Leaked Email Suggests Ring Plans to Expand ‘Search Party’ Surveillance Beyond Dogs

Leaked emails reveal Ring plans to expand its AI-powered 'Search Party' surveillance feature, initially designed for finding lost dogs, to potentially target crime reduction in neighborhoods. Founder Jamie Siminoff hinted at broader applications, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance.

Google unveils the $499 Pixel 10A, offering the same Tensor G4 chip as the 9A, 8GB of RAM, and an 11% brighter display, in 128GB and 256GB versions, shipping March 4

The Pixel 10A is a minimal update over the Pixel 9A, with a slightly better camera and display but lacking many of the advanced features found in the Pixel 10. It retains the Tensor G4 chip and 8GB of RAM, but misses out on new AI features like Magic Cue and PixelSnap. The phone offers SOS satellite communications, Auto Best Take, and Camera Coach, but the overall update feels underwhelming. Preorders start today, with availability on March 4.

The Rise of RentAHuman, the Marketplace Where Bots Put People to Work | WIRED

RentAHuman, a new online marketplace, enables AI agents to hire humans for real-world tasks, creating a new paradigm where bots are creating jobs. The platform has attracted over half a million users offering their labor, with tasks ranging from pigeon counting to event hosting. While some view it as a novelty, others warn of potential risks, including the lack of legislation to protect humans from AI misuse. The founders see it as a step towards a future where humans are recognized as valuable assets.

Google’s AI search results will make links more obvious

Google says it will now display links more prominently inside its AI-powered features in Search. Robby Stein, the vice president of Google Search, announced on Tuesday that a list of links will now appear inside a pop-up when you hover over the sources in AI Overviews and AI Mode

Report shows 15% average global price hike across Nvidia, AMD & Intel GPUs, compared to one year ago

The report from TechSpot shows a significant price hike of 15% on average for GPUs across the world. The RTX 5090 saw the steepest hike, increasing by 32% globally. At the $1,000 price point, the RTX 5080 has become more expensive, now only allowing for the purchase of an RTX 5070 Ti.

Linus Torvalds tells The Reg how Linux evolved from solo act

This article delves into the origins of Linux, detailing how it evolved from a solo project by Linus Torvalds to a collaborative effort with contributions from early developers like Theodore 'Ts'o and Dirk Hohndel. It highlights the technical challenges, the role of the GNU General Public License in broadening its appeal, and the community-driven nature of its development.

Audible launches an “immersion reading” feature that lets readers switch between ebook and audiobook versions of a title in their Audible and Kindle libraries

Audible's new 'Read & Listen' feature allows users to sync their Kindle ebooks with audiobooks, highlighting text in real-time as the audio plays. Available at a discounted price, this feature aims to boost book sales and improve focus and comprehension, with support for hundreds of thousands of titles in multiple languages.

Japan to ban in-flight use of power banks from April, after a series of incidents in which mobile batteries caught fire on flights

Japan's transport ministry has announced a ban on the use of power banks on airplanes starting from April, following a series of incidents where mobile batteries caught fire on flights. The ban will apply to both charging smartphones and using onboard power outlets. The ministry has also urged travelers since July to keep power banks within reach during flights and not to stow them in overhead compartments.

AI Photography gets a big push from Samsung before unpacked

Reading tech news lately will tell you that AI is already changing how we use our devices. From shutter to editing, AI photography improves every step of the process. It simplifies complicated tasks so anyone can take professional-looking photos without spending years editing.

Is the Steam Machine dead?

Valve's Steam Machine faces potential delays and price hikes due to market conditions and component shortages, but the core concept remains strong.

Password managers' promise that they can't see your vaults isn't always true - Ars Technica

This article from Ars Technica discusses how the promise of password managers that they can't see your vaults isn't always true. The article explains that a server compromise can mean game over for users. The article goes on to explain that researchers from ETH Zurich and USI Lugano have identified ways that someone with control over the server can, in fact, steal data and, in some cases, entire vaults. The researchers devised other attacks that can weaken the encryption to the point that ciphertext can be converted to plaintext. The researchers said in interviews that multiple other password managers they didn't analyze as closely likely suffer from the same flaws.

Google Pixel 10a costs $499 and brings AI everywhere, but it still is not an iPhone

Google has launched the Pixel 10a, a midrange Android phone priced at $499. It features the Tensor G4 chip, a 48MP main camera, and AI-driven tools, promising seven years of updates. The device is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, has a brighter display, and improved charging speeds. Despite its capabilities, it still faces stiff competition from the iPhone ecosystem.

Perplexity says it has no plans to further pursue advertising, which it introduced in 2024, phasing out ads late last year over fears it would erode user trust

Claude Sonnet 4.6 Rolls Out as Default AI Model — Near-Opus Power for Free Users | IBTimes UK

Anthropic has launched Claude Sonnet 4.6, bringing near-Opus intelligence to free and Pro users.

Upstart Sarvam Unveils AI Model Customized for India Market

Google rolls out Lyria 3, a generative music model that can make 30-second tracks with Nano Banana-made cover art, in beta in the Gemini app in eight languages

The Gemini app now features Lyria 3, an advanced music generation model by Google DeepMind, allowing users to create 30-second tracks from text or images. Users can describe an idea or upload a photo to generate a catchy track. Lyria 3 enhances audio generation with improved quality and customization options. Tracks are embedded with SynthID for content identification and are available in multiple languages with plans for expansion.

Tesla Robotaxi adds 5 more crashes in Austin in a month — 4x worse than humans

Tesla's 'Robotaxi' fleet in Austin has reported five additional crashes, raising the total to 14 incidents since the service launched in June 2025. The crashes, all involving Model Y vehicles with the autonomous driving system engaged, include collisions with fixed objects, buses, and heavy trucks, as well as two incidents where the Tesla backed into objects. Tesla's crash rate in Austin is significantly higher than the company's own benchmark for human drivers, with one crash occurring every 57,000 miles compared to a minor collision every 229,000 miles for an average human driver. Tesla has also quietly upgraded one earlier crash to include a hospitalization injury, which it did not disclose publicly. The company remains the only automated driving system operator to systematically hide crash details from the public.

Apple is finally testing RCS encryption, but there’s a catch for Android users

There's always a catch...

Tesla agrees to stop using the term “autopilot” to market its electric vehicles in California to avoid a 30-day suspension by the state's DMV

Tesla avoids a 30-day suspension of its dealer and manufacturer licenses in California after it stopped using the term 'autopilot' in marketing its vehicles. The California Department of Motor Vehicles had accused Tesla of misleading consumers with the term 'autopilot' for its advanced driver-assistance features. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shifted the company's focus towards robotaxis equipped with self-driving technology, as well as humanoid robots.

Snapchat introduces new creator subscription program

Snapchat is adding a new feature that will let fans pay content creators directly. The platform recently announced the launch of creator subscriptions, a tool that lets popular users charge a monthly fee for exclusive access to their content. Snapchat is now in direct competit

The infinite camera. Matrix here we come!

Imagine if you could place a microscopic camera at any 3-dimensional point in space and look around in any direction you want, and then from there look in any direction to observe / rewind / fast-forward Well, it looks like they've actually done it. This is next level shit, t

India tells university to leave AI summit after presenting Chinese robot as its own, sources say

WordPress AI Assistant launches new Era of content creation

The WordPress AI Assistant is a big step forward for the platform because it uses AI to help people build websites and write content. In short, it’s a tool that stays on and keeps track of what’s going on around it.

SpaceX Might Be Getting Into Weaponry Now

SpaceX, known for its rockets and Starlink, is reportedly entering a $100 million competition to develop voice-controlled, AI-enabled drone swarms for the U.S. Department of Defense. This move, if confirmed, would mark SpaceX's first venture into weaponry, leveraging its subsidiary xAI, which has received $200 million for integrating its chatbot Grok into military networks. The competition is run by the Defense Innovation Unit and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, reflecting the Pentagon's focus on advancing drone technology in modern warfare.

OpenAI hires Instagram's VP of global partnerships, Charles Porch, as its first VP of global creative partnerships, seeking to win over a skeptical Hollywood

OpenAI has hired Charles Porch, Instagram's former VP of global partnerships, as its VP of global creative partnerships. Porch, known for his work with high-profile figures, is expected to help OpenAI navigate the entertainment industry, which has been skeptical of AI. His role will involve building relationships with creative communities, licensing entertainers' likenesses for AI projects, and promoting AI tools in various industries.

CrowdStrike brings Falcon to Microsoft Marketplace

Microsoft and CrowdStrike have expanded their partnership, making the Falcon platform available through Microsoft Marketplace. This move allows enterprises to use existing Azure Consumption Commitment funds to purchase Falcon, simplifying procurement and accelerating deployment. The partnership aims to provide financial flexibility and optimize cloud spend while enhancing security. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz emphasizes the urgency of deploying security tools without budget delays, while analyst Jay McBain highlights the marketplace's role in streamlining procurement and activating partner co-sell at scale.