The European Union is exempting wearable devices such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart glasses from its upcoming regulation requiring user-replaceable batteries in a wide range of electronics. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 will not be exempt and must feature a replaceable battery by the time the law takes effect in February 2027.
EU Battery Regulation: Wearables Get a Pass
The EU's new battery rules, aimed at reducing electronic waste and making devices easier to repair, will require most consumer electronics to have batteries that users can replace themselves. Wearable devices, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart glasses, have been carved out from the requirement, likely due to their compact designs that make replaceable batteries challenging. The Nintendo Switch 2, on the other hand, will need to comply, ensuring its battery can be swapped out by users when the law goes into effect in 2027.
FCC Chair Proposes Ending Broadcast Ownership Cap
Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, is pushing to eliminate the broadcast ownership cap, a move that would allow large media companies to dominate the airwaves. The cap currently limits how many TV or radio stations a single entity can own in a market. Carr's plan would remove those restrictions, potentially enabling further consolidation among broadcast giants.
OpenAI Releases GPT-Red Model to Find Vulnerabilities
OpenAI has announced a new AI model called GPT-Red, designed to probe other AI systems for security flaws. According to an OpenAI blog post, GPT-Red "can break nearly all models it is pitted against." The company used GPT-Red to identify vulnerabilities in its own GPT-5.6 Sol, a process that made GPT-5.6 Sol the company's "most robust model to prompt injections to date." The release underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen AI safety.
Murati Launches Open-Weight Model 'Inkling'
Mira Murati, OpenAI's former CTO, has unveiled an open-weight AI model called Inkling, trained from scratch. In a post on X, Murati described the model as a foundation for future development. The official blog post set modest expectations, stating that Inkling "is not the most performant model available today, closed or open" and was trained for "solid capabilities across the board rather than state-of-the-art performance in a single area."
Waymo Faces Hygiene and Safety Challenges
A Bloomberg report has highlighted some of the less savory aspects of Waymo's driverless car service, including incidents of blood, vomit, and fecal matter found in vehicles. Emergency responders have received nearly 100 calls about passengers falling asleep in Waymos and failing to wake up at their destination. The report echoes concerns from six years ago when contractors discovered hypodermic needles in the cars.
Suno Accused of Ripping Audio from Protected Platforms
Hacked files reportedly show that Suno, an AI music generation company, copied decades of audio from protected platforms without authorization. The allegations add to ongoing debates about copyright and AI training data.
EV Maker Lucid's Stock Plunges on Bankruptcy Report
Lucid Group's stock took a sharp dive following a report that the electric vehicle company was considering bankruptcy. The panic also affected shares of Lucid's rivals, reflecting broader investor jitters about the EV market's financial health.
Oppo and OnePlus Parent Company Shifts Strategy
Bloomberg reports that Oppo, the parent company of OnePlus, is making a strategic shift that could happen as early as this week. The move, first reported by WinFuture, is part of broader changes at the company, though specific details remain unclear.
OpenAI Collaborates with Work Louder on Hardware
OpenAI is collaborating with keyboard maker Work Louder on a hardware project, separate from its main hardware initiative rumored to be a smart speaker. The partnership was announced without further details about the product.
Sunshine Protection Act Advances in House
House lawmakers voted to advance the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, keeping clocks one hour ahead year-round. The bill now moves to the Senate.
AI Data Centers Face Local Opposition
AI data center projects continue to spring up across the US, but many face pushback from local communities concerned about environmental impact and resource use. Recent examples include a tabled approval in Marietta, Georgia; a proposed $5.1 billion facility in Salem, Oregon; a project in East Texas drawing mixed reactions; and Sarasota County, Florida, blocking hyperscale data centers for at least a year.
Elon Musk's xAI Sues Over Grok Safeguards
Elon Musk's xAI has filed a lawsuit claiming that Terry Harwood bypassed safety safeguards on its Grok AI model to generate child sexual abuse material. The company is seeking reputational and legal damages.
Bethesda Layoffs Hit 379 Positions
A WARN notice obtained by Game Developer's Chris Kerr reveals that 379 positions were cut in Maryland, including major layoffs at Bethesda Game Studios' headquarters in Rockville. The cuts are part of broader industry downsizing.
Valve's Steam Machine Debate Continues
Valve's Steam Machine is generating mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a potential living room console and others calling it expensive and pointless. The Verge's Sean Hollister discussed the device's pros and cons, including its price, target audience, and Valve's history.
Nintendo Switch 2 Online Test Play Announced
Nintendo has announced a test play for the Switch 2, with applications opening on July 22nd at 10 AM ET. Participants must have a Switch 2 and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. Selections will be announced on August 7th, and the test runs from August 21st to 23rd.
EA Removes Microtransactions from Single-Player Modes
Comedian Dan Soder discussed on Pablo Torre Finds Out how backlash pushed EA to remove microtransaction paywalls from single-player modes in its games. The move follows years of criticism over monetization practices.
AppleCare+ Prices Increase
Apple has raised prices for new subscribers to its AppleCare+ service plan, with monthly payments increasing by 50 cents and annual plans going up by $5.
Steam Deck LCD Continues Production
Valve confirmed that the Steam Deck LCD model will continue to be produced, alongside the OLED version, offering a lower-cost entry point for portable PC gaming.
Google Teases Mysterious Orb
Google released a teaser image of an orb, sparking speculation about a potential new hardware product. No further details were provided.
Smart Glasses: Stylish but Still Not Practical
A crop of new smart glasses is being hailed as the most stylish, affordable, and capable yet, but they still face challenges in finding a practical use case. Privacy concerns also remain, with critics warning that AI wearable surveillance could erode personal privacy under the guise of good intentions.
The Verge's Giveaway and Other Stories
The Verge launched its third "Today I'm Toying With" giveaway, open to US residents. Other stories include a report on Suno's alleged copyright violations, a review of Philips Hue's Bridge Pro, and a look at the new Siri AI refresh in public beta.