Meta’s AI ‘personas’ might launch next month Illustration: Nick Barclay / The VergeMeta could launch AI-powered “personas” in its services — which include Facebook and Instagram — as soon as next month, giving users a new way to search, get recommendations, and otherwise engage with its products, the Financial Times reports. Citing conversations with three company insiders, the FT notes th…

Your Google data and YouTube videos will be easier to migrate after GDPR challenge Google Takeout is getting new features that will allow users to upload their Google account data to third-party services. | Illustration: The VergeGoogle is making it easier to backup and transfer your personal data between third-party services, in response to a GDPR investigation by Italy’s AGCM competition watchdog. In a press release announc…

YouTube uses AI to summarize videos in latest test Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeGoogle is experimenting with the use of AI to auto-generate YouTube video summaries, according to a notice on a support page dated July 31st. The page, which we spotted via Android Police, notes that these summaries will only appear next to a limited number of English-language videos, and will only be viewa…

Google will ‘supercharge’ Assistant with AI that’s more like ChatGPT and Bard Illustration: The VergeGoogle is planning to update Assistant with features powered by generative AI, according to a report from Axios. In an email obtained by the outlet, Google tells staff members that it has already started exploring a “supercharged” Assistant powered by the newest large language models (LLM), similar to the technology behind…

Chevy’s Blazer EV starts shipping, and the electric SUV will cost buyers a little extra Photo by Andrew Hawkins / The VergeChevy’s Blazer EV is now going to cost interested buyers quite a bit more. Customers who have ordered the all-wheel-drive RS trim of the electric SUV will see their prices jump to $60,215, up from its original announcement of $51,995. After destination fees, customers can expect to pay about $10,000 more for th…

Buckle up for some iterative smartwatches this year I don’t see much of a point in a second-gen Apple Watch Ultra if there isn’t a noticeably better experience. | Photograph by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeThe next Apple Watch Ultra may come in a darker titanium color. Supposedly. The rumor comes courtesy of Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter — but even Gurman himself doesn…

Europe’s dark matter-hunting space telescope nabs its first test images Two early test images from the Euclid space telescope mission. | Image: European Space AgencyToday, the European Space Agency (ESA) showed off the first test images taken from the Euclid space telescope as it approaches its final orbit around the Earth (via Ars Technica). Once in place, scientists at the ESA and its partners in the US, Canada, a…

Uber driver in first-ever deadly self-driving crash pleads guilty Image: ABC 15The backup driver in the self-driving Uber vehicle that killed a 49-year-old woman in Tempe, Arizona, in 2018 pled guilty to one count of endangerment and was sentenced to three years’ probation on Friday. Rafaela Vasquez worked as a safety driver for Uber’s autonomous vehicle test program in Arizona. She was behind the steering wh…

MrBeast is suing his ghost kitchen partner over ‘inedible’ MrBeast Burgers Photo by Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images for MrBeast BurgerYouTube personality MrBeast is suing the company responsible for his branded line of fast food including the MrBeast Burger, citing “inedible” food delivered to customers. The company, Virtual Dining Concepts, partnered with James Donaldson, aka MrBeast, in 2020 to launch the menu out of “g…

BBC launches an ‘experimental’ Mastodon server Illustration: The VergeThe BBC has launched its own “experimental” Mastodon server, marking one of the first major news outlets to establish an instance on the Twitter alternative. You can access the server at social.bbc, which encompasses posts from a handful of BBC accounts, including BBC Radio 4, BBC Taster, BBC Research & Development, and a …

The best free apps for video meetings Illustration: Samar Haddad / Photo by Becca FarsaceWhile many companies are encouraging their employees to return to the office, working remotely (when possible) seems to have caught on and is probably not going anywhere in the near future. Many of us are still using videoconferencing apps to keep in touch with work colleagues, family, and frien…

Microsoft’s repairability push now extends to Xbox controllers, too Photo by Tom Warren / The VergeMicrosoft has started selling controller parts on its online store. Owners of both the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller and the standard Xbox Wireless Controller can head to the Microsoft store right now to buy replacement boards, sticks, buttons, covers, and more. Now, if your shoulder buttons are broken or…

Elon Musk’s extravagant ‘X’ sign atop the former Twitter HQ has been dismantled Workers prepare to dismantle a large X logo on the roof of X headquarters on July 31st, 2023, in San Francisco, California. | Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesWell, that was fast. Twitter, which is currently rebranding itself to X, is now removing the giant, garishly lit X logo that was placed on top of its San Francisco headquarters, as pr…

SEC sues crypto influencer for allegedly buying sports cars and a rare black diamond with investor funds Image: Richard Heart via YouTubeCrypto influencer Richard Heart is facing a lawsuit from the Securities and Exchange Commission over claims he used “at least” $12 million in proceeds from his crypto products to buy luxury products. That includes the purchase of sports cars, luxury watches, and a 555-carat black diamond called The Enigma — suppos…

A plugged-in Tesla can still make front page news somewhere Local newspaper Ekalaka Eagle thinks it might be the first EV charged in town. | Image: Eric Dietrich / MTFPA Tesla driver from California thought they could quietly borrow some joules in the EV-barren town of Ekalaka, Montana — population 400 or so — but their Model Y ended up on the front page of the local newspaper, dubbed a UEV (or unidentif…

Dell is all in on generative AI Photo by Monica Chin / The VergeIt isn’t just software companies looking to enter the generative AI fray. Dell, the PC maker, is going all in on generative AI and offering hardware to run powerful models and a new platform to help organizations get started. The company released what it calls Dell Generative AI Solutions for clients to set up a…

OnePlus’ debut mechanical keyboard is a Keychron with a twist You get extra keycaps and a combination switch/keycap puller in the box.OnePlus’ debut mechanical keyboard, the Keyboard 81 Pro, may be little more than a redesigned Keychron Q1 Pro with a couple of tweaks. But the Keychron Q1 Pro is one of the best mechanical keyboards available today, and the tweaks OnePlus has made to its design range from “i…

eBay charged with multiple unfair labor complaints in struggle with its first union Image: eBayeBay is the latest company to be hit with unfair labor complaints as this year’s hot labor summer continues amid strikes, threats of strikes, and workers all over the country organizing for better working conditions. The complaints were filed on behalf of workers at TCGplayer, a company eBay acquired in 2022 that’s known for selling a…

Microsoft argues its Activision Blizzard case with UK regulators Illustration by William Joel / The VergeMicrosoft has submitted a new change of circumstances document to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK, arguing its case for its proposed Activision Blizzard deal to be reconsidered for approval. The CMA first blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard in April, with …

Loki season 2 looks like a race through time and space in new trailer Image: DisneyLoki’s first season ended by cracking the multiverse so wide open that it seemed like all of existence might be in serious jeopardy or at least on the verge of being conquered by a certain Kang. Both of those possibilities have seemed like they’re becoming realities judging from Marvel’s recent films, but in the first trailer for Lo…