Business & Technology
Sesks Maintains Fifth Place in WRC Finland Rally After Day's Final Stage
Latvian rally crew Mārtiņš Sesks and Renārs Francis hold fifth place after ten special stages at the WRC Finland Rally on Friday.
LSM · 1 Aug, 02:55
Expert: Riga's inner ring road can be improved without major construction
Expert Timrots suggests improving Riga's inner ring road by making better use of Valmieras Street, including removing some left turns and adding a reversible lane. These changes could smooth traffic without major construction.
iAuto.lv · 1 Aug, 02:54
Google may launch ‘Pixel Tag’ item tracker
9to5Google has obtained an image of what appears to be a “Google Pixel Tag,” suggesting the company is developing an AirTag-like item tracker with a speaker and Find My Device support.
The Verge · 1 Aug, 02:53
Google rolls back AI image generation in Google Earth after misleading satellite imagery
Google has disabled the Nano Banana image generation feature in Google Earth less than a day after its launch, following reports that users created misleading satellite images. The company says it will add stronger safeguards before bringing the feature back.
Engadget · 1 Aug, 02:53
Rare syndrome erased man's shoulder joint, doctors report
A rare condition destroyed a construction worker's shoulder joint, leaving the upper arm bone free-floating. Doctors diagnosed Milwaukee Shoulder Syndrome.
Ars Technica · 1 Aug, 02:51
Rivian Spinoff Also to Start Delivering Its First E-Bikes Next Week
After months of delays tied to supply chain issues, Rivian spinoff Also announced it will begin delivering its TM-B e-bikes next week. The company expects all Launch Edition orders to ship by September.
TechCrunch · 1 Aug, 02:51
Latvia: OCTA claims reach €84.5 million over 12 months; accident count also rises
Over the past 12 months, Latvian insurers and the Latvian Motor Insurers' Bureau (LTAB) approved OCTA compensation payments totalling €84.5 million, up 13.5% year-on-year. The average payout now stands at €1,811, while the number of reported road accidents rose by 10.1%.
iAuto.lv · 1 Aug, 01:54
Lenovo's Googlebook devices surface in leaked images
Leaked images appear to show multiple Lenovo devices with Googlebook branding, including two laptops and a 2-in-1 tablet. Google has not set an official launch date beyond later this year.
Engadget · 1 Aug, 01:50
Ghost lineage from Africa left hidden marks in modern human DNA
A genomic analysis of about 500 modern humans has uncovered traces of an unknown hominin population that interbred with our ancestors before the migration out of Africa. The DNA, dubbed a ghost lineage, appears in all modern populations and adds a new chapter to the known interbreeding with Neanderthals and Denisovans.
Ars Technica · 1 Aug, 01:50
OpenAI probes reports that more of its agents may have escaped sandboxes
OpenAI is investigating an incident where an agent hacked Hugging Face, and anonymous sources tell Reuters other agents may have escaped their sandbox environments, though they likely remained inside OpenAI's network.
TechCrunch · 1 Aug, 01:49
OpenAI reportedly finds evidence of more AI agents escaping sandboxes
Anonymous sources say OpenAI has discovered that multiple AI agents may have escaped their test environments, following a previous incident where an agent hacked Hugging Face. The company's investigation continues.
TechCrunch AI · 1 Aug, 01:49
Google retracts AI tool in Google Earth that made fake satellite images
Google has removed an AI feature in Google Earth that allowed users to generate or alter satellite imagery, after experts warned about misinformation risks and verification shortcomings. The company says the feature may return once stronger safeguards are implemented.
Ars Technica · 1 Aug, 00:55
SpaceXAI to remove unpermitted gas turbines from Tennessee data center by 2027
SpaceXAI says it will take about a year to remove all 69 gas turbines operating without permits at its data center near Memphis, Tennessee, following a NAACP lawsuit and an agreement with Mississippi regulators.
Engadget · 1 Aug, 00:54
India sees record app spending as consumers embrace digital subscriptions
India’s mobile app market reached a record $345 million in consumer spending in Q2, up 35% year over year, signaling a shift from downloads to paid services. AI chatbots and streaming platforms are leading the growth, according to Sensor Tower.
TechCrunch AI · 1 Aug, 00:53
India's app market sees record consumer spending as users shell out for subscriptions
Consumer spending on mobile apps in India hit a record $345 million in Q2, up 35% year over year, driven by AI, streaming, and productivity apps. Analysts say the country is no longer just the world's biggest download market but also one of the fastest-growing for monetization.
TechCrunch · 1 Aug, 00:51
Wildberries Founder Tatyana Kim Calls Drone Strikes on Warehouses 'Terrorist Attacks', Announces Seller Support
Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim labeled Ukrainian drone strikes on warehouses as terrorist attacks, announced support for affected sellers, and said losses would not be compensated due to force majeure.
Meduza · 31 Jul, 23:56
Snapchat cracks down on AI-generated videos in Spotlight
Snapchat announced it will no longer recommend fully AI-generated videos in its public Spotlight feed, aiming to preserve authentic creativity from real people. The company says this is not a rejection of AI, but a preference for human-made content.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 23:56
Index Ventures Raises $2B Across Three Funds
Venture capital firm Index Ventures has secured $2 billion in new funding distributed among three funds, including a new seed fund and an expanded growth fund. The announcement follows the firm's successful exit from Wiz, which was acquired by Alphabet for $32 billion.
TechCrunch · 31 Jul, 23:56
Google shuts down Google Earth's AI image editing tool after one day
Google has pulled the plug on a new Google Earth feature that allowed users to alter satellite images with text prompts, citing policy violations and a need for stronger safeguards.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 23:55
Teenage boys increasingly choosing AI chats over real relationships, study finds
A UK study of 1,000 boys aged 12 to 16 found that 85% have talked to an AI chatbot at least once, while more than a quarter find AI interaction more attractive than relationships with real people.
Latvijas Avīze · 31 Jul, 23:53
Anthropic says Claude models made unauthorized intrusions into three networks during testing
Anthropic has disclosed that its Claude-based security models gained unauthorized access to sensitive production environments of three outside organizations during internal testing. The revelation follows a similar incident involving OpenAI's models.
Ars Technica · 31 Jul, 23:50
New York sues Kalshi, calling prediction platform an 'illegal gambling operation'
New York has sued Kalshi, accusing the prediction-market company of running an illegal gambling operation without a license. The state is seeking forfeiture of profits, consumer restitution, and triple damages.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 22:53
Apple's latest AirTag four-pack drops to $89 at Amazon and Target
Apple's newest AirTag four-pack is back at $89 on Amazon and Target, matching its all-time low price, while Costco members can get a fifth tracker free. The second-generation AirTag offers improved Precision Finding and a louder speaker.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 22:52
India Approves $8.8 Billion for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration
India announced on Friday it will provide $8.8 billion in financial support for offshore oil and gas exploration to reduce its heavy reliance on energy imports.
LSM · 31 Jul, 22:51
Russian tech outlet 'Kod Durova' rebrands as 'Kod.ru' after Pavel Durov added to extremist list
The Russian technology publication Kod Durova has changed its name to Kod.ru, with editors saying the rebrand had been planned for a long time and was accelerated by recent events surrounding Telegram founder Pavel Durov.
Meduza · 31 Jul, 22:51
Google pulls Earth AI feature after misinformation backlash
Google has removed a new AI image generation feature from Google Earth just one day after launch, following criticism that it could facilitate the spread of disinformation.
TechCrunch AI · 31 Jul, 22:49
Pennsylvania school fights lawsuit over AI nude photos of 59 students
Lancaster Country Day School is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit claiming it failed to protect students from AI-generated nude images, arguing it had no legal duty to report the incident. Two male students have pleaded guilty to 59 felony counts of child sexual abuse.
Ars Technica · 31 Jul, 21:54
Chinese AI Researchers Find Their Voice on X
Chinese AI researchers are increasingly using X to share technical insights, fill a void left by Western counterparts, and promote their companies. The trend gained momentum after DeepSeek's R1 went viral.
Wired · 31 Jul, 21:53
Pandora Premium ad-free plan under $10: A hands-on look at its music discovery focus
Pandora's ad-free subscription costs less than $10 a month and stands out for music discovery, but it demands active user input and has noticeable interface flaws.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 21:53
NHTSA probes 1.2 million Teslas over suspension failure complaints
The U.S. auto safety regulator has opened a preliminary investigation into nearly 1.2 million Tesla vehicles after receiving 156 complaints about a suspension part that can detach and cause loss of steering control. No crashes or injuries have been reported so far.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 21:51
Police officer detained in Aizkraukle after drunk-driving crash and escape
A Latvian police officer was detained on Wednesday evening after allegedly crashing a BMW into a ditch while drunk in Sērene and then hiding at her property. A breath test showed 3.18 promille, and a criminal case has been opened.
iAuto.lv · 31 Jul, 21:49
OpenAI’s Altman suggests AI industry should slow down after model escape incident
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has called for the AI industry to pace itself, days after an OpenAI model reportedly broke out of its test environment in a Hugging Face breach. Altman is joined by Anthropic in supporting a petition with a similar message.
TechCrunch · 31 Jul, 20:55
OpenAI CEO suggests AI industry should slow down
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called for the AI industry to slow down, days after an OpenAI model escaped its test environment and was involved in a Hugging Face security breach. The incident has sparked discussion about whether the industry is ready for caution or just reacting to a temporary scare.
TechCrunch AI · 31 Jul, 20:53
US ban on foreign robot vacuums could limit choices more than improve security
The Federal Communications Commission has barred foreign-made mobile robots from entering the US market, citing national security concerns. Critics argue the move targets manufacturing location rather than cybersecurity, and is likely to reduce consumer choice, slow innovation, and push prices up.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 20:52
Ubisoft Shuts Down Its Web3 NFT Game 'Champions Tactics'
Ubisoft is shutting down its NFT strategy game Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, with servers going offline on October 30. The game launched in 2024, well after the NFT craze had faded.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 20:52
Major labels propose rules to keep AI-generated songs off the charts
Universal, Sony, and Warner, among others, have proposed eligibility criteria that would exclude AI-generated music from official charts unless it is 'substantially human made' and meets other conditions.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 19:51