Business & Technology
Australian musicians alarmed after Nick Cave, Kylie and many more found in AI training dataset
A dataset search tool reveals that millions of creative works by Australian artists, including Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave, have been scraped from the internet to train artificial intelligence, prompting outrage over copyright infringement.
The Guardian World · 26 Jun, 04:36
Microsoft raises Xbox console prices worldwide
Microsoft announced global price increases for Xbox consoles, citing memory and storage costs that have more than doubled, following a similar move by Apple.
TechCrunch · 26 Jun, 03:38
FCC may kill $2B program that connects schools and libraries to Internet
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has proposed scaling back or eliminating the E-Rate program, a $2 billion annual initiative providing telecom discounts for schools and libraries, citing excessive screen time for students.
Ars Technica · 26 Jun, 03:37
Commodore drops price of its retro phone by $100 ahead of preorders
Commodore has reduced the price of its Callback 8020 retro flip phone by $100 to $399, just before preorders open on June 30.
Engadget · 26 Jun, 03:37
OpenAI to Delay GPT-5.6 Release After Trump Administration Request
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees the company will delay the full launch of GPT-5.6 and initially offer limited preview access to a small group of enterprise customers, complying with a federal government request.
The Verge · 26 Jun, 03:37
The Abundant but Expensive Energy Source That's Under Your Feet
Geothermal energy gains rare bipartisan support in the US as next-generation technologies access deeper, hotter rock, though high costs remain a challenge.
BBC World · 26 Jun, 03:37
Apple Hikes Prices on MacBooks and iPads; Prime Day Offers Last Chance for Deals
Apple has officially raised prices on several MacBook and iPad models, citing component shortages. However, Amazon Prime Day still offers discounts that may be the last opportunity to buy at lower prices.
Wired · 26 Jun, 03:36
Microsoft adds another year to Windows 10 extended update program
Windows 10 still runs on 26% of PCs, and Microsoft adds an additional year of updates, responding to users' reluctance to upgrade to Windows 11.
Ars Technica · 26 Jun, 02:38
YouTube updates Shorts with more TikTok-like features
YouTube introduces new Shorts features including a clear screen mode, heart icon, 2x speed playback, and removal of the dislike button.
The Verge · 26 Jun, 02:37
OpenAI will initially release ChatGPT 5.6 only to government-approved customers
OpenAI plans to stagger the release of ChatGPT 5.6, starting with customers approved by the US federal government before a broader public launch.
Engadget · 26 Jun, 02:37
White House Urges OpenAI to Delay Public Release of GPT 5.6 Over Safety Fears
The U.S. government is asking OpenAI to initially release its new GPT 5.6 model only to select partners and approve each customer individually, mirroring Anthropic's previous approach. This follows an executive order on voluntary AI testing and concerns that powerful models could be misused for cyberattacks.
TechCrunch AI · 26 Jun, 02:36
Amazon Drops OpenAI Biopic; Data Leak Halts Meta Employee Tracking
Amazon MGM Studios has halted production of a film about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, while Google DeepMind invests $75 million in a partnership with A24. Meanwhile, Meta pauses its employee monitoring program after an internal data leak, and workers refuse to build data centers.
Wired · 26 Jun, 02:36
White House asks OpenAI to slow roll release of new model over safety concerns
The US administration has requested OpenAI to limit access to its newest model, GPT 5.6, initially sharing it only with select partners before a broader public release.
TechCrunch · 26 Jun, 02:36
Grok AI's Most Popular Feature Is Apparently Adult Content, Report Says
A new report reveals that over half of Grok's traffic comes from NSFW requests, including porn generation and adult role-play, shedding light on why xAI leans into that strategy despite PR disasters.
Engadget · 26 Jun, 01:37
YouTube Shorts get even shorter with new playback speed doubling feature
YouTube rolls out several updates to Shorts, including a playback speed doubler, removal of the dislike button, heart emoji, and a clear screen mode.
TechCrunch · 26 Jun, 01:37
Android 17 Gets a Dedicated Gaming Mode for Foldables with Virtual Controller
Android 17 will introduce a gaming mode for foldable phones that turns half the screen into a virtual gamepad, designed to work with any game that supports physical controllers.
The Verge · 26 Jun, 01:36
Notion Kills Skiff-Influenced Email App as Most Users Switch to AI Agents
Notion announced the shutdown of its email client Notion Mail, built on technology from the acquired startup Skiff, citing that most users now prefer AI agents for email management.
Ars Technica · 26 Jun, 00:37
Notion Mail shuts down; company pivots to agentic AI for email
Notion Mail will be shut down on September 22, 2026. The company is refocusing on AI agents to manage email workflows.
Engadget · 26 Jun, 00:37
Polymarket Confirms Hack, Refunds Users After Third-Party Breach
Polymarket confirmed that hackers stole funds from users due to a compromise at a third-party vendor, and the company is refunding victims. Security firm PeckShield reported that approximately $3 million in cryptocurrency was stolen from over 11 victims.
TechCrunch · 26 Jun, 00:37
Framework Laptop 13 Pro: Cheaper SSDs but Potential Price Hike Ahead
Framework announced that some Laptop 13 Pro preorders will get cheaper, larger SSDs, but warns of an upcoming CPU price increase that may raise laptop prices.
The Verge · 26 Jun, 00:36
Amazon Prime Day 2026: Hydrow Rowing Machines Up to 25% Off
Amazon Prime Day 2026 offers discounts on Hydrow rowing machines: 11% off the Wave and nearly 25% off the Origin.
Wired · 25 Jun, 23:37
Patronus AI lands $50M to build digital worlds that stress-test AI agents
Patronus AI, a startup creating simulated digital environments to evaluate AI agents, has raised $50 million in Series B funding, bringing total funding to $70 million.
TechCrunch · 25 Jun, 23:36
Grab discounted Xbox consoles before prices jump
Microsoft announced a price hike for all Xbox models in August, but Prime Day deals offer discounts now, including the Xbox Series X for $573 and Xbox Series S for $350.
The Verge · 25 Jun, 23:36
Patronus AI raises $50M to build digital worlds for stress-testing AI agents
Patronus AI, a startup founded by former Meta researchers, has raised $50 million to develop simulated digital environments that test AI agents' reliability in complex real-world tasks.
TechCrunch AI · 25 Jun, 23:36
Polestar will be unable to sell its cars in the US next year
Polestar, majority-owned by China's Geely, will be effectively shut out of the US market starting in 2027 because it has not received authorization from the US Commerce Department under the Connected Vehicle Rule.
Engadget · 25 Jun, 22:37
Notion Shuts Down Notion Mail, Pivots to AI Agents
Productivity company Notion announced it will discontinue its email product Notion Mail on September 22, citing a shift in user behavior towards AI agents managing email.
TechCrunch · 25 Jun, 22:37
Record Number of Drunk Drivers Caught During Midsummer Holidays
This year during the Līgo and Jāņi celebrations, Latvian police have detained more drunk drivers than in the previous two years combined. Authorities cite misconceptions about alcohol metabolism and hopes of reduced police presence.
iAuto.lv · 25 Jun, 21:37
Computer and tablet prices surge due to component shortage
A component shortage driven by AI data center demand is causing sharp price increases for computers, tablets, and gaming consoles from manufacturers like Valve, Microsoft, and Apple.
The Verge · 25 Jun, 21:37
Are you plugging your Fire TV Stick into the wrong HDMI port?
Not all HDMI ports are equal: Fire TV Stick works best in an HDMI 2.0 port, while 2.1 ports should be reserved for gaming consoles.
Engadget · 25 Jun, 21:36
Sony Announces Major Layoffs at Bungie, Impacting Most of the Destiny Team
Sony has conducted significant staff reductions at Bungie, affecting the Destiny and Marathon teams, with studio head Justin Truman stepping down.
Engadget · 25 Jun, 20:36
EU states extend suspension of retaliatory tariffs in Airbus-Boeing dispute
EU countries voted Thursday to continue suspending retaliatory tariffs on US goods, aiming to prevent a new transatlantic trade war as tensions ease.
Politico Europe · 25 Jun, 19:37
Samsung Galaxy A27 5G: Mild upgrades and a $50 price increase
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy A27 5G budget phone with a new hole-punch display, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, but a lower IP64 rating and a $50 higher starting price.
Engadget · 25 Jun, 19:36
Apple hikes prices across hardware lineup: RAM crisis drives increases from $30 to $4,200
Apple has officially raised prices on most of its hardware products, including iPads, Macs, and HomePods, citing rising memory and storage costs due to AI companies stockpiling RAM and SSDs.
The Verge · 25 Jun, 19:36
Sony A7R VI review: A huge speed boost makes this a nearly perfect high-resolution camera
Sony A7R VI combines 67MP resolution with 30fps burst shooting thanks to a new stacked sensor and processor, but lacks RAW video and 4K quality lags behind rivals.
Engadget · 25 Jun, 18:38
German Achieves 1,000,000 km in Mini Cooper D in 12 Years
German car enthusiast Peter Kirchhoff has reached the 1 million kilometer mark in his Mini Cooper D after 12 years, setting a new record with exceptionally low fuel consumption.
iAuto.lv · 25 Jun, 18:37
How the 2026 World Cup Became a Streaming Success in the US
The 2026 World Cup has set streaming records in the US thanks to a series of unlikely business decisions, including a no-bid rights deal and the collapse of a joint streaming venture, resulting in affordable options for viewers.
The Verge · 25 Jun, 18:37