Author: News Room
Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski has already used AI to replace himself during earnings reports, and now Klarna is using AI to clone him another way: through an AI-powered phone hotline.The hotline is now open for users to provide feedback to an interactive AI version of Siemiatkowski that’s trained on his “real voice, insights, and experiences,” according to a press release. “Customers, including consumers and merchants alike, can speak to it about product features, issues and suggestions for improvements,” Klarna says. “‘AI Sebastian’ can also answer questions about Klarna’s vision and mission, and speak about its founding story and journey so…
Disney and Universal sued Midjourney on Wednesday for generating Shrek, Darth Vader, Buzz Lightyear, and a host of other copyrighted characters in the first major legal showdown between Hollywood and generative AI.The complaint, filed in a US District Court in central California, calls Midjourney’s AI image generator a “virtual vending machine, generating endless unauthorized copies of Disney’s and Universal’s copyrighted work.”“By helping itself to Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works, and then distributing images (and soon videos) that blatantly incorporate and copy Disney’s and Universal’s famous characters—without investing a penny in their creation—Midjourney is the quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of…
Apple’s smart home didn’t get a single nod during the WWDC keynote, but it turns out there are some interesting developments coming to the Home app around energy management. In a video posted to the Apple developer site this week, the company outlined its new EnergyKit framework, which allows developers to integrate energy data from Apple Home in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 to reduce or shift the electricity usage of their devices to prioritize cleaner and/or less expensive energy. So, for example, your thermostat can reduce its energy use when prices are higher, and your EV can generate a…
“A subset of Pixel 6A phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating,” Google’s Alex Moriconi says in a statement to The Verge. “The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles. We’ll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue.”In April, Google also announced an extended repair program for battery swelling issues with the Pixel 7A. Read the full article here
Apple is introducing a suite of updated child safety features, including one that will give parents more control over who their kids can communicate with. The features are set to arrive with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26, which will launch this fall.Children will now be required to get parental approval when they want to communicate with a new phone number. Requests will appear in the Messages app, and parents can tap a button to approve or decline. Apple is also launching a “PermissionKit” that will let developers fold a similar feature…
Reddit’s first-ever chief product officer, Pali Bhat, is leaving the company in “the coming months,” spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt confirmed to The Verge. Bhat, a former Google executive, joined Reddit in October 2021.“His tenure was about as clear pre / post test as we could run,” CEO Steve Huffman said in an internal message about the change provided by Rathschmidt. “He developed a culture of execution, built a talented team, raised the bar, and navigated some of the most challenging and important moments in our history.”The company is actively looking for a new product leader, Rathschmidt said. In the meantime, COO…
Meta is launching new video editing tools that will let you transform videos using AI. The tool, which is only free for a “limited time,” gives you more than 50 preset prompts you can use to edit your video, allowing you to set a theme, change the background, and tweak what you’re wearing.The presets are presented similarly to how you would choose a filter on Instagram. You can have Meta AI restyle your clip as a video game or anime, make it appear as if it was taken in the desert, dress you in an AI-generated tuxedo, and more. The…
Jeff Koons, best known for his Balloon Dog sculptures that have sold for as much as $58 million, has collaborated with Lexon Design and The Broad museum in Los Angeles to make his iconic artworks more functional and accessible. Available for preorder through Lexon’s website starting June 17th are a new 11-inch tall Balloon Dog Speaker and Balloon Dog Lamp that are each made from (an unspecified) “high-quality translucent material” that reveals the internal electronics that make each more than just a piece of art. Both are only being produced in a “limited supply” and each one will set you…
How on earth do you top Mario Kart 8? One of the best-selling console games of all time also had (thanks to a DLC boost) the most tracks the series had ever seen in one place. Going even bigger ought to do it. Mario Kart World breaks away from traditional tracks, dotting everything together across a single expansive map. No, this isn’t Nintendo going full Forza Horizon on us – World‘s tunes are far catchier pop bops than Microsoft’s sprawling supercar festivals, for one. It’s more interconnected than truly open-world, but that’s still a huge departure from what fans have…
The Father’s Day deals have landed, with discounts on everything from Bluetooth speakers to streaming devices to help you (or your dad) make the most of summer. And if your plans involve unwinding with a good book, well, Amazon’s latest Kindle Scribe is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy starting at just $299.99 ($100 off), which is a new low price. Both retailers are also offering $100 off the 32GB and 64GB configurations, with the former selling for $319.99 (Amazon, Best Buy) and the largest-capacity model running $349.99 (Amazon, Best Buy).I don’t know about you, but I can’t get…
Back in June 2020, when this article was first written, people were taking to the streets to organize for justice and protest against systemic racism and police brutality. There have been several other flashpoints for protests since then (for example, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade), but the recent activities of ICE, especially in Los Angeles, have now resulted in huge, nationwide demonstrations. As of this writing, the Trump administration has reacted by deploying the national guard and military forces, making conflict even more likely.Because of this escalation, it is possible that, if you’re a participant, you may…
For several months, my Slack avatar was a screenshot of my incredibly cursed Vision Pro persona. My virtual avatar’s head was cocked back, cackling into the pixelated void, her hair one solid unmoving block. It wasn’t good — but it also wasn’t the end of the world. Everyone else’s Persona looked just as horrible, and honestly, it was funny. So I was skeptical when, at the WWDC keynote, Apple announced that visionOS 26 had improved the system’s floating avatars.And then I got to make one.The process to make Personas hasn’t changed, but the end result is vastly improved. (Full disclosure:…