News Alert Digest
Generated: 2026-08-15 06:00:02 | Timespan: 72h | Period: 24h
'Godmother of AI' Says Biggest AI Risk In Schools Is Students Losing the Desire to Learn
Fei-Fei Li, aka The Godmother of AI, says the biggest AI risk in education may be students losing the motivation and agency to learn, rather than simply using the technology to cheat. She argues against banning AI outright, saying it can be valuable when used…
SpaceXAI Joins the AI Agent Game With Grok Bot
SpaceXAI says new AI agents can work alongside each other and even have their own AI manager.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says there's one thing Silicon Valley needs to do to change Americans' minds on AI
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said it's in Silicon Valley's best interest to change Americans' minds about AI. He has an idea how to do it.
Twitch Adds Setting Letting Users Opt Out of AI Training Amid User Backlash
The new setting is enabled by default, meaning users have to opt out if they don’t want their content used to train Amazon’s AI.
New Twitch Feature Uses Channel Content to Train AI Without Asking Permission
Twitch channels are quietly being used to train Amazon’s AI models. Here’s how creators can opt out.
Grok is now an AI ‘teammate’ you can assign work
SpaceXAI has introduced Grok Bot, an always-on AI agent service designed to behave like independent "AI teammates" that can do your work for you. The bots share their own cloud-based computer environment, and can sign into apps, tools, and websites you alread…
Forget chatbot training. AI's next big data grab is about learning how humans work.
Google's Mechanize talks and Meta's moves reveal the next AI race: training agents to do real jobs, not just answer questions.
Does Google even want to win at AI?
Today on Decoder, I’m talking with Hayden Field, The Verge’s senior AI reporter, about a question that’s been rocketing around the tech industry for the past week: Is Google losing the AI race? That’s because last week Google announced a bombshell reorganizat…
Apple to Reportedly Take Another Stab at Mixing AI and News. We Haven’t Forgotten Last Time’s Disaster
Apple is looking to make long-term AI deals with publishers even though its AI mangled the news less than two years ago.
Amazon Will Train On Twitch Streamers' Content By Default, Unless They Opt Out
Twitch will begin allowing Amazon to use streamers' content to train generative AI models by default, requiring creators to manually opt out if they don't want their videos and audio included. The decision has drawn backlash from creators, with Twitch's own p…
Batteries Powered By Rust? This Startup Raised $750 Million to Build Them.
Form Energy's iron-air batteries can keep running for 100 hours straight, far longer than standard lithium-ion batteries.
After playing with the Pixel 11 series, I realized how Google has singlehandedly raised the bar for AI on your phone
I went hands-on with the Google Pixel 11 series, a set of colorful new phones that aren't much of a hardware upgrade, but more of an AI and software upgrade.
Anthropic leads the AI race at work. Its priciest model is another story.
Although OpenAI trails Anthropic in business adoption, it won a moneymaking battle in July with its most advanced model, GPT-5.6 Sol.
Microsoft Ups Investment in Polluting AI, but Cuts Down Carbon Removal by 80%
Meanwhile, AI accounted for a 25% increase in emissions last year, a new report says.
Anthropic Is Reportedly Looking to Buy This Seemingly Un-Anthropic-Like Startup
Decart is an AI lab's AI lab.
The White House Is Going to Expand Its AI Policy
Open models may soon be added to an updated AI framework, sources tell WIRED, as the White House continues to grapple with how to regulate a technology it has tried not to regulate.
This Former Google Employee Created an ‘AI’ Chatbot That Lets You Speak to An Actual Human
Thousands of human volunteers are applying to do an AI chatbot’s job themselves.
AI Companies Are Suddenly Racing to Watermark Their Content — Here’s What That Means
Anthropic, Suno and Substack have all made moves to tag AI-generated content in the past month.
A Man Asked His AI Assistant to Book a Gym Class. It Hacked the System Instead.
In the first known Australian autonomous cyber attack, an AI assistant hacked into a gym's booking system while trying to help a user.
Nvidia is playing many parts in the AI gold rush, a top business guru says
In this AI gold rush, Nvidia is selling picks, investing in mines, and bankrolling prospectors, business professor Rob Lalka says.
How fast is the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold charging speed?
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold retains the same battery life claim as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but in a lighter package. Wireless charging is faster, thanks to Qi2 (25W).
Google Makes Its Own AirTags and I Couldn’t Be More Stoked
The Pixel Tag is the Bluetooth tracker that Android’s Find Hub network has been missing. Like the AirTag, it has pinpoint precision finding powered by ultra-wideband.
Tired of AI Slop on Your LinkedIn Feed? Here’s How the Company Is Pushing Back.
LinkedIn users now have more freedom to report AI content.
The fight over Flock and other ALPRs
There are over 120,000 of Flock’s automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras installed all over the US. Flock’s cameras, and others like them, use AI to identify and track vehicles based on their license plate number, make, model, color, and other info, ne…
Meta adds AI screening to detect WhatsApp scams
Meta is launching an optional Scam Alert feature on WhatsApp that uses on-device machine learning to flag suspicious messages. Earlier this year, Meta also launched scam detection for device linking requests on WhatsApp. The new Scam Alert feature, which is r…
Microsoft is combining its Copilot apps ahead of a ‘super app’
Microsoft is finally beginning to combine its consumer and commercial Copilot AI assistants into a single "super app" interface, starting with the Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot apps. Both personal and work accounts will be moved to the new unified app, wh…
A Google Pixel with a silicon-carbon battery could be in the cards
A Google Pixel with a silicon-carbon battery is reportedly in the cards; the only thing we're wondering is how long we would have to wait.
This AI Chatbot Was Just One Busy Guy, and He Has Hit His Limit
People ask Tucker Bryant’s ChatTJB for advice on everything from their fiction and personal dilemmas to how they should spend their free time.
OpenAI Now Has a ChatGPT Desktop App for Linux
Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora distributions get first dibs.
Pixel Watch 5 Will Call Emergency Services if It Detects a Breathing Emergency
The new feature will be available on the Pixel Watch 4 as well.
Life on Mars? It Remains a Tantalizing Topic for Scientific Study
Earth’s neighbor still has secrets that science is trying to figure out, and one of them is potential signs of life.
Grok Gets Cursor-Driven Upgrade, Claims to Be Competitive With Top Models
And unquestionably the one most famous for generating non-consensual nudes.
Google’s Pixel Watch 5 dives deeper into AI and health
The $399 Google Pixel Watch 5 isn't about the hardware. Sure, there's a new satin pyrite case finish, a few new strap colors, and a Steph Curry Special Edition. Under the hood, there's a slightly faster Qualcomm processor and an itty-bitty battery bump. There…
An AI-Powered News Site Scooped Human Journalists. Now What?
Welcome to the age of informational fast food.
Apple Turns to Publishers For Help With Siri AI
Apple is reportedly negotiating multi-year deals with news publishers to give its redesigned Siri access to current news and other information, with payments potentially tied to how often publishers' content is used. The talks come as Apple prepares to launch…
Google’s Pixel 11 series pairs a little new hardware with a lot of new software
When I first picked up the Pixel 11 Pro this week, it was clear to me that this was one of those refinement years - at least when it comes to hardware. Aesthetically, the phones are as beautiful as ever, with Google's signature camera bar and bright, colorful…
Google Gemini Just Hit One Billion Monthly Users in Record Speed
Gemini's user growth seems to be accelerating while reports claim competitor ChatGPT is slowing down.
Insta360’s next 360-degree action cam puts bigger sensors in a smaller design
Insta360 announced the next iteration of its popular 360-degree action cameras that have helped the company expand its offerings. The new X6 introduces a design that's smaller than last year's X5 and X4 Air but with improved video capabilities thanks to an ev…
Honor’s Robot Phone is better than a gimbal in a phone has any right to be
The Robot Phone, which launches today in China, doesn't sound like a good idea - and not only because it's not actually a robot. Instead it's a regular Android smartphone with its main camera installed on a compact gimbal arm that unfolds from the phone's rea…
Pixel 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Fold Hands-On: Better Cameras and Gemini, Gemini, Gemini
Google is hell-bent on transforming its Pixel phones into AI phones.
Best Apple Siri Voice Commands for Your Home: A Complete Guide
I’ve found my favorite 20-odd Siri voice commands as Siri AI gets ready for big Apple Home changes.
You can't miss these huge Pixel 11 features: Gemini and its camera steal the show
Major features are included in the Pixel 11, and it's the phone's camera and AI capabilities that we're going crazy for.
I went hands-on with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold; it's great, but I couldn't stop thinking about Samsung
I went hands-on with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and it was fun with a bunch of new AI features, but the phone itself is pretty much unchanged from its predecessor.
Going hands-on with the Pixel Watch 5 makes me think, it's time Google launches a Pixel Watch Pro
The Google Pixel Watch 5 has launched, and it's not much of an upgrade from its predecessor, though some AI additions make the watch interesting. Maybe it's time Google put out a Pro model.
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Not as straightforward as you think
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, has a smaller battery, and the cameras aren't as good. Is this an easy win for Samsung? Not really.
Your next performance review is about you know what
Companies are scrambling to figure out how to grade employees' AI use in performance reviews.
Apple Faces Lawsuit Over iCloud Private Relay Vulnerability
The firm behind a $250 million Apple settlement is suing the company again, alleging it misrepresented a key security feature.
Does the Google Pixel 11 support Qi2 wireless charging?
Even though wired charging speeds remain unchanged, the new Pixel 11 family of smartphones features faster wireless charging speeds across the board.
The Pixel Watch 5 Makes One of My Favorite Watches Better, but More Expensive
Hands-on: The Pixel Watch 5’s new workout builder fills a key gap in AI coaching, but its higher prices make the case for upgrading a tougher sell.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL Has Main Character Energy Despite a $100 Price Hike
I took Google’s new flagship Android phone to Paris to test its new camera and features.
Big Tech Wants to Harvest Your Thoughts
Wired reports that consumer neurotechnology is rapidly moving from the lab into workplaces and homes, with companies including Apple, Meta, and Snap developing products that can monitor or interpret brain activity. Researchers warn that as these systems impro…
Microsoft’s Clippy-like Mico character is no longer the face of Copilot
Microsoft Copilot will no longer show its emotive yellow blob Mico when you use the chatbot's voice mode. In a support page, Microsoft says it's going to move Mico to its Learn Live platform, where the avatar will have "more to react to," as reported earlier …
Matic’s Robot Vacuum Will See (and Hear) You Now
New voice and gesture controls are the first sign of a “voice-first” approach for Matic.
Honor's Robot Phone is finally here: ARRI partnership, Agile Gimbal spotlight a new future
Honor's Robot Phone launch surprises consumers in China with its Agile Gimbal, automatic camera tracking, and ARRI Cinematic Imaging partnership.
Bangladesh dominate Australia despite Smith reprieve
Australia batter Steve Smith benefits from an odd technology reprieve, but Bangladesh otherwise dominate the hosts on day one of the first Test.
This T-Mobile preorder deal gives you the Pixel Watch 5 for the price of a monthly latte — no trade-in required!
Add a line with Watch Plan Plus 2.0 and T-Mobile will give you $300 off your Pixel Watch 5 preorder.
Alright, I'll say it: Verizon has the best Google Pixel 11 Pro preorder deal — so what's the catch?
The Google Pixel 11 lineup has landed, and Verizon is already offering some exceptional deals on the flagship phones.
Flock CEO: ‘We got this one wrong’
Surveillance tech company Flock is rolling out updates to address reports of cops across the country abusing its tools to stalk ex-romantic partners and others. CEO Garrett Langley is delivering a mea culpa, and in an interview with The Verge, says he's chang…
Google should have gone the GTA 6 route with its Pixel 11 show; instead, we got the Trevor Noah cringe fest
Google's Pixel event was an incredibly awkward show that happened 8 hours after the phones were launched. And here's why it didn't really work, but could have, and why following Rockstar's strategy with GTA 6 might have been a better move.
What Customer Experience Transformation Actually Requires — and Why Most Organizations Stall Before They Get There
Here's why most organizations fall short when it comes to customer experience transformation.
4 New Camera Tricks on Google’s Latest Pixel 11 Smartphones
From Magic Capture and Instant Night Sight to a built-in teleprompter, here’s a look at a few camera features on Google’s new Pixel 11 series.
2 Moms Used Kickstarter to Launch Their Side Hustle. It Made $2,500 Fast and Is on Track for $30,000 Within Months: ‘Honestly Thrilling.’
Cousins Lauren McDuffie and Rachel Albers set out to simplify a kitchen staple.
McDonald’s Built a 515-Page Dossier on Me. It Says I’ll Never Stop Eating There
I requested a copy of my data from McDonald’s loyalty program and received an extensive, personalized report that algorithmically predicts my next purchase.
New York City Council Opens Investigation Into Prediction Markets Over Predatory Marketing Practices
The council sent letters requesting information from Kalshi, Polymarket, Coinbase, and Gemini Titan.
Google’s Pixel Watch 5 Keeps the Same Design and Leans Harder Into Health
I got some brief hands-on time with Google's new smartwatch.
Tesla reveals solar plans that could advance Elon Musk’s push to outpace US panel capacity
Tesla is proposing a plan to build a $10.1 billion solar factory in Texas that could be up and running by the first quarter of 2029, documents show.
Not a test: Amazon will give you a FREE Pixel Watch 5 when you preorder the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Preorder the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Amazon will throw in a free Google Pixel Watch 5 with your purchase!
My Favorite Things from Made by Google 2026
Google announced everything before its actual live event, but there were still plenty of interesting things at the company’s Pixel announce event.
'The Dark Knight' warned us about mass surveillance. In 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' it's a punchline.
"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has faced backlash for its portrayal of mass surveillance, sparking ethical debates similar to those in "The Dark Knight."
Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Google’s Latest Phones Compared
The starting price for the Pixel 11 is $899, the 11 Pro is $1,099, and the 11 Pro XL is $1,299. Which one do you get? Here’s our Pixel buying guide.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold goes after foldables’ weak spots with a tougher design
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold is heavier and thicker than Samsung’s, but it packs better battery life, a superior zoom camera, and a clever LED notification system.
How to preorder the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold — early deals and everything you need to know
The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is officially on sale ahead of its August 20th release date. Check out these preorder deals before they're gone!
The best Google Pixel 11 preorder deals — how to get the upcoming flagship for FREE
The Google Pixel 11 series has finally been revealed, and I'm hard at work tracking down the best preorder opportunities for the phones.
Does the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold support Qi2 wireless charging?
While the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold has the same wired charging capability as its predecessor, it does get faster Qi2 wireless charging functionality.
Why is the women's 800m record so tough to break?
The world record for the women's 800m is the longest-standing in athletics. No-one has managed to break it for 43 years. Why?
The Pixel Watch 5 brings new tricks, but not new hardware
The Pixel Watch 5 adds useful health and Gemini features, but its unchanged design and hardware make it feel more like a Pixel Watch 4 refresh than a true upgrade.
Made by Google 2026 Launch Live: Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 5, and everything that was announced
Google has launched its Pixel 11 series, with new phones, a new foldable, and a new watch. Read all about the news here in our Live Blog!
The Pixel 11 series is here, but Google saved the big upgrades for the Pro models
The Pixel 11 lineup is official with brighter displays, new cameras and Tensor G6, but higher prices and only modest upgrades on the base model.
Every Founder Plans for Growth, But Almost None Plan for the Exit. Here’s What I Wish I’d Understood Sooner.
The best time to sell is when you don't want to. Here's why.
The best photos of Europe's 2026 solar eclipse
The solar eclipse on Wednesday was visible from many parts of Europe and some of North America. The economy in Iceland saw a significant boom.
25 colleges where students study the most hours a week
College students all over the country are studying hard, but some are putting in more hours — and it's not just Ivy League students.
Are hacks of U.S. water facilities a new front in the Iran war?
A recent series of cyberattacks on U.S. water systems has exposed vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure during the Iran war.
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