $49.99 at Twelve South The Bluetooth transmitter lets you ditch the airline’s wired…
- Google’s AI search is so broken it can ‘disregard’ what you’re looking for
the-verge· 22-may
Google's AI Overviews are running into an interesting problem right now. Earlier on Friday, if you searched for the term "disregard," the AI Overview section would include a response like what you'd see from a more traditional AI chatbot instead of the typical AI summary, as spotted on X. As you can see in the image at the top of this story, I got an AI Overview response that said, "Got it. If you need anything else or have a new question later, just let me know!" As of Friday afternoon, however, Google isn't showing an AI Overview for the term "disregard" at all - instead, it shows a list of news stories about the issue first. Google hasn' … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Meta’s Forum is part Reddit, part Facebook, and part Google AI Overview
the-verge· 22-may
Meta's new Forum app for iPhones takes Facebook Groups and moves them to a dedicated app with a dedicated AI chatbot to go with it, like an AI revamp of the ill-fated Groups app Facebook shut down in 2017. Rather than going to ChatGPT or tacking "Reddit" onto the end of a Google search, Forum users can view, search for, and post advice directly in their Facebook groups, with optional help from Meta's AI. After logging in with my Facebook account, Forum automatically pulled in the groups I was part of on Facebook and populated my feed with posts from those groups, along with suggestions from groups I'm not part of, similar to my Reddit fe … Read the full story at The Verge.
- I have a new go-to browser
the-verge· 23-may
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 129, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, come on you Gunners, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've mostly been sick, which has meant nearly a full rewatch of Parks and Recreation while alternately napping and feeling bad for myself. But I've also been reading about Nick Fuentes and clowns, listening to old episodes of Short History Of, testing the NextSense Smartbuds while I sleep, writing in the Outerline Markdown app beta, and eagerly looking for things to do with the upcoming Flipper One. Today' … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Google’s new anything-to-anything AI model is wild
the-verge· 23-may
Just a stuffed deer having the time of his life. | Image: Gemini / The Verge Last year I deepfaked my kid's stuffed animal to make it look like his plush deer was on vacation. It was an experiment to see if I could re-create the events depicted in a Gemini ad Google was running, and I never showed the videos of Buddy the deer on his adventures to my four-year-old. But it was a revealing exercise that made me think a lot about the difference between some harmless fun with generative AI and full-on slop. Maybe that Venn diagram is a perfect circle! Maybe not. But what I know for sure is that the tools to make realistic videos are surprisingly good, requiring surprisingly little effort and know-how. And that trend is c … Read the full story at The Verge.