- Chinese regulators tell Tesla to fix nearly 3 million cars
ars-technica· 21-ago
Chinese safety regulators have cracked down on doors that don't open in a crash.
- Fighter jets help destroy Russian drone boat near European offshore gas platform
ars-technica· 21-ago
Romania blew up drone boat to protect lives of several hundred rig workers.
- Motorola's GrapheneOS phones will launch in 2027 priced higher than Pixels
ars-technica· 21-ago
The private Android-based OS will expand beyond Pixels next year.
- Dismantling the Roadless Rule threatens to disrupt wildlife and water in US
ars-technica· 22-ago
Lands free of roads are under threat from the Trump administration’s proposed rollback.
- Putting mice into hibernation causes a major loss of synapses
ars-technica· 22-ago
Hibernation cuts down on synapses, but mice seem to retain memories anyway.
- Thunder + fiber-optic cabling used for seismic imaging
ars-technica· 21-ago
Thunderstorms make seismic waves that can be used to find sub-surface features.
- Trump's space transportation policy calls for new spaceport on federal land
ars-technica· 21-ago
"We probably need another site that's capable of heavy and super heavy launch capability."
- Hidden Zillow listings created fake supply shock, raising NYC rents, lawsuit says
ars-technica· 21-ago
Renters say hidden Zillow listings make it harder to afford living in New York City.
- Personalized pricing is “abhorrent,” but FTC limits may increase costs, critics say
ars-technica· 21-ago
Some Americans fear the FTC may be thinking about personalized pricing all wrong.
- Lawsuit demands Logitech hand tariff refunds over to customers
ars-technica· 21-ago
Logitech increased prices by up to 25 percent last year.
- The Download: AI’s self-improvement problem, and what’s driving the heat
mit-tech-review· 19-ago
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. AI’s recursive self-improvement might not come so quickly after all The AI industry’s boldest promise right now is that AI will soon improve itself, with almost no need for human oversight.…
- Support networks aim to help kids through the polycrisis
mit-tech-review· 20-ago
Sometime in the late 2000s, Pim Sullivan-Tailyour was sitting in the back of a car, headed toward her great-grandmother’s tiny town in the south of Thailand. She watched big mountains pass by out the window. She was just six years old but was about to be hit by an adult-size realization. “They were just quarried…
- Unlocking hidden revenue streams with market models
mit-tech-review· 20-ago
Each day, an airline transports tens of thousands of passengers on hundreds of flights. Often these are not straightforward point-to-point routes, with passengers requiring multiple connections. The airline can consider potentially hundreds of variables to price each of these journeys: demand, season, time of day, current events, global markets, and competitor airline activity to name…
- The next big thing in hydrogen could be underground
mit-tech-review· 20-ago
There’s a hunt for new sources of hydrogen, and the gas (or at least the right conditions to make it) could be hiding beneath our feet. Hydrogen can be used as a fuel in everything from large trucks to planes to steelmaking. It’s often hailed as a climate solution because when burned, it produces water…
- Debates over AI consciousness are a trap
mit-tech-review· 20-ago
“Runaway” AI, “rogue” agents, and “autonomous” actors—the current rhetoric would have you believe that AI agents are not only awake and aware, but angry at their creators. Prominent tech leaders such as Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, and Sam Altman push for regulation of these seemingly “superhuman” systems, while a separate faction, led by policy organizations…
- The Download: polycrisis support networks and a hydrogen gold rush
mit-tech-review· 20-ago
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. Support networks aim to help kids through the polycrisis Sometime in the late 2000s, six-year-old Pim Sullivan-Tailyour was sitting in the back of a car in Thailand when she saw a…
- Mother tongue
mit-tech-review· 21-ago
“Daddy?” Theo curled against my side in bed. “Where do words go when they die?” I’d orchestrated the bedtime routine flawlessly: bath (taken), teeth (brushed), potty (tinkled), books (two), song (one, poorly sung), and snuggle (his chin on my second rib). Now was the moment when our son’s eyelids were supposed to flutter gently closed,…
- When AI designs a drug, who gets the credit?
mit-tech-review· 21-ago
When the biotech company Insilico Medicine used its computer models to propose a promising drug for pulmonary fibrosis, it enthusiastically claimed in a press release that the molecule had been “discovered by” its generative AI platform. Insilico leads a pack of companies using AI to rapidly come up with drug ideas humans might never think…
- This company’s plans to deploy space mirrors could jeopardize the night sky for many
mit-tech-review· 21-ago
A company that plans to beam sunlight from space to Earth on demand might unintentionally brighten the night sky for many more people than intended, according to a new study. Later this year, the US company Reflect Orbital plans to launch a test satellite called Eärendil-1 that will extend an 18-by-18-meter mirror in orbit. The…
- The Download: threats from space mirrors and credit for AI drugs
mit-tech-review· 21-ago
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. This company’s plans to deploy space mirrors could jeopardize the night sky for many A company that plans to beam sunlight from space to Earth on demand might unintentionally brighten the…
- Anthropic’s Opus 4.6 is a smut-machine
techcrunch· 21-ago
Anthropic forbids its Claude models from generating sexually explicit content. But a series of tests conducted by TechCrunch found that it didn't take much to get past the restriction.
- Apple is reportedly cutting hundreds of jobs from Siri, Vision Pro teams
techcrunch· 21-ago
Apple has admitted that some roles are being impacted as it shifts its focus away from certain initiatives.
- How AI accounting startup Rillet raised $100M and became a unicorn in 48 hours
techcrunch· 21-ago
Rillet CEO Nicolas Kopp shared growth numbers at a board meeting and set off a fundraising frenzy from Iconiq, Sequoia and others. Without even trying.
- Japanese space tech startup Letara expands beyond satellite thrusters with $16M
techcrunch· 22-ago
Japanese space startup Letara is betting its hybrid rocket technology can move beyond small satellite thrusters into a broader market for space, defense and security, after raising ¥2.6 billion ($16 million).
- Last chance: Save up to $300 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 ticket today
techcrunch· 21-ago
If you’ve been circling around Disrupt, then now’s the best time to lock in your pass and start getting ready to join the rest of the startup community gathering in San Francisco from October 13-15 at Moscone West!
- Michael Polansky is training an AI model on skin that’s still alive
techcrunch· 22-ago
Michael Polansky — better known publicly as Lady Gaga's partner and a former top deputy to Sean Parker — has quietly spent years building an AI-driven startup that keeps living human skin tissue alive for weeks outside the body to discover new skincare compounds, and is only now going public about it.
- Nvidia just showed that the harness, not the AI model, is now the real hero
techcrunch· 21-ago
Nvidia research shows that AI agents can perform well, and not go off the deep end, through fine-tuning, even if the AI model isn't that great at the task.
- Nvidia partners with data center developer Cloverleaf
techcrunch· 21-ago
Nvidia continues to pour money into data center development — just as AI data centers bring lots of money into Nvidia.
- The $225 Pebble Time 2 is a refreshingly fun smartwatch
techcrunch· 21-ago
The $225 Pebble Time 2 pairs quirky watch faces and apps with physical buttons, an e-paper display, weeks of battery life, and a playful hacker spirit.
- TikTok reaches $400M settlement over children’s privacy lawsuit
techcrunch· 21-ago
Two years after the U.S. Department of Justice alleged that TikTok violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, it has reached a $400 million settlement.
- Over 1 million people have clicked LinkedIn’s AI slop button
the-verge· 21-ago
LinkedIn actually announced a "Seems like AI slop" button on July 30th, and the company says that a lot of people have already used it. According to a Thursday post from chief product officer Hari Srinivasan, "over a million people" have clicked on the button, which is accessible from the three dots menu on a post. LinkedIn announced the button a few weeks after AI detector Pangram determined that 41 percent of LinkedIn's longform posts were flagged as fully AI generated, which 404 Media reported on. Alongside the AI slop button, LinkedIn introduced "new and improved" classifiers to identify posts as AI and removed a feature that would "en … Read the full story at The Verge.
- $100 Best Buy gift cards will be $60 at stores Saturday
the-verge· 21-ago
The best gift card deal we’ve spotted this year is happening Saturday, August 22nd, at Best Buy stores for one day only. In celebration of the retailer’s 60th anniversary, you can purchase a $100 Best Buy gift card for $60. The deal is only good for as long as supplies last at your local store, so you might want to plan on getting there no later than opening time to boost your chance of getting one. There are some limitations on how you can use the gift card. You can’t use them to buy other gift cards, like iTunes or Google Play credit, and they also can’t be used to buy prepaid or open-loop debit cards. However, they can be used in combination with other discounts or promotions on products from Best Buy, and any returns or cancellations you make will credit back to the gift card. We’ve f…
- Microsoft and Discord subpoenaed over GTA VI gameplay leaks
the-verge· 21-ago
Following several apparent video leaks of Grand Theft Auto VI, Take-Two Interactive has subpoenaed Microsoft and Discord over content that "infringes copyrights" held for the game, Kotaku reports. In the subpoenas, filed on Thursday, Take-Two says copyrighted material includes "audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, or other creative elements" and it is looking to identify "alleged infringers at issue." The subpoenas give Microsoft and Discord until September 4th to produce the requested information. The leaked clips have been watermarked by a person or group going by "CyberLeek," and they have shown what appears to be GTA VI prot … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Pixel 11 gets in on the digicam trend
the-verge· 21-ago
I recently looked back at a photo I'd taken on a smartphone in 2014, and I was struck by just how good it looked. The details were soft, the shadows were dark. It was the kind of photo I felt like I hadn't seen out of a phone in years. That might be changing, though. The Pixel 11 includes a suite of new photography features called Camera Looks that allow those who really care about those things (hi, it's all of us) to dial in their preferences and get rid of that modern over-processed look. On today's episode of The Vergecast, David Imel joins us to discuss his time reviewing the Pixel 11 Pro and how he's thinking about its new approach to … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Why does it seem like food recalls are out of control this year?
the-verge· 21-ago
Just weeks after Taylor Farms issued a recall of its iceberg lettuce amid a massive cyclospora outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration recalled more than one million eggs that may be contaminated with salmonella. The eggs, which come from Midwest Poultry Services, were distributed to Kroger and smaller grocery stores across the South and Southwest US. Then, Taylor Farms pulled more than a dozen of its products containing jalapeños - including guacamole, salsa, taco dip, and more - from store shelves after its supplier, Coast Citrus Distributors, recalled fresh peppers due to salmonella contamination. The list of major recalls that occurr … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Walmart is finally adding Apple Pay and Google Pay
the-verge· 21-ago
Walmart will soon allow you to pay for your items with Google Pay or Apple Pay. In an announcement on Friday, Walmart says it's going to bring tap-to-pay capabilities to "select" Walmart and Sam's Club locations starting August 24th, before rolling out support to all US stores by the end of 2026 and gas stations by mid-2027. This launch has been a long time coming, as Walmart was one of the last major retailers not to support Apple Pay or Google Pay. The retail giant even backed the launch of the short-lived CurrentC mobile payment service before rolling out Walmart Pay in 2016, which lets you quickly check out with a QR code at its stores. … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Two great new repairable gadgets
the-verge· 22-ago
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 141, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, I'm newish here too, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been getting back into the Installer groove, trying out some ergonomic Switch 2 grips I bought on Etsy, researching bike stuff because I'm about to get a Velotric e-bike, inching my way through the fourth book in The Dark Tower series, trying to figure out what feels off about Sonic in the new Fortnite season, wondering why Mark Zuckerberg needs a castle, and swatting at a few too many flies that have snu … Read the full story at The Verge.
- Apple is laying off staffers working on the Vision Pro and Siri
the-verge· 21-ago
Apple is laying off staff on the Siri and the Vision Pro teams, according to Bloomberg. The cuts include "largely shutting down" a Vision Pro gaming team and "reducing the size" of the team that makes Vision Pro immersive content, the publication says. More than 200 jobs were cut. Apple said in a statement to Bloomberg it was making the changes to "to evolve our business to deliver the best experiences for our users," though it will be making new roles. The company didn't immediately reply to a request for comment from The Verge. The Vision Pro launched in early 2024 as Apple's big bet on "spatial computing," but the $3,499 headset doesn't … Read the full story at The Verge.
- HoverAir’s transforming modular drone has already been halted in the US
the-verge· 21-ago
The HoverAir Versa. | Image: HoverAir I am so sorry, fellow US gadget fans: the FCC's drone ban appears to have struck again. The HoverAir Versa - a baby steadycam with snap-on propeller wings that transform it into a drone - has already stopped taking US orders just three days after its Indiegogo debut, and may be forced to abandon shipping plans in the US. HoverAir is now telling backers it's only shipping its camera to the US, not the piece that turns it into a drone, "due to a few remaining logistics updates with the Flight Kit." But those "logistics" may actually be a euphemism for "we've been banned by the federal government." The FCC's database no longer has an entry for … Read the full story at The Verge.
- TikTok will pay $400 million to settle DOJ child privacy lawsuit
the-verge· 21-ago
The US Department of Justice announced on Friday that TikTok will pay $400 million to settle a lawsuit filed in 2024 over allegedly violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). In the lawsuit, the DOJ alleged that TikTok collected data from children without notifying parents or obtaining consent and did not delete the accounts when parents requested. TikTok is set to pay $300 million right away and will pay a further $100 million "upon entry of an order vacating a prior consent decree entered against TikTok's predecessor, Musical.ly," the DOJ says in a press release. The settlement is "one of the largest recoveries ever o … Read the full story at The Verge.