Pete Pete
Source health

section

Tech

Industry, products, and the wires that hold it all together.

744 stories archived

Tell us: do you think AI has made Google search better or worse?
The Guardian — Technology Aug 25 · 2 min read

Tell us: do you think AI has made Google search better or worse?

As people grow used to AI chatbots, we’d like to hear your views about Google’s search engine Google has put artificial intelligence at the front and center of its search bar. The most-visited site on the internet still shows the same list of links to users, but they have to scroll past a summarized response from an AI chatbot, a feature Google calls AI Overviews. The change to what was once the gateway to the rest of the internet has been profound, and the browsing habits of billions of people are shifting. “AI is driving the most significant upgrade of the Google Search experience ever,” Liz Reid, Google’s vice-president of search, wrote last August . In May, the company said more AI is coming . Continue reading...

‘Never seen this level of objection’: Scotland pushes back against datacentre boom
The Guardian — Technology Aug 25 · 5 min read

‘Never seen this level of objection’: Scotland pushes back against datacentre boom

Holyrood ‘inching towards moratorium’ amid concerns over massive proposed developments in Auchtertool and beyond In a village 21 miles north of Edinburgh, a real estate consultancy plans to build a datacentre larger than the village itself – 35 metres high, with an area larger than 100 football pitches. Billed as the second-biggest datacentre in the world, the development in Auchertool, Fife, has attracted 1,600 objections. Continue reading...

From mixed martial arts to mechanical dogs: the World Robot Conference 2026 – in pictures
The Guardian — Technology Aug 25 · 2 min read

From mixed martial arts to mechanical dogs: the World Robot Conference 2026 – in pictures

More than 3,000 products were shown at the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing as China showcased its rapidly growing robotics industry. The event, which ran from 19-23 August, showcased the latest advances across the robotics industry, from humanoid robots to embodied intelligence and cutting-edge components Continue reading...

AI is hitting entry-level jobs hardest, Stanford study finds
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 5 min read

AI is hitting entry-level jobs hardest, Stanford study finds

Young employment in AI-impacted fields down 19% compared to more AI-resistant occupations.

Data centers become "killer application" for new power transformer tech
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 5 min read

Data centers become "killer application" for new power transformer tech

Solid-state transformers could also benefit EV charging and someday households.

RFK Jr. may upend how vaccine recommendations are categorized
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 5 min read

RFK Jr. may upend how vaccine recommendations are categorized

There are currently 3 categories. Without reason, RFK Jr. is considering changes.

Ads and tracking infiltrated TVs. Now they're coming for monitors.
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 5 min read

Ads and tracking infiltrated TVs. Now they're coming for monitors.

Monitor vendors are playing with fire.

GM vehicles under federal scrutiny after hundreds of reports
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 1 min read

GM vehicles under federal scrutiny after hundreds of reports

The eBoost brake-by-wire system is responsible for at least 22 crashes now.

Inaudible sounds used to fingerprint browsers catch AliExpress red-handed
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 3 min read

Inaudible sounds used to fingerprint browsers catch AliExpress red-handed

Is the technique outdated? Yes. Is it still creepy? Also yes.

Buyer beware: Those mummified remains might carry toxic spores
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 5 min read

Buyer beware: Those mummified remains might carry toxic spores

"Mummified remains sold online exhibit signs of biodeterioration, yet sellers provide no safety guidance."

Nvidia senior manager linked to Supermicro scheme smuggling AI servers to China
Ars Technica — Policy Aug 24 · 7 min read

Nvidia senior manager linked to Supermicro scheme smuggling AI servers to China

Nvidia worker indicted after Jensen Huang scolded Supermicro for AI server smuggling.

F1 in the Netherlands: The driver you most want to beat is your teammate
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 5 min read

F1 in the Netherlands: The driver you most want to beat is your teammate

Formula 1 returned from its summer break with this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix.

How a Network of Volunteers Is Liberating Critical Court Records for Everyone
404 Media Aug 24 · 7 min read

How a Network of Volunteers Is Liberating Critical Court Records for Everyone

Habeas Dockets are publishing immigration court records that normally aren't available online.

Trump tried to curb clean energy. It’s booming anyway.
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 4 min read

Trump tried to curb clean energy. It’s booming anyway.

Capacity will rise by a record 45GW this year, according to S&P Global Energy.

I dug through hundreds of Labor Day sales to find real deals on high-quality products that last
The Guardian — Technology Aug 24 · 7 min read

I dug through hundreds of Labor Day sales to find real deals on high-quality products that last

Prepare for autumn with our favorite end-of-season deals on staples including leaf blowers, blankets and bedding College grads share the room essentials that weathered the dorm Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things Labor Day offers one last hurrah for summer, a chance to reset for fall, and if you’re shopping, some choice end-of-season discounts. No matter your plans for the long weekend, we found sales on products to make the most of it while helping you prepare for the colder months ahead. Continue reading...

Albanese seeks to quell datacentre disquiet as climate expert warns ‘we’ve got one shot to get the rules right’
The Guardian — Technology Aug 24 · 4 min read

Albanese seeks to quell datacentre disquiet as climate expert warns ‘we’ve got one shot to get the rules right’

Prime minister will use national cabinet meeting to assuage premiers over new AI law as AEMO forecasts seven-fold rise in datacentre power use Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Anthony Albanese will seek to use Wednesday’s high-stakes talks with premiers to quell growing unhappiness about national controls on datacentre developments , promising new approval laws will complement state rules. Faced with growing opposition from conservative governments in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Albanese will tell national cabinet he plans a major piece of legislation next year to ensure the economic benefits of AI are shared widely. Continue reading...

‘A cognitive cacophony’: hands-on with the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 beta test
The Guardian — Technology Aug 24 · 5 min read

‘A cognitive cacophony’: hands-on with the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 beta test

Players will get what they expect from the new CoD title: boots-on-the-ground military action with a slight tactical edge. But what’s with all the distractions? There’s a lot riding on this year’s Call of Duty, the inescapable first-person shootfest that’s been lobbing a grenade into the autumn release schedule since 2003. Previous instalment, Black Ops 7, performed poorly compared to previous titles, forcing Activision to post a semi-apology to fans. And that’s not the only challenge Modern Warfare 4 is facing: there’s a new indie shooter, Wardogs, promising a feel somewhere between classic CoD and Classic Battlefield. Then, lurking on the horizon, in mirror shades and an exotic sports car, is Grand Theft Auto 6, which is surely going to smash and grab all the attention (and money) from the market in mid-November. The good news is that, judging by the early access beta test that ran over the penultimate August weekend, we’re definitely getting what we expect from a Modern Warfare title: quasi-authentic boots-on-the-ground military action with a slight tactical edge. The weapons and general gunplay are highly effective, from default assault rifle, the Han 86 – a classic CoD beginner’s gun with decent fire rate and handling – to the bullet-spraying Nightshade SMG and the absolutely lethal KG-7 Vulcan sniper rifle. They all feel good to hold and fire, and there’s enough balance to let you experiment with slightly more offbeat numbers like the burst-fire Hyeon AR and the possibly overpowered Mar-9 marksman rifle. Continue reading...

Review: Chuwi's $449 Unibook laptop is a funhouse-mirror MacBook Neo
Ars Technica Aug 24 · 7 min read

Review: Chuwi's $449 Unibook laptop is a funhouse-mirror MacBook Neo

The Unibook is a weird entry-level laptop for people with patience.

My Arms Are Longer Now – comedy stealth game sends lawlessness into new territory
The Guardian — Technology Aug 24 · 3 min read

My Arms Are Longer Now – comedy stealth game sends lawlessness into new territory

Developers who met through Australia’s improv scene and publishers of comedic party games have united for this slithering challenge in which you play as one extended limb Most stealth games cast you as a spy, an assassin or a master thief. My Arms Are Longer Now dispenses with most of the criminal person, to send in just one spectacularly badly behaved limb. It slithers across floors, winds around furniture, steals things and slaps anyone within reach – finally answering the question nobody asked: what if your own arm turned to crime? As Toot Games co-founder Matthew Jackson puts it: “You are the bad thing that happens to the people.” Continue reading...

Fairphone 6+ review: the most repairable, ethical phone gets faster
The Guardian — Technology Aug 24 · 5 min read

Fairphone 6+ review: the most repairable, ethical phone gets faster

Dutch sustainable smartphone revamped with new chip and more RAM without sacrificing modular design Fairphone’s top Android for 2026 is a little faster with more memory while maintaining full compatibility with its previous phone, including its repairable and ethical chops. The Fairphone 6+ continues the Dutch cooperative’s mission to make consumer electronics longer lasting and more sustainable, containing 51% either recycled or ethically sourced materials while being fully repairable at home with just the one screwdriver included in the box. Continue reading...

After more than 15 years of laptops in the classroom, do Australian schools need a rethink?
The Guardian — Technology Aug 24 · 7 min read

After more than 15 years of laptops in the classroom, do Australian schools need a rethink?

‘We don’t want distraction, we want concentration’: many teachers and parent groups think its time for a ‘digital detox’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Earlier this month, the federal education minister, Jason Clare, took to Facebook. “When I was a kid there was a computer room at school. Now they are everywhere. From morning till night,” he wrote . “I think there is a good argument our kids need a digital detox.” Since that post, as the minister told ABC News Breakfast last week, he has been “inundated” with support from parents and teachers. Continue reading...

Due to need for 'absolute success,' China delays critical Moon launch to 2027
Ars Technica Aug 23 · 3 min read

Due to need for 'absolute success,' China delays critical Moon launch to 2027

"The Chang’e 7 mission does not meet the conditions for launch."

An AI ‘debt bomb’ crisis? No. This isn’t Enron 2.0 | Gene Marks
The Guardian — Technology Aug 23 · 5 min read

An AI ‘debt bomb’ crisis? No. This isn’t Enron 2.0 | Gene Marks

Fears of a datacenter buildout debt crisis are exaggerated. The risks are different than in the past and they are recoverable Some experts are warning of a looming “debt bomb” crisis because big datacenter builders such as Meta , Oracle , xAI and CoreWeave are not only raising billions to construct these facilities but are also not recognizing these long-term debt obligations on their balance sheets. Should we be concerned? No. I know because I’ve seen this movie before. Continue reading...

If all car tyres were filled with CO2, would this cut atmospheric carbon significantly?
The Guardian — Technology Aug 23 · 1 min read

If all car tyres were filled with CO2, would this cut atmospheric carbon significantly?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions probes an intriguing scientific question in relation to the climate emergency Readers reply: Is it inevitable that consumerism will literally fill up the planet? If all the vehicles on the planet had their tyres pumped up with CO 2 , would this lock up enough carbon to lower the amount in the air significantly? Would there be other issues, such as the carbon cost of trapping it all into the tyres? Chris Coldwell, Lancaster Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com . A selection will be published next Sunday. Continue reading...