Business & Technology
iRobot reveals Roomba Duo concept — two cleaners combined into one
At IFA in Berlin, iRobot unveiled the Roomba Duo, a concept robot pairing a powerful floor-washing unit with a smaller Roomba vacuum. No price or release date has been set.
The Verge · 4 Sept, 16:12
Alise Vilka: from language struggles in Germany to leading Grenardi Group
Grenardi Group board member and chief operating officer Alise Vilka shares her career path from studying in Germany to working at Rimi Baltic. She stresses that in uncertain times, businesses must stay flexible and make quick decisions.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Sept, 16:10
Why inefficient collateral enforcement makes loans more expensive in Latvia
Industry representatives say that slow and unpredictable collateral enforcement and litigation in Latvia raise banks' credit risk, pushing up loan prices and limiting availability. Improvements are needed in the land register, commercial pledge rules, liquidation and insolvency procedures.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Sept, 15:15
Dyson lets journalists test its new tech-packed CameraJet toothbrush at IFA
At the IFA trade show, Dyson unveiled its first oral care device, the CameraJet — a toothbrush with a built-in camera and water flossing function. An Engadget reporter tried it on fake teeth, since live demos on real users weren't feasible at the show.
Engadget · 4 Sept, 15:12
Japan Prepares Mission to Bring Home First-Ever Samples From a Martian Moon
JAXA plans to launch its MMX probe in October to collect at least 10 grams of material from Mars' moon Phobos, with samples expected back on Earth in 2031. The mission aims to help resolve how Mars' moons formed and may also capture traces of Martian dust.
Wired · 4 Sept, 15:11
US regulator opens probe into Tesla's steering-wheel-free Cybercab rollout
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into Tesla's decision to put its Cybercab, which lacks a steering wheel and pedals, on public roads. The probe began just hours after the first Cybercabs appeared on Austin streets.
TechCrunch · 4 Sept, 15:07
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Latvia posts EU's second-fastest retail trade growth in July
Eurostat data shows Latvia's retail trade turnover rose 7.1% year-on-year in July, the second-highest increase among EU member states. The growth outpaced both the EU and eurozone averages.
TVNET · 4 Sept, 14:12
US diesel prices hit record high amid Iran conflict
Average US diesel prices have climbed to $5.85 a gallon, an all-time high driven by the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, while President Trump pledges relief through a new Venezuela oil deal.
BBC World · 4 Sept, 14:11
Why AI-generated food images look so unappetizing
Restaurants and brands are increasingly using AI-generated images to promote food, but the results are often disturbing rather than appetizing. Experts explain the technical and psychological reasons behind this.
The Verge · 4 Sept, 14:09
Microsoft to Cap Free Xbox Cloud Gaming Hours for Game Pass Subscribers
Starting in November 2026, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will no longer get unlimited cloud streaming — Microsoft is introducing monthly hour limits by subscription tier, with extra hours available for purchase.
4 avoti · 4 Sept, 13:14
London's AI Score raises €4.6 million to help businesses control AI agents
UK startup AI Score, which builds a platform for managing generative and agentic AI use within companies, has secured a €4.6 million Seed round led by Fuel Ventures. The funding will support product development and business expansion.
EU-Startups · 4 Sept, 13:10
Fuel prices rise 8.8% over the past month
Fuel prices in Latvia climbed 8.8% over the past month, driven mainly by a sharp rise in diesel costs. Compared with a year earlier, overall fuel prices are now more than a fifth higher.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Sept, 13:07
Eurostat: Europeans trim transport and communication spending to fund leisure
Despite persistently high essential costs, eurozone households have shifted more of their budgets toward culture and dining over the past year while cutting back on transport and communication, new Eurostat figures show.
Euronews Business · 4 Sept, 13:07
Hundreds of UK firms, including B&Q and Five Guys, named for underpaying staff below minimum wage
The UK government has published a list of 658 employers found to have paid staff less than the legal minimum wage, with £4m returned to workers and £7m in penalties issued.
2 avoti · 4 Sept, 12:18
How startups can uncover hidden industries for their core technology
Anybrain co-founder André Pimenta Ribeiro explains how startups can identify unexpected verticals for their technology by separating its core capability from the original niche it was built for. The approach relies on spotting shared problems across industries and testing them through low-risk pilots before committing resources.
EU-Startups · 4 Sept, 12:11
Euro NCAP's tougher new tests: Chinese EVs outscore Cupra Raval
In Euro NCAP's first tests under the stricter 2026 methodology, three Chinese-brand electric vehicles achieved the maximum five-star rating, while the Cupra Raval reaches five stars only with an optional safety package.
iAuto.lv · 4 Sept, 10:12
Belgian firm Octave.energy raises €10 million to expand battery storage solutions across Europe
Mechelen-based cleantech company Octave.energy has secured €10 million in Series A funding to scale its battery storage and energy management solutions across Europe. The company has been profitable for three consecutive years.
EU-Startups · 4 Sept, 10:10
Lexar's new Muse portable SSD is under 4mm thick
Lexar plans to launch its ultra-slim Muse portable SSD later this year in 512GB and 1TB capacities, measuring just 3.8mm at its thickest point. The drive skips a standard USB-C port, requiring a proprietary magnetic cable instead.
The Verge · 4 Sept, 10:09
Ulefone's new rugged phone comes with a detachable action camera
At IFA 2026 in Berlin, RugOne, part of rugged-phone maker Ulefone, unveiled the Xsnap 7 Pro smartphone featuring a magnetically detachable camera module that doubles as an action cam. The device goes up for Kickstarter preorders in September ahead of a global retail launch.
Engadget · 4 Sept, 10:07
US firm Apogee Enterprises to acquire Latvian company Groglass
US-based Apogee Enterprises is set to acquire Latvian high-tech company Groglass, a maker of anti-reflective glass coatings. The deal is expected to strengthen the American group's position in glass coating technology.
Labs of Latvia · 4 Sept, 09:10
First user review videos of Tesla's unusual-looking Cybercab appear online
The first videos featuring user reviews of Tesla's self-driving Cybercab model have appeared online, drawing attention for the vehicle's unusual design.
iAuto.lv · 4 Sept, 09:09
Latvian companies face worker skills shortage, turn to training over hiring
A survey shows only 9% of Latvian employers report no shortage of skilled staff, pushing companies to invest more in training existing employees and automation rather than waiting for new specialists to enter the labor market.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Sept, 09:08
Industrial output grew 2.3% in July
Estonian industrial companies produced 2.3% more output in July than a year earlier, according to Statistics Estonia, with growth recorded across all three industrial sectors.
ERR (rus) · 4 Sept, 08:27
Latvia's Inčukalns gas storage holds 11 TWh, enough for winter demand
Latvia's Inčukalns underground gas storage currently holds 11 TWh of natural gas, more than the country's total consumption last year, leaving the network ready for the upcoming heating season. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs visited the facility together with Conexus Baltic Grid leadership.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Sept, 07:31
"First come, first served"? What trademark priority really means
Lawyers Elēna Sidorčika and Ieva Judinska-Bandeniece explain the priority principle in trademark law, noting that filing a registration application first does not automatically guarantee rights to a mark.
Delfi · 4 Sept, 07:31
Why AI-generated restaurant menus look so unsettlingly similar
AI-generated food illustrations on restaurant menus are increasingly triggering unease due to their overly smooth, symmetrical look. Experts say the cause lies in how these models are trained on repetitive data, leading to visual homogenization.
TechCrunch · 4 Sept, 07:25
SpaceXAI apologizes for outage that hit Grok and other 'compute partners'
A technical issue at SpaceXAI's Memphis data center knocked Grok offline for more than three hours, and other AI platforms reported similar problems around the same time.
Engadget · 4 Sept, 06:31
Tesla's Driverless Cybercab Quietly Begins Rides in Texas
Tesla has launched public rides in its steering-wheel-free Cybercab in Texas without its usual fanfare and without CEO Elon Musk present, as 45 of the vehicles are now registered for the company's robotaxi network.
Wired · 4 Sept, 06:29
Utilities race to partner with fusion startups as Realta Fusion strikes new deal
US startup Realta Fusion has signed a deal with Wisconsin utility Madison Gas and Electric to explore building one of the country's first grid-connected fusion power plants. The agreement reflects a broader trend of utilities worldwide rushing to partner with fusion companies.
TechCrunch · 4 Sept, 05:31
UN warns "supersized" El Niño phenomenon could deal major blow to global economy
The United Nations has warned that this year's El Niño weather phenomenon is unusually intense and could significantly impact the global economy, while UK cider producers are already feeling the effects of drought.
France 24 · 4 Sept, 05:30
New Jersey Asks Supreme Court to Rule Kalshi Sports Bets Are Gambling, Not Swaps
New Jersey has petitioned the US Supreme Court to decide whether federal law lets prediction-market platform Kalshi bypass state gambling regulations. The state warns that a loss would let companies dodge all state gambling laws simply by registering with the CFTC.
Ars Technica · 4 Sept, 05:30
George Santos Handed Lifetime Ban From Prediction Market Kalshi
Prediction market platform Kalshi has issued its first-ever lifetime ban, targeting former congressman George Santos, along with a $71,000 fine for allegedly manipulating a bet on his own attendance at a presidential address. Separately, a Google engineer faces charges over alleged insider trading on rival platform Polymarket.
Wired · 4 Sept, 05:28
Netflix greenlights live-action series based on D&D's Ravenloft
Netflix has ordered a live-action series called Ravenloft, based on the Dungeons & Dragons setting, with director Alfonso Cuarón attached as executive producer.
Engadget · 4 Sept, 05:28
Nvidia to officially expand DLSS 5 to older RTX 40 GPUs, but players still won't get full control
Nvidia says its new DLSS 5 AI rendering technology, initially planned only for the latest RTX 50 cards, will officially be brought to RTX 40-series GPUs as well, though for gamers it will remain a simple on/off toggle.
The Verge · 4 Sept, 05:26
Volkswagen plans to close four German plants by 2034
According to media reports, Volkswagen is preparing to gradually halt production at four plants in Germany by 2034 as part of a broader cost-cutting and restructuring drive.
iAuto.lv · 4 Sept, 05:26
Diarrhea outbreak among lab primates yields valuable data for Shigella vaccine
A two-year-plus diarrheal outbreak caused by Shigella at a Wisconsin primate research center gave scientists rare immunological data that could guide development of a broadly protective vaccine. The findings were published in Science Translational Medicine.
Ars Technica · 4 Sept, 04:32