Google launches its ‘universal’ online shopping cart ahead of the holidays

Google's intelligent AI shopping cart is finally here, and just in time to tempt users into Black Friday and seasonal holiday spending. The Universal Cart tool Google previewed at its I/O event in May is now rolling out in the US across the Gemini app and Google Search, with the … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Quick question: Who exactly is iPhone Handoff for?

Last month, Apple announced a feature called iPhone Handoff. Not to be confused with that Handoff; this is a new one. iPhone Handoff allows you to keep your number active on two iPhones at the same time so you can easily switch between them. According to Apple's support website, … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Ledger’s new hardware wallet is an Android phone without the phone

Ledger has announced its latest crypto-centric hardware effort, the Android-based Atom, a device that resembles a phone but is instead designed to be used alongside one. It arrives at a tricky time for Ledger, which has been forced to cease sales of some of its hardware across so … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Amazon’s always-listening Bee wearable can now help you buy stuff

Last year, Amazon bought Bee, a relatively unknown startup with a $50 always-listening AI wearable that summarized every conversation you had. Today, the e-commerce giant is announcing two new Bee devices - and a new subscription to go with them. First is the $74.99 Bee Frontier, … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Your secrets aren’t safe with this cute robot toy — they’re on Chinese servers ready to be hacked

There's a new digital pet in town - a cute little marshmallow of a robot that can change its cartoony expressions to match your mood. But if you or your kids talk to "Eiliko" over Wi-Fi, it'll phone home to China. Its AI companion can store literally everything you tell it on Chi … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

Big Walk skipped Xbox to boycott Microsoft’s involvement with Israel

Big Walk's co-op multiplayer walking adventure has proved popular since launching in August, but Xbox players have been excluded from the fun - and now the game's creators have explained why. Developer House House said in a blog post that it decided not to release Big Walk on Xbo … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 day ago

McKinsey is making job applicants spar with a fake AI client

Consulting firm McKinsey & Company is going to ask some entry-level candidates to have a 10-minute conversation with an AI simulation of a client as part of the interview process, according to The Wall Street Journal. The AI simulation "aims to reflect 80% of the scenarios McKins … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

The best feature of Apple’s HomeView might be its simplicity

I'm just going to come right out and say it. I love the approach Apple has taken with the HomeView. I think it's the shared, always-available household interface that my family might finally use. Is Apple's first smart display my dream smart home dashboard? No. But is it the righ … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Eight states sue OpenAI, saying ChatGPT isn’t safe for kids

OpenAI is facing a new wave of lawsuits from eight US states that accuse the company of harming children and misleading customers about the safety of ChatGPT, as reported earlier by Reuters. The lawsuits, filed separately by Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizon … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Microsoft and Japan took down a cybercrime network behind over a billion scam messages

We've all gotten a scam text about a nonexistent parking ticket or a fake package delivery, but hopefully you'll start seeing fewer of them. Microsoft says it helped dismantle a marketplace for scammers sending phishing messages like those around the world. Through an investigati … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

The AI race is back on

Last week, Anthropic and OpenAI looked like they had the AI race to themselves, pulling ahead with increasingly powerful models that left their rivals in the dust. Google seemed hopelessly far behind, while Meta, despite spending billions to revive its floundering AI ambitions, h … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Now that Character.AI is going bankrupt, what happens to all of its users’ data?

New York Attorney General Letitia James revealed a years-long multi-state investigation against Character.AI as they now seek to require protections on consumer data sold through its bankruptcy proceeding. James is among 40 bipartisan AGs who filed a notice of interest in Charact … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

As a TV enthusiast, I was hoping for more from the Apple TV 4K

It's been four long years since the last Apple TV 4K was released, and in that time there have been lots of hopes and dreams for features in whatever comes next. A new chip, 4K/120Hz support, audio passthrough, a remote locator, better home control integration - the 2022 Apple TV … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

YouTube sticks new labels on AI-generated songs

YouTube is adding a "Made with AI" label to tracks that were "altered or fully generated" using AI, with a similar approach to its existing process for applying AI labels to videos. It doesn't sound like this will apply to any and all use of AI tools in making music, but accordin … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Save up to 20 percent on gift cards for REI, Barnes & Noble, and more

While we cover a lot of deals on specific products, it’s rare that we find worthwhile savings on gift cards that let you save on essentially anything the store sells. However, until October 19th, you can save up to twenty percent on gift cards when you buy them through the Google … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Apple’s new HomeView smart display is $10 cheaper at Amazon

Apple only just announced on Tuesday that its first smart display, the HomeView, will arrive on November 13th, but you can already save a couple bucks on it. Right now, you can buy the display for $289.99 ($10 off) in gray and the creamy white “starlight” colorway at Amazon. Sure … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Sprout Pi adds Bluetooth, streaming, and USB-C to your aging iPod

There's an entire cottage industry of iPod mods out there, but Sprout Pi and Sprout Pico are two of the few full motherboard replacements that combine many of the most popular mods into a single upgrade. Both versions add Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB-C, a microSD card slot, FLAC playbac … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Anbernic’s next dual-screen handheld could replace your aging Nintendo 3DS

Anbernic shared a new video of its upcoming dual-screen handheld it announced last week showing the device playing 3DS, Xbox, and PS3 games through emulation. While competitors like Ayaneo have been making dual-screen handhelds for a few years, Anbernic only recently introduced i … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

My AI doppelganger tells me what to eat

This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here. For the past 100 days or so, my mornings have had a new rhythm. … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

OpenAI claims an ex-employee took its product plans and presented them to Apple

OpenAI claims a former employee took more than 100 files related to its product plans before joining Apple. In a document filed on Wednesday, OpenAI accuses the unnamed employee of sending this information to a personal account and then presenting it to Apple leadership, includin … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Repairing the iPhone Duo’s folding screen costs as much as a new iPhone

If you don't get AppleCare Plus for the iPhone Duo, any repairs are going to be pretty expensive. Apple published the estimated repair costs for the iPhone Duo without AppleCare Plus today, as reported by MacRumors, and they can be high: Battery service, for example, will cost $2 … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Honey, Xbox shrunk its controller

Microsoft is officially announcing its Xbox Nano controller today, a smaller and cheaper controller that's designed to fit into your pocket. The more compact controller is also designed for "younger players, smaller hands, or anyone seeking something portable for play on the go." … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Microsoft has a new machine learning tool to improve weather forecasts

Old-school physics-based weather forecasting and even new AI models typically become less reliable beyond two weeks, a problem Microsoft claims to have solved using machine learning. Researchers with the company say they've found a new, cost-effective way to make more accurate we … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Now you can call anyone with WhatsApp, even if they don’t have WhatsApp

WhatsApp's new guest calling feature allows you to invite anyone to a call, without needing them to make an account first. They won't need the app, either, since Meta also added support for calls on the web version of WhatsApp earlier this year. You can invite guests just by send … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Android is using AI to suss out scammers in Google Messages

Android is introducing new scam defense features that aim to make it easier for users to evade mobile fraud, including bolstered protection in Google Messages and additional safeguarding tools. Building on the Scam Detection feature in Google Messages, a new "enhanced protection" … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Square’s new kiosk lets you talk to AI for help with your order

Square is launching new hardware: a big kiosk for ordering things that has a touchscreen and lets you talk to an AI. It's called the Square Kiosk. Square says the Kiosk, which has a large pill shape, has an "agentic, conversational voice layer" that "fully understands a seller's … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Anthropic’s self-replicating AI warning is an alarming deja vu

Are legions of smart devices - fridges, ovens, vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, security cameras, and TVs - conspiring to take over the internet? No. But they could soon be unwitting hosts to self-replicating AI models that spread from device to device and prove remarkably difficult … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Netflix is laying off around 1,000 employees

Following a report last week that Netflix was planning to lay off five percent of the company, today the streamer's co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters announced in an email that it would actually be laying off six percent of its workforce, or around 1,000 employees, according t … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

HomeView doesn’t natively support any video apps yet — not even Apple’s

Apple says HomeView is "the perfect way" to enjoy its audio and video entertainment apps, but some notable examples like Apple TV only work if you AirPlay it through your iPhone. As noted on the HomeView spec page, Apple TV, Apple Books audiobooks, Apple Music Classical, and Appl … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Ukraine claims Starlink is suddenly disrupting service for its military

Ukrainian officials claim the Elon Musk-owned Starlink put new limits on its service in the area without warning, disrupting the country's drone operations and missions, according to reports from Reuters and the Financial Times. The move comes just days after Musk wrote on X that … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

$15 gets you Psychonauts 2, the latest Like a Dragon game, and more

There are several deals happening right now on video games and gaming-related tech that are worth sharing. To start, this month’s Humble Choice drop of Steam PC games is really good. The $14.99 per month service is offering subscribers Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Pric … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Apple’s new Find My-compatible remote will also work with your old Apple TV

You don't need to buy the new Apple TV 4K just to get the updated Siri Remote with Find My and a built-in speaker, as it works with every model released going back to the Apple TV HD and is available to buy standalone for $59. Previous Siri Remotes had a basic iOS feature to […] | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Halo’s co-creator wrote a novel about AI taking over the world

Back in 2019, author Margaret Stohl was handed a manuscript written by Jason Jones, who's best known as the co-creator of sci-fi gaming series Halo and Destiny. The two had worked together at Bungie, and Jones wanted Stohl's opinion on a book he was writing about AI taking over t … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Epic’s new games launcher is ‘vibe coded’

Epic Games is announcing a big refresh of its PC games launcher today in preview, saying that the new version is "way faster" and now supports Linux. But the company, which has been publicly making a big push into AI-assisted development, also notes that the refresh was "vibe cod … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Epic is bringing Fortnite to Linux

Epic is working on bringing Fortnite to Linux through its Epic Games Launcher. The new launcher is releasing in preview today, and for the first time on Linux, and while Fortnite isn't available there just yet, Epic wants to make that a reality. So far, part of the reason Fortnit … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Fujifilm’s new square format instant camera adds analog color filters

Continuing the analog approach of the Instax Square SQ6 that launched in 2018 and follow-ups like the Square SQ1 and SQ40, the new Fujifilm Instax Square 2 skips digital functionality while still introducing the ability to customize the look and feel of instant photos. A new mood … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

We might not have to wait 13 years for the next GTA

Rockstar Games might not keep fans waiting as long for the next installment of Grand Theft Auto. As part of Bloomberg's expansive report on the making of GTA VI, Rockstar technical lead Phil Hooker said that the "engine, the tools and the team we've built during this project will … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is almost the Android tablet we needed

We have to talk about this screen. It's the first thing you notice, and maybe the only thing that matters, about the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. It's a 12-inch, 2800 x 1840 panel with a new technology Amazon calls "Nanomatte" that is meant to decrease glare and increase the feeling that … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

The Ocarina of Time remake feels remarkably modern — and surprisingly terrifying

With its upcoming remake for the Switch 2, Nintendo might have nailed the best thing about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: its timelessness. The 1998 3D action adventure game for the Nintendo 64 that pioneered so much - 3D graphics, movement, exploration, openness - has bee … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

The Tesla Roadster could have stayed vaporware

For a car that's supposed to be one of the fastest ever made, the new Tesla Roadster certainly took its sweet-ass time getting here. It's been nearly a decade since Elon Musk made the surprise announcement about plans to build a next-gen Roadster. Now, the Tesla Roadster is final … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Fairphone’s latest repairable earbuds are smaller, lighter, and longer-lasting

Repairable, ethical phone brand Fairphone has released its second pair of earbuds. The Fairbuds 2 are just as repairable as the first generation, but deliver improved audio and almost twice the battery life. The Fairbuds 2 are out now in the UK and Europe from £99 / €119, and a U … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 days ago

Apple’s HomeView ad is confusing to everyone except parents

Apple's ad introducing its new HomeView smart display is a little unusual. It's fast-paced and unruly, depicting a family of five as they rush through the morning routine. There's yelling and mess, misplaced keys and discarded eggshells. Apple's typical vibe is clean, simple, ord … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 3 days ago

OpenAI employee arrested for allegedly planting a bug in a conference room

An OpenAI engineer was arrested after the company said it discovered a "sophisticated recording device" hidden in one of its offices. The employee, 35-year-old Abdulrahman Alfozan, is charged with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications, according to … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 3 days ago

It looks like Apple Music is getting a new icon

Apple Music's iconic red app icon has reportedly been replaced with a black-and-white version in the latest iOS 27.2 beta, 9to5Mac reports. The eighth note on the icon also appears to have a slightly sharper angle than the original. A new Apple Music logo was also spotted last mo … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 3 days ago

Shopify opens its catalog up to more AI agents

More AI agents will soon be able to browse and purchase from Shopify listings, marking an expansion of the company's agentic commerce ambitions. Shopify announced Tuesday it will let shoppers configure their AI agents to purchase products on their behalf, giving more agents acces … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 3 days ago

Xbox is officially embracing the chaos of AI-powered game ports

Retro gaming is going through a wild time at the moment, thanks to decompilations and recompilations that are letting gamers port classic titles to new devices, or merge code from two different games into a single new experience. Microsoft has witnessed skateboarding being modded … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 3 days ago

The Nothing Headphone A are half off for the first time

One of the best deals we’ve seen today bundles together a great pair of headphones with a solid album. When you add the Nothing Headphone A in black or white and the CD version of the Charli XCX album Music, Fashion, Film to your Amazon cart, you’ll save 33 percent on your order, … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 3 days ago

Russian bot farms are still trolling, even after Ukraine’s drone strikes on Yandex

Days after Ukrainian military drones took down several Russian data centers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that the campaign had hurt Russia's disinformation efforts. "It suddenly became a little easier to breathe on many social platforms," Zelenskyy said Monday. "There w … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 3 days ago