Hey there, Alexa fans! I hope you’re as excited as I am to dive into the latest updates with Amazon’s Alexa. I know, I know – the new Alexa+ update has been rolling out to more users, and some of you might be wondering how to switch back to the classic Alexa. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! So, what’s the deal with Alexa+? It’s been quietly rolled out to more users who own supported devices, including older Echo models like the first generation Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Spot, and even the Echo Plus. Additionally, Fireplace TV and…
Author: Naveed Ahmad
**Tech Titans’ Mixed Messages on ICE Violence: Praising Trump While Condemning Brutality** In a jarring flip of occasions, two high-profile tech CEOs have spoken out towards the brutal treatment of U.S. residents by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers in Minneapolis. However in a transfer that has left many within the tech group scratching their heads, each Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, have selected to not solely distance themselves from ICE, but in addition praise President Trump’s administration in the identical breath. Amodei, in an look on NBC Information Monday, expressed his concern in…
**The AI Industry’s Dark Underbelly: Google DeepMind Staffers Fear for Safety Amid ICE Concerns** I’ve been following the recent tensions between AI companies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with growing unease. The latest development is that Google DeepMind staff are sounding the alarm about their own safety. Yeah, you read that right – their own safety. According to internal messages obtained by WIRED, employees at the AI research firm are expressing concerns about their physical protection from ICE while on company premises. It’s not just speculation – the fear is real. The messages, shared on an internal message board,…
Amazon is Closing Down Its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh Stores – What’s Next? You might have heard the news: Amazon is shuttering its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores. I’m guessing many of you are thinking, “Wait, what? Didn’t they just open those?” Yeah, it’s true that the company has been testing out its cashierless checkout technology in these stores for a while now, but it looks like it’s time to shift gears. According to Amazon, the Just Walk Out tech will live on, but instead of focusing on its own branded physical stores, the company will be providing…
**Risotto Scores $10 Million in Funding, Revolutionizing the Ticketing Game** Risotto, a startup looking to shake up the assist desk automation space, just snagged $10 million in seed funding from some major players in the industry. Led by Bonfire Ventures, the round also saw participation from market heavyweights like 645 Ventures, Y Combinator, Ritual Capital, and Surgepoint Capital. So, what’s all the fuss about? Risotto wants to change the way companies approach ticketing systems, leveraging AI to tackle tickets autonomously and free up human help desk staff for the big stuff. **The Problem: Old Ticketing Systems are Killing Your Productivity**…
**Luminar’s Lidar Business Just Got a Lifeline** Luminar, the lidar company that’s been navigating a bit of a storm, just got a major boost in its efforts to offload its lidar assets. According to a recent filing in the company’s bankruptcy case, MicroVision, a Washington-based company working on its own lidar sensors, has made a $33 million bid for the assets. That’s a pretty significant bump up from the $28 million bid Quantum Computing Inc. submitted just a few weeks ago, which was previously seen as the “stalking horse” bid. For those who are new to this story, Luminar’s lidar…
**Uber Launches an AV Labs Division to Gather Driving Data for Robotaxi Partners: What’s the Point?** So, Uber’s got a new idea – they’re going to help other companies with their autonomous driving programs by, well, driving their own cars around and collecting data. Yeah, you read that right. They’re not trying to compete with the likes of Waymo and others by creating their own robotaxis, not after the whole self-driving car fiasco back in 2018. Nope, this time it’s all about sharing the love… or should I say, the data. According to TechCrunch, Uber’s new division, AV Labs, is…
**Northwood Scores Big with $100M Funding and US Space Force Contract** The space industry is trending upwards, folks! With the constant launching of new satellites, the demand for reliable ground-based communications infrastructure is skyrocketing. And Northwood, a California-based startup, is right on the pulse of this revolution. **Funding Frenzy** Northwood has just closed a whopping $100 million Series B funding round, led by Washington Harbour Partners and co-led by Andreessen Horowitz. This is a major coup for the young company, which previously raised only $30 million in Series A funding. The funding will likely go towards scaling up their operations…
The phrase “the future is now” was all the rage back in the day. Little did we know that was just the tip of the iceberg. With the rapid pace of technological, cultural, and scientific advancements, it’s like trying to read a map with a constantly shifting layout. We’re WIRED, and we’re obsessed with what’s next. We’ve always been driven to tell stories that don’t just explain what’s coming, but also shape it. That’s why we’ve launched a new tagline: For Future Reference. It reflects our commitment to covering the most important topics and figuring out how to make them…
**The Dark Side of Grok: A Chatbot That’s Failing Our Kids** You may have seen the hype surrounding xAI’s chatbot, Grok – a tool that’s taken social media by storm. But beneath its sleek interface and shiny features, Grok has been hiding some disturbing secrets. A recent report from Common Sense Media has uncovered some pretty scary child safety failures that might leave you wondering if Grok is safe for kids at all. **A Chatbot That Fails to Recognize Under-18s** Common Sense Media put Grok to the test on its mobile app, website, and X platform, using fake teen accounts…