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Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 6:48 AM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • AI continues its pervasive integration, with ventures ranging from AI-driven filmmaking and startup valuations to concerns about its use as a 'Trojan horse' and the development of open-access AI web infrastructures.
  • The mobility sector is a hotbed of activity and regulatory debate, particularly concerning robotaxi services and the performance of EVs and their charging infrastructure, which is proving more robust than previously thought.
  • Major tech players like Apple and Google are facing scrutiny over app content, with orders to remove 'nudify' apps, while also navigating lawsuits that could impact emerging hardware plans.
  • Data centers are increasingly central to infrastructure discussions, raising questions about land use and data broker tools employed for surveillance, alongside significant company valuations in the AI space like Databricks.
  • The intersection of technology and physical products sees developments in EV discontinuations, advancements in robotics, and a resurgence of interest in analog formats like 35mm film cameras.

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The Verge

  • China delivers a one-two punch to America’s AI dominance an hour ago by Robert Hart
    AI, Anthropic, News, OpenAI, Policy, Politics

    China's leading AI companies are ramping up the pressure on Silicon Valley, as Moonshot and Alibaba unveiled models they claim can go toe-to-toe with the best from OpenAI and Anthropic at a fraction of the cost. The rapid-fire releases suggest America's lead at the AI frontier is increasingly tight, just as the technology is becoming central to national security, economic power, and geopolitical influence. The opening salvo came from Beijing-based Moonshot AI, one of China's leading AI model developers, which unveiled Kimi K3 on Friday. Moonshot claims its own testing ranks it consistently above nearly every US system, trailing only

  • This unpronounceable series of glyphs is an incredible side project from Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) 15 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Column, Entertainment, Music, Music Review

    Sure is a lot of porcelein in there. | Image: Kieran Hebden Just why? ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(̸̢̛̼̞̭͋ͅ)̸͚̰͛̔̾̀̿͒͂:̴͓̞̑̌̂̆̊͋̀:̸͎̟̯̂̓̌ ҉ ͡ ͞ ͞ ͞ ҉● ࿀ ●  ࿀  ● ҉⃝ ⃝͢ ͞ ͘ ͞⃝̕ ͢ ̛ ⃝ ̸ ̡ ͢⃝̧ ͡ ͡ ̀ ̧ ̢⃝͜ ҉ ͞ ͞ ⃝͞ ͞ ͡⃝  ⃝҉҈҉҈҉҈҉҈҉҈҉ :̶̢͙͙͕̠̩͆(̷̮͍͚̫͚͂̍)̵̳̗̊( ̟̞̝̜̙̘̗̖҉̵̴̨̧̢̡̼̻̺̹̳̲̱̰̯̮̭̬̫̪̩̦̥ What am I supposed to do with this? It's un-Googleable. Unpronounceable. It doesn't even render the same way on various platforms. It looks one way on YouTube Music. Another on Apple Music. And yet another on Bandcamp. Even the artist name ⣎⡇ꉺლ༽இ•̛)ྀ◞ ༎ຶ ༽ৣৢ؞ৢ؞ؖ ꉺლ is an unpronounceable series of glyphs that would make

  • Kodak EC35 is a dirt-cheap point-and-shoot film camera 16 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Cameras, Gadgets, News

    I’m partial to that avocado green one. | Image: Reto Project Following the success of its $99 Kodak-branded Snapic A1 , Reto Project is releasing the Kodak EC35 , an even more affordable 35mm film camera for just $34.99. The EC35 certainly isn't fancy. Its 25mm acrylic lens with a fixed f/10 aperture and 1/100 shutter speed basically put it on par with a drugstore disposable. The fact that it has a manual wind and rewind only emphasizes that. And you can really lean into that disposable aesthetic thanks to its built-in automatic flash. Unlike the A1, there's no double

  • I hate that I don’t hate this song made with Suno 18 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    AI, Entertainment, Music, Report, Tech

    1010Benja won’t apologize for using AI. | Image: 1010Benja / Instagram I would never go so far as to say there's no place for AI in music (I'm a fan of Holly Herndon, after all). But I generally find music made with generative AI to be offensively boring , especially the outputs of Suno . So I'm having a bit of a tough time processing the fact that I actually quite enjoy 1010Benja's " Semiramis' Dream ." Benja has been unapologetic about his use of generative AI on his latest EP, Time Has Nothing To Do With What You Choose…

  • The FBI reportedly won’t investigate ICE anymore 19 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    News, Policy, Politics

    ICE agents hide behind masks while skulking through the halls of immigration court. | Image: Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images According to the The New York Times , federal agents have been told that the FBI will no longer be investigating confrontations involving ICE agents. The DHS and DOJ denied the change in policy to The Times. The reported change in guidance follows renewed scrutiny of violence by ICE agents who have killed two people in the last two weeks. The shootings in Maine and Texas were just the latest civilian deaths at the hands of ICE agents, who


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