Welcome back to review week! There’s a lot of news this week, including a shake-up on X, a hug of Face’s new robot, Nothing and Samsung’s new phones. Have a great weekend!
X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigned this week after a turbulent two-year term marked by advertisers’ backlash, Elon Musk’s controversy and platform AI troubles. The company’s advertising business has improved under her leadership, but the future path will still be difficult.
See-through: Apple continues to adjust its new liquid glass design in iOS 26 Beta 3, dialing transparency in areas such as notifications and Apple music after user complaints about readability. This is the latest step to finding the right balance before the OS starts this fall.
Cute: Hugging Face has opened an order for Reachy Mini, a new open-source desktop robot aimed at AI developers. Starting at $299, the Build-it-yourself bot is fully programmable in Python and is integrated with a hugging facehub.
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Nothing: The $799 phone (3) is the most ambitious of all time, with a quirky new second screen, AI features and flagship specs comparable to Samsung and Apple. But for now, at least for now, the mixed reaction to design and pricing could keep it “alternative” rather than “alternative” territory.
Samsung too: Samsung released the New Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 this week. They also released the Z Flip7 Fe, a cheaper folding phone.
I want this car: Libian’s new quad motor R1T and R1S EV are here, boasting 1,025 horsepower, going from 0 to 60 in under 2.5 seconds, earning flashy new software tricks like “kick turn” for custom driving modes and RAD tuners. With an in-house motor and a deeper software stack, Libian can bet this $115,000 flagship and hold the line until the more affordable R2 arrives in 2026.
Cool, great: Elon Musk says Xai’s New Grok 4 is “AI for the greatest truth,” but in tests, Chatbot often consults Musk’s own X posts and public opinion when answering controversial questions. The consistency with the founder of the model raises new concerns about objectivity and Glock’s primetime preparation.
Another: Apple’s AI model head, Ruoming Pang, leaves for the meta, where he joins Zuckerberg’s growing AI Superintelligence unit. The move shows ongoing troubles in Apple’s AI efforts, adding more device AI expertise to Meta’s growing bench.
First of all, is it safe? Jack Dorsey created a Biltooth-based messaging app that works over a Bluetooth mesh network last weekend, allowing users to chat without Wi-Fi or cell service. The app is now in a closed beta version, but claims that the app is safe have already faced scrutiny by security researchers.
ITS TIME: 14 years within Intel, RealSense is spinning as an independent company with $50 million in funding to expand 3D stereospic imaging technology used in robotics, drones and more. CEO Nadav Orbach aims to increase the safety of human-robot interactions as demand for AI-driven models is rising rapidly.
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Pull the Curtain Back: Jeff Bezos-backed stealth Michigan EV startup Slate Auto has surprised the industry by revealing plans for Ultra, an affordable, customizable electric pickup truck. Three years later at Shadows, the company aims to shake the market with production targeted for the second half of 2026.
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