Microsoft’s First Advanced Reasoning AI Is Here★ 74
The Verge AI1h agoReleaseMicrosoft announced several in-house AI models at Build 2026, including its new flagship reasoning model, MAI-Thinking-1. The launch marks a significant expansion of Microsoft's model-development efforts after it introduced its first internal models last year. Previously reliant on OpenAI models, Microsoft is building more independent capabilities as the companies loosen ties through a renegotiated agreement.
Microsoft Scout is a new AI personal assistant built on OpenClaw
The Verge AI1h agoNew ToolMicrosoft is launching Scout, an always-on AI personal assistant built on OpenClaw. It integrates with Microsoft 365 apps including Outlook, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams, enabling businesses to assign virtual assistants to employees. Mentioned tasks include calendar organization, expense reporting, and drafting emails, while the supplied excerpt does not fully explain how Scout differs from Copilot.
This AI Weather Startup Is Out-Forecasting Government Agencies
TechCrunch AI1d agoBenchmarkWindborne Systems' newest weather forecasting model reportedly outperforms the best government predictions by days. The supplied excerpt does not identify the model, agencies, benchmarks, regions, or evaluation metrics. The claim is notable for AI weather forecasting, but more methodological detail is needed to assess its scope and reliability.
An OpenAI model solved a famous math problem that stumped humans for 80 years
Ars Technica AI1d agoCommentaryArs Technica reports that an unspecified OpenAI model solved a famous math problem that had stumped humans for roughly 80 years. The article aims to explain the solution more clearly than OpenAI's own account. The provided excerpt does not identify the problem, model, proof steps, validation process, or degree of human involvement, so the scope of the reported breakthrough cannot be assessed from it alone.
Meta is reportedly developing an AI pendant
TechCrunch AI3d agoHardwareTechCrunch reports that Meta appears to be making bigger bets on AI-powered hardware, including a reportedly developing AI pendant. The article does not provide confirmed product details, features, pricing, release timing, or model information. The main takeaway is a directional signal that Meta may be exploring more wearable AI hardware form factors.
AI grifters are creating fake Black people to sell Shein junk
The Verge AI3d agoEthicsThe Verge found TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook accounts using AI-generated Black women and other marginalized personas to sell dropshipped products. The videos frame mass-produced goods as handmade small-business items and use tears, racial identity, and hardship narratives to drive engagement. Researchers describe the pattern as digital blackface and empathy bait, enabled by short-form platforms, weak labeling, and widely available generative AI ad workflows.
As browser wars heat up, top Chrome and Safari alternatives in 2026
TechCrunch AI3d agoCommentaryTechCrunch frames 2026’s browser competition around alternatives to Chrome and Safari. The roundup covers AI-centric browsers like Perplexity Comet, Dia, Opera Neon, OpenAI Atlas, and Aside, alongside privacy-focused options such as Brave, DuckDuckGo, Ladybird, and Vivaldi. It also highlights niche products including Opera Air, SigmaOS, and Zen Browser, showing how browsers are becoming AI assistants, productivity hubs, privacy layers, and wellness-oriented tools.
NVIDIA, Arm and Microsoft Tease a New Era of PC Ahead of GTC Taipei
INSIDE 硬塞 AI3d agoHardwareNVIDIA, Arm and Microsoft posted coordinated teasers around “A new era of PC,” tied to mysterious coordinates pointing to Taipei. The report frames the move as a pre-COMPUTEX push, with NVIDIA’s rumored N1X Arm chip expected to appear at GTC Taipei. Still, skepticism remains around delays, high pricing, and backlash against overused AI PC messaging.
Tech companies desperately want to film you doing chores
The Verge AI4d agoEthicsThe Verge reports that AI training startup Shift is offering to clean New Yorkers’ homes for free, with plans to expand to cities including London. The catch is that Shift wants footage of people doing chores and cleaning at home. The story highlights how tech companies are seeking real-world household data for AI and robotics training, raising questions about privacy and consent in domestic spaces.
Startup offers free home cleaning if it can record it all for robot training
Ars Technica AI4d agoBusinessAI training startup Shift is offering free home cleanings while workers wear head-mounted cameras that record household chores. The footage is intended to become training data for domestic robots and related AI systems. The model highlights rising demand for real-world robotics data, while raising privacy questions about recording inside homes.
Kiwibit’s AI-powered bird feeder is my new backyard buddy
TechCrunch AI4d agoHardwareTechCrunch spotlights Kiwibit’s AI-powered bird feeder as a playful way to connect with nature. The product is framed around using an app to collect bird species, similar to a Pokémon-style experience. The available excerpt does not provide specs, pricing, or model details, but it clearly positions Kiwibit as consumer AI hardware for backyard wildlife observation.
This AI startup will clean your home for free to train future robots
The Verge AI4d agoBusinessAI training startup Shift is offering to clean homes for free, with a significant condition: it records cleaners at work. The footage captures tasks like scrubbing, vacuuming, dusting, tidying, and washing. Shift says the material will be used to train future robots, raising clear questions about data collection inside private homes.
Waymo Is Too Costly, Uber Too Slow: Fatal Flaws in Two Robotaxi Models
INSIDE 硬塞 AI4d agoBusinessThe article contrasts two robotaxi commercialization strategies. Waymo controls technology and distribution through vertical integration, gaining tighter control but facing high costs. Uber relies on partnerships and its ride-hailing platform, keeping a lighter model but risking slower execution and less control. The broader question is whether value in autonomous mobility will accrue to core technology owners or demand-distribution platforms.
Adobe’s conversational AI agent is a mediocre design intern
The Verge AI4d agoCommentaryThe Verge tested Adobe’s Firefly AI Assistant beta, a conversational tool that can perform multi-step image edits using Adobe-style capabilities. It explains its process, asks follow-up questions, and is open about limitations, making it more instructive than many creative chatbots. But the actual edits are often imperfect, with weak blending and middling generative results, so it feels more useful for casual users than professionals.
From Map Data to National Security: A Deep Dive into Amap Risks in Taiwan★ 74
INSIDE 硬塞 AI4d agoRegulationINSIDE examines how China’s Amap has become controversial in Taiwan beyond ordinary mapping or navigation use. The article says its service relies on user data and AI-based inference rather than full official data integrations. That model could send movement traces and behavioral signals back to China, creating risks for hybrid warfare intelligence, influence operations, and Taiwan’s broader governance of map data and digital infrastructure.
Jensen Huang Hosts Taiwan Supply Chain Dinner, Says TSMC Leads Huawei by 10 Years
INSIDE 硬塞 AI4d agoBusinessNVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang hosted key Taiwanese supply chain partners, with senior leaders from TSMC, Foxconn, and Quanta attending the high-profile dinner. The report frames the event as a signal of Taiwan’s central role in AI hardware, from advanced chips to manufacturing and servers. Huang also said TSMC leads Huawei by 10 years, underscoring the strategic weight of semiconductor capability.
Chinese Sodium-Ion Battery Passes German Test, Matches Tesla Lithium Performance
INSIDE 硬塞 AI4d agoHardwareA German independent study has reportedly completed the first full third-party evaluation of China’s Hina sodium-ion battery. The test found strong cell uniformity and multiple performance metrics comparable to advanced lithium batteries, with the report benchmarking it against Tesla-level lithium performance. The key takeaway is external verification: the findings provide checkable data for assessing China’s sodium-ion battery progress.
Siri Redesign and Customizable Camera? Biggest iOS 27 Leak Ahead of WWDC 2026
INSIDE 硬塞 AI4d agoReleaseINSIDE reports that a major iOS 27 leak points to a redesigned Siri experience, potentially arriving as a standalone app rather than only a system voice assistant. The new Siri is said to integrate deeply with Dynamic Island, suggesting a more visible and persistent interaction layer. The headline also mentions camera customization, but the available text does not provide enough detail to confirm how that feature would work.
AI Power Demand Surges as TSMC Says Energy Efficiency Is Key to Chip Development
INSIDE 硬塞 AI4d agoHardwareTSMC senior vice president Cliff Hou said customers across smartphones and AI data centers are increasingly focused on improving performance without increasing power use. The comment reflects rising energy pressure as AI workloads expand. For chipmakers and infrastructure buyers, energy efficiency is becoming a central metric alongside raw computing performance.
Microsoft 365 Copilot gets a speed boost and cleaner design
The Verge AI4d agoReleaseMicrosoft is launching a revamped Microsoft 365 Copilot with a cleaner design and claimed 2x faster loading. The update also aims to make Copilot responses more reliable, structured, and easier to scan. The redesign is rolling out across desktop and mobile devices, focusing on everyday usability rather than a stated model upgrade.
A $2,000 AI-generated film will make its debut at Tribeca
The Verge AI5d agoEthicsTribeca Festival will premiere Dreams of Violets, a 75-minute AI-generated film. The fictional dramatization depicts the Iranian government’s mass killing of protestors in January, with its people and images fully created by AI. The reported $2,000 production cost makes the project notable less as a tool launch than as a cultural and ethical signal for AI-made cinema.
Sesame, the conversational AI startup from Oculus founders, launches iOS app
TechCrunch AI5d agoNew ToolSesame, a conversational AI startup from Oculus founders, has launched a new iOS app for the public. The app brings its AI agents to users with a focus on more natural back-and-forth interactions. Based on the available summary, the product is positioned less like a traditional chatbot and more like talking to a person.
Sneak peek at new Siri app reveals Apple’s plans to take on ChatGPT and more
TechCrunch AI5d agoReleaseTechCrunch reports that new renders provide a closer look at Apple’s planned AI overhaul for iOS 27. The preview points to a redesigned Siri experience and a standalone Siri app, suggesting Apple may reposition Siri as a more central AI interface. The article frames the move as part of Apple’s effort to compete with ChatGPT, though the provided text does not specify models, features, APIs, or launch details.
These new iOS 27 renders hint at Siri’s big redesign
The Verge AI5d agoReleaseThe Verge reports that Bloomberg renders offer an early look at Apple’s long-awaited Siri overhaul for iOS 27. The redesigned assistant appears to move toward a ChatGPT-style app and chat interface, with Apple’s Liquid Glass visual language layered on top. The images are based on information Bloomberg reviewed and sources familiar with Apple’s plans, so they should be treated as previews rather than official Apple assets.
Dcard Launches EntryDesk and VibeHost for Agent-Native Enterprise AI Workflows
INSIDE 硬塞 AI5d agoBusinessDcard introduced EntryDesk and VibeHost, products aimed at helping companies move toward Agent-Native operations. The first wave supports both cloud and on-premises deployment, with integration into internal enterprise systems. The article says Dcard’s method shortened process time by over 80%, but the provided text does not include detailed case data, pricing, or technical architecture.
Budget Cuts and Acceptance Disputes May Stall Taiwan’s Counter-Drone Shift
INSIDE 硬塞 AI5d agoCommentaryThe article examines Taiwan’s counter-drone modernization amid budget cuts and unresolved acceptance disputes. It argues that while foreign and domestic defense firms study combat data in Ukraine, Taiwan must build its own counter-drone and electronic warfare datasets. The larger issue is not only whether individual systems pass review, but whether local testing, technical iteration, and operational doctrine can keep developing.
YouTube will let you ask AI to make a custom video feed
The Verge AI5d agoReleaseYouTube is rolling out a new AI feature for creating personalized video feeds based on descriptions of what users want to watch. The company says custom feeds can reflect specific interests, moods, or favorite topics. Once created, users can pin those feeds to the top of the YouTube homepage, making them easier to revisit as tailored viewing entry points.
Vertu wants CEOs to run companies from an AI foldable starting at $6,880
TechCrunch AI5d agoHardwareVertu has introduced a luxury AI foldable phone starting at $6,880, aimed at executives and CEOs. Built on the open-source Hermes project, it combines AI-agent workflows, enterprise integrations, and ultra-premium finishes. The available summary positions it as a high-end mobile business control hub, but does not specify supported enterprise platforms, model providers, hardware specs, or concrete agent capabilities.
Google Flow Music Lands on iOS in Taiwan for Chat-Based Songs and MVs
INSIDE 硬塞 AI5d agoNew ToolGoogle Flow Music has launched on iOS, and users in Taiwan can now download it. The app emphasizes a conversational workflow, letting users create lyrics, songs, and music videos without knowing music theory or adjusting complex controls. The news positions it as an accessible AI creation tool for mobile users, though the source does not detail pricing, licensing, output formats, or the underlying model stack.
NASA Unveils $20B Moon Base Plan, Robots to Scout Lunar South Pole This Fall
INSIDE 硬塞 AI5d agoHardwareNASA announced a $20 billion plan to build a phased outpost near the Moon’s south pole. The agency will work with private companies and send robots first for scouting and deployment. The effort is intended to support Artemis crewed missions and prepare for long-term lunar presence after 2032.