TECH
Supreme Court to hear Apple-Epic app‑store fee contempt appeal
Ars Technica notes Apple argues the contempt finding is erroneous because the Ninth Circuit’s “spirit” test conflicts with other courts, and warns of global consequences for its commission rates. Engadget reports the Supreme Court will consider the appeal in its October term, with a decision expected by next June, while both Apple and Epic reaffirm their positions on the fees. The case centers on whether Apple can charge developers for linking to third‑party payment options after being found in contempt of a 2021 injunction.
Google shuts down Tenor GIF API, affecting X, Discord and others
Google has discontinued the Tenor API as of June 30, 2026, ending third‑party access that powered GIF searches on platforms such as X and Discord. According to Ars Technica, Tenor will still serve Google’s own apps, but services like Discord, WhatsApp and Bluesky are migrating to alternatives such as Giphy and Klipy. The shutdown reflects Google’s focus on core products and the challenge of monetizing a free GIF service.
Xbox may cancel Blade and close Arkane amid upcoming layoffs
The Verge reports that Microsoft is weighing the cancellation of the Blade game, developed by Arkane Studios, as part of a broader restructuring of its Xbox division. Layoffs are set to begin on July 6, potentially affecting up to 1,000 employees and leading to the closure or spin‑off of at least five studios, including Arkane. Sources say Blade's launch has slipped to late 2027 and is over budget, prompting consideration of its cancellation while the company also explores selling other studios such as Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory.
Anthropic releases Claude Sonnet 5, a cheaper agentic AI model
Anthropic announced Claude Sonnet 5, a midsize model that can plan, use tools and run autonomously, priced at $2 per million input and $10 per million output tokens through Aug. 31, making it cheaper than its Opus 4.8 and comparable to OpenAI's GPT‑5.6 Sol and Google's Gemini 3.5 Flash. The new model outperforms Sonnet 4.6 on coding and knowledge‑work benchmarks and shows lower rates of undesirable behavior, improving safety in agentic contexts. TechCrunch highlights the cost focus, while noting that OpenAI and Google are emphasizing their own agentic model releases.
Google launches Nano Banana 2 Lite, its fastest low‑cost image model
Google DeepMind unveiled Nano Banana 2 Lite, a new image‑generation model in the Gemini 3.1 family that prioritizes speed and low cost. The Lite version creates images in about four seconds and costs roughly $0.034 per thousand images, about half the price of the standard Nano Banana. While faster and cheaper, the model struggles with small text, infographics and consistency, and all outputs carry a SynthID watermark; it is available through Google AI Studio and the Gemini API.
Netflix uses AI-generated Gene Wilder voice for new Willy Wonka reality show
The Verge reports that Netflix’s upcoming competition, "Wonka’s The Golden Ticket," will feature an AI-generated Gene Wilder voice created by ElevenLabs with permission from Wilder’s family. The show premieres on September 23 with 12 contestants and their partners, culminating in a two‑part finale on September 30. The article notes this follows Netflix’s previous AI voice work and its ongoing partnership with the Roald Dahl estate.
Waymo and Uber end Phoenix autonomous vehicle partnership
Engadget noted that Uber has stopped offering Waymo rides in Phoenix, ending a three‑year partnership. TechCrunch reported that Waymo will keep operating its autonomous fleet in the city through its own app, integrating with Via and DoorDash. The shift may allow Uber to focus on its own robotaxi projects with partners such as Lucid and Neuro.
Supreme Court limits geofence warrants, protecting location-history privacy
In a 6‑3 decision, the Court ruled that accessing a phone's location history from a third‑party service is a search under the Fourth Amendment and requires a warrant showing probable cause. The majority emphasized that users retain a reasonable expectation of privacy despite voluntarily sharing data with companies like Google. A dissent expressed concern that the new rule could destabilize established Fourth Amendment jurisprudence.
RFK Jr. fills FDA panel with peptide promoters as scientists object
According to Ars Technica, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. added nine members with ties to peptide clinics and industry to the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, giving the panel a total of 13 members likely to influence decisions on injectable peptide drugs. FDA scientists, who in 2023 concluded that these peptides lack sufficient safety and efficacy data, reaffirmed their concerns in briefing documents released ahead of the July meetings. The advisory panel will convene July 23‑24 to review seven peptides and has a follow‑up session scheduled for early 2027.
Blue Origin investigates cause of New Glenn explosion, eyes rapid return
Blue Origin has not yet determined why its New Glenn rocket blew up during a May test, with CEO Dave Limp saying early analysis points to the aft section of the first stage. The company is reviewing extensive camera and sensor data while rebuilding the damaged launchpad and replacing the transporter‑erector with a massive crane to speed up future flights. After planning up to 12 launches this year, Blue Origin aims to resume operations quickly amid intensified competition with SpaceX.