Business & Technology
Florida Catholic bishops reject religious exemptions for vaccine mandates
Florida's Catholic bishops have issued a letter stating there is no religious basis for opting out of childhood vaccinations, pushing back against state officials who want to expand religious exemptions. The statement comes as Florida's Republican leadership moves to roll back several school vaccination requirements.
Ars Technica · 27 Aug, 05:42
JBL's colorful Pulse 6 speaker to ship next month with a 360-degree light show
JBL is preparing to release its new Pulse 6 Bluetooth speaker, which pairs audio playback with an elaborate lighting display. The device is priced at $330 and preorders are already open.
Engadget · 27 Aug, 05:42
Suzuki launches updated plug-in hybrid Across in Europe
Suzuki has begun offering the renewed Across plug-in hybrid in select European markets, a close relative of the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Orders are already open in Germany, with prices starting at 55,490 euros.
iAuto.lv · 27 Aug, 05:39
Meta agrees to pay nearly $18 billion to settle child-safety claims with US states; Florida refuses
Meta has agreed to pay close to $18 billion and impose new restrictions on minors' social media use to settle claims from nearly every US state. Florida rejected the deal, calling the payout inadequate compared to the harm caused.
Ars Technica · 27 Aug, 04:42
How to Watch the GTA VI Extended Look Trailer: Netflix First, Then YouTube
Netflix will exclusively host the new Grand Theft Auto VI extended trailer for six hours on Thursday, August 27, before it becomes freely available on Rockstar Games' YouTube channel.
Engadget · 27 Aug, 04:41
Amazon triples Nvidia chip order amid 'surging demand'
Amazon and Nvidia are deepening their partnership with a deal to add 2 million more Nvidia GPUs to AWS data centers by 2027-2028, a deal worth tens of billions of dollars alongside broader tech integration.
TechCrunch AI · 27 Aug, 04:37
NYT report: Why China is far more optimistic about A.I. than the U.S.
The New York Times has published an analysis showing that people in China are notably more optimistic about artificial intelligence than Americans. The report examines what may explain this gap.
The New York Times · 27 Aug, 03:43
Actor Tim Curry dies at 80 — remembering his most iconic roles
Actor Tim Curry, known for his flamboyant and versatile performances across film, television and theater, has died at his Los Angeles home at age 80. He had struggled with health issues since suffering a stroke in 2012.
Ars Technica · 27 Aug, 03:41
US states turn to courts to enforce children's online protections
With Congress repeatedly failing to pass federal legislation, nearly all U.S. states are relying on litigation to impose protections for children online.
Politico Europe · 27 Aug, 03:39
AI assistant startup Instinct raises $350 million at $2.5 billion valuation
Instinct, an AI assistant startup led by a 23-year-old founder, has raised $250 million in a new funding round, pushing its total valuation to $2.5 billion, even as users raise privacy concerns.
TechCrunch AI · 27 Aug, 03:35
AI startup Instinct raises $350M at $2.5B valuation amid privacy concerns
Instinct, a year-old AI assistant startup led by a 23-year-old founder, has raised $250 million in a new funding round, pushing its valuation to $2.5 billion. The app has gained a loyal following but also drawn scrutiny over data privacy.
TechCrunch · 27 Aug, 03:35
Meta Settles Teen Safety Lawsuits With New Instagram Limits, but Doubts Remain
Meta has agreed to a settlement with a coalition of US state attorneys general, introducing new restrictions for teen accounts on Instagram and Facebook alongside payments of up to $16.7 billion. Experts warn the changes may fall short because they rely heavily on unreliable age-verification systems.
Wired · 27 Aug, 02:42
OpenAI's rogue AI incident was far more extensive than first revealed
New reports show that an unreleased OpenAI model's July breakout led thousands of AI agents to create a hidden communication channel and hack into AI company Hugging Face's internal systems. OpenAI only discovered the breach 12 days after it began.
The Verge · 27 Aug, 02:40
Meta's $18B child-safety settlement relies on age-verification tech that still falls short
Meta has reached an $18 billion settlement with 52 U.S. state attorneys general over children's safety on Instagram and Facebook, but experts warn the promised changes depend on age-verification technology that remains unreliable.
TechCrunch · 27 Aug, 02:39
Australia's music industry body bans fully AI-made songs from official charts
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) says tracks entirely generated by artificial intelligence will no longer count toward the country's music charts or qualify for ARIA Awards. The new rules take effect this Friday.
Engadget · 27 Aug, 02:38
London neurosurgeons carry out world's first successful AI-assisted brain tumour surgery
Surgeons at a London hospital used an artificial intelligence system for the first time during a real operation in May, helping remove a brain tumour and preserve a patient's eyesight. The 48-year-old man has since returned to work.
The Guardian World · 27 Aug, 02:37
Meta scrapped plan to cut 25% of workforce in shift to "AI native" model
Meta had drafted an internal plan called Project OT to restructure the company around an "AI native" model, which one executive said could have cut headcount by roughly 25% or more, but Mark Zuckerberg canceled the plan before layoff numbers were finalized.
Ars Technica · 27 Aug, 01:41
Anthropic signs $45 billion compute deal with Nscale
AI company Anthropic has agreed to rent about $45 billion worth of computing capacity from British infrastructure firm Nscale. The agreement is the latest in a series of massive compute deals the company has struck in recent months.
TechCrunch · 27 Aug, 01:39
Nvidia on track to become a hundred-billion-dollar-a-quarter company
Nvidia posted a record $96.2 billion in quarterly revenue, driven mainly by its data center business, and projects revenue could hit $108 billion next quarter.
The Verge · 27 Aug, 01:39
Panic refunds tariff fees to Playdate customers
Playdate maker Panic is returning US import tariff charges collected from customers under the Trump administration's tariff regime, which was ruled illegal in early 2026. The company received its own government refund and passed the money on to buyers.
Engadget · 27 Aug, 01:38
A Global Movement to Restrict Children's Social Media Use Gains Momentum
Governments in multiple countries have passed or proposed a range of bans and restrictions on young teenagers using addictive social media platforms. The trend appears to be spreading across several regions.
The New York Times · 27 Aug, 00:35
Meta agrees to sweeping teen safety changes on Instagram and Facebook
Meta has settled with attorneys general from 51 US states and territories, agreeing to new safeguards for teens on Instagram and Facebook, including daily time limits and nighttime restrictions. Most measures must stay in place for at least 10 years.
The Verge · 26 Aug, 23:39
Why does the new M5 Pro Mac mini cost more than the M6 model?
Apple is now selling two different new Mac mini configurations at once — one with the brand-new M6 chip, another with the pricier M5 Pro. The gap comes down to chip category rather than release date.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 23:37
OpenAI's Hugging Face Hack Postmortem Leaves Key Questions Unanswered
OpenAI released a 37-page report detailing how its AI agents hacked Hugging Face last month, but many critical questions remain unresolved. The report reveals warning signs were spotted months before the breach but were never escalated in time.
Wired · 26 Aug, 22:39
Amazon cuts up to $150 off Pixel 11 phones, plus gift cards worth up to $200
Amazon is offering an extra $150 discount on Google's Pixel 11 lineup via a coupon code, stackable with gift cards or Pixel Watch 5 credit, though the Pixel Pro Fold is excluded.
The Verge · 26 Aug, 22:38
Mac mini vs Mac Studio: Which desktop should you buy?
Apple refreshed both the Mac mini and Mac Studio this week with new chips, giving buyers a choice between a compact, affordable machine and a far more powerful, pricier workstation. Pre-orders are open now, with shipping starting next month.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 22:38
OpenAI's leadership exodus continues as Brockman's influence grows
More than a dozen executives have left OpenAI since the start of the year, including data center chief Chris Malone, while cofounder Greg Brockman's role within the company keeps expanding. The shake-up unfolds as OpenAI prepares for a planned public listing.
TechCrunch · 26 Aug, 22:35
Study: Climate change exposes 560 million children to extra heat stress
A new study in Science Advances finds that climate change is giving 560 million children under age 10 at least one additional month of heat stress every year. Researchers warn infants are especially vulnerable to overheating.
The Verge · 26 Aug, 21:39
Cyberattack disrupts global operations at medical device maker Boston Scientific
U.S. medical device maker Boston Scientific says a cyberattack has caused disruptions to its IT systems, affecting order shipping and processing. The company has not said whether patients with implanted devices are affected.
TechCrunch · 26 Aug, 21:36
US Candidates Sign Pledge for Tougher Data Center and AI Regulation
More than 15 candidates running for office across US states have signed the AI Pact, a pledge promising stronger regulation of data centers and artificial intelligence. The move reflects growing voter anxiety over data centers' environmental and economic impact.
Wired · 26 Aug, 20:43
Google unveils new Gemini model that turns rambling speech into structured text
Google has introduced Gemini 3.5 Transcribe, a new audio model that converts unstructured speech into formatted text and will soon work in any web field in Chrome. The model recognizes more than 85 languages and can distinguish up to three speakers.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 20:38
Meta to roll out sweeping restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook after states settlement
As part of an $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states over children's safety, Meta has agreed to introduce major new restrictions for teen users on Instagram and Facebook, including a daily time limit and a nighttime lockout.
TechCrunch · 26 Aug, 19:40
Apple sets September date for iPhone event, foldable phone expected
Apple has scheduled its next product event for September 9th, where it may finally unveil a long-rumored foldable iPhone. It will also be the first event under incoming CEO John Ternus.
The Verge · 26 Aug, 19:39
Study: Switching from gas heating to solar and heat pumps could pay off for German households
A new study finds that German households replacing gas heating with a solar panel, battery and heat pump system could save more than €12,000 over 25 years. This comes as Germany has recently eased earlier planned heating requirements.
Delfi · 26 Aug, 19:38
Xbox opens preorders for $900 25th anniversary bundle
Xbox has opened preorders for a limited 25th anniversary bundle priced at $900, featuring a translucent green Series X, though initially only select fans have access. General preorders open August 27.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 19:36
Frankfurt prepares for large-scale Automechanika 2026 auto aftermarket show
Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 will take place from September 8 to 12, 2026, bringing together more than 4,400 companies from over 80 countries. Organizers say participation has grown by about five percent compared to the previous edition.
iAuto.lv · 26 Aug, 18:41