Technology

Nielsen adds smartwatch data to improve streaming-era viewership measurement

Nielsen has announced enhancements to its audience measurement process ahead of the fall TV season. Starting August 31st, the company will incorporate data from wearable devices worn by its research panelists at home into its co-viewing metrics. These smartwatch-like gadgets, known as Portable People Meters (PPM), were first deployed nationally by Nielsen in 2016 to strengthen audio and local TV tracking. The move is part of Nielsen's broader effort to more accurately capture viewership habits as audiences increasingly shift to streaming platforms.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

FCC drops gigabit broadband speed goal in push for tech neutrality

The US Federal Communications Commission has abolished its longstanding goal of achieving gigabit internet speeds for American consumers. The agency argued that the 1Gbps benchmark was unfair to slower broadband technologies that cannot meet that threshold. The FCC framed the decision as a move toward a "technologically neutral" standard that does not favor any particular infrastructure. Critics may view the rollback as a lowering of ambitions for national broadband development. The change signals a shift in how the FCC will evaluate and define adequate internet service going forward.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Consumer Wariness Toward AI Grows Even as Adoption Rises

Despite artificial intelligence becoming increasingly prevalent in everyday life, consumer trust in the technology has not kept pace with its spread. Silicon Valley had anticipated that wider exposure to AI would naturally build public acceptance, but that assumption is proving incorrect. Users are becoming more cautious rather than more comfortable as AI becomes harder to avoid. The gap between adoption and genuine acceptance presents a significant challenge for the tech industry going forward.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Google adds AI-powered study tools to Search and Gemini assistant

Google has rolled out a new set of AI-driven study features across its Search platform and Gemini assistant. The additions are designed to help students learn and study more effectively using AI support. The move reflects Google's ongoing strategy to position Gemini as the go-to AI assistant for academic use. Google faces stiff competition in this space from rivals such as OpenAI, which also targets student users with its own AI tools.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Google Gemini Launches Student Hub With Flashcards, Quizzes, and Deep Research

Google is introducing a dedicated student hub within its Gemini AI assistant ahead of the back-to-school season. The hub serves as a centralized space where students can collect research, create flashcards, take practice quizzes, and manage study notes. Study notebooks are also being upgraded to support graphs and images, and Gemini can automatically add test dates and deadlines to Google Calendar from a syllabus. Additionally, Google is integrating Deep Research into Gemini Live, allowing users to generate detailed research reports and discuss findings conversationally. Users can close the chat or lock their screen while a report is being generated, with Gemini notifying them upon completion.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

OpenAI Cuts Access for Researchers in Restricted Cybersecurity Program

Several cybersecurity researchers have reported losing access to OpenAI's Trusted Access for Cyber (TAC) program without prior notice. The TAC program is designed for vetted users and provides access to AI models with reduced safety restrictions for legitimate security research. Researchers described the revocation as sudden and unexpected. The program was created to allow qualified professionals to explore AI capabilities in cybersecurity contexts. OpenAI has not publicly explained the reasons behind the access removals.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Chinese Company Successfully Lands Reusable Rocket Booster, Plans Quick Relaunch

Another Chinese aerospace company has successfully landed a reusable rocket booster, marking a significant milestone in China's commercial space sector. The achievement adds to a growing list of Chinese firms demonstrating reusable launch vehicle capabilities. Following the landing, the company announced plans to return the booster to flight service as quickly as possible. The development signals increasing momentum in China's domestic reusable rocket industry, with multiple players now entering the field.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Valve accidentally leaks Steam Frame VR headset setup videos via app update

Valve unintentionally published several videos showcasing the Steam Frame VR headset's unboxing, setup, and accessories through its ARM Steam client after a recent update. The clips were quickly removed, but not before being spotted and reported by the Steam Hardware Updates account on X. The Steam Frame is Valve's upcoming VR headset capable of streaming PC games wirelessly or running them locally on the device. It features LCD displays with 2160x2160 resolution per eye, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and up to a 110-degree field of view. Valve originally unveiled the headset last year, and the leaked videos offer the clearest look yet at the device's real-world setup experience.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Smartwatches Chase AI-Powered Health Coaching, But the Future Remains Unclear

Wearable technology companies share a common vision of integrating AI coaches and preventive health alerts into everyday devices. The Verge's Victoria Song explored these themes while testing the Google Pixel Watch 5 over the past week. While the device functions as a capable modern smartwatch, it also reflects the uncertain direction of the broader wearables industry. Developers across the sector are working toward personalized health features, but the technology remains largely experimental. The wearable space, despite its ambitions, appears to be in a transitional and unresolved phase.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

iPad Air M4 drops to $649 at Amazon and Best Buy, $100 off post-June price

Amazon and Best Buy are currently selling the 11-inch iPad Air with Apple's M4 chip for $649, which is $100 below the revised retail price introduced in June 2025. The 256GB Wi-Fi model is available for $749 and the 128GB LTE variant for $799, both discounted by $100 from their new list prices. Apple raised prices on several products in June, making this sale the lowest price available since that increase took effect. The M4 iPad Air, originally launched in March, offers improved performance along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, though reviewers noted it delivers a largely similar experience to its predecessor.

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TechnologyNYT Technology ·

Stripe Acquires AI Start-Up OpenRouter in $7.5 Billion Deal

Payments giant Stripe has agreed to acquire AI start-up OpenRouter in a deal valued at $7.5 billion. The acquisition brings together Stripe's established payments infrastructure with OpenRouter's technology that helps businesses manage and route their spending across various AI models. The deal is considered a notable development in the artificial intelligence industry, signaling growing investment in tools that help companies optimize AI usage. The combined entity is expected to offer businesses a more integrated approach to handling both payments and AI model expenditure.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Startup Aims to Bring Price Discovery and Hedging to AI Compute Market

A startup called Silicon Data is working to create a standardized pricing mechanism for AI compute, a resource that has become the largest single cost for AI developers. Despite hundreds of billions of dollars flowing annually into data centers and GPUs, no reliable benchmark currently exists for valuing compute. The absence of transparent pricing also leaves companies exposed to cost fluctuations with no financial instruments to hedge that risk. Silicon Data is positioning itself to fill this gap, potentially bringing Wall Street-style financial tools to the AI infrastructure market.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

T-Mobile Cuts Network Cable to Block Chinese-Backed Hackers

T-Mobile successfully thwarted a major cyberattack by Chinese-backed hackers targeting its network. The U.S. telecom provider detected the intrusion early, allowing it to act swiftly before significant damage occurred. To expel the hackers, T-Mobile took the drastic step of physically severing a network cable. The early detection and rapid response prevented the breach from escalating into a large-scale compromise of its systems.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

OpenAI pauses key AI training runs to tighten security and safety measures

OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it has deliberately slowed certain AI development activities to strengthen security and safety protocols. The company implemented a two-week pause on reinforcement learning training for its latest models intended for deployment, along with an ongoing delay to its largest planned frontier RL run. The move comes despite competitive pressure from rivals including Anthropic and open-weight AI models. The decision marks a rare public instance of a leading AI company voluntarily stepping back from the development race, echoing calls long made by AI safety advocates.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Wildwood Trailer Debuts with Stunning Visuals and Dark Fantasy Tone

A new trailer for Wildwood has been released, showcasing a visually striking fantasy world set within a mysterious forest. The footage hints at a story driven by loss and determination, with a central character vowing to reclaim something taken from them by the forest. The trailer has drawn attention for its gorgeous animation and imaginative world-building. Wildwood appears to be a highly anticipated project generating buzz for its distinctive visual style.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

GTA VI gameplay clips leak online ahead of Rockstar's official Netflix premiere

Several short video clips purportedly showing Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay have surfaced online, potentially spoiling parts of the game before its official reveal. The footage appeared to show protagonist Jason Duval in various scenes, including a casual basketball moment and crime-related gameplay. Rockstar Games has responded by issuing copyright claims, resulting in at least two of the clips being taken down. The leaks come just days before Rockstar is set to debut a deep-dive gameplay showcase on Netflix. GTA VI is currently scheduled for a full launch in November.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Meta AI launches dedicated Mac app with screen-sharing and dictation features

Meta announced on Wednesday the launch of a dedicated Mac app for its AI chatbot, Meta AI. The app allows users to share their screen with the chatbot, which can then offer suggestions, answer questions, or generate content based on what it sees. It also supports dictation across all applications on the Mac. The move is part of Meta's broader push to position its AI assistant as a productivity tool. This puts Meta in more direct competition with rivals like Google Gemini, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Anthropic's Claude, which already offer desktop applications.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Moderna and Merck mRNA cancer vaccine shows success in Phase 3 melanoma trial

Moderna and Merck have announced positive results from a Phase 3 clinical trial of their mRNA-based cancer vaccine targeting melanoma. The vaccine demonstrated effectiveness in preventing the recurrence and spread of the cancer. This marks a significant milestone in the development of personalized mRNA cancer therapies, building on the same technology platform used in COVID-19 vaccines. The trial's success brings the experimental treatment closer to potential regulatory approval and broader clinical use.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

The Verge Reviewers Hold Live AMA on Google Pixel 11 Series and Watch 5

The Verge has published four reviews covering the Google Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Pixel Watch 5 following the lift of the review embargo. Reviewers David Imel, Dominic Preston, Victoria Song, and a fourth journalist each covered a different device in the lineup. The outlet is offering subscribers a chance to engage directly with the reviewers through a live AMA session. The Q&A is scheduled to begin at 3PM ET, with the team prioritizing questions relevant to the new hardware.

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TechnologyBBC Tech ·

HMRC Triples Warning Letters to Crypto Holders in Major Tax Crackdown

The UK's tax authority HMRC has sent 81,000 warning letters to cryptocurrency holders as part of an intensified tax compliance drive. The figure represents nearly triple the number of letters issued compared to 2024. The data was obtained through a Freedom of Information request, revealing the scale of HMRC's renewed focus on crypto-related tax obligations. The crackdown signals that authorities are increasingly scrutinising digital asset holders who may not have declared taxable gains or income.

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