Discord began rolling out a new age-verification system today, sorting users into adult, teen, and unconfirmed groups and restricting teens' access to sensitive content and message requests from strangers. The system replaces a February plan that required ID scans or facial recognition, which Discord dropped after user backlash and a 2025 breach exposed government IDs of 70,000 users verified through a third-party service.
New research indicates that stroke incidence among Americans younger than 55 has roughly doubled compared with rates recorded in the 1990s. Researchers say they have not yet identified a clear explanation for the rise in younger patients.
At its annual Connect event, Meta introduced VR Glasses, a lightweight, strapless headset tethered to a compute puck, alongside new screen-free smart glasses with added AI features and frame styles. The VR Glasses weigh about 100g, run on a Snapdragon Reality Elite chip with 12GB RAM and 128GB storage, and feature a 5K micro OLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. Meta says the device will launch in spring 2027 for $1,299 and will support the full Meta Quest app catalog, Xbox Cloud Gaming, IMAX Enhanced content, and a 'hologram' video-call feature.
Apple has released watchOS 27.0.1, a software update targeted only at Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 devices. According to Apple's release notes, the update addresses a bug causing some watches to restart unexpectedly. The issue had been reported by multiple users on Reddit and other forums, who described their new watches restarting several times a day.
DoorDash spent roughly $1.4 million during the 2025 New York mayoral race opposing Zohran Mamdani and backing Andrew Cuomo, including a $1 million donation to the anti-Mamdani super PAC Fix the City. Mamdani won and his administration this week announced a $131.5 million settlement with DoorDash over underpayment of 264,000 delivery workers, the largest worker settlement in city history.
Parcha has published AgentRun, a workflow language that lets developers define repeatable steps around existing AI agents, using a component called Jev for narrow decisions and invoking the agent itself only when deeper investigation is needed. The project is available via npm as a beta package, includes a demo ticket-routing workflow that runs without an API key, and ships with documentation, examples, and a Pi editor extension.
Meta has introduced a new VR device shaped like glasses rather than a strapped-on headset, weighing about 100g compared to the Quest 3's 515g. The glasses rely on a separate wired 'puck' that houses the Snapdragon Reality Elite processor, 128GB storage, 12GB RAM, and battery, offering up to three hours of media playback. The device uses a 5K MicroOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate for watching video, gaming, and multitasking across virtual screens.
Meta announced it is developing support for its Muse AI agent on its smart glasses, letting users activate it by voice to guide workouts, log meals, or get shopping help. The company also detailed other upcoming updates including an FDA-cleared Hearing Enhancement feature, Dolby Atmos spatial audio recording, a Dynamic Photo feature, left-right audio balance controls, and a 'Hologram' video-call feature for Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses.
Meta unveiled Ray-Ban Meta Audio Glasses at its Connect 2026 event, a version of its smart glasses line that includes Meta AI and open-ear audio but omits a camera entirely. The glasses come in two styles, Clubmaster and Burbank, and weigh from 43 grams, lighter than Meta's camera-equipped models.
At its Made on YouTube event, Google announced Custom Feeds, which let users create new homepage tabs by describing desired content and refining suggestions through ratings; the feature rolls out soon in the US across web, mobile and TV. YouTube also revealed upcoming support for GIFs in comments, group chat in direct messages for select countries, and expanded Ask YouTube AI features covering product videos, search results and music recommendations via Ask Music.
Enveda, a biotech startup using AI to identify drugs from plants and microbes, closed a $311 million Series E funding round at a $2 billion valuation. Catalio Capital Management led the round, with Iconiq and other investors participating. The valuation doubles what the company achieved a year earlier.
Qualcomm introduced its Sound Elite platform built around a new S3 chip small enough to fit inside earbuds, allowing them to stream Wi-Fi lossless audio without needing a paired phone nearby. The design lets users leave their phone in another room while still receiving uninterrupted high-quality sound.
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