Google’s Pixel 9A looks destined to ditch the camera bar

Illustration: The Verge There’ve already been renders of Google’s yet-to-be-announced Pixel 9A and one real-world sneak peek. Now we’re getting yet another look at an early prototype of Google’s next mid-range phone. X user fenibook has posted two shots of the phone, and it’s got the company’s usual markings that designate this as a still-under-development … Read more

Apple’s in-house 5G modem plans are just getting started with next year’s iPhone SE

The new modem is rumored to appear in next year’s iPhone SE. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge Apple’s betting that its upcoming in-house 5G modem could help it beat Qualcomm’s performance eventually, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Apple has worked on developing its own modem for years, but the initiative reportedly experienced … Read more

X’s Grok AI chatbot is now available to all users

The Verge Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is now available to free users on X. Several users noticed the change on Friday, which gives non-Premium subscribers the ability to send up to 10 messages to Grok every two hours. xAI launched Grok last year as a “humorous AI assistant,” but it was only available to … Read more

Anthem BCBS is reversing its anesthesia policy after online outrage

Beginning in February, health insurer Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield was planning to set a time limit for anesthesia coverage during surgeries and procedures. Now, following days of widespread outrage at the health insurance industry generally, Anthem is walking that policy back, the insurer announced on Thursday. In mid-November, the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued … Read more

Netflix’s Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld is a fresh remix of Buffy-style monster slaying

Image: Netflix Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld’s first season feels like a classic monster slaying story remixed for a new generation. Though it has been decades since Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s final episode aired, the show’s lasting cultural impact can still be felt through the stories being told by people who were impacted by it. … Read more

TikTok divest-or-ban law upheld by federal court

Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos from Getty Images A bill that could ban TikTok from the US unless its Chinese parent company divests it is constitutional, a panel of judges for the DC Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled. The decision comes soon before ByteDance’s January 19th deadline to sell the popular video … Read more

Muppet History was a bright spot online — now it’s embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal

Photo by Julio Donoso / Sygma via Getty Images For years, a fan-run account called Muppet History has been central to the Muppets fandom. It shared little-known facts, memes, and wholesome messages, amassing half a million followers on Instagram and more than 280,000 on X. Publicly, it was a wholesome and sweet platform, a passion … Read more

Google Photos now has its own version of Spotify Wrapped

Every company is trying to copy Spotify these days. | Image: Google The Google Photos app is rolling out a throwback experience that highlights some of your most memorable moments from this year. The “2024 Recap” presentation feature announced today combines a collection of photos and insights with graphics and cinematic effects that summarize what … Read more

AGI is coming and nobody cares

Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for The New York Times OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been saying for years — years! — that artificial general intelligence, or AGI, would be something like a singularity. When we achieve AGI, Altman and others have said, it will fundamentally reshape society. At the New York Times DealBook Summit … Read more

Donald Trump says David Sacks will be the ‘White House A.I. & Crypto Czar’

Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump says that VC and All-In Podcast co-host David Sacks will be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” The appointment of Sacks, who hosted a $300,000-a-person dinner at his mansion to fundraise for Trump’s campaign this past July, follows fellow PayPal Mafia member Elon Musk’s … Read more

iFixit now sells official Xbox parts

Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge iFixit now sells genuine Xbox parts you can use to repair your Xbox Series X or S and offers official guides to help with fixes. You can browse what’s available from iFixit’s Microsoft Repair Hub. “We’re excited to be working with Microsoft to keep Xboxes running longer and … Read more

Riot is making a League of Legends card game

Image: Riot Games The League of Legends universe is expanding once again — this time with a physical card game. Riot Games announced today that it’s developing a physical trading card game set in the League universe. The game is currently known as “Project K,” and Riot says it’s working with an unnamed partner in … Read more

US phone companies could face fines for weak security under a proposed new rule

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Following news that foreign hackers may still be in US telecom networks, the Federal Communications Commission proposed a new rule that would require telecom companies to secure their networks from “unlawful access or interception of communications.” It would also force providers to submit an annual certification to … Read more

The PC Gaming Show’s best trailers: creepy aliens, strategic turtles, and desktop platformers

MainFrames. | Image: The Arcade Crew Before we all settle in for The Game Awards next week, this year’s PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted had its own assortment of interesting reveals and excellent trailers. It was an indie-focused showcase, which means that there was quite a bit of inventiveness on display; everything from a unique … Read more