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Tech

AI Summary

  • AI continues to be a central focus across the tech industry, with significant advancements in model development, new product integrations, major infrastructure investments, and growing regulatory scrutiny over its ethical implications and data security.
  • Major tech companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Meta are actively updating their product ecosystems, introducing new features in hardware and software, and making strategic deals for AI infrastructure, while also navigating public and internal challenges related to user experience and social impact.
  • The venture capital landscape remains robust, marked by substantial new fundraises and investments, particularly channeling significant capital into burgeoning AI startups and innovative climate technology solutions.
  • Cybersecurity and privacy are under intensified examination, highlighted by instances of spyware use, concerns over AI-generated content, government actions regarding tech security, and ongoing debates about social media's effects on younger users.
  • The automotive sector is seeing notable shifts in electric vehicle development and autonomous driving technologies, with companies adjusting branding and manufacturing strategies while also facing challenges in tech integration and regulatory compliance.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Meta will run AI in WhatsApp through NVIDIA's 'confidential computing' an hour ago by Steve Dent
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Steve Dent

    Meta just announced a deal to buy "millions" of NVIDIA Blackwell and Rubin GPUs in a new long-term partnership. As part of that, the social media giant will deploy NVIDIA's Confidential Computing for WhatsApp, "enabling AI-powered capabilities across the messaging platform while ensuring user data confidentiality and integrity." As part of the deal, Meta committed to using NVIDIA's Confidential Computing for WhatsApp messaging to allow AI inside the app while guaranteeing user data confidentiality. That technology will let Meta secure data during computation, not just when it's being shuttled to a server. It also allows software creators like Meta or third-party

  • The best wireless workout headphones for 2026 2 hours ago by Dana Wollman,Valentina Palladino
    Sony, WF-SP800N, JLab, headphones, earbuds, thebuyersguide, wirelessheadphones, BeatsPowerbeatsPro, commerce, Beats, Anker, soundcore, PowerbeatsPro, Jabra, SonyWF-SP800N, spiritdot2, Audio Technology, Technology & Electronics, Personal Investing Ideas & Strategies, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Dana Wollman

    Whether you’re lifting, running or squeezing in a quick session between errands, the last thing you want is a cable getting in the way or earbuds that won’t stay put. The best wireless headphones make it easier to focus on your workout, but not every pair is built to handle sweat, motion and long sessions. Fitness-focused headphones put different demands on design and performance. Secure fit, water resistance and dependable battery life matter just as much as sound quality, especially if you plan to use them outside the gym as well. Some are tuned for awareness during outdoor runs, while others

  • The best drone for 2026 4 hours ago by Steve Dent
    Technology & Electronics, Personal Investing Ideas & Strategies, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Steve Dent

    Drones are no longer just niche toys for enthusiasts. Today’s models are compact, increasingly affordable and capable of capturing sharp aerial photos and video with minimal effort. Whether you’re curious about flying for the first time or looking to upgrade to a more advanced camera drone, the options available in 2026 are broader and more approachable than ever. Entry-level drones now offer features like GPS-assisted flight, return-to-home safety systems and automated shooting modes that take much of the stress out of learning to fly. Step up to more advanced models and you’ll find foldable designs that travel easily, longer flight times

  • YouTube was down for thousands of users in the US 9 hours ago by Mariella Moon
    Internet & Networking Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon

    YouTube is experiencing an outage across the United States, with users in other countries like Canada, India, the Philippines, Australia and Russia also having problems with accessing the website. The issue seems to have started at around 8 PM Eastern time and reached 338,000 reports on Downdetector before starting to taper down. More users reported having issues accessing the app, but I personally lost access to the web homepage first. As of 9:22 PM, users are still reporting being unable to access YouTube on Reddit. As of 9:33 PM, users are complaining that they still can’t access the service, though others

  • Samsung teases mobile AI photography tools ahead of Unpacked 13 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Anyone who's been paying even a little bit of attention to tech news lately could have made a reasonable guess that AI will be a big topic at Samsung's Unpacked next week. Ahead of the event, Samsung teased some of what's to come for AI in terms of the Galaxy S26 smartphone lineup's photography tools.  The S26 phones will feature a new camera system using Galaxy AI that combines capturing, editing and sharing of photos and videos. "Users will be able to turn a photo from day to night in seconds, restore missing parts of objects in images, capture detailed photos


The Verge

  • Perplexity joins anti-ad camp as AI companies battle over trust and revenue an hour ago by Robert Hart
    AI, News

    AI search startup Perplexity is distancing itself from ads amid fears users won't trust chatbots with an agenda to upsell. The move highlights an emerging crossroads for the AI industry as the sector's biggest players hunt for stable sources of income to bankroll massive spending, with giants like OpenAI leaning into ads and others like Anthropic promising to keep them out. Perplexity began phasing out ads late last year and isn't exploring any new ad deals at the moment, executives said on Monday at a roundtable event, according to Business Insider and the Financial Times. It is a noteworthy U-turn for

  • Tesla won’t use the term ‘Autopilot’ in California anymore 2 hours ago by Jess Weatherbed
    Electric Cars, News, Policy, Tesla, Transportation

    Tesla is no longer using the term "Autopilot" to describe the self-driving capabilities of its vehicles in California, avoiding a 30-day sales suspension in the state. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced that Tesla has taken corrective action after finding in December that the EV manufacturer's marketing was violating state law and misleading customers into thinking its cars would drive autonomously. The DMV's complaint is connected to written marketing materials for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features that Tesla started publishing in May 2021, which later led to the EV maker appending "(Supervised)" … Read the full story at The

  • Meta’s new deal with Nvidia buys up millions of AI chips 12 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    AI, Meta, News, Nvidia, Tech

    Meta has struck a multiyear deal to expand its data centers with millions of Nvidia's Grace and Vera CPUs and Blackwell and Rubin GPUs. While Meta has long been using Nvidia's hardware for its AI products, this deal "represents the first large-scale Nvidia Grace-only deployment," which Nvidia says will deliver "significant performance-per-watt improvements in [Meta's] data centers." The deal also includes plans to add Nvidia's next-generation Vera CPUs to Meta's data centers in 2027. Meta is also working on its own in-house chips for running AI models, but according to the Financial Times, it has run into "technical challenges and rollout

  • Stephen Colbert says CBS banned him from airing this James Talarico interview 13 hours ago by Emma Roth
    Entertainment, News, Policy, Politics, Speech, TV Shows

    The Late Show host Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked him from broadcasting an interview with James Talarico, a Democratic representative from Texas. During his opening monologue on Monday night, Colbert says the network's lawyers told him in "no uncertain terms" that he couldn't have Talarico on the show, forcing him to post the interview on YouTube instead, hours after news broke that Anderson Cooper is leaving his position at the network as a 60 Minutes correspondent. "He [Talarico] was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network's lawyers, who called us directly, that we

  • The best deals on MacBooks right now 13 hours ago
    Apple, Deals, Gadgets, Laptops, macOS, Tech, Verge Shopping

    Apple currently sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series processors in a wide range of sizes and price points, all of which run the company’s newest operating system, macOS 26. Purchasing a new MacBook can be complicated if you’re trying to figure out what specs you need, but finding a deal on a relatively speedy model is surprisingly easy, especially since Apple increased the starting RAM on several models in late 2024 and hasn’t stopped. These days, it’s not uncommon to see various MacBooks discounted by up to $800, although the quality of deals fluctuates frequently. Alternatively, purchasing refurbished options directly


Wired


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