All posts tagged: evergreens

Apple under Ternus: what comes next for the tech giant’s hardware strategy

Apple under Ternus: what comes next for the tech giant’s hardware strategy

Published by skeptic

As Apple races to stay competitive in AI while navigating tariffs and supply chain uncertainty, the company’s future is about to shift under new leadership. On Monday, Apple announced that John Ternus will take over as CEO later this year, succeeding Tim Cook. Cook transformed Apple into a $4 trillion global powerhouse, expanded its services business, and oversaw some of the most profitable years in tech history. Ternus brings a different kind of skillset. A longtime hardware executive, he has spent his career building Apple’s devices rather than managing the broader business. Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and rose through the ranks of hardware engineering. Along the way, he has contributed to some of the company’s biggest products, including AirPods, the Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. His appointment signals a renewed focus on hardware at a moment when Apple is under pressure to define its next era. Ternus will now help determine what that looks like. Hardware with AI at the center Rather than trying to compete head-on with companies building the biggest AI models, …

From LLMs to hallucinations, here’s a simple guide to common AI terms

From LLMs to hallucinations, here’s a simple guide to common AI terms

Published by skeptic

Artificial intelligence is a deep and convoluted world. The scientists who work in this field often rely on jargon and lingo to explain what they’re working on. As a result, we frequently have to use those technical terms in our coverage of the artificial intelligence industry. That’s why we thought it would be helpful to put together a glossary with definitions of some of the most important words and phrases that we use in our articles. We will regularly update this glossary to add new entries as researchers continually uncover novel methods to push the frontier of artificial intelligence while identifying emerging safety risks. Artificial general intelligence, or AGI, is a nebulous term. But it generally refers to AI that’s more capable than the average human at many, if not most, tasks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently described AGI as the “equivalent of a median human that you could hire as a co-worker.” Meanwhile, OpenAI’s charter defines AGI as “highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work.” Google DeepMind’s understanding differs slightly from these two definitions; …

Slate Auto: Everything you need to know about the Bezos-backed EV startup

Slate Auto: Everything you need to know about the Bezos-backed EV startup

Published by skeptic

In April 2025, a new company called Slate Auto came out of stealth and shocked the car industry. Not only was this startup focused on making an ultra-cheap, customizable electric pickup truck with funding from Jeff Bezos, but it had also been operating in secret for three years in Troy, Michigan — the backyard of major automakers like Ford and General Motors. TechCrunch was first to the story, reporting in early April about the company’s existence, its involvement with the Amazon founder, and its curious and unique business model. The weeks between our report and Slate’s official coming out party in late April provided a whirlwind of news, with prototypes of the startup’s truck popping up around California. Slate is an aberration in the U.S. EV sector, where bankruptcies, failed product launches, and pivots have become commonplace. And while its current backers, executive lineup, first product, and business model provide a compelling path forward, the road is still riddled with potential hurdles as it pushes toward production in late 2026.  Here’s a timeline that charts …

Best iPad apps to boost productivity and make your life easier

Best iPad apps to boost productivity and make your life easier

Published by skeptic

Apple’s iPads come with built-in productivity tools like Notes, Calendar, and Reminders, but if you’d like to explore new ways to maximize productivity and organize your life, there are many apps out there to help you. Although the iPad started off as a device that could be used to stream content or browse the web on the go, Apple has essentially turned its iPads into computers that can handle a variety of different tasks for personal, work, and school use. As a result, there are numerous apps to help you do things like create a single place to organize your life or help you stay focused on your day-to-day tasks by blocking out distractions. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best ones that are available on the App Store. Milanote Image Credits:Milanote / Milanote is a good app for people who prefer a visual workspace when it comes to building a task manager, creating a mood board, or organizing plans. You can turn scattered ideas and tasks into a visual system. Instead of …

These iPad apps will make you wish you had more free time

These iPad apps will make you wish you had more free time

Published by skeptic

If you’re looking to explore your creativity, there are a number of iPad apps that can help you get started. Although the iPad started off as a simple device that could be used to stream content or browse the web on the go, Apple has essentially turned its iPads into powerful machines that can be used to do things like create digital art and edit videos. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best iPad apps for creativity that are available on the App Store.  Before we delve in, it’s worth noting that although Adobe’s creative apps are often top choices for creativity on the iPad, this list won’t include them because they are already well-known. We’re focusing instead on somewhat lesser-known apps that you’ll want to know about and try. Lake Image Credits:Lake Not every creative app has to involve a blank page staring back at you. Lake takes a more relaxed approach, letting you digitally color hand-drawn illustrations by independent artists using more than 700 colors and a selection of brushes. If …

Let’s take a look at the retro tech making a comeback

Let’s take a look at the retro tech making a comeback

Published by skeptic

From blasting music on a boombox to watching a photo develop in your hands, many people are rediscovering the imperfect charm of older gadgets that smartphones and laptops just can’t replicate. Tech companies are leaning all the way in, blending nostalgic design with modern functionality. Here are some of the coolest retro-inspired devices out there right now. Digital typewriters Image Credits:FreeWrite In a world full of endless notifications, tabs, doomscrolling, and other distractions, smart typewriters are carving out a niche for a more focused writing experience. These devices strip things back to the essentials: just you, a keyboard, and your words.  Freewrite ($699): Freewrite features a design inspired by classic typewriters, providing a minimalist writing experience. It includes a small screen and satisfying keys to press. However, if you need to make edits, your drafts are synced to the cloud and can be exported to any software. Pomera ($549): A more modern take than Freewrite’s device, Pomera looks like a compact laptop and includes helpful tools like spell check, document management, and word counts. With …

How fusion power works and the startups pursuing it

How fusion power works and the startups pursuing it

Published by skeptic

For decades, humans have sought to harness the power of the stars to generate electricity here on Earth. And for nearly as long, achieving that goal always seemed just a decade away. Now, a slew of startups are closer than ever before and rushing to build fusion reactors capable of putting power on the grid. Fusion startups have drawn more than $10 billion in investment, with more than a dozen raising over $100 million. Many large funding rounds have closed in the last year, with investors drawn to the industry as energy demand from data centers ramps up and as fusion startups draw closer to the finish line. At its core, fusion power seeks to use the energy released from the fusing of atoms to generate electricity. Humans have known how to fuse atoms for decades, from the hydrogen bomb — an example of uncontrolled nuclear fusion — to any of the myriad fusion devices built in labs around the world. Experimental fusion devices have been able to control nuclear fusion, and one has been …

As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps promising to help

As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps promising to help

Published by skeptic

In recent years, people have been increasingly looking for new ways to form platonic connections, as loneliness and social isolation have become more prevalent. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General went so far as to label this issue a public health crisis. Remote workers, who miss the everyday interactions found in an office, and younger individuals eager to create their adult social circles based on shared interests and hobbies, are among those seeking meaningful friendships. Thanks to online dating apps, the stigma associated with finding connections online has largely faded away. This has welcomed a new wave of apps focused on fostering friendships and building local communities. According to estimates from Appfigures, over a dozen local-focused friendship apps have collectively generated approximately $16 million in consumer spending in the U.S. so far this year. Some notable examples include Timeleft, Meet5, and Bumble’s BFF. Additionally, these apps have garnered approximately 4.3 million downloads thus far in 2025. The apps aim to provide a less awkward solution than, for instance, approaching a stranger at the gym or …

How to use the new ChatGPT app integrations, including DoorDash, Spotify, Uber, and others

How to use the new ChatGPT app integrations, including DoorDash, Spotify, Uber, and others

Published by skeptic

OpenAI offers app integrations in ChatGPT to allow you to connect your accounts directly to ChatGPT and ask the assistant to do things for you. For instance, with a Spotify integration, you can tell it to create personalized playlists that will show up right in your Spotify app. To get started, make sure you’re logged into ChatGPT. Then type the name of the app you want to use at the start of your prompt, and ChatGPT will guide you through signing in and connecting your account. If you want to set everything up at once, head over to the Settings menu, then click on Apps and Connectors. You can browse through the available apps, pick the ones you like, and it’ll take you to the sign-in page for each one.  However, it’s important to note that connecting your account means you’re sharing your app data with ChatGPT. Make sure to review the permissions you’re giving when you’re linking your accounts. For example, if you connect your Spotify account, ChatGPT can see your playlists, listening history, …

The biggest AI stories of the year (so far)

The biggest AI stories of the year (so far)

Published by skeptic

You can chart a year through product launches, or you can measure it in the greater moments that change the way we look at AI. The AI industry is constantly churning out news, like major acquisitions, indie developer successes, public outcry against sketchy products, and existentially dangerous contract negotiations — it’s a lot to untangle, so we’re taking a glimpse at where we’re at and where we’ve been so far this year. Anthropic vs. the Pentagon Once business partners, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reached a bitter stalemate in February as they renegotiated the contracts that dictate how the U.S. military can use Anthropic’s AI tools. Anthropic established a hard line against its AI being used for mass surveillance of Americans or to power autonomous weapons that can attack without human oversight. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has argued that the Department of Defense — which President Donald Trump’s administration calls the Department of War — should be permitted access to Anthropic’s models for any “lawful use.” Government representatives took offense to the …