Minimalist News

Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 2:46 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • Major AI players like Anthropic are striking deals with governments, while others like TIDAL are drawing lines against AI-generated music monetization.
  • The semiconductor industry is seeing massive investment, with South Korean giants committing over $550 billion to address potential shortages, and US memory makers like Micron gaining investor attention.
  • Autonomous vehicle technology continues to evolve, with Waymo and Uber reportedly ending their Phoenix partnership, and Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system remaining a key focus.
  • The tech industry is grappling with privacy and legal challenges, highlighted by the Supreme Court's ruling on geofence warrants and WhatsApp introducing usernames to enhance user privacy.
  • There's a growing trend of companies acquiring others to expand their reach, such as Rocket Lab's purchase of satellite company Iridium, and a renewed focus on foundational engineering principles as AI's limitations become apparent, exemplified by Ford rehiring experienced engineers.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget


The Verge

  • At $499, Apple’s M3-powered iPad Air is a good deal 2 hours ago by Cameron Faulkner
    Apple, Deals, Gadgets, iPad, Tech, Verge Shopping

    The iPad Air supports Apple Pencil Pro, plus hover support. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge Most of Apple’s price increases have gone into effect, resulting in iPads and other products costing hundreds more than they did a few days ago. If last week’s Prime Day sale wasn’t a good time to consider buying an iPad, we found a deal worth considering that’s just under $500 right now. The 128GB iPad Air that has the M3 processor , plus both Wi-Fi and 5G cellular support, costs $499 at Best Buy . At just $50 more than the base

  • The best July 4th sales we found so far 3 hours ago by Cameron Faulkner
    Deals, Gadgets, Verge Shopping

    The Govee Uplighter in action. | Image: Govee July 4th sales are typically a precursor to what we’d see during a mid-July Prime Day, but obviously things are flipped around this year. Last week’s big Prime Day sale is over, yet there are a number of familiar deals still poking around in the week leading up to the nation’s birthday. Best Buy is hosting its own 4th of July sale, for example. And, if you’re on the hunt for tech and gear for the outdoors, REI is hosting a sale on products that will last through the week. There are

  • WhatsApp is launching usernames: here’s how to reserve yours 4 hours ago by Jess Weatherbed
    Meta, News, Tech

    You can reserve the username you want to use before the feature starts rolling out later this year. | Image: Meta / WhatsApp WhatsApp is introducing a new way to add and chat with contacts, without having to share your phone number. Usernames will launch "later this year," in a move to make the communications platform "even more private," allowing you to keep your phone number concealed from people who aren't already in your contacts. Usernames are available to reserve starting this week, giving you time to claim a specific handle you may already be using elsewhere before the WhatsApp

  • Lawmakers want to ban AI companies from selling your health data 4 hours ago by Hayden Field
    AI, Policy, Report

    A new proposal would ban the sale of Americans' health and location information to data brokers - including information people reveal to an AI chatbot like ChatGPT or Claude. In the coming weeks, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) are planning to debut a new version of the Health and Location Data Protection Act that's better suited to the AI era. The former version of the bill, first introduced in June 2022 , prohibited data brokers from collecting and selling health and location data. Four years later, it's expanded to ban other companies from selling such

  • Dbrand cancels Companion Cube because it didn’t actually ask Valve for permission 4 hours ago by Jay Peters
    Entertainment, Gaming, News, PC Gaming

    Dbrand announced Monday that it's refunding everyone who bought its Steam Machine Companion Cube, which it said it made "without a license from Valve." Dbrand announced the Portal -themed Steam Machine accessory in November and took preorders for it last Monday . But a few days later, the product had disappeared from the company's website and the teaser video promoting it had been made private after Valve contacted the company. Dbrand says that the Companion Cube became "the second-fastest selling product in our 15-year history, behind only the Switch 2 Killswitch" after it opened preorders on June 22nd. However, Valve's


Wired


Looking for more? Search Google News