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Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:34 AM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • AI continues its relentless march, demonstrating potential for more accurate medical diagnoses and sparking debates over art ownership and ethical use, while European startups are emerging as significant players in the global tech landscape.
  • The automotive industry is grappling with the future of transportation, with robotaxis raising questions about regulation and ticketing, and traditional automakers like Nissan reconsidering EV plant plans.
  • The entertainment industry is adapting to AI, with AI-generated content now ineligible for Oscars, and streaming giants like Netflix making strategic decisions about major theatrical releases.
  • Big Tech companies are actively investing in AI and robotics, with Meta acquiring a robotics startup to advance humanoid AI, and major cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft, and Nvidia supplying AI tech to the Pentagon.
  • Consumer tech is seeing innovation in areas like e-readers designed to combat doomscrolling and advancements in connectivity with new mesh radio technology, alongside persistent cybersecurity concerns like DDoS attacks and exploits.

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The Verge

  • Reggie Fils-Aimé says Amazon once asked Nintendo to break the law 17 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Amazon, Gaming, News, Nintendo, Tech

    Way back in the DS days, Nintendo decided to stop selling to Amazon. During a recent lecture at NYU, former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé said it was because Amazon was seeking preferential treatment that would have hurt its relationship with other retailers, and potentially broken the law. The two sides have since made amends, and you can buy a Switch 2 through Amazon. But for a long time, Nintendo consoles had been largely unavailable on the site. In the 2000s, Amazon aggressively expanded beyond books and tried to undercut everyone on price. According to Fils-Aimé, Amazon wanted to undercut

  • Shokz’s bassy OpenRun Pro 2 are $40 off thanks to a new Mother’s Day promo 18 hours ago by Sheena Vasani
    Deals, Gadgets, Headphones, Tech, Verge Shopping

    The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 come in a variety of colors, including a traditional black hue. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge If you’re looking to pick up a pair of open-ear headphones for yourself — or your mom — Shokz is running a Mother’s Day sale. Now through May 10th, the company’s best pair of bone conduction headphones, the OpenRun Pro 2, are available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Shokz for around $139.95 ($40 off), their lowest price of the year. If you purchase direct, you’ll also receive a free waist bag (a $29.99 value). SHOKZ OPENRUN PRO 2 WHERE

  • These reusable digital Polaroids are a clever way to cover a fridge in memories 20 hours ago by Andrew Liszewski
    Deals, Gadgets, Hands-on, Reviews, Tech, Verge Shopping

    You can update this photo as often as you want. I love when my friends have their fridges covered in Polaroids. It’s often a visual crash course of what’s been going on in their lives chronicling recent adventures, get-togethers, and other fun moments. But I don’t love the idea of schlepping around a clunky instant camera or paying a premium for instant film with hit-or-miss results. That’s why I’m infatuated with these magnetic digital Polaroids from a small company called VidaBay. They look like instant photos, but use NFC tech and color E Ink screens so you can change the image

  • How the internet’s favorite squirrel dad made the hottest camera app of 2026 20 hours ago by Allison Johnson
    AI, Apple, Apps, iPhone, Mobile, Tech

    Downey at home in LA with one of his channel’s frequent guest stars. | Image: The Verge; Shutterstock It's not hyperbole to call DualShot Recorder an overnight sensation. It took only 12 hours from the time it was released to hit number one on the App Store's list of top paid apps. It was a surprise success - but what's even more surprising is the app's origin story: it all started with a cadre of friendly neighborhood squirrels and their favorite caretaker. Derrick Downey Jr. built a career on short-form videos documenting his interactions with the squirrels that visit his patio in LA.

  • AI music is flooding streaming services — but who wants it? 21 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    AI, Column, Streaming, The Stepback

    This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on how AI is changing music and the music industry, follow Terrence O'Brien. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. HOW IT STARTED The use of generative AI in pop music started almost as a gimmick. There was a sense of experimentalism to 2018's I AM AI by Taryn Southern and 2019's Proto by Holly Herndon, albums that were created with significant assistance from AI. Others got in on the action too, exploring the outer


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