Ferrari Luce: Is the First Ferrari EV an Apple Car Reborn?
INSIDE 硬塞 AI12h agoCommentaryFerrari's first electric vehicle, Luce, has sparked debate with a design that breaks from the brand's traditions. The commentary argues that Ferrari is deliberately using Jony Ive's design influence to test a new direction. It frames the strategy as an Apple Car-like rebirth and sees Luce's market performance as a notable case study.
From the Kitchen to Physical AI: Madison Huang's Cross-Disciplinary Career
INSIDE 硬塞 AI1d agoBusinessMadison Huang, daughter of NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, moved into technology after working in culinary arts and luxury marketing. Her cross-disciplinary background shaped a distinct work philosophy and approach to communication. She now applies those experiences to marketing NVIDIA's Physical AI platform, finding a role that connects her previous career paths with the company's work in embodied systems.
I went looking for the AI weed vape that gives you Bitcoin for smoking
The Verge AI2d agoCommentaryA Gudtrip ad reached The Verge's reporter on 4/20 through Slack, promising that every vape hit delivers Bitcoin. The device is presented as an unusual combination of AI, crypto rewards, and cannabis vaping. The provided excerpt frames the article as an investigation, but does not establish how the device works, whether its claims are credible, or what the reporter ultimately found.
I put Google’s 24/7 AI assistant Gemini Spark to work, and it’s useful
TechCrunch AI3d agoNew ToolTechCrunch tested Google’s 24/7 AI assistant Gemini Spark and found it genuinely useful for everyday automation. The article highlights tasks such as inbox summaries and local event planning, suggesting Google is pushing Gemini toward a more persistent assistant experience. Still, the author questions why Google chose to make Gemini Spark a separate product instead of folding it into existing Gemini or Google services.
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.
Today is the Last Day to Apply to Speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
TechCrunch AI4d agoBusinessTechCrunch published a brief reminder that applications to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 close today. Interested applicants must submit a session topic before the end of the day to be considered. The post frames the opportunity as a way to share industry insight and contribute to the conversations shaping the tech sector.
Final 24 hours to save up to $410 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 ticket
TechCrunch AI4d agoBusinessTechCrunch is reminding readers that Early Bird pricing for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is available until 11:59 p.m. PT tonight. The article says ticket prices will rise afterward and highlights potential savings of up to $410. It promotes the October event as a gathering of more than 10,000 tech leaders, but does not include AI product, model, research, or tooling news.
Short Drama Ads Arrive: The Trade Desk Partners with DramaBox
INSIDE 硬塞 AI4d agoBusinessThe Trade Desk sees short drama advertising as a data-backed opportunity, citing forecasts that the global short drama app market outside China could reach $3 billion in 2025. Its partnership with DramaBox brings vertical short drama inventory into programmatic advertising. The goal is to capture fragmented attention, expand the attention spectrum, and help brands treat emerging content traffic as measurable media within omnichannel strategies.
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.
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.
YouTube takes baby steps to being a real podcast app
The Verge AI5d agoReleaseYouTube is rolling out new podcast-oriented features for Premium subscribers, starting today on Android and coming later to iOS. The key addition is an on-the-go mode that shifts playback toward an audio-first layout, with larger simplified controls, a still image replacing video, and a timeline. It is a modest step toward making YouTube more comfortable for podcast listening, not a full podcast-app overhaul.
YouTube adds new podcast features, including an AI recommendation tool and Auto speed
TechCrunch AI5d agoReleaseYouTube is rolling out new podcast-related features, including an AI recommendation tool and a feature called Auto speed. The update signals YouTube’s continued push to compete with other platforms for podcast listeners and attention. The provided source does not include technical details about the AI system, availability, or how Auto speed works.
CNN sues Perplexity over ‘verbatim’ copycat articles
The Verge AI5d agoRegulationCNN has filed a lawsuit in New York against Perplexity, alleging the startup’s AI tools produce “verbatim” copies of its journalism. The complaint also claims Perplexity gives users access to information locked behind CNN’s subscription. The case highlights growing legal tension between publishers and AI answer engines over copyright, paywalled content, and how generated responses use news sources.
2 days left: Lock in ticket savings of up to $410 to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
TechCrunch AI5d agoBusinessTechCrunch is reminding readers that discounted tickets for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 are about to expire. The offer promises savings of up to $410 and ends on May 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. The event is scheduled for October 13-15 in San Francisco and is positioned as a gathering of more than 10,000 tech leaders.
Meta Rolls Out Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp Subscriptions: Plus vs. Meta One
INSIDE 硬塞 AI5d agoBusinessMeta is introducing consumer subscription plans tied to Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, with the article focusing on how Plus differs from Meta One. The move points to a broader push toward paid services across Meta’s core social and messaging platforms. The provided excerpt does not include pricing, feature lists, or rollout details, so the safest takeaway is the subscription strategy rather than specific benefits.
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.
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.
Your SEO strategy is optimized for a search engine that no longer exists.
TechCrunch AI5d agoCommentaryTechCrunch’s Equity podcast discusses how Google I/O made AI-generated answers central to search. For brands that built strategies around the classic list of blue links, the rules of visibility are changing. The key concern is that many companies have little insight into how AI systems describe them to customers, making brand monitoring and SEO strategy more uncertain.
Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions, with AI plans ahead
TechCrunch AI6d agoBusinessMeta is rolling out paid subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp worldwide, expanding subscriptions across its major social and messaging products. The company is also testing additional AI, creator, and business-focused offerings under the broader Meta One subscription brand. The report signals a business model shift, but does not yet detail specific AI features, models, pricing, or launch timing for those future plans.
YouTube to begin automatically labeling AI videos
Ars Technica AI6d agoEthicsYouTube will start applying AI labels automatically when its systems detect significant photorealistic AI use, reducing reliance on creator self-disclosure. Labels will become more prominent on long-form videos and Shorts. However, animated, unrealistic, or lightly AI-assisted videos may still show less visible disclosure or avoid obvious labeling.
Startup Battlefield 200 applications close today: Nominate a founder or submit your startup
TechCrunch AI6d agoBusinessTechCrunch says today is the final day to apply or nominate a startup for Startup Battlefield 200. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. PT, after which the application window closes. Selected startups can compete for $100,000 in equity-free funding, gain global visibility, connect with investors, and launch on the TechCrunch Disrupt stage.
ElevenLabs’s new music generation model can switch genres mid-track
TechCrunch AI6d agoNew ToolElevenLabs has introduced a new music generation model focused on finer-grained song editing. According to TechCrunch, users will be able to regenerate a section of a track without affecting the rest of the song. The headline also highlights genre switching mid-track, suggesting the model is aimed at more flexible AI music creation workflows.
YouTube is putting AI labels where you’ll actually see them
The Verge AI6d agoEthicsYouTube says it will move AI disclosures on Shorts and long-form videos to places viewers are more likely to notice. The platform will also start automatically identifying and labeling AI-generated content. The move follows Google’s expanded AI verification efforts at I/O and signals a stronger push toward transparency around synthetic media on YouTube.
YouTube will now automatically label AI videos
TechCrunch AI6d agoEthicsYouTube is moving beyond relying only on creators to disclose AI-generated content. The platform will now automatically label videos that use significant photorealistic AI. It is also making AI labels more prominent, signaling a stronger push for transparency around realistic AI-generated or AI-altered videos.
Global Plug-in Vehicle Sales Top 20 Million as Nepal Hits 68% Share
INSIDE 硬塞 AI6d agoBusinessGlobal plug-in vehicle sales have surpassed 20 million, but adoption is diverging sharply across markets. The report highlights government subsidies and affordable model supply as the two key drivers. China benefits from both and helps push emerging-market growth, while the U.S. and Taiwan face slower momentum because affordable options remain limited.
DuckDuckGo installs are up 30% as users reject Google’s AI Search
TechCrunch AI6d agoBusinessGoogle overhauled Search at I/O 2026, moving away from classic blue links toward AI agents. TechCrunch reports that the backlash was swift, with some users rejecting the feeling of being forced into Google’s AI Search experience. DuckDuckGo app installs rose 30%, suggesting that dissatisfaction with AI-led search changes is already pushing some users toward alternatives.
Quoting Paul Graham
Simon Willison's Weblog7d agoOpinionSimon Willison quotes Paul Graham criticizing the growing number of founder emails that appear to be written by AI in a hard-hitting journalistic style. Graham says that once he recognizes an email as AI-written, it becomes difficult not to ignore it. His objection centers on authenticity: a human-signed message written by AI feels deceptive and lowers his opinion of the sender.
Universal Music Group and TikTok renew agreement to combat unauthorized AI music
TechCrunch AI7d agoBusinessUniversal Music Group and TikTok have renewed their agreement, with a focus on combating unauthorized AI music. The article notes that UMG has spent years pushing platforms, streaming services, and AI companies to adopt stricter content moderation policies. The move reflects growing pressure on major platforms to address AI-generated music, rights protection, and unauthorized use of music-related content.
Sundar Pichai on AI, the future of search, and what’s happening to the web★ 74
The Verge AI7d agoBusinessThe Verge interviews Sundar Pichai after Google I/O 2026 about Google’s shift around Gemini, AI infrastructure, Search, and agents. The discussion covers Gemini Spark, Antigravity, AI Mode, YouTube indexing, publisher traffic, and the “Google Zero” concern. Pichai argues Google still wants to connect users to the web, while acknowledging AI anxiety, copyright disputes, energy concerns, and AGI preparation.