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Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 7:58 AM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • AI advancements are rapidly reshaping industries, with new models like Anthropic's Claude voice mode and OpenAI's ChatGPT Health expanding capabilities, while AI chip startups like Etched reach significant valuations, though concerns arise regarding AI guardrails impacting research and the ethical implications of AI's role in society.
  • Major tech players are making significant strategic shifts: Mobileye's CEO is stepping aside as the company pivots to robotaxis and robotics, Meta is re-evaluating its clean energy commitments amidst a natural gas buildout, and Facebook is exploring a shift towards a TikTok-like model, highlighting a dynamic and sometimes contradictory landscape.
  • The competitive landscape in AI hardware is intensifying, with AMD launching its Helios AI system to challenge Nvidia's dominance, while Nvidia itself is pushing the boundaries by sending GPUs to the moon and aiming to control AI data center chips, signaling a high-stakes race for computational power.
  • Layoffs continue to impact the tech sector, with Patreon reducing its workforce by 20% and Bethesda facing accusations of labor law violations, underscoring ongoing economic pressures and restructuring within the industry.
  • Cybersecurity remains a critical concern, with Iran-linked hackers targeting US infrastructure and a new startup, AegisAI, emerging to combat AI-driven spear-phishing, while offensive cybersecurity researchers face challenges due to AI guardrails.

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The Verge

  • TikTok’s protection of minors should not be opt-in, warns EU an hour ago by Jess Weatherbed
    Creators, News, Policy, Politics, Regulation, Tech, TikTok

    TikTok has attracted the ire of the European Union over its protection of children who use the video sharing platform. The European Commission announced preliminary findings today under the Digital Services Act (DSA) that offer specific issues to address. The Commission suggests that TikTok should adjust the default settings of minors' "public" accounts so the content they post is only visible to TikTok users the teen has chosen to share it with, and that such content shouldn't be recommended to other users in the For You feed. Even accounts set to private can be easily discovered through the "following" lists

  • Facebook considers giving up and becoming TikTok 2 hours ago by Jess Weatherbed
    Facebook, Meta, News, Social Media, Tech

    Facebook is planning some big changes to try and keep its users from jumping to rival social platforms like TikTok - changes that sound dubiously similar to becoming a TikTok clone. Facebook head Tom Alison announced today that the platform will begin testing a "reimagined experience" later this year that will put a subset of users into a "full-screen video the moment they open the app." Meta didn't share examples of what its experimental new interface will look like, only that it will initially roll out to countries with a noted preference for video content, with a potential expansion planned

  • Microsoft pressures LG into killing unwanted McAfee ads 3 hours ago by Jess Weatherbed
    LG, Microsoft, News, Tech, Windows

    Microsoft has intervened to stop Windows 11 users with LG monitors from being bombarded with annoying McAfee trial pop-ups. In response to complaints about the LG bloatware, Microsoft's Windows chief, Pavan Davuluri, said that LG has agreed to immediately disable the McAfee pop-up from its LG Monitor App Installer, and pledged that Microsoft will "keep improving here with our ecosystem partners." This crackdown follows backlash about large pop-up ads for McAfee antivirus and LG's own apps appearing on Windows 11 PCs after being connected to LG monitors. Upon connection, a Windows driver update was silently installing LG driver updates and

  • Alexa Plus is getting an AI update to handle more complicated instructions 15 hours ago by Emma Roth
    AI, Amazon, Amazon Alexa, News, Smart Home, Tech

    Amazon is launching an update to its Alexa Plus assistant that will allow it to connect to smart home devices in new ways. With the update , which is currently in preview, Alexa Plus can link up with tech from Bosch, Delta, Ecovacs, iRobot, Yale Home, Whirlpool, Tapo, Eufy, and others, while automatically routing requests to the correct device. In an example shared by Amazon, a person with a supported washing machine can say, "Alexa, my kid's soccer jersey could use a deep clean, but the tag says cold wash only." From there, Alexa Plus would navigate the washer's cycle

  • The Echo Show 21 is a great smart home hub that’s $80 off 16 hours ago by Brad Bourque
    Deals, Gadgets, Smart Home, Tech, Verge Shopping

    Echo Show's 21 attached to the adjustable stand, which is sold separately (and also discounted). | Image: Amazon Split between buying a smart calendar, a kitchen TV, a smart home hub, and a smart display? Amazon’s Echo Show 21 is all of those things in one, with a huge 21-inch screen. You can use it to control your smart lights, glance at recipes, watch TV shows, and more. Currently, Best Buy and Home Depot have the product on sale for $319.99 (usually $399.99), matching the lowest price we’ve seen to date. Amazon Echo Show 21 The Echo Show 21 can


Wired

  • Best Window Air Conditioners of 2026: Midea, Zafro, GE an hour ago by Matthew Korfhage, Lisa Wood Shapiro
    Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Home, Stay, Frosty

    These are the AC units we’ve trusted to cool our homes for months, if not years.

  • BenQ TK705STi 4K Projector Review: A Midrange Pick for Gamers an hour ago by John Brandon
    Gear, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Home, Product, Review

    The TK705STi’s highly responsive, low-latency performance makes gameplay ultra-realistic. For movies and TV? It’s a purely average home projector.

  • What Is Entropy, Really? 2 hours ago by Rhett Allain
    Science, Science / Physics and Math, Dot, Physics

    Never mind the “heat death of the universe.” Entropy is just a bridge between two levels of reality.

  • Some of Our Favorite Brain-Boosting Toys for Kids of All Ages 2 hours ago by Chris Haslam, Jeremy White
    Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Cool, Toys

    From musical instruments and games to play pieces that encourage balance and dexterity, these toys will engage your child’s mind and body.

  • Some Kids Will Never Think AI Is Cool 3 hours ago by Elana Klein
    The Big Story, Culture, Business / Artificial Intelligence, Kids, These, Days

    “I think it should stand for artificial idiot,” one 9-year-old says. Here’s why kids of all ages are calling AI “disgusting” and “creepy.”


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