Communities in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona are protesting new AI data centers over concerns about water consumption, energy use and pollution. Data centers use water for cooling systems that manage heat generated by processors, which can reach internal temperatures near 176 degrees Fahrenheit. While estimates suggest data centers consumed about 66 billion liters of water in 2023—under 1 percent of total U.S. water use—that figure could grow sharply as AI infrastructure expands.
The UK's grid connection queue is overwhelmed with speculative data center projects that are unlikely to ever be built, worsening wait times and complicating energy demand forecasts. Ofgem has proposed requiring developers to post large nonrefundable deposits, potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars for the biggest projects, and to demonstrate secured customers and funding before joining the queue. The plan is open for industry feedback until September before being finalized.
After users reported that Gemini on Google Home devices couldn't properly add items to Google Keep lists, a Google spokesperson confirmed the company is rolling out a fix. Google described the issue as a set of 'UI issues' rather than a change to Keep support, and said the patch should reach all affected users within a few days.
Google's newest Gemini Live update introduces distinct features—chat, Spark, and Daily Brief—each with its own icon and navigation slot in the Gemini app. Daily Brief pulls data from Gmail and Calendar to generate proactive updates, but it often surfaces unsolicited or unsettling information, like resurfacing old search history, rather than truly useful alerts. Spark, meanwhile, is a capable AI agent for taking actions on a user's behalf, but Google has needlessly turned it into its own branded sub-product rather than folding it into a unified assistant experience.
EcoFlow unveiled new in-home battery systems in London timed with the UK's move to legalize plug-in solar setups. The author argues that standalone plug-in solar has been largely overtaken by hybrid battery-solar systems, since solar generation peaks at midday while most household energy demand happens in the morning and evening.
Android Auto users had been hit by a bug that showed a 'Spotify isn't responding' error message when trying to launch the app, with only exiting or waiting offered as options. Some drivers found workarounds like leaving the Android Auto beta or clearing the app's cache, but the issue kept recurring for others. Google confirmed to Android Authority that a fix started rolling out today.
A new study found that people living within five miles of the former Santa Susana Field Laboratory report higher rates of autoimmune and endocrine disorders than the general population. The site, located outside Los Angeles, suffered a partial nuclear meltdown in 1959 and has since been the subject of long-running contamination concerns. Researchers say the elevated health reports suggest lingering effects from the decades-old incident.
A hands-on review of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 finds that its new 4:3 aspect-ratio inner display finally reduces the black bars that plagued earlier foldables during widescreen video playback. However, the reviewer discovered they preferred using the device unfolded in portrait mode for reading and typing, only to find the inner selfie camera cutout repeatedly interferes with that experience.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has upgraded its investigation of brake failures in GM's eBoost brake-by-wire system to an engineering analysis, its most serious pre-recall step. The probe covers over 1 million vehicles, including Cadillac Lyriq EVs built with Honda, plus Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Buick Enclave and Envision models, following hundreds of complaints, over 20 crashes or fires, and at least six injuries.
Google is reportedly launching a new premium laptop line called Googlebook, developed with partners including HP, Acer, Lenovo, Dell, and Asus, expected around September. The devices will run a new Linux-based operating system called Aluminum OS that merges Android and ChromeOS, centering Gemini AI as a core feature and enabling closer integration between phones and laptops.
A senior engineer describes how he identifies which problems are worth working on as a staff engineer, in response to a mentee preparing for promotion. Rather than scheduling dedicated 'strategic thinking' time, he says he absorbs complaints and pain points from everyday conversations, meetings and chats, letting patterns emerge over time until a clear opportunity surfaces.
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