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<p>Each weekday morning we bring you the tech news you need today, and then in the afternoon we showcase stories about the technology, science, and culture that will influence tomorrow, all brought to you by Engadget.</p>

ChatGPT image generation is now faster and better at following tweaks

Plus, there's a new dedicated sidebar with presets and prompt suggestions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-17
06:25

WBD rejected Paramount's hostile bid, Amazon may invest $10 billion in OpenAI, and a judge ruled that Tesla used deceptive language to market Autopilot

-Warner Bros. Discovery's board has formally rejected the $108 billion takeover bid from Paramount Skydance. WBD said it remains committed to its $82.7 billion deal with Netflix, which would close some time next year, pending regulatory approval. -Amazon is in discussions with OpenAI to invest $10 billion in the company while supplying more of its AI chips and cloud computing services, according to The Financial Times. The deal would push OpenAI's valuation over $500 billion but is likely to raise more questions about the company's circular investment agreements involving chips and data centers. -Back in 2022, the California DMV accused the automaker of using deceptive language to advertise those products and making it seem like its vehicles are capable of level 5 autonomous driving. Tesla has since added the word “Supervised” to the name of its Full Self-Driving assistance technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-17
08:01

Kindle's in-book AI assistant can answer all your questions without spoilers

But the catch is authors and publishers can't opt out of having this feature in their works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-16
06:04

Google is retiring its free dark web monitoring tool, a judge blocked Louisiana's social media age verification law, and Ford is not sunsetting the F-150 Lightning

-In Google’s email announcement, however, it said it was discontinuing dark web reports because “feedback showed that it did not provide helpful next steps.” -A Louisiana law that would have required social media platforms to verify the ages of their users has been blocked by a judge. - Ford announced plans this week to reboot the F-150 Lightning as an EREV hybrid. An EREV is similar in concept to a plug-in hybrid but with a larger battery that's topped up by a gas generator — the powertrain itself is all electric. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-16
06:36

OpenAI signs deal to bring Disney characters to Sora and ChatGPT

OpenAI and Disney are partnering to bring Disney characters to Sora (OpenAI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-15
06:20

Grok is spreading inaccurate info again, Google pulled AI-generated videos of Disney characters from YouTube, and iRobot has filed for bankruptcy

-Grok's confusion seems to be most apparent with a viral video that shows a 43-year-old bystander, identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, wrestling a gun away from an attacker during the incident, which, according to the latest news reports, has left at least 15 dead. -Google seems to be cracking down on the use of Disney characters in AI-generated videos on YouTube after it was hit with a cease and desist letter. -iRobot expects the deal to close next February, but says it will continue to operate "with no anticipated disruption to its app functionality, customer programs, global partners, supply chain relationships or ongoing product support." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-15
06:36

Meta is reportedly working on a new AI model

Mark Zuckerberg has been shaking up the company's AI strategy as it pursues "superintelligence." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-12
06:34

Trump ordered the creation of a litigation task force to challenge state AI laws, Disney's deal with OpenAI, and Amazon's AI-generated recap tool not very reliable

-On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for a single, nationwide regulatory framework governing artificial intelligence at the expense of the ability of different states to regulate the nascent technology. -Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year licensing agreement: Starting in 2026, ChatGPT and Sora can generate images and videos incorporating Disney IP, including more than 200 characters from the company's stable of Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel brands. -Amazon's plan to offer AI-generated recaps of Prime Video shows isn't off to a great start. The company's recap of the first season of Fallout features multiple errors, including basic facts about the plot of the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-12
10:36

Projectors won us over in 2025

Anker and Valerian are providing a more affordable big-screen experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-11
07:34

OpenAI's house of cards seems primed to collapse, the US may demand a 5-year social media history from tourists, and the State Department said Calibri font was a DEI hire

-OpenAI has seen its lead against Google and much of the AI industry evaporate, culminating in a series of successive blows throughout this year.  In recent months, OpenAI has signed more than $1.4 trillion worth of infrastructure deals in a bid to outscale the competition that is already beating it. -Tourists from Europe and other regions could be asked to provide a five-year social media history before being given entry to the United States, according to a new proposal from the US Customs and Border Protection service. -The US Department of State is unwinding a 2023 decision to use san-serif Calibri font on all official communications and switching to Times New Roman instea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-11
11:18

Samsung Wallet to gain support for digital Porsche keys

The Porsche Macan will be the first model that the app can unlock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-10
05:02

Nearly 1/3 of teens use AI chatbots daily, Instagram is generating SEO-bait headlines, and Pebble's making a weird little smart ring for recording thoughts

-AI chatbots haven't come close to replacing teens' social media habits, but they are playing a significant role in their online habits. Nearly one-third of US teens report using AI chatbots daily or more, according to a new report from Pew Research. -It looks like Meta has decided to turn Instagram users into unwitting SEO spam pawns. On Tuesday, 404 Media reported that the platform is generating sensational, likely AI-generated headlines and descriptions for user posts without their knowledge or explicit consent. -Pebble just announced the Index 01, a smart ring for recording thoughts. It's a little ring with a built-in microphone and that's about it. The Index 01 is almost anti-tech in its simplicity. It's available for pre-order now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-10
11:54

Uber will start selling trip and takeout data to marketers

The company's ad business is already on track to make $1.5 billion this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-09
05:51

EU opens antitrust investigation into Google's AI practices, NVIDIA can now sell its high-end AI chips to 'approved customers in China,' and Congress removes right to repair language from defense bill

-Google can add another probe to its list: The European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation into the company surrounding the content used for its AI tools. -NVIDIA is now allowed to sell its second-best H200 processors to China, rather than just the sanction-approved H20 model that China had previously declined to buy. -According to a statement from the Public Interest Research Group, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 has removed language that would have granted the US military the right to repair its own equipment rather than requiring it to use official defense contractors for maintenance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-09
08:36

Meta plans to push back the debut of its next mixed reality glasses

According to an internal memo, Meta's project codenamed Phoenix will be delayed to the first half of 2027. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-08
05:08

X shuts down the European Commission’s ad account, Trump says Netflix/Warner Bros. market share 'could be a problem', and OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT says posts appearing to show in-app ads are ‘not real or not ads’

-Just a day after receiving a roughly $140 million fine, X has terminated the ad account of the European Commission. Nikita Bier, X's head of product, accused the European Commission of using an exploit to artificially boost the reach of its post announcing the major fine. -After Netflix announced that it was acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery last week, observers immediately wondered when or if the deal could obtain regulatory approval. -Those might not exactly be ads you're seeing on ChatGPT, at least according to OpenAI. Nick Turley, OpenAI's head of ChatGPT, clarified the confusion around potential ads appearing with the AI chatbot. In a post on X, Turley said "there are no live tests for ads" and that "any screenshots you've seen are either not real or not ads." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-08
07:06

Meta is reportedly going to slash spending on the metaverse

The company is allegedly considering massive cuts to the project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-05
05:15

Netflix says it’s buying Warner Brothers, Chinese hackers may be targeting government entities using 'Brickstorm' malware, and Russia reportedly bans Snapchat and FaceTime

-Shortly after rumors of a deal between the two media giants broke, Netflix has announced it is buying Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max for approximately $82.7 billion. If approved, the deal will take place after Warner Bros. has disentangled itself from both its legacy cable -Hackers with links to China reportedly successfully infiltrated a number of unnamed government and tech entities using advanced malware. As reported by Reuters, cybersecurity agencies from the US and Canada confirmed the attack, which used a backdoor known as “Brickstorm” to target organizations using the VMware vSphere cloud computing platform -Russia's federal agency for monitoring and censoring mass media, has blocked access to Snapchat and FaceTime in the country, Bloomberg reports, citing Russian news service Interfax. The bans were reportedly put in place because the platforms were used "to organize and carry out terrorist acts,” and commit fraud Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-05
07:42

Amazon rolls out a find-a-scene Alexa+ feature for Prime Video

The Fire TV tool can understand quotes, character names and scene descriptions and take you to that point of a movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-04
06:35

OpenAI's new confession system teaches models to be honest, India will no longer require smartphone makers to preinstall its state-run 'cybersecurity' app, and Meta's Oversight Board wants to expand its powers

-Since large language models are often trained to produce the response that seems to be desired, they can become increasingly likely to provide sycophancy or state hallucinations with total confidence. -After blowback from Apple, Samsung and opposition leaders, the Modi government issued a statement saying it "has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers." The app is still available as a voluntary download. -The Oversight board says that it will weigh in on individual account-level penalties in a pilot next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12-04
08:07

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