Tech

AI Agents Gain New Social Platforms and Car Integration as Tech Firms Push Human Oversight

Across multiple tech outlets, it is widely reported that AI agents are increasingly being integrated into consumer technology and developing independent social behaviors. Apple is reportedly working to enable CarPlay support for third-party AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, allowing user...

Lean-Left: 16 Center: 5
Sources: techcrunch, verge, arstechnica, wired
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Apple explores AI chatbot integration for CarPlay as AI agents gain new capabilities in coding and legal contexts

Apple is developing updates to CarPlay that would allow drivers to interact with third-party AI chatbots—such as those from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—directly through in-car voice systems, moving beyond the current requirement of using an iPhone. This shift, reported by TechCrunch and The Verge,...

Lean-Left: 13 Center: 6
Sources: arstechnica, wired, verge, techcrunch
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Tesla to discontinue Model S and Model X in 2026 amid declining profits; Microsoft gains from OpenAI growth

Tesla plans to cease production of the Model S and Model X in the second quarter of 2026, a decision announced by CEO Elon Musk during an earnings call, according to The Verge and TechCrunch. The move marks the end of Tesla’s two original flagship electric vehicles, with no prior public warning give...

Lean-Left: 15 Center: 2
Sources: arstechnica, techcrunch, wired, verge
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Apple expands design team with Halide co-founder, updates iOS and pro apps amid product lineup changes

Apple has hired Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the iPhone camera app Halide and known for his work on third-party photography tools, joining its design team—a move confirmed by de With himself. This hire coincides with the release of Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup, which includes new models such as t...

Lean-Left: 8 Center: 2
Sources: arstechnica, techcrunch, wired, verge
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Google rolls out AI-powered “Auto Browse” feature in Chrome for premium subscribers

Google has begun rolling out a new AI-powered “Auto Browse” feature in Chrome, available to users subscribed to its AI Pro and AI Ultra tiers in the United States. The feature leverages Google’s Gemini generative AI model to perform multi-step online tasks autonomously, such as researching travel op...

Lean-Left: 3 Center: 1
Sources: arstechnica, techcrunch, wired, verge
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Google rolls out AI-powered “Auto Browse” feature in Chrome for premium subscribers

Google has begun rolling out a new AI-powered “Auto Browse” feature in Chrome, initially available to users subscribed to its AI Pro and AI Ultra tiers. The feature leverages Google’s Gemini model to perform autonomous web tasks—such as researching, comparing products, or navigating multi-step workf...

Center: 1 Lean-Left: 6
Sources: wired, techcrunch, arstechnica
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SpaceX seeks FCC approval for massive satellite constellation amid corporate restructuring and launch demand

SpaceX has filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy up to 1 million solar-powered satellite data centers in low Earth orbit, a proposal that would vastly expand its Starlink infrastructure. The company frames the initiative as a step toward harnessing solar energy a...

Lean-Left: 4 Center: 2
Sources: techcrunch, verge, arstechnica
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SpaceX seeks approval for massive satellite constellation; Blue Origin pauses tourism flights to refocus on lunar goals

SpaceX has filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy up to 1 million solar-powered satellites designed to function as orbital data centers, a move described by some outlets as part of a broader strategy to push the boundaries of space-based infrastructure. TechCrunch...

Lean-Left: 4 Center: 2
Sources: verge, arstechnica, techcrunch
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Apple extends support for legacy iOS versions and plans to absorb RAM cost increases to stabilize iPhone pricing

Apple has renewed digital certificates for iOS versions dating back to 2013 to ensure continued functionality of core services like iMessage and FaceTime on older devices, a move confirmed by both Ars Technica and Wired. This technical adjustment allows users of outdated hardware to maintain connect...

Lean-Left: 4 Center: 1
Sources: wired, arstechnica, verge
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Emerging AI and robotic assistants gain traction amid security concerns and design innovation

Several new AI-driven and robotic assistants are gaining attention for their ability to integrate into daily life, with Moltbot—an open-source virtual assistant previously known as Clawdbot—drawing users seeking always-on AI support via platforms like WhatsApp, despite significant security risks. Me...

Lean-Left: 4 Center: 1
Sources: arstechnica, wired, verge
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AI systems increasingly rely on questionable sources and raise new ethical concerns over data privacy and behavioral influence

Multiple AI systems, including ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and AI Overviews, have been found citing “Grokipedia,” an AI-generated encyclopedia created by Elon Musk, as a source for responses—an emerging trend that has raised concerns about the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated content. Concurre...

Lean-Left: 2 Center: 2
Sources: verge, wired, arstechnica
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Nvidia CEO denies reports of stalled $100B investment in OpenAI amid broader industry shifts in AI development

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has publicly denied reports that his company’s planned $100 billion investment in OpenAI has stalled or been abandoned, calling such claims “nonsense” according to TechCrunch and The Verge. Both outlets report that Nvidia announced the potential investment in September, and H...

Lean-Left: 4
Sources: verge, wired, techcrunch
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Robotaxi incidents in San Francisco spark investigation, while companies compete on pricing and service speed

On January 17, a Zoox autonomous vehicle collided with a parked car in San Francisco, prompting an investigation by the San Francisco Police Department. Zoox stated the crash occurred after a parked car’s door was “suddenly opened,” while police are reviewing video and sensor data to determine respo...

Lean-Left: 3
Sources: wired, techcrunch, verge
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Major tech and lifestyle brands offer seasonal discounts on headphones, streaming devices, and meal prep services

Several major tech and lifestyle brands, including Apple, Google, Nomad Goods, and Factor, are currently offering promotional discounts on popular consumer products such as AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation, Google’s 4K TV Streamer, phone cases, wallets, and meal prep kits. These deals are be...

Lean-Left: 14
Sources: verge, wired
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Silicon Valley figures grapple with political engagement amid rising tensions over wealth taxes, Trump policies, and social unrest

Several prominent figures in Silicon Valley are increasingly engaging with political issues, as evidenced by a planned “March for Billionaires” in protest of California’s proposed wealth tax, calls from tech leaders like Reid Hoffman to more forcefully oppose President Trump, and growing unease amon...

Lean-Left: 5
Sources: techcrunch, wired
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