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Tech

AI Summary

  • The artificial intelligence sector is experiencing unprecedented growth and investment, highlighted by a major funding round for OpenAI and significant spending from companies like SoftBank, Reliance, and Meta to build out AI infrastructure and develop new applications.
  • Large technology firms are facing escalating legal and regulatory scrutiny over issues ranging from social media's impact on young users and data privacy, to autonomous vehicle deployment and marketing practices.
  • Concerns around data security and privacy remain critical, with reports of customer and personal information being compromised through cyberattacks and website vulnerabilities.
  • Major digital platforms and hardware manufacturers are actively evolving their product ecosystems, introducing new integrations, streamlining existing services, and rolling out advanced features across various user applications.
  • The global AI landscape is characterized by strategic geographical expansion and partnerships, with a notable emphasis on developing AI capabilities and data center infrastructure in emerging markets like India.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Rivian rolls out an Apple Watch app with vehicle controls and digital key support 35 minutes ago by Kris Holt
    Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt

    Rivian suggests that vehicle owners can leave their phone at home (or perhaps in a glove box) and instead control some aspects of their EV using a new Apple Watch app. With a tap of your watch, you can unlock and lock the doors, sound the alarm and vent the windows. After the digital key is set up, R1S and R1T Gen 2 owners can unlock their vehicle automatically simply by walking up to it thanks to the passive car key feature. It's possible to set the cabin temperature and a target state of charge by turning the digital crown on

  • Orbital AI data centers could work, but they might ruin Earth in the process an hour ago by Igor Bonifacic
    Science, Space & Astronomy, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic

    At the start of the month, Elon Musk announced that two of his companies — SpaceX and xAI  — were merging, and would jointly launch a constellation of 1 million satellites to operate as orbital data centers. Musk's reputation might suggest otherwise, but according to experts, such a plan isn't a complete fantasy. However, if executed at the scale suggested, some of them believe it would have devastating effects on the environment and the sustainability of low Earth Earth orbit.      Musk and others argue that putting data centers in space is practical given how much more efficient solar panels are away

  • West Virginia is suing Apple alleging negligence over CSAM materials an hour ago by Andre Revilla
    Company Legal & Law Matters, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Andre Revilla

    The office of the Attorney General for West Virginia announced Thursday that it has filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging that the company had "knowingly" allowed its iCloud platform "to be used as a vehicle for distributing and storing child sexual abuse material." The state alleges this went on for years but drew no action from the tech giant "under the guise of user privacy." In the lawsuit, the state repeatedly cites a text from Apple executive Eric Friedman, in which he calls iCloud "the greatest platform for distributing child porn" in a conversation with another Apple executive. These messages were

  • Nintendo announces surprise Switch 2 version of sci-fi RPG Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition 3 hours ago by Matt Tate
    Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Matt Tate

    Last year’s Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition was significant for a few reasons. It was the final major first-party Switch game ahead of the Switch 2’s arrival in June, and the last doomed Wii U game to be granted a second life on Nintendo’s infinitely more successful console. Nearly a year on, a Switch 2 update for one of the most technically impressive games Nintendo has ever published has finally arrived. Somewhat hilariously titled Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (you get the feeling Nintendo has started a naming convention it may come to regret here), the updated

  • Proton VPN two-year subscriptions are 70 percent off right now 3 hours ago by Georgie Peru
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Georgie Peru

    Proton VPN is running a solid deal right now, dropping its two-year Proton VPN Plus plan to $2.99 per month. That works out to $72 billed upfront for the first 24 months, which represents a 70 percent discount compared to its regular pricing.  We’ve rated Proton VPN highly thanks to its strong privacy credentials, transparent nonprofit backing and consistently fast performance. It’s one of the services we recommend in our guide to the best VPNs, and this deal also shows up alongside other standout offers in our ongoing roundup of the best VPN deals. It’s a good option if you’re looking


The Verge

  • West Virginia sues Apple for allegedly letting child abuse spread in iCloud an hour ago by Emma Roth
    Apple, News, Policy, Tech

    West Virginia has filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of allowing the distribution and storage of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in iCloud. In a lawsuit filed on Thursday, West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey claims that by abandoning a CSAM detection system in favor of end-to-end encryption, iCloud has become a "secure frictionless avenue for the possession, protection, and distribution [of] CSAM," violating the state's consumer protection laws. Apple initially outlined plans to launch a system that checks iCloud photos against a known list of CSAM images in 2021. The move was met with significant backlash from pr

  • New York drops plan to legalize robotaxis in setback for Waymo an hour ago by Andrew J. Hawkins
    Autonomous Cars, News, Policy, Politics, Transportation, Waymo

    A Waymo autonomous self-driving Jaguar electric vehicle is seen in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on December 13, 2025. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) dropped her proposal to allow robotaxi companies to launch commercially in cities other than New York City, citing a lack of support among state legislators, Bloomberg reports today. The move is a blow to Waymo and other robotaxi companies who saw New York, and especially New York City, as a potential goldmine. The plan, which was introduced by Hochul as part

  • Turtle Beach’s new PC controller with swiveling sticks is 30 percent off an hour ago by Brandon Widder
    Deals, Gadgets, Gaming, PC Gaming, Verge Shopping

    Many modern gamepads have adopted a modular design in recent years, from the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded to Hyperkin’s clamp-on X5 Alteron for the Nintendo Switch. However, few of them are quite as innovative as last year’s Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot, which is now on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for an all-time low of $99.99 ($40 off). TURTLE BEACH STEALTH PIVOT WHERE TO BUY: * $139.99 $99.99 at Amazon * $139.99 $99.99 at Best Buy * $139.99 at Turtle Beach The defining feature of the Stealth Pivot doesn’t lie with its drift-free Hall effects sticks or its built-in social notifications —

  • The next iTunes may be vibe-coded 2 hours ago by Janko Roettgers
    Column, Entertainment, Lowpass, Spotify, Streaming

    This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. Wouldn't it be great if you could exchange music recommendations with your friends, no matter whether they use Spotify, Apple Music, or Bandcamp? What if you could follow DJs and other tastemakers online and automatically turn their social media feeds into playlists? Or what if you could fine-tune your music recommendations with AI to only get recommendations for songs you've never played before? Those are a few of the tasks the new music app Parachord is trying

  • GE made a smaller version of its nugget ice maker that needs less counter space 2 hours ago by Andrew Liszewski
    Gadgets, News, Smart Home, Tech

    GE is showing off prototypes of its new compact nugget ice maker at the KBIS trade show. | Image: GE GE has announced two new versions of its popular Opal nugget ice machines with smaller footprints that take up less counter space, and more affordable price tags. Like GE's larger and pricier Opal 2.0 Ultra, the two new machines make nugget ice - frequently also referred to as chewable ice, or pellet ice - by freezing layers of ice flakes producing nuggets that are easier to chew with more surface area to cool drinks faster. Previously only available in restaurants, GE launched


Wired

  • DHS Opens a Billion-Dollar Tab With Palantir an hour ago by Makena Kelly
    Politics, Eye, of, Sauron

    "If you are interested in helping shape and deliver the next chapter of Palantir’s work across DHS, please reach out,” a Palantir executive wrote to employees about the massive purchasing agreement.

  • Best Unlimited Phone Plan: T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Compared (2026) 5 hours ago by Matthew Korfhage
    Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Phones, Buying, Guide

    We sifted through the fine print to figure out how to score the best deal on all the major carriers in 2026

  • 8 Best Computer Monitors (2026): Budget, OLED, 4K, and More 5 hours ago by Luke Larsen
    Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Home Office, Buying, Guide

    The Gear team spends countless hours in front of displays while writing for you. So we reviewed those too (including a portable screen).

  • 9 Best Android Phones of 2026, Tested and Reviewed 6 hours ago by Julian Chokkattu
    Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Phones, Paranoid, Android

    Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.

  • 8 Best Cheap Phones (2026), Tested and Reviewed 6 hours ago by Julian Chokkattu
    Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Phones, Buying, Guide

    There’s little reason to pay top dollar for a smartphone. These iPhones and Android devices—ranging from $100 to $600—stood up to WIRED’s testing.


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