TECH
Google rolls out Android 17 with bubbles and Wear OS 7
Google began rolling Android 17 out to Pixel phones, introducing floating Bubbles for multitasking, screen‑reaction video capture, foldable gaming split mode and tighter privacy controls, as detailed by Ars Technica. The Verge highlighted the simultaneous launch of Wear OS 7, which adds Live Updates, a battery‑life boost and early AI features, and noted the preorder opening for Android XR glasses. Both outlets stress that many advanced features, such as Gemini Intelligence and foldable gaming controls, will arrive later in the year.
Snap launches $2,195 Specs AR glasses with standalone design
The Verge reports that Snap has begun taking preorders for its new Specs AR glasses, which cost $2,195 and are slated to ship later this fall in the US, UK, and France. The glasses are fully standalone, featuring two Snapdragon processors, a 51-degree field of view, up to four hours of battery life and a charging case for a total of 20 hours. Snap positions the Specs as a high‑price, fashion‑forward alternative to competing smart‑glass offerings such as Meta’s models and Apple’s Vision Pro.
Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Reality Elite chip for next‑gen AR glasses
The Verge notes that Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon Reality Elite chip at the Augmented World Expo, delivering a 60% GPU boost, 30% CPU increase, up to 160% NPU improvement, 4.4K resolution at 90 fps per eye, and up to 20% longer battery life with cooler operation. The chip is set to power Xreal’s Project Aura XR glasses slated for launch this fall, marking a step toward more powerful, AI‑enhanced smart glasses.
SpaceX to buy Cursor for $60 billion in all‑stock deal after IPO
SpaceX announced an all‑stock acquisition of the AI‑powered coding platform Cursor for $60 billion, with the transaction slated to close in the third quarter. The deal follows SpaceX’s recent IPO and its merger with xAI, aiming to pair Cursor’s IDE technology with SpaceX’s extensive compute resources. Both companies have faced competitive pressures in the AI market, and the merger is presented as a strategy to strengthen SpaceX’s enterprise AI offerings.
Microsoft patches critical Copilot flaw that let hackers steal 2FA codes
Ars Technica reported that Microsoft released a max‑critical patch for its M365 Copilot after researchers demonstrated a proof‑of‑concept that could exfiltrate two‑factor authentication codes and other email data. The exploit, named SearchLeak, used a parameter‑to‑prompt injection and HTML tags to bypass Copilot's guardrails, causing browsers to send data to attacker‑controlled servers before the output was sanitized. Microsoft says the specific vulnerabilities have been fixed, but the underlying model‑instruction confusion remains a broader risk for LLM‑based services.
Mobileye to launch US robotaxi service in 2027
Ars Technica reports that Mobileye will debut a vertically integrated robotaxi service in an unnamed U.S. city in 2027, leveraging its Moovit mobility platform for ride booking and fleet coordination. The rollout will begin with about 100 autonomous vehicles and could expand to roughly 17,000 within five years, while the company continues to support other automakers and mobility partners such as Volkswagen’s MOIA and Lyft.
OpenAI loses billions annually as expenses dwarf revenue growth
Leaked audited documents obtained by journalist Ed Zitron show OpenAI’s revenue rose to $13.07 billion in 2025 but R&D and other costs surged to $19.18 billion, driving an operating loss of $20.92 billion. The Financial Times notes the 2025 net loss of nearly $39 billion includes a one‑time $30 billion accounting charge, with the underlying loss around $8 billion. ARS highlights the challenge of shrinking margins and the need to curb spending as the company prepares for an IPO.
Trump administration drops wind energy challenge as clean power surges
Ars Technica reports that the Justice Department voluntarily dismissed its appeal of the Trump administration’s 2025 executive order halting wind project permits after a federal appeals court dismissed the case. The court upheld a lower‑court ruling that the order was unlawful, and the decision arrives as a nonprofit report projects a record 79.7 GW of clean power to come online in 2026 despite rising natural‑gas capacity. Environmental groups praised the ruling, noting that most clean‑energy capacity is still located in Republican‑represented districts.
Verizon launches $30 Simplicity flat-rate plan for new customers
Verizon introduced its Simplicity plan, priced at $30 per month for new subscribers and $45 for existing ones, eliminating activation and upgrade fees. Customers must enroll in a new loyalty program to receive the discount, which provides 3% cash back and other perks. The plan includes unlimited 5G, 10 GB of hotspot data, and roaming in Canada and Mexico, with optional home internet and streaming bundles.
Pentagon turns to AI for congressionally mandated reports
Ars Technica reports that Pentagon CTO Emil Michael showcased the use of generative AI tools, including Google Gemini via the GenAI.mil platform, to draft congressional reports in five hours instead of 200. Deputy assistant secretary Jacob Glassman, cited by DefenseScoop, urged a short‑staffed team to rely on the same system, praising an unnamed AI‑generated report as the best in five years. The article flags accuracy concerns, referencing a Financial Times story about KPMG’s AI‑generated errors, and notes that 1.5 million DoD personnel now use the tools as the department seeks a $1.5 trillion FY 2027 budget.