A recent study found that ride-hailing apps Uber and Lyft charge different prices for the same rides, with some fares varying by a large amount. The study suggests these price differences are caused by algorithms setting dynamic prices, but Uber disputes this claim.
Key Facts
Prices for the same ride can vary widely between Uber and Lyft.
A test by CBS LA showed price differences even when rides started at the same time and place.
One example found a Lyft ride nearly $60 cheaper than Uber for the same trip.
Discounts on Lyft sometimes start from higher base prices, making the final fare not always cheaper.
Consumer Reports found some discounts were "fake," reducing inflated prices to appear as savings.
Price differences may be due to AI algorithms adjusting fares based on demand and market conditions.
Uber and Lyft have both increased profits significantly in recent years.
Uber said the study used flawed methods and denied using personalized pricing, attributing differences to changing market conditions.
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Mobileye plans to start a robotaxi service in an unnamed US city in 2027 using its own technology. The company will begin with about 100 robotaxis and aims to expand to around 17,000 within five years.
Key Facts
Mobileye is a driving technology company that specializes in autonomous vehicles.
It will launch a robotaxi service integrated with its Moovit platform to handle ride bookings and coordination.
The service is planned to start with roughly 100 robotaxis early next year.
Mobileye was bought by Intel in 2017 and went public again in 2022.
Mobileye previously worked with Tesla on driver assistance but ended that partnership in 2016.
The company collaborates with other automakers like Porsche, Polestar, and Volkswagen on driver assistance and robotaxi projects.
Mobileye is also working with Lyft on robotaxi deployment in Dallas expected to start this year.
The company sees operating its own robotaxi service as a way to gain experience and accelerate autonomous vehicle adoption.
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French startup Genesis AI revealed its first robot called "Eno," which uses artificial intelligence to help humans but does not look like a human. The robot has wheels instead of legs, human-like hands, and will be used in industries such as logistics and manufacturing starting late 2026.
Key Facts
Genesis AI is a French robotics startup supported by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
"Eno" is a general-purpose robot designed to extend human abilities rather than copying human shape.
The robot has a wheeled base, a foldable tower, and hands shaped like human hands.
Production and customer use of Eno are planned to begin by the end of 2026.
Initial customers will be from logistics, manufacturing, hotels, hospitals, and consumer sectors.
Genesis AI has raised $105 million in funding since it was founded in early 2025.
The company built several units and will increase production in the second half of 2026.
Eno runs on Genesis AI’s own artificial intelligence model and is designed for flat floor use.
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SpaceX plans to buy the AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion to compete with other AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI. Cursor, known for its AI tools that help programmers write code, will become a fully owned part of SpaceX after the deal closes in the third quarter of 2025.
Key Facts
SpaceX announced the $60 billion acquisition of Cursor, an AI coding assistant startup.
Cursor was created by the San Francisco company Anysphere and started in 2022.
The deal will make Cursor a fully owned subsidiary of SpaceX.
Cursor's AI tools help software engineers by assisting with coding tasks.
SpaceX’s AI division, xAI, will work with Cursor using its large AI data center named Colossus in Tennessee.
Cursor competes with other AI coding tools like Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex.
SpaceX became a public company recently, with its stock price rising since its debut.
The acquisition aims to strengthen SpaceX’s position in the growing AI technology market.
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France’s government decided to stop using the American AI company Palantir for its intelligence data systems to reduce reliance on U.S. technology. Instead, France will use a French company called ChapsVision and invest heavily in its own AI development.
Key Facts
France’s intelligence agency DGSI will replace Palantir’s data processing systems with French company ChapsVision.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said France must avoid dependency on foreign tech that can be cut off.
ChapsVision, founded in 2019, earned 200 million euros in 2025, much smaller than Palantir’s $4.5 billion.
Palantir’s contract with DGSI continues to avoid losing crucial capabilities during the transition.
Palantir was co-founded with CIA backing and is linked to right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, close to President Donald Trump.
Palantir is used by U.S. and British governments for sensitive work but faces criticism over privacy and surveillance concerns.
France plans to invest 655 million euros in AI infrastructure, research, and companies to boost domestic AI technology.
A new French AI tool, based on startup Mistral’s models, is being tested to help government workers with tasks like legal cases and research support.
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Ars Technica has launched a reader survey to gather feedback on their website and content. The survey is short, anonymous, and open to all readers, aiming to improve the site based on the responses.
Key Facts
Ars Technica last ran a similar survey almost four years ago.
The survey is designed to be brief with a few focused questions.
No personal information is collected, and answers are viewed only in summary form.
The survey uses SurveyMonkey, a platform they have used before.
Anyone identifying as human can participate, including newcomers and longtime readers.
Respondents can write comments that will be read by the Ars Technica team.
If they receive over 10,000 responses, an editor named Lee Hutchinson will sing a thank-you song to readers.
Ken Fisher, the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Ars Technica, introduced the survey.
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A recent report highlights that advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are increasing the ways AI can cause harm. However, the ability to see and detect such harmful uses is not improving as fast.
Key Facts
AI is becoming more powerful over time.
This increase in AI capability creates more possible ways to misuse the technology.
The number of ways AI can cause harm is growing.
Efforts to detect or monitor misuse are not keeping up with these new risks.
This gap creates challenges in controlling AI-related dangers.
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SpaceX launched the biggest stock market debut ever, raising $85.7 billion and making Elon Musk the first trillionaire. At the same time, the U.S. government ordered AI company Anthropic to block foreign users from its newest AI models due to security concerns.
Key Facts
SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO) raised $85.7 billion, breaking the previous record of $29.4 billion.
SpaceX’s shares opened at $135 and closed at $160.95 on the first day of trading.
Elon Musk became the world’s first person with a net worth over one trillion dollars after the IPO.
Some politicians called for taxes on super-rich individuals like Musk.
SpaceX aims to earn $1 trillion in revenue by 2030, but experts are skeptical about this forecast.
Anthropic, an AI company, was ordered by the U.S. government to restrict foreign access to its latest AI models (Fable 5 and Mythos 5).
The government’s order is based on fears that adversaries could misuse the AI for cyberattacks by bypassing safety features.
Anthropic disagreed with the government’s reasoning but agreed to comply with the restrictions.
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The UK government plans to ban children under 16 from using some social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. Details about which apps and gaming sites like Roblox will be affected, and how the ban will be enforced, are still unclear.
Key Facts
The ban targets social media platforms popular with under-16s, such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
The UK’s restrictions will be similar to Australia’s, which also bans platforms like Reddit, Twitch, and Threads for young users.
Roblox and other gaming sites have not been clearly included in the ban, but games must disable features allowing strangers to contact children.
YouTube Kids will be exempt from the ban, but how YouTube’s general platform will handle children’s access is uncertain.
The government will allow some exemptions for educational content on platforms included in the ban.
Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are not expected to be banned since their primary purpose is messaging, not posting content publicly.
Enforcement details, including dealing with VPNs or adding curfews and limits on addictive features, will be announced later.
The government aims to balance protecting children while ensuring they can still join multiplayer games and access educational resources.
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Anthropic released a new AI model called Fable, which the US government quickly labeled a dangerous weapon and blocked foreign access. Fable is notable because it can work independently with less help from users, making it both very powerful and potentially risky.
Key Facts
Anthropic launched the Fable AI model on June 9, 2024.
Three days later, the US government classified Fable as a dangerous munition and restricted its use by foreigners.
Anthropic had to shut down access to everyone because it could not separate Americans from foreigners.
Fable is a simpler, easier-to-use version of an earlier AI model called Mythos.
Mythos was known for finding security problems in computer software but was only given to a few organizations.
Fable can figure out creative and unexpected ways to complete difficult tasks without much detailed guidance from users.
This AI’s power comes not only from the model itself but also from the “harness,” which is software that connects the AI to users and gives it tools like web search.
Experts worry that while Fable’s abilities can be helpful, they can also be dangerous if used with harmful intentions since AI does not understand morality.
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More than 200 state lawmakers have asked the U.S. Congress to reject a plan that would stop states from making their own rules about artificial intelligence (AI) for three years. They are concerned about the effects of AI on children, artists, creators, and workers.
Key Facts
203 state lawmakers signed a letter sent to Congress on Tuesday.
The letter opposes a proposal to pause state regulations on AI for three years.
Lawmakers worry about AI’s impact on children.
They also raise concerns about how AI affects artists and creators.
The letter mentions potential effects on workers due to AI technology.
The lawmakers want states to keep the ability to regulate AI.
The proposal is currently under consideration by the House and Senate.
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Microsoft fixed a serious security problem in its M365 Copilot AI tool that let hackers steal two-factor authentication (2FA) codes and other sensitive email data. The flaw happened because the AI could not tell the difference between safe instructions and harmful hidden commands, letting attackers trick it into sending private information.
Key Facts
Microsoft patched a critical vulnerability in its M365 Copilot AI platform last Tuesday.
The flaw allowed hackers to use specially crafted links to trick Copilot into accessing and leaking 2FA codes and email data.
The attack used a technique called Parameter-to-Prompt Injection, where malicious commands are placed in URLs sent to the user.
By clicking a link in an email, the victim unknowingly triggered Copilot to search their emails and embed secret data into image links, which were sent to attackers.
Copilot has protections (guardrails) to stop sending data to untrusted sites, but these protections can be bypassed during the AI’s response streaming phase.
Hackers exploited the way Copilot generates HTML responses temporarily in the browser before protections activate, allowing data to be sent out early.
Microsoft’s Bing search engine was used as an intermediate step to bypass request restrictions.
This vulnerability shows challenges in securing AI systems that automatically handle user data and instructions from third-party content.
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General Motors (GM) is changing how it builds cars by using new computer tools and artificial intelligence (AI). These changes let different teams work together faster and improve designs more quickly than before. While computers speed up development, GM still uses physical tests to check car safety and performance.
Key Facts
GM is adopting methods similar to those used by Chinese car makers, focusing on speed and new technology.
The old process was slow and expensive, relying on many physical prototypes and back-and-forth work between teams.
GM now uses digital tools that let designers and engineers see effects of changes instantly, saving hours of analysis.
Teams can work at the same time on both the hardware (physical parts) and software (computer programs) of the vehicle.
GM employs digital twins, which are virtual models of cars, to test and improve designs before making physical versions.
AI and digital environments have accelerated the development process but have not replaced real-world testing.
Physical tests for safety and vehicle behavior remain essential parts of GM’s process.
GM has created a new “operating system” for product development that improves speed and quality.
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Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, said people should not panic about AI’s impact on jobs. He criticized tech leaders for making exaggerated warnings about AI and urged a more balanced view that focuses on how AI can help people in the long run.
Key Facts
Brad Smith has worked at Microsoft for 33 years and spoke from their headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
He believes scary predictions about AI harming entry-level white-collar jobs are making young people anxious about AI.
Smith noted that AI’s full effect on jobs will take about 25 years, not just a few years.
He criticized some tech leaders for urging a "global pause" on AI but not slowing their own development efforts.
Smith said young workers want their voices heard and see AI as something affecting them directly.
He warned against overhyping AI’s speed and power while underestimating human ability to adapt.
Smith compared AI adoption to historical changes, like learning to ride horses to speed travel.
He cautioned that calls for strict AI laws often fail because proposed rules are unrealistic or companies resist them.
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A father used his technical skills to enter a city sewer to retrieve his daughter's stolen phone. His unusual and determined effort to recover the phone gained widespread attention on the internet.
Key Facts
A dad's daughter had her phone stolen.
The father searched for and recovered the phone.
He went into a city sewer during the rescue mission.
The event was shared online and became very popular.
The story highlights the father's tech knowledge and determination.
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Commodore is releasing a new flip phone called the Callback 8020 that blocks access to social media apps and web browsers while still allowing some Internet uses like maps and messaging. The phone runs on Sailfish OS, supports most Android apps, and includes features to reduce distractions such as an LED message light and swappable covers.
Key Facts
Commodore brand was acquired by Christian Simpson in 2025, who paid in the low seven figures.
The Callback 8020 is a flip phone styled in “BASIC Beige” and inspired by retro designs.
The phone blocks social media apps and browsers at the system level using special patent-pending technology.
It allows other Internet apps and functions, like maps, QR codes, WhatsApp, Signal, and Spotify.
Social media apps cannot be installed or sideloaded, with additional blocks at the network (DNS) level.
The phone runs Sailfish OS, a Linux-based system with an Android app compatibility layer.
It includes retro-style features such as swappable covers, a red-tinted calculator-style exterior screen, and a domed LED message light.
Commodore plans to consult users about blocking other internet forums beyond social media.
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The article discusses experiences of Twitch streamers who have grown up on the platform, sharing personal stories about how streaming helped them express their identities and cope with challenges. It also explains steps Twitch has taken to protect creators from online abuse, such as using moderation tools and supporting minority groups.
Key Facts
Aimsey, a streamer who started at age 16, shares openly about their identity and life struggles to support others.
Streaming can blur the lines between personal life and online presence, causing stress for creators.
Aimsey recently began keeping some aspects of life private to maintain balance and well-being.
Sweet Anita, a streamer with Tourette syndrome, finds streaming a way to be herself and become more social.
Many young people view content creation as a career, but it comes with risks like long-term loss of privacy.
Twitch has created guilds to help minority streamers communicate and get support.
The platform uses AI-powered AutoMod to remove abusive chat messages during streams.
Twitch encourages streamers to use safety features like moderators and AutoMod before going live.
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Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, report that new digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) can help identify and save plant and fungi species before they disappear. These technologies allow faster species identification, better access to global collections, and new studies on how climate change shifts plant flowering times.
Key Facts
About 40% of assessed plant species and many unknown fungi species face extinction risks.
AI can identify plant species with microscopic features faster and sometimes better than human experts.
Digitisation has made 7.4 million plant and fungi specimens from Kew available online, including historic collections.
Around 145 million digital specimens are online globally, but this is less than 16% of all collections worldwide.
AI analysis showed that plant flowering times have shifted by about 2.5 days per decade over the last 100 years due to climate changes.
Digitised collections improve international collaboration and give insights into biodiversity hotspots like Madagascar.
Thousands of new plant species are found yearly, but many more remain undiscovered and at risk.
Changes in flowering times can disrupt ecosystems by affecting animals and insects that rely on plants.
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A new report from the Reuters Institute shows that in 2026, more people worldwide get their news from social media and video platforms than from traditional sources like TV, newspapers, or radio. Younger audiences, especially people aged 18-24, mostly use these new platforms, which challenges old media companies' ways of making money.
Key Facts
In 2026, 54% of people worldwide said they got news from social media or video platforms, more than traditional news sources.
Including AI chatbots like ChatGPT raises this number to 56%.
Traditional TV news was used by 52% of people, newspaper apps or websites by 51%, and radio by 21%.
Younger people (18-24 years old) rely on social media or video platforms for news twice as much as older age groups.
People mainly visit platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube to find news, while on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, news is often found by accident.
Traditional media apps and websites are no longer the first choice for news for any age group under 55.
Only 17% of those surveyed pay for news online, making it hard for media companies to earn money.
Big companies like Google and Meta take a large share of online advertising money, which used to go to traditional news media.
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Helium-3 is a rare and expensive gas used in advanced physics experiments, quantum computing, and potentially clean nuclear fusion energy. Currently, it mainly comes from nuclear weapons but researchers and companies are exploring ways to mine it from the moon, where samples suggest it exists in higher amounts.
Key Facts
Helium-3 costs about $2,000 per liter and is stored in special containers at Lancaster University.
The gas is produced mainly from the decay of tritium inside nuclear weapons.
Demand for helium-3 could rise, exceeding current supply from nuclear sources.
Moon dust collected by Apollo missions contains helium-3 at higher levels than on Earth.
Helium-3 is used to create extremely low temperatures needed for quantum computing.
It could be a fuel for future nuclear fusion reactors that produce clean energy.
Interlune, a Seattle-based company, plans to mine helium-3 on the moon using robotic machines.
Interlune aims to start lunar mining missions by 2027, with equipment tested in zero-gravity flights.
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