Following the reveal of its new foldable phones, Samsung hosted a second Galaxy Unpacked summer event to unveil its Galaxy S25 FE smartphone and Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra tablets. Equipped with Samsung’s latest One UI 8 user interface, the Galaxy S25 FE features multimodal Galaxy AI capabilities including Generative Edit and Instant Slow-mo and a 12MP front-facing camera powered by the ProVisual Engine for enhanced selfies. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is billed as “the thinnest Galaxy Tab to date.” Both new tablets also boast multimodal AI capabilities with Galaxy AI. Continue reading Samsung Unveils Galaxy S25 FE Smartphone and S11 Tablets

Google wants to heighten the profile of its Veo 3 video generator, and to help do so has named Henry Daubrez, the longtime creative chief at the multidisciplinary Dogstudio/DEPT, filmmaker in residence at Google Labs. In addition to working with the Google team to continue developing the Veo 3-powered Flow AI filmmaking tool, Daubrez will mentor artists in a new pilot program called Flow Sessions. Select filmmakers will get unlimited access to Flow, a subscription product starting at $20 per month, plus mentorship and AI education as part of Flow Sessions. Continue reading Google Pushes Generative Video with Filmmaker in Residence

Apple is reportedly working on an AI-powered search tool that would initially be integrated with Siri and eventually added to the Safari browser and Spotlight, a search app launched from the iPhone home screen. Known internally as World Knowledge Answers, it is expected to debut next spring, possibly with help from Google, which is said to have built a model to power Apple’s AI search. Google is a longtime Apple partner, providing the default search engine for Apple devices. The move is intended to make Apple’s search offerings more competitive with products from OpenAI and Perplexity. Continue reading Apple Said to be Working with Google on AI-Powered Search

Following a California teen’s suicide after months of conversation about it with ChatGPT and a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his parents against OpenAI, the company says it will introduce parental controls “within the next month.” New safeguards include parents being able to “control how ChatGPT responds to their teen” and “receive notifications when the system detects their teen is in a moment of acute distress.” OpenAI says it has recently introduced a real-time router that can redirect “sensitive conversations” to its GPT-5 thinking and o3 reasoning models, engineered to respond with greater contextual awareness than efficiency-focused chat models. Continue reading OpenAI Announces Plans for New ChatGPT Parental Controls

OpenAI is purchasing software-testing startup Statsig in a deal reportedly worth $1.1 billion and has named its founder and CEO Vijaye Raji the ChatGPT-maker’s CTO of Applications as part of the move to build out that division, announced in May under CEO Fidji Simo, who previously ran Instacart. Reporting to Simo, Raji will head product engineering for ChatGPT and Codex “with responsibilities that span core systems and product lines including infrastructure and integrity,” said OpenAI, a client of Statsig, whose services include powering A/B testing, feature flagging, and “real-time decisioning.” Continue reading OpenAI Acquires Product-Testing Firm Statsig for $1.1 Billion

Two new Google infrastructure projects will benefit from a nearly $20 billion Alphabet cash infusion. Reported in recent weeks: a $9 billion cloud and AI server facility expansion in Virginia and $9 billion to be spent on new construction and an existing plant upgrade in Oklahoma. Google has also committed $1 billion to AI training and support from the community college to university levels in both states. Such ambitions do not stop at U.S. shores. AWS has earmarked $4.4 billion to construct and operate cloud centers in New Zealand while OpenAI seeks investors for an India build-out. Continue reading Google, AWS Rack Up $23 Billion in New Data Center Growth

Hype, a YouTube feature that helps smaller channels break through to wider audiences, uses a point system that lets fans help emerging creators get onto a new ranked leaderboard. Launched as a test last year, Hype is now live in 39 countries, including the U.S., UK, Japan and India. Viewers can take advantage of a free opportunity to “hype” up to three long-form videos per week for creators with from 500 to 500,000 subscribers. Videos receive points for being hyped, with “bonus points” awarded on a sliding scale that benefits smaller creators. Only videos uploaded within the last 7 days are eligible. Continue reading YouTube Boosts Hype Feature to Help Creators Expand Reach

Google has released a free consumer version of the Veo-powered Vids generative video creation and editing tool that debuted in November 2024 as part of the Google Workspace productivity suite, a subscription product starting at $7 per month for individual users. Subscribers will continue to have access to a more full-featured Vids app, which has been updated with AI avatars, image-to-video capability and automatic transcript trimming that removes “filler words and awkward pauses with just a few clicks.” But the free tier provides basic AI-enhanced editing and video creation using templates that casual users will no doubt find helpful. Continue reading Google Releases Free Version of Veo 3-Powered Vids Editor

The Rokid Glasses set to ship in November boast something smart spec aficionados have been clamoring for — a screen built-into the lens. Set to retail for $600 ($700 including the charging case) the AR-equipped specs will likely be a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than the new Ray-Ban Metas, expected to be the company’s first screen-equipped smart glasses. The word is they’ll be showcased at Meta Connect, September 17-18. The Rokid Glasses raised $900,000 within 48 hours of their global unveiling on Kickstarter, where those who pre-order receive a limited-time discount of 15 to 20 percent. Continue reading Rokid to Launch AR Smart Glasses Featuring Built-In Screen

Perplexity AI has created a new revenue sharing opportunity for publishing partners affiliated with its Comet browser. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas says the company has allocated $42.5 million in revenue to be shared among “a group of trusted publishers and journalists” supporting the company’s products with premium content. Publishers will be apportioned funds based on how much traffic their content generates across the debuting subscription model Comet Plus, as well as the Comet browser and Comet’s AI assistant. Publishers will get 80 percent of the revenue generated from the Comet Plus subscription with Perplexity keeping the rest. Continue reading Perplexity Launches Publisher Revenue Sharing for AI Search

After 10 years of YouTube Music, global fans have created over 4 billion music playlists — including 1.8 billion public lists — and now the Google-owned platform is celebrating its decade landmark by adding new features to connect music fans. Coming soon are playlist comments that will appear directly on album and song lists “to keep the conversation going around the music you love.” Also new to the menu, “taste match” playlists, which update each day based on the listening habits of those who join. Additionally, YouTube has entered into an exclusive arrangement with Bandsintown to help promote live performances and much more. Continue reading YouTube Music Touts 10 Years with Live, Interactive Features

Google is adding subscription-based agentic features to AI Mode, a Google Search function that lets users query complex questions verbally or with a text interface. AI Mode now answers multipart requests, like researching a dinner reservation at a set time for a specific number of people and with food preferences or dietary restrictions, responding in real time. The feature personalizes responses by drawing on past conversations and has a new “share” button that can circulate information, allowing others to jump in on the conversation. Google is expanding the global availability of AI Mode, which launched in the U.S. in May. Continue reading Google Adds Paid Features to AI Mode, Now in 180 Countries

The new Pixel 10 series of smartphones were formally debuted this week at the Made by Google event. The four new models — the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold — all run on the new Tensor G5 chipset, which is 34 percent faster than the G4 used with the Pixel 9s and integrates the first image processor designed by Google. Gemini Nano powers on-device AI features including Magic Cue, a contextual suggestion system underpinning native apps. The Pixel 10s are the first to have magnetic Qi2 fast wireless charging. Sales begin August 28. The company also unveiled the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a, both shipping October 9. Continue reading Google’s Pixel 10 Smartphone Line Packs AI-Driven Features

The ESPN mobile app has been revamped to coincide with today’s debut of the ESPN DTC streaming service, which offers the sports network’s 12 program outlets together for the first time. The ESPN app has added a vertical feed of video shorts accessible through a “Verts” tab and the homepage carousel. The Verts feed includes game highlights and analytics as well as user-generated content. A vertically delivered “SportsCenter” called “SC for You” delivers daily updates personalized for favorite teams, leagues and sports, available on the app, ESPN.com and some smart TVs. Continue reading ESPN Updates Mobile App with Vertical Video for DTC Launch

Netflix says it has more than doubled overall Upfront ad sales commitments, with year-over-year growth across all categories including retail, CPG, telco, health and wellness, entertainment and tech. It marks a strong showing for the streaming company, which launched its ad-supported tier in November 2022. For the 2025-2026 season, Netflix has once again sold out its Christmas Day NFL double-header, including sponsorships with Accenture, FanDuel, Google and Verizon for in-game and broadcast inventory. Netflix also reports robust response to the final season of “Stranger Things” and returning series “Bridgerton” and “Emily in Paris.” Continue reading Latest Netflix Upfront Ad Commitments Double from Last Year