John Shirley

Spotify Rolls Out Facial Age Verification for UK Users Accessing Explicit Content Spotify is introducing new age verification measures for users in the UK who attempt to access explicit content on the platform. The streaming giant has partnered with digital identity firm Yoti to implement facial scanning technology, which will estimate a user’s age based […]

Fable, a startup developing AI tools to create animated TV shows from scratch, is launching an AI-powered streaming service called Showrunner this week. The platform will let subscribers generate animated scenes, watch AI-created content, and even insert themselves into the animations they produce. Showrunner is launching in alpha, and initially, users will interact with it

Trump Ends De Minimis Exemption for Low-Cost Global Shipments President Donald Trump has moved to suspend the de minimis exemption, a policy that previously allowed low-value international shipments to enter the U.S. without duty fees. Starting August 29, all commercial shipments valued at $800 or below will be subject to tariffs unless sent through the

Substack Faces Backlash After Accidentally Promoting Nazi Newsletter Substack is under fire again after users reported receiving push notifications promoting a white supremacist newsletter. The platform, known for its hands-off approach to content moderation, called the incident a serious error and apologized for the offensive notifications. The newsletter in question describes itself as a National

Opera Files Antitrust Complaint Against Microsoft in Brazil Over Edge Browser Dominance Opera has filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft in Brazil, accusing the tech giant of creating unfair competition for alternative browsers on Windows. The Norway-based company claims Microsoft secures exclusive deals to pre-install Edge on Windows devices, making it harder for rivals like

Google Set to Unveil Pixel 10 Series and More at August 20 Event Google is gearing up for its next Made by Google event on August 20, where it will showcase its latest hardware, including the highly anticipated Pixel 10 lineup. After focusing heavily on AI advancements at Google I/O 2025, the company is now

Cornell Researchers Develop Light-Based Watermark to Combat AI Deepfakes A team of computer scientists from Cornell University has introduced a novel method to detect manipulated videos, including AI-generated deepfakes and altered clips. The technique, known as noise-coded illumination, embeds verification data into light sources, making it possible to identify tampered footage. The system works by

Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Set for July 31 With Third-Party Game Reveals Nintendo has announced another Direct presentation, this time focusing on games from its third-party partners. The showcase is scheduled for July 31 at 9 AM ET and will run for approximately 25 minutes. Fans can watch the stream live via Nintendo’s official channels.

Google Pixel 10 Could Be the First Pixel With Native Qi2 Wireless Charging Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 might support Qi2 wireless charging without needing a case, making it the first Pixel model and one of the few Android phones to offer this feature. A leaked image from Evan Blass shows a Qi2 charger attached directly

Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS Review: A More Powerful Steam Deck Alternative Earlier this year, Lenovo introduced a more streamlined version of its flagship gaming handheld, the Legion Go, with the Legion Go S. While the Windows 11 version arrived first, the SteamOS variant is the one many gamers were waiting for—and it delivers. With