Technology

SF Mayor Calls for Stricter Robotaxi Rules After Waymo-Linked Gridlock

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has urged state regulators to impose stricter requirements on robotaxi companies such as Waymo. The call comes in the aftermath of a significant traffic gridlock incident that lasted several hours in the city. Lurie's push signals growing pressure from local officials on autonomous vehicle operators over their impact on urban traffic. The mayor's appeal targets state-level regulators, who currently hold authority over robotaxi licensing and operations in California.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

SpaceX Aborts Second Starship V3 Launch Attempt After Ignition

SpaceX abruptly called off the second launch attempt of its Starship V3 rocket after the vehicle had already reached ignition. The company did not immediately provide an explanation for the abort. The incident triggered a notable market reaction, with SpaceX stock falling more than 4% in after-hours trading. Losses were partially recovered shortly after the initial drop. The abort marks a setback for SpaceX's continued efforts to advance its next-generation Starship program.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Trump Health Nominees Face Tough Questioning at Senate Confirmation Hearing

Two of President Trump's nominees for health-related positions faced a difficult Senate confirmation hearing. Senators pressed both nominees with pointed questions, seeking clear answers on key policy matters. Each nominee struggled to respond effectively, though in different ways. The tense exchanges raised doubts among lawmakers about the nominees' readiness for their respective roles.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

HP fined $16.8M in India for cartelization of ink cartridges, toner, and PCs

India's competition authority has imposed a fine of 1.4 billion rupees on HP for engaging in cartelization practices related to its printing supplies and personal computers. The penalty stems from findings that HP coordinated pricing or supply arrangements in an anti-competitive manner. The case reportedly involved resellers who had threatened to switch to counterfeit alternatives amid disputes over HP's supply chain practices. The ruling highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of multinational technology companies operating in the Indian market.

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TechnologyBBC Tech ·

Trump Media launches paid early-access feed for Wall Street traders

Trump Media is introducing a subscription-based service that gives Wall Street traders faster access to posts from its social media platform. The offering is designed to provide financial professionals with an early look at key social media content. The move represents a direct monetization effort targeting the investment and trading community. By catering to traders, Trump Media appears to be positioning its social content as market-relevant information.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Epic Games to Launch 36 AI-Powered NPC Characters in Fortnite on July 30

Epic Games will allow Fortnite creators to publish experiences featuring AI-voiced characters starting July 30th. The company has pre-built 36 characters with consistent AI-generated voices and personas for creators to use as NPCs. Familiar Fortnite figures such as Agent Jonesy, Peely, Fishstick, and Cuddle Team Leader are among the available characters. Epic previously tested AI character technology with a Darth Vader NPC voiced using James Earl Jones' likeness, which was approved by his estate.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Coca-Cola halts Fairlife dairy production in US after ransomware attack

Coca-Cola has confirmed that dairy production at its Fairlife subsidiary has been suspended across the United States following a ransomware cyberattack. The company stated that operations will 'remain suspended' as it deals with the aftermath of the hack. Fairlife is a premium dairy brand owned by Coca-Cola, known for its filtered milk and protein shake products. The attack highlights the growing vulnerability of major food and beverage companies to cyber threats targeting operational infrastructure.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

T-Mobile to Restore Free Lines Wrongly Canceled During Forced Plan Migration

T-Mobile made errors during a forced migration of customers to new plans, accidentally canceling some users' free lines in the process. The carrier has acknowledged the mistake and committed to restoring the affected free lines for impacted customers. However, the broader price increases associated with the plan migration will remain in place despite the restoration. The incident highlights ongoing friction between T-Mobile and its customers over involuntary plan changes. Affected users are expected to have their free lines reinstated, though a specific timeline was not detailed.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Samsung 55-inch Frame TV (2025) drops to $698 on Amazon, $200 off usual price

Samsung's 2025 Frame TV is currently available on Amazon for $697.99, roughly $200 below its regular retail price. The 55-inch model features a 4K QLED panel, a 144Hz refresh rate with variable refresh rate support, and HDR10 Plus. Designed to resemble framed wall art, the TV uses a matte display and picture-frame bezels to blend into home décor when not in active use. It connects to a separate One Connect box that provides four HDMI ports, two USB-A ports, Ethernet, coaxial, and optical audio inputs. However, reviewers note the Frame generally trails similarly priced TVs in brightness, color accuracy, and black levels, which can affect movie and gaming performance.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

EU officially orders Google to share search data and open Android AI access

The European Union has formally mandated that Google share its search data with rival companies and open up artificial intelligence features on the Android platform. The decision is part of the EU's broader effort to promote competition and reduce Google's dominance in the digital market. Google has pushed back against the ruling, arguing that the requirements could put user privacy and security at risk. The move marks a significant regulatory step under the EU's competition enforcement framework, which has increasingly targeted major tech platforms. The changes are expected to reshape how competing services access and leverage Google's search infrastructure and AI tools within Europe.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Netflix reveals ~300 titles used generative AI, mostly in post-production

Netflix disclosed in its second-quarter earnings report that approximately 300 titles on its platform have used generative AI tools. The streaming giant stated it is increasingly adopting these technologies to improve output quality, speed, and cost efficiency. Most AI usage occurred in post-production, with titles such as Glory and The American Experiment among the cited examples. These productions leveraged AI for complex visual tasks including crowd enhancement, historical battle sequences, and worldbuilding shots.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

xAI Files First Lawsuit Against User for Generating CSAM via Grok

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI has filed its first lawsuit against a user accused of using the Grok AI chatbot to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The legal action marks a shift in xAI's approach after the company could no longer deny that its platform was being misused to produce such content. The lawsuit targets an individual user alleged to have exploited Grok's capabilities to create illegal imagery. xAI appears to be using litigation as a tool to address and deter the misuse of its AI system for generating CSAM.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Hyundai Workers Strike Over Plans to Deploy 25,000 Atlas Robots by 2028

Workers at a Hyundai automobile factory have gone on strike amid fears over the company's plans to introduce humanoid robots on the production floor. Hyundai intends to deploy approximately 25,000 Atlas robots, with US factories targeted as the initial rollout sites starting in 2028. The industrial action reflects growing anxiety among human workers about job security as automation technology advances. The strike highlights a broader tension between automakers pursuing robotic efficiency and labor forces concerned about displacement.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Founders Fund Appoints Former OpenAI Executive Ryan Beiermeister as Partner

Ryan Beiermeister, a former OpenAI executive, has joined venture capital firm Founders Fund as a partner. Beiermeister had previously gained visibility through her appearance on Founders Fund's YouTube series titled 'Mafia,' where she was noted for her analytical thinking. The hire marks a formal transition for Beiermeister from her role at OpenAI into the venture capital space. Founders Fund, known for backing bold technology bets, has added her to its partnership team.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Trump teleprompter aide allegedly earned $100,000 betting on Trump's speeches

A White House aide responsible for managing Donald Trump's teleprompter reportedly made around $100,000 through prediction market bets. The aide is said to have wagered on the specific content of Trump's public remarks, leveraging insider knowledge of prepared speech materials. The reports suggest the individual placed bets on platforms that allow users to wager on real-world outcomes, including political events and statements. The alleged conduct raises serious ethical and legal questions about the use of privileged access to non-public information for personal financial gain. The White House has not publicly commented on the reports as of the time of publication.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

US CD Sales Rise 16% in Early 2026, Driven by K-Pop and Fan Support

CD sales in the United States surged 16 percent year-over-year in the first half of 2026, with 16.3 million units sold, according to research firm Luminate. The growth was attributed to collection building, affordable pricing, and a strong K-pop release schedule, including BTS's album ARIRANG. Even excluding K-pop purchases, CD sales still grew by 6.7 percent, suggesting broader mainstream interest in the format. Some buyers appear to be purchasing CDs not to listen to them, but as a way to financially support their favorite artists.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid Gets Larger Battery for More Electric Range

Toyota has unveiled the 2026 RAV4 plug-in hybrid, featuring a significantly larger battery designed to handle most daily driving on electric power alone. The upgraded battery capacity means many owners may rarely need to visit a gas station for routine commutes. The RAV4 remains one of Toyota's most popular small SUVs, and the plug-in variant aims to make it more appealing to eco-conscious buyers. The enhanced electric range positions the 2026 model as a more practical alternative to fully electric vehicles for everyday use.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Russia's Top State Hackers Adopt ClickFix Social Engineering Technique

Russia's most elite state-sponsored hackers have begun using ClickFix, a social engineering technique, to compromise devices. Previously, ClickFix was primarily associated with financially motivated cybercriminals rather than nation-state actors. The technique manipulates users into executing malicious commands on their own systems, making it an effective infection method. The adoption of this tactic by sophisticated Russian threat actors marks a notable shift in how advanced persistent threat groups operate. This development raises concerns among cybersecurity experts about the broader spread of the method across different categories of hackers.

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TechnologyNYT Technology ·

White House Teleprompter Operator Won $100K Betting on Trump Speeches

A technical assistant working at the White House placed bets on President Trump's speeches and won approximately $100,000, according to prediction market platform Kalshi. The activity was identified by Kalshi, which subsequently reported it to federal authorities. The case raises concerns about insider advantage, as the individual had direct access to Trump's prepared remarks before they were delivered publicly. Kalshi disclosed the incident, highlighting the platform's self-reporting mechanisms around potentially irregular betting activity.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Torvalds dismisses calls to ban AI coding tools from Linux development

Linux creator Linus Torvalds has responded sharply to critics who want AI-generated code banned from the Linux kernel project. Torvalds made clear he has no intention of prohibiting developers from using AI tools in their contributions. He stated he would 'very loudly ignore' those pushing for such a ban. To those strongly opposed, Torvalds offered a blunt alternative: fork the project or walk away entirely.

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