The Math on AI Agents Doesn’t Add Up
Wired
A research paper suggests AI agents are mathematically doomed to fail. The industry doesn’t agree. more…
Other / Not classified
News
Wired
Pro-AI Super PACs Are Already All In on the Midterms
Wired
Silicon Valley’s battle against AI regulation is already shaping the next US election cycle. more…
Adobe is developing “IP-safe” gen AI models for the entertainment industry
The Verge
As Hollywood continues to embrace generative AI, Adobe is taking steps to make its Firefly suite of creative tools the go-to for studios' entertainment production needs. Timed to this year's Sundance Film Festival, Adobe has announced that it is working with … more…
Hundreds of creatives warn against an AI slop future
The Verge
Around 800 artists, writers, actors, and musicians signed on to a new campaign against what they call "theft at a grand scale" by AI companies. The signatories of the campaign - called "Stealing Isn't Innovation" - include authors George Saunders and Jodi Pic… more…
Payment processors were against CSAM until Grok started making it
The Verge
For many years, credit card companies and other payment methods were aggressive about policing child sexual abuse material. Then, Elon Musk's Grok started undressing children on X. The Center for Countering Digital Hate found 101 sexualized images of children… more…
OpenAI’s president is a Trump mega-donor
The Verge
OpenAI's co-founder and longtime president, Greg Brockman, didn't just make a run-of-the-mill donation to the main pro-Trump super PAC - together, he and his wife Anna's September 2025 donations equaled the largest of them all, totaling $25 million to "MAGA I… more…
Tesla’s robotaxis are cheaper than Waymo, but the wait times are longer
The Verge
Tesla's robotaxis are not robotaxis in the sense that they're not fully driverless and still feature safety monitors with access to a kill switch in case anything goes wrong. But the automaker is shaking things up with its approach to pricing, according to a … more…
ElevenLabs made an AI album to plug its music generator
The Verge
ElevenLabs has released an album of AI-generated songs in its latest attempt to separate itself from the ethical concerns surrounding AI music. The Eleven Album aims to showcase "how artists can use AI to expand their creative range while maintaining full aut… more…
Verizon’s prepaid services add a 365-day wait to unlock phones
The Verge
It's been just one week since Verizon got permission to lift its 60-day phone unlocking period, and the carrier is already making changes to its policy. Now, Verizon says customers who activate a phone on one of its sub-brands, including Visible, TracFone, St… more…
The TikTok deal is done, finally
The Verge
Just over a year after it briefly disappeared from app stores, TikTok in the US is now part of a new entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. With approval from both the US and China closing on the schedule laid out in December, ByteDance's ownership of the new… more…
Claude Code is suddenly everywhere inside Microsoft
The Verge
Developers have been comparing the strengths and weaknesses of Anthropic's Claude Code, Anysphere's Cursor, and Microsoft's GitHub Copilot for months now, looking for a winner. While no individual AI coding tool manages to be the best at every task that softw… more…
Hang on, there’s a Trump Phone Ultra coming too?
The Verge
Where's the Trump Phone? We're going to keep talking about it every week. We've reached out, as usual, to ask about the Trump Phone's whereabouts. As usual, we're still waiting for a response. In the meantime, it turns out we might have two Trump Phones to wo… more…
Experian’s tech chief defends credit scores: ‘We’re not Palantir’
The Verge
Today, I’m talking with Alex Lintner, who is the CEO of technology and software solutions at Experian, the credit reporting company. Experian is one of those multinationals that’s so big and convoluted that it has multiple CEOs all over the world, so Alex and… more…
Trump Wrecked Climate Policy in a Year. Can We Ever Go Back?
Gizmodo.com
Trump’s attacks on bedrock environmental and climate laws are inherently fragile—and could reflect the president’s preference for political dominance over lasting change. more…
Coinbase CEO: Banking Lobbyists Are Trying to Ban Their Competition
Gizmodo.com
Bank lobbyists and crypto lobbyists are publicly fighting over new legislation. Lawmakers are noticeably absent from the debate. more…
After 5 years, AirTag 2 Arrives With Improved Range and Louder Speaker
Gizmodo.com
Apple's official item tracker is now even better. more…
It Turns Out Crypto’s Stablecoin Adoption is Around 1% of Previous Estimates
Gizmodo.com
There are tons of raw blockchain transfers, but few could be considered "payments." more…
American Pediatricians Say You’re Thinking Way Too Much About Screen Time Limits
Gizmodo.com
Good news: There are other things to worry about. more…
Fact-checking Trump's Davos speech
BBC News
The US president made a series of contested claims, ranging from the status of Greenland to Nato spending. more…
Pokémon cards: The 'liquid asset' increasingly attracting criminals
BBC News
Cards related to the popular Japanese animation franchise have soared in value over recent years. more…
UK to join major wind farm project with nine European countries
BBC News
For the first time, the new wind farms will be connected to more than one country through undersea cables. more…
Hamnet writer Maggie O'Farrell says Oscar nod 'very surreal'
BBC News
Hamnet, based on the novel written by Coleraine-born Maggie O'Farrell, picks up eight Oscar nominations. more…
Trump doubles down on Greenland threats, saying there is 'no going back'
BBC News
Trump is due to arrive at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, where he said there are "a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland". more…
Five ways weight-loss jabs are changing spending habits
BBC News
With GLP-1 drugs rising in popularity, how are businesses adapting to a new type of consumer? more…
Identity violation and pricing
Seths.blog
Why do books and records have standard pricing? You’d think that a record from Miles Davis or Patricia Barber would cost more than one from the local garage band. Economists tie themselves into knots trying to explain why wine and handbags have such wide pric… more…
Spotify's 'Prompted Playlists' beta grooves into Premium in the US, more markets
Android Central
Spotify confirmed that its Prompted Playlists will enter beta in even more markets. more…
Act fast! This 'Fan Edition' Samsung phone just crashed to its lowest price EVER at Amazon
Android Central
This "Fan Edition" S25 offers a good, entry-level price point into the Galaxy-verse. more…
I put Xreal 1S and Viture Beast head-to-head to find the best pair of XR glasses you can buy today
Android Central
Xreal 1S and Viture Beast both challenge what you might expect from a pair of XR glasses, including native 3DoF tracking, real-time 2D to 3D conversion, and more. more…
Apple Shifts iPhone OLED Orders to Samsung Amid BOE Troubles
MacRumors
Apple's Chinese supplier BOE is struggling with iPhone OLED production again, causing millions of panel orders to be shifted to Samsung Display, reports from The Elec. Multiple industry sources told the publication that BOE still hasn't resolved manufact… more…
Apple Raised UK Banking Costs, Lawsuit Alleges
MacRumors
A new UK class action lawsuit against Apple seeks billions in damages by alleging that the company unlawfully restricted competition in contactless payments on the iPhone through Apple Pay, The Guardian reports. The proposed opt-out collective action fil… more…
iPhone 18 Pro: Leaker Reveals Alleged Size of Smaller Dynamic Island
MacRumors
For now, rumors have settled on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max featuring a smaller Dynamic Island, and now a leaker has revealed its alleged size. iPhone 18 Pro with a smaller Dynamic Island (mockup via Ice Universe) The account "Ice Universe" to… more…
Apple's AirTag 2 Comes With 50% Better Range and a Louder Speaker
CNET
Best of all? This updated version of this popular Apple accessory will be available at the same price as its predecessor. more…
Galaxy Watch 9 Rumors: Brace for a Samsung Double Debut
CNET
From longer battery life to new health sensors, here's what we're hearing about the next generation of smartwatches. more…
How Do Data Removal Services Actually Remove Your Data?
CNET
Some people might want custom removals, while others are fine with automated. Here's what to know about each. more…
How business and tech leaders are reacting to the latest fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis
The killing of Alex Pretti, a US citizen, by ICE in Minneapolis on Saturday has drawn sharp responses from many Americans, including business leaders. more…
I'm a millionaire living in California. I'm happy to pay higher taxes since I have more wealth — it just makes sense.
A millionaire in California shares why he supports the state's proposed billionaire wealth tax — and why he doesn't plan to move away. more…
Best cheap VPN deals from $1.99 a month on our top-tested apps
These cheap VPN deals from Surfshark, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and more offer discounted rates, extra months, and next-level privacy features. more…
Venezuela opens debate on an oil sector overhaul as Trump seeks role for US firms
NPR
Venezuela's legislature advanced a bill on Thursday to loosen state control over the country's vast oil sector, the first major overhaul since parts of the industry were nationalized in 2007. more…
Comic-Con Bans AI Art After Artist Pushback
Slashdot.org
San Diego Comic-Con changed an AI art friendly policy following an artist-led backlash last week. From a report: It was a small victory for working artists in an industry where jobs are slipping away as movie and video game studios adopt generative AI tools t… more…
Intel Struggles To Meet AI Data Center Demand
Slashdot.org
Intel says it struggled to satisfy demand for its AI data-center CPUs while new PC chips squeeze margins. CEO Lip-Bu Tan framed the turnaround as supply-constrained, not demand-constrained, with manufacturing yields (18A) improving but still below targets. Re… more…
Toronto Man Posed as Pilot To Rack Up Hundreds of Free Flights, Prosecutors Say
Slashdot.org
A Toronto man posed as a pilot for years in order to fool airlines into giving him hundreds of free flights, prosecutors have alleged, in a case that has prompted comparisons to the Hollywood thriller Catch Me If You Can. From a report: Authorities in Hawaii … more…
Apple Launches AirTag 2 With Improved Range, Louder Speaker
Slashdot.org
Apple has launched a new AirTag 2 that features improved range, a speaker that's 50% louder, and expanded Apple Watch-based tracking. Pricing stays the same at $29 (or $99 for four). 9to5Mac reports: The new AirTag comes with an upgraded second-generation Ult… more…
Campaigner Launches $2 Billion Legal Action In UK Against Apple Over Wallet's 'Hidden Fees'
Slashdot.org
Longtime Slashdot reader AmiMoJo shares a report from the Guardian: The financial campaigner James Daley has launched a 1.5 billion pound (approximately $1.5 billion) class action lawsuit against Apple over its mobile phone wallet, claiming the U.S. tech comp… more…
Spotify Lawsuit Triggered Anna's Archive Domain Name Suspensions
Slashdot.org
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TorrentFreak: Spotify and several major record labels, including UMG, Sony, and Warner, have taken legal action against the unknown operators of Anna's Archive. The action follows the shadow library's announcement that… more…
What a Sony and TCL Partnership Means For the Future of TVs
Slashdot.org
How would Sony ceding control of its TV hardware business change the industry? The Verge has an optimistic take: [...] As of today, Sony already relies on different manufacturing partners to create its TV lineup. While display panel manufacturers never reveal… more…
Wall Streeters reveal their favorite AI tools and what they use them for
AI isn't yet impressive enough to replace the core work done in the finance industry, but Wall Streeters are still using AI to streamline their day. more…
Google Cloud gaming boss says AI is the Iron Man suit for game developers — and everyone needs to get on board
For Jack Buser, who has worked in the gaming industry for 30 years, AI is an opportunity to push the boundaries of player experiences. more…
Why Satya Nadella said he's psyched about more competition
The Microsoft CEO said current competition is intense, but that's not a bad thing. more…
Inside the fortune cookie factory supplying thousands of American Chinese restaurants
Here's how America ended up with more Chinese restaurants than it has locations of nearly any fast-food chain. more…
Google Gemini's free test prep is the latest nail in the coffin for SAT tutors
Google launched free SAT practice tests via Gemini, with Princeton Review content, challenging traditional tutoring and ed-tech firms. more…
Nvidia is buying more CoreWeave stock — this time it's in for $2 billion
Nvidia is deepening its partnership with CoreWeave and making its biggest investment yet in the AI cloud company. more…
Anthropic's philosopher says we don't know for sure if AI can feel
Anthropic's philosopher, Amanda Askell, says she worries that AI might not 'feel that loved' and grow up feeling 'always judged.' more…
David Sacks calls California wealth tax 'an asset seizure,' says it's 'not a one-time, it's a first time'
Craft Ventures, the firm Sacks cofounded, previously announced that he had moved to the Austin area. more…
Renaissance, Schonfeld, and Engineers Gate stung in a shaky start for quants in 2026
Quants had a choppy 2025 and, now, a rough start to this year. more…
Some tech workers want their CEOs to 'call the White House' and speak out against ICE
A small group of tech workers, including Google and Amazon employees, signed a petition calling on CEOs to speak out against the federal agency. more…
Pope Leo's latest AI warning: 'overly affectionate' chatbots
Pope Leo XIV warned against personalized chatbots that can replicate friendly or intimate behaviour. more…
A Skadden veteran's uneasy take on smarter machines
A "brick wall" moment changed his career. He wants younger generations to get that chance, too. more…
Anna Kendrick says she was 'really jealous' watching her friends go to college
"And my dad was a teacher and everything, so it was like very black sheep behavior to not go to college," Anna Kendrick said. more…
Engineers wanted: PwC makes its pitch as consulting reinvents itself for the AI future
The Big Four accounting and consulting giant said engineers are "vital" to its future. more…
Deloitte is overhauling job titles for its US workforce — here's why
The Big Four firm is giving its US employees a new job title, according to an internal presentation seen by Business Insider. more…
I'm a designer, and Saks was my biggest customer. Now it owes me six figures, and I'm fighting to keep my business viable.
Fisayo Che is the founder of Elisamama, a brand that's sold at Saks. She's finding a path forward as the department store goes through bankruptcy. more…
Finland is trying to poach top tech and AI talent from the US with 2-week visas and better work-life balance
Finland wants to lure American engineers and researchers with fast-track visas and good work-life balance as part of the global AI talent wars. more…
I spent years trying to blend in after moving to France. 10 years later, I've realized I don't have to.
Vivienne Zhao, 33, moved to Paris in her 20s. Living in France, far away from her parents, has shifted her understanding of home. more…
We spoke to 3 robotics experts at Davos. They said this was the next big challenge for humanoid robots.
Three robotics experts said humanoid robots need to move beyond flashy demos to performing tasks that are actually useful in the real world at scale. more…
Trump called Greenland a 'piece of ice.' To Greenlanders, it's so much more.
President Donald Trump repeatedly called Greenland a "piece of ice" while speaking at Davos. Three Greenlanders gave Business Insider their responses. more…
Elon Musk has met his match in Ryanair's time-tested marketing strategy
Ryanair and Michael O'Leary have a long history of making provocative statements and insulting passengers as a promotional strategy. more…
Trump's surprising new source for 'affordability' ideas
Trump is rolling out a slew of new ideas focused on "affordability." A lot of them sound like proposals from Zohran Mamdani or Bernie Sanders. more…
An interior designer shares 11 things she'd never have in her own home
Seasoned interior designer and design historian Alessandra Wood said she'd never put some colors, window treatments, and design elements in her home. more…
Robotaxis are in a literal land grab moment
Robotaxi operators will need more real estate to charge and maintain their vehicles. Voltera, a Waymo partner, is one such company. more…
5 acquisitions, winning over skeptical engineers, and spending tens of millions: Inside a public company's 'AI native' push
Amplitude gave Business Insider the inside look at its AI overhaul, from acquisitions to efforts to increase staff adoption of AI coding assistants. more…
A McDonald's superfan dined at over 100 of its restaurants around the world. See the most unique.
Gary He has visited McDonald's restaurants in more than 55 countries. His favorites include the McSki in Sweden and a UFO-shaped McDonald's in the US. more…
Football is the biggest thing in America. Chuck Klosterman says that's going to change.
Writer Chuck Klosterman loves football — like most of America. But he thinks the sport's sheer size will ultimately be its demise. more…
'The Housemaid': How Sydney Sweeney's scrappy thriller became the $240 million box-office hit no one saw coming
Made for only $35 million, the producer of "The Housemaid" walks us through how it became a $240 million surprise hit at the box office. more…
Gen Z's hottest club: The local dive bar
Fed up with exclusive restaurants, young diners are regularmaxxing more…
Your boss is about to pull back your gym benefits
Employers are saving money by scaling back on wellness benefits for their employees, like gym membership discounts and free fitness apps. more…
8 Americans explain how capitalism has shaped — and failed — their lives
Business Insider spoke to readers in their 20s to 80s about what capitalism means to them and why some of them are rethinking the system. more…
Beyond Generative: The Rise Of Agentic AI And User-Centric Design
Smashingmagazine.com
Developing effective agentic AI requires a new research playbook. When systems plan, decide, and act on our behalf, UX moves beyond usability testing into the realm of trust, consent, and accountability. Victor Yocco outlines the research methods needed to de… more…
Video Game God Of War Congratulates Live Action God Of War
Kotaku
Also: is Unreal Engine really to blame for modern VFX? The post Video Game God Of War Congratulates Live Action God Of War appeared first on Kotaku. more…
It’s Not Too Late To Save Beloved Gaming Franchises That Have Become Too Big To Fail
Kotaku
A smaller team making a smaller-budget game makes lots more money than no game at all The post It’s Not Too Late To Save Beloved Gaming Franchises That Have Become Too Big To Fail appeared first on Kotaku. more…
10-Year-Old Sims 4 Sex Mod With Full Nudity Is Still Shockingly Popular
Kotaku
What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way The post 10-Year-Old Sims 4 Sex Mod With Full Nudity Is Still Shockingly Popular appeared first on Kotaku. more…
Rainbow Weather raises $5.5M to refine real-time weather forecasting
The Next Web
Warsaw, Poland 26 January 2026 – Rainbow Weather has raised $5.5 million in seed funding to push weather forecasting further into the short-term, high-precision territory it believes the industry still underserves. The Warsaw-based climate tech startup focuse… more…
When corporate knowledge becomes invaluable
The Next Web
To many readers, this may sound like a paradox: how can knowledge ever become invaluable? In this article, I want to explore how corporate knowledge, when poorly structured and rigidly transferred, can slowly transform from an asset into a disadvantage. Not o… more…
Mews raises €255M to accelerate AI and automation in hospitality
The Next Web
Amsterdam-based hospitality tech platform Mews has raised €255 million (about $300 million) in a Series D funding round as it pushes deeper into automation and AI-powered workflows for hotels around the world. The round was led by EQT Growth with new partici… more…
LLM-Generated Newspaper Provides Ultimate in Niche Publications
Hackaday
If you’re reading this, you probably have some fondness for human-crafted language. After all, you’ve taken the time to navigate to Hackaday and read this, rather than ask your favoured …read more more…
The History of Tandem Computers
Hackaday
If you are interested in historical big computers, you probably think of IBM, with maybe a little thought of Sperry Rand or, if you go smaller, HP, DEC, and companies like Data General. But you may… more…
Subaru announces revolutionary EV with surprising price tag: 'This ... is right for them'
Yahoo Entertainment
Subaru's decision is part of a broader industry trend. more…
Donald Trump Still Wants Tariffs On Films Made Outside U.S., Says He Plans Low-Interest Bonds For Hollywood Movies
Deadline
Donald Trump still wants to impose tariffs on movies made outside the United States, while he’s talking about establishing low interest bonds for the... more…
India seeks to boost manufacturing, hit $1.3 trln in exports through deregulation, sources say
By Nikunj Ohri and Sarita Chaganti Singh NEW DELHI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - India will seek to triple the nation's exports by 2035 by boosting manufacturing... more…
After vanishing from view, two US-seized Venezuela oil tankers reappear near Puerto Rico
By Ricardo Arduengo and Arathy Somasekhar PONCE, Puerto Rico/HOUSTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Two oil tankers seized this month by the U.S. in its campaign... more…
McDonald’s revives most-requested Happy Meal toys after 39 years
McDonald's has produced some of the most memorable Happy Meal toys in fast-food history, so iconic that many adults today still remember them fondly or even ... more…
BitGo Holdings prices US IPO at $18, Bloomberg News reports
Crypto custody startup BitGo Holdings priced its U.S. initial public offering above its indicated range on Wednesday, raising $212.8 million and paving the ... more…
China keeps low profile in Davos in pursuit of Western investment
By Selena Li DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 23 (Reuters) - China's low-key approach in Davos this year could not have been more different to that of the United... more…
Eagle Ford on the chopping block as Exxon refocuses drilling strategy
Houston Chronicle
Texas oil companies like Exxon are shedding assets as oil prices soften and production costs rise, pressuring producers to tighten their belts. more…
Elon Musk Confirms AI4-Powered Cars Can Achieve Unsupervised Self-Driving Without Additional Upgrades
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the automaker's vehicles equipped with the AI4 (HW4) chip will be able to achieve unsupervised... more…
BLM Says American Prairie’s Bison Can No Longer Graze on Public Lands
Outdoor Life
The agency says the permits it issued to the conservation organization no longer align with its 'production-oriented' goals for grazing on public lands more…
McDonald's finally brings overseas fan favorites to US in 2026
For decades, McDonald's customers have complained that the fast-food giant reserves its most fun and innovative menu items for international markets, leaving... more…
Millions of US homes at risk of losing insurance because of one growing issue: 'There is a reckoning on the horizon'
Yahoo Entertainment
There are 39 million homes insured via private companies. more…