Scale AI lays off 200 employees: ‘We ramped up our GenAI capacity too quickly’ - 16分前  The Verge

Scale AI, the AI industry’s chief data dealer, will lay off 14 percent of its workforce, or about 200 employees, just one month after Meta took a multibillion-dollar stake in the company and hired its CEO and other staff. The layoffs include 500 of its global contractors, Scale spokesperson Joe Osborne told The Verge, adding […]

1 in 5 new video games on Steam now uses generative AI, report says - 22分前  Mashable

A new report from Totally Human Media reveals that nearly 20 percent of video games released on Steam in 2025 use generative AI.The report from Totally Human, which uses machine learning and generative AI to recommend games, books, shows, and movies, reported that approximately 7,818 games on Steam disclosed using Generative AI. That represents about 7 percent of the entire available Steam library. For games released on the platform in 2025, just under 20 percent — or about 1 in 5 games — utilized AI, or disclosed doing so, at least. In total, that's a nearly 700 percent increase i...moren games that use generative AI on Steam, according to Totally Human Media's 2024 report on the same subject.Game Rant reported that the most popular game to make that Generative AI disclosure is My Summer Car, a vehicle simulation game that lets users build, fix, tune, and perform maintenance to their car. It has sold 2.5 million units, Game Rant reported. The disclosure reads, "The developers describe how their game uses AI Generated Content like this: There are some AI generated paintings found inside the main house."It looks like Totally Human gathered this data from Steam itself, which has required game developers to disclose the use of Generative AI since January 2024. Valve Corporation, the company that owns Steam, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable.In a Reddit thread about the Totally Human article, many commenters said if a game uses AI, that game will automatically go in their "ignore" list."We need to tag them so they can be an ignored category," one user wrote."More and more Steam games are going on my Ignore list," another user wrote.In general, even commenters who weren't completely against AI in games wrote that they were turned off by the move. "So many cool games in the steam next fest immediately put me off when I realized they were using GenAI. Pay artists ffs," another person commented.Although, there is nuance for many Steam users."Not surprised in this day and age. Everyone at every company is pushing for AI usage, not surprise the gaming industry as a whole is also pushing for it," one user commented on Reddit. "So far AI assets are pretty easy to spot as you no doubt already know but I get the sentiment of 'what am I paying for if its all AI' and agree with it. I guess I don't mind AI usage for simple things like UI elements or unit cards, simple stuff."...

Claude Code revenue jumps 5.5x as Anthropic launches analytics dashboard - 37分前  VentureBeat

Anthropic has launched a powerful analytics dashboard for its Claude Code AI assistant, giving engineering leaders real-time insights into developer productivity, tool usage, and ROI on AI coding investments.Read More

Google AI Overviews are officially populating the Discover feed - 39分前  Mashable

Google's AI-generated summaries have claimed another piece of search territory: the Discover feed. Google confirmed to TechCrunch, which first spotted the change, that AI Overviews are rolling out to the news feed on the Google app for iOS and Android. We also spotted a few AI Overviews on the Discover feed when testing it out on the iOS app. Typically, the personalized news feed shows headlines of stories from a variety of outlets, curated by your search history. In the instances we found, AI Overviews present a summary of a news story that's been covered by several outlets, indicated by the ...morepublisher logos in the upper left-hand corner. Clicking into the module shows a list of the different stories. Google said AI Overviews in the Discover feed would focus on sports and entertainment, but we found an example of an AI-generated summary for a politics story. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Google The launch of Overviews in the Discover feed joins of the growing list of places in Google Search with AI-generated summaries directly on the page. It started with summaries at the top of the search page, with very mixed results, and has grown to include summaries in the People Also Ask (PAA in SEO terms) section of search results. During Google I/O 2025, the company said its AI Overviews now reach more than 1.5 billion people per month. More recently, Google introduced AI Mode, an alternative to traditional search that provides answers through an AI chatbot powered by the Gemini model. While Google continues to minimize reports that its generative AI features are negatively impacting publisher traffic, many publishers are seeing ongoing losses. The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and others have reported a significant decline in organic search traffic, as have other major news outlets and even independent bloggers. A 2025 analysis from SimilarWeb had similar findings, reporting a 26 percent decrease in organic search traffic since the launch of AI Overviews.A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch that AI Overviews in the Discover feed is launching in the U.S. and will focus on lifestyle topics like sports and entertainment. That said, the AI-generated summaries we found were about hard news topics like the BBC's documentary about the war in Gaza and Mike Waltz's Senate confirmation for his UN ambassadorship. Google did not immediately respond to request for comment on which topics will be summarized by generative AI. ...

The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air is a great back-to-school deal at just $699 - 49分前  The Verge

It’s almost back to school season, and we’re starting to see some great laptop deals trickle in as a result. Walmart continues to sell the M1-powered MacBook Air for $599, but if you want more power and a sleeker design, the 13-inch M2-powered MacBook Air starts at just $699 ($100 off) from Best Buy. That’s […]

Steam now bans games that violate the 'rules and standards' of payment processors and banks - 55分前  Engadget

Steam has added a new rule to its guidelines that has resulted in certain games getting banned, according to a report by Automaton. The new clause states that "content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam's payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers" is not allowed and could result in removal from the platform. In other words, if credit card companies get mad about something, they could actually have the power to ban a game. The clause goes on to say that this will affect "certain kinds of adult-only content.&...morequot; This has likely already resulted in many games being pulled off the platform. The vast majority of these titles have obvious sexual themes and many have the word "incest" in the title. SteamDB doesn't give a reason for these removals, but the timing does match up. Steam has added a new rule disallowing games that violate the rules and standards set forth by payment processors and card networks, or internet network providers.At the same time, many incest themed games were removed from the store. pic.twitter.com/JHun6IZWyn— SteamDB (@SteamDB) July 16, 2025 This move might sound unusual on its face, but payment processors have consistently fought against being used to purchase adult content. These battles are typically instigated on the notion that adults-only platforms don't have enough safeguards in place against illegal content. Mastercard and Visa blocked the use of their cards on Pornhub in 2020. Mastercard went a step further in 2021, adding language to its "Speciality Merchant Registration" requirements that announced "banks that connect merchants to our network will need to certify that the seller of adult content has effective controls in place to monitor, block and, where necessary, take down all illegal content." I doubt you'll find too many people upset that games with titles like Sex Adventures - Incest Family were removed from the platform, but it could set a potentially troubling precedent. Some Steam users are upset with this rule change on the grounds that it creates the "quiet normalization of financial censorship." In other words, if gigantic financial institutions get to decide what is appropriate and what is not, who is to say it won't eventually impact regular games? One Steam user notes that "queer content gets flagged as 'explicit' even when it's PG," which is a sentiment echoed by others. One user says this move "looks innocuous at first glance but it's a trojan horse." On the flipside, Steam has been home to some truly foul content over the years. We've reached out to Valve to ask for a comment on this news and will update this post when we hear back.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steam-now-bans-games-that-violate-the-rules-and-standards-of-payment-processors-and-banks-164222173.html?src=rss...

Cyberpunk 2077’s next update adds ‘AutoDrive’ and VRR for consoles - 1時間前  The Verge

Cyberpunk 2077’s Update 2.3, set to launch on Thursday for Mac, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X / S, will add a bunch of new features focused around vehicles and proper VRR support on consoles. The new AutoDrive feature, available in all cars and motorcycles, lets you drive from place to place automatically. You […]

The next Pixel event is on August 20 - 1時間前  Engadget

Google will host its next Made by Google event on August 20, the company announced today. In a media invite the search giant shared with Engadget, it promised the event would feature new Pixel phones, watches, buds "and more." At its annual hardware event last year, Google announced the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2. Between the company's invite and what came out of last year's event, expect a refresh of nearly the entire Pixel line. As for what the "and more" bit could entail, recent rumors suggesting Goo...moregle is working on a proper response to Apple's MagSafe tech dubbed Pixelsnap. Android manufactures have been slow to adopt the Qi2 wireless charging standard, but with the upcoming Pixel 10 it appears the company is working on a host of magnetic Qi2 accessories, including a new charging stand. As always, be sure to visit Engadget on the day of the event as we'll have a liveblog of the entire proceedings. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-next-made-by-google-event-is-on-august-20-162832589.html?src=rss

Adoption Agency Data Exposure Revealed Information About Children and Parents - 1時間前  Wired

A trove of 1.1 million records left accessible on the open web shows how much sensitive information can be created—and made vulnerable—during the adoption process.

Trump and the Energy Industry Are Eager to Power AI With Fossil Fuels - 1時間前  Wired

At a Pittsburgh summit, the Trump administration, energy executives, and tech barons joined as one to promote AI as the future of fossil fuels.

GMC Hummer EV outsold the Tesla Cybertruck last quarter - 18分前  TechCrunch

As Elon Musk once said, "we dug our own grave with Cybertruck."

Get Microsoft Office 2019 on sale for just A$30 — pay once and use it forever - 37分前  Mashable

TL;DR: Hurry and grab lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Windows at A$30 through 20 July. Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft ...more Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows AU$30 AU$350 Save AU$320 Get Deal Your credit card is exhausted from all of today’s subscription fees. While you probably don’t want to cancel Peacock and never see the ending of Yellowstone or say goodbye to two-day shipping with Prime, you could swap your Microsoft 365 subscription for a Microsoft Office lifetime license.Instead of spending A$10 monthly (or A$106 yearly), you can pay once and use the apps as much as you’d like. For a little while longer, the Windows software suite is on sale for A$30 until 20 July.What apps are included?Microsoft Office 2019 isn’t the newest version available, but it’s the cheaper one for people who just need to use the apps and don’t care about what they look like inside. However, it does have a classic, timeless design.Here's a list of the apps you get:WordExcelPowerPointOutlookOneNotePublisherAccessDifferences between Microsoft 365 and a lifetime licenseThis purchase is a no-brainer if you aren’t taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s OneDrive storage, mobile app access, and cloud-based backups. Those just wanting the apps should be more than comfortable with a Microsoft Office download.You might actually like this license more than the subscription. The apps are downloaded directly onto your PC instead of hosted on the cloud. While this does mean there are no built-in cloud backups, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of trying to work offline.Plus, now that Microsoft added Copilot’s AI features to Microsoft 365, you might be looking for a way to escape them. Not everyone is crazy about having a virtual robot interfere with their work, and these classic apps won’t ever bug you about it.The price drop on this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows ends in three days, so get your download for A$30 until 20 July at 11:59 p.m. PT.StackSocial prices subject to change....

Call of Duty cheaters complain after Activision launches new wave of mass-bans - 38分前  TechCrunch

The video game giant banned an unknown number of cheaters that were using one of the oldest-running cheats.

Nvidia’s resumption of H20 chip sales related to rare earth element trade talks - 40分前  TechCrunch

U.S. Commerce Secretary said Nvidia's plans to start selling its H20 chips are tied to ongoing trade discussions with China regarding REEs.

Dyneema’s New Fiber Composite Is Lighter, Stronger, and More Durable Than Ever - 51分前  Wired

Hyperlite Mountain Gear and Dyneema collaborate on lighter, more durable hiking backpacks, which lets you put even more Dyneema on your Dyneema.

Reddit is back online after outage - 57分前  Engadget

If you're having trouble viewing Reddit, you're not alone. Downdetector shows a spike in outages and problems at the site. Reddit acknowledged the problem on Wednesday. By 12:38PM ET, it said the situation is resolved. Reddit told Engadget that an update was the culprit. "An update we made caused some instability," a company spokesperson said. "We reverted and are seeing Reddit ramp back up." If you tried to visit Reddit this morning, you likely saw a message reading, "Server error: We have encountered an error. Please try again later." The company's s...moreystem status page showed a "partial outage" for the desktop web, mobile web and mobile apps. Downdetector Meanwhile, Downdetector's status page (above) showed a sharp upward trend in problems starting at around 11:20 AM ET. The graph dropped again after Reddit implemented its fix.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/reddit-is-down-and-the-company-is-investigating-161522521.html?src=rss

AWS unveils Bedrock AgentCore, a new platform for building enterprise AI agents with open source frameworks and tools - 1時間前  VentureBeat

AWS beleives AI agents will change how enterprises work and with its new Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, it hopes to make it easier to build and deploy agents in one go.Read More

Google’s announces Pixel 10 launch event - 1時間前  The Verge

Google officially has a date for its Pixel launch event: August 20th, 2025. In an invite sent on Wednesday, Google says the event will take place in New York City at 1PM ET, where the company will show off “the latest on our Pixel phones, watches, buds, and more.” During the event, Google is expected […]

Best price ever alert: Score the AeroGarden Harvest for only $35 - 1時間前  Mashable

SAVE $54.57: As of July 16, the AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 is down to only $35.42 at Amazon. That's a savings of over 60% and marks its lowest price on record. Opens in a new window Credit: AeroGarden...more AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 $35.42 at Amazon $89.99 Save $54.57 Get Deal If you've ever wanted to grown your own veggies and herbs, the AeroGarden Harvest is a great place to start. It basically takes all the guesswork out of gardening, making it very beginner-friendly. Plus, it's on sale for its best price ever, making it wallet-friendly as well.As of July 16, you can pick up the AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 at Amazon for only $35.42. That's 61% off its usual cost of $89.99 and its lowest price on record. That's also cheaper than it was on Prime Day, for what it's worth. SEE ALSO: Save $10 when you spend $50 or more on school supplies at Amazon Designed to fit on your kitchen counter at just 10.6 inches wide and up to 16.4 inches tall (including the adjustable light height), it has enough room to grow up to six different plants through its hydroponic system. You don't need to buy soil or nutrients or extra pots; it comes with liquid plant food and otherwise only requires water to get growing. The 15W LED grow lights simulate natural light, so you don't need to put it by a window. You can even set a customizable schedule for the lights to turn on and off, making it as hands-off as possible. The herbs and veggies can basically grow themselves. AeroGardens use pre-seeded pods that have a germination guarantee. In other words, if they don't sprout, you can get a replacement. There's a ton of options to choose from — tomatoes, Italian herbs, mixed Kale, peppers, and more.At only $35.42, the AeroGarden Harvest makes easing into a new gardening hobby more approachable. Plus, you'll get to reap the rewards in just a few weeks. Best home and kitchen deals Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $139.99 Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — ...

Insta360 now offers lens filters and a larger battery for its 360-degree action cam - 1時間前  The Verge

It’s been less than three months since Insta360 released its X5 360-degree action camera, but the company is already introducing new accessories and a major firmware update. Improvements include a new AdaptiveTone feature delivering “better color and detail in both bright and dark areas” when filming with both lenses, and a larger battery you can […]