The White House orders tech companies to make AI bigoted again

After delivering a rambling celebration of tariffs and a routine about women's sports, President Donald Trump entertained a crowd, which was there to hear about his new AI Action Plan, with one his favorite topics: "wokeness." Trump complained that AI companies under former President Joe Biden "had to hire all woke people," adding that it […]

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The best Nintendo Switch controllers to buy right now

The Nintendo Switch 2 is here, but we can’t just forget about the original Switch. We’ve still got love for the console, and its many millions of owners, so we’ll keep recommending the best controllers for the Switch right here. Now, you may already know that the best Switch controllers aren’t the ones that come […]

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AI companions: A threat to love, or an evolution of it?

As AI companions from companies like Replika, Character AI, and Nomi AI abound, love is no longer strictly human. In this debate, we ask the question of whether it should be, or whether dating an AI could be better than dating a human.

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The biggest changes coming to your iPhone with iOS 26

Apple recently announced iOS 26, the next major software update for iPhones, and it’s packed with a whole bunch of new features. The biggest change is a new design, but there are lots of smaller improvements and additions as well that could make a difference in how you use your iPhone every day. If you […]

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Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign is shaping up to be a snoozer on Macs

Apple's macOS Tahoe 26 public beta is finally available, and with it the same Liquid Glass design language that's coming to the rest of Apple's operating systems. It's a simultaneously weird yet milquetoast update. I've been testing the developer beta on an M4 MacBook Air since WWDC in June, and after using it through to […]

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You can actually multitask on an iPad now and it’s the best new feature in 15 years

I've gone back and forth over the years on whether or not I can actually work from an iPad. The answer has always been: sort of. I can write on an iPad. I can edit on an iPad. So, I guess I've always been able to "work" from an iPad. But with a Magic Keyboard […]

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watchOS 26 preview: a subtler take on AI

Apple just launched the watchOS 26 public beta, which means everyone can now try the latest software heading to the Apple Watch this fall. That includes new Apple Intelligence features, such as Workout Buddy, new messaging features, the Wrist Flick gesture, and more. I've been using the developer beta and have some thoughts to share. […]

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Apple releases public betas of its new software updates with Liquid Glass

Apple has officially released the first public betas for its next major software updates. The list of new betas includes iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26. The biggest thing you’ll notice about the software updates is that they have a new design language Apple is calling “Liquid Glass.” The […]

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Satya Nadella seeks to reassure Microsoft employees in layoffs memo

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella didn’t send a company-wide memo when the software maker laid off as many as 9,000 employees earlier this month. Now, Nadella is finally addressing what’s on many Microsoft employee’s minds: layoffs. “I want to speak to what’s been weighing heavily on me, and what I know many of you are thinking […]

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The ICJ Rules That Failing to Combat Climate Change Could Violate International Law

In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice declared that failure to act on climate change can be an “internationally wrongful act”—meaning countries could face legal consequences for harming the planet.

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Google’s Pixel Watch 4 might charge on its side

Google’s rumored Pixel Watch 4 may charge on its side rather than on its back, based on leaked official renders of the watch published by Android Headlines. The watch may also get a roughly 25 percent improvement in charging speed over the Pixel Watch 3. Without charging contacts on the back, the Pixel Watch 4 […]

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A Premium Luggage Service’s Web Bugs Exposed the Travel Plans of Every User—Including Diplomats

Security flaws in Airportr, a door-to-door luggage checking service used by 10 airlines, let hackers access user data and even gain privileges that would have let them redirect or steal luggage.

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OpenAI prepares to launch GPT-5 in August

Earlier this year, I heard that Microsoft engineers were preparing server capacity for OpenAI's next-generation GPT-5 model, arriving as soon as late May. After some additional testing and delays, sources familiar with OpenAI's plans tell me that GPT-5 is now expected to launch as early as next month. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed on […]

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Preston Thorpe is a software engineer at a San Fransisco startup. He’s also serving his eleventh year in prison.

A senior software engineer for Turso, Thorpe is part of an experimental program in the Maine state prison system that allows incarcerated people to work remote jobs from custody.

Continue ReadingPreston Thorpe is a software engineer at a San Fransisco startup. He’s also serving his eleventh year in prison.

Google’s shortened goo.gl links will stop working next month

Google will officially deprecate links generated with its URL shortening tool next month. On August 25th, 2025, all links in the “https://goo.gl/*” format will no longer work and return a 404 error message. Google shut down its URL shortener in 2019, citing “changes we’ve seen in how people find content on the internet.” Links created […]

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Spotify takes a swing at gaming with a mini golf game ahead of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ release

Netflix and Spotify teamed up to launch a golf-inspired game as a way to promote “Happy Gilmore 2,” which premieres on Netflix this Friday.

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Everything we think we know about the Pixel 10 phones

Google is readying its next set of hardware announcements, and has already confirmed that the Pixel 10 series is launching next month. We even know what one of the phones looks like, thanks to the official image up above. But beyond the few tidbits Google has shared officially, there’s an awful lot more we think […]

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An Inventor Is Injecting Bleach Into Cancerous Tumors—and Wants to Bring the Treatment to the US

A Chinese man with no medical training is injecting cancer patients with a toxic bleach solution; a full course of treatment runs $20,000. He’s now working to bring the unproven treatment to the US.

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Here’s your first look at Battlefield 6

It’s been a long time coming, but EA is finally ready to show off the next Battlefield. The new game, dubbed Battlefield 6, takes place during some kind of wide-ranging war; the debut trailer opens with a presidential address punctuated by explosions and destruction that seem to be happening all over the world. There’s not […]

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Samsung backs a video AI startup that can analyze thousands of hours of footage

Memories.ai's platform can process up to 10 million hours of video. For companies with a lot of video to analyze, the startup wants to provide a contextual layer, complete with searchable indexing, tagging, segments and aggregation.

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AI slop and fake reports are exhausting some security bug bounties

"We're getting a lot of stuff that looks like gold, but it's actually just crap,” said the founder of one security testing firm. AI-generated security vulnerability reports are already having an effect on bug hunting, for better and worse.

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Apple’s latest AirPods Max for $100 off is a great back-to-school deal

It’s annoying to think about school starting in the middle of summer, but we’ve already begun to see glimpses of back-to-school deals, including a discount on the AirPods Max (USB-C) that brings them down to $449.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.  Apple’s latest over-ear headphones share many features with its earbuds, but […]

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The VTuber world is in crisis over ‘owed’ donations

On July 21st, 6,669-year-old demon queen Ironmouse,  posted an 11-minute video explaining that she is leaving her talent management agency, VShojo. Ironmouse is a VTuber, or “virtual YouTuber” — a type of a streamer who doesn’t typically show their human face, instead creating elaborate digital personas to create content. “I recently found out that for […]

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Figma’s AI app building tool is now available for everyone

Figma Make, the prompt-to-app coding tool that Figma introduced earlier this year, is now available for all users. Similar to AI coding tools like Google’s Gemini Code Assist and Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot, Figma Make allows users to build working prototypes and apps using natural language descriptions, instead of needing to have innate coding skills. While […]

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The once most-overlooked Fujifilm camera might become my favorite

Right now, there are five Fujifilm cameras that are using the exact same 40MP sensor. So picking the right one for you can be confusing, but fret not. Most Fuji cameras offer similar results, and your choice might come down to just the form factor. The good news is that Fujifilm's latest camera, the X-E5, […]

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Indiegogo is getting acquired by Gamefound, a board game crowdfunding company

Indiegogo is being acquired by the board game crowdfunding platform Gamefound, which plans on “integrating Indiegogo’s global community of 38 million members with Gamefound’s state-of-the-art crowdfunding technology,” the companies announced this morning. Gamefound has built “the best tech in crowdfunding, hands down,” Indiegogo CEO Julie dePontbriand tells The Verge. “By joining forces, we’re aligning with […]

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We are not ready for better deepfakes

If you’re like me, then lately you’ve scrolled past something on social media and thought, “Wait, was that real?” Deepfakes are everywhere, and they’re getting a lot more convincing.  That brings me to my Decoder guest today: Gaurav Misra, the CEO of Captions. You may not have heard of Captions yet, but you’ve probably seen […]

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iRobot’s new Roomba could solve the roller mop’s biggest problem

iRobot’s first roller mop-equipped robovac has a unique trick to help keep your carpets dry. Announced this week, the Roomba Max 705 Combo is an upgraded version of the robovac iRobot launched in April, offering a “first-of-its-kind” mop cover that it automatically deploys when cleaning carpets. Unlike with mopping pads, many robovacs with roller mops […]

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How Sterling K. Brown Helped Bring ‘Paradise’ and ‘Washington Black’ to Life

Sterling K. Brown is using his prolific career to help support new TV shows — including Paradise and Washington Black. “Everything happens in divine timing — exactly when it’s supposed to. It may not be exactly what you are hoping for but it’s always exactly what it’s supposed to be,” Brown, 49, noted during an […]

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Google AI Mode will generate fake clothes to help you buy real ones

Google is injecting more generative AI into its online shopping experience in Search. An upcoming feature for AI Mode will generate images of outfits and decor ideas based on user descriptions, to help people find visually similar products. Also launching is a new tool that allows people to virtually try on clothes. The new AI […]

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Snapchat will notify your friends when you’ve made it home safe

Snapchat is launching a new Home Safe feature that makes it easier to inform your loved ones when you have arrived safely after making your way home. Building on the app’s existing location capabilities, Snapchat’s Home Safe allows you to send an automatic alert to chat conversations with friends to let them know you’re back […]

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Amazon is launching a cheaper color Kindle

After launching the Kindle Colorsoft last year — its first Kindle with a color screen — Amazon is adding two new iterations of the e-reader to its lineup today: a cheaper Colorsoft with 16GB of storage for $249.99 and a kids-focused bundle for $269.99. The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition will still be available for $279.99.  […]

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Biggest Differences Between Netflix’s ‘The Hunting Wives’ Show and the Book

Netflix’s The Hunting Wives is a salacious and sultry murder mystery — but how does the TV adaptation compare to the original book? Based on May Cobb‘s novel of the same name, The Hunting Wives follows Sophie (Brittany Snow) after she relocated from Boston to an East Texas town, where she found herself drawn to […]

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16 and Pregnant’s Whitney Purvis Released After Manslaughter Arrest

16 and Pregnant alum Whitney Purvis has been released from prison after being arrested on suspicion of felony involuntary manslaughter. Purvis, 33, reportedly returned home on Monday, July 21, two weeks after she was placed in police custody. According to People, a judge ordered Purvis’ bond to be modified. The order noted that Purvis could […]

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Justin Hartley’s Rare Comments About ‘Tracker’ Losing Multiple Cast Members

CBS’ hit series Tracker has lost three cast members before season 3 — but what has the show’s lead and executive producer Justin Hartley said about the ongoing changes? Hartley is the reason many Tracker fans started watching the show when it premiered in February 2024. Following a six-year stint on NBC’s This Is Us, […]

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These 17 Stylish Rain Jackets Won’t Ruin Your Summer Vibe

Raincoats have a reputation for being dull and dingy. No one actually enjoys rain, and dreary raincoats only make the bad weather less enjoyable. What if I told you that sleek, stylish raincoats exist, and they actually make storms less of a nuisance? Well, it’s true. I found 17 fashionable rain jackets. When you feast […]

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Sweet Magnolias’ JoAnna Garcia Addresses Backlash to ‘Triggering’ Story Line

JoAnna García Swisher weighed in on the surprising backlash to a specific Sweet Magnolias story line. “Someone had mentioned something about people who were not happy that Maddie took a job in New York City. And I was like, ‘OK, let’s look into that. Let’s kind of dive into that because it’ll help me as […]

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AppleCare One is a good deal, but not for everyone

Apple announced some big changes to its device protection plans this week with the introduction of AppleCare One. The new service lets you protect three devices for $19.99 per month. That means things like your Apple TV, AirPods Max, and iPad can be covered under one plan at a cost that doesn't fluctuate. And every […]

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Regina King Speaks Out After Ex Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Death

Regina King honored her ex Malcolm-Jamal Warner in a heartfelt statement days after his death. “Some people leave a lasting imprint, not just for who they were but for the energy they carried,” King, 54, wrote in a since-expired Instagram Story, sharing a photo of Warner on a motorcycle. “I’m sending prayers filled with love […]

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Channel Taylor Swift’s WAGS Style With the Pleated Skirt She Was Spotted In

Taylor Swift may not dress like your typical WAG. Her look is more ’90s rom-com heroine than Instagram glam, but just as camera-ready. Case in point: The plaid mini skirt she wore to a Chiefs game last December. And right now, it’s on sale. It’s sweet, preppy and slightly nostalgic. It’s the kind of outfit […]

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