Technology

US Robot Import Ban Extends to Robot Vacuums, Not Just Humanoids

The Trump administration has banned the import of 'advanced robotic devices' from foreign countries, citing national security concerns. While initial coverage focused on humanoid robots, the FCC confirmed to The Verge that robot vacuum cleaners are also covered under the ban. Existing Roombas and already-approved models can still be sold, but future foreign-made robovacs will be blocked from entering the US market. Robot vacuum manufacturers are now being asked to commit to domestic US production as a result of the new policy.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Google rolls out age verification API on Play Store via Family Link

Google has begun a global rollout of a new age verification API integrated into the Google Play Store. The system relies on parents to set age ranges for their children through Google's Family Link parental control platform. The API is designed to help app developers verify the approximate age group of users accessing their services. This move is part of broader industry efforts to better protect younger users online and ensure age-appropriate content delivery.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

xAI Files Lawsuit Challenging Minnesota's Ban on AI Nudifying Apps

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI has initiated legal action against the state of Minnesota over its ban on AI-powered nudifying applications. The lawsuit centers on Grok, xAI's AI chatbot, which appears to be implicated in the state's regulatory crackdown. Musk and xAI argue that Minnesota's ban is unconstitutional, framing the legal challenge as a free speech issue. The move signals xAI's intent to fight back against state-level efforts to restrict certain AI capabilities rather than comply with the legislation.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Ferrari's First Electric Vehicle Reports Strong Early Sales

Ferrari's debut electric vehicle, the Luce, is showing strong sales performance despite skepticism from critics. The launch has been met with significant consumer interest, countering predictions that an EV would not resonate with the luxury automaker's customer base. Online critics had widely questioned whether Ferrari could successfully transition a model to electric power without alienating its traditional fanbase. The early commercial results suggest that Ferrari's entry into the EV market has been well received by buyers.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Waymo Robotaxis Resume Freeway Operations Starting in Phoenix

Waymo has begun operating its autonomous robotaxis on freeways in Phoenix, Arizona. The company confirmed that additional cities are expected to gain freeway access in the coming days. This marks a notable expansion of Waymo's self-driving vehicle capabilities beyond surface streets. The rollout signals growing confidence in the technology's readiness for higher-speed highway environments.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

US bans imports of foreign humanoid robots, robot dogs and solar inverters over security fears

The US government has announced a ban on imports of foreign-made humanoid robots, robot dogs, and solar inverters, citing national security concerns. The restrictions primarily target products manufactured in China, which holds a dominant position in global production of these technologies. Authorities have raised concerns about the potential risks these devices could pose if integrated into American infrastructure or homes. The move reflects growing US efforts to limit reliance on Chinese-made technology across sensitive and emerging sectors.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Researchers Expand Qubit Options With Quantum Dots and Diamond Vacancies

Scientists and companies are developing multiple new technologies for building qubits, the fundamental units of quantum computers. Two notable approaches gaining attention are quantum dot systems and diamond vacancy centers. These methods represent distinct physical platforms for encoding and manipulating quantum information. The growing variety of qubit technologies reflects a broader industry effort to identify the most stable and scalable solutions for quantum computing. Having multiple competing approaches increases the likelihood that at least one will prove viable for practical, large-scale quantum systems.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Boeing CEO Expresses Optimism About Starliner Launching This Year

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has expressed confidence that the Starliner spacecraft could fly into space before the end of this year. Ortberg's upbeat remarks signal a potential turnaround for the long-troubled crewed spacecraft program. Starliner has faced repeated delays and technical setbacks over recent years, making any near-term launch a significant milestone. No specific launch date has been confirmed, but the CEO's comments suggest internal progress is being made. The development is closely watched given NASA's reliance on commercial crew vehicles for astronaut transport.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Google expands Play Age Signals API to Android developers globally

Google is rolling out its Play Age Signals API to Android developers worldwide, enabling them to customize app experiences based on users' age ranges. The tool is designed with privacy preservation in mind, avoiding direct collection of sensitive personal data. Developers can use the API to adjust content and features appropriate for different age groups. The expansion broadens access to age-assurance technology that Google had previously been developing for its platform.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Pew Survey: Most US Adults Now Support Full-Day School Cell Phone Bans

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 77 percent of US adults support banning cell phones during class in middle and high schools. For the first time, more Americans favor all-day bans than oppose them, with 48 percent backing bell-to-bell restrictions. This marks a significant shift from two years ago, when only 36 percent supported full-day bans. Support for in-class restrictions is consistent across all adult age groups surveyed. The findings come as schools nationwide increasingly move to restrict student phone use.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Anthropic AI Finds Microsoft Security Bugs Faster Than They Can Be Patched

Anthropic, the AI safety company, is discovering security vulnerabilities in Microsoft's software at a pace that outstrips Microsoft's ability to fix them. The AI-assisted bug detection process is uncovering exploits that could potentially be leveraged by malicious hackers if left unaddressed. Microsoft is reportedly working urgently behind the scenes to patch these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. The situation highlights both the power of AI in identifying security flaws and the growing challenge software companies face in keeping up with rapid vulnerability discovery.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

X and World Federation of Advertisers settle lawsuit over ad boycott claims

Elon Musk's social media platform X has reached a settlement with the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), ending a legal dispute that spanned multiple years. X had filed the lawsuit in 2024, accusing the WFA of orchestrating what it described as a coordinated and illegal advertising boycott against the platform. The alleged boycott followed a significant drop in ad revenue after Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of the then-Twitter. X argued that the WFA's actions amounted to a systematic effort to deprive the platform of advertising income. Terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Martha Stewart co-founds Hint, an AI startup built to manage your home

Hint is a new AI startup co-founded by lifestyle icon Martha Stewart, aimed at simplifying home management for homeowners. The platform combines property records, maintenance schedules, and home documents into a single application. It also features an integrated AI assistant to help users navigate home-related tasks. The startup positions itself as an all-in-one AI solution designed specifically for residential property management.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

AMD Linux patch delivers 32% boost to low-end gaming performance on Steam Deck

AMD has released a new Linux patch aimed at improving gaming performance on the Steam Deck. The update targets Energy Performance Preference (EPP) mode, delivering improved efficiency in how the processor manages power. Benchmarks show approximately a 32% improvement in '1% low' frame rates, a metric that reflects the worst-case rendering slowdowns during gameplay. This gain is particularly significant for players who experience stuttering or inconsistent frame pacing during demanding scenes. The patch represents a meaningful hardware-level optimization for one of the most popular handheld gaming devices running Linux.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Ferrari Luce EV hits 2026 sales target just two months after launch

Ferrari has reportedly met its 2026 sales goal for the Luce EV, its Jony Ive-designed electric vehicle, within just two months of its debut. The company had aimed to sell just under 500 units this year and reached that figure this month, ahead of its quarterly earnings announcement. Strong demand from China was cited as the primary driver of early sales, a market where EV adoption is already well established. Ferrari positioned the Luce as a vehicle intended to attract a new generation of wealthy buyers, particularly in China.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Jumanji: Open World Game Trailer Blends Real and Virtual Worlds

A trailer for a new game titled Jumanji: Open World has been released, blending real-life and in-game elements. The teaser was covered by Ars Technica and features the tagline suggesting characters are uncertain of their surroundings. Beyond the trailer's release and its title, limited details about the game's platform, developer, or release date are available from the provided text. No further factual information can be confirmed from the source material given.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Woot Sells Refurbished reMarkable Paper Pro Bundle for $449.99 Until July 31

Woot is offering a refurbished reMarkable Paper Pro bundle for $449.99 through July 31st, down from the standard new price of $629 for the tablet alone. The bundle includes the Paper Pro tablet, a Marker Plus stylus, and a Book Folio cover, representing a saving of $368 compared to buying new. The same refurbished bundle is available directly from reMarkable for $649, though it comes with a one-year warranty compared to Woot's 90-day coverage. The 11.8-inch Paper Pro features a color e-ink display, an adjustable front light, and a paper-like writing surface, setting it apart from reMarkable's newer monochromatic Paper Pure. The device supports PDF annotation, handwriting-to-text conversion, and folder-based organisation, making it aimed primarily at productivity users rather than artists.

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TechnologyNYT Technology ·

SK Hynix Posts Strong Earnings Amid AI Market Uncertainty

South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix reported exceptionally high sales and profits on Wednesday. The strong financial results were driven largely by robust demand in the artificial intelligence sector. Despite the impressive earnings figures, investors remained uneasy about the broader AI market outlook. The positive results were not sufficient to fully reassure a cautious investment community.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Polar raises $5.7M seed funding for AI-first browser targeting knowledge workers

Polar, an AI-first browser designed for knowledge workers, has secured a $5.7 million seed funding round. The round was led by venture capital firm Madrona. The browser was built by a former Perplexity employee who previously worked on Comet, Perplexity's own browser project. Polar aims to bring AI-driven capabilities to professional and research-focused browsing workflows.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Encore AI secures $30M to train sales agents using real customer interactions

Encore AI, a startup focused on AI-driven sales tools, has raised $30 million in funding. The company analyzes customer calls, messages, and CRM data to identify what sales techniques work best. These insights are then converted into structured playbooks that guide AI agents. The goal is to help businesses automate and improve their sales processes using patterns learned from real interactions.

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