Spotify is now an AI chatbot, too

Spotify is experimenting with a new AI feature that allows Premium subscribers to play and explore music, audiobooks, and podcasts by having conversations with a chatbot. The "Talk to Spotify" feature appears across the Home and Now Playing view on Spotify's mobile app. You can interact with the chatbot by typing your request in the […]

X admits its broken algorithm made the site feel like a ‘battleground’

X's head of product, Nikita Bier, admitted in a post on Monday that X's algorithm was "missing" data about surfacing posts from people who you've followed back. Now, he says a tweak will "boost visibility of your posts to your mutuals," hopefully enhancing the sense of community instead of highlighting and spreading random arguments, but […]

Sam Altman didn’t need another lawsuit

OpenAI has spent the better part of the year involved in lawsuit after lawsuit, including one from the world's richest man. But last Friday, the company was hit with one of the highest-profile legal actions yet - from Apple. OpenAI's expensive hardware bet is what's on the line. Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI, filed in Northern […]

Pixel Watch 5 leak shows off four different finishes

A new leak may have just spoiled the Pixel Watch 5 and its finishes ahead of Google's launch event next month. Leaked press renders provided to The Tide Chart by OnLeaks appear to show the upcoming watch with four case finishes: black (Dark Anthracite), polished silver (Natural Silver), yellow gold (Warm Gold), and a duskier […]

EverQuest’s biggest fans are leading its revival

Live-service games and the companies that run them are in big trouble. Games and their developers are getting shut down and gutted, and publishers' huge promises are dubious. Meanwhile, EverQuest, one of the original live-service games, is thundering back more than 25 years later. EverQuest Legends is currently in preorder beta with an upcoming release […]

Google’s Demis Hassabis says it’s time for a global AI watchdog — led by the US

Demis Hassabis thinks the world needs an AI watchdog with the power to hit the brakes if frontier models become too dangerous. Writing in a blog post, the Google DeepMind CEO and cofounder said the US should lead the initiative, arguing that the country is the best place to set global standards "given its economic […]

The first sunlight reflecting space mirror has been cleared for launch

Reflect Orbital has been given the green light to launch its first space mirror that aims to redirect sunlight down to Earth at night. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized the California-based startup to build and operate a single prototype satellite in low-Earth orbit later this year, despite concerns over how the technology […]

Let’s build a children’s public internet

An increasing number of people seem to agree the internet is terrible for children - allegedly addictive, destructive to self-esteem, possibly a portal to predators. Over the past year, several countries have started requiring stringent age verification or outright bans for minors. At the end of June in the US, the House of Representatives passed […]

New York becomes the first state to enact a data center moratorium

New hyperscale data centers can't set up shop in New York for up to a year now that Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has signed the nation's first statewide moratorium. But a bill passed by the state legislature that could restrict even more developments still awaits her signature. The order blocks new environmental permits for data […]

Microsoft tests Windows Search without all the ads and fluff

Microsoft is testing a cleaner version of the Windows 11 search menu that strips it of recommended content and ads. In a blog post on Monday, Microsoft announced that it's rolling out the decluttered Search Box to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel as the company looks to regain trust with users and fix Windows. […]