Technology

Nintendo Switch 2 has achieved remarkable success, selling 3.5 million units in just four days, marking it as Nintendo's fastest-selling console and potentially the biggest console launch ever. The company aims to sell 15 million Switch 2s in the current financial year, and it is well on track to meet this goal, although challenges remain in stock availability and reaching beyond early adopters. Additionally, the Switch 2 has set a record for the most units sold within 24 hours and is expected to break the two-month sales record. Full Article

Elon Musk's approach of suing or threatening legal action against companies that refrain from advertising on X has yielded results, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Notably, Verizon, which hadn't advertised on the platform since 2022, committed to spend at least $10 million on X after being warned of potential inclusion in a lawsuit regarding an alleged illegal boycott. Additionally, fashion brand Ralph Lauren resumed advertising on X following similar threats, with at least six companies agreeing to ad deals influenced by these pressure tactics. Full Article

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company's Robotaxi service is "tentatively" set to launch in Austin, Texas on June 22, following the presence of driverless Model Ys spotted in the city. A recently observed Model Y, marked with a "Robotaxi" decal, was seen operating without a driver, although a passenger was present. Musk indicated that the service will initially feature about 10 taxis, which will be remotely monitored and geofenced to safe areas in Austin, despite past ambitious timelines suggesting a much larger fleet by now. Full Article

According to a report by MUSO, global visits to pirate sites totaled 216 billion in 2024, a decline from 229 billion the previous year, with TV piracy leading at 44.6% of visits. The U.S. remains the top source of pirate traffic, contributing over 12% of visits, while publishing piracy, primarily driven by manga, saw a notable increase of 4.3%. Conversely, visits for pirated movies and music dropped significantly by 18% and 19%, respectively, attributed to fewer blockbuster releases and the rise of licensed platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Full Article

Samsung's new smart fridges now feature multi-voice recognition using Bixby, enabling personalized information display based on who is speaking. This update allows users to access calendars and photo galleries with voice commands and offers helpful accessibility adjustments for visually impaired users. Additionally, a double-tap gesture on the fridge's display can activate Bixby, with these features rolling out to the 2025 Bespoke AI fridge models and later to other appliances with smaller AI Home displays. Full Article

In a new essay published Tuesday titled “The Gentle Singularity,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman articulated his vision for the transformative impact of AI on human experience over the next 15 years. The essay exemplifies Altman's futurism, emphasizing the significant potential of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and asserting that his company is nearing this milestone. Through this work, Altman aims to highlight both the promise and the responsibilities associated with the advancement of AI technologies. Full Article

SpaceX has announced a postponement of the Falcon 9 launch for Axiom Space's Ax-4 crew mission to the International Space Station (ISS), originally scheduled for tomorrow. The delay is due to the need for additional time to repair a liquid oxygen leak, as stated by SpaceX in a post on X. A new target launch date has not yet been provided. Full Article

In February 2012, Dr. C. Terence Lee began accepting Bitcoin for fertility services, marking a significant moment in cryptocurrency history. He successfully conducted what is believed to be the world's first Bitcoin medical transaction, where a patient, motivated by his interest in Bitcoin, paid for a sperm analysis with 15 BTC. Later, a couple paid in Bitcoin for their IVF treatment, leading to the birth of the "world's first Bitcoin baby," conceived with a payment of 30 BTC, which was worth $500 at the time and is valued at $3 million today. Full Article

Google is initiating a "voluntary exit program" for US-based employees in its Search organization and other divisions, but not for DeepMind, Google Cloud, YouTube, or central ad sales. The program offers a minimum of 14 weeks' pay for those who choose to leave by a July 1st deadline, with the aim of providing a supportive exit for employees feeling misaligned with company strategy. Additionally, employees within 50 miles of an office must return to the office at least three days a week, or face layoffs with severance. Full Article

Android 16 has landedGoogle is officially rolling out Android 16, starting today with Pixel phones, followed by updates for other devices in the coming weeks or months. The update includes a cleaner notification shade that enhances bundled notifications by merging multiple alerts from the same app into a single expandable item. While the initial feature set is light, more significant changes are expected to be introduced later this year. Full Article