Minimalist News

Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 5:10 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT have both surpassed one billion users, signaling massive adoption of AI-powered conversational tools.
  • OpenAI is expanding its accessibility with a new desktop app for Linux, while also seeing executive departures, including its COO Brad Lightcap.
  • Cybersecurity remains a significant concern, with the FBI warning of criminals hacking online accounts for intimate pictures and a vulnerability discovered in Zoom's screen-sharing feature.
  • The tech industry is seeing substantial investments, with General Catalyst leading a $1.1 billion round for River AI and a $5.7 billion fund backing satellite company ICEYE.
  • Bluesky's user base is reportedly shrinking as the platform broadens its scope beyond its initial app focus.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


The Verge

  • ChatGPT and Gemini both just passed 1 billion users 2 hours ago
    AI, Google, OpenAI, Tech

    That’s a lot of people chatting with their AI friends all day. | Image: Google For the 14th time, a Google product has hit 1 billion users. Google CEO Sundar Pichai posted on X that a billion people are using Gemini every month, and that Gemini is Google's fastest-growing product ever. A billion users is a huge milestone, but Google isn't the first AI app to hit it. OpenAI's ChatGPT hit the mark a few weeks ago, though the company buried the announcement that "more than 1 billion people are putting ChatGPT to work" in an otherwise anodyne blog post

  • Threads has a VR app now 2 hours ago by Jay Peters
    Meta, News, Tech, Threads

    Meta has launched a Threads app for Meta Quest VR headsets, the company announced on Tuesday . The launch follows Meta bringing the app to its Ray-Ban Display AR glasses last month and the recent news that the platform has crossed 500 million monthly active users . It seems like a pretty full-featured app. Meta says that with the Threads VR app, you can do things like browse feeds, make posts, like and reply to posts, visit profiles, search, and watch videos - you know, Threads stuff. "We designed the new Threads app for Meta Quest to make using VR

  • Google’s free streaming service now lets you pick shows and movies to watch 3 hours ago by Emma Roth
    Entertainment, Google, News, Streaming, Tech

    Google TV Freeplay, the company's free, ad-supported streaming service, now supports video on demand . Instead of tuning into Google TV Freeplay's selection of always-on channels, you can now choose from over 10,000 shows and movies to watch whenever you want. The update introduces titles like Lady Bird , Seventeen Again , and Hell's Kitchen , according to Google's announcement. The company has also expanded its live TV lineup to include more than 300 channels dedicated to news, sports, reality TV, true crime, and more. Some of these new channels include World of Love Island, Yahoo! Sports Network, Bloomberg TV

  • Another OpenAI executive takes off 3 hours ago by Hayden Field
    AI, News, OpenAI

    Brad Lightcap, OpenAI's special projects lead and the company's former COO, announced his departure after an eight-year stint at the AI lab. In an internal memo he later posted to X, Lightcap told colleagues he'd be starting "something new." "Over the last few months, I've been focused on the next horizon and what would stand in the way of mission success," Lightcap wrote. "I believe there are a few important new things the world will need to get right as we enter this next period. I … am excited to help you all advance the mission from a different vantage

  • The budget-friendly Pixel Buds 2a are even cheaper right now 4 hours ago by Brad Bourque
    Deals, Gadgets, Verge Shopping

    The Google Pixel Buds 2a in hazel. | Image: The Verge Looking for great pair of earbuds that work particularly well with Android phones? The Google Pixel Buds 2a are currently discounted to $99 (usually $129) at various retailers, including Amazon , Best Buy , and directly from Google . These very capable Bluetooth earbuds come in four colors, with a lightweight fit that helps them disappear into your ears. With ANC and transparency mode support, and a close integration with Gemini, they’re a great choice for anyone with a Pixel or other Android device. Pixel Buds 2a Google’s latest


Wired

  • Is It Safe to Eat Lettuce Yet? an hour ago by Emily Mullin
    Science, Food, Safety

    “That product is off the market, so I think there’s absolutely lower risk for cyclospora in terms of eating lettuce,” one professor of food safety tells WIRED.

  • How and When to View the Perseid Meteor Shower (August 2026) 2 hours ago by Jorge Garay
    Science, Science / Space, Hello,, Meteor

    The Perseids will peak between August 12 and 13. Here’s what time—and where—you can get the best view, and why 2026 will be an exceptional year.

  • Razer Naga V3 Pro Review: Buttons Galore 6 hours ago by Henri Robbins
    Gear, Gear / Products, Gear / Products / Home Office, Gear / Products / Gaming, Product, Review

    The PC gaming world has tried to move on from bulky, heavier mice, but the Naga V3 Pro proves that it still has its place.

  • AI Could Help Fossil Fuel Companies Create More Emissions 8 hours ago by Molly Taft
    Science, Science / Environment, Force, Multiplier

    New research finds that by making the fossil fuel industry more productive, AI could help increase carbon emissions by up to nearly 5 percent—vastly outpacing the impact of data centers.

  • A Zoom Screen-Sharing Bug Let Anyone Take Over Other Devices on a Call 9 hours ago by Lily Hay Newman
    Security, Security / Cyberattacks and Hacks, Security / Security News, Sneak, Attack

    Researchers say it took fewer than 20 prompts for a public AI tool to find a flaw (now fixed) allowing anyone on a Zoom call to hijack another participants’ device.


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