Health

My big, fat, technophobic cat

A writer at The Verge chronicles the ongoing struggle to manage their chronically overweight 10-year-old cat, Pablo, exploring the surprisingly complex world of pet weight management technology and the friction that comes when a deeply food-motivated, gadget-resistant animal stands between you and a vet's orders.

Source: The Verge 8/21/2026
AI

ChatGPT on Mac can now read and respond to Apple iMessages

OpenAI has introduced a Mac plugin enabling ChatGPT to interact directly with Apple's Messages app, allowing the AI assistant to read incoming texts and draft or send replies on a user's behalf — a significant step toward deeper AI integration with everyday communication tools.

Source: Engadget 8/21/2026
Transportation

Nevada allows Uber, Tesla and Waymo to start paid robotaxi service

Nevada regulators have greenlit Uber, Tesla, and Waymo to operate fare-charging autonomous vehicle services in the state, marking a significant expansion of commercial robotaxi operations beyond California. The approval signals growing regulatory confidence in self-driving technology and opens a new competitive battleground for the industry's biggest players.

Source: Engadget 8/21/2026
Gadgets

RayNeo is going both minimalist and maximalist with its latest AR smart glasses

AR glasses maker RayNeo is simultaneously targeting two very different consumer segments with its newest product lineup — fashion-forward users who want subtle, everyday wearables and tech enthusiasts hungry for feature-packed augmented reality hardware. The dual-track strategy signals growing maturity in the AR wearables market.

Source: Engadget 8/21/2026
Gaming

Genki’s new customizable controller has a big screen and adjustable buttons

Genki has unveiled the Manta, its first self-designed game controller, featuring a 2.9-inch LCD screen sandwiched between thumbsticks and face buttons. Launching via Kickstarter, the chunky peripheral emphasizes deep hardware customization, letting players physically adjust buttons and sticks to match their preferences.

Source: The Verge 8/21/2026
AI

AI data startup Micro1 reaches $500M gross run rate amid AI training boom

Micro1, a startup specializing in data used to train artificial intelligence systems, has hit a $500 million gross run rate, reflecting the explosive appetite among AI developers for high-quality labeled and synthetic training datasets. The milestone puts Micro1 among the fastest-growing players in a competitive and rapidly expanding sector.

Source: TechCrunch 8/21/2026
Entertainment

Amazon's God of War show brings in Dave Bautista as its new Kratos

Dave Bautista has been cast as Kratos in Amazon's live-action God of War series, stepping into the role after original lead Ryan Hurst suffered an on-set injury earlier this year. The former WWE champion and Guardians of the Galaxy actor brings considerable physical presence to the iconic warrior role.

Source: Engadget 8/20/2026
AI

OpenAI is gaining on Anthropic with business users, new data indicates

Fresh data shows OpenAI is closing the gap with Anthropic among corporate customers, but the bigger story is how readily businesses switch between AI providers whenever a rival releases a superior model — raising real questions about long-term customer loyalty in the enterprise AI market.

Source: TechCrunch 8/20/2026
AI

GitHub says commits have doubled in the last four months

GitHub reports that code commit activity has doubled over the past four months, a surge in developer engagement that overwhelmed the platform's infrastructure and triggered a significant outage. The company attributed the service disruption directly to this unprecedented spike in traffic exceeding its current capacity.

Source: Engadget 8/20/2026
AI

ChatGPT can now send texts for you with new Apple Messages plug-in

OpenAI has added an Apple Messages integration to ChatGPT, allowing the AI to compose and send text messages on a user's behalf. The feature positions ChatGPT as a hands-free communication assistant, automating one of the most routine daily smartphone tasks.

Source: TechCrunch 8/20/2026
Gaming

HyperX's first open-back gaming headset brings the bass

HyperX has entered the open-back headset market with the Cloud Alpha Air, priced at $150. The peripheral maker's debut in this category emphasizes bass performance and comfort, featuring plush earpads designed to appeal to gamers who want audiophile-leaning sound without a premium price tag.

Source: Engadget 8/20/2026
Entertainment

Apple Music will reportedly label any AI-made tracks later this year

Apple Music is reportedly preparing to introduce labels that flag songs generated by artificial intelligence, building on an existing system that already tags certain types of content. The rollout is expected sometime later this year and aims to help listeners distinguish human-made music from AI-produced tracks.

Source: Engadget 8/20/2026
AI

Google Discover is getting an AI chatbot-tuned feed

Google is rolling out a conversational AI feature that lets users shape their Discover feed through natural language. By accessing a chatbot interface in the app's menu, users can describe their content interests, and the system will remember those preferences to personalize future feed results automatically.

Source: The Verge 8/20/2026
Science

Europe cancels planned upgrades for Ariane 6 rocket

European space authorities have scrapped planned improvement programs for the Ariane 6 rocket, raising questions about the launch vehicle's long-term competitiveness. The decision signals a significant shift in Europe's strategy for maintaining an independent, commercially viable access to space amid fierce competition from private providers like SpaceX.

Source: Ars Technica 8/20/2026
Entertainment

They survived 9/11; 25 years later, their bonds remain unbroken

A new National Geographic documentary marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks by bringing together survivors and the first responders, strangers, and bystanders who helped them escape. The film explores how those life-altering connections forged in crisis have endured across a quarter century.

Source: Ars Technica 8/20/2026
Gaming

Riot is ending active development of 2XKO in December

Riot Games is pulling the plug on active development of its League of Legends-inspired fighting game 2XKO by December, though the studio has committed to delivering content updates for the title through October 2026, giving its player base a limited but defined runway before the game winds down completely.

Source: Engadget 8/20/2026