Articles[tech] (Page 98)

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Once-overpriced iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 cases are now 90 percent off

(The Verge / 2026-03-12 14:17)

Woot is offering a large sale on phone cases from brands like Speck and OtterBox, with many models discounted to around $5 or $10. The sale includes cases for a wide range of devices, including recent iPhones, Google Pixels, and Samsung Galaxy models, and lasts until March 31st.

The article also highlights several other tech deals, including a half-price discount on the game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and a $40 price cut on the new M4 iPad Air at retailers like Best Buy. Additionally, Shokz OpenRun Pro bone conduction headphones are on sale for $124.99.

The main topics covered are discounted phone cases, video game deals, tablet discounts, and headphone sales.

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We study pandemics, and the resurgence of measles is a grim sign of what’s coming

(Ars Technica / 2026-03-12 14:32)

Measles has transitioned from a rare disease in the US to one with continuous, widespread circulation for over a year, with numerous state outbreaks and over 1,300 cases already confirmed in early 2026. This resurgence is directly attributed to falling vaccination rates, which have dropped below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity both nationally and in many local communities.

The authors, public health researchers, warn that these preventable outbreaks signal a serious failure in the country's capacity to manage infectious disease threats. The low vaccination levels are expected to lead to continued outbreaks, resulting in unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths.

The main topics covered are the current measles outbreak status and statistics, the cause (declining vaccination rates), and the public health implications and warnings.

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Microsoft launches Copilot Health

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-12 14:38)

Microsoft has launched its Copilot Health service, beginning a careful, phased rollout. The service is initially available only in English and exclusively to adults over 18 in the United States.

Microsoft is actively developing additional language and voice options for the service to facilitate future expansion into broader markets.

The main topics covered are the service launch announcement, its limited initial availability, and plans for future development and expansion.

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Honda cancels Zero Series EVs, citing ‘extremely challenging’ situation

(The Verge / 2026-03-12 14:58)

Honda has cancelled its planned "Zero Series" electric vehicles, including an SUV and Saloon model, citing an extremely challenging financial situation and declining EV demand. The cancellation contributes to a massive expected annual loss for the company, its first in 50 years as a public company.

This move is part of a broader industry trend, with major automakers like Ford, GM, and Stellantis also recording multibillion-dollar losses on their EV investments. Honda now plans to shift its focus more toward hybrid vehicles instead of the cancelled pure-electric models.

Main Topics: Honda's financial losses and EV cancellation; Broader auto industry struggles with EV investments; Strategic shift from EVs to hybrids.

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Uber, Wayve and Nissan plan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo this year

(TechCrunch / 2026-03-12 14:58)

U.K. autonomous vehicle software company Wayve is partnering with Uber and Nissan to launch a robotaxi pilot service in Tokyo by late 2026. Wayve's AI software will be integrated into a Nissan Leaf and made available through Uber's ride-hailing network, marking Uber's first such partnership in Japan.

The collaboration is part of a broader push by both companies, with Wayve also working on a London robotaxi service with Uber and Nissan driver-assistance tech. Uber continues to expand its global network of autonomous vehicle partnerships, including a recent deal with Zoox for Las Vegas, aiming to be the leading app for self-driving taxis.

Main Topics: Wayve's autonomous vehicle software; Robotaxi partnership between Wayve, Uber, and Nissan in Tokyo; Uber's global expansion of autonomous ride-hailing partnerships.

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Dyson’s new stain-spotting AI robovac is now available

(The Verge / 2026-03-12 15:00)

Dyson has released its new Spot+Scrub Ai Robot vacuum, priced at $1,199. It features upgrades including green lasers to identify stains, a self-cleaning roller mop, and a multifunction dock that handles water and dirt.

The robot uses lidar and AI for navigation and obstacle avoidance, moving away from the previous vision-based system. Its mop can extend to clean near edges and is cleaned automatically during operation.

While the dock is noted as being very large and the design departs from typical Dyson styling, the product's performance relative to the company's other vacuums remains to be fully assessed.

The main topics covered are the product's release and price, its key technological features (AI, lasers, lidar, self-cleaning mop), and initial hands-on observations about its design and dock.

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Rivian R2 prices revealed: you’re going to have to wait longer for that $45,000 version

(The Verge / 2026-03-12 15:00)

Rivian has revealed final pricing for its R2 electric SUV, confirming a $45,000 starting price for the base model. However, the first version available to customers will be the higher-end Performance trim, starting at $59,485 and launching in spring 2026.

The more affordable $45,000 base model is not scheduled for release until late 2027. This strategy of launching premium versions first has drawn comparisons to other automakers' delayed entry-level models.

The initial R2 Performance version features 656 horsepower, a 330-mile range, and numerous premium features as standard.

Main Topics: Rivian R2 pricing and release timeline; Details of the Performance trim; Comparison to other EV launch strategies.

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Italian prosecutors seek trial for Amazon, four execs over alleged $1.4 billion tax evasion

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-12 15:00)

Milan prosecutors have requested a criminal trial for Amazon's European unit and four managers over alleged VAT evasion worth 1.2 billion euros, despite Amazon having already paid 527 million euros to settle the tax dispute in December. This move is unprecedented in Italy, as criminal probes are typically closed after such a settlement.

The core allegation is that Amazon's algorithm and operating models enabled tens of thousands of non-EU sellers, mostly Chinese, to sell goods in Italy without disclosing their identity, thereby avoiding VAT payments for which Amazon is jointly responsible.

A judge will now decide whether to indict the defendants, and if upheld, the case could threaten Amazon's business model across Europe. This is one of several ongoing investigations into Amazon's operations in Italy, including probes by the European Public Prosecutor's Office and other Milan prosecutors.

Main topics: Italian tax evasion case against Amazon, unprecedented criminal prosecution post-settlement, alleged VAT-avoidance algorithm for non-EU sellers, potential threat to Amazon's European business model, multiple ongoing investigations in Italy.

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Rivian reveals pricing and trim details for its R2 SUV

(Ars Technica / 2026-03-12 15:00)

Rivian is beginning deliveries of its R2 SUV in spring 2026, meeting its previously announced timeline. The initial launch model is the R2 Performance, priced at $57,990, featuring 330 miles of range, 656 horsepower, and various premium features.

A more affordable R2 Premium trim, with less power and some feature reductions, will go on sale in late 2026 for $53,990. Both models share the same battery pack and core electric SUV design.

The main topics covered are the R2 SUV launch timeline, the specifications and pricing of the R2 Performance launch model, and the details of the upcoming R2 Premium variant.

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Rivian R2 launch: Here’s what $57,990 gets you

(TechCrunch / 2026-03-12 15:02)

Rivian has announced pricing and specifications for its upcoming, more affordable R2 SUV, with starting prices ranging from $45,000 to $57,990. The first available model in spring 2026 will be the high-performance Launch Edition at $57,990, with less expensive premium and standard variants scheduled for production in late 2026 and 2027.

All R2 trims share a common platform, an 87.9 kWh battery pack, and a North American Charging Standard port, with most offering over 300 miles of range. Performance varies significantly by trim, with horsepower ranging from 350 to 656 and 0-60 mph times from 3.6 to 5.9 seconds.

The success of the R2 is critical for Rivian, as it aims to reach a broader market and meet high sales targets. The production of the cheapest $45,000 model, however, is contingent on the initial reception of the more expensive versions.

Main Topics: Rivian R2 SUV pricing and release timeline, vehicle specifications and performance by trim, the strategic importance of the R2 for the company.

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Ukraine opens battlefield data access to allies' AI models

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-12 15:05)

Ukraine is providing its allies with secure access to its vast and unique battlefield datasets to train artificial intelligence models for drones and other military systems. The data, which includes millions of annotated images from combat flights, is considered crucial for developing AI that can recognize patterns and targets.

The initiative aims to accelerate the development of AI and autonomous systems that Ukraine can use in its war against Russia, while also fostering joint technological projects with foreign partners. This move is part of a broader, data-driven overhaul of Ukraine's defense ministry as it seeks to leverage its combat experience to maintain international support.

The main topics covered are Ukraine's sharing of battlefield data for AI training, the development of autonomous military systems, and Ukraine's strategy to use its technological experience to aid its war effort and international partnerships.

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'AI Is African Intelligence': The Workers Who Train AI Are Fighting Back

(404 Media / 2026-03-12 15:08)

A Kenyan data labeler, Michael Geoffrey Asia, describes the severe mental and physical toll of his work annotating explicit content and roleplaying as AI sex bots, which led to insomnia, PTSD, and sexual dysfunction. He now leads the Data Labelers Association, advocating for better pay, mental health support, and labor rights for a workforce that is essential to training AI for global tech giants but is severely underpaid and exploited.

The article details the exploitative conditions of the AI data labeling industry in Kenya, where workers are exposed to traumatic content with minimal support, managed by opaque algorithms, and paid very little while generating massive value for companies like Meta and OpenAI. Workers and organizers frame this dynamic as a modern form of colonial extraction, drawing direct parallels between historical imperial companies and today's dominant multinational tech firms.

The main topics covered are the psychological harm to data labelers, the labor organizing efforts in Kenya, and the critique of the global AI supply chain as a neocolonial economic structure.

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Karnataka forms panel led by Kris Gopalakrishnan to guide AI deployment

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-12 15:11)

The Indian state of Karnataka has formed a high-level committee, chaired by Infosys cofounder Kris Gopalakrishnan, to oversee the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in government systems and public services.

The committee's mandate is to develop a responsible AI policy and implementation roadmap, focusing on safety, fairness, transparency, and accountability. It will identify prohibited practices like social scoring and disproportionate surveillance, and recommend safeguards for high-risk sectors such as healthcare and policing.

The panel, which includes top industry experts, aims to submit an interim report within 60 days and final recommendations within 90 days, with the goal of making Karnataka a leader in establishing a comprehensive and ethical AI framework.

Main Topics: Government AI policy, responsible AI, ethical guidelines, high-risk AI applications, public sector innovation.

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Wonderful raises $150M Series B at $2B valuation

(TechCrunch / 2026-03-12 15:12)

Israeli AI startup Wonderful has raised $150 million in a Series B round, valuing the company at $2 billion. The funding will be used for geographic expansion and to significantly increase its headcount from 300 to 900 employees.

The company's AI agent platform is focused on customer service for non-English-speaking markets, tailoring its technology to local languages, cultures, and regulations. It emphasizes a hands-on deployment strategy, sending engineering teams to work directly with clients to integrate its AI into their specific workflows.

The main topics covered are a major funding round for an AI startup, the company's market strategy focusing on localization and on-site deployment, and its plans for expansion.

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WordPress launches an in-browser website creator

(The Verge / 2026-03-12 15:15)

WordPress.org has launched a new in-browser tool at my.WordPress.net that allows users to build a private website without needing an account, hosting plan, or domain. The tool is designed for private activities like drafting, journaling, and experimenting with plugins, not for public traffic or discovery.

All data created within the workspace remains locally in the user's browser and is not uploaded to any server. The tool is built on WordPress Playground technology, offers about 100MB of storage, and includes various pre-loaded plugins for users to test.

The main topics covered are the launch of WordPress's new private, in-browser website builder, its intended uses, and its technical specifications regarding privacy and storage.

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