Minimalist News

Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Fri, May 22, 2026, 11:34 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • The tech industry is grappling with the dual-edged sword of AI, from its potential to resurrect deceased individuals' voices to concerns about its profitability and the ethical implications of using inflated metrics like 'ARR' to hype AI startups.
  • SpaceX continues its ambitious space exploration endeavors with Starship V3 launches, though not without setbacks, while simultaneously preparing for a potential IPO that promises significant returns, primarily for Elon Musk.
  • Google's AI integration is pervasive, with efforts to embed Gemini across home devices and a revamped search experiencing significant issues, even struggling to define basic terms like 'disregard,' leading to some users questioning the overall user experience.
  • Automakers like Waymo are facing public scrutiny and operational pauses for their autonomous vehicle services due to recurring incidents, including navigation challenges in construction zones and unexpected encounters with floods, raising safety concerns.
  • The broader tech landscape sees major players like Apple and Google in ongoing legal battles over app store policies, while companies like Meta are experimenting with new social platforms and others, like Samsung, are facing potential labor disputes amid a challenging economic environment.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget


The Verge

  • Google’s AI search is so broken it can ‘disregard’ what you’re looking for 7 hours ago by Jay Peters
    AI, Google, News, Tech

    Google's AI Overviews are running into an interesting problem right now. Earlier on Friday, if you searched for the term "disregard," the AI Overview section would include a response like what you'd see from a more traditional AI chatbot instead of the typical AI summary, as spotted on X . As you can see in the image at the top of this story, I got an AI Overview response that said, "Got it. If you need anything else or have a new question later, just let me know!" As of Friday afternoon, however, Google isn't showing an AI Overview for

  • Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 has hit one of its best prices ahead of summer travel 10 hours ago by Sheena Vasani
    Deals, Gadgets, Tech, Verge Shopping

    Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 let you connect wireless headphones to in-flight entertainment systems as well as the Nintendo Switch. | Image: Twelve South With Memorial day weekend kicking off the travel season, we’re seeing a lot of deals pop up on travel gadgets, from portable power banks to noise-canceling headphones . One of the best right now is Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 Bluetooth adapter, which lets you use your wireless headphones with in-flight entertainment systems so you can enjoy your flight a little more. It’s currently down to $49.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and directly from Twelve South

  • Meta’s Forum is part Reddit, part Facebook, and part Google AI Overview 10 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    Facebook, Meta, News, Social Media, Tech

    Meta's new Forum app for iPhones takes Facebook Groups and moves them to a dedicated app with a dedicated AI chatbot to go with it, like an AI revamp of the ill-fated Groups app Facebook shut down in 2017. Rather than going to ChatGPT or tacking "Reddit" onto the end of a Google search, Forum users can view, search for, and post advice directly in their Facebook groups, with optional help from Meta's AI. After logging in with my Facebook account, Forum automatically pulled in the groups I was part of on Facebook and populated my feed with posts from

  • Elon, stop trying to make Grok happen 10 hours ago by Robert Hart
    AI, Report, xAI

    There is a harsh truth about Elon Musk's "truth-seeking" AI chatbot Grok: It's not very good, and not many people are using it. That's the takeaway of a new Reuters report , which found that Grok barely appears in federal records of how the US government used AI last year. It's not the only sign xAI's signature chatbot is in trouble, even as Musk puts it at the heart of what could be the biggest IPO in history . Reuters reviewed more than 400 examples of government AI use where specific vendors were named. Grok or xAI, it found, appeared

  • The best Memorial Day sales you can shop this weekend 11 hours ago
    Deals, Gadgets, Verge Shopping

    Memorial Day is nearly here, meaning the seasonal sales are in full swing. If your weekend plans 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 , robot vacuums , 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 sales


Wired


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