Tech
AI Summary
- Meta has agreed to significant changes in its apps to better protect minors, including stricter defaults for teen users, as part of a large settlement with 29 states over social media harms.
- The AI landscape is rapidly evolving with new models like Z.ai's Ox Alpha and advancements in areas like visual AI for factories and AI agents for tasks like podcast searching and business management.
- Robotics startups are seeing substantial growth, with Generalist reaching a $3 billion valuation, and innovations emerging in areas like AI-powered hearing glasses.
- Cybersecurity remains a critical concern, highlighted by hackers targeting US water systems and the ongoing evolution of encryption standards, such as Ring's new default for cloud features.
- The tech industry is grappling with the societal implications of AI, including discussions around a potential 'robot tax' and the development of new tools to ensure AI accuracy and transparency, such as QueryStory and RAG techniques.
Sources
TechCrunch
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Meta agrees to sweeping changes to restrict kids’ access to its apps as part of settlement with states
an hour ago
by Aisha Malik
Apps, Social, Facebook, Instagram, Meta, social media child safetyOne of the most notable changes is that Meta plans to implement a daily two-hour time limit for teens that can only be disabled with parental permission.
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What’s driving Sweden’s startup boom, from Lovable to Legora
an hour ago
by Theresa Loconsolo
Venture, Neko Health, Lovable, european market, nordic market, legoraVibe-coding darling Lovable just raised $400 million at a $13.3 billion valuation, roughly doubling its worth in eight months. But Lovable isn’t the only Stockholm startup putting up huge numbers lately — legal AI company Legora and health tech startup Neko Health are right there with it. On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Dominic-Madori Davis is joined by Sophia Bendz, a partner at Cherry Ventures and longtime fixture of Europe’s startup […]
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Radar makes podcasts searchable — and usable by AI agents
2 hours ago
by Sarah Perez
AI, Media & Entertainment, TC, podcastsParticle’s new podcast intelligence platform transcribes and analyzes more than 130,000 podcasts, making their conversations searchable on the web and accessible to AI agents through an API and MCP.
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Ex-Meta scientists want to bring visual AI to the factory floor
2 hours ago
by Lucas Ropek
AI, Robotics, Meta, perceptron, StartupsPerceptron offers an AI model that it says can help machines navigate the world while also providing in-depth visual intelligence.
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Ring introduces a new encryption standard, makes it the default for cloud features
3 hours ago
by Ivan Mehta
Apps, Hardware, Amazon, encryption, privacy, Ring camerasRing says users can still opt for end-to-end encryption.
Hacker News
- GLM-5.3-Flash 3 hours ago
- AWS Acquires DuckDB 4 hours ago
- Qwen3.8-Flash-Next: A New Architecture, Towards Ultimate Cost-Efficiency 5 hours ago
- Nebula Sans 2 hours ago
- France reaches 94.9% fiber coverage in 2026 4 hours ago
The Verge
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Apple announces September iPhone launch event
an hour ago
by Jay Peters
Apple, Apple Event, iPhone, News, TechA screenshot from Apple’s events website. Apple's next launch event will take place on September 9th at 1PM ET. Invites to the event, which has a "Surprise and shine" tagline, were sent out on Wednesday. The event will take place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park, but there will also be a livestream on Apple's website. September's show could be a big one, as Apple may finally announce the long-rumored foldable iPhone. A photo of an apparent dummy unit indicates the foldable may have a wide form factor that's similar to what Samsung used with the Galaxy Z
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Volvo’s cars will warn one another about hazards in the road
2 hours ago
by Andrew J. Hawkins
Cars, News, Transportation, VolvoVolvo is updating three of its electric vehicles with new hazard alerts to warn drivers when there are animals or vulnerable road users ahead. The new connected safety features are based on Volvo's cars talking to one another, as opposed to crowdsourced alert systems used by popular navigation tools like Google Maps and Waze. The alerts work by using connected vehicle data from Volvo's fleet of passenger vehicles in Europe, the US, and Canada. The car's sensors and cameras are tuned to identify certain risks on the road. When one Volvo spots a hazard, it automatically logs the location and
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Xbox announces disc-to-digital feature that digitizes your physical games
3 hours ago
by Tom Warren
Gaming, Microsoft, Tech, XboxMicrosoft is officially announcing a new Xbox feature that will allow Xbox owners to digitize their existing physical game collections. The disc-to-digital feature, which The Verge exclusively revealed last month, is part of work that Microsoft is doing for game preservation and in preparation for the next generation of Xbox consoles. "Most Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games support this new feature," explains Jason Ronald , VP of next generation at Xbox. "Players can claim a digital entitlement by inserting a supported disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console and launching the game." This digital
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Microsoft’s 25th anniversary Xbox will cost $899
3 hours ago
by Stevie Bonifield
Entertainment, Gaming, Microsoft, News, Tech, XboxThe special-edition translucent green Xbox finally has an official price. Preorders for the console start August 27th at 10AM ET / 7AM PT, although Microsoft says "some of XBOX's most dedicated fans" will receive early access preorder emails starting today. The console will launch on November 13th , alongside a matching controller with the same "OG Green" colorway from the original translucent green Xbox. Microsoft is also including a full-game download of Halo: Campaign Evolved with each of the consoles, and revealed during Gamescom on Wednesday that each console will be laser-etched and numbered. Under the special-edition shell, it's an
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Elden Ring on the Switch 2 isn’t tarnished
3 hours ago
by Andrew Webster
Entertainment, Games Review, Gaming, NintendoFromSoftware is hoping to make a splash on the Switch 2 later this year when it launches The Duskbloods , a gothic competitive multiplayer game that's unlike anything the studio has made before . But before that, Switch 2 owners have a chance to experience the studio's biggest hit for the first time thanks to a port of Elden Ring and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree . For the most part, the new version - called the "Tarnished Edition" - is the same game that captivated players in 2022 . But the shift in platform also makes it a
Wired
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Meta Will Pay Up to $16.7 Billion to Settle Its Social Media Harms Case—and That’s Not All
3 hours ago
by Paresh Dave, Brian Barrett
Business, Business / Big Tech, LawsuitsIn addition to sending billions of dollars to states, Meta will make substantive changes to its platforms as part of a landmark settlement.
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PeopleFinders’ New Website Runs Background Checks on Your Dates
4 hours ago
by Jason Parham
Culture, Culture / Digital Culture, Surveillance, DateThe site, called Stud or Dud, helps daters dig up dirt on potential paramours. It’s fueled by the same public data as PeopleFinders.com—and comes with many of the same concerns.
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Best Wi-Fi Routers (2026): My Honest Picks After Testing 50+
6 hours ago
by Simon Hill
Gear, Gear / Products / Computers, Gear / Products / Smart Home, Buying, GuideDon’t suffer the buffer. These WIRED-tested home routers will deliver reliable internet across your home, whatever your needs or budget.
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AI Slop Is Ruining Cute Animals on the Internet
6 hours ago
by Paresh Dave
Business, Business / Artificial Intelligence, Culture, Culture / Digital Culture, Pet, PeevePet owners, rescue agencies, and wildlife groups are calling for new safeguards as AI makes it harder to tell whether animals, from polar bears to house cats, are real or fake.
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Green Chef Meal Kit Review (2026): Great Ingredients, Layered Flavor
7 hours ago
by Matthew Korfhage
Gear, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Home, Gear / Products / Online Services, Product, ReviewHelloFresh’s organic meal kit Green Chef offers transparent sourcing, layered cooking, and trustworthy gluten-free dishes.