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Boston Dynamics, the makers of the very GIFable robots that will inevitably turn on us all, is preparing to unleash the first horseman of the robot apocalypse on the public. Starting in 2019, the company will make its SpotMini robot commercially available, the company revealed Friday. Company founder Marc Raibert announced the plan to start…
After breaking up with his boyfriend, Jesus Echezarreta changed the password on his Ring smart doorbell—twice. Still, his ex-boyfriend was able to download video from the home security device as well as remotely ring the doorbell in the middle of the night. The company says it fixed the security flaw that made this possible in…
U.S. lawmakers are raising concerns over the Amazon Echo Kids Edition, a hands-free, voice-controlled hockey puck of a device that reads bedtime stories, plays Disney tunes, and programs our offspring to be tactful and courteous when interacting with artificial intelligent machines—a useful survival skill to impart in advance of humanity’s impending subservience to the cybernetic…
Life comes at you fast. On Tuesday, news broke that Facebook formed a blockchain division. Now it there is word that the company is looking into creating its own cryptocurrency. Cheddar reported today that Facebook is allegedly “exploring” incorporating cryptocurrency onto their platform with a potential eye towards payment transactions. Admittingly, the report was a…
Three people were reportedly injured in Texas when a family tried to feed two homeless “kittens” they had recently rescued. After doing further research online, the family determined the wayward felines were actually bobcats and turned them over to animal care services. It’s the kind of thing that could happen to anyone (who finds ferocious,…
After Mark Zuckerberg appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Committee last month, Facebook braced for another barrage of questions, this time to be delivered in writing. Asked about everything from potential legislation to claims that Facebook had censored conservative outlets, Zuckerberg repeatedly stalled, saying he’d follow up with his team to get real answers.…
AT&T wants its employees to know that it is so, so sorry that it hired Michael Cohen, President’s Trump’s longtime attorney, whom federal prosecutors are now eyeballing over a $130,000 payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, among other potentially shady business dealings. Randall L. Stephenson, AT&T chief executive, wrote in a letter on Friday, first…
Elon Musk’s Boring Company has been busy digging a giant tunnel under Los Angeles, and it’s reportedly nearly done and ready for some human passengers. Musk announced on Thursday that the company “will be offering free rides to the public in a few months.” That is, if they get government approval. Musk also noted in…
At a time when we’re all waiting with bated breath to find out if our four major wireless carrier choices will become three, Verizon is funding a new low-cost “competitor.” Visible is a startup that’s offering unlimited data, minutes, and messaging for just $40 per month. Of course, it has some caveats. Visible, despite its…
One of the most interesting tidbits of news to come out of Microsoft’s Build developer conference earlier this week was the company’s upcoming Your Phone app, which attempts to bridge the gap between mobile and desktop messaging by letting you send and receive texts (along with some more advanced screen sharing and file transferring features)…
Earlier this week at the Google I/O developer festival, the company debuted Duplex, its eerily accurate human voice system that impersonates a bumbling intern making calls on your behalf. According to Google, Duplex is able to schedule appointments and book restaurant reservations by making actual phone calls for you. What Google didn’t say was whether…
Android P is here, for those who want it, with a compatible device and the patience to put up with a few extra bugs and crashes. We’ve been playing around with the beta OS on a Pixel 2, and these are the most promising features we’ve come across so far—including a few hidden goodies Google…
A case in which a Missouri sheriff is accused of illegally tracking citizen’s cellphone location for personal reasons is putting the spotlight on a little-known service that allows police to gain people’s location data with little oversight. The complex scheme involves the practices of telemarketers, inmate call services, and major telecoms like AT&T slipping through…
At 78 feet tall, and churned by a fierce storm, it’s the largest wave ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, New Zealand scientists report. “This is a very exciting event and to our knowledge it is largest wave ever recorded in the southern hemisphere,” said Tom Durrant, a senior oceanographer with MetOcean Solutions, in a…
Spotify just revamped its free tier, which means you get more than ever before without actually having to pay anything—(some) on-demand playlists on mobile, unlimited skips (on a few playlists), and personalized recommendations to more accurately reflect your tastes. So does it make Spotify Premium a waste of money? We fired up the newly revamped…
Boston Dynamics, the company voted most likely to spawn the Robopocalypse, has released a pair of new videos showcasing the latest abilities of its synthetic creations. A freakishly realistic humanoid robot running effortlessly through grassy fields and managing challenging terrain. A dog-like machine autonomously navigating the complex maze of an office and lab facility. What…
An eye blink is over in less than a second, which means you can’t possibly be missing much while your eyes are closed, right? But it’s estimated that humans can blink over 28,000 times a day, and as much as 10 percent of our time awake is spent with our eyes closed. So it turns…
Companies invest a great deal of time, money, and resources optimizing their operations. But it appears whoever installed this particular security door put next to zero thought into the design. The video was shared with Gizmodo by a Reddit user who claims they work as an Amazon Flex driver, and that the door is located…
Filed last night in California’s Northern District Court, a new, wide-reaching lawsuit accuses The Ridesharing App That Isn’t Uber of unjust enrichment, misrepresentation of its fee structure, and unfair competition. Lyft is no stranger to class actions. It paid out $27 million to drivers last year in Cotter v. Lyft, and another suit, filed by…
Yesterday, the White House announced the creation of a new committee that will coordinate federal efforts related to artificial intelligence. The move makes sense given the rapid rise of AI, but the new group better be prepared to tackle all that AI has to offer—both the good and the bad. Michael Kratsios, deputy CTO at…
