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Tech

AI Summary

  • Artificial Intelligence is rapidly advancing across various sectors, from agentic coding apps and specialized robotics to enterprise solutions, though it faces scrutiny over ethical concerns like generative content and data privacy.
  • Elon Musk is consolidating his tech empire by merging xAI with SpaceX, aiming to leverage space-based infrastructure for advanced AI development and satellite communication, forming a highly integrated innovation entity.
  • The cybersecurity landscape shows persistent threats, with reports of alleged state-sponsored groups compromising software update mechanisms and new AI-driven platforms exposing user credentials, underscoring ongoing security vulnerabilities.
  • The transportation industry is seeing significant developments in autonomous driving, marked by Waymo securing substantial funding for international robotaxi expansion, and regulatory shifts such as China's new safety standards for EV door designs.
  • Software and digital service providers are recalibrating their strategies around AI and user experience, exemplified by Adobe discontinuing products to prioritize AI development and Firefox implementing user controls for generative AI features, alongside widespread streaming price increases.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Crunchyroll increases prices for all anime streaming plans 8 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Anime fans won't be getting any respite from the streaming service price hikes that now feel inevitable on every platform every couple of years. Crunchyroll announced today that it will be increasing the monthly costs for all its plans by $2. That means the Fan tier will now run you $10 a month, the Mega Fan Tier is $14 a month and the Ultimate Fan Tier is $18 a month.  The platform introduced its Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan options in 2020, with both at long last giving viewers an option to watch shows offline. The silver lining in today's price

  • Moltbook, the AI social network, exposed human credentials due to vibe-coded security flaw 9 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Internet & Networking Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Moltbook bills itself as a social network for AI agents. That's a wacky enough concept in the first place, but the site apparently exposed the credentials for thousands of its human users. The flaw was discovered by cybersecurity firm Wiz, and its team assisted Moltbook with addressing the vulnerability. The issue appears to be the result of the entire Reddit-style forum being vibe-coded; Moltbook's human founder posted a few days ago on X that he "didn't write one line of code" for the platform and instead directed an AI assistant to create the whole setup.  According to the blog post from Wiz

  • Elon Musk's SpaceX has acquired his AI company, xAI 9 hours ago by Karissa Bell
    Science, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Karissa Bell

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX has acquired Musk’s xAI, the companies announced. The merger will “form the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world’s foremost real-time information and free speech platform,” Musk wrote in an update. The AI company that right now is best known for its CSAM-generating chatbot might seem like a strange fit for a rocket company. But SpaceX is key to Musk’s latest scheme to build AI data centers in space. In his update, Musk wrote that “global electricity demand for AI simply cannot be met with

  • Ubisoft fires employee who publicly criticized its RTO plan 10 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Ubisoft continues to raise eyebrows around how it is treating employees as it attempts a business overhaul. David Michaud-Cromp, a level design team lead at Ubisoft Montreal, said last week that he was suspended for three days without pay after voicing opposition to the company's return to office mandate. Today, Michaud-Cromp posted on LinkedIn that he has been fired. "I was terminated by Ubisoft, effective immediately," he wrote. "This was not my decision." A spokesperson for Ubisoft gave Kotaku the following statement regarding Michaud-Cromp's dismissal: "Sharing feedback or opinions respectfully does not lead to a dismissal. We have a clear Code

  • France might seek restrictions on VPN use in campaign to keep minors off social media 11 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Politics & Government, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    France may take additional steps to prevent minors from accessing social media platforms. As its government advances a proposed ban on social media use for anyone under age 15, some leaders are already looking to add further restrictions. During an appearance on public broadcast service Franceinfo, Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs Anne Le Hénanff said VPNs might be the next target.  "If [this legislation] allows us to protect a very large majority of children, we will continue. And VPNs are the next topic on my list," she said. A virtual private network would potentially allow French citizens younger than


The Verge

  • The Switch is now Nintendo’s best-selling console of all time 37 minutes ago by Jess Weatherbed
    Entertainment, Gaming, News, Nintendo, Tech

    The original Switch is officially Nintendo's best-selling console of all time after surpassing the DS handheld in lifetime sales. In its latest earnings release, Nintendo reports that the Nintendo Switch has, as of December 31, 2025, sold 155.37 million units since its launch in 2017, compared to 154.02 million units for the 2004 Nintendo DS. In November, Nintendo reported that the Switch and DS were neck and neck. We expected the holiday sales period would see the Switch surpass the DS, even with Nintendo announcing that primary development would focus on the Switch 2. Nintendo previously said that it would continue

  • Adobe Animate is shutting down next month 9 hours ago by Emma Roth
    Adobe, Apps, Creators, News, Tech

    Adobe is pulling the plug on Adobe Animate. In a FAQ posted to Adobe's website, the company says it will stop selling the animation software on March 1st, citing the emergence of new platforms "that better serve the needs of the users." Users have until March 1st, 2027 (or March 1st, 2029 for enterprise customers) to access and download files from Animate, as they'll no longer be available after this time. The app will be available to download until those deadlines, and Adobe will continue providing support during that period. Adobe Animate's history dates back to 1996, when FutureWave Software launched the

  • Waymo raises $16 billion to take its robotaxi business ‘global’ 9 hours ago by Andrew J. Hawkins
    Autonomous Cars, Business, News, Transportation, Waymo

    Waymo announced a $16 billion investment round aimed at bringing its robotaxi business to more US cities, as well as some overseas markets. The funding round was led by Dragoneer Investment Group, a "crossover" firm known for investing in late-stage tech companies before they go public. Waymo's co-CEOs said in a blog post they would use some of the money to buy more vehicles to grow its fleets size, a crucial step as it seeks to launch in at least 20 new cities in 2026. The company currently operates more than 2,500 robotaxis in six US cities. The new funding values

  • Here are the best Apple Watch deals available right now 10 hours ago
    Apple, Deals, Gadgets, Report, Roundup, Smartwatch, Tech, Verge Shopping, Wearable

    The Apple Watch SE 3 — our go to pick for most people — is on sale starting at $219 ($30 off) for a limited time. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge In September, Apple launched its latest fleet of smartwatches, including the Apple Watch Series 11, the SE 3, and the Ultra 3. Each wearable offers something a little different (their prices indicate their breadth of features), and we’re already starting to see big price drops. Additionally, we’re still recommending some recent predecessors in Apple’s portfolio, including the Series 10 and Ultra 2, for which discounts are

  • Elon Musk merges SpaceX with xAI (and X) 10 hours ago by Jay Peters
    AI, Elon Musk, Science, Space, SpaceX, Tech, xAI

    Elon Musk is merging two of the companies that he leads, SpaceX and xAI (which also owns X), into one. According to an announcement from Musk: > SpaceX has acquired xAI to form the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world's foremost real-time information and free speech platform. This marks not just the next chapter, but the next book in SpaceX and xAI's mission: scaling to make a sentient sun to understand the Universe and extend the light of consciousness to the stars! > > Current advances in AI


Wired


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