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Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 11:50 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • Waymo is expanding its fully autonomous robotaxi service to more riders across three cities, signaling a significant step towards mainstream adoption of self-driving technology.
  • OpenAI is reinforcing its commitment to user privacy by implementing new protections, aiming to address growing concerns about data security in the age of advanced AI.
  • Despite initial hype, AI has yet to universally win over consumers, indicating a potential gap between technological advancement and user acceptance.
  • Google is integrating more AI-powered study tools into its Search and Gemini platforms, highlighting a push to make AI more accessible and beneficial for students.
  • Rivian's spinout, Also, has secured an additional $150 million in funding, underscoring continued investor confidence in the burgeoning electric vehicle and related tech sectors.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


The Verge

  • Does giving a camera wings dodge the FCC’s drone ban? 6 hours ago by Sean Hollister
    Analysis, Cameras, Drones, Gadgets, Report, Tech

    It’s a camera. It’s a drone. But HoverAir doesn’t want it to be a drone where the FCC is concerned. | Image: HoverAir HoverAir drones always have intriguing gimmicks. This one folds flat to fit in your pocket. This one can land on water. Another can charge inside its carrying case. But the brand's latest trick might be its riskiest: it's attempting to sneak a drone past the FCC. In December 2025, the US government banned future foreign drones from reaching our shores, and HoverAir's floating Aqua drone was one of the first casualties . But this time, brand owner

  • Nielsen is leaning more on wearables to hear what people are watching 9 hours ago by Charles Pulliam-Moore
    Entertainment, Film, Gadgets, News, Streaming, TV Shows, Wearable

    In order to beef up its ability to accurately measure viewership data in the streaming era , Nielsen is moving forward with a plan to use more information gathered from its partners' wearable devices. Today, Nielsen announced "a number of key enhancements" that are being added to its data capturing process ahead of the upcoming fall TV season. As of August 31st, Nielsen's co-viewing data will now include information obtained from smart-watch like gadgets that Neilsen's research panelists wear in their homes. The Portable People Meter (PPM) Wearables - which Nielsen first began deploying nationally in 2016 to bolster its

  • Google Gemini is getting a dedicated student hub 10 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    AI, Google, News, Tech

    As we're gearing up for back-to-school season, Google is rolling out a new dedicated student hub in Gemini. It's a one-stop repository for collecting research in a study notebook, creating flashcards, taking practice quizzes, and more. Google is also enhancing its study notebooks with support for graphs and images. It can even add test dates and deadlines to your Google Calendar based on your syllabus. Google is also adding Deep Research to Gemini Live. You can ask Gemini to generate complicated research reports and talk through the results. If it's taking a while, you can close the chat and lock

  • Watch Valve set up the Steam Frame in its own leaked videos 10 hours ago by Emma Roth
    Entertainment, Gaming, News, PC Gaming, Tech, Virtual Reality

    Valve just leaked several new videos showing the Steam Frame's unboxing, setup process, and various accessories. The videos apparently appeared on the ARM Steam client following an update, but they were "quickly pulled after that," according to the Steam Hardware Updates account on X . The Steam Frame is Valve's virtual-reality headset that can stream games from a PC or play them locally. Valve first took the wraps off the headset last year, and it offers LCD screens with 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, and an up to 110-degree field of view. But

  • The wearable future is stuck in weird, experimental, existential limbo 11 hours ago by Victoria Song
    Column, Gadgets, Optimizer, Wearable

    AI on the wrist is one such experimental feature. This is Optimizer , a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here . For the past week, I've been testing the Google Pixel Watch 5 . In many ways, it's a typical, modern smartwatch. In others, it feels like one part of a wearable future that's increasingly in flux. Everyone I've spoken to in wearable tech has roughly the same goal - soon, your tracker of choice


Wired


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