theck1 IT/AI news

2026 Volkswagen Jetta Sport: The cheap car isn’t completely extinct yet

Jonathan M. Gitlin • August 3, 2026 As so many career counselors and lifestyle coaches have explained, first impressions matter. A bad one can set the tone for an entire relationship, whether that’s with a person, a novel, a restaurant, or a car. And the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta Sport and I did not get off

An AI-supervised remote exam went so badly that 58,000 students must retake it

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Nate Anderson • August 3, 2026 Earlier this summer, nearly 160,000 applicants took the entrance exam for UNAM, Mexico’s largest university. For the first time, they did it completely remotely, using a “lockdown” browser and AI-powered webcam proctoring software, over several weeks from late May through early June. It was a disaster. When exam results

Lego deploys Hubble Space Telescope as detailed desktop model

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Robert Pearlman • August 3, 2026 For 35 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has looked out into the Universe. Now, Lego is inviting builders to look inward with its latest model of the orbiting observatory. The new Lego Icons Hubble Space Telescope (set no. 11382) was released on August 1 for $140 at the toy

Research roundup: 6 cool science stories we almost missed

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Jennifer Ouellette • August 3, 2026 It’s a regrettable reality that there is never enough time to cover all the interesting scientific stories we come across. So every month, we highlight a handful of the best stories that nearly slipped through the cracks. July’s list includes outfitting cyborg cockroaches with a tiny diving suit for

US company’s AI lets Ukraine’s cheap kamikaze drones track targets on their own

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Jeremy Hsu • August 3, 2026 Ukrainian drone operators have destroyed many Russian armored vehicles on the ground and even military helicopters in midair using $400 Shrike drones with explosive payloads. Now thousands of such drones are getting upgraded with an AI system capable of autonomously tracking and homing in on moving targets. In mid-July,

Bluesky’s new CEO wants a big tent, not a bubble

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Nilay Patel • August 3, 2026 Today, I’m talking with Toni Schneider, who is the brand new CEO of the social platform Bluesky — he formally took over after a short stint as interim CEO. This is one of my favorite kinds of interviews to do on Decoder, because a couple years ago, we had

Microsoft is bringing Xbox 360 games to PC

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Jay Peters • August 3, 2026 Building on its recently announced plans to bring original Xbox games to PC, Microsoft is also planning to let developers bring their Xbox 360 games to PC as well, according to a leaked document, seen by The Verge, that was sent to developers recently. Xbox 360 games will be

The first-gen Kindle Scribe is a big e-reader and digital notebook that’s $150 refurbished

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Sheena Vasani • August 3, 2026 The Scribe comes with a Premium Pen, which includes a built-in eraser. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge The Kindle Scribe is worth considering if you’re heading back to school, as its large 10.2-inch screen can display textbooks and ebooks, or let you jot down handwritten

Europe’s AI labeling and transparency rules are now in effect

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Jess Weatherbed • August 3, 2026 The EU made some AI labels that companies can use instead of designing their own. | Image: The European Commission / The Verge The European Union has ushered in some additional rules that aim to make it easier for people to identify chatbots and AI deepfakes online. The new

Samsung’s discounted smart monitor is $349.99, its lowest price yet

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Brad Bourque • August 3, 2026 Video chat with your friends or coworkers directly from the Samsung M80F. Samsung makes a variety of TVs and computer monitors, but if want both and you’re limited on space, you might want to consider the M80F. This capable 32-inch 4K panel combines features commonly found on both types