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Senator Warren raises concerns over DoD contract with Elon Musk’s xAI and its Grok AI

Senator Warren raises concerns over DoD contract with Elon Musk’s xAI and its Grok AI

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has written to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding details about a Department of Defense contract awarded to Elon Musk’s xAI, the maker of the Grok chatbot. Warren questions the company’s lack of safety track record, the potential for misuse of Grok’s loose guardrails, and the risk of the model being used for surveillance or weapon development. The contract, worth up to $200 million, also includes OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, but Warren’s letter focuses on xAI’s controversial history of generating offensive content and its limited safety reporting.

Nvidia Rolls Out New GeForce Game Ready Driver and RTX Remix Update Ahead of Borderlands 4

Nvidia Rolls Out New GeForce Game Ready Driver and RTX Remix Update Ahead of Borderlands 4

Nvidia released a fresh GeForce Game Ready driver that adds Borderlands 4 optimizations, including DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, and Reflex support, as well as enhancements for Dying Light: The Beast. At the same time the company refreshed its RTX Remix tool, adding fire and smoke particle capabilities for modders working on legacy titles. More than 165 games are now RTX Remix‑ready, and Nvidia highlighted its RTX 50‑series graphics cards now back in stock across major retailers.

Nikon and RED Unveil the ZR Cinema Camera

Nikon and RED Unveil the ZR Cinema Camera

Nikon has introduced the ZR, its first cinema camera co‑designed with RED. The hybrid model blends RED’s color science and video codecs with Nikon’s advanced subject‑detect autofocus and five‑axis in‑body stabilization. Featuring a partially stacked 24‑megapixel sensor with Dual Base ISO 800/6400 and 15+ stops of dynamic range, the ZR can record up to 12K RAW video and supports multiple RAW and ProRes formats. Built‑in 32‑bit float audio, versatile mic patterns, and a high‑brightness 4‑inch display round out a feature set aimed at creators seeking high performance at a lower price point.

Windows 11 September Update Brings AI Enhancements and Minor Tweaks

Windows 11 September Update Brings AI Enhancements and Minor Tweaks

Microsoft’s September update for Windows 11 introduces a suite of new features, many of which are tied to the Copilot+ AI platform. Highlights include a new Recall homepage, expanded AI Agent in Settings, customizable lock‑screen widgets, improved search layout, and a corrected CPU usage display in Task Manager. Additional refinements address Click‑to‑Do tutorials, a refreshed Windows Hello design, larger clock options, and clearer permission prompts. The update’s size, roughly 4 GB, carries AI models even for devices without Copilot+, prompting concerns about download time and storage impact.

Prime Video’s Thriller “The Girlfriend” Delivers Dual‑Perspective Drama

Prime Video’s Thriller “The Girlfriend” Delivers Dual‑Perspective Drama

Prime Video’s new thriller “The Girlfriend,” starring Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, and Waleed Zuaiter, offers a tense, dual‑perspective narrative that keeps viewers guessing about reliability and motive. Set against a backdrop of strained marriages and secret affairs, the series uses alternating viewpoints to heighten suspense. Cast members highlight the demanding scenes in episodes five and six, while Wright’s dual role as actor‑director adds a layer of collaborative intensity. Executive producer Jonathan Cavendish praises Wright’s ability to judge performances on both sides of the camera, underscoring the series’ focus on nuanced character dynamics.

Exclusive Free Gifts Accompany Pokémon Legends Z‑A Pre‑Orders Across US and UK Retailers

Exclusive Free Gifts Accompany Pokémon Legends Z‑A Pre‑Orders Across US and UK Retailers

Pokémon Legends Z‑A pre‑orders are available at a range of retailers in the United States and United Kingdom, each offering its own exclusive free gift. U.S. shoppers can receive a set of Pokémon‑themed pins from Walmart or a tote bag from GameStop, while UK customers may obtain a sticker set from ShopTo or figurines and pins from Nintendo’s online store. The promotion also notes that console bundles, including the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, remain available for pre‑order at select outlets.

Spotify Rolls Out Lossless Audio to Premium Subscribers

Spotify Rolls Out Lossless Audio to Premium Subscribers

Spotify has begun rolling out its long‑awaited Lossless audio tier to Premium users across more than 50 regions, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. The feature, offered at no extra charge, provides up to 24‑bit/44.1 kHz FLAC playback and will be available for the majority of the catalog. Users must manually enable Lossless on each device, and the service recommends streaming over Wi‑Fi or wired connections because Bluetooth bandwidth is currently insufficient. The rollout will continue through October.

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 Live Translation Feature Draws Mixed Reactions

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 Live Translation Feature Draws Mixed Reactions

Apple introduced a live translation capability for its AirPods Pro 3, supporting English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish at launch, with plans for Italian, Japanese, Korean and simplified Chinese. The feature does not work in the EU, affecting its 450 million residents. Reviewers found the translation lagged behind natural conversation, struggled in noisy environments, and raised concerns about reduced cultural immersion and safety when users wear noise‑cancelling earbuds in public. While the technology is novel, its practical usefulness remains uncertain.

Apple’s Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Turns Heads at Launch

Apple’s Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Turns Heads at Launch

Apple introduced a bold new hue for its flagship iPhone 17 Pro: a deep, “cosmic orange” that wraps the aluminum body and camera bump. The shade aligns with current fashion runway trends and summer color palettes, and its timing coincides with pop‑culture moments such as Taylor Swift’s recent orange‑themed tour outfits. Reviewers praise the color’s vibrancy and its ability to stand out on a table, while the more muted silver and deep‑blue options provide alternatives. The launch marks a rare instance of Apple using a high‑impact color as its hero shade for a Pro model.

Apple Refreshes Watch Lineup with SE 3, Series 11, and Ultra 3

Apple Refreshes Watch Lineup with SE 3, Series 11, and Ultra 3

Apple introduced three updated smartwatches—Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3—each featuring the new S10 chip, always‑on displays, 5G connectivity, and watchOS 26. The SE 3 adds faster charging, sleep‑score analytics, and cellular 5G. The Series 11 retains its size options while offering a more scratch‑resistant glass, hypertension‑monitoring sensor, and a 24‑hour battery. The Ultra 3 maintains its rugged case but gains a larger OLED screen, up to 48‑hour battery life, and satellite texting. All models are available for preorder and ship later this month.

Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Lineup and New iPhone Air at Awe Dropping Event

Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Lineup and New iPhone Air at Awe Dropping Event

Apple introduced its iPhone 17 family during the Awe dropping event, adding the standard iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 ProMotion Max, and a new iPhone Air. The Air is the thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6 mm, features a 6.5‑inch ProMotion display, a single 48 MP fusion camera, and the A19 Pro processor. The iPhone 17 line brings larger 6.3‑inch displays, dual 48 MP cameras, and a revamped 18 MP front camera. The Pro models retain 6.3‑inch and 6.9‑inch screens, add a triple‑camera “plateau” bump, and sport bigger batteries. Pricing starts at $799 for the base iPhone 17 and $999 for the iPhone Air, with pre‑orders opening on a Friday and shipments following a week later.

Reddit Translation Test Bug Mislabels Subreddit, Sparks Moderator Concerns

Reddit Translation Test Bug Mislabels Subreddit, Sparks Moderator Concerns

Reddit disclosed that a recent machine‑learning translation test unintentionally generated English‑to‑English rewrites, causing a lesbian‑focused subreddit to be labeled as a space for “straight” women. The bug was quickly resolved and the test withdrawn, but the incident fueled speculation that Reddit was using generative AI to alter user content for SEO purposes. Moderators expressed frustration over the lack of advance notice and the inability to disable the feature, warning that similar glitches could harm community trust. Reddit’s spokesperson confirmed the issue was a test error and reiterated that the platform does not currently employ generative AI to modify user‑generated posts.