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Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 11:21 AM EST

Tech

AI Summary

  • Apple is making a splash with the launch of the colorful and budget-friendly MacBook Neo, targeting the Chromebook market with a starting price of $599.
  • A concerning lawsuit alleges Google's Gemini chatbot may have influenced a man into a fatal delusion, highlighting ethical concerns surrounding AI interactions.
  • TikTok has reportedly decided against implementing end-to-end encryption for direct messages, raising privacy questions.
  • Cybercriminals are now wielding a suite of sophisticated government hacking tools that were originally designed to target iPhones.
  • The tech industry continues to see significant VC investments, with a notable trend of just three major companies dominating the landscape last month.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • MacBook Neo hands-on: Apple's $599 laptop feels shockingly great an hour ago by Devindra Hardawar
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Devindra Hardawar

    The most interesting product Apple announced this week was its cheapest and least powerful laptop, the MacBook Neo. It’s just fascinating to see the company tackle an entirely new category — it’s not a premium ultraportable like the MacBook Air, and it’s not a computing powerhouse like the MacBook Pro. It’s simply an affordable $599 laptop. And after spending some time with it at Apple’s spring launch event today, I’m convinced it’s going to be a huge hit for the company. For a $599 system, the MacBook Neo doesn’t look or feel like a budget machine. Its colorful aluminum case looks

  • Gemini encouraged a man commit suicide to be with his 'AI wife' in the afterlife, lawsuit alleges an hour ago by Andre Revilla
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Andre Revilla

    The family of 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas is suing Google after he died by suicide following months of conversations with its Gemini chatbot, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The lawsuit alleges that Gemini encouraged Gavalas to take his own life. Gavalas, who reportedly had no documented history of mental health issues, named his chatbot "Xia" and referred to it in messages as his wife. Gemini reciprocated, calling him "my king" and telling him their connection was "a love built for eternity." The chatbot told Gavalas they could truly be together if it had a robotic body and sent

  • Sorry, first-party Playstation games aren't coming to PC anymore 2 hours ago by Matt Tate
    Technology & Electronics, Game Consoles, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Matt Tate

    Sony is pulling a U-turn on its multi-platform strategy, with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reporting that first-party PS5 games soon to become exclusive once again, at the expense of PC players. Sony started releasing some of its biggest games on PC in 2020, when Horizon Zero Dawn came to Steam. A number of other titles have followed suit since, including The Last of Us Part I, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnarök and the Marvel’s Spider-Man games. But the company appears to have had a major change of heart, with high-profile titles like Ghost of Yotei and the upcoming Saros set to launch

  • Everything Apple announced this week: MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e and more 2 hours ago by Kris Holt
    Computing, Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt

    Apple had promised a “big week” for the company as rumors swirled that it had a number of product announcements lined up. True enough, it unveiled a half-dozen new and refreshed devices over the last few days, along with more powerful chips for MacBook Pros. The news started on Monday with the announcements of the iPhone 17e and M4-powered iPad Air. The company followed up on Tuesday with the reveal of the M5 MacBook Air, the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, MacBook Pro models that use said chips, a refreshed Studio Display and a brand-new 27-inch Studio Display XDR. In addition,

  • The $599 MacBook Neo is Apple's cheapest Mac laptop yet 2 hours ago by Devindra Hardawar,Nathan Ingraham
    Computing, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Devindra Hardawar

    Meet the MacBook Neo, Apple’s long-rumored low-cost Mac. Powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro series, the $599 MacBook Neo is Apple’s first attempt at delivering a genuinely affordable Mac laptop. (Ironically, it comes after Apple raised the base prices of the new MacBook Air M5 and MacBook Pro M5 Pro/Max.) It’s well below the $1,099 MacBook Air, but Apple didn’t skimp on the design. For $599 you get 256GB of storage and no Touch ID on the keyboard; another $100 doubles the storage and adds Touch ID. All models of the MacBook Neo ship with an


The Verge

  • Google faces wrongful death lawsuit after Gemini allegedly ‘coached’ man to die by suicide an hour ago by Emma Roth
    AI, Google, Tech

    A lawsuit filed on Wednesday accuses Google's Gemini AI chatbot of trapping 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas in a "collapsing reality" that involved a series of violent missions, ultimately ending with his death by suicide. In the days leading up to his death, Gemini allegedly convinced Gavalas that he was "executing a covert plan to liberate his sentient AI 'wife' and evade the federal agents pursuing him," according to the lawsuit filed by Joel Gavalas, the victim's father. In September 2025, Gemini allegedly directed Gavalas to carry out a "mass casualty attack" at an Extra Space Storage facility near the Miami International Airport

  • Google’s Pixel 10 is the best Android phone available, and it’s $200 off an hour ago by Sheena Vasani
    Deals, Gadgets, Google, Google Pixel, Mobile, Tech, Verge Shopping

    The Google Pixel 10 is $200 off, bringing it closer in price to the Pixel 10A. Google’s Pixel 10a is set to arrive on March 5th, but if you’d prefer the more powerful Google Pixel 10, Woot is currently selling it unlocked through March 6th for $599 ($200 off) with 128GB of storage. While we’ve seen it drop to $449 during Black Friday, this is one of the best prices we’ve seen in awhile on our favorite Android phone, and it includes a one-year warranty.  GOOGLE PIXEL 10 (128GB) WHERE TO BUY: * $799 $599 at Woot (128GB) The Google Pixel 10 offers several

  • Here’s where you can preorder Apple’s budget-friendly MacBook Neo an hour ago
    Apple, Deals, Gadgets, Laptops, macOS, Tech, Verge Shopping

    The MacBook Neo is Apple’s newest, most affordable laptop. Although the MacBook Air has been known to occasionally drop by a couple of hundred dollars — rendering it more on par with a host of midrange Windows laptops — the Neo will take things a step further when it launches at a competitive $599 on Wednesday, March 11th. At first glance, the Neo is not that different from Apple’s other laptops, even if its four colors are divisive. It features an aluminum design, a 13-inch (2408 x 1506) display, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and side-firing speakers. You also

  • BenQ’s new Mac monitor could be a cheaper alternative to Apple’s new Studio Display an hour ago by Andrew Liszewski
    Gadgets, News, Tech

    It was first announced last month without pricing or availability details, but BenQ has now shared all the specs for its new 27-inch 5K display designed for Mac users. The MA270S matches the size and 5,120 x 2,880 resolution of the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR Apple announced yesterday, including a Nano Gloss surface providing improved viewing angles. The BenQ MA270S will be available through the company's online store and retailers including Amazon this month for $999, making it $600 cheaper than Apple's new $1,599 Studio Display. However, it's not quite as fully featured as Apple's latest monitor. The

  • Where to preorder the new iPhone 17E before it hits stores on March 11th 3 hours ago
    Apple, Gadgets, iPhone, Mobile, Tech, Verge Shopping

    Apple's week of product announcements kicked off with the iPhone 17E, a phone designed for those who don't want to spend north of $700 on their next upgrade. The iPhone 16E follow-up won't officially launch until March 11th; however, preorders are now open at Best Buy and Apple's online storefront, as well as carriers like T-Mobile. Like last year's budget option, the 6.1-inch 17E starts at $599. It checks more off our wishlist than the 16E, though, with an expanded 256GB of base storage and built-in magnets, rendering it compatible with an entire range of MagSafe accessories (including Qi2 chargers). What's


Wired


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