Cox Media fined after bragging it spied on users through their phones
Cox Media fined after bragging it spied on users through their phones An exceptionally weird controversy has come back to haunt Cox Media and a pair of marketing firms, which claimed they were secretly listening to users via phones and smart devices – despite little evidence they actually could. On Thursday the Federal Trade Commission […]
Here are our favorite last-minute deals from REI’s giant Anniversary Sale
Here are our favorite last-minute deals from REI's giant Anniversary Sale REI’s annual Anniversary Sale — the retailer’s biggest of the year — is still going strong, letting you save on all kinds of outdoor essentials. If you’ve got a camping trip coming up, now is a good time to stock up on the basics, […]
Apple’s latest MacBook Air is $200 off in both sizes for Memorial Day
Apple's latest MacBook Air is $200 off in both sizes for Memorial Day If you’re looking for a laptop that’ll still perform well several years from now, Apple’s latest MacBook Air is hard to beat. Now, in particular, is a good time to pick one up, as you can currently buy the 13-inch MacBook Air […]
Hackers are learning to exploit chatbot ‘personalities’
Hackers are learning to exploit chatbot 'personalities' This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on AI mischief, follow Robert Hart. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Hacking the first generation of […]
I have a new go-to browser
I have a new go-to browser Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 129, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, come on you Gunners, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve mostly been sick, which has meant […]
Google’s new anything-to-anything AI model is wild
Google's new anything-to-anything AI model is wild Just a stuffed deer having the time of his life. | Image: Gemini / The Verge Last year I deepfaked my kid’s stuffed animal to make it look like his plush deer was on vacation. It was an experiment to see if I could re-create the events depicted […]
Google’s AI search is so broken it can ‘disregard’ what you’re looking for
Google's AI search is so broken it can 'disregard' what you're looking for Google’s AI Overviews are running into an interesting problem right now. Earlier on Friday, if you searched for the term “disregard,” the AI Overview section would include a response like what you’d see from a more traditional AI chatbot instead of the […]
Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 has hit one of its best prices ahead of summer travel
Twelve South's AirFly Pro 2 has hit one of its best prices ahead of summer travel Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 let you connect wireless headphones to in-flight entertainment systems as well as the Nintendo Switch. | Image: Twelve South With Memorial day weekend kicking off the travel season, we’re seeing a lot of deals […]
Meta’s Forum is part Reddit, part Facebook, and part Google AI Overview
Meta's Forum is part Reddit, part Facebook, and part Google AI Overview Meta’s new Forum app for iPhones takes Facebook Groups and moves them to a dedicated app with a dedicated AI chatbot to go with it, like an AI revamp of the ill-fated Groups app Facebook shut down in 2017. Rather than going to […]
Govee’s colorful, JBL-tuned Lamp Pro 2 is matching its best price to date
Govee's colorful, JBL-tuned Lamp Pro 2 is matching its best price to date They say that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. I have my doubts given the less-than-balmy weather in many parts of the US this weekend, though that doesn’t mean it’s not an appropriate time to pick up some summer essentials […]