Tech
AI Summary
- AI continues its integration into everyday tools, with advancements like Google's Nano Banana 2 Lite for image generation and Acti's AI agents embedded in smartphone keyboards.
- The fusion energy sector is showing promise, with Realta Fusion generating electricity directly from a fusion reaction, signaling potential breakthroughs in clean energy.
- The competitive landscape for AI chips is intensifying, as Nvidia rival Etched reaches a $5 billion valuation, highlighting significant investment and growth in specialized hardware.
- Major tech companies like Anthropic are focusing on optimizing existing models for efficiency, with Claude Sonnet 5 and Claude Science emphasizing workflow improvements and cost-effectiveness.
- The debate around AI's impact is expanding beyond job displacement, touching on ethical concerns, data privacy, and the potential for AI to influence online discourse and even political campaigns.
Sources
TechCrunch
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The DeepMind trio who built a poker AI, are now making money for quant hedge funds
an hour ago
by Anna Heim
AI, Startups, Venture, Creandum, equilibre technologies, Exclusive, prague, reinforcement learning, stock marketEquiLibre Technologies, a Prague-based AI lab founded by three ex-DeepMind researchers is now valued at more than $500 million.
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Realta Fusion generates electricity directly from a fusion reaction, an apparent first
2 hours ago
by Tim De Chant
Climate, nuclear fusion, fusion power, Realta Fusion“We can take power from a plasma,” Kieran Furlong, co-founder and CEO of Realta Fusion, told TechCrunch. The milestone shows “what’s possible,” he added.
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Google introduces a faster, cheaper image generator with Nano Banana 2 Lite
2 hours ago
by Lucas Ropek
AI, AI videos, gemini omni flash, Google, Nano Banana 2 LiteGoogle is updating its image generator to make it faster and cheaper, making it a more useful tool for creators looking to make AI content.
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Clicks shows off its BlackBerry-inspired phone in a new hands-on video
3 hours ago
by Sarah Perez
Gadgets, Hardware, Startups, BlackBerry, Clicks, smartphoneA new video shows the final production version of the upcoming Clicks Communicator, a BlackBerry-like smartphone that runs modern apps.
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Nvidia competitor Etched hits $5B valuation, $1B in sales for AI chip
3 hours ago
by Julie Bort
AI, Startups, TC, AI chips, etchedNvidia AI chip competitor Etched says it has already booked $1 billion under contract for the inference systems powered by its chip.
Hacker News
- Claude Sonnet 5 3 hours ago
- Claude Code is steganographically marking requests 6 hours ago
- Claude Science 4 hours ago
- Nano Banana 2 Lite 5 hours ago
- I built a mmWave material classification radar 4 hours ago
Engadget
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Netflix used AI to put Gene Wilder's voice into a new reality show
an hour ago
by Anna Washenko
AI, TV & MoviesSo much for magic.
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The Supreme Court will hear an appeal in the long-running case between Apple and Epic Games
an hour ago
by Kris Holt
AppleApple filed an appeal after being found in contempt of an order related to App Store fees.
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How to set a custom alarm sound on your iPhone
3 hours ago
by Kris Holt
SmartphonesYou can use any sound you want for an iPhone alarm, and here's how to set it up.
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California bill to preserve online games fails committee vote
5 hours ago
by Kris Holt
GamingAt least for this session, the Stop Killing Games campaign has hit a wall in the California Senate.
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The Super Mario Galaxy Movie launches onto Peacock on July 30
6 hours ago
by Lawrence Bonk
Nintendo, TV & MoviesThe second animated Mario movie made over a billion dollars.
The Verge
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Acer’s Swift Go 16 is a lot of laptop for $900
an hour ago
by Brad Bourque
Deals, Gadgets, Verge ShoppingThe Acer Swift Go 16 AI has a massive trackpad. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge As high memory and storage prices have driven up the cost of everything from consoles to computers, finding a competent laptop for under $1,000 has become a challenge. Thankfully, the Acer Swift Go 16 AI is on sale for $899.99 at Best Buy , a steep discount from its usual list price of $1,549.99. The well-equipped laptop has an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 processor, 32GB of LPDDR5X memory, and a 1TB SSD. It has a great 16-inch OLED (1,920 x
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Google’s NotebookLM can sum up your research in a TikTok-style clip
2 hours ago
by Emma Roth
AI, Apps, Google, News, TechGoogle's NotebookLM is adding a new way to catch up on your notes: TikTok-style AI videos. The new feature is rolling out to Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers, allowing NotebookLM to generate 60-second vertical AI clips based on the sources you upload to the app. The example shared by Google details Australia's unsuccessful war on emus, pairing paper cutout-style AI art of emus with narration. It adds to some of the other ways NotebookLM lets you interact with your research, including by generating AI podcasts , cinematic videos , and visual explainers. Doom scrolling but make it educational ð¤
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LG’s 27-inch Tandem OLED gaming monitor is cheaper than ever
3 hours ago
by Cameron Faulkner
Deals, Gadgets, Gaming, PC Gaming, Verge ShoppingThe price of LG’s UltraGear 27GX700A-B 1440p gaming monitor that came out last August has dropped to nearly its best price yet. You can grab it at Amazon for $484.99 or at LG for $499.99 (originally $599.99). That’s a great deal considering this is one of LG’s Primary RGB Tandem panels built with fourth-generation WOLED tech that delivers higher brightness and punchier contrast than its predecessors, rivaling QD-OLED. LG 27-inch UltraGear Tandem OLED gaming monitor Where to Buy: $599.99 $484.99 at Amazon $599.99 $499.99 at LG This model could satisfy gamers with PCs built to deliver smooth 1440p gameplay. It
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007 First Light’s developer lays off staff but claims its next franchise will continue
3 hours ago
by Jay Peters
Entertainment, Gaming, NewsIO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman series and 007 First Light , announced that it is laying off staff after a relationship with an "external partner" on its next big franchise, Project Fantasy, "has come to an end." IO has described Project Fantasy as an "online fantasy RPG" , and Kotaku and Bloomberg report that Microsoft, which is planning significant cuts as part of a broader "reset" of the Xbox business, was going to be the game's publisher. It's unclear how many people will be affected by IO's "staffing decisions." The company says "we are fully committed to supporting
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Moto’s Tag 2 tracker is $20 for a limited time
4 hours ago
by Cameron Faulkner
Deals, Gadgets, Verge ShoppingFor now, only the “Laurel Oak” color option is available for $20, not the “Arabesque” color. | Image: Motorola Announced at CES 2026 , the Moto Tag 2 has finally arrived in the US . The Bluetooth tracker with improved battery life over its predecessor, plus UWB sensing for more accurate tracking, is available through Motorola’s site at a special $19.99 launch price (originally $29.99). There are plenty of trackers for Android owners to consider, but the Tag 2 seems tough to beat at this price. It supports Google’s Find Hub network, has an IP68 rating, and runs off a
Wired
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New York Is About to Feel Hotter Than Phoenix
6 hours ago
by Isabella Ward
Science, Science / Environment, It's, Not, a, Dry, HeatExtreme heat coupled with humidity will make it feel like 109 degrees Fahrenheit as the holiday weekend approaches.
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The 2 Best Slushie Machines of 2026: Now With Soft Serve
10 hours ago
by Matthew Korfhage
Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Kitchen, Cold, as, IceThe original Ninja Slushi has been replaced! The new best slushie machines chill faster and make soft serve.
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Bitdefender VPN Review: Fast and Affordable Privacy
10 hours ago
by Matthew S. Smith
Gear, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Online Services, Product, ReviewBitdefender VPN has an excellent starting price, even if it lacks the advanced features that privacy nerds may want.
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Bernie Sanders Saw This Coming
11 hours ago
by Katie Drummond
Politics, The, Big, InterviewFor decades, the senator has argued that concentrated wealth threatened American democracy. Now he’s betting that frustration with Big Tech, billionaires, and unchecked AI is reaching a tipping point.
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How Hunter Biden Won the Internet
11 hours ago
by Alana Hope Levinson , Makena Kelly
The Big Story, Politics / Politics News, ClapbackWIRED spent months talking to America’s favorite failson as he plotted his return to public life. Now he’s feeding the trolls—and everyone else.