Niantic is using AI to make Peridot’s fake pets feel more real Image: NianticPeridot, Niantic’s original augmented reality pet game, will start using generative AI designed to make the game’s cute technicolor aliens behave more like your cat. Here’s how it works. Starting with today’s update, Niantic’s algorithm will analyze real-world objects captured in game with your phone’s camera and then convert thos…

YouTube Premium’s better-looking 1080p is now on Android and TVs, too Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeYouTube has officially rolled out its YouTube Premium-exclusive “enhanced bitrate” 1080p resolution option on Android and TVs, the company announced on Wednesday. The improved video quality launched on iOS first earlier this year and became available on the web in August. I don’t subscribe to Premium, so I …

Microsoft Teams’ latest AI trick cleans and decorates your messy webcam background Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft is adding two new AI-powered features to Teams soon that will improve your voice and webcam. A new “decorate your background” feature is coming to Microsoft Teams Premium in early 2024 and uses generative AI effects to clean up and replace clutter in the background when on a video call. While Microsoft Teams has long of…

Qi2’s MagSafe-like wireless charging is finally almost here Okay, this is a MagSafe charger, not Qi2, but it’s the same idea, and there’s a skeleton for some reason. | Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The VergeQi2 — the next version of the wireless charging standard, now with more magnets! — is more almost-here than ever. The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) announced today that the first Qi v2.0 device…

The Analogue Pocket now comes in a rainbow of classic Game Boy colors Photo: AnalogueAnalogue seems obsessed with recreating the Game Boy family as faithfully as possible. For its latest endeavor, it’s bringing the classic colorways of the Game Boy Advance and Pocket to the Analogue Pocket. These Classic Limited Edition Pockets have, according to the press release, been “carefully color-matched” to resemble the co…

Microsoft Ignite 2023: all the AI news from Microsoft’s IT pro event Illustration: The VergeIgnite is Microsoft’s chance to show why AI matters to developers and IT professionals. Continue reading…

Microsoft Teams is about to go 3D with VR meetings Image: MicrosoftWhen I first used Microsoft Mesh, the company’s mixed reality platform, I said it felt “like the virtual future of Microsoft Teams meetings.” Now, nearly three years later, Microsoft is making immersive 3D Teams meetings a reality. In January, Microsoft Mesh is being integrated into Teams to allow co-workers to meet together in a…

Microsoft debuts new unified security solution with Security Copilot Unified Microsoft Defender dashboard with analytics and Sentinel on the sidebar. | Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft is combining its Sentinel security analytics and Microsoft Defender XDR platforms into an “industry first” unified security operations platform — with the company’s Security Copilot chatbot stationed centrally for IT and security personne…

Bing Chat is now Microsoft Copilot, to better compete with ChatGPT Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft launched its big AI push earlier this year as part of its Bing search engine, integrating a ChatGPT-like interface directly into its search results. Now less than a year later, it’s dropping the Bing Chat branding and moving to Microsoft Copilot, the new name for the chat interface you might have used in Bing, Microsoft…

Apple is giving iPhone 14 owners an extra year of free Emergency SOS services Photo by Victoria Song / The VergeiPhone 14 and 15 buyers won’t need to pay for Apple’s satellite-powered Emergency SOS safety feature anytime soon. This morning, the company announced that it’s extending the free phase of Emergency SOS for an additional year for iPhone 14 owners. That means that the service will now lapse at the same time for b…

Microsoft investigating Windows activation issues after closing a key loophole Image: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeMicrosoft is investigating Windows activation issues that appear to be linked to the company’s recent move to block Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys from activating copies of Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you have an installation of Windows 10 / 11 that has been activated using the free upgrade from Windows 7…

Tesla’s Cyberquad for Kids is back and officially a toy again Orders for the new Model 915 Cyberquad for Kids are expected to ship in late November. | Image: TeslaAfter being recalled last year for not meeting product safety standards, Tesla’s $1,900 Cyberquad for Kids is once again available to purchase on the Tesla webstore in the US. The latest release of the Cybertruck-inspired ride-on toy — identified…

Pokémon Concierge’s first trailer has perfect stats Almost everything about the world of Pokémon revolves around humans and their magical monster buds fighting to near-death for fame and glory. But the first trailer for Netflix’s upcoming Pokémon Concierge series from Dwarf Animation Studio is a reminder that in order to succeed in battle, one must also make time to relax. Set on a tropical islan…

YouTube’s non-solution for AI podcasts Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeThis is Hot Pod, The Verge’s newsletter about podcasting and the audio industry. Sign up here for more. Today we have a look at how YouTube’s new AI rules will (and will not) affect podcasting, another late-night host ditching TV for audio, and a bunch of your recs on podcasts covering the Israel-Hamas war…

Social media giants must face child safety lawsuits, judge rules Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeMeta, ByteDance, Alphabet, and Snap must proceed with a lawsuit alleging their social platforms have adverse mental health effects on children, a federal court ruled on Tuesday. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected the social media giants’ motion to dismiss the dozens of lawsuits accusing t…

Threads might get DMs after all — but it’ll probably be through Instagram Image: The VergeThe will-they-won’t-they of Threads direct messages has been going on for a while now. Last we heard, Instagram (and Threads) head Adam Mosseri said that Threads was not planning to build DMs. That still appears to be true — but it’s not the whole story. Mosseri said on Tuesday, in a Threads post replying to Platformer’s Casey Ne…

Right-to-repair advocates are asking the FTC for stronger rules Image: iFixitRight-to-repair proponents are asking the FTC to introduce new rules for electronics manufacturers that aim to make it easier for consumers to fix their own devices. The repair guide site iFixit and the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) on Tuesday submitted a petition to the federal agency, with the end goal of kicking off a …

How to share large files over the web The VergeThere’s no shortage of ways to share files with other people, whether you want to send them in a group chat, attach them to an email, or ping them over via AirDrop or Nearby Share. These all work perfectly well, but they’re all best for smaller files. If you’ve got a larger file to send to someone — like a high-res video or an archive o…

Amazon has begun replacing Android with its own software on some products The third-generation Echo Show 5 is running a new OS 1.1 instead of the standard Fire OS. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The VergeLast week, it was reported that Amazon is quietly developing its own operating system that will replace Android on its Fire TV devices before expanding to other products, including the company’s many smart displ…

The best smart holiday string lights Smart string lights can bring some festive cheer to your holiday season. | Photo Illustration by Cath Virginia / The VergePut some smarts into your sparkles this holiday season. Continue reading…