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Where does virtual reality go next? Right now, there seem to be two paths: Portable and self-contained headsets or those connected to computers and consoles. Valve is clearly betting on the second way with the Index, its first VR hardware. It crams in just about every feature you’d expect from a high-end headset, including some truly transformative finger-sensing controllers. It’s just too bad the entire Index package costs $999, putting it out of reach for most people. It’s a boundary-pushing headset meant to keep the VR industry from getting stale.

A post shared by Engadget (@engadget) on Jun 28, 2019 at 10:31am PDT

1. Elon Musk’s SpaceX and xAI are reportedly holding merger talks

   Two Elon Musk companies are reportedly planning to merge. On Thursday, Reuters reported that SpaceX and xAI are holding merger talks ahead of a planned IPO. Part of their plan is to launch AI data centers into

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2. Publishers are blocking the Internet Archive for fear AI scrapers can use it as a workaround

   The Internet Archive has often been a valuable resource for journalists, from it's finding records of deleted tweets or providing academic texts for background research. However, the advent of AI has created a new tension between the parties. A few major publications have begun blocking the nonprofit digital library's access to their content based on concerns that AI companies'

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3. Waymo begins service at San Francisco International Airport

   As fans and media prepare to descend on the Bay Area for Super Bowl LX, what does a high-tech city like San Francisco do? Why, call in the robotaxis, of course. On

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4. Apple acquires Q.ai for a reported $2 billion

   Apple has acquired Israel-based startup Q.ai, a move that could provide a much-needed boost to the tech giant's capabilities in artificial intelligence. Although Apple has not disclosed terms of the deal, sources told Financial Times that the

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5. Music publishers sue Anthropic for $3 billion over ‘flagrant piracy’

   A group of music publishers led by Concord Music Group and Universal Music Group are suing Anthropic, ...

6. Google's Project Genie lets you generate your own interactive worlds

   This past summer, Google DeepMind debuted Genie 3. It’s what’s known as a world world, an AI system capable of generating images and reacting as the user moves through the environment

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7. How to watch the 2026 Super Bowl: Patriots vs. Seahawks channel, start time, where to stream and more

   Maingear's latest retro gaming desktop takes you back to the Quake era

   Maingear is back with another nostalgia-fueled gaming PC. The Retro98 may look like it's made for playing Quake while you wait for The Phantom Menace trailer to drop. But on the inside, the beige box is powerful enough to slay today's most demanding AAA games. "You're not going to find this PC at your local Radio Shack," Maingear promises.

   If

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8. Spotify has a group messaging feature now

   Spotify is adding group chats to the messaging service it premiered last year. In ...

9. A Waymo robotaxi struck a child near a school

   Waymo said one of its robotaxis struck a child, who sustained minor injuries. The incident took place in Santa Monica, California, on January 23. The company reported it to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has ...