From The Verge · 40 stories
Trump Claims US is Renaming AI to 'Super Intelligence'
Donald Trump stated that the US is officially renaming artificial intelligence to "super intelligence," claiming the word "artificial" makes intelligence sound fake. He announced this during a speech at the UN General Assembly, suggesting all US documents and potentially global ones would adopt the new term.
Paramount Appoints Ynon Kreiz as Co-CEO Ahead of Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Close
Paramount appointed Ynon Kreiz, former Mattel CEO, as co-CEO to lead the company alongside David Ellison, effective October 5th. This appointment occurs as Paramount's $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery nears completion, following a recent legal settlement approval.
Keurig Launches Alta Machine Using Plastic-Free, Compostable Coffee Pucks
Keurig released its new Alta single-serve coffee machine, which uses compostable AltaRounds coffee pucks instead of plastic and aluminum pods. This release offers a more environmentally friendly option for single-serve coffee brewing while maintaining convenience.
Amazon delivery drivers to use smart glasses taking constant photos, raising privacy concerns
Amazon plans to equip delivery drivers with smart glasses that will take thousands of photos per shift, uploading them to its AI Wellspring platform. This initiative aims to "enhance the delivery process" but raises significant privacy concerns for both drivers and customers, with no current opt-out option or clear data retention policy.
Asus receives exemption from US router ban without confirming US manufacturing plans
Asus obtained an exemption from the US ban on foreign-made consumer routers, allowing it to sell Wi-Fi 8 routers in the US. The company has not publicly committed to or confirmed submitting a plan for US manufacturing, which was a condition for exemption, raising questions about the ban's enforcement and purpose.
Xbox CEO Denies Reports of Microsoft Selling Gaming Division
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that Microsoft's Xbox business is not for sale, refuting earlier reports that Microsoft executives considered spinning out the division. Instead, Microsoft is proceeding with a restructuring plan for Xbox, which includes layoffs and a focus on core franchises.
Google Maps Renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' for US Users Following Executive Order
Google Maps has updated its display for users in the United States, renaming "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America" following an executive order by President Trump and an update to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This change aligns with Google's policy of reflecting official government name changes for bodies of water, while users in Canada will continue to see "Lake Ontario." This is the second such renaming, following "Gulf of America" in February 2025.
Apple Increases Prices for Apple TV and Individual Apple One Subscriptions
Apple has raised the monthly price of Apple TV from $12.99 to $14.99 and the annual price from $99 to $119. The individual Apple One subscription also increased from $19.95 to $21.95 per month. This marks the fourth price increase for Apple TV in four years and follows recent price adjustments for other Apple services.
Comcast Activates Wi-Fi Motion Sensing on Xfinity Routers for Home Activity Monitoring
Comcast has launched Xfinity Shield, a new home security platform that includes Wi-Fi Motion, a feature enabling compatible Xfinity routers to detect movement by analyzing disruptions in Wi-Fi signals. This update, available through the Xfinity Internet app, allows customers to monitor home activity without additional hardware, providing an added layer of awareness for Xfinity Internet users.
Google Images Revamps Homepage with Personalized Gallery and AI Features
Google Images is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a redesigned homepage. The update introduces a dynamic, personalized image gallery and includes AI features like image generation via Nano Banana 2 Lite. These changes aim to enhance user engagement and improve the visual search experience.
Microsoft Adopts Biomimicry for Data Centers to Address Community Pushback
Microsoft is implementing "biomimicry" in its data center designs to mitigate local community opposition regarding construction, pollution, and noise. This approach involves integrating data centers more harmoniously with natural landscapes and investing in ecosystem repair, aiming to reduce the environmental and social impact of these facilities.
AI music generator Suno adds spoken word generation with optional background music
Suno, an AI music generator, has launched a new feature called Speech that generates spoken voices from scripts or descriptions. This feature allows users to create voiceovers with optional AI-generated background music, expanding Suno's offerings beyond music generation.
Trump White House launches online arcade with games based on popular titles
The Trump White House released an online arcade featuring games that appropriate popular titles for political messaging. These games include variations of Flappy Bird, Tetris, and Snake, with themes related to border security and financial policies.
Humanoid Robots Surpass Usain Bolt's 100m Record at World Humanoid Robot Games
Two Chinese humanoid robots, Tiangong Ultra and Honor's Lightning, recorded 100-meter dash times of 9.39 and 9.47 seconds respectively, exceeding Usain Bolt's human record of 9.58 seconds. This development demonstrates rapid progress in bipedal robot locomotion, though the robots still lack controlled stopping mechanisms.
Peacock Raises Streaming Prices Across All Tiers, Up to $3 Per Month
Peacock has increased prices for all its streaming plans, with the ad-supported Select tier now $8.99/month, Premium at $12.99/month, and the ad-free Premium Plus at $19.99/month. These changes take effect for new subscribers on August 18 and for existing subscribers after September 17, marking the service's latest price adjustment.
AI Supercharges Hacking, Leaving Hospitals and Banks Vulnerable
AI is increasingly being used to enhance hacking capabilities, posing a significant threat to organizations like hospitals and banks that may lack adequate defenses. A nonprofit, Vivian's Door, experienced a cyberattack that cost them $3,000 and raised concerns about AI's role in the incident. This trend highlights a growing disparity in cybersecurity readiness between large tech companies and smaller entities.
Volkswagen replaces ID.4 with all-electric ID.Tiguan, adding physical controls
Volkswagen will replace the ID.4 crossover with the ID.Tiguan, an all-electric version of its popular Tiguan model, starting with a European launch in early 2027. This move aims to leverage recognizable nameplates for EV sales and addresses ID.4 shortcomings like the lack of physical buttons.
Vivo X Fold 6 foldable phone launches globally with a 200-megapixel main camera
Vivo's X Fold 6, a foldable smartphone, is launching internationally after its initial release in China. The device features a 200-megapixel main camera and a 6,900mAh battery, but its aspect ratio and visible screen crease are noted as older design choices.
Pixel Watch 5 Leak Shows No Chip Upgrade, But Increased RAM
A Google Play Console listing for the Pixel Watch 5, codenamed "godric," indicates it will retain the Qualcomm SW5100 chip, similar to previous models. However, the device is expected to feature 3 GB of RAM, an increase from 2 GB, which could support new Gemini Intelligence features.
Weber shuts down June Oven cloud services, rendering smart features inoperable
Weber discontinued cloud services for June Oven, an appliance it acquired in 2021, leaving existing ovens without smart functionalities like app control and AI food recognition. This event highlights the vulnerability of smart home devices reliant on cloud infrastructure, as many connected products cease to function as intended when their supporting services are terminated.
Microsoft moves communications to legal department, Brad Smith to oversee
Microsoft is moving its communications group from marketing to its Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) organization. Brad Smith, Microsoft vice chair and president, will temporarily oversee communications following the departure of Chief Communications Officer Frank Shaw, indicating a shift towards a more policy- and corporate-focused communication strategy.
Meta Introduces AI Game Development Tools Horizon Create and Horizon Studio
Meta launched Horizon Create and Horizon Studio, new AI-powered tools for developing games on its Horizon platform. These tools allow users to create 2D and 3D mobile games using AI prompts, and the resulting games will be playable directly within Facebook and Instagram feeds.
Inmo Recalls Air3 Smart Glasses Due to Overheating Temples Causing Burns
Inmo has recalled over 1,600 Air3 smart glasses in the US and Canada because the left temple can overheat during extended use, posing a burn hazard. The company is offering a free software update to address the issue, following 10 reports of users experiencing burning sensations.
Flock Safety Faces Congressional Scrutiny Over AI Surveillance Network
Flock Safety is under increased scrutiny from US lawmakers regarding its AI surveillance network and automated license plate readers (ALPRs). A Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing addressed concerns about data privacy, storage, and potential misuse of the technology, with lawmakers from both parties expressing unease.
California Enacts Laws Requiring Data Center Resource Disclosure and Cost Recovery
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed new legislation requiring data centers to disclose water and electricity usage. The laws also direct the California Public Utilities Commission to establish separate power rates for data centers to prevent cost shifting to other consumers and encourage renewable energy use.
OpenAI Hires Three Former Patreon Executives for Creator Product Strategy
OpenAI hired former Patreon co-founder Sam Yam, product head Drew Rowny, and engineering head Shannon Ma to lead its creator product strategy. This move suggests OpenAI is exploring creator monetization, leveraging the executives' experience in the subscription economy.
Xbox merges Forza developers Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios
Microsoft is merging its two Forza development studios, Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios, into a single entity. This consolidation aims to focus development efforts on the Forza Horizon and Fable franchises, raising questions about the future of Forza Motorsport.
Microsoft Lays Off 268 Xbox Staff, Ninja Theory Faces Closure After Sale Attempts Fail
Microsoft is laying off 268 Xbox employees, including staff from Halo Studios and other first-party studios, as part of an ongoing restructuring of its gaming division. Additionally, deals to sell Ninja Theory fell through, leading Microsoft to initiate a consultation period for its potential closure. This continues a broader reorganization that has impacted 1,600 Xbox employees since July and involves the divestiture of several studios.
Cut Verizon Fiber Cable Disrupts Hundreds of US Flights, Blame Disputed
Hundreds of flights across the US were canceled or delayed after construction crews in New Jersey accidentally cut a Verizon fiber cable used for air traffic control. The incident caused ground stops at major New York City airports and led to over 1,000 canceled flights, with various parties disputing responsibility for the cable cut.
Amazon to Invest $20 Million in Colorado River Water Conservation Efforts
Amazon announced a $20 million investment in water conservation projects along the Colorado River and launched the Colorado River Basin Collaborative. This initiative addresses increasing scrutiny over tech companies' water usage, particularly for data centers, and supports Amazon's goal of becoming water positive by 2030.
Bungie to restore vaulted Destiny 2 content, reversing six-year-old decision
Bungie announced plans to restore previously removed content, including campaigns, destinations, and raids, to Destiny 2. This decision reverses the Destiny Content Vault policy implemented six years ago, which had controversially removed paid content from the game, and aims to rebuild player trust and enjoyment.
Vivo Launches X500 Pro Max with 17 Stops Dynamic Range and 4K240 Slo-Mo
Vivo launched its X500 series phones in China, including the X500 Pro Max, which features Sony's Lytia L910 sensor for 17 stops of dynamic range and MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 Pro for 4K 240fps slow-motion video. These advancements mark a notable improvement in smartphone photography and video capabilities, setting a new benchmark for flagship devices.
UN Panel Urges Immediate AI Safeguards Despite Scientific Uncertainty
A United Nations scientific panel released its first major assessment on AI, warning that governments must implement safeguards for AI agents now, even before risks are fully understood. The panel emphasized that the potential for catastrophic harm justifies immediate action, applying the precautionary principle to AI safety.
White House Bans CNN, MS Now, and Politico Reporters
The White House banned reporters from CNN, MS Now, and Politico, escalating restrictions on press access. This action follows previous instances of limiting journalist access and is part of a broader trend affecting news organizations.
Virginia Governor Establishes AI Task Force, Restricts Data Center Development
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order to increase local control over data center development and established an AI task force. The order bans NDAs for data center projects, requires expedited noise regulations, and mandates a review of backup generation operations, while the AI task force will assess risks like workforce displacement and data privacy.
New TACLS Software Uses Satellite Data and Machine Learning to Predict Flash Floods
A new software system called the Transient Artifact and Continuous Learning System (TACLS) combines satellite data with machine learning to improve flash flood prediction. This technology aims to provide earlier warnings for meteorologists, potentially saving lives by allowing for more timely alerts from agencies like the National Weather Service.
FTC Penalizes GM for Selling Driver Data; Mozilla Finds Widespread Auto Data Collection
The Federal Trade Commission issued a five-year ban preventing General Motors from selling customer driving data to third-party brokers after GM collected and shared data like speeding habits, leading to increased insurance rates for some drivers. This action highlights a broader industry issue, as a Mozilla Foundation report found all major car companies have poor privacy practices, collecting extensive user data through various services.
Former EPA Officials Warn Trump Administration Deregulation Harms Health for AI Data Centers
Former EPA officials claim the Trump administration is weakening environmental regulations to accelerate AI data center construction, leading to increased pollution and health risks. They released a report detailing 30 federal actions since January 2025 that they say exacerbate these risks, urging the administration to adopt a "Data Center Health Protection Pledge."
Arizona faces significant water reduction impacting chip manufacturing expansion
Arizona will lose over a quarter of its Colorado River water supply, impacting the state's chip manufacturing industry, including expansions by TSMC and Intel. This water scarcity will increase costs for manufacturers and residents, raising concerns about resource allocation and infrastructure funding.
Electric Air Taxi Test Flights Begin in Texas Under New Federal Program
A new federal pilot program has launched in Texas to test electric, hybrid-electric, and autonomous aircraft, involving companies like Joby, Beta, and Wisk. These test flights aim to gather data for future certification and regulation development, potentially accelerating the market entry of these technologies.