Business & Technology
1Password faces backlash over donation to Linux project tied to DHH
Password manager 1Password is under fire from customers and staff after donating $300,000 to a foundation behind the Omarchy Linux distribution, created by developer David Heinemeier Hansson, who has made controversial anti-immigrant remarks.
The Verge · 3 Sept, 01:32
US spending deal temporarily blocks political control over science grants
The US House passed a stopgap funding bill keeping the government open until December, which also bars the budget office from imposing rules giving political appointees full control over science grants until December 11. The measure still awaits the president's signature.
Ars Technica · 3 Sept, 01:28
Palantir CEO says French restrictions on US software are backfiring
Palantir chief executive Alex Karp said France's regulatory limits on US software use by government bodies are counterproductive, after France dropped Palantir at its DGSI intelligence agency in favor of local firm ChapsVision.
France 24 · 3 Sept, 01:25
Sony to host back-to-back State of Play showcases featuring Final Fantasy 7 Revelation
Sony will broadcast two consecutive State of Play showcases on Thursday, September 3, promising an extended look at Final Fantasy 7 Revelation among other titles. Both events will stream on YouTube and Twitch.
Engadget · 3 Sept, 00:33
Netherlands moves gold reserves from North America to London
The Dutch central bank has relocated 86 tonnes of gold from the US and Canada to London, citing rising geopolitical instability. The months-long operation took place amid an ongoing US-Canada trade dispute.
Jauns.lv · 3 Sept, 00:29
Gas prices keep climbing, experts warn of pricier winter electricity
Natural gas prices have hit their highest level since late 2022, threatening significantly costlier winter electricity than last year. Experts say further price increases cannot be ruled out.
ERR (rus) · 2 Sept, 23:31
Wary of Artemis IV Timeline, NASA Simplifies Its Lunar Spacesuit Design
NASA has decided to develop a simplified spacesuit variant with Axiom Space for its first crewed Moon landings, part of a broader push to speed up the Artemis program and reach the lunar south pole as early as 2028.
Ars Technica · 2 Sept, 23:29
Google releases Gemini 3.8 Flash — model 'works harder' but usage could cost more
Google has launched Gemini 3.8 Flash, which performs more reasoning steps than its predecessor but may consume more tokens and thus raise costs for users. The model shows gains in coding and agentic benchmarks, while a restricted security-focused version is being offered to governments and trusted partners.
The Verge · 2 Sept, 23:27
UN report: Global warming will exceed 1.5-degree target
A new UN Environment Program report acknowledges that the world will surpass the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit, shifting focus to minimizing how long temperatures stay above that threshold.
Engadget · 2 Sept, 23:25
OpenAI's new reasoning technique alarms AI safety experts
OpenAI's upcoming Astra model will use a method called "opaque recurrence" that makes its reasoning harder to monitor, prompting concern from AI safety researchers. Experts warn that expanding the technique could severely undermine the ability to oversee AI behavior.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Sept, 23:25
OpenAI's new reasoning method worries AI safety experts
OpenAI's upcoming Astra model will reportedly use a technique called "recurrent depth," which could make its reasoning process harder to monitor. AI safety experts warn the approach risks reducing oversight of model behavior if adopted more broadly.
TechCrunch · 2 Sept, 23:25
New York City bans generative AI in public schools through eighth grade
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's one-year moratorium takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year, affecting about 600,000 students, alongside new screen-time guidelines and critical-thinking lessons for high schoolers.
Engadget · 2 Sept, 22:30
REI's Labor Day sale runs through September 7, with deep discounts on outdoor gear
US retailer REI has launched its Labor Day sale, offering discounts on hiking and camping equipment, clothing and accessories. The sale continues through September 7, 2026.
The Verge · 2 Sept, 22:29
Amazon’s AI assistant can now verify messages from the company
Amazon’s AI assistant for shopping can now verify whether emails, texts, and calls are genuinely from the company, offering a new layer of defense against impersonation scams.
The Verge · 2 Sept, 21:35
Chevron to expand operations in Venezuela
Chevron, the only major U.S. oil firm operating in Venezuela, says it has received additional acreage and will double its output.
Al Jazeera · 2 Sept, 20:36
Range Rover Electric Debuts With Familiar Looks, Up to 330 Miles of Range
Range Rover has unveiled its first electric SUV, which keeps the traditional design of its gas-powered models while offering 542 horsepower, an estimated 330 miles of range and 22-minute fast charging.
The Verge · 2 Sept, 20:33
Nexus Mods acquires SteamDB
Nexus Mods, the world's largest mod-sharing platform, has announced the acquisition of SteamDB, an independent database for Steam. The community-run site will keep operating as before while gaining stronger resources.
Engadget · 2 Sept, 20:30
Pangram raises $9M for AI detection, partners with Substack on AI-written newsletter labels
AI-generated content is complicating trust online. Startup Pangram raised $9 million to expand AI detection and teamed up with Substack to show readers which authors use AI in their newsletters.
TechCrunch · 2 Sept, 20:25
AI startup Wonderful more than doubles valuation to $5B in under six months
Israeli-Dutch AI startup Wonderful has raised $550 million in a Series C round that values the company at $5 billion, more than double the $2 billion valuation it reached nearly six months ago. Salesforce joined the round as a new investor.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Sept, 19:28
Trump administration backs OpenAI in New York Times copyright case
The US government has filed a statement in court supporting OpenAI's position that training AI models on copyrighted text qualifies as fair use, intervening in The New York Times' lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft seeking billions in damages.
The Verge · 2 Sept, 19:26
AI security startup HiddenLayer raises $100M as enterprise demand surges
AI security startup HiddenLayer has raised a $100 million Series B round as companies increasingly invest in protecting their AI deployments. The company's revenue has grown more than tenfold over the past year.
TechCrunch · 2 Sept, 18:31
Uber to cut around 3,000 jobs as part of efficiency drive
Uber is restructuring its organization, laying off roughly 10 percent of its workforce and requiring most remote employees to return to an office. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the changes aim to simplify management and speed up decision-making.
Engadget · 2 Sept, 18:29
Economists: wage growth in Latvia to remain moderate in coming period
Bank economists say wage growth in Latvia will remain moderate in the near term, commenting on newly published second-quarter data from the Central Statistical Bureau. A significant further slowdown in growth is not expected.
TVNET · 2 Sept, 18:25
Business roundup for September 2: ride-sharing giant cuts jobs, Ryanair issues a warning
Wednesday's business digest covers major developments in Latvia and around the world, from mass layoffs at a ride-sharing giant and a Ryanair warning to new energy deals and investments in Latvian companies.
Delfi · 2 Sept, 17:32
Adobe acquires Indian marketing intelligence startup Rilo
Adobe has acquired Indian startup Rilo, which built AI-powered marketing workflow automation tools, through a deal combining IP licensing and team hiring. Financial terms remain undisclosed, and Rilo will shut down after the transition.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Sept, 17:27
MIRAVA raises €4.2 million to develop smart recreational boats
Boat technology startup MIRAVA has raised €4.2 million in angel funding to move from three years of product development into small-batch production and customer deliveries. The company plans to present its product to the European market at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2026.
EU-Startups · 2 Sept, 17:26
Tado unveils new smart thermostat aimed at Google Nest users
German company Tado has launched the second-generation Smart Thermostat X, hoping to win over European customers who haven't yet replaced their Nest devices since Google's exit from the thermostat market. The new model features a slimmer design and expanded features.
The Verge · 2 Sept, 17:25
Chevron agrees deal to significantly boost oil production in Venezuela
US oil company Chevron has reached a seven-billion-dollar agreement with Venezuela to develop two additional oil fields. The deal is expected to more than double the country's oil output within five years.
TVNET · 2 Sept, 16:32
Norway weighs ban on camera-equipped smart glasses
Norway's government is considering regulating or banning camera-enabled wearable devices such as smart glasses over privacy concerns. The digital minister said such equipment must not be used to monitor people in public spaces.
TechCrunch · 2 Sept, 16:28
Risk of higher electricity prices this autumn greater than last year, energy firm warns
Despite record solar and wind output, Baltic electricity prices this summer were a third higher than a year earlier, and energy company Enefit warns the risk of further price increases this autumn is now greater than last year.
Latvijas Avīze · 2 Sept, 15:32
OpenAI hit with 30 more lawsuits over Tumbler Ridge school shooting
Law firm Edelson PC has filed 30 additional lawsuits against OpenAI tied to February's mass shooting at a Canadian school, for the first time alleging the company aided and abetted the attack rather than merely failing to prevent it.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Sept, 15:31
Uber to lay off 3,300 employees, 10% of global workforce
Uber announced it will cut about 3,300 jobs, roughly 10% of its global headcount, as part of a restructuring aimed at reducing management layers and boosting investment in ride-sharing, delivery and robotaxi operations.
TechCrunch · 2 Sept, 15:28
Why the future home robot might not need legs
The Verge surveys humanoid home robots shown at CES and IFA, concluding a fully humanoid robot butler isn't practical for real homes. Instead, it argues for an AI 'robot brain' that coordinates existing smart devices.
The Verge · 2 Sept, 14:30
Sony Headphones See Major Price Cuts, With WH-1000XM5 Nearly Half Off
Several Sony headphone models, including the popular WH-1000XM5, are currently subject to steep discounts, with the flagship model available at roughly half its usual price — among the lowest prices recorded for it.
Wired · 2 Sept, 14:28
As eurozone inflation accelerates, markets expect ECB rate hike
Eurozone inflation rose to 3.3% in August, and financial markets now expect the European Central Bank to raise its key interest rate to 2.5% at its September 10 meeting.
ERR (rus) · 2 Sept, 14:24
Spanish company iPremom raises €15 million to advance early detection of pregnancy complications
Valencia-based molecular diagnostics firm iPremom has raised €15 million in a Seed round to develop its MaiRa platform, which uses blood tests to detect early signs of pregnancy complications. The round was led by Amadeus Capital Partners.
EU-Startups · 2 Sept, 13:28