Sunday, June 7, 2026

Xbox Games Showcase 2026: All the news and trailers

The Xbox Games Showcase, held on June 7, 2026, at 1 PM ET, is set to spotlight major game announcements, including a remake of Halo and the recently delayed Fable, which is now scheduled for February 2027. Following the showcase, a dedicated presentation for Gears of War: E-Day will occur, with the game expected to launch later this year. This event comes as Microsoft navigates a leadership transition under new head Asha Sharma, who is promising a revitalization of the Xbox brand amid recent challenges in the gaming industry.

OpenAI is still working on that ‘super app’

OpenAI is preparing to launch a revamped version of ChatGPT, transforming it into a 'super app' that incorporates coding tools and AI agents. This strategic shift, reported by the Financial Times, aims to enhance competitiveness against Anthropic and attract business customers while moving closer to profitability before a potential IPO. A senior OpenAI employee noted a significant pivot, stating, 'Chat is dead,' as the company focuses on integrating various functionalities into a single platform. Thibault Sottiaux, leading the product development, emphasized the goal of creating a personal agent to assist users across all aspects of their lives.

Deepseek topped Ramp's trending software vendors in June 2026 as US companies chase cheaper AI

Deepseek emerged as the leading vendor in Ramp's trending software category for June 2026, reflecting a growing demand among US companies for more affordable AI solutions. This shift follows the launch of Deepseek V4 in April, which, while not matching the performance of top Western models, offers significant cost savings. Ramp's chief economist, Ara Kharazian, highlighted that companies are increasingly opting for Deepseek's platform, despite concerns over security and the competitive risks associated with using Chinese AI models directly. The trend marks a notable change in the AI landscape as companies prioritize cost over performance.

AI ‘content creators’ are getting harder to spot

AI influencers have evolved from easily identifiable digital creations to accounts that blend seamlessly into social media feeds, making them difficult to spot. Characters like Aitana Lopez and Emily Pellegrini, created by agencies and individuals, now resemble typical users rather than obvious fakes. As the technology behind these avatars improves, social media platforms face challenges in regulating this influx of AI-generated content, which has led to a surge in fake personas that can mislead users and promote disinformation.

Sponsors especially OPENAI CODEX voucher usage for codex - openAI challange

During the OpenAI challenge, participants encountered difficulties activating their Codex vouchers, with some reporting that the voucher key had no designated entry point. The challenge includes a dedicated prize track offering $10,000 in cash and ChatGPT Pro subscriptions for the top three builds, which are judged by Codex itself. To enter, participants must build their Space using Codex as a coding agent and push the code to a public GitHub repository containing Codex-attributed commits.

OpenAI says "chat is dead" and plans to rebuild ChatGPT as a full-blown agent app

OpenAI has declared that 'chat is dead' as it pivots ChatGPT from a simple Q&A chatbot to a comprehensive agent app capable of independently handling tasks. This transformation represents the most significant update since ChatGPT's launch in 2022, evolving into a 'superapp' that integrates coding tools and partnerships with companies like Canva and Booking. Chief Product Officer Thibault Sottiaux emphasized that the goal is to create a personal agent that assists users in all aspects of their lives. The redesign of ChatGPT's web and mobile interface will roll out in the coming weeks, introducing features that guide users toward coding and image generation, with the aim of eventually allowing the models to anticipate user needs autonomously.

Perplexity's "Search as Code" lets AI models write their own search pipelines instead of calling fixed APIs

Perplexity has launched 'Search as Code,' enabling AI models to generate their own search pipelines using Python instead of relying on fixed APIs. This innovation aims to enhance search precision and reduce token usage significantly. By allowing models to construct custom workflows, the architecture addresses the limitations of traditional search engines that cater primarily to human users. In a practical test, the system demonstrated its effectiveness by successfully identifying 200 critical software vulnerabilities while consuming 85% fewer tokens than previous methods.

School shooting survivor sues AI gun detection firm after system failed to spot weapon

A teenage survivor of the January 2025 Nashville school shooting has filed a lawsuit against Omnilert, the maker of an AI gun detection system that failed to identify the shooter's weapon, resulting in two fatalities. The lawsuit, filed in Davidson County court, alleges that Omnilert was aware of significant limitations in its system, including issues related to camera placement and visibility. Following the incident, a spokesperson for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools stated that the camera angles were not optimal for accurate detection. The lawsuit also highlights that Omnilert's marketing oversold the system's capabilities, claiming it could prevent tragedies similar to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

TechCrunch Mobility: Inside GM’s $900M EV battery gamble

General Motors is committing $900 million to develop LMR batteries and establish a new Battery Cell Development Center at its Warren Technical Center in Michigan. This initiative is designed to lower costs for future electric vehicles, with the Chevrolet Silverado EV potentially becoming $6,000 cheaper. Kurt Kelty, GM’s VP of battery and sustainability, highlighted that the new battery chemistry will help maintain driving range while reducing production expenses. Additionally, GM is integrating AI technologies to enhance its vehicle development processes.

Japanese Gothic is a gorgeously grotesque ghost story

Kylie Lee Baker's latest novel, Japanese Gothic, intricately weaves the lives of two protagonists: Lee Turner, an NYU student in 2026 who has fled to Japan after committing murder, and Sen Iwasaki, a samurai's daughter living in hiding in the 19th century. Their connection is a house that serves as a portal between their worlds, leading Lee to believe Sen can help him uncover the truth about his mother's disappearance. The narrative is rich with themes of generational trauma, child abuse, and mental health, while Baker's vivid prose captures both the grotesque and the beautiful, making it a compelling read.

Hacked, leaked, and held for ransom: the worst breaches of 2026 so far

In 2026, cybersecurity has become a critical issue, with significant breaches affecting both personal data and infrastructure. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is under scrutiny for allegedly uploading a live copy of the Social Security database to an unsecured server, potentially compromising the data of most living Americans. Concurrently, Iranian hackers have shifted tactics, executing destructive attacks on U.S. companies like Stryker, while the ShinyHunters gang disrupted educational services by stealing data from Instructure, impacting over 30 million users. These incidents highlight the escalating threat landscape in cybersecurity.

Inflation inside the electronics you buy may soon become a bit more sticky

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has severely impacted the resin supply critical for manufacturing printed circuit boards (PCBs), essential components in electronics. The Jubail petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia, which previously supplied approximately 70% of the world's high-purity polyphenylene ether resin, remains offline following missile strikes. Experts warn that if the plant does not resume operations soon, consumers can expect significant price increases for electronics, including smartphones and gaming devices, as PCB prices have already surged by up to 40% in just one month.

Women often outlive men. Here's how they should approach their long-term care needs

Women face significant long-term care financial risks, as 26% will require care for over five years, compared to 17.5% of men, according to 2022 data from the Health and Human Services Department. The average duration of care for women is 3.6 years, indicating a need for financial planning to cover potential costs. In 2025, a private room in a nursing home will cost approximately $129,575 annually, and Medicare does not typically cover long-term care, leaving women to explore insurance options or self-insurance strategies.

Seriously, how do we not have more Android phones with Qi2 yet?

The Pixel 10 is currently the only Android phone that fully supports the Qi2 wireless charging standard, which was introduced in early 2023. Despite the advantages of Qi2, including compatibility with a range of accessories and faster charging speeds, most major Android manufacturers, particularly Samsung, have yet to adopt this technology. Samsung's Galaxy S26 series has ignored Qi2 for the second year in a row, prioritizing thinner designs over enhanced functionality. This lack of adoption is puzzling, especially as the market for Qi2-compatible accessories continues to grow.

New dummy units give our closest look yet at the iPhone Fold

New dummy units have provided a detailed glimpse of Apple's anticipated foldable phone, likely named the iPhone Fold. The device is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display, comparable to an iPad mini, and a 5.5-inch outer display. The front camera will be located in the top-left corner, while the device will utilize Touch ID through the side button instead of Face ID. Reports suggest that Apple may limit color options to just white, diverging from earlier speculation of multiple colors, and the build quality, particularly the hinge, is expected to be a standout feature.

ExtendDB: Open Source Amazon DynamoDB Compatible Adapter with Pluggable Storage Backends

AWS has introduced ExtendDB, an open-source adapter that enables developers to utilize the DynamoDB API with various storage backends, starting with PostgreSQL. Currently at version 0.1, ExtendDB supports both control plane and data plane APIs, allowing for seamless integration with existing AWS SDKs. This adapter is designed for local development, CI testing, and on-premises environments, providing a flexible solution for running DynamoDB-compatible workloads. Built in Rust, ExtendDB operates as a single binary with no external dependencies, requiring TLS and supporting SigV4 authentication.