Business & Technology
OpenAI appoints prominent AI safety researcher Paul Christiano to its board
OpenAI Foundation has added AI risk researcher Paul Christiano to its board, as he warns of a near-term possibility of catastrophic loss of control over AI systems. The appointment comes as the company faces renewed scrutiny following several safety incidents.
TechCrunch AI · 10 Sept, 02:11
Meta's new AI agent Muse now controls social media handles once used by the band Muse
Meta's newly launched AI agent Muse is now using the @Muse handle on Instagram and X, previously used for years by the British rock band of the same name. How the handles changed hands remains unexplained.
Engadget · 10 Sept, 02:09
No AirPods with cameras yet at Apple's event — and that's a relief
Apple's fall event brought a foldable iPhone, ANC on cheaper AirPods, and new Watch features, but the long-rumored camera-equipped AirPods Pro were absent and reportedly pushed to 2027.
The Verge · 10 Sept, 02:07
San Francisco Tells Meta to Stop 'Allowing' AI-Generated Child Abuse Ads
San Francisco's city attorney has sent Meta a cease-and-desist letter over more than 350 ads that used AI to turn photos of minors into sexualized video clips. The company has been given 28 days to explain how its ad-review systems failed to catch them.
Wired · 10 Sept, 01:11
Quiz checks whether your CV's computer skills claims hold up
A new 10-question quiz lets people test for themselves whether the computer skills listed on their CV actually match reality.
Latvijas Avīze · 10 Sept, 01:09
Massachusetts imposes new clean energy rules on data centers
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has signed an executive order requiring large data centers to supply their own clean power or contribute to a ratepayer protection fund, making the state the third in recent months to restrict data center growth.
TechCrunch · 10 Sept, 01:08
This is the year of smartphone price hikes
Following Apple's latest iPhone launch, nearly every major smartphone maker has raised prices by around $100 this year, driven by ongoing component shortages.
The Verge · 10 Sept, 01:07
Playdate Season 3 launches October 8 with eight new games
Panic has announced that Playdate Season 3 will begin on October 8, bringing eight new games to the handheld console. The season costs $39 and is now available for pre-order.
Engadget · 10 Sept, 01:07
Apple Watch's new AI features push consumers toward accepting always-listening tech
Apple's new watches introduce features that can record and transcribe conversations, raising privacy and consent concerns. The company says no audio is stored and data is encrypted, but legal and ethical questions remain.
TechCrunch AI · 10 Sept, 00:12
Apple details how new ambient listening features keep audio private
Apple has released a document explaining how its new Audio Intelligence features process sound without ever storing or accessing users' raw audio. The company says the data is handled in an isolated hardware compartment inaccessible to the operating system, apps, or Apple itself.
The Verge · 10 Sept, 00:10
Blizzard Employees Ratify Their First Union Contract
Blizzard Entertainment employees represented by the CWA union have ratified their first collective bargaining contract, covering about 1,900 workers after nearly two years of negotiations.
Engadget · 10 Sept, 00:09
Apple's new CEO puts iPhone at the heart of his AI strategy
In his first keynote as Apple CEO, John Ternus declared the iPhone will remain central to the company's artificial intelligence strategy, pushing back on claims that the smartphone era is fading. The approach echoes Steve Jobs' 2001 defense of the Mac as a digital hub.
TechCrunch · 10 Sept, 00:08
Costa warns countries face bigger EU bills without new bloc-wide taxes
European Council President Antonio Costa is touring EU capitals to build consensus on new revenue sources for the bloc's next seven-year budget, warning that without new taxes, member states will have to pay more directly. France has proposed new levies worth around €60 billion, though most governments are resisting them.
Politico Europe · 9 Sept, 23:12
Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo — Verge staff share mixed first impressions
Apple has announced its first foldable iPhone, called the Duo, starting at $1,999. The Verge's editorial team shared varied, sometimes conflicting reactions to the new device.
The Verge · 9 Sept, 23:11
Apple's new chief unveils foldable "iPhone Duo"
Apple held a special online presentation on Wednesday announcing new products, including the company's first foldable smartphone, the "iPhone Duo". The event marked the first major product launch led by newly appointed CEO John Ternus.
Delfi · 9 Sept, 23:09
Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro lineup and updated wearables at fall event
At its Wednesday fall event, the first under new CEO John Ternus, Apple introduced its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, along with the iPhone 18 Pro series, updated Apple Watches and AirPods 5. The company also unveiled a redesigned Health app.
TechCrunch · 9 Sept, 23:07
Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo alongside new iPhones, Watches and AirPods
At its first fall event under new CEO John Ternus, Apple introduced its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, along with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, updated Apple Watches, AirPods 5 and a redesigned Health app.
TechCrunch AI · 9 Sept, 23:07
Journalist Lets Unrestricted AI Model Hack His Own Home Network
A Wired journalist tested a jailbroken AI model on his home network to uncover security flaws, exposing both the risks of AI-powered hacking and its potential as a defensive tool.
Wired · 9 Sept, 22:13
World gathers in Paris for space summit as US dominance widens the gap
Nearly 120 delegations are meeting in Paris for a two-day International Space Summit on global space governance, even as tensions and US dominance in satellite and rocket technology complicate cooperation. Europe's launch capacity remains far behind America's private space sector.
France 24 · 9 Sept, 22:11
Legal AI firm Harvey reaches $15.5B valuation
Legal AI startup Harvey has raised $550 million in a new funding round at a $15.5 billion valuation, nearly doubling its worth in about nine months.
TechCrunch · 9 Sept, 22:11
FICIL: Security goals must not come at the cost of Latvia's competitiveness
The Foreign Investors' Council in Latvia (FICIL) has commented on the new Immigration Law, stating that security goals must not be achieved at the expense of the country's human capital and competitiveness.
TVNET · 9 Sept, 22:10
Apple unveils Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4
Apple has introduced the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4, launching September 18th. Both models feature a new chip, upgraded heart rate sensors, and longer battery life.
The Verge · 9 Sept, 22:09
Russian grain flowing through Baltic ports strains Latvia and Lithuania
As Ukraine destroys Russia's grain export infrastructure on the Black and Azov Seas, Moscow is increasingly relying on Baltic ports, sparking a political dispute in Latvia and Lithuania where local farmers say they can no longer sell their own harvest.
Delfi · 9 Sept, 22:07
Apple Unveils iPhone Duo, Its First Foldable Smartphone
At its September event in Cupertino, Apple introduced the iPhone Duo alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro lineup, marking its entry into the foldable phone market. Analysts expect the launch to boost the still-niche foldable category.
Wired · 9 Sept, 21:10
Apple debuts its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo
Apple unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, at an event in Cupertino. Analysts predict the device could capture up to 25% of the foldable phone market by year's end.
TechCrunch · 9 Sept, 21:09
US Treasury to buy back $6bn in government debt to ease bond market turmoil
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a $6bn buyback of US government bonds to calm a market sell-off driven by rising inflation and the war in Iran, though yields kept climbing despite the move.
The Guardian World · 9 Sept, 20:13
DOJ demands more information on Fox's $22B Roku acquisition
The US Department of Justice sent Fox and Roku a so-called second request on Tuesday, seeking additional documents as it digs deeper into the proposed $22 billion deal. The move doesn't mean the deal will be blocked, but signals heightened regulatory scrutiny.
TechCrunch · 9 Sept, 20:12
Neo Geo console remake delayed to September 2027
Manufacturer Plaion Replai has pushed back the release of its modern Neo Geo AES+ console from this November to September 16, 2027, citing high demand and a global memory chip shortage, though prices remain unchanged.
Engadget · 9 Sept, 20:10
Fuel prices in Latvia nearing record highs as diesel surges sharply
Fuel prices in Latvia are rapidly approaching previous record levels amid a sharp rise in global oil prices. Diesel has seen a particularly steep increase.
LSM · 9 Sept, 20:08
Fuel prices in Latvia near record high: diesel tops 2 euros per liter
Fuel prices in Latvia are approaching a record high, with diesel now costing more than 2 euros per liter, as global oil prices surge again above 100 US dollars per barrel.
iAuto.lv · 9 Sept, 20:07
John Ternus leads first Apple product launch as new CEO
Apple held a product event on Wednesday led for the first time by new CEO John Ternus, marking the company's first such transition in over a decade. Ternus takes charge of a company facing AI competition and other pressing challenges.
The Verge · 9 Sept, 20:06
Mario Kart World gets ten retro tracks from the SNES original
Nintendo is releasing a free update for Mario Kart World today that adds ten classic tracks from the original Super Mario Kart game. It marks the first time the game has received new tracks since launch.
Engadget · 9 Sept, 19:14
Anthropic researchers warn AI could threaten human survival by 2030
Three people linked to AI company Anthropic have publicly voiced fears that artificial intelligence development could lead to human extinction within the decade, with one having resigned in protest.
The Guardian World · 9 Sept, 19:11
Google Search adds live NFL game tracking features
Google is rolling out a live game feed and improved stats in Search as the NFL regular season begins, along with fantasy football account integration.
The Verge · 9 Sept, 19:07
AI researcher calls for halting development of superintelligence
On TechCrunch's Equity podcast, researcher Connor Leahy argues that building superintelligent AI has become too risky and should be stopped altogether. His nonprofit ControlAI is now pushing this stance through new legislation.
TechCrunch AI · 9 Sept, 19:06
AI Researcher Calls for Halt to Superintelligent AI Development
ControlAI's Connor Leahy argued on TechCrunch's Equity podcast that superintelligent AI development should be stopped entirely, citing safety incidents like OpenAI's Hugging Face breach as evidence such systems can become unmanageable. He noted this once-fringe view is now gaining traction through new legislation.
TechCrunch · 9 Sept, 19:06