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The cost of AI / The world’s fastest-growing technology comes with a high price.

Who’s afraid of the big, bad GPU?Who’s afraid of the big, bad GPU?

How you feel about AI’s energy use might change how you feel about computers entirely.

Justine Calma
You’re about to feel the AI money squeeze

Ads, rate limits, feature restrictions, price hikes. The AI free ride is over.

Hayden Field
AI has a water problem — Google thinks it has a fix

The company promises to replenish more water than it uses by 2030.

Lauren Feiner
Microsoft’s carbon emissions went up 25 percent last year

The company’s annual sustainability report also says sustainability solutions aren’t keeping up with AI demands.

Stevie Bonifield

Unpacked dispatch / Samsung just made a bunch of announcements at Galaxy Unpacked. Let’s dive in.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: The 6 biggest announcementsSamsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: The 6 biggest announcements

The latest Galaxy Unpacked featured a redesigned Galaxy Z Fold 8, a new ‘Ultra’ foldable, and refreshed Galaxy watches.

Stevie Bonifield
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 bet big on battery

The watches sport a new chip, bigger batteries, and new health metrics. But the updates come with another price hike.

Victoria Song
Here’s what Samsung’s smart glasses actually look like

Plus the first specs, including a battery life better than Meta’s.

Dominic Preston
Samsung’s newest foldable finally feels Ultra

One small step for phones, one giant leap for foldables.

David Imel

Staff picks / Our favorite stories you don’t want to miss.

SpaceX in your index fund, explainedSpaceX in your index fund, explained

Index funds are supposed to be the safest way to invest — does SpaceX change that?

Elizabeth Lopatto
The Light Flip is a minimalist flip phone with a point to prove

It’s not quite a dumbphone, but it’s definitely not a smartphone. And that’s kind of the whole point.

David Pierce
Neill Blomkamp’s new zombie AI ‘film’ is just slop warmed over

No amount of clever editing can make this Seedance-generated mess interesting.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
America needs to stop getting shocked by Chinese AI

Kimi K3 and Qwen3.8 should come as no surprise.

Robert Hart

Review roulette / Catch up on some of our latest reviews, from games to gadgets.

Even Microsoft couldn’t make Windows 11 work well on 8GB of RAMEven Microsoft couldn’t make Windows 11 work well on 8GB of RAM

6

Verge Score

The new entry-level Surface Laptop 13-inch is last year’s same great hardware with less memory and a higher price.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Surprise! Facial recognition smart locks are actually good

I tested four locks that unlock with a look, and while hands-free with UWB is better, if you want a sci-fi experience for your front door, facial recognition is worth considering.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
The wireless headset that gets hot-swappable batteries right

Glorious made swapping batteries faster and easier (and more fun) in a $230 headset than its $400 competitors.

Cameron Faulkner
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Apple TV’s first date.

The streamer announced its first dating show, called The Last Person on Earth, which it describes as an “eight-episode dating documentary series” about how opposites attract. No word on when it will release, but it’s part of a steady push from Apple to make its streaming service more mainstream.

Apple TV wants to go big

Andrew Webster
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Jeff Bezos is getting involved with centering Amazon’s AI in Prime Video.

Like Sergey Brin going hands-on with Google’s AI push (and in addition to a rumored bid for Liverpool), Reuters reports Bezos has made an unusual move to become personally involved in the “Lighthouse” project updating Prime Video’s homepage, recommendations, and voice control.

Sources said Bezos felt an initial plan “failed to sufficiently highlight the service’s capabilities in AI and personalization.” Not sure why he may have felt that way, but here’s the apparently AI-generated image Prime Video is using to promote Death Race 2000.

AI generated drawing of a giant man and woman looming over a futuristic city and racetrack with oddly misshapen vehicles and little coherence
Image: Prime Video
Lawmakers prepare bill requiring AI ‘kill switch’Lawmakers prepare bill requiring AI ‘kill switch’

The legislation would force tech companies to build controls to shut down or throttle powerful AI systems.

Emma Roth
Mia Sato
Mia Sato
Sports traders were the most active on Polymarket, Pew finds.

A typical account on the prediction market platform also tended to primarily bet on a single topic, according to research from Pew. Sports are huge categories for both Polymarket and its competitor, Kalshi.

Over the last few years, the two companies have sought to differentiate themselves from traditional sports betting — and have tried to undercut one another as they fight for market share in the US.

Ford picks Apple Maps for its next EV platform and updated BlueCruiseFord picks Apple Maps for its next EV platform and updated BlueCruise

Apple Maps will be embedded into Ford’s ‘universal’ EV platform.

Emma Roth
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Splat!

That’s the sound of the Splatoon series exploring a new genre with Splatoon Raiders, which is Nintendo’s take on looter shooters. I quite enjoyed my time with the game, but you can check it out for yourself now, as it launches today on the Switch 2.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Amazon leaked a buildable Halo Warthog from Mattel, not Lego.

Mattel’s older Mega line of building sets included a couple of Halo sets featuring the Warthog, but Amazon Australia leaked a larger and more detailed 935-piece buildable UNSC M12 Warthog that’s part of Mattel’s recent Brick Shop line. There’s no pricing, but the model includes working independent suspension and customizable detailing.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

1/3Image: Mattel
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Welcome to Raccoon City.

It’s already been a pretty great year for horror, and that looks to continue with the new Resident Evil, helmed by Weapons director Zach Cregger. The latest trailer makes the movie seem both like a new twist on the franchise, and also like it’s pulling inspiration from the most recent games.

Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Elgato’s new Key Light is MagSafe compatible.

The 15-inch Key Light Air MK.2 is available for $139.99, providing creators with up to 2100 lumens of illumination for filming and streaming. It’s USB-C powered, but the MagSafe ring on the back also snaps onto any compatible holder or power bank for cable-free lighting on the go.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

<em>The Key Light Air MK.2 also features built-in touch controls for adjusting brightness and color temperature, and switching between presets.</em>
<em>Here’s a look at the back of the light panel, showing several mounting points and a MagSafe ring in the center.</em>
1/2
The Key Light Air MK.2 also features built-in touch controls for adjusting brightness and color temperature, and switching between presets.
Image: Elgato
Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Ultrahuman overhauls app with AI-powered recommendations.

The smart wearables company has a new feature for its companion app called “UltraSphere,” which provides over 60 suggested actions to improve rest, wellness, and recovery. The actions are location- and weather-aware, and tailored to the user. Suggestions can include things like “get light,” “cut caffeine,” and “wind down.”

A screenshot of the overhauled Ultrahuman app.
The suggested actions draw on markers spanning sleep, recovery,HRV, skin temperature, cycle phase, movement, stress, and glucose data (with Ultrahuman M1 or M2 Live).
Image: Ultrahuman
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
The higher-end prebuilt Framework Laptop 13 Pro now costs $800 more.

Another byproduct of Framework’s new RAM pricing is that preorders for the Ultra X7 358H version of the Framework Laptop 13 Pro jumped from $2,099 to $2,899. Framework’s announcement didn’t specify this config, but the Wayback Machine shows it.

People who got their 32GB preorders bumped down to 16GB also have to pay more if they want to maintain 32GB from Framework, or source their LPCAMM2 RAM elsewhere.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

<em>Current pricing for prebuilt Framework Laptop 13 Pros.</em>
<em>A glimpse at the prices as of July 15th, via the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260715064339/https://frame.work/products/laptop13pro-intel-ultra-3/configuration/new" target="_blank">Wayback Machine</a>.</em>
1/2
Current pricing for prebuilt Framework Laptop 13 Pros.
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Yeah, Fuck LG.

Despite being out on parental leave, LG’s willingness to force ads onto its monitors and televisions has Tom Warren in a fighting mood when he should be making coo coo sounds at his new son.

Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
Artistic intent.

Sure, it’s just a poster, but should Ryan Gosling’s “La La Hand” been kept as it was?

.catalyst_:

I know it doesn’t matter, and he has expressed that he’d like it changed, but in a world where AI can change anything you want in a second, it feels like an actor’s intentional choice at the time of production is important. That hand being wrong takes away from the moment that this piece of art was made in.

Again probably doesn’t matter, I’m sure all parties are consenting. It is okay to make a mistake and have that mistake live and breathe, it makes the art just a little more human, and that is so important.

Get the day’s best comment and more in my free newsletter, The Verge Daily.

Google hit with $1 billion fine for breaking EU antitrust rulesGoogle hit with $1 billion fine for breaking EU antitrust rules

Google is required to change its policies for both Search and the Play Store.

Dominic Preston, Jess Weatherbed and 1 more
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
This solar charging EV costs $9,000.

The extending roof panel on the Solarky SunV provides up to 300W of solar charging for its 10.2kWh LFP battery. And its aluminum chassis and plastic panels make it so lightweight, that it can go about 150km (93 miles) before a recharge — or up to 200km (124 miles) with enough sunshine, according to the company. It’s already on sale in markets including Thailand and Indonesia.

Google now lets you sign in to your account using a selfie videoGoogle now lets you sign in to your account using a selfie video

You can prove you’re the account owner by capturing a short video of you turning your head.

Andrew Liszewski
Framework’s premium laptop is shipping with less RAMFramework’s premium laptop is shipping with less RAM

The company said prices from its memory supplier have more than doubled.

Jess Weatherbed
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Paramount’s Warner deal gets conditional approval in the EU.

While Paramount’s $110 billion WBD merger is suddenly on hold in the US, in Europe, the European Commission is ready to allow it after Paramount agreed to concessions including giving up its stake in United International Pictures within 13 months of the deal closing.

Meta won’t have to face the next planned social media addiction trialMeta won’t have to face the next planned social media addiction trial

After settling with other social media companies, the plaintiff dropped his case.

Lauren Feiner
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Bethesda’s union claims laid off employees were told they’d have jobs until September.

The OneBGS union said in a post that Bethesda laid off some of its Canadian employees on July 17th, weeks sooner than employees were warned the layoffs would happen, PC Gamer reports. That same day, Bethesda announced it’s working on Fallout 5.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Valve made it easier to find games on your Steam wishlist.

As GamesRadar+ reports, you can now create custom categories for your wishlist, like “buy when on sale,” which could make organization easier for those of us with giant Steam wishlists (myself included). You can filter your wishlist by category and set custom notifications for specific categories.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

A screenshot of the custom categories editor in a Steam wishlist
Image: Valve
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Google says Gemini now has 950 million monthly users.

It’s a sizeable jump from the 750 million Gemini users Google reported in February. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, shared the stat as part of its Q2 2026 earnings report (pdf), which also revealed a 24 percent increase in revenue to $119.8 billion.

Tesla’s revenues are bouncing back, but profits are still weakTesla’s revenues are bouncing back, but profits are still weak

Tesla is in negative free cash flow territory, as it increases its expenditures on major projects like AI infrastructure and robotics.

Andrew J. Hawkins
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Trump administration announces hundreds of “Genesis Mission” AI science projects.

The push to solve issues, including the soaring energy demands of AI data centers, using AI, revealed “more than $5 billion in Federal commitments” across 278 awards and 342 institutions in its list of awards.

Big tech companies like Microsoft and Google have announced millions in compute and AI credits for the effort, but this WSJ report says the administration could give political appointees more power over grants, while prioritizing fellowships and awards for individuals could hurt large universities reliant on federal research funding.

Price-hiked iPads are a little cheaper right nowPrice-hiked iPads are a little cheaper right now

You can also grab a four-pack of AirTags for $10 off, or a refurbished PS5 slim from Sony that’s $100 less than new.

Brad Bourque
iOS code could reportedly let Apple cut off apps when users miss iPhone paymentsiOS code could reportedly let Apple cut off apps when users miss iPhone payments

A new ‘Partner Finance Lock’ would also block users from erasing or reselling devices that are in ‘Restricted Mode.’

Stevie Bonifield
Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
It’s now easier to gift Steam games, even if you don’t have an account.

Valve has made improvements to its gifting processes in Steam, particularly for guest shoppers without an account. You can buy games, not just gift cards or hardware. You can also gift games to an email address, even if it’s not associated with the giftee’s account. Easier cross-region gifting, too. Good stuff.

Note the “Enter email” section that has been added. You don’t need to know the recipient’s Steam account, or have them added as a friend.
Note the “Enter email” section that has been added. You don’t need to know the recipient’s Steam account, or have them added as a friend.
Image: Valve
Lauren Feiner
Lauren Feiner
Mamdani hires Lina Khan to chair economic development in NYC.

The former Federal Trade Commission chair under Biden will help lead the city’s Economic Development Corporation, alongside newly announced president Anthony Shorris, who recently worked as a partner at McKinsey.

Khan was known at the FTC for pursuing antitrust action against Big Tech, which often riled up the business community.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Sony’s $4,900 FX5 cinema camera looks stacked and is stacked.

The new Sony FX5 has a huge list of features for cinematographers. To name a few: a full-frame fully-stacked 5K sensor with open gate recording, three base ISO settings, dual gain shooting, and up to 120fps recording. And instead of just a typical add-on handle for XLR connections, you can instead slap on a $698 tiltable OLED viewfinder.

I wish every EVF-less camera had an EVF option.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

<em>The FX5 and it’s optional DVF-EL1 electronic viewfinder.</em>
1/8
The FX5 and it’s optional DVF-EL1 electronic viewfinder.
Image: Sony
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Any guesses what’s inside?

It’s the prize pack I just boxed up for the second winner of our Today I’m Toying With giveaway. I’m drawing for the third winner right now, and you can enter to possibly become the fourth winner starting today! BTW, anyone need whistles? Those bags in the background are full of ‘em.

Hint: My hand is strategically blocking something.
Hint: My hand is strategically blocking something.
Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Clayface is going heavy on the body horror.

If there was any doubt that DC Studios’ Clayface feature was going to be a proper body horror, the movie’s latest trailer makes it pretty clear that director James Watkins has cooked up something that’s going to make your skin crawl.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
China’s Moonshot trained its AI model on a restricted Nvidia chip, White House claims.

Michael Kratsios, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy director, writes on X that Moonshot accessed Nvidia’s high-end GB300 processors in Thailand, which are subject to strict export controls. Kratsios also accuses Moonshot of distilling Anthropic’s Fable AI model to build Kimi K3, an open-source AI system claimed to rival flagship models from US companies.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Amazon is cutting jobs on its AGI team.

In a statement to The Verge, Amazon spokesperson Jackie Burke says the company is “eliminating some ‌roles ⁠within parts of our AGI [artificial general intelligence] organization” as the company focuses on “initiatives that matter most for customers.” It’s not clear how many workers are impacted.

Apple is reportedly testing a MacBook Neo with more RAMApple is reportedly testing a MacBook Neo with more RAM

An A19 Pro update is on the way for the MacBook Neo, plus OLED screens for some of Apple’s pricier laptops.

Stevie Bonifield
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Web scraper nets a win against Google.

A federal judge dismissed Google’s lawsuit against the web-scraping service SerpApi after finding that the tech giant’s allegations were “insufficient” to prove a copyright violation.

Google accused SerpApi of using “deceptive means” to scrape its search results, to which SerpApi argued that it’s just doing “what Google does to everyone else.“ The judge is giving Google 21 days to amend its complaint.

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