Perplexity opens Comet AI browser to everyone for free Perplexity has made its AI browser Comet freely available to all users after a limited early release in July. Comet embeds a personal AI assistant directly into the browsing experience, aiming to make web research, summarization and task completion faster without switching apps. The launch comes just days after OpenAI introduced its own browser project, Atlas, on macOS — setting up immediate competition in the emerging category of AI‑first browsers. Both efforts reflect a broader push to integrate large‑model assistants more tightly into how people browse the web. What Comet offers Built‑in AI assistant: Summarize pages, answer questions and generate content without leaving the browser. Research workflow: Tools to collect, cite and organize web findings more efficiently. Free access: Comet is…

Judge says Meta can’t shield internal teen‑harm research with attorney‑client privilege A court in Washington, D.C. has ruled that Meta cannot use attorney‑client privilege to block internal documents and research related to social media harm to teenagers. The judge found that advice from Meta’s lawyers encouraging employees to “remove,” “block,” “button up” or “limit” portions of studies appeared intended to limit legal liability and potentially to conceal evidence — bringing the crime‑fraud exception into play. The court ordered Meta to hand over four specific documents created between November 2022 and July 2023 within seven days. Meta has disputed the ruling, saying these were routine lawyer‑client discussions and that no research findings were deleted or destroyed. Case context The decision relates to state lawsuits and hundreds of private civil claims accusing…

Samsung Galaxy XR: lighter, cheaper and more comfortable — but app ecosystem still catching up Samsung’s new Galaxy XR headset aims squarely at Apple’s Vision Pro with a different playbook: make XR lighter, more comfortable and far more affordable. In early hands‑on impressions, reviewers found Galaxy XR easier to wear for longer sessions and better suited to daily use — even if it doesn’t match every one of Vision Pro’s headline features. Key strengths cited include a noticeably lower weight, ergonomic comfort, and a price point that is roughly half that of the Vision Pro. That affordability could lower the barrier for consumers curious about spatial computing and help grow the XR market beyond early adopters. Software & apps: progress, but not there yet One winning factor for Galaxy XR…

Sleep Awake arrives Dec 2: Blumhouse-backed psychedelic horror leans on immersive sound Sleep Awake, a first‑person psychedelic horror from Eyes Out (founded by Spec Ops: The Line director Cory Davis and Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck), is due to release on December 2 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Published by Blumhouse Games, the title promises a sound‑forward, narrative‑heavy experience that leans into audio design to build tension and dread. The game takes place in the last known city on an Earth ravaged by The HUSH — a mysterious force that eliminates anyone who falls asleep. Players control Katja, who must stay awake and survive as residents resort to extreme measures to avoid The HUSH. Expect surreal visuals, unsettling encounters, and a strong emphasis on atmosphere rather…

Daily AI Brief: Anthropic advances Claude with domain focus and TPU scale Quick roundup of the past 24–48 hours focused on Anthropic (Claude) and OpenAI. Anthropic announced several notable product and infrastructure moves — domain enhancements, workflow customization and a large Google Cloud TPU expansion — while OpenAI had no major public announcements in this window. Top developments Claude for Life Sciences: Anthropic unveiled capabilities tailored for life‑sciences research, promising improved performance and integrations with scientific workflows. Read Anthropic’s post Agent Skills: New Agent Skills let organizations customize Claude for specific workflows and integrate with tools like Box and Notion, easing enterprise adoption. Agent Skills details Google Cloud TPU expansion: Reporting indicates Anthropic plans to significantly increase its Google Cloud TPU commitments to scale Claude, a major infrastructure bet that…

Daily AI Brief: Anthropic advances Claude with domain focus and TPU scale Quick roundup of the last 24–48 hours focused on Claude (Anthropic) and OpenAI. Anthropic announced a string of product and infrastructure moves — notably domain enhancements, workflow skills, and a major expansion of Google Cloud TPU usage — while OpenAI had no major public announcements in this window. Top developments Claude for Life Sciences: Anthropic rolled out capabilities aimed at life‑sciences research, improving performance and offering integrations to scientific platforms for domain workflows. (Anthropic) Agent Skills: New Agent Skills let organizations customize Claude for specific workflows and integrate with tools like Box and Notion, making Claude more adaptable for enterprise use. (Anthropic) Google Cloud TPU expansion: Reports indicate Anthropic plans to significantly increase its Google Cloud TPU commitments…

Daily AI Brief: Anthropic surges ahead — Claude updates, TPU expansion; OpenAI quiet Here are the latest developments from the past 24–48 hours focusing on Anthropic (Claude) and OpenAI, compiled from recent reporting and company posts. The main headlines: Anthropic rolled out product and infrastructure moves (notably expanding Google Cloud TPU capacity), while there were no major public updates from OpenAI in the same window. Top items Claude for Life Sciences: Anthropic announced enhancements aimed at supporting life‑sciences research workflows, with improved performance and integrations to scientific platforms. (Anthropic) Agent Skills: Claude now supports Agent Skills to customize assistants for specific workflows and integrate with services like Box and Notion, making Claude more adaptable to enterprise use cases. (Anthropic) Major TPU expansion: Anthropic plans to expand use of Google Cloud…

Strava withdraws patent suit against Garmin after just 21 days Strava has filed paperwork to dismiss its patent infringement lawsuit against Garmin after only 21 days. The suit had accused Garmin of infringing patents related to heat maps and segments and sought to halt sales of products Strava said relied on those patents. The dispute escalated with a public post from Strava’s chief product officer, Matt Salazar, criticizing Garmin’s API requirements. But the sudden reversal suggests private negotiations — and possibly the specter of counterclaims from Garmin, which holds an extensive patent portfolio. What happened Strava sued Garmin over patents covering heat maps and segments and asked the court to stop sales of allegedly infringing devices. The companies exchanged public barbs, including a Reddit post from Strava’s CPO highlighting concerns…

Verizon’s new ad misunderstands CRTs: bad physics, retro value and e‑waste concerns Verizon’s new 30‑second commercial has drawn criticism for a surprisingly obvious detail: it treats a 27‑inch CRT TV as if it were light and easy to lift. Viewers noted the unrealistic handling, and some commentators have pointed out broader issues beyond the gag — including the vintage value of CRTs and the environmental cost if a working set was destroyed for the shoot. The ad shows a woman walking into a big‑box store and handing over a chunky CRT to a salesperson, who accepts it without struggle. In reality, mid‑sized CRTs can weigh dozens of pounds, and many collectors prize working units for retro gaming and nostalgia. The commercial’s portrayal rings false to anyone familiar with those sets.…

Leica M EV1 swaps the rangefinder for a 5.76M‑dot electronic viewfinder Leica has introduced the M EV1, a new 60‑megapixel mirrorless addition to its M‑system that replaces the traditional optical rangefinder with a high‑resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF). The move keeps the beloved M design cues — including a hand‑stitched diamond‑pattern leatherette and compact body — while modernizing the shooting experience for photographers who prefer an EVF. The M EV1 is largely similar in imaging to the M11‑P, but Leica trimmed weight (about 1.62 ounces lighter) and removed the dedicated ISO dial in favor of a consolidated control scheme. The camera uses a 60MP sensor, records 14‑bit RAW, and offers up to 4.5 fps burst shooting. Leica emphasizes still photography: the M EV1 does not support video capture. Notable specs Sensor:…