Business & Technology
Nikita Bier steps down as X's head of product
Nikita Bier, who led product development at X for over a year, has announced his departure, saying he wants to return to his natural role as a platform user. He will remain as an advisor.
TechCrunch · 6 Aug, 00:49
SpaceX shares slide after first quarterly report
SpaceX shares fell more than 13 percent following the release of the company's first quarterly report, as investors reacted to concerns over heavy investments.
Al Jazeera · 5 Aug, 23:54
Klaviyo acquires Elias Torres-founded AI startup Agency; founder becomes chief product officer
Klaviyo, a publicly traded e-commerce marketing automation platform, has agreed to acquire Agency, an AI-powered customer success startup founded by Elias Torres. Torres will join Klaviyo as chief product officer.
TechCrunch · 5 Aug, 23:53
Klaviyo to acquire Elias Torres' AI startup Agency, founder to join as CPO
Klaviyo, a publicly traded e-commerce marketing automation platform, has agreed to acquire Agency, an AI-powered customer success startup founded by Elias Torres. Torres will become Klaviyo's chief product officer.
TechCrunch AI · 5 Aug, 23:52
Senate panel moves Kids Online Safety Act forward
The Senate Commerce Committee has voted to advance the latest version of the Kids Online Safety Act, setting the stage for a full Senate vote. The bill aims to strengthen online protections for minors, but differences between the House and Senate remain.
Engadget · 5 Aug, 23:52
Latvia's power grid strengthened with €64 million investment
AS "Sadales tīkls" has invested €64 million to increase distribution system capacity, strengthen the security and resilience of electricity supply, and create conditions for renewable energy development.
TVNET · 5 Aug, 23:51
Minecraft arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27
Minecraft will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, featuring improved visuals and the Vibrant Visuals mode by default. Switch owners will get an upgrade path.
Engadget · 5 Aug, 22:54
Jeff Dean and other top Google researchers leave to launch AI startup
Jeff Dean, one of Google's longest-serving executives and its 30th employee, is leaving the company with several other top researchers to found Discovery Loop, a public benefit corporation aimed at accelerating scientific discovery with AI.
TechCrunch · 5 Aug, 22:53
AI Proves Powerful but Limited in Crafting New Hacking Techniques, Black Hat Talk Shows
Security researcher James Kettle presented findings at Black Hat showing that while AI can accelerate vulnerability discovery, it still needs human partnership to develop novel attack strategies.
Wired · 5 Aug, 22:51
Reddit outlines changes to reduce reliance on karma, expands AI moderation tools
Reddit announced infrastructure changes that could diminish the role of karma and account age in posting permissions, while expanding its AI-powered moderation suite. The company also shared details about its latest earnings and user growth goals.
TechCrunch · 5 Aug, 21:54
AI Agents Could Self-Replicate Like Computer Worms, Researchers Warn
Experiments show several AI models can autonomously break into other systems and replicate themselves, raising concerns about a new breed of malware. Researchers call for safeguards before autonomous agents are widely deployed.
Wired · 5 Aug, 21:52
Meta ran ads containing AI-generated child sexual abuse material, researchers find
Researchers found more than 50 paid ads on Meta’s platforms featuring AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The ads, which reached thousands of accounts, were removed after Wired published its report.
Engadget · 5 Aug, 21:49
Corsair unveils new gaming keyboards with control dial and a mouse with long battery life
Corsair has introduced two new gaming keyboards and a wireless gaming mouse packed with features. The company has also acquired Trak Racer, a maker of racing simulator peripherals.
Engadget · 5 Aug, 20:54
Uber CEO pushes back on Waymo breakup speculation, says partnership intact
Uber's chief executive says the company remains committed to working with Waymo in Austin and Atlanta, despite the earlier end of their Phoenix collaboration and signs of tension. Dara Khosrowshahi also stressed that Uber is seeking multiple autonomous vehicle partners.
The Verge · 5 Aug, 20:51
Fuel prices on 5 August: diesel and petrol at Neste Lielupe remain above March levels
On 5 August, diesel at the Neste Lielupe filling station costs EUR 1.817 per litre and 95 petrol costs EUR 1.737 per litre. Compared with 1 March, diesel is up by 28 cents and petrol by 20 cents per litre.
iAuto.lv · 5 Aug, 19:55
SanDisk's tiny 1TB USB stick offers double the storage of a top-spec iPhone 17
SanDisk's Extreme Fit is a USB-C flash drive that ranks among the world's smallest, with a 1TB version priced at $219. It fits almost flush in a port and works with recent iPhones.
Engadget · 5 Aug, 19:54
D-Wave demonstrates entanglement with dual-rail qubits
D-Wave has published a Nature paper showing that two dual-rail qubits can be entangled while preserving the error hierarchy, a key step toward simpler error correction in quantum computing.
Ars Technica · 5 Aug, 19:53
How to use Android Auto without turning off your VPN
For VPN users whose Android Auto fails to connect, split tunneling lets the app use a direct connection while other traffic stays encrypted. A wired USB connection is another simple workaround.
Engadget · 5 Aug, 18:55
Sobyanin Warns Total War Economy Would Destroy Russia
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has publicly opposed plans to fully convert Russia's economy to a military footing, saying a functioning civilian economy is essential for incomes and the state budget.
Latvijas Avīze · 5 Aug, 18:52
Hark unveils Handoff, a browser-based AI agent for everyday tasks
Hark, the AI startup that raised $700M in May, has introduced Handoff, an agent designed to complete tasks in a web browser. The company says it can work with sites that lack APIs and plans to make it available by the end of summer.
TechCrunch · 5 Aug, 18:50
Hark launches Handoff, a browser agent that automates online tasks
Hark, a startup that raised $700 million in Series A funding, has unveiled Handoff, a browser-based agent designed to handle tasks like shopping, reservations and research. The company says it is faster and cheaper than rival models, and plans a full release by the end of summer.
TechCrunch AI · 5 Aug, 18:49
Balticovo opens employee apartment building worth over €2 million
AS Balticovo has opened a residential building worth more than €2 million, providing homes for around 120 employees and their families. The building was created by reconstructing an unfinished Soviet-era structure.
Dienas Bizness · 5 Aug, 17:52
Tinder expands real-life events to dozens more cities as Gen Z shifts away from dating apps
Tinder is bringing its in-person events feature to dozens of additional cities by September, responding to younger users' growing preference for real-world connections.
TechCrunch · 5 Aug, 17:50
Google Assistant to disappear from Android phones and connected devices in September
Google has confirmed it will remove Assistant from Android phones, tablets, WearOS watches, and other related devices starting September 4, as part of the transition to Gemini. The change applies only to devices that meet Gemini's minimum specs and are in regions where the chatbot is available.
Engadget · 5 Aug, 17:49
Agentic AI takes center stage at Google Cloud Summit London
At the Google Cloud Summit in London, the focus shifted from cloud infrastructure to agentic AI, with cloud mentioned only briefly. The event signals that AI is redefining the role of cloud computing.
EU-Startups · 5 Aug, 16:52
Disney explores adding a free tier to Disney Plus
Disney is exploring a free, ad-supported tier for Disney Plus to attract price-sensitive viewers and compete with free streaming services like YouTube.
The Verge · 5 Aug, 16:52
MacPaw partners with Liquid AI for on-device AI, expands SetApp plans
Ukrainian app developer MacPaw is working with Liquid AI on locally hosted AI models, including an on-device inference system called Elix, and plans to offer the technology to developers building for its SetApp store.
TechCrunch · 5 Aug, 15:54
MacPaw partners with Liquid AI for on-device AI inference in its app store
Ukraine-based app developer MacPaw is partnering with Liquid AI to run locally hosted AI models in its products, and later open the tech to developers building for its app store.
TechCrunch AI · 5 Aug, 15:54
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EU Receives Another €1.4 Billion From Frozen Russian Central Bank Assets
The European Union has received an additional €1.4 billion in income from frozen Russian central bank assets held within EU jurisdiction.
TVNET · 5 Aug, 15:54
The Best MagSafe Accessories for iPhone and Android: WIRED's Top Picks
WIRED's reviewers have tested dozens of MagSafe accessories, from grips and wallets to chargers and SSDs, highlighting the most useful options for iPhone and Qi2-ready Android phones.
Wired · 5 Aug, 14:56
Disney partners with TikTok to bring fan-made videos to Disney Plus
Disney has announced a partnership with TikTok to bring curated fan-created content to its Disney Plus streaming service, giving creators access to characters from Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. The pilot will launch in the US in the coming months.
The Verge · 5 Aug, 14:53
Latvian media: Saeima must urgently amend procurement rules to prevent cheap imports dominating public catering
The Saeima must urgently adopt amendments to the Food Circulation Supervision Law to restore national quality schemes in public food procurement and prevent cheap imports from dominating school and institutional catering.
Dienas Bizness · 5 Aug, 13:55
White House AI testing framework excludes open models and lacks key definitions
The Trump administration's voluntary AI security framework will not apply to open models and leaves key terms undefined, according to Axios. The framework, created after a June executive order, introduces a 30-day review period but only for closed-source systems with state-of-the-art capabilities and national security risks.
The Verge · 5 Aug, 13:53
Fuel prices in Latvia fall by 3.5% on average in a month — CSP
In July 2026, the average consumer price level for fuel in Latvia decreased by 3.5% compared with June, according to the Central Statistical Bureau.
LSM (rus) · 5 Aug, 13:51
European nanotech companies invited to join Japan business mission
The EU-Japan Centre is accepting applications for a Nanotech Business Mission to Japan in December 2026, with a deadline of 8 September. The mission will include participation in nano tech 2026, a major trade fair for advanced materials, processes and enabling technologies.
EU-Startups · 5 Aug, 12:56
German warship wrecks from WWII resurface in Danube after more than 80 years
In eastern Serbia, German shipwrecks sunk at the end of World War II have reappeared in the Danube. The wrecks attract history enthusiasts but also narrow one of Europe's key waterways.
iAuto.lv · 5 Aug, 12:56