Kevin Weil, a former executive at OpenAI, has joined the board of directors at Stoke Space, a rocket startup. Stoke Space is focused on developing fully reusable rocket technology. Weil's move into the space sector signals growing interest from Silicon Valley figures in reusable launch vehicles. The appointment highlights increasing crossover between the tech industry and the commercial space sector.
Valve's Steam Machine, priced at $1,049, has been tested by a Verge editor over the past few weeks alongside a PS5 and Xbox Series X. Despite the device receiving a score of 6 in an official review, the editor says they would still purchase one. The key appeal lies in its compatibility with large existing Steam libraries and support for Steam's cloud saves, which enable seamless progress sync with the Steam Deck. Neither the PS5 nor Xbox Series X can replicate these Steam-specific features, making the Steam Machine a distinct option for PC gamers who also play on the couch.
New Jersey lawmakers are advancing a bill that would require autonomous vehicles to use multiple sensor types, including lidar and radar, to operate on state roads. The legislation directly challenges Tesla's camera-only approach to self-driving technology, which the company has championed for over a decade. While Tesla has invested billions in AI-powered vision systems, nearly all other major AV developers already rely on overlapping sensor arrays. If passed, the bill could effectively prohibit Tesla's robotaxi service from operating in New Jersey. The vote is expected later this year, making it one of the first attempts to settle the cameras-versus-lidar debate through state legislation.
The Esports World Cup is now being held in Paris after a rapid last-minute relocation from its originally planned venue in Saudi Arabia. The move was completed in an unusually short timeframe of just eight weeks. The swift transition raised questions about the logistical challenges involved in organizing a major international esports event on short notice. Despite the change of location, the tournament has not entirely shed controversy surrounding it. The event's shift from Saudi Arabia to Paris has drawn attention to broader debates about the politics and ethics of hosting major esports competitions.
Samsung has officially announced its next Galaxy Unpacked event for July 22, teasing a new form factor with the tagline 'A new shape unfolds.' The company is widely expected to unveil a shorter, wider book-style foldable phone, expanding its foldable lineup to three formats. The move appears aimed at competing with Huawei's Pura X Max and Apple's anticipated foldable iPhone. Samsung is also expected to reveal updated versions of its existing Galaxy Flip and Fold devices at the same event, with the Fold potentially receiving a rebrand.
French AI startup ZML has released a new free product called ZML/LLMD, designed to speed up AI inference across a wide range of chips. The software aims to make running AI models less expensive and more efficient. ZML has gained notable attention in the AI industry, having received an endorsement from Yann LeCun, a Turing Award-winning AI pioneer. The release positions ZML as a competitive player in the growing market for AI infrastructure optimization tools.
AI chip maker SambaNova has secured a $1 billion funding round, valuing the company at $11 billion. The raise comes just five months after the startup completed its previous large-scale funding round. The latest investment marks a dramatic increase in the company's perceived value. This development is notable given that Intel had reportedly been in talks to acquire SambaNova for approximately $1.6 billion not long ago.
A technique called HalluSquatting exploits a fundamental weakness in large language models — their tendency to fabricate answers rather than admit uncertainty. Researchers found that nine widely used AI tools are vulnerable to this method, which attackers could leverage to assemble large-scale botnets. The flaw stems from LLMs confidently generating fictitious package names or URLs, which hackers can register in advance to trap unsuspecting users or systems. This form of attack turns AI hallucination from an inconvenience into an active cybersecurity threat.
Meta has announced a software update for its smart glasses that will automatically disable the camera if the device detects tampering with its privacy LED light. The move comes in response to public backlash and reports of users physically drilling out or otherwise destroying the indicator light to record covertly. Earlier measures, introduced with the second-generation glasses, only prompted users to uncover a blocked LED but did not prevent recording. Modders had reportedly found workarounds to those softer restrictions, prompting Meta to take a more forceful technical approach. The new feature is intended to close loopholes that allowed covert recording without any visible indicator to bystanders.
TechCrunch has announced a final extension for applications to its Startup Battlefield Australia competition, with the new deadline set for July 20. The Startup Battlefield is a well-known platform that connects early-stage startups with influential investors and industry leaders. This extension represents the last opportunity for founders to submit their applications, with no further deadline changes expected. The competition is designed to accelerate startup growth by providing access to key decision-makers who can help move ventures forward.
Michigan is experiencing a rapidly escalating outbreak of a diarrheal parasite, with case counts surpassing 700. Health officials are actively investigating the situation to pinpoint a common source of infection. The outbreak has grown quickly, raising concern among public health authorities. Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the specific source responsible for the spread.
Meta has introduced a new AI image generation model called Muse. The tool is designed to serve a range of practical applications, including advertising, interior decorating, and content creation. Muse expands Meta's growing portfolio of generative AI products aimed at both businesses and individual creators. The launch signals Meta's continued push to compete in the rapidly evolving AI image generation space.
Netflix, the world's leading paid streaming platform, is facing a significant viewer retention problem with its original series. Shows like Beef saw a 70 percent drop in viewership when their new seasons arrived, while live-action adaptations such as Avatar: The Last Airbender and One Piece also failed to hold audiences. The company is actively investigating the reasons behind subscribers disengaging from previously popular titles. The pattern suggests a broader challenge for Netflix in converting first-season viewers into loyal, returning audiences.
Netflix will begin streaming video content from dozens of digital media brands, including BuzzFeed, Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, People Inc, and Tastemade, starting August 3rd. The deal covers both licensed back-catalogue videos and new ongoing series that would traditionally have appeared on YouTube or similar platforms. Well-known titles such as Architectural Digest's 'Open Door' and Vanity Fair's 'Lie Detector Test' are among the content included. Netflix described the initiative as a way for subscribers to access internet-popular content without leaving its platform.
Rising electricity consumption by data centers is creating pressure on power grids across the United States, particularly in Rust Belt regions. This surge in energy demand is driving up electricity costs for industrial users, posing a challenge to efforts to revive domestic manufacturing. The strain on power infrastructure threatens to undermine the goal of bringing more production back to American soil. Higher energy bills make it harder for factories and manufacturers to operate competitively, potentially discouraging industrial investment in affected areas.
A surprisingly high number of people may carry a biological marker associated with alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy linked to tick bites. Alpha-gal syndrome occurs when a tick bite triggers an immune response to a sugar molecule found in red meat. Researchers are still working to understand why only some people who carry the marker actually develop the full allergy. The findings suggest the condition may be more widespread than current diagnoses indicate. Many questions remain about the mechanisms behind why certain individuals progress to symptomatic illness.
Meta has introduced Muse Image, the first AI image generation model developed by its Superintelligence Labs division. The model now powers image-creation tools within the Meta AI app, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with Facebook and Messenger support coming soon. Superintelligence Labs head Alexandr Wang describes Muse Image as 'agentic,' meaning it reasons through prompts, searches the web, and plans before generating images, working alongside the Muse Spark large language model. Muse Image is part of a broader Muse model family that is set to replace Meta's existing Llama AI lineup. A notable feature allows users to incorporate other Instagram users into AI-generated photos.
The US Supreme Court has declined to block a Texas law regulating app stores, letting a lower court ruling stand. The law, which Big Tech companies have criticized as a form of censorship, involves age-related restrictions on app distribution. The decision follows a ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the Texas legislation. Major technology companies continue their legal efforts to overturn the law, though enforcement can now proceed in the meantime.
Despite the rapid rise of open-source AI models, frontier AI labs like Anthropic are not seeing a negative impact on their business. The two segments appear to serve distinct phases of the same AI adoption life cycle rather than competing directly. Open-source models tend to attract early experimentation and development, while companies like Anthropic capture demand at the more advanced, production-ready stage. This dynamic suggests the market may be large enough to sustain both open-source and proprietary AI ecosystems simultaneously. However, the qualifier 'for now' signals that this balance could shift as open-source capabilities continue to advance.
Researchers and child development experts are increasingly examining the impact of screen time on younger children. Concerns have been raised about how prolonged exposure to screens may affect cognitive, social, and emotional development in early childhood. Studies suggest that the type and quality of content consumed can play a significant role in determining outcomes for young users. Parents and caregivers are being encouraged to monitor and manage the amount of time children spend on digital devices. The findings are prompting broader conversations about guidelines and best practices for screen use among the youngest age groups.
