# OpenAI Pulls Its Scarlett Johansson-esque Voice from ChatGPT In a recent turn of events, OpenAI has decided to pause the use of a ChatGPT voice that bears a striking resemblance to Scarlett Johansson. This move comes after widespread attention from various media outlets and even a spoof on *Saturday Night Live* that noted the uncanny similarity. The voice in question, known as Sky, will no longer be actively used for the time being. ## The Official Statement OpenAI has made it clear that it does not endorse the deliberate mimicry of any celebrity’s voice. In a recent announcement, OpenAI stated: > "We believe that AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity’s distinctive voice— Sky’s voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but belongs to a different professional…

**What to Expect from Microsoft’s Surface Event Today** *Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge* One of Microsoft’s most consequential hardware events in years is about to take place. While it's not the company's renowned developer conference, Microsoft Build, which starts on Tuesday, today's smaller event on May 20th promises to be momentous in its own right. Microsoft is set to unveil the next generation of its Surface devices. **What’s on the Horizon?** At this event, we anticipate Microsoft to introduce new versions of the Surface Pro 10 and the Surface Laptop 6. And there's a significant twist: both devices are expected to run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processors. This move is Microsoft's latest, and perhaps most determined, attempt to transition to Arm architecture. The company is optimistic…

**Meta and LG’s Headset Partnership Hits Turbulence: What We Know So Far** It appears that Meta and LG’s ambitious collaboration to develop an extended reality (XR) device is facing significant challenges. This joint venture aimed to create a competitor to Apple’s Vision Pro headset. However, recent developments suggest that the partnership may be experiencing a rough patch.  ## A Promising Start In February of this year, LG CEO William Cho and LG Home Entertainment president Park Hyoung-sei sat down with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to discuss a groundbreaking XR project. Both firms were looking to leverage their strengths—Meta’s Horizon Worlds mixed reality platform and LG's robust content and service capabilities from its TV business—to create a cutting-edge device. Excitement mounted as the partnership was announced,…

**Securing Democracy: Election Officials Battle AI Threats in Arizona** **Introduction** In an era where technological advancements constantly evolve, the threats to democratic processes have taken a new and alarming turn. Artificial Intelligence (AI), once lauded for its potential to transform industries positively, now poses significant challenges to election integrity. Recognizing this, Arizona’s Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, took proactive measures to educate and prepare those on the front lines of democracy. **A Unique Tabletop Exercise** Understanding the gravity and immediacy of AI threats, Secretary Fontes organized a distinctive tabletop exercise designed specifically for journalists. Held against the backdrop of Arizona’s vast political landscape, this exercise wasn’t just a traditional simulation. Instead, it invited journalists to step into the shoes of election officials, providing them an immersive experience of the speed…

# Two Students Uncover Security Flaw in Internet-Connected Washing Machines: Millions Could Do Laundry for Free ## Introduction In an unexpected turn of events highlighting the vulnerabilities in modern technology, two University of California, Santa Cruz students have discovered a significant security lapse in internet-connected washing machines. This flaw could potentially allow millions of college students and others to do their laundry for free, according to a recent report by TechCrunch.  ## The Discovery Alexander Sherbrooke and Iakov Taranenko, the two students who made this groundbreaking discovery, uncovered the security vulnerability within the machines' API (Application Programming Interface). The exploited API permits the manipulation of the machines' app, which is intended for remote laundry management. ## Implications of the Vulnerability The severity of…

### The Mac Pro and Studio Won’t Get the M4 Nod Until Mid-2025 :format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72299978/akrales_20230612_01_1010815.0.jpg) *A 2023 Mac Pro. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge* In a recent update for Power On subscribers, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed that Apple's Mac Studio and Mac Pro won't be upgraded to the anticipated M4 chip until mid-next year. This revelation implies that both these high-end machines will remain powered by the M2 generation throughout this year, unlike other Macs, with the exception of the MacBook Air. According to Gurman, 2024 will witness all of Apple’s laptops (excluding the MacBook Air) transitioning to the M4 chip, which has already been integrated into the latest iPad Pro. This staggered upgrade cycle has led to a peculiar situation: the iPad Pro…

### Sonos Teases Its ‘Most Requested Product Ever’ for a Tuesday Launch  Sonos, a leader in high-quality audio products, has been creating quite the buzz with intriguing hints on both emails and social media. The company has been teasing what it refers to as its “most requested product ever,” slated for launch on May 21st, which is this Tuesday. ### The Big Reveal: Sonos Ace Wireless Headphones All signs point to the official unveiling of the Sonos Ace, marking Sonos’ first foray into the realm of wireless headphones. Speculation surrounding the Ace has been brewing for a while, with many eagerly awaiting its release. Although the Ace was expected to make its debut in June, the recent teasers and its sudden appearance for sale by authorized dealer Schuurman…

## The Smells and Tastes of a Great Video Game **Image: Samar Haddad / The Verge** As video games and movies grow increasingly immersive, it's becoming evident that certain sensations are missing in the experience. Have you ever found yourself playing *Gran Turismo* and wished you could smell the burning rubber and engine exhaust? Or imagined that a game of beer pong in *Horizon Worlds* would be even better if you could taste the hops? In this episode of *The Vergecast*, part of our miniseries exploring the five senses of video games, we dive into the fascinating topics of smell and taste in video gaming — and debate whether these senses could truly enhance the virtual experience for gamers. Essentially, we're asking: could Smellovision make a comeback for a new…

**Blue Origin's First Crewed Flight Since 2022: A New Chapter in Space Tourism** ![Screenshot: YouTube] **Jeff Bezos’ space tourism company is flying humans to space for the first time since 2022.** The private space industry has experienced significant growth and innovation over the past decade, spearheaded by several high-profile companies striving to make space more accessible to the public. Among these pioneering firms is Blue Origin, the brainchild of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Recently, Blue Origin made headlines with the announcement of their first crewed flight since 2022—a significant milestone for both the company and the burgeoning field of space tourism. **A Pause and New Beginnings:** Blue Origin’s return to crewed flights marks the end of a hiatus that began after their last manned mission in 2022. This break was…