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Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 5:33 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • The tech industry is seeing increased focus on AI agents, with Microsoft developing new tools, startups like Vercel signaling IPO readiness due to AI-driven revenue, and discussions around AI's impact on various sectors like dating and cybersecurity.
  • Robotaxi services are expanding, with Uber and Nuro initiating tests in San Francisco, while the self-driving vehicle talent market remains highly competitive.
  • Major tech companies are facing security and privacy challenges, including data breaches at Booking.com and Anodot, alongside concerns about facial recognition technology on Meta's smart glasses and data access by the FBI.
  • The gaming industry continues to evolve with new account tiers on Roblox for age-appropriate access, and Microsoft's Xbox chief acknowledging Game Pass may be too expensive.
  • A notable legal development includes IBM settling a DEI lawsuit with the DOJ for $17 million, and OpenAI engaging in a public dispute with Elon Musk over legal actions.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Xbox CEO called Game Pass 'too expensive for players' in a leaked memo 2 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Xbox's new chief exec, Asha Sharma, has only been in charge for a few months but things already seem like they might be changing for the better. Or at the very least, they might be getting cheaper. The Verge reported that the new Xbox CEO wrote a memo to employees addressing the current pricing of the Game Pass subscription service.  "Game Pass is central to gaming value on Xbox. It’s also clear that the current model isn’t the final one," Sharma allegedly said. "Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long

  • Games Workshop brings seven classic Warhammer games to Steam for the first time 3 hours ago by Igor Bonifacic
    Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic

    Fans of miniature plastic soldiers, rejoice. Games Workshop has brought a host of older Warhammer and Warhammer 40K video games to Steam for the first time, alongside a dozen games that haven't been available on Valve's storefront for a few years. The new to Steam releases consist of three games from the Warhammer fantasy range — Shadow of the Horned Rat, Mark of Chaos – Gold Edition and Dark Omen — and four from its sci-fi 40K universe — Chaos Gate, Fire Warrior, Final Liberation and Rites of War.   If you're a Warhammer fan of a certain age, some of these

  • Meta warned by dozens of organizations that facial recognition on its smart glasses would empower predators 3 hours ago by Lawrence Bonk
    Internet & Networking Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk

    Dozens of civil rights organizations have written a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to warn of the dangers in bringing facial recognition technology to the company's smart glasses. More than 70 groups have banded together to form a coalition to urge Zuckerberg to abandon plans to incorporate the tech, on the grounds that it would empower stalkers, sexual predators and other bad actors. This coalition includes organizations like the ACLU, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Fight for the Future, Access Now and many others. The letter isn't asking for safeguards. These groups want the feature to be completely eliminated, stating

  • Retro handheld maker Anbernic's latest device has a swiveling display 4 hours ago by Jackson Chen
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen

    There are plenty of retro gaming handhelds on the market, but Anbernic is introducing one that offers a unique spin on the square shape. The retro gaming handheld maker revealed the RG Rotate on its YouTube channel, showing off a 1:1 display that swivels out much like the T-Mobile Sidekick of yore. Anbernic often drip feeds details of its upcoming products over time, but so far, we know that the RG Rotate will run on Android, feature an aluminum alloy frame and come in Polar Black and Aurora Silver. Anbernic's video detailed that the handheld will have a "proprietary ultra-thin alloy

  • How to de-Gemini your Google apps 5 hours ago by Igor Bonifacic
    Software, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic

    Over the past couple of years, Google has found ways to stuff Gemini in nearly every app and service it offers. Whether it's Gmail with its AI inbox or Chrome with its chat sidebar, Gemini is now inescapable inside of Workspace. I don't know about you, but I don't need an AI to tell me how to write a =SUM equation in Sheets or an outline for a first draft. Most of the time, I find Gemini is a distraction. If you feel the same way, this how-to is for you.     HOW TO REMOVE GEMINI FROM YOUR PERSONAL WORKSPACE ACCOUNT  From the


The Verge

  • Justin Bieber’s YouTube Coachella set had nothing to do with who owns his music 25 minutes ago by Jay Peters
    Entertainment, Music, News, Streaming, YouTube

    This past Saturday at the Coachella music festival, Justin Bieber played the first of two headlining sets in a deal reportedly worth $10 million. It was his most significant solo performance in years. But Bieber spent some of his time on stage the way many of us do on Saturday nights: on YouTube. For some of the set, Bieber played parts of his older songs right off YouTube from a Mac laptop. Behind him, on the stage's screen, you could see YouTube's website as he searched for songs in real time and then put the videos on full-screen while he

  • RAMageddon has come for Microsoft’s Surface Pro and Surface Laptop an hour ago by Emma Roth
    Gadgets, Laptops, Microsoft, News, Tech

    Microsoft just raised the prices across its line of Surface devices amid the global RAM shortage. Now, the 13-inch Surface Pro 11 and the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 cost $500 more than their original starting price, going from $999 to $1,499, as reported earlier by Windows Central. Last year, Microsoft stopped selling the $999 versions of the Surface Pro 11 and the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 in favor of the $1,199 models with more storage. At the time, it seemed like Microsoft was trying to make room for the cheaper 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop that launched last May.

  • NZXT to pay $3.45 million settlement over Flex PC rentals 2 hours ago by Jess Weatherbed
    Gaming, Law, News, PC Gaming, Policy, Tech

    The Flex PC rental service didn’t make it clear to customers that it wasn’t a “rent-to-own” program. | Image: NZXT NZXT and its business partner Fragile have agreed to pay $3.45 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the companies of attempting to "scam" consumers through their Flex PC rental service. The preliminary settlement was filed in a California District Court on April 7th to close a civil RICO case against the Flex program over allegations that it defrauded 19,322 customers through deceptive marketing practices and aggressive debt collection. The settlement was shared on YouTube by Gamers Nexus, with host Steve

  • AI influencers are ‘everywhere’ at Coachella 2 hours ago by Jess Weatherbed
    AI, Entertainment, Music, Report

    Coachella kicked off on Friday, and as usual, it's the place to be for online influencers looking to show off their memorable experiences at the festival. A quick scroll through my social media feeds has already shown me many uncannily attractive figures in glitzy outfits, posing for perfectly staged photographs with celebrities. Only some of these content creators aren't really there. They don't even exist at all outside of our screens. They're generated using AI tools. Faking Coachella attendance is nothing new - even real influencers have been doing so in recent years - but generative AI has now progressed to the

  • The Apple Watch Series 11 has returned to best-ever price 3 hours ago by Sheena Vasani
    Apple, Deals, Gadgets, Smartwatch, Tech, Verge Shopping, Wearable

    You can buy the Apple Watch Series 11 for $100 off in multiple sizes and colors. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge If you’re still holding onto an older Apple Watch, now might be a good time to upgrade. Right now, the 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 with GPS is on sale for around $299 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which is its best price to date. If you prefer a larger size, the 46mm is also $100 off for a limited time, with the base GPS configuration selling for about $329 at Amazon, Best


Wired


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