Judge rejects Kalshi attempt to override New York state gambling laws
Ars TechnicaKalshi tried to ignore gambling laws on its prediction market, NY governor says.
PC shipments just fell for the first time in two years, thanks to the memory shortage
EngadgetPC shipments are falling, but revenue for manufacturers is still rising.
Google pays $250K for Linux vulnerability allowing guest VM escapes
Ars TechnicaBoth vulnerabilities allow untrusted users to gain root privileges.
Valve Steam Machine review: This would’ve been perfect five years ago
EngadgetThe Steam Machine isn’t worth the price that Valve is asking.
Apple’s Widow’s Bay has the most Emmy noms of any new show this year
EngadgetThe horror-comedy series Widow’s Bay earned 19 Emmy nominations for its first season.
Volkswagen is employing 100 sheep at a solar farm in Poland
EngadgetIt’s more of a baa-ter arrangement.
Wealthy AI workers send San Francisco house prices soaring
BBC TechnologyThe median cost of a home in the city is now $1.7m, a record high, according to the latest figures.
Elon Musk says X will DM you about posts that receive a Community Note
EngadgetThe social platform wants its crowd-sourced corrections to be harder to ignore.
Suspecting AI cheating, Ivy League prof ordered an in-person final; scores fell 50%
Ars TechnicaAI cheating leads to “a failed society,” professor says.
Judge approves $1.5 million SEC-Musk settlement over Twitter investment
EngadgetThe opinion says whether it’s fair is ‘for our citizenry to decide at the ballot box.’
Microsoft reportedly cancels Avowed sequel as Obsidian focuses on a Fallout game
EngadgetThe Fallout: New Vegas developer has not escaped Microsoft’s Xbox layoffs unscathed.
FTC reaches settlement that brings right-to-repair to John Deere farm equipment
EngadgetThe FTC sued the famed green tractor company last year.
Lawsuit: Man used Grok to make 7K sex images of stepdaughter, then shot himself
Ars TechnicaMore young girls sue X over Grok CSAM; X accused of shielding child predators.
How to Prevent Meta From Using Your Instagram Images in A.I.
NYT TechnologyThe company’s new A.I. image generator has a surprising twist: It allows people to use images from public Instagram accounts.
In San Francisco, Some Home Sellers Now Ask for OpenAI or Anthropic Stock
NYT TechnologyEven before OpenAI and Anthropic go public, they are distorting home sales in the San Francisco Bay Area, as people race to buy and sellers ask for stock instead of cash.
Roku is the most popular streaming TV, but lacking more than you think
EngadgetThe company’s streaming devices aren’t quite keeping up with competitors in several important categories.
Aussie gov’t tells volunteers to throw out thousands of functioning test routers
Ars TechnicaBut the devices could “easily be reflashed.”
TikTok users don’t have as much agency over their FYPs as they think
Ars TechnicaThe “not interested” feature is your friend, but users must intentionally and constantly curate their FYPs
US seeks cheaper hunter-killer drones after Iran destroys $1B worth of Reapers
Ars TechnicaUS military drone losses in Iran war spur Pentagon call for cheap replacements.
Artificial Intelligence
Google updates Android Bench with new LLMs, but Gemini still lags behind
Ars TechnicaAndroid Bench is evolving, and developers can help guide that process.
Outcry as Meta lets users make AI images from public Instagram profile pics
BBC TechnologyThe tech giant said people can opt out – but privacy campaigners called it a “recipe for disaster”.
Meta Unveils an A.I. Image Generator
NYT TechnologyMuse Image, which can create realistic images for users on Instagram and WhatsApp, is the company’s latest attempt to catch up in the global artificial intelligence race.
Microsoft Lays Off Thousands of Xbox Employees, Closes Game Studios
NYT TechnologyThe layoffs were part of wider cuts at Microsoft, as the company prioritizes spending on artificial intelligence.
Parents warned not to publicly share children’s images amid AI abuse risks
BBC TechnologyThe NCA says there is a growing threat of children’s images being used to create child abuse material.
Hardware
If Microsoft sold off Xbox, who would even buy it?
The VergeThis week, Microsoft took a huge ax to its Xbox business. The company announced that it would be laying off 1,600 workers now, 1,600 more over the next fiscal year, and that it would be shedding four studios. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma hasn’t been shy about why she’s making such dramatic cuts, saying i…
Computers
Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs and shrinks Xbox in ‘significant restructure’
BBC TechnologyThe sweeping layoffs equate to 2.1% of Microsoft’s workforce, with 1,600 immediate job losses at Xbox.
Microsoft Disclosure Provides Rare Glimpse of Tax Haven Tactics
NYT TechnologyOther U.S. companies will soon need to provide similar reports as a new European directive takes effect.
Mobile
Google must pay €4.1bn fine for using Android to ‘block’ rivals
BBC TechnologyA Google spokesperson said the judgement “fails to recognise” the firm’s “significant investment to ensure Android remains open.”
Get a $30 credit when you reserve Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy phones
The VergeEven though they haven’t been officially announced yet, Samsung is giving you a chance to save some cash when you preorder what we’re expecting to be the brand’s updated Galaxy Z Fold phones. The next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on July 22nd, 2026, and features the tagline “A new shape …
Microsoft’s Xbox reset is pivoting Obsidian to make Fallout instead of Avowed
The VergeAs part of Microsoft’s big Xbox “reset,” which includes layoffs affecting 3,200 staffers, jettisoning studios, and shifting investments to focus on “higher priority projects,” Obsidian Entertainment is changing its plans. The studio, behind games like Grounded and The Outer Worlds, is starting wo…
Twelve South’s AirFly Pro is a great travel companion, and it’s on sale for $40
The VergeIf you’ve got a summer trip coming up, the last-gen Twelve South AirFly Pro is one of those gadgets that can make a long flight feel a little shorter. It lets you use your wireless headphones with in-flight entertainment systems, and right now it’s on sale for $39.99 ($15 off) at Amazon. Th…
The whole Pixel line could get more expensive this year
The VergeGoogle’s upcoming Pixel lineup might cost more than last year’s. A report from Dealabs spotted by 9to5Google suggests that Google could raise the starting price of its 41mm Pixel Watch 5 to $399, while adding LTE could bump the price to $499. That’s a $50 jump from the base Pixel Watch 4, which s…
Space
Miami-based City Labs achieves a first for commercial nuclear power in space
Ars Technica“The BOHR mission serves as a pathfinder for future nuclear-powered spacecraft.”
SpaceX stock closes below debut price at $148 in two-day slide after Nasdaq-100 inclusion
CNBC TechnologySpaceX’s record IPO raised a total of $85.7 billion after underwriters exercised the “greenshoe” overallotment.
America’s cheapest new EV is smaller than a ping-pong table and tops out at 19mph
The VergeWhen searching for an affordable electric vehicle these days, there are always tradeoffs. How much range are you willing to sacrifice, how much leg room and storage space, how many features, in the pursuit of that magic sticker price that won’t break the bank? The Fiat Topolino is basically the u…
Bezos’ Blue Origin valued at $130 billion in first outside fundraising round
CNBC TechnologyBezos’ Blue Origin is raising outside capital in a round valuing the rocket company at $130 billion, sources told CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Green Tech
Alibaba’s A.I. Is a Hit, but Hard to Turn Into a Moneymaker
NYT TechnologyThe Chinese company’s models have won over developers worldwide, but they are open source — so they can be used and modified freely.
Fable Ban Reversed + Dr. Dana Suskind on Parenting With A.I. + Prediction Market Drama
NYT TechnologyWhat we learned from the government’s biggest attempt yet to control who can gain access to the most powerful new A.I. models.
Don’t expect connected car apps to save your stolen car, experts say
BBC TechnologyKia told the BBC UK law prevented its location tracking function being used to live track vehicles.
Beginner Guide to CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction) in 2022
TechCrunchImage by vectorjuice on Freepik In this CJ Affiliate guide, I will share with you everything you need to get started on the platform, I will give you an in-depth look at the network and how it works. You will learn how to earn money with the platform. If you’re not interested, I’ll share some of …
What is Blockchain: Everything You Need to Know (2022)
TechCrunchIf you want to pay online, you need to register an account and provide credit card information. If you don’t have a credit card, you can pay with bank transfer. With the rise of cryptocurrencies, these methods may become old.
General Tech
Waymo will soon go fully autonomous in four more cities
EngadgetWaymo will ditch human supervisors in San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa and Denver.
Two teens learn the hard way not to do toy gun drive-bys from a Waymo
Ars TechnicaThe robotaxi stopped, called 911, and waited for the San Mateo Police to show up.
How Esports World Cup moved from Saudi Arabia to Paris in 8 weeks
BBC TechnologyThe Esports World Cup gets going in Paris after a last-minute move from Saudi Arabia. Is it any less controversial?
Businesses Fear Politicization as Trump Gains More Power Over U.S. Agencies
NYT TechnologyA Supreme Court ruling that presidents can fire independent regulators without cause has added volatility for industries that prefer stable enforcement.
Robots available for rent: But what can they do?
BBC TechnologyRobotics tech is changing fast, so for many it makes sense to rent a robot.