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OpenAI’s recent launch of Atlas marks a pivotal moment for digital marketing, and for the evolution of the internet itself. Atlas showcases the rise of the agentic web, an internet in which AI completes tasks on users’ behalf and actively represents them.For marketers, this means algorithms will increasingly mediate how people discover, evaluate and interact with brands. The path forward lies in diversification and data: Expanding how we reach audiences and unifying how we measure performance across every screen. The Diversification ImperativeFirst, we have to acknowledge that AI is already reshaping online behavior. Gartner predicts that by 2026, traditional search traffic…
It’s been nearly two years since Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella predicted AI would replace knowledge work — the white-collar jobs held by lawyers, investment bankers, librarians, accountants, IT and others. But despite the huge progress made by foundation models, the change in knowledge work has been slow to arrive. Models have mastered in-depth research and agentic planning, but for whatever reason, most white-collar work has been relatively unaffected. It’s one of the biggest mysteries in AI — and thanks to new research from the training-data giant Mercor, we’re finally getting some answers. The new research looks at how leading AI…
On Tuesday, two Massachusetts lawmakers introduced two bills to the state’s House and Senate that, if passed, would create a state law requiring companies to tell customers when service on their connected products will end. It is an effort meant to tamp down on cybersecurity risks and also boost consumer protections. With knowledge about future support, consumers can confidently buy a device knowing how long they can expect it to reliably work, and when to plan for its eventual obsolescence.The pieces of proposed legislation, collectively named An Act Relative to Consumer Connected Devices, were introduced by Massachusetts state senator William…
William Shatner just wanted to eat his breakfast in peace.When photos appeared on sites like TMZ and MailOnline earlier this week, snapping the 94-year-old actor eating a bowl of cereal in his car in LA traffic, the grainy, paparazzi-style shots suggested a man caught mid-meal rather than mid-brand deal.However, in the days since, another set of images has emerged, showing Shatner getting out of a car, with a box of Raisin Bran tucked under his arm, as if he had just popped out to restock his cupboard.The coincidence started to strain credulity, begging questions about why Shatner was suddenly being…
Last year, fusion power startup General Fusion was struggling to raise funds, laying off at least 25% of its staff before receiving a $22 million lifeline investment while it figured out how to keep the company afloat. Today, General Fusion revealed its survival plan: it will go public through a reverse merger with an special purpose acquisition company, Spring Valley III, combined with additional investment from institutional investors. It’s a significant change in fortunes for a company whose CEO wrote a public letter just last year pleading for funding. If the deal closes as planned, General Fusion could receive up…
Last week, a website called ICE List went viral after its creators said that they had received what they described as a leak of personal information about nearly 4,500 Department of Homeland Security employees. However, a WIRED analysis of the site found that the database relies heavily on information that apparent DHS employees have posted publicly online themselves. This comes at a time when DHS has characterized reporting on or publicizing the identity of ICE officers as “doxing” and has threatened to prosecute perceived offenders to the fullest extent of the law.ICE List operates as a crowdsourced wiki maintained by…
Super Bowl 60 halftime headliner Bad Bunny might have some competition if Hellmann’s has anything to do with it. The condiment brand has unveiled a 15-second promo teasing its 2026 Super Bowl ad, which will introduce viewers to Meal Diamond, “a hot new star warming up for his moment in the spotlight.”Set to Neil Diamond’s 1969 hit “Sweet Caroline,” the spot invites viewers backstage just before showtime. As the lights come up, we see a larger-than-life performer putting the finishing touches on a sequined outfit. As part of his preshow ritual, he tucks into a stacked turkey sandwich made with…
AI Mode, Google’s conversational Search feature for complex questions, is getting more personalized. The tech giant announced on Thursday that it’s bringing “Personal Intelligence” to AI Mode, enabling it to tap into your Gmail and Google Photos to provide more individualized responses. The company debuted Personal Intelligence last week in the Gemini app to allow the AI assistant to tailor its responses by connecting across your Google ecosystem, starting with Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube history. The opt-in feature is now starting to roll out to AI Mode to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in English in the…
The problem? There is a significantly better phone for just a little more: the Google Pixel 9a. Google will support that device for seven years, and it also comes with flagship-grade performance, better cameras, and more smart software features. The Moto G Stylus will only get two Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates. This is precisely why you should buy it on sale.Best Moto G Under $300Photograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuMotorolaMoto G Power 2026I have good news and bad news. First, the good: Motorola’s latest Moto G Power 2026 is a pretty solid smartphone. Unlike…
In this episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler unpack the realities behind today’s AI headlines. They explore OpenAI’s shift toward advertising, the growing human bottleneck in data center expansion, and why the AI conversation is moving beyond productivity toward physical and human-centred systems. The discussion dives into the surprising earning power of skilled trades, how XR is transforming workforce training, and why the metaverse was never just about VR headsets. From VRChat to The Sims, Cathy and Lee reveal where the spatial web is quietly taking shape, and what it all means for the future of work and technology.Come for…
TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been at the center of controversy in the U.S. for years now due to concerns about user data potentially being accessed by the Chinese government. As a result, U.S. users have often found themselves caught in the middle of this tension. Last year, the app experienced a temporary outage in the U.S. that left millions of users in suspense before it was quickly restored. TikTok returned to the App Store and Google Play Store in February. A number of investors competed to purchase the app, and after Trump extended the TikTok ban…
Other Switch 2 Accessories to ConsiderPhotograph: Matt KameniMP Tech DLEX+LED Multi-Function Charger Stand for £35: Perfect for streamers or desk-bound players, this will keep your gaming space tidy and your controllers fully juiced. It has charging slots for four Joy-Con 2s and four original Joy-Cons on the main base unit, all with charge indicators, while two pop-out USB-C cables at the rear allow you to connect more conventional joypads, like the Switch 2 Pro Controller. Power is provided through the charging adapter you already plug into your console’s dock, which is in turn locked in place on the DLX2 with…
Benson Boone’s falsetto isn’t working for Ben Stiller. Posing as heavily-accented siblings and dressed up as a ’70s-era singing duo, the two celebrities will star in Instacart’s second consecutive Super Bowl ad, directed by filmmaker and director Spike Jonze.Last year, Instacart recruited a gaggle of nine brand mascots—including Chester Cheetah, the Jolly Green Giant, the Kool-Aid Man, the Pillsbury Doughboy, and more—to star in its first Super Bowl ad. For 2026, it’s going down a more traditional Super Bowl advertising route, enlisting some A-listers and a healthy dose of silliness.In two 30-second teasers released on Thursday (Jan. 22) titled “Harmonizing”…
Companies and governments are looking for tools to run AI locally in a a bid slash cloud infrastructure costs and build sovereign capability. Quadric, a chip-IP startup founded by veterans of early bitcoin mining firm 21E6, is trying to power that shift, scaling beyond automotive into laptops and industrial devices, with its on-device inference technology. That expansion is already paying off. Quadric posted $15 million to $20 million in licensing revenue in 2025, up from around $4 million in 2024, CEO Veerbhan Kheterpal (pictured above, center) told TechCrunch in an interview. The company, which is based in San Francisco and…
Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint for $200: I have now tested three different Ultraloq smart locks over a year and a half, and while I think the company offers excellent hardware for the money, there are just a few too many software quirks that put these locks a rung below our top picks. I first began with the Bolt Fingerprint, which has been the most reliable of all the Ultraloq smart locks. If you have a standard door with a borehole for the dead bolt, it’ll be quick to install (Ultraloq has a Thick Door Kit ($10)). I initially had several issues…
100-plus-year-old Nikon’s challenge isn’t convincing creators that cameras still matter. It’s persuading a generation raised on smartphones, short-form video, and now AI that photography and filmmaking are still worth investing in.That’s the problem Born Social is tasked with solving as it kicks off a new remit for Nikon as U.S. social AOR, with a mandate to put social media at the center of its strategy to reach younger, creator-first audiences.Nikon’s relationship with Born Social was cemented in early 2025, when the agency won a month-long pitch ran by the brand’s marketing team. The remit spans social strategy and content production,…