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Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 8:10 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is set to host discussions on scaling startups and exploring the real-world applications of AI, featuring industry leaders like Nvidia and advancements in robotics.
  • Google has managed to avoid a breakup of its lucrative ad business but will be required to make significant operational changes.
  • OpenAI's latest AI reasoning technique has raised concerns among AI safety experts, while the company also received government backing on the issue of training LLMs on copyrighted material.
  • Palo Alto Networks has reportedly acquired Console for $500 million, signaling consolidation in the cybersecurity sector.
  • MapQuest has surprisingly reclaimed the top spot as the No. 1 US app, an unexpected development in the navigation app market.

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The Verge

  • Uber beats Waymo as first to launch robotaxis in London 2 hours ago by Andrew J. Hawkins
    Autonomous Cars, News, Ride-sharing, Transportation, Uber

    Uber beat out Waymo in launching a commercial robotaxi service in London, the city's first. The vehicles use autonomous driving tech developed by Wayve , a UK-based startup, and will initially feature safety drivers behind the wheel. The launch is a milestone for Uber, which has been plotting a UK launch with Wayve for several years . In beating Waymo to the punch, it allows Uber to set the standard for the robotaxi experience for thousands of Londoners. It's also an early test of whether there's appetite for driverless ridehailing beyond the US and China, where most of the world's

  • Google says its new Gemini 3.8 Flash model ‘works harder’ but might cost more 4 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    AI, Google, News, Tech

    Google launched Gemini 3.8 Flash , arriving just a few weeks after its predecessor . The company claims the new model "works harder" than Gemini 3.7 Flash by performing more reasoning steps on complex tasks and "calling tools iteratively." It has the same introductory pricing as 3.7 Flash, $0.75 per million input tokens and $3.75 per million output tokens, but could still end up costing users more. Google warns that "the model might use more tokens to maximize performance, especially at higher effort levels." Developers can keep using Gemini 3.7 Flash if they want to minimize token usage. Gemini 3.8

  • Here are some of REI’s best Labor Day sale deals 6 hours ago by Brad Bourque
    Deals, Gadgets, Verge Shopping

    The discounted Garmin InReach 3 Mini can help you stay in touch when you’re out in the wilderness. | Image: Garmin Summer is winding down, but REI’s Labor Day sale is here to help save you some bucks on gear that’ll let you get the most out of your upcoming outdoor expeditions. There are many, many discounts, from men’s and women’s clothing and REI Co-op gear to equipment for camping and hiking and more. The sale runs through September 7th, 2026. In case you weren’t aware, REI members can take an extra 20 percent off a single outlet item with

  • 1Password wades into a right-wing mess after funding a Linux project 6 hours ago
    Tech

    David Faugno, CEO at 1Password, at the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 11th, 2025. | Photo: Zed Jameson / Bloomberg via Getty Image 1Password faced immediate backlash from customers this week over a $300,000 pledge in support of a Linux distro created by David Heinemeier Hansson, who has regularly published overtly racist blog posts that include comments calling for deportation of ethnic minorities in Europe. The popular password manager is now a " distinguished corporate patron " of Omacom, the nonprofit foundation that oversees a popular Linux distribution known as Omarchy. One viral blog post declared that

  • Amazon’s AI assistant can now spot fake emails from the company 7 hours ago by Emma Roth
    AI, Amazon, Amazon Alexa, News, Tech

    Amazon is trying to combat impersonation scams with a new feature that allows you to use its AI assistant to determine whether an email, text message, or phone call actually came from the company. With the update, you can ask Alexa for Shopping about a message you received, and it will use AI to compare it "against a record of every message Amazon has sent," while also analyzing its contents, formatting, and the sender. As noted by Amazon, the assistant will only confirm that a message is real if it's "completely certain." An example shared by Amazon shows a customer


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