Make Sense of Uber’s Autonomous Car Strategy - DTNSB 5092

Bodie Grimm helps us understand where you can hail a car without a driver. Plus, new AI glasses that give Meta a run for its money. 

Starring Tom Merritt, Jenn Cutter, and Bodie Grimm.

TOM: This is the Daily Tech News for Wednesday, August 27, 2025. We tell you what you need to know, follow up on the context of those stories, and help each other understand.

JENN: Today we’ve got a product roundup for you! New AI glasses, new AI note-taker, new Bluetooth trackers, and more!

I’m Tom Merritt,

I’m Jenn Cutter.

TOM: Let’s start with what you need to know with the big story.

[[BIG STORY]]
[[SOLO story of the day. Basic details, monitor commentary and sound when possible.]]

TOM: There are lots of little news stories today, so we thought we'd start you off with a roundup of some interesting product announcements that aren't just another new phone from another big tech company.

Plaud launches a new AI hardware notetaker, the $179 Note Pro | TechCrunch

Let's start with the Plaud AI Pro. It's the latest device from Plaud.ai, which is a credit card-sized device you use to record things like meetings, and it will automatically transcribe what it hears and summarize it for you. The new Pro version has a small 0.95-inch AMOLED screen so you can see how much battery is left, along with things like whether recording is on or off. It also lets you reduce the range from 5 to 3 meters to increase battery life from 30 to 50 hours of recording. It also has improved mics, noise suppression, and can autodetect when you're on a call to switch to its Bluetooth connection and record that. It's $179 / £169 for pre-order now, shipping in October.

Corsair’s PC-dockable screen helped me monitor my PC components and news feeds - Ars Technica

Ars Technica has a review of Corsair's secondary touchscreen monitor, called the Xeneon Edge. Corsair announced this at CES this year and it's shipping! It's approximately 15 by 5 inches and meant to mount on your PC as sort of a squat rectangular status monitor. Corsair makes some widget software for it, or you can just drag your own items into it. It can attach to any 360 mm fan mount or as a side panel on Corsair's Frame Series PC case. It also comes with a tiny plastic stand if you want to just prop it up below your existing monitor. It's available now for $250.

Chipolo launches new Loop and Card Bluetooth trackers

Chipolo announced two rechargeable Bluetooth trackers, the Chipolo Loop and Chipolo Card, which are compatible with Apple Find My and Google Find Hub. The Card is meant to go in a wallet, has a 110 dB speaker, compatible with Qi wireless charging. The Loop is a classic Air Tag-like circle with a silicone case and a 125 dB speaker, rechargeable over USB, and comes in 6 colors. Both trackers have a 400-foot range, can ring whatever phone they're paired with, even if it's on silent, and sell for $39, available for pre-order now, shipping in October.

A new challenger is coming for Meta's smart glasses throne

And finally, multiple outlets are reviewing the Rokid AI Glasses, which just launched on Kickstarter. They're similar to Meta Ray-Bans in that they can be worn like regular glasses, but the Rokid AI glasses have a dual-eye micro LED waveguide display that can show you a heads-up image of directions, real-time translation, maybe work as a teleprompter and more. They also have a 12MP camera, open-ear speakers, use ChatGPT on device and weigh 49 grams. Rokid AI Glasses sell for $599, shipping in November.

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[[PAUSE]]

TOM: There’s more we need to know today. Let’s get to the briefs.

[[BRIEFS]]
[[3-9 more solo reads with sound to complete the day in tech news. These are informational with minor commentary.]]

Microsoft expands Xbox Cloud Gaming to Game Pass Core and Standard subscribers | The Verge

JENN: Microsoft is testing the expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming to subscribers of Xbox Game Pass Core or Standard subscribers, meaning subscribers don't have to pay for the most expensive tier to, in Microsoft's words, "stream cloud playable games included with their subscription or select cloud playable games they own.” Microsoft is also extending PC Game Access to Core and Standard subscribers as well. Though cloud-enabled PC games will only be available from the Xbox app on PC. This is a test, so if you want to take part in it, you need to sign up for the free Xbox Insiders Program with Microsoft.

OpenAI Restructuring Delayed by Negotiations With Microsoft
Researchers Are Already Leaving Meta’s New Superintelligence Lab | WIRED
“ChatGPT killed my son”: Parents’ lawsuit describes suicide notes in chat logs - Ars Technica
OpenAI Plans to Update ChatGPT After Parents Sue Over Teen’s Suicide - Bloomberg

TOM: A lot of OpenAI news to touch on.
The Financial Times says OpenAI's plan to restructure into a public benefit company, which would let it issue stock, may not happen until next year, as it works with major investor, Microsoft, over the terms. OpenAI wants to loosen the current agreement, which keeps its newest models exclusive to Microsoft Azure for cloud services. Microsoft wants to rework the clause that cuts off access to OpenAI's IP if it achieves Artificial General Intelligence. If the restructuring doesn't happen by December 31st, OpenAI could lose access to $10 billion coming from Softbank.

Second item, Wired reports that two AI researchers that Meta hired within the last month have quit to return to OpenAI. And Meta's director of generative AI product management leaves ten years at Meta to work on special initiatives at OpenAI.

And OpenAI announced it will update ChatGPT to recognize and respond better to mental distress, as well as roll out parental controls that let parents see details of their children's usage. Two parents filed a lawsuit Tuesday against OpenAI after their 16-year-old son committed suicide in April. The parents allege ChatGPT contributed to the suicide by providing the son information and helping him write a note. The parents want the court to force OpenAI to verify ages and terminate conversations when self-harm or suicide are discussed.

Google Vids adds AI avatars to its video editor and launches a consumer version | TechCrunch
Google makes it easier to edit Drive videos with a new Vids shortcut button | TechCrunch
Google’s AI model just nailed the forecast for the strongest Atlantic storm this year - Ars Technica

JENN: A few Google AI updates for you. Google is adding AI avatars, automatic transcription trimming, automatic verbal pause removal, and image-to-video tools to its video editor called Vids, for Google Workspace subscribers. It's also releasing a free version of Vids with limited non-generative features. You can also now launch Vids from a video viewed in Google Drive. And Google released data that showed its hurricane detection model performed better than most models in tracking Hurricane Erin earlier this month. This is one hurricane, so it doesn't mean it will always perform this well, but it did prove itself to be worthwhile. Google said it will partner with the US National Hurricane Center to continue to assess its weather model.

Anthropic launches a Claude AI agent that lives in Chrome | TechCrunch
Anthropic Warns of New 'Vibe Hacking' Attacks That Use Claude AI - CNET
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action - Ars Technica

TOM: On to Anthropic news. The company is launching a research preview of a browser-based agent called Claude for Chrome, to 1,000 subscribers of its $100 and $200-a-month plans. Anthropic also issued a Threat Intelligence report that, among other things, revealed that Claude had been used "technical consultant and active operator, enabling attacks that would be more difficult and time-consuming for individual actors to execute manually," including to "automate reconnaissance, credential harvesting, and network penetration at scale." It's an example of "Vibe hacking," where attackers don't need as much technical sophistication or time to carry out attacks. And finally, on Tuesday, US District Judge William Alsup confirmed that Anthropic and several authors believe they have reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit. Details of the settlement are yet to be released.

Apple Event on Sept 9 to Feature iPhone 17 and Watch Updates - Bloomberg
Exclusive | Apple Makes Music Push in Radio After Losing Ground to Spotify - WSJ

JENN: As expected, Apple sent out invites to an announcement to take place at 1 PM Eastern on September 9th. The invite had a glowing Apple logo and the words "Awe dropping." New iPhones, including an iPhone Air, are expected, and possible new AirPods, a new Apple Watch, and a new Apple TV. Also in Apple news, the company will make its curated Apple Music radio stations available outside of Apple Music on the TuneIn app and service.

SpaceX's mega rocket Starship launches test payload of dummy satellites | AP News
Amazon aiming to deploy Kuiper satellite services in Vietnam | Reuters
NASA’s Largest Satellite Antenna Ever Has Just Unfurled in Space | WIRED

TOM: In space news, SpaceX successfully tested its Starship rocket Tuesday night, completing the rocket's first test deployment, a payload of eight objects similar to satellites.
Amazon is planning to turn on satellite internet service from its Kuiper satellites in Vietnam over the next five years.
And NASA just unfurled a 39-foot-diameter radar antenna that will monitor changes to glaciers, forests, and the Earth's crust. It's the largest satellite antenna ever deployed.

Atari Snaps Up 5 Dormant Ubisoft Franchises, Says It Will Re-Release Them On New Platforms - IGN

JENN: Atari has acquired five dormant game franchises from Ubisoft: Child of Eden, Cold Fear, Grow Home, Grow Up, and I Am Alive. Atari plans to reintroduce the franchises on new platforms under the Atari label.

TOM: Those are the essentials for today. Let’s dive a little deeper.

[[IN DEPTH]]
[[Pre-made packages, interviews, discussions. Each is 3-10 mins, Can be dropped on some days.]]

[[SEGMENT A - FROM SCHEDULE]]

JENN: Ride-hailing companies like Uber are involved in autonomous cars, sometimes in partnership, sometimes in competition. Tom caught up with Bodie Grimm to get a line on the nature of Uber's partnerships.

[[TRT - 10:21]]

TOM: Bodie wanted us to add “I think I said that May Mobility's system and Tesla's neural net approach were similar. I meant to say that I thought that they solved edge cases in a similar way. Tesla uses a vision-based system, and May Mobility has to strap a bunch of equipment to a car. For the record, both companies have a different approach to autonomous vehicles.

TOM: We do live streams! Catch them by becoming a subscriber at youtube.com/dailytechnewsshow.

[[BREAK]]
[[PAUSE]]

[[HELPING EACH OTHER UNDERSTAND]]
[[Short missives from people with experience. Could be written email or pre-recorded from the person.]]

JENN: We end every episode of DTNS with some shared wisdom. Today John expresses a concern about the new Android developer policy from Google.

TOM
John writes:

First, as always, love your show. Wonderful work and I wish everyone put in the effort that your team does.

Second, you mentioned on today's show about Google's new rules requiring all apps, including those sideloaded ones, have the dev clearly identified.

I would just draw your attention to three news stories:

ICEBlock app gets released

White House is unhappy about it

…

The tech giants want to stay on the White House's good side

There is reason for anonymity, because it allow the speaking of truth to power.

While ICEBlock is not the ideal example in this case as it is only on iPhone and the author publicly identified himself, my point (#5 in the list below) remains.

Keep up the great work!
John from Typhoon Hit Vietnam

[[DISCUSS]]

JENN: What are you thinking about? Got some insight into a story? Share it with us feedback@dailytechnewsshow.com

TOM: Thanks to Bodie Grimm and John for contributing to today’s show. And thank YOU for being along for Daily Tech News Show. You can keep us in business by becoming a patron, atPatreon.com/dtns.