Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told BBC News that Project Helix, previously described as a codename for Microsoft's next console, will actually be a 'family' of devices rather than a single machine. She declined to confirm whether any of these devices would be discless, though Microsoft recently launched a program letting users digitize physical games.
OpenAI has enabled ChatGPT and Codex users to connect multiple Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts accounts within the same plugin, rather than being limited to one account per service. Users can add extra accounts through the Plugins sidebar by clicking the gear icon on an already-connected app and completing Google's authorization flow.
A new Linux distribution called stillOS has debuted with a strong focus on simplifying onboarding for people who have never used Linux before. It uses atomic updates so the operating system and apps update automatically in the background without risking system stability, and it lets users customize their desktop without needing any technical Linux knowledge.
Jernej Barbič, a computer science professor at the University of Southern California, has received a 2025 technical achievement Academy Award for creating Ziva VFX, software that simulates realistic muscle, fat and skin for digital humans and creatures. The technology, launched in 2016 through his startup Ziva Dynamics and later acquired by Unity Technologies in 2021, has appeared in more than 60 films including Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Defense acted unlawfully when it blacklisted AI company Anthropic from government contracting opportunities. The ruling finds the Pentagon's action lacked proper legal justification, reversing the restriction placed on the firm.
An Entrepreneur contributor argues that startups can no longer rely solely on a single venture capital raise as their financing plan, citing a sharp drop in global VC fundraising and slower exits that have left many funds unable to return money to their own investors. The piece recommends founders build a three-part capital stack combining equity, debt-based instruments and profitability to reduce dependence on favorable market timing.
An Entrepreneur contributor discovered that AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude were describing his agency using an old homepage message he had already replaced, because directory sites had copied the outdated text and AI engines treated those copies as authoritative. He argues that businesses now effectively have two narratives: the one they actively publish, and the one AI systems generate from scattered, often stale, third-party sources.
A contributor writing for Entrepreneur argues that professional success depends less on raw performance than on having a trusted group of advisors—mentors, coaches, sponsors and peers—who help navigate transitions and decisions. The author describes building a 'personal board of directors' of six advisors over two decades to guide promotions, leadership moves and entrepreneurship.
Amazon is offering the AOC Portable Bluetooth Speaker at $24.99, half its usual $49.99 price, through an on-page coupon that hasn't been seen before on this item. The speaker offers Bluetooth connectivity, stereo sound, IP67 water and dust resistance, a built-in mic, and roughly 24-30 hours of battery life depending on the version.
National Red Wine Day is set for Friday, August 28, 2026, marking a seasonal shift from summer whites to heartier red wines. Various retailers, restaurants and wineries are expected to mark the occasion with discounts, tastings and promotional offers.
New research cited by The Wall Street Journal suggests vacations do more than offer temporary fun—they can measurably boost mental well-being. A Journal of Travel Medicine study found improvements in mood and sleep that persist after returning home, while a separate meta-analysis of over 4,400 participants tied nature time and active pursuits like hiking to real psychological benefits.
Google has released version 5.07 of its Google Health app, adding more flexibility for manually entering workout data, faster and smoother in-app maps, and better tracking of running distance on trails and inclines. The update also refines the weight-tracking graph to highlight major or long-term changes, and fixes a Health Connect bug that caused some Android users' connections to Google Health to drop unexpectedly.