Tools that promise to detect AI writing can be dubious, but educators and publishers are using them anyway.
It takes a little more work, but phones can now legitimately rival point-and-shoot cameras.
How Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma tells the story of a fictional horror series through objects.
It’s practically a USB-C Swiss Army Knife.
Its $299.99 Pro 2 cost the same as Xreal’s A01 Plus, but diopter dials make a big difference.
Plus, in this week’s Installer: Spider-Man is back again, a cozy game worth trying, Elon roasts, and much more.
Plus, in this week’s Installer: Impressive new Nothing earbuds, adult Play-Doh, a Burning Man doc, and much more.
Plus, in this week’s Installer: Nolan did it again, a silly new AI gadget, a great update to a great notes app, and more.
Plus, in this week’s Installer: A new tiny e-reader, a word game from the word experts, life as a YouTuber, and more.
Data center bans in states like Florida reveal how the anti-AI movement is channeling bipartisan backlash.
It’s the second-largest data center market behind Virginia.
Words are cheap and the pledge lacks enforcement mechanisms.
Community pushback from across the US and beyond is making some companies reconsider their data center buildout plans.
How you feel about AI’s energy use might change how you feel about computers entirely.
Hit by an icy EV slump and a literal tornado, Rivian bets it all on the R2.
The Trump administration might not want trans kids to exist, but they’re living their lives anyway.
Experienced white-collar workers are now part of a miserable gig economy.
Shout out to subscriber Only Forward for sharing this on our post looking for your favorite bad movies. Propstore is auctioning off the original costume worn for the 2003 film, which is pretty terrifying in its own right. But somehow the empty suit is even more horrifying.
With the success of Whoop and other screen-free fitness bands like the Fitbit Air, Polar Loop, and Helio Strap, it’s not a surprise that the company is weighing its options. But nothing is set in stone yet. According to Mark Gurman:
The company is considering new devices with no displays, as well as different types of screens and various sizes. While unlikely to hit the market, round screens have even been considered. I’m told the work also includes potentially adding premium models beyond the Ultra and Hermès variants. On the lower end, Apple is considering more affordable concepts besides the current SE model.
The original episode featuring Paul Scheer and Jason Mantzoukas is one of the funniest things to ever grace a television screen. If you’ve never seen it, stop everything and watch it on YouTube now. There’s even a bonus, extremely spoilery bonus cut that’s fun as well. For the 10th anniversary, Gethard got the band back together, and it’s a blast.
The small cruise ship Wilderness Legacy rescued the skiff that ran out of fuel.
He still takes responsibility, saying ‘you don’t just turn it [driving] over to a computer.‘
Two people have filed a class action suit against Mercedes-AMG, claiming that a raised metal logo on the seats of certain models literally brands them on hot days. According to the Associated Press:
Lahigani, a Los Angeles resident, had leased a new 2026 Mercedes-AMG E-Class vehicle from an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership in Los Angeles, according to the suit. He reported receiving second-degree burns on his back on May 31, after entering his vehicle wearing a tank top. A board-certified dermatologist subsequently documented first- and second-degree burns, describing the injury as “AMG inscribed.”
When catastrophe strikes, having your whole computer in the cloud makes recovery a breeze.
It’s the latest change in what has been a tumultuous few years for creators.
A couple of weeks ago, I admitted to you all that I love bad movies. Don’t get me wrong — I love arthouse films and critically acclaimed blockbusters, but some of the most fun I have had watching a movie has been introducing my siblings to Troll 2 and sharing Fateful Findings with friends over Zoom during the pandemic. So I want to know: what’s your favorite so-bad-it’s-good movie that I need to check out?
It’s rare that a video alone can make me motion sick, but yikes. This mod from RaYRoD TV puts you in the driver’s seat and is free to download. RaYRod has already put together similar mods for Star Fox 64, Sonic Robo Blast 2, and more. But something tells me this is the one most likely to make you lose your lunch.
This episode of BBC’s Tomorrow’s World features people weirdly excited about internet radio and online gaming. But it’s this bit about creating a digital avatar and trying to capture your personality in code that feels oddly prescient in the age of AI chatbots, but also deeply dystopian.
An Amazon-owned site in Pecos County, Texas, received a permit to release up to 33 million tons of CO2.
Just like the orange and grey special edition of the Fitbit Air we got in May, a new leak shows the Pixel Watch 5 with a similar band, suggesting Steph Curry will be lending his name to more Google gear.
Arturia’s Pigments is my go-to synth plugin. It’s powerful, versatile, and shockingly easy to build complex patches in. It’s currently marked down to $129 from its usual price of $199. But if you’re hesitant to commit even that much, the company just launched Pigments Play, a free stripped-down version.
[Arturia]
The host challenged the company to take on someone its own size.
It will be going away in 24 hours, but to celebrate 8/08 Bjooks, the company behind Beat Gems and Pedal Crush, is making Inspire the Music — 50 Years of Roland History free to read. The company is also offering 15 percent off the hardcover version for the day.
[Patch & Tweak]
Plus, in this week’s Installer: A new all-purpose backpack, the latest Bose cans, an Anthony Bourdain movie, and more.
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Restart’s former editor-in-chief says the ‘entire editorial team’ has been cut.
On July 21st, the FCC threatened to retroactively ban foreign crop-dusting sprayer drones because they could dispense poison, drones over 55 pounds because they could carry weapons, LiDAR and thermal camera drones and drone docks because they could enable spies. DJI wants you to tell the FCC how you feel about that. Weird times we live in:
In his first video after expressing his feelings of over-reliance on LLMs, Green clarifies the AI usage policy at his education company Complexly, stating “no one is using AI to create Crash Course videos”. He also laid out a new AI policy for himself, and encouraged other creators to do the same.
Fenix now claims he’s ‘never said I didn’t use AI,‘ to make his hit song.
Netflix hired a guy to sit inside a Hollywood billboard and promote its new movie, The Last House, which follows “a family mysteriously sealed inside their home.”
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Startup Fairground wants to win people over with a never-ending stream of slop.
As Variety reports, The Odyssey has officially pulled in over $1 billion in global ticket sales, including $257 million from IMAX tickets. Within “a matter of days,” it’s expected to pass The Dark Knight Rises to become Christopher Nolan’s highest-grossing film yet.
OpenAI says its in-development Astra model may have ‘critical’ cybersecurity capabilities.
President Donald Trump tapped Danielle Thumann Severs to join the Federal Communications Commission. If confirmed, it would bring the agency’s makeup to three Republicans and one Democrat, with room for one more non-Republican commissioner. Chair Brendan Carr praised the nomination, though he already has enough votes to pass his agenda.
The AI test generates a customized row of shows to help you find something to watch.
Microsoft’s plan for Edge means that uBlock Origin users are losing one of their browser options.
Peter Jackson’s beautiful interpretations have stood the test of time, and you can grab them for a discounted rate.
On The Vergecast: The model wars, the scourge of ‘time spent,’ and the ads coming to your BMW.
The Sony WH-1000XM4C could arrive as soon as next month with similar features as the original but reduced battery life.
Plus, we found deals on the top-notch Instax Mini Evo hybrid instant camera and Nothing’s Headphone (a) overears.
“I can say that the level of pre-orders is unprecedented and astonishing, and we’re very grateful for that,” Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said on Friday’s earnings call, according to Variety. An “extended look” at GTA VI will stream on August 27th.
GTA VI also won’t launch on a physical disc. On the call, Zelnick said that Take-Two’s business is already “well over 90 percent digitally distributed,” according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier.
Update: Added Schreier’s post.
