Business & Technology
European heatwaves drive demand for Chinese air conditioners
As Europe experiences record-breaking heat, a portable air conditioner from Chinese brand Midea has become a highly sought-after product, with sales surging across the continent.
BBC World · 17 Jul, 03:37
Two Trump health nominees falter in tense Senate hearing
Both nominees demonstrated insufficient knowledge and evaded direct answers during the Senate committee hearing.
Ars Technica · 17 Jul, 03:37
SpaceX abruptly aborts second Starship V3 launch after ignition
SpaceX aborted its second Starship V3 launch attempt on Thursday moments after engine ignition due to some engines failing to start, triggering an automatic abort. CEO Elon Musk said two engines will be replaced, and the next attempt is expected next week.
TechCrunch · 17 Jul, 03:37
Netflix says it has used AI in roughly 300 titles this year
Netflix reports that generative AI workflows were used in approximately 300 of its titles in 2026, primarily in post-production. The company notes that AI tools help create complex sequences and reduce costs, but human involvement remains essential.
Engadget · 17 Jul, 03:36
CD Sales Unexpectedly Rise as Fans Treat Them as Collectibles
CD sales in the US grew 16% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, driven by collection building and price accessibility, with about half of younger buyers not even owning a CD player.
The Verge · 17 Jul, 02:37
EU forces Google to share search data and open up Android for AI
The European Commission has ruled that Google must share search data with rivals and enable deeper integration of third-party AI on Android. Google opposes, citing risks to privacy and security.
Ars Technica · 17 Jul, 02:37
White House Teleprompter Operator Allegedly Won Big Betting on Presidential Speeches
President Donald Trump's teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez has been placed on administrative leave for allegedly making over $100,000 betting on the length of presidential speeches on Kalshi.
Engadget · 17 Jul, 02:36
San Francisco Mayor pushes for stricter rules after Waymo traffic fiasco
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling on California regulators to tighten requirements for autonomous vehicles after Waymo robotaxis caused a multi-hour traffic jam on July 4.
TechCrunch · 17 Jul, 02:36
Gulf States Pour Billions into Africa: A Growing Trend
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have invested over $100 billion in Africa in the last decade, focusing on energy, ports, and raw materials to diversify their economies and expand influence.
Deutsche Welle · 17 Jul, 01:38
T-Mobile Bungled Forced Plan Migration, Canceling Some Users' Free Lines
T-Mobile admitted that technical errors during a forced plan migration caused some customers to lose free-line promotions, and vowed to fix the issue. However, price hikes of up to $6 per line remain in effect.
Ars Technica · 17 Jul, 01:37
Samsung's 55-inch Frame art TV is $200 cheaper than usual
Samsung's 55-inch Frame TV, which can display art when not in use, is on sale at Amazon for $697.99—about $200 off its typical price.
The Verge · 17 Jul, 01:37
Roblox will offer AI-generated game creation on mobile later this year
Roblox announces Build, a new feature that uses AI tools to let players create games and interactive experiences from natural language prompts, starting with a public alpha in New Zealand on July 28.
Engadget · 17 Jul, 01:37
Honda officially ends sales of its only EV in the US
Honda has confirmed it will discontinue the Honda Prologue after the 2026 model year, becoming the latest EV to fall victim to the end of federal incentives.
Engadget · 17 Jul, 00:37
Coca-Cola Halts Fairlife Dairy Production After Ransomware Attack
U.S. beverage giant Coca-Cola has reported that its Fairlife dairy subsidiary was hit by a ransomware attack, leading to a temporary suspension of production across the United States.
TechCrunch · 17 Jul, 00:36
Google Play removes Russian social network and messenger apps after EU sanctions
Google Play has removed the Russian social network VKontakte, messenger Max, and Odnoklassniki apps, following EU sanctions against their parent company VK.
Meduza · 17 Jul, 00:36
Fortnite to Get AI-Powered Characters with Unique Voices
Epic Games will let Fortnite creators publish AI-voiced characters starting July 30, offering 36 pre-made personas with consistent voices, built from professional actor performances.
The Verge · 17 Jul, 00:36
Xgimi Titan Noir Max: A Home Projector with Inky Blacks at a Sub-5-Figure Price
The Xgimi Titan Noir Max offers exceptional home theater picture quality with deep blacks and vibrant colors for $5,999, far below typical premium projector prices, though it lacks built-in streaming and struggles in bright rooms.
Wired · 16 Jul, 23:37
Founders Fund hires former OpenAI exec Ryan Beiermeister (and not because of her Mafia skills)
Former OpenAI VP of Product Policy Ryan Beiermeister, who was fired after objecting to an 'adult mode' feature, joins Founders Fund as a partner. Her appearance in the firm's YouTube Mafia show was not an interview.
TechCrunch · 16 Jul, 23:37
Netflix says around 300 titles used generative AI
Netflix revealed in its second-quarter earnings report that roughly 300 titles on its platform used generative AI, mostly in post-production. The company says it is increasingly using these tools to deliver higher quality output more quickly and at a lower cost.
The Verge · 16 Jul, 23:36
MLB Bans Using Dugout iPads for AI-Powered In-Game Strategy Calls
Major League Baseball has made a mid-season policy change to prohibit teams from using custom apps on dugout tablets that leverage generative AI to make substitution and pitch-calling recommendations, traditionally handled by players and coaches.
Engadget · 16 Jul, 23:36
Kalshi Accuses Trump’s Teleprompter Operator of Insider Trading
Gabriel Perez, President Trump’s teleprompter operator since 2016, is accused of using inside information to place bets on Kalshi prediction markets on what Trump would say during speeches, winning over $100,000.
The Verge · 16 Jul, 22:37
Microsoft Faces Unfair Labor Practice Charges from Video Game Unions
The Communications Workers of America has filed charges against Microsoft with the NLRB, accusing the company of bad faith bargaining and other violations following mass layoffs at Xbox. CWA Canada is also taking legal action.
Engadget · 16 Jul, 22:37
AI Agent Security Gap: 54% of Enterprises Already Had an Incident
A new study reveals that over half of enterprises have experienced AI agent security incidents, yet most still allow agents to share credentials, creating significant risks.
VentureBeat AI · 16 Jul, 22:37
Gazprom shares hit record low on Moscow Exchange amid stalled pipeline talks with China
Shares of Russia's state-controlled gas giant Gazprom fell to an all-time low of 83.98 rubles on July 16, down 5% from the previous close. The previous record low of 84 rubles was set on October 24, 2008.
Meduza · 16 Jul, 21:37
SpaceX Reports 260 Starlink Satellites Deorbited, but It's Routine
SpaceX deorbited 260 Starlink satellites over six months, a standard practice to prevent failures. The company performs controlled descents over open oceans, with most burning up, though some components may survive.
Engadget · 16 Jul, 21:36
Google Vids now lets you star in your own AI videos
Google has introduced a new feature in Google Vids that allows users to create a custom digital avatar based on a selfie and voice recording. The update also integrates the Gemini Omni model, enabling video creation by combining text prompts and images.
TechCrunch · 16 Jul, 21:36
Google Vids now lets you create a digital avatar of yourself and make AI videos
Google has updated its Vids tool, allowing users to create a personalized digital avatar based on a selfie and voice recording, and integrated its multi-modal AI model Gemini Omni, enabling video creation by combining text prompts and images.
TechCrunch AI · 16 Jul, 21:36
Uber’s $14.8B Delivery Hero Deal to Nearly Double Global Reach
Uber has officially agreed to acquire Delivery Hero in an all-stock transaction valued at $14.8 billion, aiming to nearly double its market presence across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
TechCrunch · 16 Jul, 20:37
Enterprises Invest in AI Infrastructure Faster Than They Can Measure Costs
A new study of 107 enterprises reveals a growing gap between AI infrastructure spending and the ability to track costs, with most organizations running GPUs at half capacity or less, according to VentureBeat Pulse Research.
VentureBeat AI · 16 Jul, 20:36
AI-powered travel agency Fora hits unicorn status, raises $60M
Travel agency Fora announced a $60 million Series D round led by Forerunner and Tactile Ventures, valuing the company at $1 billion. The company plans to expand its AI assistant Via to free human agents from administrative tasks.
TechCrunch · 16 Jul, 19:38
US to impose 25% tariffs on multiple Brazilian imports
The United States will impose 25% duties on thousands of Brazilian imports including sugar, apparel, paper, and steel starting July 22, while exempting beef, coffee, and rare earth materials.
Al Jazeera · 16 Jul, 19:37
Google AI Mode now integrates with Canva, YouTube Music and Instacart
Google AI Mode in Search now allows users to create playlists, design templates, and compile shopping lists using integrations with Canva, YouTube Music, and Instacart.
Engadget · 16 Jul, 19:36
OnePlus Ends Phone Releases in US and Europe
OnePlus has officially announced it will stop launching new smartphones in North America and Europe, shifting focus to India and China.
Ars Technica · 16 Jul, 19:36
Apple's OLED iPad Mini Upgrade on the Horizon; Prices Set to Climb
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple could unveil an OLED iPad Mini as early as October, marking the biggest upgrade since 2021. The device is expected to be pricier, as Apple has already raised prices across its lineup due to a RAM shortage.
The Verge · 16 Jul, 18:37
France's Data Center Strategy Criticized; G7 Discusses AI Regulation
France's aggressive approach to attracting data centers faces criticism, the G7 tries to agree on AI regulation, French intelligence will replace Palantir software, and YouTube refuses to fund French TV channels.
Politico Europe · 16 Jul, 18:37
Mozilla Research: Period Tracker Stardust Shares Users' Health Data with Analytics Firm
Mozilla's research reveals that the period tracker Stardust shares sensitive health data, including birthdate and reproductive goals, with third-party analytics company RudderStack.
TechCrunch · 16 Jul, 18:36