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Tech

AI Summary

  • The AI industry is undergoing significant shifts, with major players facing scrutiny over model behavior and privacy concerns related to facial recognition technology, while new startups secure substantial funding amidst intensifying competition.
  • Regulators are increasing their oversight of the tech sector, with new antitrust probes targeting major companies and debates escalating over the ethical implications and policy surrounding emerging technologies like prediction markets and government use of AI.
  • Autonomous vehicle companies are navigating real-world operational challenges and regulatory roadblocks, evident in instances like Waymo enlisting DoorDash drivers for seemingly minor tasks and actively lobbying for broader deployment permissions.
  • The gaming industry is experiencing a surge in new content, including major franchise remakes and highly anticipated releases, yet this expansion is shadowed by significant labor disputes and widespread studio layoffs.
  • Cybersecurity and surveillance technologies remain critical points of discussion, marked by high-profile data breaches, companies reconsidering controversial partnerships with law enforcement, and ongoing debates about government agencies' expanding use of facial recognition.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Two years of the NordVPN Complete plan is 70 percent off an hour ago by Rob Webb
    Internet & Networking Technology, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Rob Webb

    NordVPN is having a big sale on its two-year plans right now. The Complete tier, for example is 70 percent off, bringing the price of 24 months down to just $130. NordVPN regularly appears on Engadget’s list of the best VPN services thanks to its wide server network, strong security tools and consistent performance across devices. NordVPN’s latest promotion puts one of its most comprehensive plans at a price that undercuts many competing premium VPN subscriptions. The Complete tier includes full access to NordVPN’s core VPN service, which encrypts internet traffic and masks a user’s IP address to help protect online activity

  • Valve's latest Steam beta lets you add your PC's specs to game reviews an hour ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Media, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    An upcoming update to Steam includes a helpful improvement to game reviews. As part of the Steam Client Beta update Valve released on February 12, users will now be able to attach information about their hardware specifications when they post a new game review or update an old one. It's not uncommon to find negative reviews that complain about a game's performance, information that's hard to draw a conclusion from without knowing what kind of hardware the reviewer is using. With specs attached, the usefulness of complaints becomes a little bit easier to gauge. A game's sales performance and discoverability on

  • Apple's Magic Mouse is down to $68 right now 3 hours ago by Andre Revilla
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Andre Revilla

    Apple's USB-C Magic Mouse is back on sale for about $11 off its usual retail price of $79. At $68, that's a savings of 14 percent for one of Apple's best accessories from a company that does not often run sales. The multi-touch mouse was first released in 2009 with a modest refresh released in 2015 and the addition of a USB-C port in 2024. The rechargeable mouse features gesture controls and automatically pairs with your Mac when connected via USB. The Magic Mouse can also be used with an iPad via Bluetooth, or with a Windows PC, though in that

  • Nintendo’s Virtual Boy accessory lets you play VR Mario and Zelda on Switch 2 4 hours ago by Lawrence Bonk
    Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk

    The forthcoming Nintendo Virtual Boy accessory for Switch and Switch 2 can play VR-supported games, as reported by Video Games Chronicle. There are four available games to play, including Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. These aren't new VR builds of the games, rather they are the versions previously released for the Nintendo Labo VR set. This was a kit for the original Switch that allowed users to build a cardboard VR headset, among other items. However, this is very good news for Switch 2 owners as Labo

  • The best power banks and portable chargers for every device in 2026 4 hours ago by Amy Skorheim
    Technology & Electronics, Electronics Accessories, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Amy Skorheim

    Finding yourself far from a wall socket when your phone hits five percent is positively nervewracking. If you stash a portable battery in your bag, you can avoid that feeling altogether. But there are thousands of power banks out there and it can be tough to pick the right one for what you need. I’ve spent a few years testing dozens of batteries and found the best power banks for different scenarios. Whether you need a quick reup for your phone or a huge brick to keep your laptop alive, you’ll find something fitting here. BEST POWER BANKS FOR 2026 WHAT TO


The Verge

  • The see-through Beats Studio Buds Plus are more than 40 percent off for Presidents Day an hour ago by Sheena Vasani
    Apple, Beats, Deals, Gadgets, Headphones, Tech, Verge Shopping

    If you like how well AirPods work with iPhones but want something more colorful and flexible, the Beats Studio Buds Plus are a nice middle ground. They’re platform-agnostic and are on sale for $99.95 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart for Presidents Day. The deal includes the eye-catching translucent option and is just $10 shy of the buds’ best price to date.  BEATS STUDIO BUDS PLUS WHERE TO BUY: * $169.95 $99.95 at Amazon * $169.95 $99.95 at Walmart * $169.95 $99.99 at Best Buy Unlike Apple’s AirPods, the Beats Studio Buds Plus play well with both iOS and Android

  • Steam beta lets users add their PC specs to reviews 3 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    Gaming, News, PC Gaming, Tech

    User reviews on Steam may get more informative after a Steam Client Beta update released on Thursday, which adds an option for users to attach their hardware specs to game reviews. Steam users have always been able to share their specs in the text of their reviews, but the option to automatically include that data could encourage more users to add it, potentially making reviews more useful. When a user posts a negative review or reports having performance issues, the attached hardware specs could reveal why, highlighting when performance issues might be caused by a player's hardware rather than a problem

  • Here are the 50 best Presidents Day deals we’ve found so far 3 hours ago
    Deals, Gadgets, Tech, Verge Shopping

    Deals have been admittedly pretty dry since the holidays, but now that February is in full swing, we’re starting to see strong discounts return across a range of categories. In fact, thanks to Valentine’s Day, the Super Bowl, and — as of this week — Presidents Day, retailers are once again offering a slew of notable tech deals, making now a great time to shop if you’ve been holding off on making a larger purchase. Although the Super Bowl has technically come and gone, plenty of game-day discounts are still around. A few have been rebranded for Presidents Day — including

  • What’s behind the mass exodus at xAI? 4 hours ago by Hayden Field
    AI, Report, xAI

    The past few days have been a wild ride for xAI, which is racking up staff and cofounder departure announcements left and right. On Tuesday and Wednesday, cofounder Yuhuai (Tony) Wu announced his departure and that it was "time for [his] next chapter," with cofounder Jimmy Ba following with a similar post later that day, writing that it was "time to recalibrate [his] gradient on the big picture." The departures mean that xAI is now left with only half of its original 12 cofounders on staff. A number of staffers also took to X to announce they were leaving xAI,

  • Can Democrats post their way to midterm victories? 4 hours ago by Mia Sato
    Creators, Policy, Politics, Report, Social Media, Tech

    US Vice President Kamala Harris during a Commander in Chief farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. The Biden administration advanced a plan to limit oil drilling and infrastructure across more of Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve, a bid to lock in land protections and conservation requirements days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Photographer: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images During the 2024 presidential election, @KamalaHQ was something of an alter ego for Vice President Kamala Harris - as Harris ran a buttoned-up campaign, the online accounts shared clips of


Wired


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