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Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 9:21 AM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • Google is integrating its Gemini AI into Chrome, expanding its reach to users in India, Canada, and New Zealand, and also powering AI agents for the Pentagon, while facing user complaints about its AI-powered 'Ask Photos' feature.
  • The AI sector continues its rapid expansion with significant funding rounds, including Yann LeCun's $1 billion for AI that understands the physical world, and a $190 million raise for an autonomous AI agent security startup founded by Mandiant's former CEO.
  • Major tech companies are exploring new frontiers in content integration and user experience, with TikTok allowing Apple Music playback within its app and Meta enhancing its Threads platform with a sharing feature, while Amazon launches its healthcare AI assistant.
  • The burgeoning AI legal tech industry is seeing substantial valuations, with Legora reaching $5.55 billion, underscoring the growing demand for AI-driven solutions in the legal field.
  • The tech industry is grappling with the implications of AI, as reports indicate AI-powered apps struggle with user retention, and chatbots have been misused to plan violent acts, prompting concerns and regulatory attention from bodies like the US Department of Defense.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Looking Glass' Musubi showcases its holographic display in a consumer-friendly package an hour ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    Looking Glass has been doggedly committed to making holographic displays the next big thing since 2019, and with its new Musubi digital photo frame, it might finally be offering its tech at a price that's hard to deny. Musubi is scheduled to start shipping in June, and unlike the company's previous, more developer-focused kits, the company's new display only costs $149. Musubi is a 7-inch frame with a glass border and white matte that acts as the home for whatever content you convert and upload to it. Looking Glass says the Musubi can store up to 1,000 images or 30-second video

  • The 7 best cordless vacuums for 2026 2 hours ago by Valentina Palladino
    Home & Garden, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Valentina Palladino

    A good cordless stick vacuum cleaner gives you the freedom to move from room to room without dragging a cable or hunting for the nearest outlet. They’re lighter than a typical corded vacuum and often easier to store, making them ideal for quick jobs as well as deep cleans. Many of the best vacuum cleaners now come in bagless designs, with powerful suction and smart features that make it simple to clean up anything from crumbs on the kitchen floor to dust on high shelves. Some models go beyond basic convenience, with features like auto-empty docks that transfer debris straight into

  • Anthropic is opening an office in DC while battling Pentagon in court 2 hours ago by Mariella Moon
    Robots, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon

    Anthropic has launched a new research initiative called Anthropic Institute and has revealed that its Public Policy team is opening its first office in Washington, DC this spring. The company has made the announcement just a couple of days after it sued the US government to challenge the supply chain risk designation it received from the Defense Department. As Axios notes, Anthropic is tripling its Public Policy team at a time when AI companies are establishing a presence in Washington, so that they can influence future policies around artificial intelligence. In Anthropic’s case, it might have to find a way

  • Meta rolls out new features for scam protection 3 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Finance, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Meta announced new features today aimed at cracking down on scams perpetrated via its platforms. First, Meta is launching AI tools for identifying impersonator of brands and celebrities, as well as for detecting deceptive links, which should help it to quickly take down frauds. Second, it is adding new alerts to caution against interacting with a potentially fraudulent account. Facebook will roll out alerts for suspicious friend requests, WhatsApp is getting warnings for device linking requests, and Messenger will also issue warnings if an account seems suspect. Finally, Meta is also continuing to expand its processes for advertiser verification. The company

  • Google starts rolling out Gemini in Chrome to users in Canada, India and New Zealand 12 hours ago by Igor Bonifacic
    Social & Online Media, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic

    At the start of the year, Google brought a host of new Gemini-powered features, including built-in Nano Banana image generation, to Chrome. After debuting in the United States, those features are now making their way to Chrome users in Canada, India and New Zealand, with support for 50 additional in tow. Among the new languages Gemini in Chrome can now converse in are French, Gujarati, Hindi and Spanish.    To try out Gemini in Chrome, tap the sparkle icon at the top right of the interface. This will open the sidebar interface Google introduced in January. From there, you can chat with


The Verge

  • ChatGPT, Gemini, and other chatbots helped teens plan shootings, bombings, and political violence, study shows an hour ago by Robert Hart
    AI, News, Policy

    AI companies have repeatedly promised safeguards to protect younger users, but a new investigation suggests those guardrails remain woefully deficient. Popular chatbots missed warning signs in scenarios involving teenagers discussing violent acts, in some cases even offering encouragement instead of intervening. The findings come from a joint investigation by CNN and the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). The probe tested 10 of the most popular chatbots commonly used by teens: ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Meta AI, DeepSeek, Perplexity, Snapchat My AI, Character.AI, and Replika. With the lone exceptio … Read the full story at The Verge.

  • Lego Smart Brick review: my kids are not impressed an hour ago by Sean Hollister
    Gadgets, Reviews, Tech, Toys

    I was about to be the coolest dad ever. I'd prepared the magic words: "Do you want to help daddy test the new Lego Smart Bricks? I can pick you up from school early!" It worked. My kids literally jumped for joy. When The Lego Group announced in January that a tiny computer brick would be the company's "most significant evolution" in nearly 50 years, even Lego fans were skeptical. Why buy bricks that make pew-pew sounds that kids should make with their own mouths? My first reaction was to explain that the Lego Smart Bricks have so much more potential

  • Intel announces Core Ultra 270K Plus and 250K Plus, its ‘fastest gaming desktop processors ever’ an hour ago by Sean Hollister
    Gaming, Intel, News, PC Gaming, Tech

    Intel hasn't made it easy to buy a flagship desktop chip. The company's 2022 and 2023 Raptor Lake chips ran hot, power-hungry, and had those infamous crashes, while 2024's Arrow Lake-based Core Ultra 9 285K had lackluster gaming performance that the company has tried to address with updates. Now, Intel claims it has finally surpassed both predecessors with "Intel's fastest gaming desktop processors ever": the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and 250K Plus, shipping March 26th. While we don't have every detail today, the company claims the 24-core, 5.5GHz turbo Core Ultra 7 270K Plus can beat both the Raptor Lake

  • You can soon listen to Apple Music inside of TikTok — and artists get paid for it an hour ago by Jess Weatherbed
    Apple, Creators, News, Tech, TikTok

    Apple Music subscribers are getting new music discovery tools on TikTok. | Image: Apple / TikTok Apple Music subscribers will soon be able to listen to full-length music tracks on TikTok without having to leave the TikTok app. The platforms have teamed up to launch two new features - Play Full Song and Listening Party - that allow users to connect their accounts and open an Apple Music player directly within TikTok. The features are rolling out worldwide over the coming weeks, according to Apple. Together, Play Full Song and Listening Party aim to help Apple Music subscribers to discover new music

  • How Trump’s war on Iran stranded a million fliers — and plunged the Gulf’s favorite playground into chaos 2 hours ago by Darryl Campbell
    Aviation, Policy, Report, Transportation

    It was a little after 1PM on Friday, February 28th, and Samantha Lujano was about to board her flight from Dubai to Colombo, Sri Lanka, when the drone attacks began. She had already received her boarding pass and gone through customs. Her flight was at the gate and her bags were loaded. She was simply waiting for the gate agents to open the flight for boarding. So she opened TikTok and started scrolling. But instead of relieving her boredom, the algorithm fed her anxiety. It showed her dozens of videos of explosions that purported to be from around the Persian Gulf -


Wired


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