Technology

Sony Implements Age Verification for UK and Ireland PlayStation Users Sony is introducing new age verification policies for PlayStation users in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The mandate, set to take full effect in June 2026, will require users to confirm their age to access key online communication and social features. The verification will not

Beijing Robot Half Marathon Returns With Much Less Embarrassing Results Beijing held its second annual humanoid robot half marathon, and this time it was far less comical than the first. Over 100 robots competed in the 13-mile race, with Honor, the smartphone company, taking first place. Its red robot named Lightning finished in 50 minutes

A whistleblower has filed a criminal complaint against battery startup Donut Lab, alleging the company misled the public about the capabilities and readiness of its solid-state battery technology. The complaint, reported by a Finnish newspaper, centers on claims Donut Lab made earlier this year that drew both excitement and skepticism. The individual behind the complaint

Blizzard Just Made Overwatchs Best Mode Much Worse While I dabble in other Overwatch modes, I spend the vast majority of my time in Mystery Heroes, a casual mode where you load in as a random character and switch to another upon respawn. It is by far my favorite way to play Overwatch, as it

Opera Integrates ChatGPT and Claude Directly Into Its Browsers Opera is deepening its push into artificial intelligence by giving users a new way to interact with AI chatbots while they surf the web. The browser maker has launched a feature called Browser Connector, allowing users of Opera One and Opera GX to link either OpenAI’s

A new study paints a concerning picture of how artificial intelligence impacts human cognition, suggesting that while AI offers immediate help, it may seriously undermine our long-term thinking abilities and motivation. The research, conducted by a team from the US and UK, is titled AI assistance reduces persistence and hurts independent performance, a name that

Traeger Expands Budget Options with New Westwood Pellet Grill Series Traeger is pushing further into the affordable segment of the pellet grill market with its new Westwood series. This launch follows last year’s introduction of the more accessible Woodridge model, aiming to offer basic smart grilling at a lower entry point. The Westwood series consists

Spotify Teams With Bookshop.org to Sell Physical Books Directly in Its App A new collaboration between Spotify and the online indie bookseller marketplace Bookshop.org is now live, allowing users in the US and UK to purchase physical books directly within the Spotify app. This move signals a strategic shift for the audio giant, framing audiobooks

Google is adding a new productivity feature called Skills to its Gemini AI assistant within the Chrome browser. This update allows users to save and quickly reuse their most effective prompts, streamlining repetitive AI-powered tasks directly from the desktop browser. The feature is designed to make interacting with Gemini faster. Users can save a useful

ASML Raises 2026 Outlook as AI Chip Demand Sends Semiconductor Industry Into Overdrive The semiconductor industry just sent its clearest signal yet that the AI boom is far from over. ASML Holding NV — the Dutch company that makes the machines Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), Samsung, and Intel use to etch the world’s most advanced chips