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Mon, May 25, 2026, 12:34 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • The tech industry is grappling with the ethical implications of AI, with Pope Leo XIV calling for AI to serve humanity and not concentrate power, while simultaneously, companies like Google are integrating Gemini across their product lines and facing real-time AI security challenges.
  • Layoffs are impacting the tech sector, as highlighted by ClickUp's recent workforce reduction, signaling potential shifts in the future of work and startup strategies, especially when contrasted with startups like the eSports company that successfully raised significant funding by focusing on a strong pitch rather than solely on AI.
  • Innovations in personal tech and wearables continue to emerge, from smart glasses by Xreal aiming to overcome industry hurdles to intriguing but slightly unsettling devices like Amazon's Bee wearable and sleep-aiding gadgets such as the Dreamie alarm clock.
  • The burgeoning market for renewable energy and space exploration are attracting substantial investment and development, with SolarSquare seeking major funding for India's rooftop solar market and SpaceX successfully launching its Starship V3, alongside Blue Origin's preparations for its New Glenn rocket.
  • Cybersecurity remains a critical concern, evidenced by law enforcement actions like the seizure of servers in the Netherlands aiding cyberattacks, and the ongoing efforts by major tech players to protect users from threats like spyware and to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-driven security vulnerabilities.

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The Verge

  • The best Memorial Day sales you can shop this weekend 2 hours ago by Sheena Vasani
    Deals, Gadgets, Verge Shopping

    Memorial Day is here, meaning the seasonal sales are in full swing. If your plans over the long weekend involve pool parties or barbecues, now is a great time to pick up a portable speaker or set of solar lights , as many of our favorite models are currently on sale. You can also find deals on everything from 4K OLED TVs and noise-canceling earbuds to tents , laptops , and plenty of our favorite everyday essentials . To give you more options, we’ve also included a selection of deals from retailers that aren’t necessarily running their own Memorial Day

  • Pope Leo calls for being ‘profoundly human’ in the age of AI 2 hours ago by Mia Sato
    AI, Anthropic, Law, News, Policy, Politics

    Pope Leo XIV attends the presentation of his first Encyclical Letter "Magnifica humanitas" on May 25, 2026 in Vatican City, Vatican. | Getty Images Pope Leo XIV warned of the risks of AI and unconstrained technological power in his first major papal document released on Monday. Magnifica Humanitas is the pope's manifesto on "safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence," in which he discusses the dangers of AI-powered warfare, the effects of AI on labor, and the need for new legal and ethical frameworks to govern technology. In his papal encyclical - a kind of open letter

  • On Trails is a wandering tale that blends hiking, science, and history a day ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Book Review, Books, Column, Entertainment, Science

    Hiking is one of life's great joys. Turning off the screens and stepping out into nature for an extended period of time, perhaps even several days, is rejuvenating. Unfortunately, as someone with two young kids and a bad back, I'm not really able to go backpacking anymore. So I often find myself trying to live vicariously through others who write about their lengthy travails along the Appalachian or the PCT . That's what I thought I was signing up for when I picked up On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moor . But it turned out to be so much

  • Apple’s latest MacBook Air is $200 off in both sizes for Memorial Day a day ago by Sheena Vasani
    Apple, Deals, Gadgets, Laptops, Tech, Verge Shopping

    If you’re looking for a laptop that’ll still perform well several years from now, Apple’s latest MacBook Air is hard to beat. Now, in particular, is a good time to pick one up, as you can currently buy the 13-inch MacBook Air at Amazon in the run-up to Memorial Day with an M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD for $899.99 ($200 off), which is a new low price. The 15-inch model, meanwhile, is also on sale at Amazon for $1,099.99 ($200 off) in select colors, or at Best Buy for $1,149. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M5) Where

  • Hackers are learning to exploit chatbot ‘personalities’ a day ago by Robert Hart
    AI, Column, Security, Tech, The Stepback

    This is The Stepback , a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on AI mischief, follow Robert Hart . The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here . How it started Hacking the first generation of AI chatbots was a laughably simple affair. You didn't need any technical know-how, backdoor access, or even a basic understanding of what a large language model was. You didn't need to code. To get an AI system that had cost billions to build to abandon its safety instructions, sometimes


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