A new Republican privacy bill could be ‘worse than no standard at all’
Congress is once again attempting to pass a national data privacy law. But while it would introduce new protections in some states, it would weaken privacy rights in others - and it's missing several elements that privacy advocates deem necessary.
The SECURE Data Act is the product of a Republican data privacy working group led by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA), who introduced the bill alongside House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY). The proposal would require companies to collect only the user data they really need to perform the tasks they promise, let users see what information websites have on them and request its delet …
Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s court showdown will dish the dirt
Elon Musk cofounded OpenAI, and then flounced off in a huff when he wasn't anointed CEO, leaving Sam Altman as the last power-hungry man standing. Now, Musk is back with a lawsuit, and a trial is scheduled to start in Oakland, California, on April 27th. Theoretically, it's a legal case about whether OpenAI defrauded Musk. But that's not really what we're all doing here. This is about mess.
Over the past couple of years, Musk's legal theories for punishing OpenAI have run the gamut from breach of contract to unfair business practices to false advertising. Now, he and Altman will be getting called to the stand at a particularly delicate time …
Instagram has launched another Snapchat clone
Instagram is testing a new dedicated app that's focused around Snapchat-like photo sharing features. The app, called "Instants," was launched in Italy and Spain yesterday, Business Insider reports, and allows users to send each other disappearing photos that are available for 24 hours and can be viewed only once during that window.
The app is currently available on both iOS and Android. Meta hasn't announced if a desktop version will follow, or whether Instants will be launched in other regions, including the US. It resembles the "Shots" instant photo sharing feature that is already baked into Instagram messages (and was later rebranded to …
China’s DeepSeek previews new AI model a year after jolting US rivals
Chinese AI company DeepSeek released a preview of its hotly anticipated next-generation AI model V4 on Friday, saying that the open-source model can compete with leading closed-source systems from US rivals including Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI.
DeepSeek says V4 marks a major improvement over prior models, especially in coding, a capability that has become central to AI agents and helped drive the success of tools like ChatGPT Codex and Claude Code. The release is also a milestone for China's chip industry, with DeepSeek explicitly highlighting compatibility with domestic Huawei technology.
The release comes a year after DeepSeek rattl …
Prestigious photo contest answers ‘what is a photo?’
We love to muse over how "real" photography is defined here at The Verge now that generative AI is so prolific, and the World Press Photo competition might have the answer. The prestigious award celebrates the best of photojournalism, where capturing reality is paramount.
The winning entry for 2026 - "Separated by ICE," captured by photojournalist Carol Guzy - was announced yesterday. The harrowing photograph shows children clinging to their father after an immigration hearing. The photo had to abide by specific rules around the use of AI tools to be eligible for the competition, with the independent, nonprofit organization behind the awar …
Saros is pure action nirvana
The alien world of Saros feels like it has been touched by King Midas. The sky is golden after another impossibly frequent solar eclipse; rocks, specifically those of the precious resource Lucenite, radiate a shimmering amber. Even the body of our gruff hero Arjun Devraj (played by Rahul Kohli) is liable to turn deep, opulent yellow as he ventures further into the wilds of Carcosa. Should he die (a regular occurrence), the game cuts to stranger, more cryptic images, one of which is a double bed covered in gold silk sheets.
It's a fittingly blingy aesthetic for this time when gaming has scarcely been a more gilded activity (seriously, have …
US arrests soldier who allegedly made $400K on Maduro Polymarket bets
We knew someone made over $400,000 on suspicious Polymarket bets around the US operation to capture Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, but now we have a name: Gannon Ken Van Dyke. The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced Thursday that Van Dyke is in custody, on several charges, including using confidential government information for personal gain.
As described in the indictment, prosecutors allege Van Dyke was directly involved in the planning and execution of "Operation Absolute Resolve" to capture Maduro, and in the days before the capture, made several transactions purchasing "$33,934 worth of 'YES' shares on Mad …
Leak reveals new Xbox Game Pass ‘Starter Edition’ that’s part of Discord Nitro
Microsoft started teasing a mysterious Discord and Xbox Game Pass partnership yesterday, and a new leak appears to have detailed exactly what's coming. Discord Previews has uncovered a new Xbox Game Pass "Starter Edition" that is bundled with Discord Nitro.
The Starter Edition reportedly includes "access to over 50 games from the Game Pass library," as well as 10 hours a month of Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming and the ability to earn Xbox Rewards points while playing games. It's not clear which games will be part of the more than 50 titles available, but the leaked images suggest that Stardew Valley, Grounded, and Fallout 4 will be included.
…
Claude is connecting directly to your personal apps like Spotify, Uber Eats, and TurboTax
Claude users can access more apps with Anthropic's AI now thanks to new connectors for everything from hiking to grocery shopping. Anthropic already supported connecting numerous work-related apps to Claude, like Microsoft apps, but this expansion focuses on personal apps like Audible, Spotify, Uber, AllTrails, TripAdvisor, Instacart, TurboTax, and others.
Some of these apps, such as Spotify, already have similar connectors in OpenAI's ChatGPT. Once an app is connected, Claude will suggest relevant connected apps directly in your conversations, like using AllTrails for hike recommendations. Anthropic notes in its blog post announcing the n …
Brendan Carr’s war on wokeness targets inclusive children’s television
Under the guidance of consummate bully / chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC is taking steps toward cracking down on children's entertainment that in any way explores the complexities of gender identity.
On Wednesday, the FCC's Media Bureau announced that it is soliciting comments from the public about whether the TV ratings system has made sound decisions regarding children's programming with transgender or nonbinary characters. In a statement about the commenting period the FCC said that it was soliciting feedback due to an alleged uptick in "significant concerns" about whether "controversial gender identity issues are being included or promot …