Google introduces a faster, cheaper image generator with Nano Banana 2 Lite

Google is updating its image generator to make it faster and cheaper, making it a more useful tool for creators looking to make AI content.

Nvidia competitor Etched hits $5B valuation, $1B in sales for AI chip

Nvidia AI chip competitor Etched says it has already booked $1 billion under contract for the inference systems powered by its chip.

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Anthropic launches Claude Sonnet 5 as a cheaper way to run agents

Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 5 brings stronger agentic capabilities, lower pricing, and improved safety, positioning the model as a cheaper alternative to Opus, GPT-5.5, and Gemini Pro.

Acti puts AI agents directly into your smartphone keyboard

Acti is betting the smartphone keyboard is the next home for AI assistants. The startup’s new keyboard for iOS and Android works across apps and lets users create custom AI-powered shortcuts using natural language.

Netflix is using an AI-generated Gene Wilder voice in its Willy Wonka reality show
Netflix is using an AI-generated Gene Wilder voice in its Willy Wonka reality show

A new teaser trailer confirmed that Wonka’s The Golden Ticket will premiere on Netflix on September 23rd, following its Squid Game reality show in the trend of creating real competitions based on fictional torture scenarios. While the sets seen in the trailer are real and not some Glasgow-style AI fakes, the voiceover is AI-generated. Deadline […]

Anthropic’s Claude Science bets on workflow, not a new model, to win over scientists

Anthropic’s Claude Science is a workbench that gives scientists one environment to do computational research, saving them from the need to bounce between databases, pipelines, and tools.

Apple Adjusts Security Routine With Leaks Around IPhone Operations

Apple accelerates security updates after supplier breach, as AI-driven cyber threats and autonomous hacking concerns intensify.

Libby will filter out AI content, kind of
Libby will filter out AI content, kind of

This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. “AI is the new frontier for us,” says Marc DeBevoise, who took over as the new CEO of OverDrive last week. OverDrive is best known for the ebook lending app […]

Google App Update: A Stunning Gemini AI Upgrade For Mac Users

Google’s new Gemini AI upgrade will let Android users remotely control their Mac workflows.

X now offers an MCP server to make its platform easier for AI tools to use

X has launched a hosted MCP server, making it easier for developers to connect AI applications with the company’s API.