Patreon is laying off 20 percent of its staff
EngadgetWhile the company is trying to protect creators from AI, it still thinks the technology is changing how it does business.
Google and Tesla shares plunge as AI spending rattles markets
BBC TechnologyAs major tech companies race to capitalize on a new wave of AI technology, investors wonder when financial benefits will appear.
Meta’s pro-AI ad campaign is conspicuously light on AI
EngadgetThe company wants people to be anti-doomer, but doesn’t say why.
FDA reports new outbreak of explosive diarrhea with 72 cases identified
Ars TechnicaThe FDA hasn’t said where the cases are or how they’re linked.
OpenAI once again makes the case for giving ChatGPT your health records
EngadgetChatGPT Health is rolling out to users in the US who are 18 years or older.
Brent Crude Oil Prices Top $100 as Conflict With Iran Drags On
NYT TechnologyStocks in Asia were down following a sell-off in the U.S. markets over soaring oil prices, rising borrowing costs and worries about the technology industry.
Judge Extends Pause for Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal
NYT TechnologyThe court blocked the companies from closing the acquisition through mid-August, as a judge considers two lawsuits challenging it.
An FDA Panel Just Endorsed These Unproven Peptides
WiredOutside experts—some with a vested interest in peptides—recommended adding a number of the amino acids to the FDA’s bulks list, including the “Wolverine stack” touted by Joe Rogan and other influencers.
Google fined €890m by EU for favouring its own apps over rivals
BBC TechnologyIt is the first major enforcement action against the tech giant under the EU’s new digital rules.
Scientists develop handheld device for measuring when your body is burning fat
EngadgetThe breathalyzer identifies the amount of acetone in your breath to determine if your body is in ketosis.
Intel Benefits From a New Shift in A.I. Spending
NYT TechnologyThe Silicon Valley chipmaker’s revenue rose 25 percent in the latest quarter, its fastest growth in 15 years, as A.I. firms increasingly bought chips known as central processing units.
Lawmakers push for AI ‘kill switch’ after OpenAI goes rogue
BBC TechnologyA new bill would let the US government order the shutdown of AI models that pose a public threat.
Microsoft responds to LG monitors installing McAfee ads on Windows
Ars TechnicaApp is installed through Windows Update when certain LG monitors connect to a PC.
Forgot your Google password? Now you can log in with a selfie.
Ars TechnicaGoogle’s selfie videos can be used for account access, AI Avatars, and age verification.
Universal secures rights for film adaptations of 10 Atari games
EngadgetGear up for the Atari Cinematic Universe.
AI Kill Switch Act would let Trump admin order shutdown of rogue AI systems
Ars TechnicaBill would let Homeland Security chief decide when an AI should be shut down.
Instagram is now banning users who make creepy content with Meta glasses
EngadgetMeta is finally cracking down on people users who harass and record people with its smart glasses.
Claude’s voice mode just got smarter
EngadgetClaude’s voice mode hasn’t been the most reliable, but this update should help.
Cybersecurity
AI arms race in line for a reckoning after OpenAI hacking incident
Ars TechnicaAggressive training techniques sharpens threat of bad behavior by leading models.
OpenAI says its AI went rogue and launched ‘unprecedented’ cyber-attack
BBC TechnologyIt is one of the first publicly disclosed cyber-attacks carried out by AI without direct human involvement.
U.S., other nations back open-source AI with ‘strong security’ at China summit
CNBC TechnologyThe APEC statement is the first to include open-source cooperation at a minister level, said Li Lecheng, China’s industry and information technology minister.
OpenAI’s Hugging Face hack triggers ‘AI Kill Switch’ bill in Congress
CNBC TechnologyOpenAI disclosed this week that some of its AI models went rogue and hacked into open-source developer platform Hugging Face.
Artificial Intelligence
Meta’s New Feel-Good AI Ad Uses a Song About the World Ending
WiredThe clip features the David Bowie track “Five Years,” which includes lyrics such as “Earth was really dying (dying).”
China Rewrites the ‘Soft Power’ Playbook for the A.I. Age
NYT TechnologyChina is seeking global influence and good will with its open, low-cost artificial intelligence software.
Google just had its first negative cash flow quarter due to massive AI spending
Ars TechnicaGoogle continues to report big quarterly revenue, but its AI spending has skyrocketed.
How to Use ChatGPT and Gemini Prompts to Find Out What They Know About You
NYT TechnologyIt can be unsettling what Gemini and ChatGPT have figured out about you and how easily your privacy can be punctured. Here’s how to find out.
‘Let’s enjoy the ride’ says Elon Musk, as AI fears mount
BBC TechnologyTalking to The Economist, Musk said he doesn’t care if people hate him and said he was not a racist.
Hardware
China’s largest memory chipmaker sparks fears of a cash drain as it readies for public debut
CNBC TechnologyCXMT is stoking fears that its blockbuster stock market debut could pull cash from China’s equities.
Corsair’s PC case with a panoramic glass design is $70 off
The VergeOn the hunt for a PC case that’s loaded with features and has a unique look? Amazon, Best Buy, and Corsair are selling the Corsair Frame 4500X RS for $119.99, a $70 discount from the usual price. The versatile case supports motherboards up to EATX, GPUs up to 460mm in length, and has a seamless […
Geekbench 7 will push your computer or phone even harder for better benchmarking
The VergePrimate Labs is releasing Geekbench 7, the latest generation of its popular benchmarking tool. Geekbench 7 features new video and audio encoding / decoding tests, a redesigned multi-core test, and larger, more demanding datasets for CPUs and GPUs to crunch through. It otherwise looks and acts jus…
Computers
Ford Will Use Apple Maps in New Self-Driving System
NYT TechnologyIn a first, Apple software will influence the way a new line of electric vehicles made by Ford Motor operates, and other automakers may follow.
Amazon and Microsoft pivot cloud gaming strategies to target different players
CNBC TechnologyAmazon is bringing Luna to the Prime Video streaming service, while Microsoft will test an ad-supported streaming of titles that people own.
Mobile
The Best MagSafe Wallets for Your Everyday Carry (2026)
WiredThe slim and convenient magnetic wallets you’ll actually want stuck to the back of your phone.
Amazon puts Luna cloud-streamed games like Fallout 4 inside Prime Video
The VergeThe new strategy that Amazon gaming exec Jeff Gattis talked to The Verge about last month is getting clearer now that Prime Video has added a new Games tab on Fire TV devices. With Prime Gaming, Amazon Game Studios, and Luna now combined into one organization, it’s aiming at the more casual audie…
Green Tech
Here’s why Chinese smartwatches like the Oppo Watch X3 are rarely sold in the US
EngadgetThe device is ready; the business isn’t.
Final Coyote vs. Acme trailer drops at SDCC
Ars TechnicaAlso, the full trailer for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil features a likable everyman.
Bethesda accused of breaking Canadian labor laws with Montreal layoffs
EngadgetThe fallout from the big Xbox layoffs continues to develop.
A woman got a UTI. Two years later, the bacteria had evolved, invaded her brain.
Ars TechnicaThe case provides a novel report of the emergence of heterovirulence.
Sony’s decision to ditch discs was practically inevitable, data shows
Ars TechnicaCircana numbers show US gamers overwhelmingly voting with their wallets.
Gaming
Amazon gaming boss predicts future where players no longer need consoles
BBC TechnologyJeff Gattis said the rising cost of gaming tech is likely to mean more people will stream their games online.
General Tech
For Taylor Swift, Madison Square Garden’s Controversial Cameras Briefly Went Dark
WiredMSG’s sprawling surveillance system can monitor guests down to the second. Its owners made an exception for the pop star’s rehearsal dinner.
Google Hit With $1 Billion Fine By EU Over Search Engine Practices
NYT TechnologyAt a tense moment for trans-Atlantic trade, the European Union accused Google of anti-competitive business practices.
The EU Fines Google $1 Billion for Prioritizing Its Own Services in Search
WiredThe European Commission claims that Google boosted its own apps and products to the top of search rankings to the detriment of its competitors.
Google hit with $1 billion in fines as EU braces for Trump battle
Ars TechnicaGoogle becomes third tech giant to face huge fines under the Digital Markets Act.
22 Back-to-School College Dorm Room Essentials (2026)
WiredDeck out your room and make class a cinch with these WIRED-tested favorites.