Google Bets on Gemini to Reinvent the Smart Home Speaker
TechCrunch AI40 days agoHardwareGoogle has unveiled a new $99.99 Google Home Speaker that swaps out the rule-based Google Assistant for Gemini-powered conversational interactions. The product represents a direct bet that generative AI can revive consumer interest in the smart speaker category. Rather than requiring precise voice commands, users can now speak more naturally with the device.
A Matter Wi-Fi Light Bulb in Rust on the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
Hacker News (AI keywords)50 days agoHardwareThis GitHub repository collects Rust Embassy examples for Raspberry Pi Pico 2 and Pico 2 W. Its Matter Wi-Fi light example uses rs-matter, BLE commissioning, and Wi-Fi connectivity so the board can appear as a standard smart bulb in Home Assistant, Apple Home, or Google Home. The project is mainly relevant to embedded Rust and smart-home developers, not AI model users.
Amazon faces class action lawsuit over Ring facial recognition feature
TechCrunch AI55 days agoEthicsAmazon faces a class action lawsuit over Ring's Familiar Faces feature. Filed in Seattle by Virginia resident Charles Sigwalt, the complaint claims the feature stores images of passersby without consent. The available excerpt does not state whether a court has certified the class, which laws are cited, or how Amazon has responded.