Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against Midjourney, alleging that the San Francisco–based AI image generation startup is a “bottomless pit of plagiarism” that generates “endless unauthorized copies” of the studios’ work. There are already dozens of copyright lawsuits against AI companies winding through the US court system—including a …

A new machine learning approach that draws inspiration from the way the human brain seems to model and learn about the world has proven capable of mastering a number of simple video games with impressive efficiency. The new system, called Axiom, offers an alternative to the artificial neural networks that …

Democratic senators have concerns that the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could break the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) tech infrastructure. In a new letter addressed to SSA commissioner Frank Bisignano, senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden say that DOGE’s plans to “hastily upgrade” SSA IT systems could disrupt the …

Honorable Mentions Photograph: Adrienne So We try almost every pair of new workout buds that come out. Here are a few that we also like that didn’t quite earn a space above. Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 for $180: In 2024, Jabra announced that this generation of the Elite …

Honorable Mentions We haven’t tried a vacuum yet that we absolutely hate. These ones below are solid vacuums, and in some cases are much cheaper than our top picks, but we didn’t like them as much. Bissell IconPet Turbo Edge for $200: Bissell’s OG stick vacuum is a popular model …

More Straighteners We Tried Photograph: Kat Merck Paul Mitchell Neuro Style+ for $150: The latest in Paul Mitchell’s lineup of otherwise standout hair straighteners, this ceramic iron with Paul Mitchell’s new NeutraHeat temperature-regulating technology goes up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and has dual voltage for travel. However, the body feels …

As traditional media shrinks, storm streamers are growing; Schuster recently hired his first full-time employee—Reilly Dibble, who used to work for Hall. Unlike a traditional broadcast, YouTube allows Schuster to go live before there’s a tornado warning, so he can warn viewers if a storm is likely to produce a …

We haven’t been excited about recent MacOS updates, but with MacOS 26 Tahoe, it looks like we’ll be getting one of the biggest overhauls in a while. Between the visual redesign and some exciting pro features, there’s something for everyone in MacOS 26 Tahoe, including one that Mac nerds will …

In a $30 million mansion perched on a cliff overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, a group of AI researchers, philosophers, and technologists gathered to discuss the end of humanity. The Sunday afternoon symposium, called “Worthy Successor,” revolved around a provocative idea from entrepreneur Daniel Faggella: The “moral aim” of advanced …

Wool: Organic wool mattress toppers are filled with wool batting. The batting is (usually) a sheet of wool that lays flat and won’t shift inside the cover, even when you roll around on it. It is sometimes quilted between fabric, sometimes not. Wool makes an excellent topper thanks to its …