AI bots are assistants, not overlords

GUEST: Today’s tech buzzword, artificial intelligence (AI), can be a difficult concept to wrap your head around. AI technology, which holds vast potential to revolutionize the way the world works, is often used to paint an apocalyptic view of the future. We now live in a world where talking computers and self-driving cars are no longer a thing of the future — but are we also at risk of developing computers so smart that they can replace humans? Influential tech figures such as E

Close to a year after the enactment of the UK's age assurance law, the Online Safety Act, Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has released a report on its progress. The Online Safety Act requires robust age checks for sites that have content "restricted to adults," which extends from pornography to non-explicit content like the r/stopsmoking subreddit.UK age verification, one year laterOfcom has found that these age checks are now being deployed on an "unprecedented scale" across various s

If you were on TikTok in the early 2020s, you're probably deeply familiar with the GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker. It went super viral as creators made content about their iced coffee concoctions, sodas, and even water recipes.But for most people, the price and size of the Opal ice maker made it an impractical purchase. At a press event with GE Profile in New York City, André Zdanow, executive director of Small Appliances, FirstBuild, and CoCreate at GE Appliances, told me that the most

OpenAI's long-anticipated entry into consumer hardware has arrived, but it's not the Jony Ive collab everyone has been waiting for.The company has launched Codex Micro, a $230 mechanical keypad developed with peripheral maker Work Louder, sold through OpenAI's "Supply Co." storefront as part of a "Work Louder Co-Lab" collaboration.This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
The device is a compact 13-key controller designed to work alongside OpenAI's Codex codin

Professional cyclist Willie Smit went 14 years without being disqualified from a race. Then he put on a pair of smart glasses.The 33-year-old South African veteran cyclist was removed from the opening stage of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai after officials determined that his video-recording glasses violated Union Cycliste Internationale rules governing onboard technology. Smit, who was racing for China’s Anta-Mentech Cycling Team, announced the disqualification on X and posted footage ca

A New York school district is piloting a humanoid robot teacher to help students with summer school classes. Announced earlier this year, Salamanca City Central school district, located in Salamanca, New York, and Toronto-based robotics company Realbotix have partnered to integrate a new AI teachers' assistant into classrooms — and potentially debut a fleet of robot tutors this fall. The AI, called Optio, will be available for students in classrooms and outside school hours, including 24/7

Firmly grasp it — your wallet, that is. Lego unveiled two new SpongeBob Squarepants-themed building sets this week, its first in nearly 15 years. The new Lego Icons SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom set marks the inaugural SpongeBob Lego kit geared toward adults, while the new Lego BrickHeadz SpongeBob SquarePants Figure is the latest entry in its blocky line for kids. Both sets are slated for release on Sept. 1 and available for preorder now exclusively at the Lego Store.Opens in a new

England and Argentina are playing for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, and just as they did before Spain versus France, the internet’s astrologers are looking for clues about what might happen next.The predictions are not perfectly aligned, pun intended. Several forecasts give Argentina the edge, with some pointing to the Leo moon and England’s weaker planetary support. Others predict an England victory, while at least one reading found the chart almost evenly divided, with

Yesterday, Hinge founder Justin McLeod shared more details about his next venture, an AI matchmaking service called Overtone.McLeod announced his departure from Hinge back in Dec. 2025 to focus on Overtone, which he plans to launch later this year in select locations. (You can put yourself on the waitlist if you're interested.)SEE ALSO:Your friends can now add to your Hinge profile
"Overtone is not a dating app," McLeod wrote in the latest blog post. "By that I mean it's not a social platform wi

Asus will sell a standalone version of its upcoming OLED Xbox Ally X20, according to a report from The Verge, walking back earlier plans that would have required buyers to purchase the handheld bundled with a pair of Xreal AR glasses.An Asus spokesperson confirmed the change to The Verge, saying, "We are actively discussing the release schedule for a standalone version of the new Ally. Please stay tuned for upcoming announcements."Our big Guessing Game is back! Enter now for a chance to win

Internet, meet the nine brand new emoji that will be coming to your keyboards.The Emoji Standard and Research Working Group at the Unicode Consortium will soon introduce nine new emoji, and these additions are now being revealed ahead of World Emoji Day on July 17. (Why is July 17 known as World Emoji Day? If you check the calendar emoji, you'll see the 17th date of the month is displayed.)Our big Guessing Game is back! Enter now for a chance to win an Apple Watch.The new emoji class of 202

SAVE $501.99: As of July 15, get the Ecovacs Goat A2000 Robotic Lawn Mower for $1,498 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999.99. That's a discount of 25%. Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonEcovacs Goat A2000 Robotic Lawn Mower$1,498 at Amazon $1,999.99 Save $501.99 Get DealIt's summer, the grass is growing higher than your kneecaps, and you don't have the energy to deal with it. If you want a great-looking lawn without all the muss and fuss, it's time to outsource your grass-cuttin

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.The 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered some absolutely huge moments, and we're expecting more of the same from the second semi-final matchup between old rivals England and Argentina. Both sides made it through tough quarter-final contests after extra-time, and now they're set to

The latest reason to side-eye the salad aisle is microscopic.Cases of an intestinal illness that can leave people sick for weeks are rising across the United States, and health officials still do not know exactly what people are eating or drinking that is causing the infections. So far, the investigation has produced thousands of cases, several possible leads, and one deeply unhelpful answer for anyone standing in the produce section: The culprit is still unclear.Since May 1, the Centers for Dis

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With summer heat taking over, it's time to cool down. Get out of the house and into a shady forest, sit next to the lake-side breeze, or take to the local pool for some cooling relief. In addition to the cool air, pack the

GET $40.99 OFF:Right now, you can get the Namii 2 clitoral suction stimulator and vibrator for $119, down from $159.99, at biird and Hello Nancy.Opens in a new windowCredit: biirdNamii 2$119 at biird $159.99 Save $40.99 Get DealIf you're not a sex toy nerd (like I am), you probably didn't notice that around seven-ish months ago, one of biird's most popular products (the Namii) disappeared from its website. I was devastated, of course. The Namii has always been one of my favorite clitoral su

SAVE UP TO $180.04: As of July 15, two pairs of Beats headphones worn by World Cup star Erling Haaland are on sale for up to 51% off. His Beats Studio 4 are marked down to $149.95 (typically $199.99), while his Beats Studio Pro are as low as $169.95 (normally $349.99). Beats Solo 4 $149.95 at Amazon $199.95 Save $50 Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy Beats Studio Pro $169.95 at Walmart $332.01 Save $162.06 Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best

Firehouse Subs just became the Official Sub of Major League Baseball, which means two things. First, you'll likely start seeing more Firehouse Subs logos while you're watching baseball games and, more importantly, you can score free subs.To celebrate the brands' first national sports league deal in its 31-year history, as well as the start of the back half of baseball season, Firehouse Subs is launching a season-long "Extra Innings, Extra Subs" promotion. Starting Friday, July 17, fans can buy a

SAVE $50.25: As of July 15, get the Anker Prime Foldable MagSafe Charger for $99.74 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $149.99. That's a discount of 34%.Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonAnker Prime Foldable MagSafe Charger$99.74 at Amazon $149.99 Save $50.25 Get DealIf you've got multiple devices to charge, you know the unique annoyance that is looking for an outlet for each one. In 2026, it's all about thinking smarter, not harder, so you can either stay at home or travel with every

Christopher Nolan is an exceptional genre-hopper.The filmmaker has dabbled in everything from science fiction (Interstellar) to biographical dramas (Oppenheimer), superhero stories (The Dark Knight trilogy) to thrillers (Memento). At each step, he manages to make a genre undeniably his own, infusing it with his trademark sleekness and dedication to scale. Even his period pieces — The Prestige, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer — feel cut from the same cloth as his more future-leaning works.SE

TL;DR: Owala is giving shoppers a free water bottle with any Sun-Day Tote purchase from July 15-22. Opens in a new windowCredit: OwalaSun-Day Tote$89.99 at Owala Comes with free Owala bottle.Get DealIf your summer plans involve beach days, farmers' markets, road trips, or simply carrying way too much stuff around, Owala has a new reason to grab a tote. The brand is launching a limited-time offer that bundles its new Sun-Day Tote with a free Owala bottle, giving shoppers a chance to score one of

Our stomachs are still recovering from National French Fry Day, but there is no rest for the free-food obsessed. No, it's time to dust off the crumbs and go again, this time for National Hot Dog Day.Wednesday, July 15, is National Hot Dog Day. By all means, stay home and make yourself a stunning hot dog to celebrate the occasion. But you should know that a lot of leading retailers will offer free deals and limited-time promotions to mark this special date. We're keeping close tabs on everything

Tomb Raider is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades since Lara Croft first strapped on her thigh holsters and went searching for ancient artefacts around the world.To mark the occasion, game developer Crystal Dynamics has partnered with glasses company Gunnar to create a pair of spectacles inspired by one of Lara's most iconic looks.SEE ALSO:Best blue light glasses for combatting digital eye strain
Gunnar has unveiled its new Tomb Raider Croft glasses, the eyewear co