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Sun, Jun 21, 2026, 2:36 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • The tech industry is grappling with the ethical implications of AI, with figures like Signal's Meredith Whittaker cautioning against treating chatbots as friends, even as companies like Anthropic navigate government scrutiny and potential benefits from restrictive policies.
  • Developments in AI are rapidly integrating into consumer products, evidenced by new practical AI features coming to iPhones in iOS 27, and a surge in AI integration across various applications, from calls to homes, as proposed by figures like billionaire Ambani.
  • The autonomous vehicle sector is seeing significant advancements, particularly in robotaxis, with a new scorecard highlighting China's dominance and companies like Go eyeing acquisitions in the space, despite Waymo facing recalls for safety concerns.
  • A notable event in the gaming industry includes the passing of Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot, while Epic Games is working on a significant speed improvement for its launcher, and new indie games are emerging.
  • The hardware and infrastructure side of tech continues to evolve, with discussions around ASML's chip tools, improvements in personal devices like Amazon's Fire Tablets and Samsung's Frame Pro, and advancements in areas like robotics with NASA's new rover capabilities.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget


The Verge

  • Cold Court’s debut EP is an infectious, glitchy genre mashup 2 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Column, Entertainment, Music, Music Review

    Cold Court is a brother-sister duo from Philly that seems to love nothing more than shoving all of their influences together in a messy soup that at least superficially resembles the hyperpop you've come to expect from acts like 100 Gecs. But, where songs like "Dumbest Girl Alive" goofily wink at pop punk and emo, Cold Court are a bit more self-serious, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The opening track on the band's debut EP \ (^_^) / (aka Hands Up ), "Nina", starts off sounding not unlike the dance punk bands that stormed the scene in the

  • Polymarket reportedly paid people to post fake videos of themselves placing bets 4 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    News, Tech

    According to a Wall Street Journal investigation, Polymarket has been paying people to film themselves placing fake bets and celebrating fake wins on social media. WSJ identified over 1,100 deceptive clips and talked to creators who, despite not stating as such in their videos, confirmed the company paid them to create the clips . The videos posted on social media look legit at first, but there are subtle clues that betray them as fraudulent. For instance, when examined closely, one clip shows someone visiting "poiymarket.com" rather than polymarket.com. According to the Journal's investigation, none of the bets placed in the

  • How Roomba started a robot revolution 6 hours ago by David Pierce
    Gadgets, Podcasts, Smart Home, Tech, Version History

    If you had a Roomba, especially in the early days of the robot vacuum, it was in many ways a fairly unsophisticated machine. It would just bump around your house, looking for something to suck up, until its battery died or its (way too small) tank filled up. Not that it mattered, though. You probably loved your Roomba. You probably gave it a name. On this episode of Version History , we tell the story of the Roomba, and how it made vacuums lovable. The Verge 's David Pierce and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy are joined by iRobot's co-founder and former

  • Electric air taxis are stuck in the courtroom 7 hours ago by Andrew Hawkins
    Column, Law, Policy, Tech, The Stepback, Transportation

    Joby flight at JFK airport. | Image: The Verge This is The Stepback , a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on aviation, air taxis, and Wi-Fi speeds at 30,000 feet, follow Andrew J. Hawkins . The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here . How it started Last year, two of the leading air taxi companies in the US, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, sued each other , with Joby accusing Archer of corporate espionage and Archer claiming that Joby was concealing

  • Sony’s Xperia 1 VIII is still a phone for the fans 8 hours ago by Dominic Preston
    Gadgets, Mobile, Phone Reviews, Phones, Reviews, Sony, Tech

    The 1 VIII doesn’t look much like any Xperia that’s come before. The Xperia 1 VIII marks an attempt at a step change for Sony's flagship phone line. Not only has it had an aesthetic overhaul, but Sony has also revamped the camera system, dropping the continuous optical zoom telephoto that's defined the last four generations of Xperia phone . It's not all different. Sony staples like a 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot remain, and a few specific design touches, like a thick front bezel that fits stereo speakers, have stayed intact. Sony's ambitious pricing hasn't changed either:


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