As a purely creative instrument, Sora, the new AI video app from OpenAI, is a game changer. Dream up any scenario and it appears in an instant. Freddy Krueger as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars. Mr. Rogers teaching Tupac Shakur the lyrics to the legendary rap diss “Hit Em Up.” But just as […]
The Bourbon Industry Is in Turmoil. Could Tech Provide the Shot It Needs?
If you’ve never toured a whiskey distillery, the experience can be uncommonly old-fashioned. While newer distilleries thrive on automation, many still tout their “by hand” operations as a defining characteristic, a heritage that gives them street cred. Many distilleries are downright smug about the lack of computers or even climate control in any facet of […]
How to See Comet Lemmon This October
It was early January 2025 when a faint light spot was observed at the Mt. Lemmon Observatory in Arizona. Follow-up observations revealed that the object was a comet visiting from the outer edge of the solar system, and it was named Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6). Its “period”—the time it takes to complete its lengthy orbit […]
Lelo Switch Review: Dual-Ended Vibrator
The Switch has 10 vibration modes (five internal and five external) with 16 intensity levels. I’ve never been into patterns, but if you are, you have plenty to choose from. But it’s the 16 intensity levels that deserve a round of applause. You can take the Switch from the faintest murmur to such a powerful […]
Why the F5 Hack Created an ‘Imminent Threat’ for Thousands of Networks
Thousands of networks—many of them operated by the US government and Fortune 500 companies—face an “imminent threat” of being breached by a nation-state hacking group following the breach of a major maker of software, the federal government warned Wednesday. F5, a Seattle-based maker of networking software, disclosed the breach on Wednesday. F5 said a “sophisticated” […]
All Windows 11 PCs Will Get These Advanced Copilot AI Features
Microsoft saved its most powerful AI tools for paying customers in the first phase of its AI evolution. Now, the company has announced a series of Copilot features coming to all Windows 11 PCs, including Voice, Copilot Vision, and Copilot Actions. Alongside the update, Microsoft is launching an ad campaign to expose people to these […]
Should You Hike in Boots or Trail Runners?
When I started hiking, big leather boots were the only real option. They were burly, stiff, and difficult to break in, but one pair would last you decades. Technology has mercifully caught up, however. If you head to the trails today, most hikers and backpackers are opting for more lightweight, low-cut options. While an influx […]
How ByteDance Made China’s Most Popular AI Chatbot
When Chinese AI startup DeepSeek became a global sensation in January, it not only shocked Silicon Valley but also startled ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. The Chinese tech giant had already launched Doubao, its own flagship AI assistant app with tens of millions of users. But when DeepSeek became the best-known Chinese AI company overnight, no […]
Niantic’s Peridot, the Augmented Reality Alien Dog, Is Now a Talking Tour Guide
Imagine you’re walking your dog. It interacts with the world around you—sniffing some things, relieving itself on others. You walk down the Embarcadero in San Francisco on a bright sunny day, and you see the Ferry Building in the distance as you look out into the bay. Your dog turns to you, looks you in […]
One Republican Now Controls a Huge Chunk of US Election Infrastructure
The news last week that Dominion Voting Systems was purchased by the founder and CEO of Knowink, a Missouri-based maker of electronic poll books, has left election integrity activists confused over what, if anything, this could mean for voters and the integrity of US elections. The company, acquired by Scott Leiendecker, a former Republican Party […]