Tech
AI Summary
- AI advancements are rapidly reshaping industries, with new models like Anthropic's Claude voice mode and OpenAI's ChatGPT Health expanding capabilities, while AI chip startups like Etched reach significant valuations, though concerns arise regarding AI guardrails impacting research and the ethical implications of AI's role in society.
- Major tech players are making significant strategic shifts: Mobileye's CEO is stepping aside as the company pivots to robotaxis and robotics, Meta is re-evaluating its clean energy commitments amidst a natural gas buildout, and Facebook is exploring a shift towards a TikTok-like model, highlighting a dynamic and sometimes contradictory landscape.
- The competitive landscape in AI hardware is intensifying, with AMD launching its Helios AI system to challenge Nvidia's dominance, while Nvidia itself is pushing the boundaries by sending GPUs to the moon and aiming to control AI data center chips, signaling a high-stakes race for computational power.
- Layoffs continue to impact the tech sector, with Patreon reducing its workforce by 20% and Bethesda facing accusations of labor law violations, underscoring ongoing economic pressures and restructuring within the industry.
- Cybersecurity remains a critical concern, with Iran-linked hackers targeting US infrastructure and a new startup, AegisAI, emerging to combat AI-driven spear-phishing, while offensive cybersecurity researchers face challenges due to AI guardrails.
Sources
TechCrunch
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How AI guardrails are impeding the work of offensive cybersecurity researchers
12 hours ago
by Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
AI, Security, cybersecurity, Zero-daysWe spoke with several cybersecurity researchers, who look for unknown vulnerabilities and develop tools to exploit them, about how OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s guardrails affect their work.
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Meet the judges who will crown Australia’s next breakout startup
12 hours ago
by TechCrunch Events
Startups, TechCrunch DisruptTechCrunch Startup Battlefield is coming to Australia — and we're partnering with Stripe to find the country's most exciting early-stage startups.
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Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua to step aside as company pushes into robotaxis, robotics
14 hours ago
by Kirsten Korosec
Transportation, In Brief, MobileyeShashua has been invited to take the chairman of the board seat.
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AMD takes on Nvidia with its Helios AI rack-scale system
16 hours ago
by Lucas Ropek
AI, amd, Anthropic, OpenAIAMD is challenging its chipmaker rival with a new rack-scale system that will start shipping to customers later this year.
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Patreon lays off 20% of its workforce
16 hours ago
by Aisha Malik
Apps, Layoffs, PatreonIn a memo to staff that was posted online, Conte said the company's core business is strong, but the platform has to respond to market changes and adjust its cost structure to remain stable.
Hacker News
- Flux 3 X Mimic: The Next Generation of Video-Action Models 3 hours ago
- Flux 3 6 hours ago
- It's getting harder to focus every day 4 hours ago
- The case for MUDs in modern times 44 minutes ago
- Buz – A fork of Bun using modern Zig, with sub-1s incremental builds 3 hours ago
Engadget
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Meta launches new Facebook Verified badge for actual, real humans
an hour ago
by Mat Smith
NewsMeta is trying to tackle scammers that are using generative AI by introducing a new kind of verification using user selfies.
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More than 200 companies sign Trump's 'pledge' to protect consumers from data center price rises
an hour ago
by Mariella Moon
NewsThe Trump administration says more than 200 firms have signed onto its non-binding Ratepayer Protection Pledge.
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LG promises to stop McAfee spam ads following pressure from Microsoft
an hour ago
by Steve Dent
NewsFollowing user outcry and pressure from Microsoft, LG has agreed to stop showing McAfee pop-up spam downloaded from its monitors.
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Google is expanding access to its Gemini Spark agentic AI assistant
6 hours ago
by Mariella Moon
AIGemini Spark is now available to more users.
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Scientists develop handheld device for measuring when your body is burning fat
14 hours ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
ScienceThe breathalyzer identifies the amount of acetone in your breath to determine if your body is in ketosis.
The Verge
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TikTok’s protection of minors should not be opt-in, warns EU
an hour ago
by Jess Weatherbed
Creators, News, Policy, Politics, Regulation, Tech, TikTokTikTok has attracted the ire of the European Union over its protection of children who use the video sharing platform. The European Commission announced preliminary findings today under the Digital Services Act (DSA) that offer specific issues to address. The Commission suggests that TikTok should adjust the default settings of minors' "public" accounts so the content they post is only visible to TikTok users the teen has chosen to share it with, and that such content shouldn't be recommended to other users in the For You feed. Even accounts set to private can be easily discovered through the "following" lists
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Facebook considers giving up and becoming TikTok
2 hours ago
by Jess Weatherbed
Facebook, Meta, News, Social Media, TechFacebook is planning some big changes to try and keep its users from jumping to rival social platforms like TikTok - changes that sound dubiously similar to becoming a TikTok clone. Facebook head Tom Alison announced today that the platform will begin testing a "reimagined experience" later this year that will put a subset of users into a "full-screen video the moment they open the app." Meta didn't share examples of what its experimental new interface will look like, only that it will initially roll out to countries with a noted preference for video content, with a potential expansion planned
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Microsoft pressures LG into killing unwanted McAfee ads
3 hours ago
by Jess Weatherbed
LG, Microsoft, News, Tech, WindowsMicrosoft has intervened to stop Windows 11 users with LG monitors from being bombarded with annoying McAfee trial pop-ups. In response to complaints about the LG bloatware, Microsoft's Windows chief, Pavan Davuluri, said that LG has agreed to immediately disable the McAfee pop-up from its LG Monitor App Installer, and pledged that Microsoft will "keep improving here with our ecosystem partners." This crackdown follows backlash about large pop-up ads for McAfee antivirus and LG's own apps appearing on Windows 11 PCs after being connected to LG monitors. Upon connection, a Windows driver update was silently installing LG driver updates and
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Alexa Plus is getting an AI update to handle more complicated instructions
15 hours ago
by Emma Roth
AI, Amazon, Amazon Alexa, News, Smart Home, TechAmazon is launching an update to its Alexa Plus assistant that will allow it to connect to smart home devices in new ways. With the update , which is currently in preview, Alexa Plus can link up with tech from Bosch, Delta, Ecovacs, iRobot, Yale Home, Whirlpool, Tapo, Eufy, and others, while automatically routing requests to the correct device. In an example shared by Amazon, a person with a supported washing machine can say, "Alexa, my kid's soccer jersey could use a deep clean, but the tag says cold wash only." From there, Alexa Plus would navigate the washer's cycle
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The Echo Show 21 is a great smart home hub that’s $80 off
16 hours ago
by Brad Bourque
Deals, Gadgets, Smart Home, Tech, Verge ShoppingEcho Show's 21 attached to the adjustable stand, which is sold separately (and also discounted). | Image: Amazon Split between buying a smart calendar, a kitchen TV, a smart home hub, and a smart display? Amazon’s Echo Show 21 is all of those things in one, with a huge 21-inch screen. You can use it to control your smart lights, glance at recipes, watch TV shows, and more. Currently, Best Buy and Home Depot have the product on sale for $319.99 (usually $399.99), matching the lowest price we’ve seen to date. Amazon Echo Show 21 The Echo Show 21 can
Wired
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Best Window Air Conditioners of 2026: Midea, Zafro, GE
an hour ago
by Matthew Korfhage, Lisa Wood Shapiro
Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Home, Stay, FrostyThese are the AC units we’ve trusted to cool our homes for months, if not years.
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BenQ TK705STi 4K Projector Review: A Midrange Pick for Gamers
an hour ago
by John Brandon
Gear, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Home, Product, ReviewThe TK705STi’s highly responsive, low-latency performance makes gameplay ultra-realistic. For movies and TV? It’s a purely average home projector.
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What Is Entropy, Really?
2 hours ago
by Rhett Allain
Science, Science / Physics and Math, Dot, PhysicsNever mind the “heat death of the universe.” Entropy is just a bridge between two levels of reality.
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Some of Our Favorite Brain-Boosting Toys for Kids of All Ages
2 hours ago
by Chris Haslam, Jeremy White
Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Cool, ToysFrom musical instruments and games to play pieces that encourage balance and dexterity, these toys will engage your child’s mind and body.
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Some Kids Will Never Think AI Is Cool
3 hours ago
by Elana Klein
The Big Story, Culture, Business / Artificial Intelligence, Kids, These, Days“I think it should stand for artificial idiot,” one 9-year-old says. Here’s why kids of all ages are calling AI “disgusting” and “creepy.”