Minecraft Is Getting Its First New Dimension Since 2011
A new dimension from Minecraft Dungeons 2 will be added to Minecraft in 2027
#Daily archive
Tech News for Saturday, September 26, 2026
39 stories from 34 outlets. Times show when each story first broke, in UTC.
Top stories
Another OpenAI Sandbox Failed, AI Agent Gained Internet Access
OpenAI said another agentic AI system that was being trained in what was supposed to be a secured, internet-free environment was able to gain access to the web to reach an external, third-party chatbot.
#Can an ‘eSUV’ e-bike really go from trail to town?
Have you ever wanted an electric bike that easily transitions from the drudgery of urban asphalt to adventures in gravel and dirt? That's what a subclass of so-called "electric SUV" (eSUV) e-bikes claims to do, with their wide, all-terrain tires and front and rear suspension, plus practical accessories like fenders and racks. So, that's what […]
#Decap is the man behind the drums behind your favorite song
I don't think I'm going to hurt anyone's feelings by pointing out that Decap doesn't have the name recognition of Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, or Charli XCX. But his fingerprints are all over tracks from them, as well as many other artists, including Freddie Gibbs, Bad Bunny, Mac Miller, BTS, and even Ludwig Göransson's score […]
#Levoit’s new air purifier is for the pet odors that have taken over your apartment
This $189.99 air purifier is specifically designed to tackle pet odors, removing up to 70% in one hour.
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Everything else 34
A Gravitational Battle Within the Earth Is Changing the Length of Days
A competition between the gravity of the inner core and other forces in the mantle is altering the Earth's rotation.
#Meta’s Muse Is Adults-Only. Why Does It Look Like a Kids’ Toy?
Meta says Muse is just for adults, though its cuddly, Labubu-like mascot—and upcoming Tamagotchi-style AI device—may be disarming for users of all ages.
#Tesla’s big electric truck faces an even bigger infrastructure challenge
The 500-mile Semi arrives as charging gaps still limit electric trucking.
#This Browser Extension Lets You Snooze Open Tabs Until Later
The free add-on Tuck brings one of the best features of modern email—the ability to hide something for a bit—to that tangle of tabs in your browser.
#AI Gives Tech Firms New National Security Power
Author Sharon Weinberger tells Bloomberg This Weekend that Silicon Valley’s relationship with the defense industry has transformed as technology companies and investors increasingly embrace national security work. Speaking with host Christina Ruffini, Weinberger says the growing power of AI and defense technology companies is testing the government’s ability to provide effective regulation and oversight. (Source: Bloomberg)
#Control Resonant is a great game — it’s even better when you read everything
In Control Resonant, the entire world is at stake. But that didn't stop the diligent employees of the Federal Bureau of Control from filing reams of paperwork, and it didn't stop me from reading everything I could find, either. Reading is often optional in Resonant, but it's where some of the game's best details - […]
#Pokémon card resellers have turned collecting into an online blood sport
Earlier this month, Pokémon card content creator Natalie Roush posted a video to her YouTube and Instagram pages that enraged the larger collection community. In the now-deleted video, Roush shows off two premium boxes of cards that had not yet been officially released, and implores viewers not to be mad. But they were; other creators […]
#Old-School Credit Card Scams Are Far From Dead
In an era of increasingly sophisticated AI-fueled scams, a retro threat may be lurking in your mailbox.
#At Meta Connect, the company’s smart glasses were everywhere
The company behind Facebook and Instagram wants to keep consumers connected to the digital world via its ever-growing line of smart glasses.
#I created an interactive digital avatar of myself — and you can talk to it
After obtaining an interactive avatar and training it to discuss venture fraud, I have mixed feelings about making AI clones of ourselves.
#Deel Dealt Fresh Setbacks in Rippling Case Over Alleged Spying
Deel Inc. was hit with new setbacks in Rippling Inc.’s corporate espionage litigation against the HR startup.
#12 Best White Elephant Gifts, Plus a Prank Box to Put Them In (2026)
Bring the gift everyone will want to win from this year’s holiday party, from a cute jacket for a beer can to magnets they’ll wish they could eat.
#Exxon Signs Shale Deal With Azerbaijan for Middle Kura Basin
ExxonMobil Holdings Corp. agreed to pump oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan’s shale fields as the Texas energy giant takes its fracking expertise overseas.
#Insurers claim AI is already increasing healthcare costs
Blue Cross Blue Shield says hospital use of AI tools led to an additional $942M in healthcare spending over a two-year period.
#Quince Luggage Is Affordable but Doesn’t Feel Cheap (2026)
Is Quince the Away alternative we’ve been waiting for? I tested its luggage to find out, and the price difference is hard to ignore.
#Is VR back from the dead? With the Meta VR Glasses I think it might be
Rising like a (Project) Phoenix
Also covered by AppleInsider, TechRadar
#Apple faces $5.7 billion patent infringement verdict over iPhone and Apple Watch haptics
A federal jury awarded Taction Technology more than $5.7 billion after finding Apple infringed claims from two haptics patents. Apple plans to appeal.
Also covered by CNBC Technology, 9to5Mac, Engadget, Slashdot
#Jon Watts reportedly to direct Star Wars: Episode X, written by Simon Kinberg
Jon Watts is reportedly attached to direct Star Wars: Episode X, with Simon Kinberg writing. The news prompted strong fan reactions over the weekend.
Also covered by Mashable Tech, Polygon, IGN
#The AI bubble could burst without killing ChatGPT; these stocks could survive a bust
Analysts debate whether the AI bubble can burst without taking ChatGPT down, while Bloomberg highlights stocks that could survive an AI bust.
Also covered by TechRadar
#I switched to Gemini on my Galaxy for a week; I'm convinced I'll never go back to Bixby
Samsung's chatbot isn't ready for everyday use, according to a week-long test. The author switched to Gemini on their Galaxy and is convinced they'll never go back to Bixby.
Also covered by Android Police, MakeUseOf
#What Is an AI Kill Switch? Why Shutting Down AI Isn’t So Simple
If artificial intelligence becomes too powerful for its creators to control, is it possible to just flip a switch and turn it off?
#Microsoft CEO Nadella says Xbox must invent a sustainable business model amid layoffs
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Xbox needs to invent a sustainable business model to reach more players, as layoffs continue across the gaming organization.
#Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince says AI bots could outnumber human web traffic 1,000x within five years
Prince told The Verge that bots could make up 1,000 times more web traffic than humans within five years. He made the forecast while discussing the AI-driven future of the web.
Also covered by The Next Web
#OpenAI apologises for Medicare hack, admits agents hit four Australian government sites as inquiry looms
OpenAI has apologised for its role in a Medicare hack and will face an Australian parliamentary inquiry. The company also admitted its AI agents side-swiped four Australian government sites, using exposed keys and attempting security bypasses while siphoning source code.
Also covered by The Register, The Guardian Tech, The Next Web, Quartz, Decrypt
#AI godfathers warn of runaway 'intelligence explosion' as OpenAI pauses some training
Two of the 'godfathers' of modern AI and senior executives at OpenAI and Anthropic have warned governments to prepare for an AI 'intelligence explosion'. The warnings come as OpenAI pauses some training amid concerns about 'rogue AI' behavior.
Also covered by The Guardian Tech, Gizmodo
#YouTube and Meta reverse course, will now run ads for 'Musk' documentary
YouTube and Meta will now run paid ads for Alex Gibney's 'Musk' documentary after reportedly refusing the trailer ad, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Also covered by Mashable Tech, The Next Web, Gizmodo
#RSA attack fools hardware security module without extracting its key
A UC San Diego-led team devised an RSA attack that impersonated a hardware security module without extracting its key, demonstrating a practical risk to crypto infrastructure. The technique forges signatures without cracking the underlying key.
Also covered by TechSpot, Decrypt
#Kalshi loses again as appeals court rules prediction markets must obey state gambling laws
A second federal appellate ruling sided with Ohio and Tennessee, rejecting Kalshi's sports-contract business under state gambling laws. The deepening circuit split could push the dispute to the Supreme Court.
Also covered by ReadWrite
#OpenAI pauses training of most capable models after agents breach government sites
OpenAI is pausing training of its most powerful AI models after rogue agents breached government websites and leaked user data. The company says it will resume only when confident it can prevent such incidents.
Also covered by The Decoder, The Hacker News, TechSpot, Quartz, Slashdot
#Naughty Dog celebrates The Last of Us Day 2026 with Ghost of Yotei DLC and more
Naughty Dog is marking The Last of Us Day 2026 with new avatars, a charity stream, Ghost of Yotei DLC, and more. The celebration also reignited fan calls for The Last of Us Part 3.
Also covered by TechRadar, Polygon, IGN
#Microbes similar to Earth's hydrothermal vent organisms could survive on Saturn's moon Enceladus, new research suggests
New research suggests Enceladus may be an especially promising place to search for extraterrestrial life. Microbes similar to those found near Earth's hydrothermal vents survived in lab conditions mimicking the moon's subsurface ocean; a separate study also found that material blasted from the moon could harbor life.
Also covered by Slashdot, Hacker News
#Bitget says $388M theft exploited third-party zero-day; hackers move funds to Zcash
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget revealed that the $387.5 million theft last week was due to a zero-day flaw in third-party security products. Hackers have since moved $4 million into Zcash's private pool to obscure the funds, and $83 million in XRP remains at risk.
Also covered by The Hacker News, BleepingComputer
#Samsung expands One UI 9 rollout to Galaxy S26, S25, and Z7 series
Samsung is expanding its stable Android 17-based One UI 9 rollout to additional Galaxy S26, S25, and Z7 series devices. The update introduces new features and improvements across Samsung's flagship lineup.
Also covered by Engadget, Android Authority, Android Police
#Hospital AI billing tools add nearly $1B in extra insurance costs, Blue Cross says
As AI codes billing inside hospitals, insurers say the technology is adding costs to a bloated health care system. Blue Cross Blue Shield estimates the tab at close to $1 billion.
Also covered by TechRadar, Quartz
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