Business & Technology
Meta is reportedly working on smart glasses that are always recording
Meta is developing prototype 'super sensing' smart glasses that continuously record audio and snap photos every few seconds, raising privacy concerns.
The Verge · 9 Jul, 02:37
Lovable reportedly in talks to double its valuation to $13.2B
Swedish vibe-coding startup Lovable is in talks to raise $300 million at a $13.2 billion valuation, doubling its December valuation, according to Sifted.
TechCrunch AI · 9 Jul, 02:36
Judge approves Elon Musk's $1.5M SEC settlement despite 'significant misgivings'
A U.S. district judge has approved a $1.5 million penalty for Elon Musk to settle an SEC lawsuit over his delayed disclosure of Twitter stock purchases, though she expressed 'significant misgivings' about the deal.
TechCrunch · 9 Jul, 02:36
Volkswagen hires 100 sheep to graze at its solar farm in Poland
Volkswagen has employed 100 sheep at its solar farm in Poznań, Poland, replacing lawn mowers and supporting agrivoltaics research.
Engadget · 9 Jul, 02:36
I Built a Self-Improving AI, and So Can You
A journalist experiments with recursive self-improvement using accessible tools and finds that this technology can democratize AI development rather than leaving it to frontier labs.
Wired · 9 Jul, 01:38
AI Cheating Scandal Rocks Brown University as Professor Exposes Widespread Fraud
Brown University economics professor Roberto Serrano has revealed that students in his ECON 1170 course likely used generative artificial intelligence to cheat on a take-home exam after he introduced the format following a campus tragedy.
Ars Technica · 9 Jul, 01:37
Feds Demand Autonomous Vehicle Companies Stop Interfering with First Responders
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a directive requiring autonomous vehicle developers to prevent their vehicles from interfering with first responders and law enforcement.
TechCrunch · 9 Jul, 01:37
Elon Musk Says X Will DM You About Posts That Receive a Community Note
X plans to update its Community Notes feature so that users who interact with a post will receive a direct message if that post later gets a correction note. The change aims to make misinformation corrections harder to ignore.
Engadget · 9 Jul, 01:37
Google's SynthID system used to debunk fake McConnell image
Google's deepfake detection system SynthID was used to identify an AI-generated hoax image of Senator Mitch McConnell that circulated on social media.
TechCrunch · 9 Jul, 00:37
Samsung Offers $30 Credit for Reserving Upcoming Galaxy Foldable Phones
Ahead of the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, 2026, Samsung is offering a $30 store credit to those who register interest and later preorder the new foldable phones.
The Verge · 8 Jul, 23:37
Microsoft cancels Avowed sequel; Obsidian shifts focus to new Fallout game
Microsoft is restructuring Obsidian Entertainment, cancelling multiple projects including a sequel to Avowed, and directing the studio to develop a new Fallout game. Layoffs are also underway, with Obsidian cutting about a quarter of its workforce.
Engadget · 8 Jul, 23:37
US summer travel slumps amid rising fares and fuel expenses
US summer travel season is experiencing a downturn due to increased airfare and fuel costs, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
Al Jazeera · 8 Jul, 23:37
FTC Settlement With John Deere Is a Major Victory for the Right to Repair
The US Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement with John Deere, requiring the tractor maker to provide farmers and independent repair shops the same access to repair tools and software as its official dealers for the next decade.
Wired · 8 Jul, 23:36
With EU backing, QuantumDiamonds aims to speed up chip manufacturing
German startup QuantumDiamonds has secured €76 million in non-dilutive funding from German authorities and €15 million in equity from investors to build a chip inspection equipment facility in Munich, using quantum sensing with synthetic diamonds to detect defects in minutes.
TechCrunch · 8 Jul, 23:36
PC shipments fall for first time in two years as memory shortage bites
Global PC shipments dropped nearly 5% to 68.2 million units in the first quarter of 2026, the first decline after nine straight quarters of growth, according to IDC. The AI-driven memory shortage, expected to last until 2028, is the main culprit.
Engadget · 8 Jul, 22:37
SpaceXAI Releases Grok 4.5, Which Elon Describes as an ‘Opus-Class Model’
SpaceXAI has launched its latest AI model, Grok 4.5, boasting twice the token efficiency and lower costs while competing with top-tier models from rivals.
TechCrunch · 8 Jul, 22:36
Dimming the Sun Could Reduce El Niño Risks, Study Finds
A new study suggests that marine cloud brightening, a form of solar geoengineering, could weaken El Niño events and their global impacts, but experts warn of political and technical challenges.
Wired · 8 Jul, 21:38
Australian government program ends, bricks thousands of functioning test routers
After the conclusion of an Australian government program, thousands of SamKnows routers used by volunteers to test broadband speeds were disabled, raising e-waste concerns.
Ars Technica · 8 Jul, 21:37
Google Photos adds a new AI ‘Video Remix’ tool
Google announced a new feature called “Video Remix” that uses AI to quickly edit and transform videos.
TechCrunch · 8 Jul, 21:36
Meta wants to make its AI glasses less creepy, but its AI strategy suggests otherwise
Meta introduces a safety feature to disable the camera if the recording LED is blocked, yet simultaneously expands data collection and AI capabilities that could further compromise privacy.
TechCrunch · 8 Jul, 20:37
Waymo to go fully driverless in four more US cities
Waymo announced it will soon operate fully autonomous vehicles in San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Denver, initially for employees before opening to the public, adding to its growing robotaxi network.
Engadget · 8 Jul, 20:37
Scammers hijack two of Ksenia Sobchak's Telegram channels
Scammers broke into two Telegram channels belonging to journalist Ksenia Sobchak's media holding and posted a fake confession with supposed leaked correspondence.
Meduza · 8 Jul, 20:37
SwitchBot Bot Rechargeable: A Tiny Robot for Smart Home Automation
The SwitchBot Bot Rechargeable is a device that automates physical switches, making ordinary gadgets smarter. A review highlights installation challenges but reliable performance.
The Verge · 8 Jul, 20:36
New AI Data Server to Accelerate Disease Diagnosis in Latvia
A new high-performance data server using artificial intelligence will help Latvian scientists analyze large datasets faster, speeding up the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and the selection of treatment methods.
LSM · 8 Jul, 20:36
Prime Intellect raises $130M Series A to help enterprises build their own AI agents
Prime Intellect, a startup providing computing power and software tools for building AI agents, has raised a $130 million Series A at a $1 billion valuation.
TechCrunch AI · 8 Jul, 19:38
Crypto VC Firm Paradigm Raises $1.2B to Invest in Technical Frontier Startups
Paradigm has raised $1.2 billion for its third venture fund, expanding beyond crypto to include robotics and AI investments.
TechCrunch · 8 Jul, 19:37
Heavy Rains Forecast: Drivers Urged to Exercise Caution
From July 8 evening, Latvia expects torrential rains and thunderstorms, posing risks of aquaplaning and flooding for motorists.
iAuto.lv · 8 Jul, 19:36
Amazon Reportedly Developing More Powerful Alexa Assistant Codenamed 'Moonraker'
According to Business Insider, Amazon is working on an upgraded version of Alexa+ capable of handling complex multi-step tasks, but the project faces high GPU costs and internal skepticism.
Engadget · 8 Jul, 19:36
Only Part of Textiles Gets a Second Life
In Latvia, used textiles are sorted: clean and undamaged items are sold locally and exported to Georgia and Africa, while worn-out cotton products are turned into technical rags that end up in household goods stores and auto service centers.
Dienas Bizness · 8 Jul, 19:36
Russia Imposes Complete Ban on Diesel Exports
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced a complete ban on diesel exports.
LSM · 8 Jul, 19:36
Public Education Key to Extending Textile Lifespan, Experts Say
Experts point out that recycling textiles into raw materials is a future challenge, so currently the focus should be on extending their lifespan through repair and reuse, while educating the public.
Dienas Bizness · 8 Jul, 18:36
Bank of England governor says Farage lobbying did not change crypto policy
Andrew Bailey confirmed in a letter that Nigel Farage’s efforts to pressure the Bank over cryptocurrency rules, which could affect a major donor, had no impact on policy.
The Guardian World · 8 Jul, 17:37
Business Daily Roundup: airBaltic Parts with Two Planes, IMF Cuts Forecast
On July 8, key business events in Latvia and globally: airBaltic says goodbye to two aircraft, the IMF lowers its global economic growth forecast, and Latvian companies fail to meet hygiene standards.
Delfi · 8 Jul, 17:36
How Night Owls Can Watch TV Quietly with Roku and Bluetooth Headphones
Roku users can listen to TV audio through Bluetooth headphones by using a smartphone as a bridge, while Google TV and Amazon Fire TV allow direct headphone pairing.
Engadget · 8 Jul, 16:37
Austrian PropTech Startup pinyya Builds New Path to Homeownership from Latvia
Austrian technology startup pinyya has chosen Latvia as the base for its regulated investment operations, offering an innovative co-investment model that enables homeownership without a traditional down payment.
Labs of Latvia · 8 Jul, 16:37
“Zaļā josta” takes over management of Temu textile waste in Latvia
Waste management company “Zaļā josta” expands cooperation with e-commerce platform Temu, starting to handle producer responsibility obligations for textile products sold on the platform in Latvia.
Dienas Bizness · 8 Jul, 15:37