Tech
ChatGPT’s cheapest options now show you ads
ChatGPT users may soon start seeing ads in their chats, as OpenAI announced on Monday that it's officially beginning to test ads on its AI platform. They'll appear as labeled "sponsored" links at the bottom of ChatGPT answers, but OpenAI says the ads "do not influence the answers ChatGPT gives you." Currently, ads will only […]
FCC accused of withholding DOGE information ‘in bad faith’
One year and nearly 2,000 pages of documents later, a group suing to uncover what the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was doing at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says the agency has withheld relevant documents "in bad faith" and is asking a court to allow discovery and depositions to draw out the information. "Thus […]
AI-generated ads dropped the ball at this year’s Super Bowl
It feels like everyone who produced ad spots for this year's Super Bowl with gen AI failed in terms of making gen AI seem useful or like something worth getting excited about. Though we've seen plenty of AI generated commercials before (at previous Super Bowls, no less), this year's event was oversaturated with them. That's […]
Ferrari’s first EV will have an interior designed by Jony Ive
Ferrari released the first interior images of the company's first all-electric supercar, called the Ferrari Luce ("light" in Italian). This is the second time the Italian automaker has teased the Luce (formerly Elettrica) without showing us the actual car, or even a silhouette. But the interior images should suffice given the bold-faced name of the […]
Apple Reportedly Readies iPhone 17e, New-Gen iPads and MacBooks for Early 2026 Release
SummaryApple is reportedly preparing to launch the iPhone 17e as soon as February 19, featuring the flagship A19 chip and the addition of MagSafe connectivityThe entry-level 12th-generation iPad will receive the A18 processor, enabling support for Apple Intelligence for the first time on the base modeliOS 26.4, expected to enter developer beta by February 23, will debut a major Siri upgrade with a conversational chatbot-style interface and deeper contextual understandingApple is gearing up for one of its most consequential hardware seasons in years, with a flurry of releases slated for early 2026. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company is centering its spring strategy on the iPhone 17e, alongside performance-focused updates to the iPad and iPad Air. This rollout aims to broaden ...
OpenAI’s supposedly ‘leaked’ Super Bowl ad with ear buds and a shiny orb was a hoax
As if OpenAI didn't have enough drama around the Super Bowl and advertising, as the game wound down, word spread of a "leaked" ad that actually wasn't leaked at all; it was just a fake. Screenshots of a now-deleted Reddit thread told the tale of a frustrated employee who, while posting about how upset they […]
YouTube Music starts putting lyrics behind a paywall
Free YouTube Music accounts are now seeing their access to lyrics limited, according to multiple reports. Google started testing lyrics as an exclusive feature for Premium users in September, but it appears that it's now receiving a wider rollout. It seems that free users will be limited to viewing lyrics for five songs per month, […]
New York is considering two bills to rein in the AI industry
New York's state legislature is set to consider a pair of bills that would require labels on AI-generated content and would put a three-year pause on new data center construction. The New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act (NY FAIR News Act, for short) would require that any news "substantially composed, authored, or […]
You need to listen to the new Mandy, Indiana record: URGH
Often, I focus on recommending older media that isn't currently getting a ton of attention. But this week, I can't stop listening to the new Mandy, Indiana album long enough to even think about anything else. It's early still, obviously, but URGH is my favorite release of 2026 so far. The band that I fell […]
The iPhone 17e could launch soon with MagSafe and an A19 chip
Almost exactly one year after launching the iPhone 16e, Apple is preparing to launch the 17e, according to Mark Gurman. The iPhone 17e will feature an upgraded A19 chip from the iPhone 17 lineup, plus MagSafe charging, and move Apple's in-house cellular chips. Just as importantly, the company apparently plans to keep the price at […]
How I Built the Star Trek control panel of my dreams
One of my pandemic hobbies that stuck was home automation. I discovered Home Assistant - the popular open source, extremely customizable home automation platform - and all the intricate things you can do with it to make your home work better. I have ADHD and have found Home Assistant to be a valuable tool for […]
YouTube Revenue Surpasses $60 Billion USD as Subscription Services Surge
SummaryAlphabet has reported that YouTube generated more than $60 billion USD in total revenue over the last fiscal yearThe figure includes both a robust advertising business and a significant jump in revenue from YouTube Premium and YouTube TV subscriptionsThis milestone marks the first time YouTube’s total financial footprint has been fully detailed, placing it ahead of major competitors like NetflixGoogle’s parent company Alphabet has officially unveiled the full scale of YouTube’s financial dominance, revealing that the video platform generated over $60 billion USD in total revenue last year. The disclosure, which provides a rare and comprehensive look at the platform's earnings beyond just advertising, highlights a significant shift in the streaming landscape. By combining its ad-supp...
