AI moves into the real world as companion robots and pets
AI moves into the real world as companion robots and pets Uncanny valley meets Bichon Frisé. Artificial intelligence doesn’t always want to optimize your life or steal your job. Sometimes, AI just wants to be your friend. And while robot pets weren’t the biggest stars of CES 2026, they’ve become more than just noise and […]
The best tech announced at CES 2026 so far
The best tech announced at CES 2026 so far Ahead of the CES show floor officially opening on Tuesday, January 6th, many companies have already announced new tech, gadgets, concepts, and AI-powered upgrades that will be released over this year. Yesterday’s CES Unveiled event delivered even more announcements and reveals. If you’re already struggling to […]
LG says its CLOiD home robot will be folding laundry and making breakfast at CES
LG says its CLOiD home robot will be folding laundry and making breakfast at CES Lots of time to think about the robot uprising while folding laundry. LG teased that it would be showing off a new robot for a “zero labor home” at CES. We now have a bit more detail on what to expect. The […]
Grok is undressing anyone, including minors
Grok is undressing anyone, including minors xAI’s Grok is removing clothing from pictures of people without their consent following this week’s rollout of a feature that allows X users to instantly edit any image using the bot without needing the original poster’s permission. Not only does the original poster not get notified if their picture […]
You can’t trust your eyes to tell you what’s real anymore, says the head of Instagram
You can't trust your eyes to tell you what's real anymore, says the head of Instagram Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old, more personal Instagram […]
I re-created Google’s cute Gemini ad with my own kid’s stuffie, and I wish I hadn’t
I re-created Google's cute Gemini ad with my own kid's stuffie, and I wish I hadn't Buddy’s in space. When your kid starts showing a preference for one of their stuffed animals, you’re supposed to buy a backup in case it goes missing. I’ve heard this advice again and again, but never got around to […]
How AI broke the smart home in 2025
How AI broke the smart home in 2025 This morning, I asked my Alexa-enabled Bosch coffee machine to make me a coffee. Instead of running my routine, it told me it couldn’t do that. Ever since I upgraded to Alexa Plus, Amazon’s generative-AI-powered voice assistant, it has failed to reliably run my coffee routine, coming […]
ChatGPT’s yearly recap sums up your conversations with the chatbot
ChatGPT's yearly recap sums up your conversations with the chatbot ChatGPT is joining the flood of apps offering yearly recaps for users. It’s rolling out a “Year in Review” feature that will show you a bunch of stats – like how many messages you sent to the chatbot in 2025 – as well as give […]
Chipwrecked
Chipwrecked The AI data center build-out, as it currently stands, is dependent on two things: Nvidia chips and borrowed money. Perhaps it was inevitable that people would begin using Nvidia chips to borrow money. As the craze has gone on, I have begun to worry about the weaknesses of the AI data center boom; looking […]
Humanoid robots are coming. Eventually?
Humanoid robots are coming. Eventually? This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on robotics and AI, follow Robert Hart. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. We’re taking a winter break! The Stepback will be […]