Active (aka “powered”) speakers do not require a separate amplifier or receiver. Instead, they have amplification (which is what makes the sound loud enough to play through speakers) built in. These amps are often customized for their specific drivers and cabinetry, which can deliver performance benefits. Modern powered speakers also have other perks, like fully… Continue reading 11 Best Bookshelf Speakers (2024): Active, Passive, and Hi-Fi
Author: Wired Magazine
HMD Vibe Review: OK Performance, Meh Everything Else
HMD, the Finnish company that has been licensing the Nokia brand name to make cheapo and midrange Android phones for more than 7 years, is finally striking it out on its own. Now you’ll start seeing cheapo and midrange phones with the branding “HMD,” which stands for Human Mobile Devices. (The company says it plans… Continue reading HMD Vibe Review: OK Performance, Meh Everything Else
Google’s AI Overviews Will Always Be Broken. That’s How AI Works
A week after its algorithms advised people to eat rocks and put glue on pizza, Google admitted Thursday that it needed to make adjustments to its bold new generative AI search feature. The episode highlights the risks of Google’s aggressive drive to commercialize generative AI—and also the treacherous and fundamental limitations of that technology. Google’s… Continue reading Google’s AI Overviews Will Always Be Broken. That’s How AI Works
It’s the AI Election Year
Leah Feiger: Sometimes you are able to link it back to specific companies- Vittoria Elliott: Yes. Leah Feiger: That are doing the generative AI itself. Vittoria Elliott: Yeah, totally. For instance, there was a deep fake made of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, whose been in jail under corruption charges. His party… Continue reading It’s the AI Election Year
Dyson’s Airstrait and Airwrap Hair Tools Are $100 Off Right Now
Summer might mean pool days and wet hair—but also vacations and nights out at beach bars. For those times, you want hair tools that work quickly for effortless styles that defy humidity. Some of our favorites, including Dyson’s pricey Airstrait and Airwrap, are currently on sale. Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just… Continue reading Dyson’s Airstrait and Airwrap Hair Tools Are $100 Off Right Now
Google Admits Its AI Overviews Search Feature Screwed Up
When bizarre and misleading answers to search queries generated by Google’s new AI Overview feature went viral on social media last week, the company issued statements that generally downplayed the notion the technology had problems. Late Thursday, the company’s head of search, Liz Reid, admitted that the flubs had highlighted areas that needed improvement, writing,… Continue reading Google Admits Its AI Overviews Search Feature Screwed Up
Trump’s Online MAGA Army Calls Guilty Verdict a Declaration of War
The words “RIP America” trended on X minutes after a jury in Manhattan found former president Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts for falsifying business records in connection to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Images of an upside-down American flag—a symbol of distress that became co-opted by the… Continue reading Trump’s Online MAGA Army Calls Guilty Verdict a Declaration of War
WeWork Survived Bankruptcy. Now It Has to Make Coworking Pay Off
WeWork is set to become a smaller—and potentially rightsized—company. Following a final hearing on its bankruptcy plan Thursday morning, the coworking pioneer will have fewer locations, a new influx of capital, and $4 billion in debt wiped from its books. In a packed courtroom in Newark, New Jersey, Judge John Sherwood approved WeWork’s restructuring plan.… Continue reading WeWork Survived Bankruptcy. Now It Has to Make Coworking Pay Off
Chatbots Are Entering Their Stone Age
For all the bluster about generative artificial intelligence upending the world, the technology has yet to meaningfully transform white-collar work. Workers are dabbling with chatbots for tasks such as drafting emails, and companies are launching countless experiments, but office work hasn’t undergone a major AI reboot. Perhaps that’s only because we haven’t given chatbots like… Continue reading Chatbots Are Entering Their Stone Age
SnuzPod4 Bassinet Review: A Great-Looking and Simple Bassinet
Everything sleep-related with a newborn is terrifying. Almost every parent feels a sharp stab in the heart every time they set their kid down for the first few weeks. It’s biology. So who the hell do you trust to make a safe space for them to sleep? Where is it safe to put your little… Continue reading SnuzPod4 Bassinet Review: A Great-Looking and Simple Bassinet