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Meta says it's fixing its broken support system, with the help of AI
If you've ever had something go wrong with your Facebook or Instagram account, then you probably have a good idea of just how frustrating the support process can be. The company's automated processes are so broken that some people have found that suing Meta in small claims court can be a more reliable way of getting help from the company. Now, Meta says it's trying to address some of these longstanding issues. In an update , the company acknowledged that its support hasnt always met expectations but that a series of AI-powered updates should make it easier for people to get help. The company is rolling out a new support hub on Facebook and Instagram that is meant to bring all of its support features into one place. The hub will also have a new AI chat feature so users can ask questions about account issues or Meta's policies. An in-app support hub might not be that helpful if you can't access your account, though. A Meta spokesperson pointed to its external account recovery tool, which is meant to help people get back into their accounts. Recovering hacked accounts has long been a pain point for Facebook and Instagram users. But Meta says that it's now improved the process with better email and text alerts. AI has also helped the company's systems detect devices and locations you've frequently used in the past. Our new account recovery experience adjusts to your particular situation with clearer guidance and simpler verification, Meta writes. Weve also expanded recovery methods to include taking an optional selfie video to further verify your identity. Meta is also starting to test a new AI support assistant on Facebook that can provide instant, personalized help for issues like account recovery or managing your profile. It's not clear how this will work, or if it will enable people to talk to an actual person who works for Meta. For now, the most reliable way to access live support is via a Meta Verified subscription, though many users report that the chat-based service isn't able to help with more complex issues. A Meta spokesperson said that the assistant is in the early stages of testing and is currently only available to some Facebook users globally. Those who are part of the test can find it via the app's new support hub. According to Meta, these improvements have already shown some success in helping people get back into hacked accounts. The company says that this year it has increased the relative success rate of hacked account recovery by more than 30% in the US and Canada. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-says-its-fixing-its-broken-support-system-with-the-help-of-ai-185348328.html?src=rss
AMD CEO Lisa Su Says Concerns About an AI Bubble Are Overblown
Lisa Su leads Nvidias biggest rival in the AI chip market. When asked at WIREDs Big Interview event if AI is a bubble, company said Emphatically, from my perspective, no.
From the NFL to Startup Battlefield: HowAlltroobuilt a brand that wins
On season one ofBuild Mode: Product, Meet Market, we explore what it really takes to get your product into the hands of customers.
Legal AI startup Harvey confirms $8B valuation
Harvey confirms a third enormous round of funding in 2025 that has skyrocketed its valuation. Again.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle is still on sale for $50 off right now
Cyber Monday may be long gone, but there are still some deals floating around on the internet today. One deal that wasn't available on Black Friday but made an appearance on Cyber Monday was a discount on the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle . It's back again today at both Amazon and Walmart you can get the bundle for $50 off, bringing the final price down to $449. For Amazon, you have to add the bundle to your cart to see the discounted price. For Walmart, you'll need to be signed in to a Walmart account (which is free to make) and add the bundle to your cart to see the sale price. The long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 came out in June and somehow beat our expectations. We gave it a 93 in our review thanks to features like its larger 7.9-inch LCD screen with HCR and very polished design. We were also impressed by its 256GB of base storage, magnetic Joy-Con and overall much improved performance. Nintendo introduced Mario Kart World alongside the new Switch and we're big fans. It brings wall riding and rail grinds to the Mario Kart franchise in a bright, colorful space. The game is extremely replayable and a great option for anyone looking to quickly pass the time during their travels this holiday season. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-nintendo-switch-2-mario-kart-world-bundle-is-still-on-sale-for-50-off-right-now-150612988.html?src=rss
First humans reached Australia 60,000 years ago: How they arrived is finally clear
A groundbreaking genetic study confirms modern humans arrived in Australia approximately 60,000 years ago, settling a long-standing archaeological debate. Researchers analyzed thousands of genomes, revealing two distinct migration routes into the ancient continent of Sahul. This deep history aligns with Aboriginal oral traditions, showcasing advanced seafaring skills of early ancestors.
Amazon Luna's December lineup includes Hollow Knight, Lego 2K Drive and a few Fallout games
Amazon Lunas December lineup of games has been announced, and there are plenty of early Christmas presents to sink your teeth into. For those unaware, Prime members automatically qualify for Luna standard, the entry-level tier of Amazons cloud gaming service, and each month the company also hands out a number of codes for PC games that permanently join in your library once redeemed. Among those claim-and-keep-forever games this month are the underrated open-world Lego racing game, Lego 2K Drive , the very pretty Metroidvania, B: Path of the Teal Lotus , and a couple of retro Fallout games, just in time for the new season of the Prime Video show. Heres the full list of games for December. Most come in the form of codes you can redeem on GOG, but a couple are tied to the Epic Games Store or Legacy Gaming. LEGO 2K Drive B: Path of the Teal Lotus Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game Fallout 2 Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection One Gylt Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two Christmas Adventure: Candy Storm Gunslugs 2 Ashworld Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Three Dreamscaper On the cloud side of things, Luna members can stream the likes of Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition , with Fallout 3 and fan favorite New Vegas already available. Quite the month for wasteland wanderers, then. Mafia: Definitive Edition , Hollow Knight and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition also feature in the current library. Amazon relaunched its revamped Luna service at the end of October, when it also added a beginner-friendly collection of smartphone-controlled multiplayer games for Prime subscribers to play at no additional cost. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/amazon-lunas-december-lineup-includes-hollow-knight-lego-2k-drive-and-a-few-fallout-games-180048528.html?src=rss
In 1995, a Netscape employee wrote a hack in 10 days that now runs the Internet
Thirty years later, JavaScript is the glue that holds the interactive web together, warts and all.
Amazons new Kindle Scribe and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft launch on December 10
The new Kindle Scribe has a larger 11-inch glare-free display, is just 5.4 mm thick, and weighs only 400 g. Its also 40% faster when writing or turning pages.
Physicists prove universe cannot be a simulation: New study debunks simulation hypothesis
Scientists at the University of British Columbia Okanagan say theyve found a mathematical limit that shuts down the Simulation Hypothesis entirely. Drawing on Gdels incompleteness theorem, their study argues that parts of reality cannot be generated by any algorithm, which means no computer, however advanced, could ever build a universe like ours. The obstacle isnt processing power. Its logic itself.
Californias ban on self-driving trucks could soon be over
Revised rules in California would allow self-driving trucks to test on public highways. The rules also close a loophole allowing police to issue tickets for driverless vehicles.
Pixel-art cyberpunk game Replaced arrives in March
Based on what we've seen, Replaced is a gaming art director's dream . The long-delayed indie title has lush pixel-art environments, set in a cyberpunk fever dream. And now we finally know when it's arriving. Mark your calendar for March 12, 2026. If you've been following Replaced 's journey, you'll know that's four years after its original release date . Shit happens! In this case, that included having to relocate from Belarus to Cyprus after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. It will be the first game from developer Sad Cat Studios. Thunderful Games is publishing. Gaming still from Replaced. Pit's Diner, set in a dystopian cyberpunk world (pixel art). Various shady characters mill about. Sad Cat Studios / Thunderful Games Replaced is set in a dystopian alternate 1980s America. In this timeline, nuclear winter has reshaped the world. Step into a world where neon lights flicker over rain-soaked streets, industrial decay meets futuristic technology, and every shadow holds a secret, the blurb reads . You play as R.E.A.C.H., an AI unwillingly trapped in a human body. As for gameplay, it's a 2.5D cinematic action platformer. Chain precise melee strikes with satisfying ranged attacks to take down enemies in high-intensity encounters while keeping the flow of exploration, the description reads. Expect plenty of running, climbing and kicking ass. You can see some of the dazzling art direction, fluid movement, and smooth combat in the new trailer below. You can wishlist Replaced now through Steam or Xbox . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pixel-art-cyberpunk-game-replaced-arrives-in-march-170253220.html?src=rss
A New Anonymous Phone Carrier Lets You Sign Up With Nothing but a Zip Code
Privacy stalwart Nicholas Merrill spent a decade fighting an FBI surveillance order. Now he wants to sell you phone servicewithout knowing almost anything about you.
Amazon's Kindle Scribe Colorsoft finally has a release date: December 10
When it announced the latest series of Kindle Scribe writing tablets in October , Amazon didnt have a specific release date to share beyond later this year. And now that were approaching the final weeks of 2025, the company is meeting its own deadline by sharing that it will be available on December 10. That detail is now posted on the Amazon product page for the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft , if youd like to see the date for yourself. As a refresher, this is the third generation of the Kindle Scribe line of E Ink writing tablets. This year was the first time Amazon made three different versions of the Scribe, turning it into a series of products. At the entry-level, the Scribe without a front light will start at $430, while the model with a front light starts at $480. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which, as it name suggests, can render colors, will start at $630. All three flavors will feature the updated hardware and design thats a bit more symmetrical than previous generations, which had a thicker bezel on one side. Theyre also thinner than older Scribes and come with redesigned Kindle software that can help make note-taking a bit more efficient. Based on my hands-on with the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft , it also seemed to render colors more vividly than competing devices like the reMarkable Paper Pro , though Ill definitely need to get a review unit in for better comparison. For now, check out our hands on of the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft and review of the reMarkable Paper Pro and even of the last-gen Kindle Scribe to see if this is something you might want. While December 10 is cutting it pretty close to the holiday gifting season , its still weeks ahead of Christmas, so it might still be worth keeping an eye on. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/amazons-kindle-scribe-colorsoft-finally-has-a-release-date-december-10-170000910.html?src=rss
Why Day One Ventures Masha Bucher thinks VCs and storytelling go hand-in-hand
Day One Ventures' Masha Bucher doesn't just invest in startupsshe tells their stories. Her integrated model aligns incentives and proves conviction matters more than contracts.
ByteDance and DeepSeek Are Placing Very Different AI Bets
The diverging path of Chinas two leading AI players shows where the countrys artificial intelligence industry is headed.
Meta is reportedly going to slash spending on the metaverse
Meta is reportedly planning steep cuts to its metaverse division, according to Bloomberg . This is happening just a few years after the company changed its name from Facebook to reflect its renewed interest in that same metaverse. Bloomberg notes that the metaverse department could get hit with significant budget cuts in the near future, with layoffs potentially occurring early next year. The budget cuts could go as high as 30 percent and will likely impact the virtual worlds product Meta Horizon Worlds and the Quest virtual reality headset. The publication did note that this isn't a done deal just yet. Company insiders say this is all part of Meta's annual budget planning for 2026 and that the cuts were discussed at a series of meetings at CEO Mark Zuckerberg's compound in Hawaii. The metaverse team was reportedly asked for deeper-than-average cuts because the technology hasn't exactly taken the world by storm. As a matter of fact, the whole metaverse idea has been a dud with investors, who see it as a drain on resources. Consumers aren't exactly keen on the idea either, even if they still buy VR headsets and traditional games . It's one thing to throw on a headset to shoot bad guys for 20 minutes but it's a whole other thing to, well, wander around a fake Abercrombie & Fitch for hours looking to spend real money on fake clothing for an avatar. $META has spent $37.7B on reality labs over the last two years pic.twitter.com/ppW7uo2sGB Buddy Wiseman-Barker (@buddy_barker) December 4, 2025 The report does suggest that Zuckerberg still believes that people will one day spend the majority of their time in virtual worlds, but these cuts signal that he understands that this idea is still years or decades away from fruition. The metaverse sits within a company division called Reality Labs that has lost more than $70 billion since 2021 . Zuckerberg has also largely refrained from mentioning the metaverse in public and in earnings calls. So what will Meta be spending money on instead? It's reportedly focused on further developing large AI models and chatbots, in addition to hardware products linked to AI experiences like those Ray-Ban smart display glasses . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-is-reportedly-going-to-slash-spending-on-the-metaverse-164547153.html?src=rss
Amazon reportedly considering dropping USPS and building a competing postal service
Amazon is the USPS' biggest customer, and the e-commerce giant's potential break from the postal agency comes as the two sides are negotiating a new deal.
Welcome to necroprinting3D printer nozzle made from mosquitos proboscis
They're quite a bit cheaper than manufactured nozzles if you can dissect them.
TikTok rolls out a Nearby Feed to display local content in select countries
While TikTok is already known for its recommendation algorithm, which is able to target users with highly personalized content, the addition of a Nearby Feed gives it the ability to display even more relevant content to its users.
Meta reportedly plans to slash Metaverse budget by up to 30%
The proposal reflects the overall lack of interest in products like Meta's social virtual reality platform, Horizon Worlds.
The best tech gifts and cool gadgets for 2025
It can be tough to find a good gift for tech obsessives. Since they keep up with the latest releases, they probably already have the new high-profile gadgets out there. Luckily, Engadget staffers keep their eyes peeled all year long for the truly unique stuff. We travel to CES, attend product launches, cover major and minor tech events we also cant help but buy ourselves any zany , clever , addictive or productive tech we happen to stumble across. In short, weve got some ideas about good gifts for tech nerds (which we are). Here are the best tech gifts and gadgets for 2025. Best tech gifts and gadgets Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/the-best-tech-gifts-and-cool-gadgets-for-2025-140052697.html?src=rss
InnAIO AI Translator T10 Review: Feature-Loaded but Needs Work
The InnAIO T10 clips magnetically to the back of your phone, but it needs further development to be worth the money.
PlayStation teams up with Bad Robot and the creator of Left 4 Dead for a co-op shooter
Sony Interactive Entertainment has signed a deal to produce and publish a game from Bad Robot, JJ Abrams production company. The two sides are keeping most of the details close to their chest for now, but the game is a four-player co-op shooter for PlayStation 5 and PC directed by someone who knows a thing or two about that genre: Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth. Bad Robot Games which is a fully remote studio was formed in 2018 with the help of Tencent. It has lent a hand on games including Weird West (as an investor and creative consultant ) as well as interactive streaming series Silent Hill: Ascension . This new game is the first one that Bad Robot Games is developing in-house. A few months back, Booth dropped into the Left 4 Dead subreddit to say that he was working on a new co-op game built on the foundations of what made L4D special. If you enjoyed the teamwork, tension and replayability of my past games, youll probably find this one interesting. It expands on the co-op formula in ways Ive wanted to explore for a long time. He added that, while the game was still in early development, Bad Robot was opening up a waitlist for access to playtests. According to a press release , Bad Robot Games is a dedicated game studio working on new and existing transmedia franchises. So, this project could well be part of an entirely new franchise, but the prospect of co-op shooter from the designer of Left 4 Dead thats set in the Cloverfield universe is pretty darn intriguing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-teams-up-with-bad-robot-and-the-creator-of-left-4-dead-for-a-co-op-shooter-144637802.html?src=rss
Amazon reportedly considering ending ties with the US Postal Service
Amazon is reportedly considering discontinuing use of the US Postal Service and building out its own shipping network to rival it, according to The Washington Post . The e-commerce behemoth spends more than $6 billion a year on the public mail carrier, representing just shy of 8 percent of the service's total revenues . That's up from just shy of $4 billion in 2019 , and Amazon continues to grow. Over the past decade, Amazon has invested heavily in shipping logistics, buying its own Boeing planes , debuting electric delivery vans and slowly building out a drone delivery network . Last year, Amazon handled over 6.3 billion parcels, a 7 percent increase over the previous year, according to the Pitney Bowes parcel shipping index . USPS, for its part, handled roughly 6.9 billion, just a 3 percent increase over 2023. That is to say that Amazon's shipping network can already handle over 90 percent of the volume of the US Postal Service (at least by sheer numbers). The USPS has been in dire financial condition for some time, losing billions of dollars a year. Negotiations between Amazon and the public carrier have reportedly stalled, which, together with the agency's need to keep raising its prices, may create more urgency for the company to eliminate its reliance on the service altogether. The Postal Service has struggled to modernize and adapt (its attempt to electrify the truck fleet was a bust ) in a market where the likes of Amazon and Walmart are investing billions in delivering packages around the country at lightning speed. The ever-accelerating digitization of communication and heavy investment in privately owned shipping operations threatens the very existence of one of the country's greatest public goods. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-reportedly-considering-ending-ties-with-the-us-postal-service-144555021.html?src=rss
The 19 Best Golf Gifts for Every Kind of Golfer (2025)
Make your favorite golfers day with the best golf gifts to enhance every part of their game.
Gemini tops Google Indias AI search trends for 2025
From AI assistants, chatbots to image-generation tools, Indias search habits in 2025 signal how AI has embedded itself into everyday digital behaviour.
Anthropic signs $200M deal to bring its LLMs to Snowflakes customers
AI research lab Anthropic inked a $200 million deal with Snowflake to bring its AI models to Snowflake's 12,600 customers.
Antigravity A1 drone review: FPV flying unlike anything else
The Antigravity A1 is what happens when Insta360s 360-degree cameras are given wings and flying feels like a video game. Spinning out as its own brand, Antigravitys debut drone is a big swing: a three-piece set with a drone that captures 8K 360-degree video, FPV goggles and a motion controller. Challenging the dominance of DJIs (many!) consumer drones is a big ask. Antigravitys approach is to play to its strengths in 360-degree video and smartphone-first editing. A lot of the appeal comes from how the A1 captures 8K video in all directions, meaning you can edit, cut and swap around your footage and hopefully rarely miss a moment youre trying to document. Its a lot of fun, too, if you can get through the early teething issues, updates and the learning curve. The drone Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The A1 drone is just 249 grams (0.548 lbs). This helps it bypass some drone regulations, though flying permissions vary by region. The pair of cameras mounted on the top and bottom of the drone's body is one of its unique features. Its difficult to directly compare the A1 against competitor drones, as it offers a mix of features found across different categories and some unique tools of its own. The A1 can capture 360-degree video at up to 8K resolution, and thanks to Insta360s action cam experience, it can magically remove the drone body from video. This means you can capture video and never see propellers or, well, any part of the drone itself. Along the base of the drone, two landing gears automatically lower when you attempt to land the A1, although you will have to manually retract them when youre looking to launch the drone. You can also lower the landing gear from one of the controllers many buttons. The removable battery has a handy one-touch gauge to monitor levels and provides over 20 minutes of flight time, depending on conditions and whether youre recording video. Antigravity suggests it should last up to 24 minutes during normal filming use. My review device came with two spare batteries and a charging dock. Its very easy to swap out the batteries, and the charging dock can fully charge a single cell in 45 minutes and even charge all three slots at once. Theres a microSD card slot on the rear of the drone, alongside a USB-C port for (slowly) charging the battery. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The cameras have a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/2.2 lens aperture and an ISO range from 100 to 6,400. To adjust those settings beyond auto, youll have to dive into the menu inside the goggles, which can be laborious to navigate with a gesture-based controller. Fortunately, auto ISO and white balance are usually good enough. Pro-level content creators might want to tinker with levels here, and theres a histogram you can toggle on or even a zebra pattern to highlight overexposed shots and areas. and the A1 can record 8K video at up to 30fps or 4K at up to 100fps. You can also meet in the middle, with a 5.2k recording mode. There are also three different flying modes, which are easy to select on the controller. Alongside Normal mode, Sport mode increases the maximum flight speed and offers enhanced flight performance, improves control sensitivity and turns off obstacle avoidance. Sport mode offers a tangible difference when flying the A1: it doubles the horizontal flight speed compared to Normal mode. Theres also a Cinematic (C) mode, with a lower max speed for smoother video footage. The controller and goggles Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The flight mode switcher is one of many controls, wheels, buttons and sliders that pepper the surface of the A1s grip controller. Intriguingly, though, the main way to control the A1 drone is through gestures, not joysticks or buttons. Instead of pitching control sticks to the left and right, up and down, its more akin to a video game, where you point the controller where you want to go, shown with a reticle, and pull the trigger. The A1 then shoots off in that direction. The crucial part is that this doesnt have to be where youre looking from the drones POV. This means you can strafe and fly in any direction without your view being constrained by static cameras. Its a sensation unlike any other drone Ive flown. It feels more like playing a video game like piloting a helicopter in GTA 5. Youre able to look in any direction, both while in motion and while hovering stationary. There are controls for recording video, controlling vertical flight and rotating your POV without turning your head. Theres even a RTH (return to home) function that can be accessed by long-pressing the emergency brake button. The included goggles deliver a crisp view of everything, with a pair of 1.03-inch micro-OLED displays with a resolution of 2,560 2,560 and a 72Hz refresh rate. Other FPV drone goggles typically offer 100Hz refresh rates, but it wasnt a dealbreaker for me. I feared that latency hiccups could make airsickness an issue while flying the A1, but I didnt experience it. My take is that being able to fully control your view makes nausea less of an issue. Another nice touch, especially if youre flying with friends, is a circular outer display on the goggles, so everyone can see what the A1 sees. Naturally, it cant encompass the entire view of the drone pilot, but theres also nothing duller than watching someone else fly a drone. This offers a mild respite. The other eyepiece is a touchpad for steering through menus inside the goggles without having to point and click with the controller. Performance Image by Mat Smith for Engadget While the Antigravity A1 may offer a more immersive drone-flying experience, in pure numerical terms, it lags behind some competitors. For example, even in Sport mode, the A1 tops out at a maximum speed of just under 36 mph, falling behind the likes of DJIs Avata 2 (60 mph). I was still pleasantly surprised by how responsive the A1 felt, especially in Sport mode. An additional FPV mode (accessible from the goggles) adds more sensitive controls, although I havent been able to test it much since it was introduced in a recent firmware update. For someone with more gaming experience than drone piloting hours, Antigravitys central control system fits like a glove. I could fly where I wanted, confident in the controls and in the knowledge that I would capture what I wanted to. According to Antigravity, you can fly the A1 within a 10km transmission range, although I didnt manage to test that limit in central London. The experience of starting with the drone felt, at times, unnecessarily arduous. Pairing everything together has to be done in a specific order: power up drone, power up goggles, power up controller. And turning off each item isnt a typical long press of the power button. Instead, you use a press-once-press-it-again-and-hold method that I forget pretty much every time. Downloading video from the A1 to your phone is also laborious, but thats not a flaw specific to this drone. Antigravity has attempted some shortcuts, including a microSD card quick reader that connects to your phone or PC via USB-C. However, at the time of testing, manually connecting the microSD is less of an option and more of a necessity. The drone repeatedly failed to connect to the companion app and reliably transfer video files. Some video files recorded seemingly evaporated between firmware updates, only to reappear later. Another file had been converted to two separate circular views, one from each camera, which made it essentially unusable. Hopefully these intial teething problems have been solved by firmware updates and won't be in retail devices. Its a shame everything isnt more stable, especially when both flying the A1 and using Antigravitys editing software are bothis so beginner-friendly. It's something Ive mentioned before with the parent companys action cams, but the ability to create barrel rolls, tilt rotations with just one tap or click is, again, just fun. And because you can reframe and tinker with video warping, create tiny planet effects or simply crop to a more traditional, cinematic camera view, Antigravitys software offers almost infinite ways to present your drone footage. Deeptracking can be done both during recording and editing in post, keeping a moving subject or point of interest centered as the A1 zips around. There are also AI-powered video editing features to chop up your 20 minutes of flying footage into something digestible and engaging with minimal effort. Because its a 360-degree video, the footage can be easily cropped to suit both horizontal and vertical formats. However, with a smaller sensor and 8K resolution spread across a 360-degree view, the A1 is not the best video drone. The video is pleasingly crisp and clear, and while the footage is best recorded in bright daylight or other well-lit locations, murky British November days didnt affect it much. As the A1 has to stitch together its two sensors, theres often a visible seam to your video, but its usually a very subtle glitch. It might stop some video creators from tapping it for their most polished aerial shots though. Recording video later in the day resulted in more noise and less detail. This is when the A1s Cinematic mode (and generally slower flying) is a good idea, but it still wont make up for the fact that this drones sensors are covering such wide angles. More video-centric drones will deliver cleaner video and better performance in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Wrap up Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The Antigravity A1 is available now, with a standard bundle including the drone, controller and goggles for $1,599. The Infinity Bundle ($1,999) adds two extra batteries, quick reader dongle, sling bag and a charging dock. That does make it substantially more expensive than rival FPV drones like the DJI Avata 2, but the A1 is also a very different kind of drone. The intuitive controls and ability to look all around you make it unlike anything else currently available. Its a delightful introduction to drones, FPV or otherwise, but a shame that software issues marred my tests. Plus, pairing all the devices can be convoluted and frustrating at times. If Antigravity is thinking about what to do next, Id be intrigued to see a version with the camera bonafides to take on similarly priced DJI drones. But that shouldnt detract from the companys debut model since the A1 is arguably the most intriguing consumer drone since the Mavic Pro. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/antigravity-a1-drone-review-140026021.html?src=rss
Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC are back on sale for $99
If you missed the Black Friday sale on Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC, you're in luck they're back on sale at the same $99 price for a substantial $80 savings (45 percent). What's more, if you're one who frets about damaging your gear, you can grab them with AppleCare+ for $118 , saving 43 percent from the normal price. We think that the AirPods Pro 2 are the best AirPods overall, but the ANC-enabled AirPods 4 are also a solid choice, especially at this price. We gave them a score of 86 in our review . Apple's AirPods 4 come in two variants, with and without ANC. Though the base model is solid, the version on sale here with ANC offers a number of advantages like Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode. They also have a charging case that supports MagSafe and Qi-compatible wireless charging, along with a built-in speaker that emits beeps when you activate Find My. And as Apple recently announced , AirPods 4 with ANC supports the company's Live Translation feature. Our main reservation with the AirPods 4 with ANC is that the Airpods Pro 2 are a better noise-cancellation option when they go on sale. At this price, though, the AirPods 4 with ANC are a real bargain if you're looking for new buds especially if you prefer the open-ears type. As mentioned, for extra peace of mind you can also get the Airpods 4 with ANC plus AppleCare+ protection for $118, or 43 percent off. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/apples-airpods-4-with-anc-are-back-on-sale-for-99-140903670.html?src=rss
EU investigating Meta over policy change that bans rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp
The European Commission is is launching an antitrust investigation into Meta's move to ban other AI companies from using WhatsApp's business tools to offer their own AI chatbots to users.
AI finds its way into Apples top apps of the year
Although Apple has continued to avoid naming a dedicated AI app or AI chatbot as its app of the year, AI was showcased among this year's winners.
Antigravity A1 Review: A 360-Degree Drone
The Antigravity A1 is fun all around, if you dont mind the steep price or wearing goggles to control it.
Exclusive: Ayekart raises $6.5M in debt from Swiss Impact investor Symbiotics Investment
Ayekart, the agri-food startup, will use the funds to scale operations, strengthen market linkages, and expand retail distribution capacity.
Dream11 pivots to creator-led sports entertainment after govt ban on real-money gaming
The sports entertainment app will feature creator-led match watch-alongs, bite-sized sports moments, real-time communication between fans and creators, as well as free-to-play fantasy sports.
Zepto, Rapido investor Nexus closes $700M fund
Nexus's new fund aims to back early-stage companies building in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, consumer tech, and fintech.
UK fines porn company 1 million for weak age checks
The UK has fined a porn operator called AVS Group 1 million ($1.33 million) for failing to have strong enough age checks, regulator Ofcom announced . The company which was also hit with an additional 50,000 fine for its failure to respond to information request and now has 72 hours to introduce effective age checks or face a further penalty of 1,000 a day. In July, the UK government announced it would start checking compliance by websites that publish or display pornographic content to implement a system for highly effective age checks. Methods approved by Ofcom include credit card checks, photo ID matching and even estimating a user's age with a provided selfie. However, users have been circumventing the age checks via methods like using a VPN and providing a fake ChatGPT-generated photo ID. The fine is the third such penalty arising from the UK's Online Safety Act designed to protect children and adults from harmful content. In October, 4Chan was also hit with a 20,000 ($26,700) fine for failing to comply with the internet and telecommunications regulator's request for information under the same law. The UK isn't the only region to have implemented age checks. Around half of US states now require it, as do France, Italy, Australia and China. Australia took things a step further by banning social media use by children under 16, including sites popular with young people like Twitch and YouTube. Ofcom's safety director, Oliver Griffiths, said the crackdown on weak age verification for adult sites would continue. The tide on online safety is beginning to turn for the better. But we need to see much more from tech companies next year and well use our full powers if they fall short. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/uk-fines-porn-company-%C2%A31-million-for-weak-age-checks-130056578.html?src=rss
A Startup Says It Has Found a Hidden Source of Geothermal Energy
Zanskar uses AI to identify hidden geothermal systemsand claims it has found one that could fuel a power plant, the first such discovery by industry in decades.
Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (December 4, 2025)
YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Thursday, December 4, 2025.
The NPU in your phone keeps improvingwhy isnt that making AI better?
Shrinking AI for your phone is no simple matter.
The Best Meteor Shower of the Year Is ComingHeres How to Watch
The highlight of the year, the Geminids are the most active and colorful meteor shower, offering the chance to see hundreds of shooting stars every hour when they peak in mid-December.
Traffic woes aside, Bengaluru remains Indias innovation and talent engine
Bengaluru maintains its dominant position in the country's tech landscape and is poised to lead from the front in the world of AI, according to the Bengaluru Innovation Report.
A fentanyl vaccine is about to get its first major test
Vaccine trial in the Netherlands hopes to protect against fentanyl-related overdose and death.
Unlock the course and raise your game with the best golf rangefinders you can buy.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Is Detaining People for ICE
Louisianas hunting and wildlife authority is one of more than 1,000 state and local agencies that have partnered with US immigration authorities this year alone.
Ultraviolette raises $45M as part of its ongoing Series E round from Zoho and Lingotto
The company said the new capital will power its next phase of scale-upboth in India and abroadacross its current products, the F77 electric motorcycle and the recently launched X-47 crossover, as well as future platforms Shockwave and Tesseract.
Proton Sheets joins the company's productivity suite
The latest addition to Proton's workplace suite is a spreadsheet tool called Proton Sheets. It will offer real-time collaboration, and users can control who has access to view and edit files. Proton Sheets can also be accessed on any device, including mobile ones. It supports importing CSV and XLS files, and the spreadsheets also support commonly used formulas for calculations. A big part of Proton's pitch is privacy, promising that users' information won't be used for training AI. The company also protects user data with end-to-end encryption by default; the press release pointedly notes that products like Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel don't do the same. The Sheets app will be a part of Proton Drive, which already includes a Docs platform with several features similar to those offered by other productivity tools from big tech brands. Proton also offers a VPN and a Mail app . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/proton-sheets-joins-the-companys-productivity-suite-110000344.html?src=rss
Kovai.cos Document360 crosses $10M ARR, eyes $25M by 2028
The company plans to grow the product to $25 million ARR by 2028, driven by increasing interest in AI-led knowledge management.
The 29 best PC games you can play right now for 2025
PC gamers have almost too many options when it comes to titles to play, which is a great problem to have. With decades of games to choose from (and the first port of call for most indie titles, too), the options are endless. You also get the perks of (nearly always flawless) backward compatibility and console-beating graphical performance if you've got the coin for it when youre building your perfect kit or picking up a high-powered gaming laptop . The whole idea of what a gaming PC is and where you can play it is shifting, too, with the rise of handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck. We've tried to be broad with our recommendations here on purpose; here are the best PC games you can play right now. Best PC games to play right now Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games , the best PS5 games , the best Xbox games , the best PC games and the best free games you can play today. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-best-pc-games-150000910.html?src=rss
Meta's Oversight Board wants to expand its powers in 2026
The Oversight Board is getting ready to tackle a new pain point for Facebook and Instagram users. Up to now, users have been able to appeal content moderation decisions related to specific posts to the board, but haven't been able to ask the group to intervene in other situations that affect their accounts. That could soon change. The board says that it will weigh in on individual account-level penalties in a pilot next year. The board noted the change in an impact report recapping its five-year history and what lies ahead in the year to come. In 2026, our scope expands once more as we pilot the ability to review Metas decisions removing and impacting accounts, something that has created ongoing frustration for platform users, the report says. It's not clear how this process will work, but if the board plans to take on account-level issues like suspensions, it would be a significant expansion of its purview. In an interview with Engadget, board member Paolo Carozza said that Meta is expected to refer a case to the board in January that will deal with an account-level issue. The handling of that case will allow the board to explore how it might take on similar cases in the future. We're really excited to take it on because we think it's an important area that really affects a lot of users and their interests, he told Engadget. We all know how many people are constantly coming forward complaining about account-level restrictions or blocking or whatever else, and so if we get it right and it's going to be important to work it out this first pilot we're really optimistic that it's going to help open up a whole new avenue for us to be helpful to the users of [Meta's] platforms. Carozza added that there are a number of technical aspects and other questions still being worked out between the board and Meta. So for now, it's too soon to say whether there will ever be an official appeals process for suspensions, like there currently is for post removals. But he says Meta is equally invested in the effort. It's something we've been talking about with Meta for well over a year, he said. They've been expressing an openness and a willingness to give us access to those kinds of questions. The Oversight Board's report hints at another way its influence could potentially expand. It notes that the group's work has made it well-positioned to partner with a range of global tech companies as they navigate issues arising from free speech debates globally. Both Meta and Oversight Board officials have previously floated the idea that other companies might want to take advantage of its expertise. Up to now, most other platforms have had little incentive to do so. But Carozza says the rise of generative AI has created some new interest from non-Meta affiliated platforms, and that there have been really preliminary conversations with other companies. It feels like quite a different moment now, largely because of generative AI, LLMs, chatbots [and] the way that a variety of retail-level users of these technologies are facing a whole new set of challenges and harms that's attracting a lot of scrutiny, he said. We have had conversations in recent months with other tech companies in this space about the possibility that the board might be able to contribute helpful services to them to help navigate some of these really thorny questions. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/metas-oversight-board-wants-to-expand-its-powers-in-2026-100000385.html?src=rss
From AQI and Dharmendra to Operation Sindoor and Womens World Cup: Indians 2025 searches on Google
Google released its annual roundup titled Indias Year in Search 2025: The A to Z of Trending Searches
Apple Watch introduces hypertension notifications in India
Apple Watch users in India can now look out for the hypertension notification feature after its launch
Atlassian and the new blueprint for product-led growth
As Atlassian shapes its next chapter by building ambitious, AI-powered products, Head of Product Anand Narayanan says it all comes down to one principle: trust over control.
EU to launch antitrust probe into Meta over use of AI in WhatsApp: Report
Brussels is planning a new antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms over its rollout of artificial intelligence features in WhatsApp, the Financial Times reported on Thursday
The best streaming deals: Save on Disney+ and Hulu, HBO Max, Apple TV+ and more
If youve been shocked by how much you spend on streaming services lately, youre not alone. Companies like Netflix, Disney, HBO Max and others have been consistently raising prices to the point where you may question if streaming is even worth it anymore . We at Engadget still think it is, but we also think you should be smart with your money and thats where streaming deals come in. Yes, it is possible to get discounts on services like Peacock and Paramount+, even if those deals arent as common as a sale on AirPods. If youre looking to save money and still stream all of the content you want, Engadget can help by laying out the best streaming deals you can get right now, how you can save with bundles and everything you should know before paying for yet another streaming service. Best streaming deals True streaming deals can be hard to come by. Most often, theyll pop up during the Black Friday shopping period. On occasion, well see them sparingly throughout the year and they usually take the form of a discounted monthly or annual rate for a limited period of time. Also, true streaming deals are typically on the ad-supported versions of a service, but once in a while youll find a unicorn of a deal on a tier that has ad-free viewing. If youre able to wait for a deal before subscribing to a streaming service, we recommend doing so. Youll save money upfront and in the long run, and you also have the option to cancel your subscription before the price goes back up to the normal rate. Audible three months for $3 : For literally $1 per month , you can get access to Audible's enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It's only three months, after which you'll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into 90 days. Starz (one year) for $12 ($58 off): Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $40 off a Stars annual subscription. There's a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don't want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads. Spotify Premium Individual four months for free ($48 off): This is our favorite music streaming service for podcasts and social features. The Premium Individual plan lets you listen ad-free and skip songs at will. You can also organize your listening queue and download content for offline listening. Just be aware, your subscription will auto-renew at the end of the trial period. So if you don't want to be on the hook for the $12 monthly fee, set a reminder to cancel and go back to the free version. Amazon Music Unlimited three months for free ($36 off): Amazon's own music streaming service is now free for three months, for new subscribers only. With it, you get access to 100 million songs with no ads, many podcasts and some audiobooks from Audible as well. Fubo Pro for $55/month for the first month ($30 off): Fubo has introductory discounts on most of its packages, and the Pro package is the least expensive plan currently listed. It offers access to 224 channels, unlimited cloud DVR and up to 10 simultaneous streams. It even includes regional sports content from the NHL, MLB and NBA. DirecTV starting at $50/month for one month (up to $40 off): All of DirecTV's signature packages are up to $45 off right now for your first month when you sign up. If you opt for the base Entertainment package, you'll spend $50 for the first month and get access to over 90 channels, including many local stations as well as ESPN, ESPN 2 and Fox Sports 1. You'll also be able to watch on the go with the DirecTV mobile app. Streaming bundle discounts Theres more consolidation happening now than ever before in the streaming space, and that means there are more streaming bundle options. These bundles offer you access to more content with one subscription price, but those prices are typically higher than paying for a single service by itself (obviously). It may be tempting to just get the bundle, but if only one of those services in the bundle speaks to you, youll spend less overall by just paying for the single service. Speaking of a deep love for a single streaming service: if all of your favorite shows are on Peacock or the latest releases on HBO Max consistently bring you joy, consider paying for one year upfront. Subscribing with an annual plan usually saves you money in the long term over paying on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, not all streaming services (looking at you, Netflix) have an annual subscription option. Disney+ If you feel like Charlie Kelly trying to figure out who Pepe Silvia is when you look at Disney's streaming prices chart , you're not alone. The confusion comes from the fact that Disney owns, or has a hand in, many streaming services including Hulu and ESPN. Throw in a partnership with HBO Max and you have a ton of options to consider and, probably, whiplash to match. Here's a quick overview of popular Disney+ bundle pricing. Disney+ and Hulu bundle (with ads) $13/month Disney+ and Hulu bundle (without ads) $20/month Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select (with ads) $20/month Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select (without ads on Disney+ and Hulu only) $30/month Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max (with ads) $20/month Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max (without ads) $33/month Peacock TV Peacock doesn't have any streaming bundles available all year round, but you can save if you pay for one year upfront. Peacock Select (with ads) $8/month or $80/year Peacock Premium (with ads) $11/month or $110/year Peacock Premium Plus (without ads) $17/month or $170/year Paramount+ Paramount+ used to bill its tier with Showtime as a sort of bundle, but it has since renamed its plans and focused the Showtime inclusion in its premium tier as just another bonus of paying for the higher priced plan. Paramount+ Essential (with ads) $8/month or $60/year Paramount Premium (without ads) $13/month or $120/year Student discounts on streaming services It pays to be a student sometimes, at least. A number of streaming services have student discounts you can take advantage of as long as you're actively studying. What that translates to most of the time is being able to verify your student status and signing up with your .edu email address. HBO Max student discount subscribe for $5/month (50 percent off): HBO Max offers their ad-supported tier to students for half off the usual rate. Youll just have to verify that youre a student through Unidays , and make note that this offer is only good for up to 12 months of service. Hulu student discount subscribe for $2/month (75 percent off): Those with a valid student ID can get Hulus ad-supported tier for 75 percent off the typical rate. Theyll keep the same sale price for as long as theyre a student as well. Spotify student discount Premium + Hulu with ads for $6/month (72 percent off): Spotifys student offer continues to be one of the best around, giving you access to the Premium tier of the music streamer and Hulus ad-supported plan for only $6 monthly. Purchased separately, youd pay $22 per month for both of the services. Plus, the first month is free when you sign up. NBA League Pass student discount one year for $120 (40 percent off) : Students can get one year of League Pass for only $10 per month, which includes access to NBA TV and the ability to watch classic and archive games on-demand. On the NBA League Pass website, look for the student discount banner at the top and follow the instructions to verify your student status. Read more streaming coverage The best live TV streaming services to cut cable The best streaming services: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and more The best streaming devices Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-streaming-service-deals-133028980.html?src=rss
A powerful 2025 Kuril-Kamchatka earthquake generated a Pacific-wide tsunami, captured by NASA's SWOT satellite. These unprecedented high-resolution images reveal complex, braided wave patterns, challenging the assumption that large tsunamis travel as non-dispersive waves. This discovery offers crucial new insights into mid-ocean energy distribution, promising to significantly improve future tsunami forecasting and hazard assessments.
OpenAI pushes to release new AI model codenamed Garlic as Googles Gemini gains users: Report
As per a new report, OpenAI plans to release a version of the new large language model by early next year
SoftBank to pare more than two-thirds stake in InMobi, its first-ever India bet
If completed, the deal would represent another liquidity event for SoftBank from an Indian company, boosting its returns portfolio, which otherwise has been a mixed bag, with significant gains from PB Fintech and Blinkit (Grofers) investment, alongside losses exceeding $500M from Paytm.
Nomad Goods Promo Codes: 25% Off
Save up to 25% on Nomad Goods accessories such as Nomad phone cases, Nomad wallets, and more this December.
Wikipedia seeks more AI licensing deals similar to Google tie-up, co-founder says
While the content of Wikipedia remains free for individuals under its license, the high-volume, automated access by for-profit entities is a different matter, Wales said
Salesforce CEO vies to overcome investors AI skepticism while touting companys quarterly numbers
Salesforce has been pummeled by a wave of investor skepticism thats intensified the pressure on its persuasive CEO Marc Benioff
Microsoft lowers AI software sales quota as customers resist new products: Report
It is rare for Microsoft to lower quotas for specific products, the report said, citing two salespeople in the Azure cloud unit
Indian data center operator Sify Infinit Spaces bets on AI boom but wary of bubble
The surge in artificial intelligence technologies, which require massive computing power, has spurred unprecedented growth in data centers worldwide, including India
Nvidia servers speed up AI models from China's Moonshoot AI and others tenfold
The data comes as the AI world has shifted its focus from training AI models, where Nvidia dominates the market, to putting them to use for millions of users, where Nvidia faces far more competition from rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices and Cerebras
Pine Labs is more than a POS terminal company; software services now account for 71% of revenue
Over the years, the Mumbai-based payments company's has evolved from a hardware provider to a software and services platform.
Petcare orders often come with urgency and emotion, making every failed payment a moment of stress for families. Cashfrees checkout stack helped HUFT deliver consistency at scale, strengthening its bond with pet parents everywhere.
OpenAI agrees to acquire AI startup Neptune to boost model training capabilities
The Sam Altman-led firm is already a Neptune customer, using Neptunes tracker to monitor and debug training of its GPT large language models
New unicorn Brevo raises $583M to challenge CRM giants
Brevo, a customer relationship management company headquartered in Paris, is now a unicorn.
OpenAI loses fight to keep ChatGPT logs secret in copyright case
The case, originally brought by the Times in 2023, is one of many brought by copyright owners against tech companies including OpenAI, Microsoft and Meta Platforms for using their material without permission to train their AI systems
Micron to exit consumer memory business amid global supply shortage
Micron Technology said on Wednesday it will exit its consumer business, as it doubles down on advanced memory chips used in artificial intelligence data centres
Year in Review: Top 10 celebrity-backed ventures of 2025
Beyond brand endorsements, celebrities in 2025 took on deeper roles as investors, partners, and co-founders. From logistics, electric mobility, spirits, grooming, and sustainable travel gear, heres what caught their attention.
Pine Labs first profit after market debut; Indias most affordable bionic hand
Lastly, a quantum-driven crypto meltdown, more AI chaos, and China creating a new global money system are among the outrageous predictions made by Danish investment bank Saxo Bank.
Day One Ventures Masha Bucher on why every founder needs to be an influencer
Tech is racing ahead while society struggles to keep up.Masha Bucher, founder and GP ofDay One Ventures, built her firm around closing that gap bycombining venture capital with hands-on PRto help portfolio companies not just raise money, butactually breakthrough the noise. Day Ones been an early backer of companies likeWorld, Superhuman, and Remote.com, with 12 []
Malaria parasites corkscrew their way deeper through skin
Malaria sporozoites injected into human skin have to cover hundreds of micrometres to find a capillary that leads them to the liver. Older geometric models had already hinted that the natural distance across which a parasite makes a turn roughly matches the radius of small blood vessels, making it easier to loop around them
Amazon hopes to jump start its AI coding tool Kiro by giving it away to startups
Can Kiro win the hearts of startup founders above the many AI coding tools they already have? Amazon hopes a free year will tempt them.
US Department of Transportation doubles down on gas, cuts fuel efficiency standards
The Department of Transportation under President Donald Trump is moving to reverse more of the climate policies that had been enacted by President Joe Biden. Under a proposed rulemaking by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks in model year 2031 will be reduced to an average of 34.5 miles per gallon, down from the standard of 50.4 miles per gallon that was part of Biden's plans to encourage more adoption of electric vehicles among US drivers. The move was expected since Trump re-took office. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered the NHTSA to review fuel efficiency standards in January a day after he assumed the title. The current administration also ended a tax credit for buying electric vehicles over the summer. In the meantime, international manufacturers are racing ahead in their progress on building better EVs, offering other markets more exciting models that wont arrive in the US thanks to tariffs . While Trump's announcement today claimed that the change would reduce the average cost of a new car by $1,000 and offer a savings of $109 billion over five years, gas prices are on track to increase if the Environmental Protection Agency does successfully repeal the finding that climate change causes human harm. Plus there's the incalculable financial and human cost of a growing number of catastrophic weather events that have been predicted if the planet continues to get warmer. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/us-department-of-transportation-doubles-down-on-gas-cuts-fuel-efficiency-standards-234542939.html?src=rss
Meta poaches Apple design exec Alan Dye
Dye led Apple's user interface team for the last decade.
Could MrBeast IPO? His CEO wants fans to have a chance to be owners of the company
Would you buy stock in a twenty-seven-year-old named Jimmy?
BMW iX3 2026 Review: Price, Specs, Availability
BMWs first car on its new EV platform has finally arrived. But will a big range, thumping charging tech, and a new driving brain that aims to deliver the ultimate ride be enough to beat China?
Apple design lead Alan Dye is heading to Meta
Alan Dye, Apple's Vice President of Human Interface Design, has been poached by Meta, Bloomberg reports . The designer played a pivotal role in the look and feel of Apple's products since Jony Ive left the company in 2019 , and now hell be taking his talents to Meta. Dye will reportedly work under Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth as the head of a new studio that will oversee the design of hardware, software and AI products. The studio will also include former Apple designer Billy Sorrentino, Metas interface design lead Joshua To, an industrial design team led by Pete Bristol, and metaverse design and art teams led by Jason Rubin, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Threads . The new studio will bring together design, fashion, and technology to define the next generation of our products and experiences, Zuckerberg shared in the post. Our idea is to treat intelligence as a new design material and imagine what becomes possible when it is abundant, capable and human-centered. Apple, meanwhile, is replacing Dye with Stephen Lemay, Bloomberg reports, a senior designer at the company who's worked on all of the companys interfaces since 1999. Considering the secrecy of Apple as a company, it's hard to credit individual breakthroughs to individual designers, but Dye worked on several of Apple's major new platforms and design changes, including things like the interface of visionOS and its new Liquid Glass design language. Meta has had success with its Quest virtual reality headsets and more recently, its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses , but the company clearly hopes to release many more consumer hardware products with Dye and its new design studios help. Those will likely include future versions of the Meta Ray-Ban Display and its Neural Band accessory. Dye isn't the first designer Apple has lost to a competitor. Evans Hankey, the companys former head of industrial design, left Apple in 2022 to work with Ive. Hankey is now one of several former Apple employees building OpenAI's upcoming hardware device . Dye joining Meta is particularly interesting in this case because Apple is rumored to be working on products that will bring the company in even closer competition to the social media giant. The Vision Pro could be considered to be a high-end competitor in VR, but Apple is reportedly working on its own pair of smart glasses , too. Update, December 3, 5:54PM ET: Added information from Mark Zuckerbergs Threads post on hiring Alan Dye and Metas new design studio. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-design-lead-alan-dye-is-heading-to-meta-214449944.html?src=rss
Artist Bungie plagiarized for Marathon alpha says the issue has been resolved
Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment appear to have settled the plagiarism scandal that rocked Marathon before the game was indefinitely delayed in June 2025. Fern Hook, an artist who goes by the name Antireal online, posted on X that her issues with Bungie using her work without credit in Marathon have been resolved to her satisfaction. Marathon 's distinct art style is one of its charms, but as Hook claimed on X and Bungie later confirmed , a portion of the assets and textures featured in the game's alpha were lifted from Hook's work. At the time, Bungie announced that it was conducting an investigation and hoped to discuss the issue with Hook. It's not clear what kind of agreement Bungie, Sony and Hook came to, but it appears to have solved any outstanding issues. The Marathon art issue has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction. N (@4nt1r34l) December 2, 2025 Bungie delayed Marathon from its original September 2025 launch date in June, and more recently ran closed playtests of an updated version of the game in October. As of Sony's November earnings report, the company now says Marathon will launch by March 2026 . Marathon is a reimagining of an older Bungie franchise, but more importantly, it's also the developer's first new game since Destiny 2 was released in 2017. Considering Sony's increased scrutiny of Bungie's performance , settling this issue and hopefully setting up Marathon for a smoother launch is definitely a good thing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/artist-bungie-plagiarized-for-marathon-alpha-says-the-issue-has-been-resolved-223901094.html?src=rss
The Auk Mini Herb Garden Is Still Up to $30 Off (2025)
Missed out on Cyber Monday? Auk Mini's stylish herb garden makes a great gift, and its discount is still live.
Your 'dear algo' Threads posts might actually do something soon
In a lot of social media use, the algorithm is an intangible entity, silent and all-powerful in controlling what we see in our feeds. And like supplicants to a deity, sometimes we may find ourselves calling into the void, hoping to receive aid from that mighty being. Seems that for Threads users, at least, those prayers have been heard. Many people on the Threads platform have taken to writing posts with the phrase dear algo, politely asking the network algorithm to show them more of what they want or less of what they don't. According to a post today from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Threads will try out a feature where that's exactly what happens. Connor Hayes, head of Threads, also posted about this limited test, adding that it will be an AI-powered feature. When people add Dear Algo to a post, it will tell your feed what you want to see more or less of for up to three days, he wrote . If your profile is public, people can see your request, connect with you about it, or repost it. There is something satisfying about having users' feedback taken seriously, even if it started as a bit of a joke. Threads has seen rapid growth since its debut in 2023. It had 400 million monthly active users as of August 2025 and in October it reached 150 million daily active users. Update, December 3, 2025, 5:15PM ET: Added more detail from Connor Hayes about the tests. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/your-dear-algo-threads-posts-might-actually-do-something-soon-215448062.html?src=rss
Andy Jassy says Amazons Nvidia competitor chip is already a multibillion-dollar business
Can any company, big or small, really topple Nvidia's AI chip dominance? Maybe not entirely, but Amazon is already making big bucks trying.
The Age-Gated Internet Is Sweeping the US. Activists Are Fighting Back
Half of the country now requires age verification to watch porn or access harmful content. Digital rights advocates are pushing back against legislation they say will make the internet less safe.
How to use Accessibility Reader on Apple devices
Earlier this year, Apple launched a new tool that makes it easier to read anything on your devices screen. Designed for people with visual disabilities, Accessibility Reader provides a full-screen view of any on-screen text. (Its a bit like Safaris Reader Mode, only for any app.) The feature also lets you listen to your text read aloud. Accessibility Reader is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro. Your device will need to be on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe or visionOS 26. Its a fairly straightforward experience. But since it offers several launch and customization options, heres a quick breakdown on getting started and tweaking it to your liking. How to turn on and open Accessibility Reader The Accessibility Reader settings toggle on macOS. Activating the feature is the same on any Apple device. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak , and turn on Accessibility Reader. (Its at the very top.) Once youve done that, there are several ways to launch the tool. Accessibility Shortcut (iOS / iPadOS / visionOS) Triple-click the lock button . Thats the side button on iPhone and the top button on iPad and Vision Pro. (On older iPads, triple-click the Home Button.) This brings up the Accessibility Shortcut, which includes a quick-launch item for Accessibility Reader. If you dont need the other items in this menu, you can remove them at Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut . Then, using the shortcut will immediately launch Accessibility Reader. Control Center (iOS / iPadOS) You can add a Control Center shortcut for the tool. Swipe down from the top-right to launch Control Center. Then, hold your finger on an empty part of the screen. Choose Add a control (bottom), and find the Accessibility Reader shortcut. You can now tap that Control Center icon whenever you want to launch it. Keyboard Shortcut (macOS) The default Accessibility Reader shortcut on Mac is Cmd-Esc . Or, customize it in Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Reader by clicking the i next to the menu item. Accessibility Shortcut (macOS) The tool is also available as part of the Macs Accessibility Shortcut. You can launch this menu using a keyboard shortcut ( Opt-Cmd-F5 ), by quickly pressing Touch ID three times or with a Control Center shortcut. (However, the above Cmd-Esc shortcut should be the simplest for most people.) How to listen to text in Accessibility Reader The tool also includes a text-to-speech (TTS) option. Once youve launched Accessibility Reader, listening is as simple as pressing the play button (). You can then use the pause () shortcut to take a break. Other options include skipping backward or forward using the rewind or fast-forward symbols. Theres also a speed adjustment, which you can change by choosing the 1x button. If you want the Reader to speak text automatically when it opens, you can do that, too. That option is found under Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Reader . (On Mac, select the i symbol next to the menu entry to find this option.) How to customize Accessibility Reader Its easy to adjust the font size, color, theme and more. Once youve launched Accessibility Reader, tap the customization (AA) button. There, you can change the theme, colors, font, line spacing and much more. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-use-accessibility-reader-on-apple-devices-212231319.html?src=rss
OpenAI's new confession system teaches models to be honest about bad behaviors
OpenAI announced today that it is working on a framework that will train artificial intelligence models to acknowledge when they've engaged in undesirable behavior, an approach the team calls a confession. Since large language models are often trained to produce the response that seems to be desired, they can become increasingly likely to provide sycophancy or state hallucinations with total confidence. The new training model tries to encourage a secondary response from the model about what it did to arrive at the main answer it provides. Confessions are only judged on honesty, as opposed to the multiple factors that are used to judge main replies, such as helpfulness, accuracy and compliance. The technical writeup is available here . The researchers said their goal is to encourage the model to be forthcoming about what it did, including potentially problematic actions such as hacking a test, sandbagging or disobeying instructions. If the model honestly admits to hacking a test, sandbagging, or violating instructions, that admission increases its reward rather than decreasing it, the company said. Whether you're a fan of Catholicism, Usher or just a more transparent AI, a system like confessions could be a useful addition to LLM training. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-new-confession-system-teaches-models-to-be-honest-about-bad-behaviors-210553482.html?src=rss
Netflix is getting rid of another of its game studios by selling it back to its founders
The developer of Cozy Grove and Alphabear is leaving Netflix. Spry Fox is being sold back to its original founders, Game File reports , and will continue to work on its upcoming cooperative village life sim Spirit Crossing as an independent company. Unlike other shuttered Netflix games studios Team Blue and Boss Fight Entertainment , Netflix will remain involved with the studio as Spirit Crossing 's publisher on mobile. As part of the arrangement, Spry Fox founders David Edery and Daniel Cook will be able to shop Spirit Crossing to other publishers for console and PC releases of the game. While reverting to being an independent studio is definitely a happier version of the typical studio closure story, it might not be without issues. Game File reports that layoffs at Spry Fox are still possible and the developer will need to find additional funding to continue long-term. Spirit Crossing may also need to be altered so that Spry Fox can continue to make money from the game after players purchase it. Netflix acquired Spry Fox in 2022, a little over a year after it acquired Oxenfree developer Night School . Spry Fox released its first game for Netflix subscribers, a sequel to Cozy Grove , in 2024. The studio formally announced Spirit Crossing in March of this year, as an ambitious attempt to fuse the cozy life simulation elements of something like Animal Crossing: New Horizons with the online social experiences of MMOs like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV . That pitch apparently no longer jives with Netflix's current game strategy, which changed when Epic Games' Alain Tascan took over from ex-EA executive Mike Verdu . Whereas Netflix Games under Verdu acquired studios, funded projects and licensed an eclectic collection of mobile games for Netflix subscribers, Tascan has refocused the company's games business around titles based on Netflix IP , social party games and known quantities , Game File writes. Spirit Crossing doesn't fit neatly into any of those categories, which might be one reason Netflix is parting ways with Spry Fox. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/netflix-is-getting-rid-of-another-of-its-game-studios-by-selling-it-back-to-its-founders-203645232.html?src=rss
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Tencent agrees to stop promoting its Horizon ripoff during Sony lawsuit
Tencent has agreed to stop promoting and publicly testing Light of Motiram as a lawsuit with Sony works its way through the courts, according to a report by TheGamePost . This is Tencent's game that looks suspiciously similar to Sony's Horizon franchise, so much so that Sony sued the publisher. Sony wants the court to block the game from sale entirely, but as the case continues Tencent has agreed to keep Light of Motiram out of the spotlight. The company submitted a court filing that says there will be no new promotion of public testing of the game as Sony's injunction request is argued. In return, Sony will give Tencent more time to respond to the injunction. Tencent has also issued a request to dismiss the lawsuit entirely. Both companies have jointly requested that the injunction request and the motion to dismiss be moved to the same day, which could be as early as January. For the uninitiated, Light of Motiram is an open-world hunting game that has some obvious similarities to Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel. The basic setup is similar, as is the visual appearance of the characters and marketing materials. This all caused Sony to refer to it as a slavish clone in the lawsuit. Sony To be fair, there are differences. The Horizon games are third-person adventures in the mold of Zelda, but Light of Motiram looks to be primarily a cooperative survival game. Tencent is a giant multi-tentacled company that actually owns Riot Games , Supercell and Funcom. It also has investment stakes in Epic, Ubisoft, Activision and Blizzard and Larian Studios, among many others. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/tencent-agrees-to-stop-promoting-its-horizon-ripoff-during-sony-lawsuit-193043644.html?src=rss
