Tech
Toyota Wants to Mass Produce AI-Powered “Fully Driverless Robotaxis.”
Two Toyota-owned entities, Toyota Motor Investment Company (TMCI) and GAC Toyota Motor Company (GTMC) have just entered into a joint venture with leading autonomous-driving company Pony.ai -- with the intention of mass producing "fully driverless robotaxis."As part of the joint venture, the China-based Toyota entities will invest more than $139 million USD, which brings its total investments in Pony since 2020 to a total of roughly $539 million USD.Terms in the partnership outline that GTMC will provide Pony.ai with Toyota-branded battery electric vehicles, which are equipped with Toyota’s vehicle redundant systems and deemed suitable for L4 autonomous driving development. The vehicles will be equipped with Pony.ai’s autonomous driving tech and run on Pony.ai’s robotaxi network platform, "...
Twitch streamer Kai Cenat will be charged with inciting a riot after chaotic giveaway in Union Square
/ NYPD executives said Kai Cenat will be charged on “at least two counts” for Friday’s event. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: Kai Cenat / Fanum (Instagram) A bit earlier, he posted a video from the inside of a vehicle before getting out, talking about multiple PS5s he intended to give away while showing off a huge stack of $100 gift cards. The video quickly devolves into chaos when Cenat exits the vehicle, with the crowd immediately collapsing on Cenat a...
Elon Musk’s X can’t send Blue subscribers their ad revenue-sharing payouts on time
/ Twitter / X announced late on Friday that the check is (not) in the mail. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: The Verge In news that isn’t very surprising given the recent history of Twitter, which Elon Musk is currently rebranding to X, the company won’t be able to make some promised payments on time. The X Support account says that because its “Ads Revenue Sharing” program is so popular, “We need a bit more time to review everything for the next payout and aim to get all eligible accounts paid as soon as possible.” From the linked support page: August 4, 2023 update: The vo...
Zuck says Threads will add search and web ‘in the next few weeks’
/ Hopefully “web” means what we all think it means. a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>Threads.net, as of August 2023.
Your Android phone may soon read QR codes from across the room
/ If you’ve had trouble scanning QR codes on your Android, perhaps on a wall across the room, Google’s testing a new feature with developers that could make scanning from a distance easier. a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>Google’s sample of the code scanner API auto-zoom.
X/Twitter Blue Subscribers Can Now Hide Their Blue Verification Badge
The latest rebranding of Elon Musk's Twitter Blue to X Blue will now give subscribers the option to hide their blue verification checkmarks. Since Musk changed the policy that would only give those who pay for the blue check a verification, many of those who have received their checkmark can now avoid memes about how "this mf paid for twitter."In a X support article, it discusses the new hide function, "The checkmark will be hidden on your profile and posts. The checkmark may still appear in some places and some features could still reveal you have an active subscription. Some features may not be available while your checkmark is hidden." The debacle of the blue checks began when Musk allowed anyone to be "verified" through the Blue subscription. Later Twitter began removing blue checks fr...
Google Assistant to Get AI Supercharge
While virtual assistants are nothing new and have been using artificial intelligence (AI) in subtle ways since their inception, Google is looking to take things to the next level and potentially "supercharge" its Assistant offering using advanced AI -- like that found in its Bard chatbot.Word of an AI-powered Assistant began to spread following a leaked internal email published by Axios, part of which read, "As a team, we need to focus on delivering high-quality, critical product experiences for our users. We've also seen the profound potential of generative AI to transform people's lives and see a huge opportunity to explore what a supercharged Assistant, powered by the latest LLM technology, would look like."The email was signed by Google Assistant's VP Peeyush Ranjan and product direct...
Let’s all play the Phone Challenge
/ What if my phone is just a tool? a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>That’s right, my phone and I have had an important relationship talk.a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>If you’re looking at this and going, “Nice brag, Liz,” you are a good candidate for the Phone Challenge. The point isn’t to limit my contact with the internet — I still get to use my laptop as much as I want. But my laptop use is more deliberate tha...
The Galaxy Watch 6’s Thermo Check app is a solution looking for a problem
/ While it’s entertaining to use, this isn’t really a compelling use for smartwatch temperature sensors. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge Have you ever wondered what the temperature of your desk surface is? Me neither, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 says it’s a balmy 81 degrees Fahrenheit. The other day, it said my cat’s fluffy belly was 88 degrees. My arm was apparently 86 degrees, and a cup of tea, Earl Grey, hot, was roughly...
Amazon Q2 2023 Sailed Past Estimates, Earning $134.4 Billion USD in Revenue
Amazon is aiming high in Q2 2023 after a series of disappointing quarters. In its recent quarterly report, the e-commerce site recorded blowout profits, posting its biggest earnings since Q4 2020. The company showed that it returned to double-digit revenue growth, indicating that CEO Andy Jassy's cost-cutting efforts are working. According to CNBC, Amazon began its cost-cutting initiatives when it had its largest layoff in the company's history. The company cut 27,000 jobs last Fall and has since froze corporate hiring. Global headcount fell 4% to 1.46 million people by the end of Q2. This past quarter, the company filed net income of $6.7 billion USD with an EPS of 65 cents over the 35 cents expected. The net sales hit $134.4 billion USD, higher than the the projected $131.6 billion USD. ...
Nothing Announces New User-Friendly Smartwatch
London-based tech company Nothing is rising to become one of the leading retailers in the space. Nothing's affordable line-up is expanding from smartphones and earbuds to include a user-friendly smartwatch that goes head-to-head with Apple technology. Following the announcement of Nothing's Ear (2) in black, the brand is preparing to launch its budget-conscious smartwatch. Nothing's recent company update, led by CEO Carl Pei, promised "a new range of products that make better design more accessible." Items currently in the works include new smartwatches and earbuds in custom "color, material, and finishes." Both products will expand on Nothing's modern technology, highlighting sleek designs accessible for all via considerable pricing. Nothing's new smartwatch and earbuds will offer fresh d...
Shortwave’s Google Inbox replacement arrives on Android
/ Shortwave replicates many of the features that were once found on Google’s now-defunct Inbox client. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: Shortwave Shortwave — an email app for iOS and the web that serves as the spiritual successor to Google Inbox — has fully arrived on Android devices following 18 months of beta testing. Version 1.0 of Shortwave is available to download via Google Play. The basic version is free to use, though you’ll need to pay a $9 month...
