OpenAI is stepping back from NDAs for data center projects
Following this week's midterms where voters resoundingly voiced their opposition to data center expansion, OpenAI today announced new commitments to communities where it is working on data center projects, including that it won't use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with public officials.
Many data center projects have come under scrutiny for relying on NDAs to hide discussions between developers and local officials. However, OpenAI says it is now allowing "only narrow protections covering legitimate security information, trade secrets, or proprietary or competitively sensitive information." In October, Amazon announced it would no longer u …
Airbnb is working on an AI travel agent
Airbnb plans to roll out an AI agent in the first half of 2027 that will help users plan and book travel, the company said in its Q3 2026 earnings shareholder letter released today.
"Today's AI agents are good at simple, routine tasks, like making a restaurant reservation or scheduling an appointment," Airbnb said. "But planning a trip on Airbnb is different." The company argued that its experience matching hosts and guests, its current role in being part of reservations already, and a "new interface" built "specifically for travel" gives it an edge.
Here's how Airbnb says that new interface will work:
We don't think a traditional chatbo …
The New York Times is in talks to buy Letterboxd for around $330 million
The New York Times Company is in talks"exclusive negotations" to acquire Letterboxd, the social network for film lovers, for around $330 million, The New York Times reports. The Times Company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and A24 were all recently rumored to be among those interested in buying Letterboxd.
The negotiations with the Times Company have included the potential for Letterboxd's co-founders to stay in charge but report to a Times Company executive. Letterboxd would likely remain standalone for the "foreseeable future," according to the NYT. The company would also integrate the Times Company's ad tech.
NYT spokesperson Charlie Sta …
T-Mobile owner on Elon Musk launching a wireless carrier: ‘Welcome to the party’
The head of T-Mobile's parent company is casting doubt on SpaceX's plans to make Starlink Mobile a "major" carrier in the US. During an earnings call on Thursday, Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges says he takes the Elon Musk-owned company "super serious," but that it will cost at least $200 billion to pull off:
He [Musk] has now bought 76 megahertz of spectrum. By the way, we have 400. So if you now say he can buy the spectrum prospectively, do your math. These are kind of triple-digit billions which are needed to gain the spectrum position. If he has the money, go for it. Then he has to build a network. I can tell you, we have 85,000 tower …
Perplexity launches its own take on AI agents for work
Perplexity is taking on OpenAI and Anthropic with its own work-focused AI agents. The startup's new always-on "Teammates" can take on multiple roles within a workspace, while pulling existing projects, skills, and memory from the Perplexity tools you already use.
Teammates integrate with Perplexity Computer, an AI system that can deploy agents on your device to complete tasks. But Perplexity says Teammates "build on top" of Computer by offering the ability to collaborate and complete "ongoing, large-scale work." You can assign each Teammate different jobs that they can perform simultaneously - much like OpenAI's Dots and Claude Duet. Perple …
Salon is shutting down after 31 years
Salon launched 31 years ago as one of the first online-only news magazine outlets, and it announced today in an unsigned post that it's ceasing publication.
The company said that the "business realities of independent digital journalism have changed profoundly over the years," and it decided that its publishing model is "no longer sustainable." It didn't go into detail about why, but many websites are grappling with "Google Zero" and the impact of AI tools. When reached for comment, Salon general manager Amanda Wolfe pointed The Verge to today's announcement post.
"Thirty-one years is a remarkable run, but what matters most is what happene …
The midterms proved once and for all that X is not real life
A week before the midterm elections, Vice President JD Vance hosted a town hall in Texas with Fox News host Jesse Watters. It was a friendly event with a friendly audience in what should have been a friendly state, and maybe that's why Vance couldn't help himself. When a college student earnestly asked how the right expected young people like her to settle down and have kids, given the ever-growing cost of living, Vance replied with a quip about Jon Husted's ass.
The student, Kate White, introduced herself as the vice president of the Texas Christian University chapter of Turning Point USA, the conservative group started by Donald Trump all …
Blue Origin’s next launch now won’t happen until 2027
Blue Origin plans to do its next New Glenn rocket launch in January 2027, according to CNBC and the Financial Times, which cite a memo from CEO Dave Limp sent to staff. The new timeline follows a May launchpad explosion that damaged Blue Origin's New Glenn launchpad ahead of a flight that would have brought Amazon Leo satellites into space.
In October, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos told Fox News that the company was aiming for a December New Glenn launch, joking that it could be "probably December 31st." The new, revised launch window is "about 10 days later than Blue Origin's earlier launch target," CNBC reports. Limp also reportedly cite …
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is $300 off ahead of Black Friday
Android fans with a bit of iPhone Duo envy, take note: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is discounted to $1,599.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy, a hefty $300 markdown from its usual price, and just $50 higher than the lowest we’ve seen. Considering the device only launched a few months ago, you’re saving a significant amount of cash on the unlocked device, and you can also opt for the 512GB model, doubling the storage, for just $200 more (Amazon, Best Buy). Best Buy currently has all three colors in stock, while the 256GB model is currently sold out on Amazon in cream.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
Where to Buy:
The shorter and wider passport-style shape (similar to the iPhone Duo) quickly became natural and comfortable to handle, according to our reviewer Dominic Preston’s experience with the Z Fold 8. Despite its thin and light construction, it doesn’t skimp on battery life, with a 4,800mAh battery that still had 40 percent charge remaining after a full day of use. The interior 4:3 screen has the same ratio as most Apple iPads, which is great for watching movies or TV, but even better for reading. There’s no telephoto lens on this model (it’s present on the pricier Z Fold 8 Ultra), and it only has an IP48 rating, so you’ll want to be careful near the beach, but those are small compromises to make given the discounted price.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review.
Other deals to consider
- Both Amazon and Best Buy are selling the Beats Pill for a discounted $99.95 and $99.99 respectively, a sizable break from the usual $149.99 price point. The 2024 edition of this iconic Bluetooth speaker adds in lossless audio over USB-C, as well as native feature support for both iOS and Android devices. It’s rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and comes in three different colors to match your other Beats devices. Read our review.
- The Ring Battery Doorbell 2K is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon, over half off its $99.99 list price. This battery-powered doorbell camera is easy to install, and shoots clear 2K resolution video with a 140-degree field of view and up to 6X digital zoom. You’ll get real-time notifications on your phone for any activity the camera spots, with live view and two-way talk in case you need to have a chat with your neighbors or delivery folks without coming to the front door.
- You can pick up the Lego Star Wars: Ahsoka Chopper set for just $66.99 at Amazon, the lowest price we’ve seen yet for this 1,039-piece building kit. This brick-based droid has great play features, like detachable arms and center wheel for different display positions, and a head that spins and bobs realistically. It stands at over 8.5 inches when fully built, making it a fun addition to your existing Lego display or bookshelf.
Muse has a voice mode now
Meta now lets you have voice conversations with your Muse AI agent in real time, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced today.
The feature has been rolled out to me, and I gave it a spin on the iOS app while writing this article. As you chat with your Muse agent, the avatar at the top of your conversation animates in time with the words that it's saying. You can also change the tone of the voice by just asking your agent about what you want and letting it decide or by browsing through a bunch of options in the avatar settings.
In my brief tests, my Muse agent responds quickly over voice, though it occasionally pauses while it's looking up infor …