# Tech News Daily Summary - 2026-07-17 - Morning *Generated at 2026-07-17 16:48:21* --- ## Quick Navigation - [AI & Machine Learning](#ai--machine-learning) (8 articles) - [Software Development](#software-development) (21 articles) - [Programming Languages](#programming-languages) (9 articles) - [Game Development](#game-development) (9 articles) - [Gaming News](#gaming-news) (18 articles) - [Robotics](#robotics) (13 articles) - [Tech General](#tech-general) (30 articles) --- ## AI & Machine Learning ### 1. Bunkerhill raises $55M to scale agentic AI across health systems **Source:** AI News **Published:** 2026-07-17 16:00 **Link:** [https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/bunkerhill-raises-55m-scale-agentic-ai-health-systems/](https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/bunkerhill-raises-55m-scale-agentic-ai-health-systems/) Bunkerhill Health has raised $55 million to scale its agentic AI platform, Carebricks. The closing of the company’s Series B round, announced today, folds in continued participation from Sequoia Capital, Felicis, Optum Ventures, and Y Combinator. However, a funding total doesn’t answer the key question any hospital executive wants to know about healthcare AI: does […] The post Bunkerhill raises $55M to scale agentic AI across health systems appeared first on AI News. --- ### 2. Examining Google DeepMind’s AI bioresilience push **Source:** AI News **Published:** 2026-07-16 16:48 **Link:** [https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/examining-google-deepmind-ai-bioresilience-push/](https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/examining-google-deepmind-ai-bioresilience-push/) Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs outlined a bioresilience program to curb AI misuse in biology while aiding outbreak response. The two organisations published an update on a joint initiative that began quietly and has now built out more than 15 partnerships with government bodies, biosecurity organisations, and research groups over the past 12 months. The […] The post Examining Google DeepMind’s AI bioresilience push appeared first on AI News. --- ### 3. Neko Health raises $700 million to expand AI body scans in the US **Source:** AI News **Published:** 2026-07-16 09:00 **Link:** [https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/neko-health-700m-ai-body-scans-us/](https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/neko-health-700m-ai-body-scans-us/) Neko Health has raised $700 million to expand its AI body scans in the United States, starting with a clinic in New York. The company’s preventive screening service combines medical imaging, blood tests, proprietary sensors, and clinician review. The Series C round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and co-led by O.G. Venture Partners. Existing […] The post Neko Health raises $700 million to expand AI body scans in the US appeared first on AI News. --- ### 4. Agentic AI Security: Defending Against Prompt Injection and Tool Misuse **Source:** MachineLearningMastery.com **Published:** 2026-07-17 12:00 **Link:** [https://machinelearningmastery.com/agentic-ai-security-defending-against-prompt-injection-and-tool-misuse/](https://machinelearningmastery.com/agentic-ai-security-defending-against-prompt-injection-and-tool-misuse/) In this article, you will learn what prompt injection and tool misuse are in the context of agentic AI systems, and which defense strategies experts... --- ### 5. Run a Local AI Model with Ollama in 15 Minutes **Source:** MachineLearningMastery.com **Published:** 2026-07-16 12:25 **Link:** [https://machinelearningmastery.com/run-a-local-ai-model-with-ollama-in-15-minutes/](https://machinelearningmastery.com/run-a-local-ai-model-with-ollama-in-15-minutes/) In this article, you will learn how to get a small language model running locally on your own machine in under 15 minutes using Ollama.... --- ### 6. A scorecard for the AI age **Source:** OpenAI News **Published:** 2026-07-17 10:00 **Link:** [https://openai.com/index/a-scorecard-for-the-ai-age](https://openai.com/index/a-scorecard-for-the-ai-age) Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI, introduces a practical AI scorecard to measure ROI through useful work, cost per successful task, dependability, and return on compute. --- ### 7. Why teens deserve access to safe AI **Source:** OpenAI News **Published:** 2026-07-16 16:00 **Link:** [https://openai.com/index/why-teens-deserve-access-safe-ai](https://openai.com/index/why-teens-deserve-access-safe-ai) Learn how OpenAI is making ChatGPT safer for teens with age-appropriate protections, learning tools, parental controls, and expert partnerships. --- ### 8. How Cars24 scales conversations and builds faster with OpenAI **Source:** OpenAI News **Published:** 2026-07-16 00:00 **Link:** [https://openai.com/index/cars24](https://openai.com/index/cars24) Cars24 uses OpenAI-powered voice and chat agents to handle 1M+ monthly conversation minutes, recover 12% of lost leads, and bring agentic workflows to teams across the company. --- ## Software Development ### 1. Kimi K3 tops Arena’s coding leaderboard — and it’s open-weight **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-17 16:07 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/kimi-k3-open-weight-coding/](https://thenewstack.io/kimi-k3-open-weight-coding/) Developers building with AI have largely relied on proprietary models like Anthropic’s Fable and OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 Sol for their most The post Kimi K3 tops Arena’s coding leaderboard — and it’s open-weight appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 2. 1Password’s new browser integration for Claude changes how AI uses your credentials **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-17 16:05 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/1password-agent-authentication-framework/](https://thenewstack.io/1password-agent-authentication-framework/) As AI agents tackle more tasks, such as managing online accounts, authentication has become a practical engineering problem. For example, The post 1Password’s new browser integration for Claude changes how AI uses your credentials appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 3. “They’re dead if they don’t offer this”: DoorDash’s CLI for agents may be out of necessity **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-17 14:36 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/doordash-cli-agents-order/](https://thenewstack.io/doordash-cli-agents-order/) As AI agents evolve beyond writing code toward handling everyday tasks for people, the infrastructure required to keep them on The post “They’re dead if they don’t offer this”: DoorDash’s CLI for agents may be out of necessity appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 4. Why every AI agent decision needs a receipt **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-17 13:00 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/agent-evidence-packet-analytics/](https://thenewstack.io/agent-evidence-packet-analytics/) A conversion-rate alert fires 30 minutes after a pricing engine deploys updated discount rules. The analytics platform holds millions of The post Why every AI agent decision needs a receipt appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 5. From intent to enforcement: Lessons from operating Kubernetes controllers at scale **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-17 12:00 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/kubernetes-controllers-at-scale/](https://thenewstack.io/kubernetes-controllers-at-scale/) Kubernetes controllers are what make the platform’s declarative model real. They observe the state, reconcile toward the intent, and keep The post From intent to enforcement: Lessons from operating Kubernetes controllers at scale appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 6. Arm and Google offer a smarter option to run agentic AI workloads **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-17 12:00 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/cpu-agentic-ai-axion/](https://thenewstack.io/cpu-agentic-ai-axion/) As enterprise leaders start deploying agentic workflows, they must establish the infrastructure to build and run them, one capable of The post Arm and Google offer a smarter option to run agentic AI workloads appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 7. Microsoft just open-sourced the app that put Comic Sans on the map **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-17 07:50 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/microsoft-comic-chat-open-source/](https://thenewstack.io/microsoft-comic-chat-open-source/) Comic Sans has been mocked, memed, and muzzled from corporate communications since time immemorial, but most people won’t know that The post Microsoft just open-sourced the app that put Comic Sans on the map appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 8. AI hasn’t shifted the bottleneck from coding to code review **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-16 18:00 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/ai-code-bottleneck-myth/](https://thenewstack.io/ai-code-bottleneck-myth/) Why we’ve stopped noticing the real improvement opportunity Since AI arrived, many people have mentioned that the bottleneck has shifted The post AI hasn’t shifted the bottleneck from coding to code review appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 9. GoDaddy opened its registrar to AI agents. Then it had to build guardrails. **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-16 17:48 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/godaddy-developer-platform-domains/](https://thenewstack.io/godaddy-developer-platform-domains/) On Wednesday, GoDaddy launched its new developer platform, giving developers a way to manage domains without leaving their development environment. The post GoDaddy opened its registrar to AI agents. Then it had to build guardrails. appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 10. You don’t have a deployment problem. You have a validation problem. **Source:** The New Stack **Published:** 2026-07-16 17:00 **Link:** [https://thenewstack.io/solving-the-validation-problem/](https://thenewstack.io/solving-the-validation-problem/) Ask a platform team about their deployment capabilities, and you will usually hear a genuinely impressive story. Progressive rollouts that The post You don’t have a deployment problem. You have a validation problem. appeared first on The New Stack. --- ### 11. Developers who move fast still need to do it together​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌​‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​‍​​‍​‌‍‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‍‌​​​‍​​​‍‌​‍‌​​​​‌​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍‌‌​​‌‌‍​​​​​​​‌‍​‍​​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌​‌​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌​‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​‍​​‍​‌‍‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‍‌​​​‍​​​‍‌​‍‌​​​​‌​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍‌‌​​‌‌‍​​​​​​​‌‍​‍​​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌​‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌ **Source:** Stack Overflow Blog **Published:** 2026-07-17 07:40 **Link:** [https://stackoverflow.blog/2026/07/17/devs-who-move-fast-still-need-to-do-it-together/](https://stackoverflow.blog/2026/07/17/devs-who-move-fast-still-need-to-do-it-together/) At MS Build, Ryan is joined by Cassidy Williams, Senior Director of Developer Advocacy at GitHub and former Stack Overflow Podcast host, to discuss how agentic coding is shifting dev work towards higher-level strategy while increasing decision fatigue; why human taste, community feedback, and mentorship are becoming more essential than ever for developer careers; and the new GitHub Copilot announcements coming out of Microsoft, including the new GitHub Copilot app. ​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍... --- ### 12. Code Review, Part 2: The Reviewer That Learned To Lie Better **Source:** DEV Community **Published:** 2026-07-17 21:35 **Link:** [https://dev.to/raleighschickel/code-review-part-2-the-reviewer-that-learned-to-lie-better-4901](https://dev.to/raleighschickel/code-review-part-2-the-reviewer-that-learned-to-lie-better-4901) Several posts ago, I wrote about setting up a multi-agent adversarial code review process as part of my development pipeline. The premise came from a podcast: if one frontier model is writing the code, you want a different lineage model doing the review. I'd already been running an informal version of this: just Claude Code reviewing Claude Code with an adversarial prompt. It had shockingly good luck catching real problems. Good enough that I stopped trusting the vibe and decided to go get actua... --- ### 13. Steer by Intent, Monitor by Exception **Source:** DEV Community **Published:** 2026-07-17 21:35 **Link:** [https://dev.to/sameer_halbe_42366ad6cd70/steer-by-intentmonitor-by-exception-4pfo](https://dev.to/sameer_halbe_42366ad6cd70/steer-by-intentmonitor-by-exception-4pfo) The most expensive thing you can do with an AI agent is watch it. Not audit it. Not review its output. Watch it -- step by step, approval by approval, second-guessing every action before it takes the next one. And yet that is precisely how most engineering teams are deploying AI agents in 2026: on a leash so short the agent cannot take three steps without a human tapping it on the shoulder. I understand why. The models hallucinate. The stakes are real. Nobody wants to be the engineering manager ... --- ### 14. I Got Tired of AI Quiz Tools Making Up Facts That Weren't In My Notes, So I Built One That Can't **Source:** DEV Community **Published:** 2026-07-17 21:34 **Link:** [https://dev.to/jim_l_efc70c3a738e9f4baa7/i-got-tired-of-ai-quiz-tools-making-up-facts-that-werent-in-my-notes-so-i-built-one-that-cant-3c99](https://dev.to/jim_l_efc70c3a738e9f4baa7/i-got-tired-of-ai-quiz-tools-making-up-facts-that-werent-in-my-notes-so-i-built-one-that-cant-3c99) Two nights before a chemistry final, I pasted my notes into an AI quiz generator to test myself. One question asked about a reaction I never studied. I got it wrong, looked it up afterward, and it wasn't in my notes at all. The tool had just made it up. I went looking for a better one and hit the same wall three more times with three different tools. Paste your notes, get a quiz, and somewhere in the output is a question built on a fact your source material never mentioned. Nobody flags it. You ... --- ### 15. When Green Browser Tests Lie: Environment Drift, CI Noise, and Hidden Runtime Failures **Source:** DEV Community **Published:** 2026-07-17 21:27 **Link:** [https://dev.to/orbitpickle307/when-green-browser-tests-lie-environment-drift-ci-noise-and-hidden-runtime-failures-1p69](https://dev.to/orbitpickle307/when-green-browser-tests-lie-environment-drift-ci-noise-and-hidden-runtime-failures-1p69) A browser test can be green and still be wrong. It can pass because a mock returned an outdated response. It can fail because staging enabled a feature flag that no one documented. It can become flaky after a React upgrade even though the user-facing behavior looks unchanged. And when the same failure appears only in a minified build, the stack trace may be so unhelpful that the team blames the test before investigating the application. These problems look unrelated, but they usually share one r... --- ## Programming Languages ### 1. Maintaining the code of the man who wrote "How To Write Unmaintainable Code" **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:57 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uzadz5/maintaining_the_code_of_the_man_who_wrote_how_to/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uzadz5/maintaining_the_code_of_the_man_who_wrote_how_to/) Today I accidentally became the maintainer of software that was already almost three decades old: reviving a 1990s Java utility to keep the last PAD submitter alive in 2026. I was looking for a way to submit my AI app RiverScript to old desktop software directories and ended up digging through the long-forgotten world of PAD files. There was one problem. The only batch submission tool I could find was a Java application that first appeared in the late 1990s. The last release was in 2017. It was ... --- ### 2. The most expensive instruction might be… cmov **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 07:44 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uyt0tf/the_most_expensive_instruction_might_be_cmov/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uyt0tf/the_most_expensive_instruction_might_be_cmov/) submitted by /u/_shadowbannedagain [link] [comments] --- ### 3. The 10 Levels of Building a Data Grid - My 1 Year Journey of Building a Table. **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 10:21 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uyvq9x/the_10_levels_of_building_a_data_grid_my_1_year/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uyvq9x/the_10_levels_of_building_a_data_grid_my_1_year/) I wanted to make this post because man...tables are way harder than they look. I documented my 1 year journey of optimizations on a stupid table for my Database GUI. I made everything from scratch like an idiot thinking it'd be easy but oh boy was I wrong... The article goes over all the optimizations I made to make my table render data smoothly without lagging. It goes from what data structures I used and the rendering optimizations I did. I used MongoDB Compass as a baseline since they use AG-... --- ### 4. Learning Software Architecture **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 03:55 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uyosj1/learning_software_architecture/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uyosj1/learning_software_architecture/) submitted by /u/fagnerbrack [link] [comments] --- ### 5. On Rendering the Sky, Sunsets, and Planets **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 11:25 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uywy4t/on_rendering_the_sky_sunsets_and_planets/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uywy4t/on_rendering_the_sky_sunsets_and_planets/) submitted by /u/fagnerbrack [link] [comments] --- ### 6. Seed7 version 2026-07-11 released **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:08 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uzapht/seed7_version_20260711_released/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uzapht/seed7_version_20260711_released/) Seed7 is a GPL licensed open source programming language. It is given away for free and nobody from the development team gets any money from it. submitted by /u/ThomasMertes [link] [comments] --- ### 7. Making TLA+ and x86 Kiss Via Z3Py **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:44 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uza1nb/making_tla_and_x86_kiss_via_z3py/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uza1nb/making_tla_and_x86_kiss_via_z3py/) submitted by /u/mttd [link] [comments] --- ### 8. Engineering fast searches with Inverted Indexes **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 18:06 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uz7clt/engineering_fast_searches_with_inverted_indexes/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uz7clt/engineering_fast_searches_with_inverted_indexes/) submitted by /u/Comfortable-Fan-580 [link] [comments] --- ### 9. GTFO VR Mod Postmortem **Source:** programming **Published:** 2026-07-17 10:17 **Link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uyvnli/gtfo_vr_mod_postmortem/](https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1uyvnli/gtfo_vr_mod_postmortem/) submitted by /u/DirtySpartan [link] [comments] --- ## Game Development ### 1. ZA/UM Studios to lay off up to 32 workers two months after releasing Zero Parades: For Dead Spies **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-17 18:36 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/za-um-studios-to-lay-off-up-to-32-workers-two-months-after-releasing-zero-parades-for-dead-spies](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/za-um-studios-to-lay-off-up-to-32-workers-two-months-after-releasing-zero-parades-for-dead-spies) 'This changes the shape of ZA/UM, but not its purpose. Our artistic standards remain unchange; we will persist.' --- ### 2. Todd Howard says 'the timing is right' for a collaboration with Obsidian **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-17 16:25 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/todd-howard-says-the-timing-is-right-for-a-collaboration-with-obsidian](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/todd-howard-says-the-timing-is-right-for-a-collaboration-with-obsidian) Fallout franchise director Todd Howard confirms a new Fallout game is in the works with sister studio Obsidian Entertainment. --- ### 3. Labor unions challenge Xbox, GameStop CEO says physical game sales are 'irrelevant,' and Glen Schofield retires - Patch Notes #61 **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-17 11:31 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/labor-unions-challenge-xbox-gamestop-ceo-says-physical-game-sales-are-irrelevant-and-glen-schofield-retires-patch-notes-61](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/labor-unions-challenge-xbox-gamestop-ceo-says-physical-game-sales-are-irrelevant-and-glen-schofield-retires-patch-notes-61) Plus: A free 'good practice guide' for video game writing contracts in the UK. --- ### 4. Unions take legal action against Microsoft for allegedly mishandling Xbox layoffs **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-16 16:10 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/unions-take-legal-action-against-microsoft-for-allegedly-mishandling-xbox-layoffs](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/unions-take-legal-action-against-microsoft-for-allegedly-mishandling-xbox-layoffs) CWA Canada president Carmel Smyth claims the company 'unlawfully fired people without giving notice to or discussing it with the union.' --- ### 5. 'The goal of design is to efficiently communicate ideas' **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-16 15:35 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/-the-goal-of-design-is-to-efficiently-communicate-ideas-](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/-the-goal-of-design-is-to-efficiently-communicate-ideas-) Revisiting Stone Librande's classic One Page Designs GDC talk, for a dose of the good stuff. --- ### 6. ZeniMax Online Studios leadership included in Xbox mass layoffs **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-16 15:35 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/zenimax-online-studios-leadership-is-part-of-the-379-laid-off-workers](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/zenimax-online-studios-leadership-is-part-of-the-379-laid-off-workers) The studio head, studio operations director, and studio game director join dozens of senior and lead positions cut by Xbox. --- ### 7. Pokemon Go owner Scopely 'reorganizes' Stumble Guys team **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-16 14:40 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/pokemon-go-owner-scopely-reorganizes-stumble-guys-team](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/pokemon-go-owner-scopely-reorganizes-stumble-guys-team) The reorganization has affected a 'small number of employees.' --- ### 8. Former Epic Games VP appointed Saber Interactive's chief business officer **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-15 18:00 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/former-epic-games-vp-appointed-saber-interactive-s-chief-business-officer](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/former-epic-games-vp-appointed-saber-interactive-s-chief-business-officer) Steve Allison will oversee publishing, marketing, and revenue opportunities, reporting directly to CEO Matthew Karch. --- ### 9. Dead Space co-creator Glen Schofield retires **Source:** gamedeveloper **Published:** 2026-07-15 17:04 **Link:** [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/call-of-duty-co-director-glen-schofield-retires](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/call-of-duty-co-director-glen-schofield-retires) Schofield had long tenures as manager of Dead Space maker Visceral Games as well as Call of Duty developer Sledgehammer Games. --- ## Gaming News ### 1. In An Era Of AI Slop, Meccha Chameleon Embraces Human-Crafted Chaos **Source:** GameSpot - All Content **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:26 **Link:** [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/in-an-era-of-ai-slop-meccha-chameleon-embraces-human-crafted-chaos/](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/in-an-era-of-ai-slop-meccha-chameleon-embraces-human-crafted-chaos/) Of the game industry’s many problems, one of the most depressing is how quickly generative AI has wormed its way into development. According to GDC’s 2025 State of the Game Industry report, more than 50% of surveyed devs work at companies that use AI tools (a figure that has almost certainly increased since then). In some ways, it isn’t surprising that a medium at the intersection of art and technology has embraced this fad born from the latter. That doesn’t make it less disappointing. As a rece... --- ### 2. Marathon Game Director Leaves Bungie At A Tumultuous Time **Source:** GameSpot - All Content **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:31 **Link:** [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marathon-game-director-leaves-bungie-at-a-tumultuous-time/](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marathon-game-director-leaves-bungie-at-a-tumultuous-time/) Marathon game director Joe Ziegler has announced that he's leaving Bungie for a new job, and his departure comes at a tumultuous time for the studio. Ziegler said in a note that taking over for him as game director on Marathon will be Del Chafe III, who was previously the assistant game director. Chafe III will work alongside creative director Julia Nardin to "guide the game forward." "Both of them have been operating in a strong leadership capacity for the team and are ready to guide Marathon i... --- ### 3. Zero Parades Dev Announces Layoffs Despite Game’s Critical Acclaim **Source:** GameSpot - All Content **Published:** 2026-07-17 18:33 **Link:** [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zero-parades-dev-announces-layoffs-despite-games-critical-acclaim/](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zero-parades-dev-announces-layoffs-despite-games-critical-acclaim/) Another day, another layoff announcement. This time it comes from Zero Parades: For Dead Spies developer ZA/UM, which said on social media that despite the game's critical acclaim, the studio can't sustain the size of its team. ZA/UM took to Bluesky on July 17 to share the unfortunate news. The team said that although Zero Parades reviewed well, "its commercial performance" made it difficult for the studio to maintain its current employee count. As a result, the company has "served redundancy or... --- ### 4. Todd Howard Addresses “Fan Chatter” About Bethesda-Obsidian Rivalry Conspiracies **Source:** GameSpot - All Content **Published:** 2026-07-17 18:30 **Link:** [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/todd-howard-addresses-fan-chatter-about-bethesda-obsidian-rivalry-conspiracies/](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/todd-howard-addresses-fan-chatter-about-bethesda-obsidian-rivalry-conspiracies/) Bethesda boss Todd Howard has addressed rumors of a rivalry between Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian, saying the online discourse does not reflect reality. He told Windows Central, "I appreciate some of the fan chatter, but behind the scenes, there's a huge amount of mutual respect [between Bethesda and Obsidian]." Obsidian developed 2010's Fallout: New Vegas, which was a much-loved entry in the series. The studio is now working on a new Fallout game, though we still don't know exactly what it... --- ### 5. Saudi Arabia’s EA Takeover Reportedly Set To Clear EU Hurdle **Source:** GameSpot - All Content **Published:** 2026-07-17 17:59 **Link:** [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/saudi-arabias-ea-takeover-reportedly-set-to-clear-eu-hurdle/](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/saudi-arabias-ea-takeover-reportedly-set-to-clear-eu-hurdle/) After announcing its $55 billion acquisition of EA in September 2025, the European Union is reportedly set to approve Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) purchase at the end of July, according to new reporting from Reuters. As Reuters reported on July 17, people familiar with the deal said Saudi Arabia's PIF will secure the EU's approval under EU subsidy rules. This means that, after the EU completes its preliminary review under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) on July 22, the purc... --- ### 6. Diablo 4 Season 14’s Worst Mythic Change Is No More: “Not Every Idea Lands” **Source:** GameSpot - All Content **Published:** 2026-07-17 17:55 **Link:** [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-4-season-14s-worst-mythic-change-is-no-more-not-every-idea-lands/](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-4-season-14s-worst-mythic-change-is-no-more-not-every-idea-lands/) Diablo 4 Season 14's most controversial change, only being able to equip one crafted-Mythic item at a time, is now a thing of the past. In a surprise patch on July 16 for PC (and coming sometime on July 17 for console players), Blizzard opted to remove the one equipped crafted-Mythic restriction introduced as part of Season of Death Awakening, as well as increase Mythic and Iconic Mythic drop rates from the new seasonal Lair Boss. Blizzard announced the season's other most controversial addition... --- ### 7. Magic The Gathering – Kamigawa: Titanbreach Worldbuilding Trailer **Source:** GameSpot - All Content **Published:** 2026-07-17 17:30 **Link:** [https://www.gamespot.com/videos/magic-the-gathering-kamigawa-titanbreach-worldbuilding-trailer/](https://www.gamespot.com/videos/magic-the-gathering-kamigawa-titanbreach-worldbuilding-trailer/) When an Omenpath opens above the neon-lit skies of Towashi, a huge mass of Ikoria crashes through, unleashing mayhem. The people of Kamigawa must band together to stop the monsters of Ikoria that threaten to stomp, scorch, and shatter their home. Kamigawa: Titanbreach is a clash between two iconic Magic planes, Ikoria and Kamigawa.Face the incursion head on when Kamigawa: Titanbreach releases on June 4, 2027. --- ### 8. Magic The Gathering – Nauctis: The Sunken Realm Worldbuilding Trailer **Source:** GameSpot - All Content **Published:** 2026-07-17 17:30 **Link:** [https://www.gamespot.com/videos/magic-the-gathering-nauctis-the-sunken-realm-worldbuilding-trailer/](https://www.gamespot.com/videos/magic-the-gathering-nauctis-the-sunken-realm-worldbuilding-trailer/) Nauctis: The Sunken Realm introduces players to Nauctis, Magic’s take on an undersea plane.The set features merfolk, seals, homarids, and other aquatic creatures, along with deities who rule over the currents.As tensions bubble between two warring kingdoms, a group of unlikely heroes must rise to the occasion – or their home will be swallowed up by the seas. Adventures await under the water, and players will come face-to-face with fearsome creatures that dwell far, far from the surface. Nauctis:... --- ### 9. Hytale releases massive preview of upcoming content including 22 videos and 37 new images **Source:** PCGamer latest **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:44 **Link:** [https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/hytale-releases-massive-preview-of-upcoming-content-including-22-videos-and-37-new-images/](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/hytale-releases-massive-preview-of-upcoming-content-including-22-videos-and-37-new-images/) Plus about 4,000 words! --- ### 10. Retiring Valve programmer says 'at least one' of the studio's beloved game modes was made in secret to avoid pushback from peers **Source:** PCGamer latest **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:40 **Link:** [https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/retiring-valve-programmer-says-at-least-one-of-the-studios-beloved-game-modes-was-made-in-secret-to-avoid-pushback-from-peers/](https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/retiring-valve-programmer-says-at-least-one-of-the-studios-beloved-game-modes-was-made-in-secret-to-avoid-pushback-from-peers/) Valve's mythical flat corporate structure might be somewhat less than 100% self-directed. --- ### 11. Todd Howard checks his calendar, sighs quietly, and tells us all again that he doesn't have a grudge against Obsidian or Fallout: New Vegas **Source:** PCGamer latest **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:36 **Link:** [https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/todd-howard-checks-his-calendar-sighs-quietly-and-tells-us-all-again-that-he-doesnt-have-a-grudge-against-obsidian-or-fallout-new-vegas/](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/todd-howard-checks-his-calendar-sighs-quietly-and-tells-us-all-again-that-he-doesnt-have-a-grudge-against-obsidian-or-fallout-new-vegas/) Say the line, Todd! --- ### 12. How much RAM do you need for an 'ultimate gaming machine?' July in PC Gamer 10, 20, and 30 years ago **Source:** PCGamer latest **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:24 **Link:** [https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/how-much-ram-do-you-need-for-an-ultimate-gaming-machine-july-in-pc-gamer-10-20-and-30-years-ago/](https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/how-much-ram-do-you-need-for-an-ultimate-gaming-machine-july-in-pc-gamer-10-20-and-30-years-ago/) Here's what was happening in PC gaming in July 1996, 2006 and 2016. --- ### 13. 'We're interested in having the whole PC catalog as our 'launch exclusive'': Valve talks exclusives and the advantages of an open platform **Source:** PCGamer latest **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:50 **Link:** [https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/were-interested-in-having-the-whole-pc-catalog-as-our-launch-exclusive-valve-talks-exclusives-and-the-advantages-of-an-open-platform/](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/were-interested-in-having-the-whole-pc-catalog-as-our-launch-exclusive-valve-talks-exclusives-and-the-advantages-of-an-open-platform/) Anyone can make a better Steam machine, and that's how Valve likes it. --- ### 14. Blizzard finally caved on Diablo 4's disastrous new season with a patch that reverts almost everything players hated: 'Not every idea lands exactly as intended' **Source:** PCGamer latest **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:30 **Link:** [https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/blizzard-finally-caved-on-diablo-4s-disastrous-new-season-with-a-patch-that-reverts-almost-everything-players-hated-not-every-idea-lands-exactly-as-intended/](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/blizzard-finally-caved-on-diablo-4s-disastrous-new-season-with-a-patch-that-reverts-almost-everything-players-hated-not-every-idea-lands-exactly-as-intended/) The Season of Death Awakening might actually be saved. --- ### 15. Doom director Hugo Martin says id Software is fine, and anyway, 'what matters the most is that the games are good' **Source:** PCGamer latest **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:29 **Link:** [https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/doom-director-hugo-martin-says-id-software-is-fine-and-anyway-what-matters-the-most-is-that-the-games-are-good/](https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/doom-director-hugo-martin-says-id-software-is-fine-and-anyway-what-matters-the-most-is-that-the-games-are-good/) I'm not so sure about that one, man. --- ## Robotics ### 1. Founder of Maximo discusses how robotics is accelerating solar construction **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:17 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/transforming-solar-construction-through-robotics-deise-yumi-asami-maximo/](https://www.therobotreport.com/transforming-solar-construction-through-robotics-deise-yumi-asami-maximo/) Maximo founder Deise Yumi Asami discusses the process of automating solar construction with robotics. The post Founder of Maximo discusses how robotics is accelerating solar construction appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 2. Weave Robotics launches Isaac, its first mobile humanoid robot **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-17 17:35 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/weave-robotics-launches-isaac-first-mobile-humanoid-robot/](https://www.therobotreport.com/weave-robotics-launches-isaac-first-mobile-humanoid-robot/) Weave Robotics has listed the features of its Isaac wheeled bimanual manipulator robot for household and office use. The post Weave Robotics launches Isaac, its first mobile humanoid robot appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 3. With new funding, Monumental plans to bring its construction robots to the U.S. **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-17 12:30 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/with-new-funding-monumental-plans-bring-construction-robots-u-s/](https://www.therobotreport.com/with-new-funding-monumental-plans-bring-construction-robots-u-s/) Monumental acts as a subcontractor during construction tasks. Contractors pay the company for finished walls rather than for robots. The post With new funding, Monumental plans to bring its construction robots to the U.S. appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 4. TerraFirma raises $115M to build robotic infrastructure for construction **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-16 18:51 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/terrafirma-raises-115m-build-robotic-infrastructure-construction/](https://www.therobotreport.com/terrafirma-raises-115m-build-robotic-infrastructure-construction/) TerraFirma has developed a platform that combines AI-enabled software, a remote command-and-control center, and retrofitted heavy machinery. The post TerraFirma raises $115M to build robotic infrastructure for construction appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 5. Xpanner rolls out X1 Panel Lift for automated solar panel installation **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-16 13:08 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/xpanner-rolls-out-x1-panel-lift-automated-solar-panel-installation/](https://www.therobotreport.com/xpanner-rolls-out-x1-panel-lift-automated-solar-panel-installation/) X1 Panel Lift uses existing excavators and a single workflow so solar installation crews can focus on alignment, fastening, and quality. The post Xpanner rolls out X1 Panel Lift for automated solar panel installation appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 6. Lockheed Martin taps Machina’s robots for mission-critical missile parts **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-16 12:30 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/lockheed-martin-taps-machinas-robots-for-mission-critical-missile-parts/](https://www.therobotreport.com/lockheed-martin-taps-machinas-robots-for-mission-critical-missile-parts/) Machina Labs secured a Lockheed Martin contract to qualify robotically formed metal components for the JASSM missile program. The post Lockheed Martin taps Machina’s robots for mission-critical missile parts appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 7. Walden Robotics launches at $1.1B valuation for general-purpose robots **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-15 20:04 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/walden-robotics-launches-1-1b-valuation-general-purpose-robots/](https://www.therobotreport.com/walden-robotics-launches-1-1b-valuation-general-purpose-robots/) Leading technology companies have invested in Walden Robotics, which emerged from stealth as it develops full-stack physical AI. The post Walden Robotics launches at $1.1B valuation for general-purpose robots appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 8. Agility outlines six recommendations for U.S. humanoid robot policies **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-15 18:58 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/agility-outlines-six-recommendations-for-u-s-humanoid-robot-policies/](https://www.therobotreport.com/agility-outlines-six-recommendations-for-u-s-humanoid-robot-policies/) Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility, said the U.S. needs a policy framework that can strengthen what's already working for the humanoid industry. The post Agility outlines six recommendations for U.S. humanoid robot policies appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 9. Vicarious Surgical board seeks to dissolve company **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-15 18:43 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/vicarious-surgical-board-seeks-to-dissolve-company/](https://www.therobotreport.com/vicarious-surgical-board-seeks-to-dissolve-company/) The board is asking shareholders to approve their plan to dissolve and liquidate the business at a special meeting scheduled for July 21, but said it can not predict how much (if anything) investors would recover or when. The post Vicarious Surgical board seeks to dissolve company appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 10. Icarus Robotics uses KULR technology to power JOY free-flying space robot **Source:** The Robot Report **Published:** 2026-07-15 18:10 **Link:** [https://www.therobotreport.com/icarus-robotics-uses-kulr-technology-to-power-joy-free-flying-space-robot/](https://www.therobotreport.com/icarus-robotics-uses-kulr-technology-to-power-joy-free-flying-space-robot/) Under the agreement, KULR will supply its KULR ONE Space battery systems to power JOY’s onboard systems on the ISS. The post Icarus Robotics uses KULR technology to power JOY free-flying space robot appeared first on The Robot Report. --- ### 11. This Graduate Student Equips NASA’s Robots With Assembly Skills **Source:** IEEE Spectrum **Published:** 2026-07-17 18:00 **Link:** [https://spectrum.ieee.org/graduate-student-nasas-robots-assembly](https://spectrum.ieee.org/graduate-student-nasas-robots-assembly) Like many engineers, Sarah Downs says she knew she wanted to pursue a STEM career from a young age. As a teenager, she discovered robotics through her Tulsa, Okla., middle school’s First Lego League team, and she fell in love with the field, she says. Downs participated in the international robotics program from 2014 to 2016.Watching PBS specials on NASA Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, and seeing the live broadcast of the Curiosity rover launch in 2011, inspired the teen to dream of a career... --- ### 12. Video Friday: Your Robot Surgeon Will See You Now **Source:** IEEE Spectrum **Published:** 2026-07-17 16:00 **Link:** [https://spectrum.ieee.org/video-friday-robotic-surgery](https://spectrum.ieee.org/video-friday-robotic-surgery) Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please send us your events for inclusion.Summer School on Multi-Robot Systems: 29 July–4 August 2026, PRAGUEActuate 2026: 18–19 August 2026, SAN FRANCISCOIROS 2026: 27 September–1 October 2026, PITTSBURGHHumanoids Summit Seoul: 22–23 September 2026, SEOULEnjoy today’s videos! In this work, we pre... --- ### 13. How to Make an Invisible Drone **Source:** IEEE Spectrum **Published:** 2026-07-16 16:09 **Link:** [https://spectrum.ieee.org/invisible-spinning-drone](https://spectrum.ieee.org/invisible-spinning-drone) There are many words that I would never, ever use to describe a drone. Stealthy. Subtle. Whatever the opposite of obnoxious is. Much of this is because of the giant angry bee sound that drones tend to make, but it’s also the way that they look in flight: With uncannily linear movements and an even less canny ability to hover perfectly still, they tend to draw the eye as affronts to nature.In a paper presented this week at Robotics Science and Systems 2026 in Sydney, roboticists from Northwestern... --- ## Tech General ### 1. The Zoom hack that says, ‘Don’t record me’ **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 21:20 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/the-zoom-hack-that-says-dont-record-me/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/the-zoom-hack-that-says-dont-record-me/) If every meeting, watercooler conversation, and date gets transcribed and summarized, who's actually reading any of it? --- ### 2. Agility Robotics plants its flag in Tesla’s backyard **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:19 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/agility-robotics-plants-its-flag-in-teslas-backyard/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/agility-robotics-plants-its-flag-in-teslas-backyard/) Agility is opening a new training center for its Digit robots in Fremont, California. --- ### 3. AI-driven memory crunch jolts India’s smartphone market **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:09 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/ai-driven-memory-crunch-jolts-indias-smartphone-market/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/ai-driven-memory-crunch-jolts-indias-smartphone-market/) India's smartphone slowdown highlights how the AI boom is reshaping consumer electronics, from pricing and demand to corporate strategy. --- ### 4. Apple and Google ordered to purge ‘nudify’ apps from App Stores **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:49 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/apple-and-google-ordered-to-purge-nudify-apps-from-app-stores/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/apple-and-google-ordered-to-purge-nudify-apps-from-app-stores/) In letters sent to Apple and Google, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said that both companies have long been aware that they are hosting apps in violation of state law. --- ### 5. Nuclear startup Valar Atomics in talks to raise new funding at $6B valuation **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:22 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/nuclear-startup-valar-atomics-in-talks-to-raise-new-funding-at-6b-valuation/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/nuclear-startup-valar-atomics-in-talks-to-raise-new-funding-at-6b-valuation/) The potential deal highlights a growing trend of complex, multi-stage funding rounds that mask true entry prices. --- ### 6. I replaced my space heater and ceiling fan with one Dyson appliance **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 18:00 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/i-replaced-my-space-heater-and-ceiling-fan-with-one-dyson-appliance/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/i-replaced-my-space-heater-and-ceiling-fan-with-one-dyson-appliance/) Designed for year-round comfort, the Dyson Hot+Cool HF1 combines quiet operation and simple controls with Dyson's signature bladeless design. --- ### 7. How Apple’s big lawsuit could disrupt OpenAI’s IPO plans **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 17:45 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/video/how-apples-big-lawsuit-could-disrupt-openais-ipo-plans/](https://techcrunch.com/video/how-apples-big-lawsuit-could-disrupt-openais-ipo-plans/) Apple filed a trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI last Friday, and it’s not messing around. The complaint alleges a pattern of misconduct reaching all the way up to OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and claims more than 400 former Apple employees now work at the company. OpenAI’s response so far has been carefully hedged, and the timing couldn’t be worse with the company reportedly eyeing an IPO […] --- ### 8. FBI arrests man accused of using Steam games to drain victims’ crypto wallets **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 16:18 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/fbi-arrests-man-accused-of-using-steam-games-to-drain-victims-crypto-wallets/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/fbi-arrests-man-accused-of-using-steam-games-to-drain-victims-crypto-wallets/) Prosecutors accused 21-year-old student Zyaire Wilkins of publishing on Steam several fake video games that contained malware, infecting thousands of victims, and stealing crypto from some of them. --- ### 9. Parents want safer phones for kids. These companies are answering the call. **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 16:12 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/parents-want-safer-phones-for-kids-these-companies-are-answering-the-call/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/parents-want-safer-phones-for-kids-these-companies-are-answering-the-call/) As parents look for alternatives to unrestricted smartphones, a growing number of companies are building phones designed specifically for kids, from feature-limited mobile devices to minimalist home phones. --- ### 10. Amazon fixing bug that billed some AWS customers billions of dollars **Source:** TechCrunch **Published:** 2026-07-17 15:29 **Link:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/amazon-fixing-bug-that-billed-some-aws-customers-billions-of-dollars/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/amazon-fixing-bug-that-billed-some-aws-customers-billions-of-dollars/) Some Amazon customers logged on Friday to a surprise bill estimate claiming that they owed the tech and cloud giant billions in fees. --- ### 11. Shark’s versatile ChillPill cooling system is back to its best price **Source:** The Verge **Published:** 2026-07-17 20:15 **Link:** [https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/967512/shark-chillpill-personal-fan-and-cooling-system-deal-sale](https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/967512/shark-chillpill-personal-fan-and-cooling-system-deal-sale) Portable fans are one of the easiest ways to stay cool during the summer, and you don’t have to spend much to find a decent one. If you’re looking for something more versatile, though, Shark’s ChillPill Personal Fan and Cooling System combines a rechargeable fan with a dry-touch evaporative mister in a design that can […] --- ### 12. TikTok is testing an AI likeness detection tool **Source:** The Verge **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:34 **Link:** [https://www.theverge.com/tech/967486/tiktok-ai-likeness-detection-tool](https://www.theverge.com/tech/967486/tiktok-ai-likeness-detection-tool) TikTok is starting to test an opt-in tool that scans for AI likenesses and lets creators report them to the company, as spotted by social media consultant Matt Navarra. The tool is initially being tested with "some" US creators, TikTok US spokesperson Zachary Kizer tells The Verge. YouTube has been working on a similar tool […] --- ### 13. Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky says his 30-day warranty is all about trust **Source:** The Verge **Published:** 2026-07-17 19:14 **Link:** [https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/967471/pebble-smartwatch-warranty-repairs-migicovsky-interview](https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/967471/pebble-smartwatch-warranty-repairs-migicovsky-interview) Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky says buyers of its new e-paper smartwatches should know what they're signing up for and trust Pebble to make things right if they run into issues, despite the short warranty. "I think the most important thing is trust," Migicovsky told me in an interview this week. "Do people trust the product […] --- ### 14. Apple Music is getting a price hike **Source:** The Verge **Published:** 2026-07-17 18:14 **Link:** [https://www.theverge.com/tech/967379/apple-music-price-increase](https://www.theverge.com/tech/967379/apple-music-price-increase) Apple Music is more expensive now. In the US, an individual plan now costs $11.99 per month, a $1 bump up from the previous $10.99 price. A family plan now costs $19.99 per month, up from $16.99, and a student plan costs $6.99 per month, up from $5.99. Apple, in a statement to Music Business […] --- ### 15. Apple’s plot to crush OpenAI **Source:** The Verge **Published:** 2026-07-17 17:41 **Link:** [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/967244/apple-openai-lawsuit-vergecast](https://www.theverge.com/podcast/967244/apple-openai-lawsuit-vergecast) Apple is suing OpenAI. The complaint is readable and intense, as these things often are, though many experts seem to think many of the allegations are just the ways things are done. So what does Apple really want here, and why is it picking such a public fight with OpenAI? On this episode of The […] --- ## Summary Statistics - **Total Articles:** 108 - **Categories:** 7 - **Time Period:** Last 24 hours