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Google is testing AI chatbot search for YouTube

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Google is trying out an AI Mode-like search experience for YouTube. The company is now testing "a new way to search on YouTube that feels more like a conversation," with results pulling in things like longform videos, YouTube Shorts, and text about what you're searching for. The "experiment" is now available if you're a YouTube Premium subscriber in the US who is 18 or older. I turned it on for my account. Now, in the search bar, I see an "Ask YouTube" button, and clicking the search bar shows prompts to ask like "funny baby elephant playing clips," "summary of the rules of volleyball," and "short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing." If … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/Konzsxa

Canonical lays out a plan for AI in Ubuntu Linux

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One of the most popular Linux distributions is about to get an influx of AI features. As reported by Phoronix , Jon Seager, VP of engineering at Ubuntu developer Canonical, shared a blog post on Monday detailing plans to add AI features to the Linux distro over the next year. As the post states, the AI features "will come in two forms: first as a means of enhancing existing OS functionality with AI models in the background, and latterly in the form of 'AI native' features and workflows for those who want them." These features will range from accessibility tools like improved speech-to-text and text-to-speech to agentic AI features for tasks … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/g3VNo8T

Google employees ask Sundar Pichai to say no to classified military AI use

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai arrives for the inauguration of President Donald Trump. | Getty Images Over 600 Google employees signed a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai demanding that Google block the Pentagon from using its AI models for classified purposes, reports the The Washington Post . Its organizers claim many of the signers work in Google's DeepMind AI lab, and include more than 20 principals, directors, and vice presidents. According to the Post , the letter says that "The only way to guarantee that Google does not become associated with such harms is to reject any classified workloads. Otherwise, such uses may occur without our knowledge or the power to stop them." Anthropic is currently in a legal battle with the Pentagon over being … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/MOpk0b6

Is this Samsung’s upcoming wide foldable?

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The supposed “Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide” dummy unit can be seen in the middle. | Image by Sonny Dickson The wide foldable phone that Samsung is reportedly developing is expected to arrive later this year, and now we may have some idea of what it will look like. Leaker and journalist Sonny Dickson has shared images online of what he says are dummy units of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy foldables, including the "Z Fold 8 Wide" - showing a passport-like design that's primed to take on Huawei's Pura X Max and Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone . The leaked dummy unit suggests that Samsung's wide foldable will feature a dual-camera setup on the rear, down from three cameras on Samsung's other Z Fold phones. All three of the dummy units feature promin … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/cb78jBM

The AI-designed car is taking shape

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The auto design world is full of advanced 3D visualization tools and VR sculpting platforms, but your average new car still enters the world as a sketch. Those sketches traditionally see endless iteration and refinement from all angles before being turned into 3D models by hand, some dying in the digital world, others sculpted into clay to better visualize lines and profiles. That's just the beginning of a design and development process that often takes a half-decade or more. That means many new cars hitting dealerships this summer were first sketched in 2020 or 2021, initiatives kicked off when alternative fuel incentives were widesprea … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/wxcIAeb

This touchscreen mouse is my over-engineering nightmare

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Who’s asking for this? | Image: Turtle Beach Turtle Beach's latest collection of PC peripherals are so focused around touchscreen displays that the company even slapped one on a gaming mouse. The $160 wireless Command Series MC7 features a 2.25-inch touch display bar on the left side of the mouse, which seems to be located in just the right position for users to worry about accidentally hitting it with their thumbs. The display bar is designed to function like a built-in Stream Deck , allowing users to assign customizable commands for macros, apps, and OBS controls. It also brings to mind the infamous MacBook Pro Touch Bar , which was easy to accidentally hit while typing until the feat … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/AsodZi2

Google’s new gradient icon design is coming to more apps

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In late 2025, Google started rolling out new icons with a gradient design. Now it seems the new look is coming to the rest of Google's apps. 9to5Google got its hands on images of the new icons that ditch the uniform circle design that tries to cram in every color of the Google logo. In general, the looks are softer. Corners are rounder, the gradients gently transition from almost pastel to the more saturated Google primary colors. We've already seen this new design language show in updated versions of the Google G logo , as well as Gemini, Photos, and Maps. According to 9to5, this represents the presence of AI-powered features. The new ico … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/82wILTj