Why bulky laptop chargers are a relic of the past
EngadgetLaptop chargers are much easier to travel with these days, and there’s one specific technology that is largely to thank.
Can Cursor Remain a Platform for OpenAI and Anthropic’s Models Inside SpaceX?
WiredCursor hopes to continue offering third-party AI models after it’s acquired by SpaceX, testing the relationships between frontier AI labs.
Tesla Q2 vehicle deliveries are up 25 percent over last year
EngadgetThe company has been gaining traction in Europe.
FAA proposal: Supersonic airliners can fly over US cities if they’re quiet
Ars TechnicaNew US rules would legalize quiet supersonic flights without the sonic boom.
Ars Live recap: When are the big rockets NASA desperately needs going to be ready?
Ars TechnicaI have not seen anyone put out a date for a new rocket, and actually hit it.
Tesla Driver Using Autopilot in Texas Crash Is Charged With Manslaughter
NYT TechnologyA front-door video camera of the crash, which killed a woman inside her home, showed the Tesla plowing into a house through its driveway.
The Onion’s ‘Infowars’ Parody Is Here. Alex Jones Is Going to Hate It
WiredThe satirical site is fighting to officially take over Infowars. In the meantime, CEO Ben Collins says the new show will mock “how fucking stupid” conspiratorial brain rot has become.
AI is ‘not smart’ so what’s next in artificial intelligence?
BBC TechnologyLeading AI researcher Yan LeCun has a start-up which is developing a more flexible AI system.
Meta has released an app for making generative AI games
EngadgetPocket is listed in app stores but seemingly unavailable in the US.
Cloudflare will filter out web crawlers that serve AI companies
EngadgetThe hosting platform wants sites to have more control over how AI companies use their content.
How Big Is ‘Love Island USA’? More Than 10 Million People Are Already on Its App
Wired“We have more people voting on the ‘Love Island USA’ app than we do in many political elections taking place across the country,” says the show’s executive producer.
Newly discovered PamStealer isn’t your typical macOS malware
Ars TechnicaThe discovery underscores the increased effort being poured into Mac infostealers.
To Reduce Electrical Grid Strain Amid Heat Wave, Data Centers Are Ordered to Use Backup Power
NYT TechnologyAs triple-digit temperatures engulf much of the United States, the Trump administration wants grid managers to require the use of backup power that often goes unused.
Spotify Confirms Streaming Fraud After Kalshi Trader Cries Foul
WiredOne of Kalshi’s most prominent traders tells WIRED he’s swearing off Spotify-related markets until the issue is resolved.
Plex debuts 5-year membership pass for $250
Ars TechnicaPlex is pushing customers to newer features and more frequent payments.
Africa CDC confirms Marburg case in Uganda as Ebola outbreak rages
Ars TechnicaEarly reports indicate there may be another case, but spread is thought to be localized.
The DEA Plans to Ban Opioid-Like Kratom Compound 7-OH
WiredThe federal agency says it will temporarily schedule the drug, which has been called “gas station heroin,” as a controlled substance—a boon for MAHA and the mainstream kratom industry.
Artificial cell manages a few rounds of cell division
Ars TechnicaIt only works for a few divisions thanks to a lot of added materials.
Google loses long-running appeal of record EU fine, will have to cough up $4.7 billion
Ars TechnicaThe EU went after Google for the practice of bundling its search engine and browser with Android.
Artificial Intelligence
Trump gets OpenAI to offer US 5% stake, far lower than Sanders’ target
Ars TechnicaInsiders say Sam Altman is in active talks with the Trump administration.
Musk’s X poses “serious risk to Americans’ privacy,” advocates warn FTC
Ars TechnicaFTC urged to reject Elon Musk’s bid to end X monitoring amid AI concerns.
Donald Trump bought a bunch of tech stock the same day he announced his AI Action Plan
EngadgetFinancial disclosures show how much Trump loves tech stocks.
U.S. Lifts Restrictions on Anthropic’s Most Powerful A.I. Models
NYT TechnologyThe move allows Anthropic to bring its most powerful technologies back online, de-escalating a feud with the Trump administration.
Neon Buys ‘Artificial,’ a Film About OpenAI, After Amazon Dropped It
NYT TechnologyNeon purchased “Artificial,” which focuses on OpenAI’s chief, Sam Altman, after Amazon walked away from it following an investment in the start-up.
Hardware
Trump bought Apple, Nvidia and other tech giants before tariff reversal fueled rebound
CNBC TechnologyThe day before President Donald Trump walked back his tariff policy turned out to be one of his busiest days of 2025 for stock buying.
Computers
Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s release date has been pushed up to avoid the pre-GTA 6 scramble
EngadgetCapcom is trying to get Onimusha: Way of the Sword out the door before the fall release calendar gets really crowded.
HDMI 2.1 vs USB-C vs DisplayPort: Which connection is better for your monitor?
EngadgetHDMI excels for media consumption, while PC gamers prefer DisplayPort.
Godox’s feature-packed key light is down to its best price yet
The VergeIf you don’t want to spend $180 on the Elgato Key Light, the Godox ES45 Desktop LED Key Light is a more affordable option that offers nearly as much brightness and plenty of features, including adjustable brightness and color temperature. Right now, it’s cheaper than usual for the first time this…
Mobile
I Tried Rips, the Card-Pack App Where Users Spend Thousands Chasing Pricey Pokémon
WiredI ripped open $892 worth of Pokémon packs on my phone in under 15 minutes and walked away with 62 cents. My adrenaline rush felt like the future of gambling.
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.”
WhatsApp to let people chat by swapping usernames instead of phone numbers
BBC TechnologyThe app’s new usernames feature will be rolled out globally over the next few months.
Space
Amazon has deployed enough satellites to launch Leo service later this year
CNBC TechnologyLeo will compete with SpaceX’s Starlink, which had a four-year start over Amazon and has more than 10,000 satellites in its constellation.
SpaceX may emerge as ultimate blueprint for new wave of mega-cap IPOs
CNBC Technology“It would not surprise me at all to see a similar dynamic play out with some of these [IPOs] set to come in the months ahead,” the Kathmere Capital CIO says.
Green Tech
Tesla Sales Surge 25% on Recovery in Europe
NYT TechnologyPrice cuts helped the electric automaker rebound in Europe in the second quarter, offsetting declines in the United States.
Tesla sales increase by 25% in Q2 2026
Ars TechnicaDeliveries outstripped production, suggesting Tesla has cleared some inventory.
A strange attempt to revive the 3DO is already dead
EngadgetA long-defunct developer returned from the dead promising to revive the 3DO, but quickly pulled its pledge when it became apparent it didn’t have the right to.
Bublue BuVortex V5 Pool Skimmer Review: An Impractical Cleaner
WiredThe Bublue BuVortex V5 ditches conventional skimming for a vortex-powered design that’s fascinating to watch, even if it’s severely impractical.
How Trump Helped China Make America’s Cheapest EV
WiredSlate is the latest automaker to transition to lower-cost batteries perfected in China, driven in part by the repeal of EV tax credits that required materials to be sourced domestically.
Gaming
PlayStation will stop releasing games on discs in 2028
BBC TechnologyThe firm said future games would still be sold in shops, but they would come with a digital code only.
General Tech
Meta glasses wearers hit with paywall to use built-in feature
BBC TechnologyA feature in Meta’s glasses which boosts the voice of people will be capped at three hours for free use.
7 Lesser-Known Google Account Settings You Should Change
WiredAdjust your options for things like account recovery, ad personalization, and which parts of your Google profile are shared publicly.
Threads’ ubiquitous Mr Beast spam is part of a massive crypto scam network
EngadgetFake Mr Beast “promotions” are ubiquitous on Threads – they’re also part of massive crypto scam network.
8 Best Travel Adapters (2026): My Top Recommendations
WiredWhen going abroad, the right plugs are essential to keep your gadgets charged. These are my favorite travel adapters and chargers.
Amazon is ready to deploy the Leo satellite broadband service
EngadgetThere are now enough Amazon Leo satellites to launch the service, but its constellation is still tiny compared to Starlink’s.