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Sun, May 17, 2026, 1:44 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • The AI arms race is extending into the automotive sector, demanding specialized skills and posing challenges for companies like Cerebras, which has navigated near-failure to become a significant player in AI chips.
  • OpenAI is making significant moves, with co-founder Greg Brockman taking over product strategy and the company launching ChatGPT for personal finance, enabling bank account connections, while also partnering with Malta to offer ChatGPT Plus to all citizens.
  • The tech industry grapples with the 'haves and have-nots' of the AI gold rush, with companies like Runway aiming to compete with giants like Google in AI development, and security researchers uncovering potential backdoors in Microsoft products.
  • Concerns around data security and privacy persist, as evidenced by a hotel check-in system exposing millions of passports and driver's licenses, and research repositories like ArXiv implementing bans for excessive AI-generated work.
  • Beyond AI, other tech developments include the potential for SpaceX to go public soon, advancements in robotics and autonomous systems with Tesla's robotaxi crashes under scrutiny, and innovations in personal tech like a new Mac app to manage cat-induced keyboard chaos.

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The Verge

  • University of Arizona students boo Eric Schmidt’s AI cheerleading during commencement an hour ago by Terrence O’Brien
    AI, Google, News, Tech

    Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt delivered the commencement address at the University of Arizona on Friday. And, as his speech veered into talk of AI, he was repeatedly drowned out by boos. AI is already a contentious topic, and it's not surprising that those about to enter a ravaged job market feel particularly negative about it. Schmidt acknowledged the anxiety, according to Business Insider , saying fears "that the machines are coming, that the jobs are evaporating, that the climate is breaking, that politics are fractured, and that you are inheriting a mess that you did not create," were "rational."

  • Oddity is masterfully tense horror from the director of Hokum 4 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Column, Entertainment, Film, Movie Review

    Kudos to the designer of that horrifying golem. | Image: Shudder Hokum recently hit theaters, and it's already outperforming box office expectations. If this Kubrick-referencing haunted hotel flick starring Adam Scott was your introduction to director Damian McCarthy, do yourself a favor and go watch his previous film, Oddity . If you prefer to go in blind - the ideal way to watch any movie - Oddity is available to stream on Hoopla , Kanopy , Hulu , and Shudder . Warning: Spoilers ahead. Like Hokum , Oddity takes place in a sprawling Irish countryside location. They both traffic in

  • Fujifilm’s X Half is even more whimsical with a $300 price cut 5 hours ago by Cameron Faulkner
    Cameras, Deals, Gadgets, Verge Shopping

    Fujifilm’s X Half digital camera wasn’t designed to replace your main camera, though you’d be forgiven for assuming it was with its ludicrous $850 price. However, the company recently reduced the MSRP to $649.99, and is now knocking an additional $100 off through June 28th. That means you can grab the X Half in its base configuration for around $549 at Amazon , B&H Photo , and Best Buy . Adorama is also discounting it to the same price and throwing in a free accessory pack, which includes a 64GB SanDisk SD card and a camera case. Fujifilm X Half

  • ElliQ is a surprisingly helpful companion robot for older adults 5 hours ago by Sheena Vasani
    Gadgets, Smart Home, Tech

    A week before the ElliQ robot arrived, a neurologist told me we need to rebalance my mom's life. Her Parkinson's disease medication had steadily become less effective over the previous month, and with it, she had slowly stopped doing many of the things crucial to managing the disease - exercising, socializing, and engaging in hobbies. The result was a rapid, noticeable decline. As my mom's primary caregiver, I was open to any help I could get. And surprisingly, ElliQ did help in a way I never expected. Before increasing her medication dosage again - something that can come with serious

  • Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning 6 hours ago by Emma Roth
    AI, Column, The Stepback

    This is The Stepback , a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about how AI is seeping into our daily lives, follow Emma Roth . The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here . How it started In 2021, McDonald's became one of the first major fast-food chains to greet customers with an AI chatbot at the drive-thru. It started small, deploying the voice-ordering technology at 10 of its locations in Chicago. McDonald's developed its drive-thru tech after acquiring Apprente , a startup focused


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