Author: News Room
Framework has refreshed its 12-inch convertible laptop, introducing Intel’s latest Core Series 3 processors, expanded hardware customizations, and a pre-built Linux option. The cheapest pre-built base configuration for the Framework Laptop 12 now starts at $699 — $100 less than the previous version when it launched last year. Preorders are open now, with the first wave of deliveries expected to ship in October.That pre-built base configuration is only available in green, and includes an Intel Core 3 304 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. It also comes preloaded with Linux Fedora 44 KDE Plasma, a decision brought on…
“That’s an interesting topic. I’d be happy to discuss it with you.” It’s not the sort of reply I’m used to getting when using in-car voice commands – but it might quickly become the norm for electric cars. The Volvo EX60 was my first on-the-road experience with Google Gemini, the conversational AI assistant that’s just as happy to shoot the breeze as it is to find driving directions or put on your favourite playlist. The EX60 – which you can read our driving impressions of here – heavily integrates the latest version of Google’s Android Automotive OS throughout its infotainment…
The EX60 is a big deal for Volvo. The premium SUV is the obvious electric successor to the petrol-powered XC60, which has done phenomenal numbers for the Swedish manufacturer. It will be built on home soil – an impressive feat given Volvo is now part of the Chinese Geely Group – and the firm even reckons there’ll be enough demand for a Cross Country version later down the line. Initially available in P6 and P10 powertrains, with an even more potent P12 model arriving later in 2026, the EX60 packs strong Scandinavian style vibes, loads of cutting edge tech (which…
OpenAI is announcing security updates following the July news that its AI broke out of a sandboxed environment and accidentally hacked Hugging Face, including improvements to its research environments, monitoring, and alignment techniques. The company had already put the brakes on a new model, Astra, that it thinks could have “critical” cybersecurity capabilities, and the company says it instituted a two-week pause in reinforcement learning (RL) training on its “latest models intended for deployment” while it tightened up security. The company’s “largest planned frontier RL run remains on hold.”For its frontier model research, OpenAI now requires stronger sandboxes for workloads…
Robin Williams’ children are taking over their father’s Instagram account after his daughter spoke out against the use of his AI likeness, as reported earlier by The Wrap. In a post on Tuesday, Zak, Zelda, and Cody Williams write that they want the late actor’s Instagram profile to be a “safe, trusted place where the stories, photos, videos, and memories shared reflect his legacy with authenticity, warmth, and care.”A story posted to Zelda Williams’ own Instagram account expands on the decision to bring back her father’s profile, saying that it’s meant to help combat “rampant AI abuse,” according to The…
Recording a meeting on your phone is easy. Turning an hour of mind-numbing corporate chat filled with nonsense phrases like “circling back”, “moving the needle” and *shudders* “cadence” into a useful set of notes – complete with decisions, deadlines and jobs for everyone involved – is considerably less appealing. And that’s where AI notetakers come in. Most look like unusually slim voice recorders, wearable pins, or even wireless earbuds, and come with an app where the magic happens – AI can transcribe the conversation, identify speakers, and turn everything into a structured summary. Some AI notetakers can also extract action…
The Tesla Cybercab, that golden two-seater central to Elon Musk’s robo-supremacist ambitions, is finally nearing it’s public launch. Whether or not the no-steering wheel and no-pedal vehicle is actually ready for public roads, let alone customers, remains very much in doubt.According to The Information, Tesla is planning a public launch of the Cybercab in Austin, Texas, as soon as this month. The driverless vehicle has been popping up around the country, although often with a steering wheel and pedals, as employees are continuing to gather data. Tesla employees have been testing the fully driverless version on private roads around the…
Sony’s Pulse Elevate wireless gaming speakers are launching on November 12th and will cost $219.99, the company announced on Tuesday. Announced nearly a year ago, the speakers are compatible with a PS5, PlayStation Portal, PC, and Mac, and they include “studio-inspired planar magnetic drivers” that offer “lifelike sound across the entire audible spectrum,” Sony says. They also include a built-in mic for voice chat, Sony’s PlayStation Link low-latency tech, and charging docks for topping up the batteries.The Pulse Elevate speakers come in two colors, black and white, and preorders begin on September 1st at 10AM ET in the US or…
The Premier League season kicks off on Friday night and major US streaming service Peacock is now charging more for the privilege of watching the action for the next nine months. Another day, another streaming service price increase! The NBC Universal-owned platform shows hundreds of games each season – including the Saturday kick-offs unavailable in the UK – as part of the media conglomerate’s exclusive rights to broadcast the EPL. The rest are on free-to-air TV stations like NBC or on cable via USA Network. Of course, Peacock shows more than Premier League football. There’s NBA, NFL, MLB, College Football…
Apple is once again overhauling App Store rules in the European Union, which the company says will resolve its “disagreements with the Commission over business terms and alternative distribution.” As part of the changes, every developer that distributes apps will be moved to a single set of business terms, and digital transactions for apps distributed outside of the App Store will be subject to a Core Technology Commission fee of 5 percent.The new terms go into effect on October 1st. They will include a 26 percent commission for App Store apps that use Apple’s in-app purchase system, or a 20…
As well a treasure trove of information about Apple’s smart home push, Apple’s macOS 27 release candidate includes a stunning leak of the rumoured AirPods with Cameras, showing the Siri-based Visual Intelligence functionality in action. A video reportedly found within macOS 27 Golden Gate RC shows how AirPods could be used with Siri to request the cameras save something for later. In the example shown in the video, a wearer holds up book and it’s captured by the cameras in the AirPods. “With Visual Intelligence your world becomes saveable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for…
Ah, the relationship between animals and the technology they can’t quite understand.Today, it seems like there’s a high-tech solution to every element of pet ownership, with devices on the market designed to keep pets fed, cleaned, watched over, and entertained. And if you have a pet you know: nothing is too good — or too cutting-edge — for your (furry, slimy, feathery) best friend.But while some tech can help care for your pet, it can be complicated when dogs and cats meet wires and waves. You might feel complicated about offloading elements of kitten parenthood to a robot. Some pet…