Brad Lightcap, a senior executive at OpenAI, has announced his departure from the artificial intelligence company. Lightcap had served as a longtime leader at the organization, playing a significant role in its operations. He stated that his reason for leaving is to pursue a new entrepreneurial venture. His exit marks the latest in a series of high-profile departures from OpenAI.
Google's Gemini AI app has surged to one billion users, marking a major milestone for the platform. The achievement puts Gemini on par with its chief rival, OpenAI's ChatGPT. ChatGPT had previously reached the one billion monthly active users mark in June. The rapid growth of both platforms underscores the accelerating global adoption of AI-powered assistants.
Google TV Freeplay, the company's free ad-supported streaming service, has expanded beyond live channels to include video-on-demand content. Users can now browse and watch more than 10,000 shows and movies at their convenience, including titles such as Lady Bird and Hell's Kitchen. Google has also grown its live TV offering to over 300 channels spanning news, sports, reality TV, and true crime. New channel additions include Bloomberg TV Plus, Yahoo! Sports Network, and The Martha Stewart Channel. The update marks a significant step toward making Google TV Freeplay a more comprehensive free streaming destination.
The used electric vehicle market offers buyers a range of options at or below the $30,000 price point, though availability varies significantly by model. Some popular EV models have a large number of used units on the market, while others may have very limited listings. Prospective buyers are advised to research specific models carefully before making a purchase decision. Key factors such as battery health, mileage, and remaining warranty coverage play an important role in evaluating used EVs. The guide aims to help consumers navigate the growing but uneven secondhand electric vehicle market.
FDA report finally reveals where Taylor Farms sent its lettuce—and it raises questions.
Brad Lightcap, who served as OpenAI's special projects lead and formerly as its COO, has announced he is leaving the company after eight years. He shared the news via an internal memo that he subsequently posted on X. Lightcap indicated he plans to start something new, citing a focus on challenges he believes will be critical in the next phase of AI development. He expressed continued support for OpenAI's mission, saying he hopes to advance it from a different position. Lightcap noted he would remain at the company for a few more weeks during the transition.
Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform, is experiencing a sustained drop in active users on its mobile app more than a year after a significant post-election growth spike. The platform had seen a sharp rise in new sign-ups following the election period, but that momentum has not held. Despite the shrinking user base, those who remain on the platform continue to show relatively strong engagement. Bluesky has also been broadening its focus beyond the core app itself, suggesting a strategic shift in how the company envisions its growth.
Scaleup Europe, a public-private investment fund targeting $5.7 billion, has completed its first investment by backing Finnish satellite company ICEYE. The fund was established as a joint initiative between public institutions and private investors to support European technology growth. ICEYE, based in Finland, specializes in satellite technology and is among the continent's notable space-sector firms. The investment marks a significant milestone for Scaleup Europe as it begins deploying capital toward European tech scaleups.
Brad Lightcap, OpenAI's Chief Operating Officer and one of its longest-serving executives, is departing the company. Lightcap informed staff of his decision, stating he intends to 'start something new.' In his message to employees, he expressed enthusiasm about continuing to support OpenAI's mission from an outside perspective. No details about his next venture or a replacement COO have been announced.
River AI, a newly founded artificial intelligence startup, has secured $1.1 billion in funding despite being only two months old. The funding round was led by venture capital firm General Catalyst. The company was founded by Igor Babuschkin, who previously co-founded xAI, Elon Musk's AI venture. River AI is focused on developing personal AI agents. The substantial early-stage investment signals strong investor confidence in both the founding team and the personal AI space.
Google's Pixel Buds 2a wireless earbuds are currently on sale for $99, down from their regular price of $129, at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store. The earbuds were released in October 2025 and reviewed favorably for their sound quality, comfortable fit, and active noise cancellation at a budget-friendly price. They are available in four colors and feature built-in integration with Google's Gemini AI assistant. The buds work best with Android devices, as pairing them with Apple devices limits access to some advanced features, similar to how AirPods offer reduced functionality on Android.
Google is set to unveil its next Pixel smartphones at a livestreamed event hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, continuing a shift toward celebrity-driven presentations. Last year's Made by Google event featured Jimmy Fallon as host and drew 8.4 million YouTube viewers, up sharply from 1.4 million the year prior. The entertainment-heavy format drew criticism from dedicated Pixel fans who preferred technical deep-dives and executive presentations. Despite the showbiz-style launch, the Pixel 11 Pro is reported to feature notable hardware changes, including a new light element on the rear of the device. Google appears to be doubling down on broad audience appeal even as it risks alienating its core enthusiast base.
Google is set to announce a range of new Pixel devices on August 12th at its annual Made by Google event. The Pixel 11 lineup is expected in multiple colors, with Pro models rumored to feature a built-in light, while a next-generation Pixel Fold and Pixel Watch 5 in four finishes are also anticipated. A new Pixel Tag tracker may be revealed as well. Preorders are slated to open at 10AM ET, eight hours before the main livestream begins at 6PM ET. Comedian Trevor Noah will host the event, with guests including Stephen Curry, Alex Cooper, Shubman Gill, and Ayami Nakajo.
A new approach to measuring extreme heat by the hour, rather than by daily averages, is painting a more alarming picture of climate change. Research indicates that the number of dangerously hot hours during summer could triple in the coming decades. Traditional climate measurements based on daily averages may be masking the true intensity and frequency of heat extremes. This finer-grained, hourly analysis provides a clearer understanding of how heat stress affects human health, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Scientists suggest that adopting hourly heat metrics could lead to more accurate climate projections and better-informed policy responses.
An unreleased Anthropic AI model has made meaningful progress on the Riemann hypothesis, one of mathematics' most enduring unsolved problems. The hypothesis has remained unproven for over 150 years and is considered a landmark challenge in the field. While Anthropic has not claimed to have solved the problem, the company says its model advanced further on it than many would anticipate. The development highlights the growing role of AI in tackling complex mathematical research.
Apple appears to be working on a new iOS feature called 'Apple Reference Image' that embeds provenance metadata into photos at the moment of capture. Code references for the system were discovered in iOS 27 beta 5 by 9to5Mac, suggesting the feature is in active development. The tool would allow users to verify that an image was genuinely taken with an iPhone camera and has not been AI-generated or manipulated. The feature is not yet live and, according to a privacy disclosure in the beta, will be turned off by default when released. If it rolls out, users would be able to enable it through the Settings app under the Camera section.
Former Google employee Claire Stapleton has written a new book titled 'Don't Be Evil', chronicling her personal transformation within the company. The memoir traces her evolution from an enthusiastic company advocate to a vocal critic of Google's direction. Stapleton's account centers on how the tech giant allegedly abandoned the ideals it was built upon. The book's title is a pointed reference to Google's once-famous internal motto, 'Don't be evil', which the company quietly dropped in later years.
Joby Aviation has announced a $500 million deal to acquire Resonant Sciences, marking a significant expansion beyond its civilian aviation roots. The acquisition will serve as the foundation for Joby's newly established defense business. Resonant Sciences brings capabilities that align with Joby's broader ambitions in the defense sector. The move signals Joby's intent to diversify its portfolio and tap into defense contracting opportunities.
Delta Air Lines is investigating an incident in which a fraudulent Wi-Fi network was set up aboard one of its flights. The rogue network prompted the flight crew to shut down the aircraft's legitimate Wi-Fi service as a precautionary measure. The outage lasted approximately 30 minutes before service was restored. A Delta spokesperson confirmed the incident, though further details about the perpetrator or the flight involved have not been disclosed.
Block Blast! has been named the most downloaded mobile game of 2025. The popular title is set to arrive on Apple's subscription gaming platform, Apple Arcade, in September. The move will bring an ad-free version of the game to Arcade subscribers. This marks a notable shift for the game, which is currently available in a free-to-play format supported by advertisements.