Minimalist News

Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Tech

AI Summary

  • AI is pretty much everywhere now, from negotiating your schedule and boosting enterprise operations to powering educational tools and causing major ethical headaches with generated content, showing both its massive potential and inherent risks.
  • The robotaxi race is full speed ahead, with Tesla finally putting truly unsupervised vehicles on Austin's streets and Waymo expanding public access in cities like Miami, pushing autonomous transport closer to the mainstream.
  • We're seeing venture capital's highs and lows: huge valuations and funding rounds for promising AI and fintech startups, but also strategic acquisitions leading to significant layoffs at companies like Vimeo and even struggling fusion power ventures going public via alternative routes.
  • Big Tech giants are dealing with a lot, from critical service outages and child safety lawsuits to major platform divestments like TikTok's US entity sale, all while trying to integrate AI into their offerings and face increasing antitrust scrutiny.
  • Content platforms are adapting fast, with Substack now venturing into TV apps, Spotify rolling out AI-powered playlist creation, and YouTube leaning hard into AI features for creators, signaling a shift towards more personalized and diverse digital experiences.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • The best GPS running watches for 2026 2 hours ago by Dana Wollman,Valentina Palladino
    polar, series4, news, applewatchseries6, engadgetoutdoors2019, health2019, thebuyersguide, wearables, commerce, garminforerunner645music, polarvantagem, running, apple, garmin, fitness, amazfitbips, gear, Fitness, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Dana Wollman

    Having the right GPS watch on your wrist whether you’re going for your first ever run or your umpteenth run can make all the difference. The best GPS running watches not only keep track of how far you’ve run, but they track pace and other real-time metrics, advanced training features to help you hit your goals and, of course, precise distance measurements. Some models even provide offline maps for navigation, sleep tracking, recovery insights, and smart features that “regular” smartwatches do. For those who need extra durability and lasting battery life, higher-end sport watches — like some of the best Garmin

  • TikTok finalizes deal for its US entity 11 hours ago by Mariella Moon
    Investment & Company Information, Technology & Electronics, Finance, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon

    TikTok has finalized the deal for its US entity, with its parent company ByteDance selling majority of its stake to a group of non-Chinese investors. The deal was closed just before the Trump Administration’s latest deadline, banning the app in the US unless it was divested from ByteDance, which will only retain 20 percent of the new entity. TikTok’s investors will own 80 percent, with Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, an Emirati-state owned investment firm, taking 15 percent each. Other investors include the investment firm of Dell’s CEO. The terms of the deal were first leaked last month, after TikTok CEO

  • Sennheiser introduces new TV headphones bundle with Auracast 13 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Audio Technology, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Sennheiser has unveiled its RS 275 TV Headphones, which are bundled with a BTA1 digital receiver. These headphones use Auracast technology to provide low-latency audio at a range of up to 50 meters, and can connect to other devices enabled with Auracast or Bluetooth Classic. For those unfamiliar, Auracast is broadcast Bluetooth audio; we have an explainer about it after CES 2024 put this audio tech onto the big stage. The digital receiver introduces an Auracast signal in a physical space for any other compatible devices, which might include hearing aids or loudspeakers as well as other headphone sets. The company

  • Darth Maul's standalone series premieres on Disney+ on April 6 14 hours ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Media, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    Darth Maul, the beloved, sometimes spider-legged former Sith Lord first introduced in Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace, is officially getting his own animated spin-off on April 6, 2026, based on a new teaser trailer published by Disney. Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord was originally announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2025, and is set after Maul's arc in Star Wars: The Clone Wars but before his appearance in Star Wars: Rebels. The 10-episode series covers Maul's plot to rebuild his criminal syndicate "on a planet untouched by the Empire," according to Lucasfilm. "There, he crosses paths with

  • JBL made a pair of AI-powered practice amps 14 hours ago by Will Shanklin
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin

    JBL is trying its hand at something new, with a pair of AI-powered practice amps. The BandBox Solo and BandBox Trio include an onboard Stem AI that purportedly lets you separate or remove vocals and instruments from any music streamed over Bluetooth. So, say you're a young guitarist learning “Stairway to Heaven” (as one does). At least in theory, you could use the speaker to remove Jimmy Page's part and hone your chops with the rest of the band. The $250 BandBox Solo, designed for individual musicians, has a single guitar / mic input. And the $600 BandBox Trio, better for


The Verge

  • Microsoft Paint can now make AI coloring books an hour ago by Jess Weatherbed
    AI, Microsoft, News, Tech

    Can we please appreciate how poor these designs are? None actually feature a cat ON a donut, and one doesn’t even have a finished face. | Image: Microsoft / The Verge (via Canva) Microsoft is giving its Paint and Notepad apps on Windows new AI capabilities for editing text and making digital illustrations. The updates are currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Windows 11 Canary and Dev channels, and include features that feel oddly niche or advanced for such simplified apps, such as AI text improvements in Notepad and the ability to instantly generate coloring book pages in Paint. The

  • The TikTok deal is done, finally 11 hours ago by Richard Lawler
    Business, Creators, News, Policy, Politics, Tech, TikTok

    Just over a year after it briefly disappeared from app stores, TikTok in the US is now part of a new entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. With approval from both the US and China closing on the schedule laid out in December, ByteDance's ownership of the new joint venture is now only 19.9 percent to satisfy the terms of the divest-or-ban law signed in 2024 by President Biden. The other 80.1 percent is owned by investment firm Silver Lake, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi investment firm MGX - the three "managing investors" that now hold 15 percent stakes - and

  • Ring can verify videos now, but that might not help you with most AI fakes 12 hours ago by Jay Peters
    Amazon, News, Security, Tech

    Ring has launched a new Ring Verify tool that the company says can "verify that Ring videos you receive haven't been edited or changed." But since Ring won't verify videos that have been altered in any way, it probably won't be able to verify those videos you see on TikTok that look like they're from security camera footage but are actually made with AI. > @verge > > Baby, that's a fake baby. Here are some ways AI content accounts are going out of their way to make AI videos seem legit. #ai #aislop #slopbusters #aivideos #sora > > ♬ original sound -

  • Beyond Good and Evil 2 somehow survived the purge at Ubisoft 12 hours ago by Sean Hollister
    Gaming, News

    In what world does Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake get canceled amid corporate restructuring and yet BG&E2 does not? "Beyond Good & Evil 2 remains a priority for us in the context of our strategy centered around Open World Adventures," an unnamed Ubisoft spokesperson told Kotaku and Insider Gaming. The original Beyond Good & Evil is a fantastic game I can enjoy even now, over 20 years on from its 2003 release. The sequel has been in development hell nearly as long at over 17 years, the longest of any major game; it's survived the retirement of its first creative

  • Samsung’s smallest Frame TVs have fallen to their lowest prices to date 13 hours ago by Sheena Vasani
    Deals, Gadgets, Tech, TVs, Verge Shopping

    Samsung’s aptly titled Frame TV is designed to blend in with the rest of your home decor. Unless you’re dead set on picking up a larger panel, Samsung’s forthcoming 2026 Frame lineup represents a fairly minor upgrade. That makes last year’s model an easy rec for those on the hunt for an art-inspired 4K TV, especially given the 43- and 50-inch models are down to the lowest prices we’ve seen at Woot, selling for $597.99 ($302 off) and $697.99 ($402 off), respectively, through January 31st. SAMSUNG THE FRAME (2025) WHERE TO BUY: * $899.99 $597.99 at Woot (43-inch) * $1099.99 $697.99 at Woot


Wired

  • We Are Rewind GB-001 Cassette Boombox: Old-School Stylish an hour ago by Simon Cohen
    Gear, Gear / Products, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Speakers, Product, Review

    We Are Rewind’s speaker/cassette player combo is an imperfect but satisfying reissue of a bygone audio era.

  • 149 Million Usernames and Passwords Exposed by Unsecured Database 2 hours ago by Lily Hay Newman
    Security, Security / Cyberattacks and Hacks, Security / Privacy, Security / Security News, Swiped

    This “dream wish list for criminals” includes millions of Gmail, Facebook, banking logins, and more. The researcher who discovered it suspects they were collected using infostealing malware.

  • $30 Off Chewy Promo Codes | January 2026 7 hours ago by Molly Higgins
    Gear, Coupons

    Explore Chewy coupon codes for $30 off, $20 off your first order $49, 50% off pet food, and more January 2026 discounts.

  • Sorry MAGA, Turns Out People Still Like ‘Woke’ Art 12 hours ago by Manisha Krishnan
    Culture, Culture / Movies, Culture / Culture News, The, Oscars

    From Black vampires gobbling up Oscar nominations to gay pro hockey players dominating the culture, diverse stories broke through in an environment that’s increasingly hostile to them.

  • Legislators Push to Make Companies Tell Customers When Their Products Will Die 14 hours ago by Boone Ashworth
    Gear, Gear / Trends, Grow, Old, Together

    A pair of bills in Massachusetts would require manufacturers to tell consumers when their connected gadgets are going dark. It should be a boon for cybersecurity as connected devices grow obsolete.


Looking for more? Search Google News