Tag Archives: author_name|Will Shanklin

Gmail is getting a Gemini AI overhaul

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In a move that should surprise nobody, Google is stuffing more Gemini AI into Gmail. A host of new features, some of which are already familiar to Workspace users, are rolling out today for Gmail users in the US. Some are free, while others require a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription.

The first premium feature is AI Overviews, the same name as a similar feature in Google Search. Gmail’s version lets you ask questions about your messages in the search bar, using natural language. Google uses the example of, "Who was the plumber that gave me a quote for the bathroom renovation last year?" It’s hard to imagine that saving much time over a basic search for "plumber quote" or “plumbing estimate,” but maybe it could help in some situations.

There's also a free portion of AI Overviews that summarizes mail threads for easy catch-ups. However, the ability to ask your inbox questions requires a subscription.

Meanwhile, Proofread is a subscription-only feature that's essentially Grammarly for Gmail. As you'd guess, it suggests improvements in grammar, word choice, conciseness, voice and sentence structure.

Google marketing image for an AI catch-up feature coming to Gmail.
AI Inbox
Google

Finally, there's the AI Inbox, a feature that "filters out the clutter so you can focus on what's most important." Google says it's like a personal briefing that flags to-dos and catches you up on what it thinks is most important. (It identifies VIPs based on frequent contacts, your contact list, and inferred relationships.) The company claims, without adding further detail, that this all "happens securely with the privacy protections you expect from Google." AI Inbox is another subscription-only feature.

Now onto the free stuff. Help Me Write is a tool for all Gmail users that generates email copy from a prompt. This kind of thing should be well-familiar by now, as Big Tech increasingly encourages users to avoid drafting anything from scratch. And Suggested Replies can draft replies for you that mimic your tone and style. (Google describes it as a next-gen version of Smart Replies.) Help Me Write and Suggested Replies are rolling out to everyone (no subscription required) today.

The new Gemini-powered features begin rolling out to Gmail today. Although they're starting with English speakers in the US, Google says they'll arrive in more languages and regions "in the coming months."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gmail-is-getting-a-gemini-ai-overhaul-130000422.html?src=rss

Character.AI and Google settle with families in teen suicide and self-harm lawsuits

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Character.AI and Google have reportedly agreed to settle multiple lawsuits regarding teen suicide and self-harm. According to The Wall Street Journal, the victims' families and the companies are working to finalize the settlement terms.

The families of several teens sued the companies in Florida, Colorado, Texas and New York. The Orlando, FL, lawsuit was filed by the mother of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, who used a Character.AI chatbot tailored after Game of Thrones' Daenerys Targaryen. The teen reportedly exchanged sexualized messages with the chatbot and occasionally referred to it as "his baby sister." He eventually talked about joining "Daenerys" in a deeper way before taking his own life.

The Texas suit accused a Character.AI model of encouraging a teen to cut his arms. It also allegedly suggested that murdering his parents was a reasonable option. After the lawsuits were filed, the startup changed its policies and banned users under 18.

Character.AI is a role-playing chatbot platform that allows you to create custom characters and share them with other users. Many are based on celebrities or fictional pop culture figures. The company was founded in 2021 by two Google engineers, Noam Shazeer and Daniel de Freitas. In 2024, Google rehired the co-founders and struck a $2.7 billion deal to license the startup's technology.

On one hand, the settlements will likely compensate the victims' families handsomely. On the other hand, not going to trial means key details of the cases may never be made public. It's easy to imagine other AI companies facing similar suits, including OpenAI and Meta, viewing the settlements as a welcome development.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/characterai-and-google-settle-with-families-in-teen-suicide-and-self-harm-lawsuits-201059912.html?src=rss

Ubisoft is shutting down a studio 16 days after it unionized

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Ubisoft is closing a Canadian studio just over two weeks after it unionized. In a dizzying claim, the company told GamesIndustry.biz that the closure of Ubisoft Halifax was part of "company-wide actions to streamline operations" and unrelated to the unionization.

On December 22, Ubisoft Halifax announced that 61 of its workers had joined the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada. At the time, the studio's lead programmer, Jon Huffman, told CTV News that 73.8 percent of employees voted in favor of unionizing. Ominously in hindsight, he had described the decision as a "huge relief." The studio was working on mobile titles within the Rainbow Six and Assassin's Creed franchises.

Ubisoft's official statement framed the shutdown as part of a broader pattern of financial belt-tightening. "Over the past 24 months, Ubisoft has undertaken company-wide actions to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs," the company said. "As part of this, Ubisoft has made the difficult decision to close its Halifax studio. 71 positions will be affected. We are committed to supporting all impacted team members during this transition with resources, including comprehensive severance packages and additional career assistance."

In October, Ubisoft announced that Massive Entertainment, developer of The Division series, Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, was offering buyouts to some employees. The company framed that move as a "voluntary career transition program." Over the past few years, Ubisoft has closed offices and laid off workers in San Francisco, London and Leamington. In 2024, the company's headcount dropped by eight percent.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ubisoft-is-shutting-down-a-studio-16-days-after-it-unionized-183000983.html?src=rss

Samsung says RAM costs will likely lead to price hikes soon

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Samsung says AI data center-fueled RAM scarcity could raise the company's prices. Wonjin Lee, Samsung's global marketing leader, sounded the alarm in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday at CES 2026. As recently as early December, Samsung told Reuters that it was monitoring the market but wouldn't comment on pricing. So, the change of tune can be seen as a deliberate signal to soften the ground ahead of an official announcement.

"There's going to be issues around semiconductor supplies, and it's going to affect everyone," Samsung’s Lee said. "Prices are going up even as we speak. Obviously, we don't want to convey that burden to the consumers, but we're going to be at a point where we have to actually consider repricing our products."

Marketing image of Samsung HBM RAM against a black background
Samsung appears to be softening the ground ahead of an official announcement.
Samsung

The global RAM shortage is the result of AI data centers gobbling up high-bandwidth memory. Memory manufacturers have shifted their output priorities to meet that demand, leading to a snowball effect where even the low-bandwidth RAM found in automobiles is affected.

"AI workloads are built around memory," Sanchit Vir Gogia, CEO of Greyhound Research, told NPR in late December. "AI has changed the nature of demand itself. Training and inference systems require large, persistent memory footprints, extreme bandwidth, and tight proximity to compute. You cannot dial this down without breaking performance."

It's been more than three years since ChatGPT launched and kicked off the AI craze. During that time, companies have hyped chatbots and other generative AI tools as a technology that will take us to the promised land, making life easier as machine learning automates our daily lives. It isn't yet clear if an AI bubble is set to burst, but some financial forecasters have sounded the alarm. Regardless, it's hard to see how consumers and workers are getting anything but the short end of the stick so far.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/samsung-says-ram-costs-will-likely-lead-to-price-hikes-soon-170653524.html?src=rss

Lenovo reveals a SteamOS variant of the Legion Go 2 at CES

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If you saw Lenovo's Legion Go 2 launch last year and thought, "I'll wait for the SteamOS version," well, you'll have to wait a little longer. But at least now it's official. At CES 2026, the company revealed the Legion Go 2, Powered by SteamOS. The Valve-friendly variant of the gaming handheld arrives in June, starting at a pricey $1,199.

There aren't any surprises here. It's the same Lenovo Legion Go 2 hardware, with SteamOS replacing the sometimes-awkward Windows. In many ways, you could view the SteamOS Legion Go 2 as a more powerful and versatile (and expensive!) Steam Deck. One notable exception is the optimizations game developers often make for Valve's handheld. (Ditto for "Steam Deck Verified" badges on store listings to learn quickly how playable games are.)

So, all the specs from the Windows version carry over. That includes a spacious 8.8-inch OLED display at 1,920 x 1,200 and with a 144Hz VRR. You still have two tiers to choose from: Ryzen Z2 / 16GB / 1TB or Ryzen Z2 Extreme / 32GB / 2TB. The device has a microSD slot, kickstand, detachable controllers and a 74Wh battery. At 2.2 lbs, it's a bulky affair, so you'll want to look elsewhere if a light, compact handheld is your priority.

Lenovo says the Legion Go 2, Powered by SteamOS is expected in June. It will start at $1,199 for the entry-level variant. (Lenovo hasn't yet announced pricing for the Z2 Extreme tier.) You can revisit Sam Rutherford's review of the Windows version for much more on the hardware.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/lenovo-reveals-a-steamos-variant-of-the-legion-go-2-at-ces-010000852.html?src=rss

Resident Evil Village and Star Wars Outlaws join January’s Game Pass additions

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On Tuesday, Microsoft announced the first batch of incoming Game Pass titles for 2026. Star Wars Outlaws and Resident Evil Village headline the first wave of the January lineup.

If you (perhaps wisely) held off on spending $70 on Ubisoft's first stab at a Star Wars game, here's your chance to try it for less. Star Wars Outlaws sets you loose in an open world as the young thief Kay Vess. The third-person action title includes melee, shooting and stealth. There’s even some speeder chases and space dogfights to scratch your (boilerplate) Star Wars itch. Does it do anything novel or innovative to justify its full price? Not really. But it can still be a good time for fans of the saga.

Star Wars Outlaws arrives on Game Pass on January 13 (cloud, PC, and current-gen Xbox consoles). It will only be available for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers.

If you're less into Wookies and more about 10-foot-tall vampire ladies, there's Resident Evil Village. Capcom's 2021 title is "a gothic fairy tale masquerading as a survival-horror game," as Engadget's Jessica Conditt put it. In addition to the iconic Countess Alcina Dimitrescu, you'll encounter werewolves, sea creatures and the requisite creepy dolls. The franchise's eighth mainline game is something of a departure for the series, but you'll still find plenty of familiar horror, puzzles and action.

Resident Evil Village lands on Game Pass on January 20 (cloud, console, PC). It will be available for the Ultimate, Premium and PC tiers.

There's plenty of other fare arriving this month. Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition and the twin-stick shooter Brews & Bastards arrive today. The first-person survival action game Atomfall and the online soccer game Rematch land on January 7. Finally, the Final Fantasy 2D pixel remake arrives on January 8.

You can check out Microsoft's blog post for more.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/resident-evil-village-and-star-wars-outlaws-join-januarys-game-pass-additions-182500938.html?src=rss

Navee’s CES lineup includes a speedy e-scooter, a golf cart and… a seaplane?

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The Chinese micromobility company Navee has some wild new stuff at CES 2026. The lineup is headlined by the UT5 Ultra X, a dual-motor e-scooter with an advertised top speed of 43 mph. And who among us isn't in the market for an auto-following golf cart and a seaplane?

The flagship UT5 Ultra X is a sleek-looking e-scooter with a pair of 2,400W motors. Navee says it can reach a top speed of 43 mph and has a max range of 87 miles. (However, in the world of e-scooters, it's safe to expect the real-world range to be around half of what manufacturers promise.) It has a front and rear hydraulic suspension and front and rear hydraulic disc brakes. Navee claims it can accelerate from 0 to 12 mph in 1.98 seconds.

Rendering of a helmeted person riding the UT5 Ultra X e-scooter on a racetrack.
Navee UT5 Ultra X
Navee

If you want something that can hold its own on rougher terrain, there's the NT5 Ultra X. A pair of 1,200W motors helps this e-scooter reach a top speed of 40 mph and an advertised range of 56 miles. It has dual-disc brakes and an electronic anti-lock braking system. To help manage the bumps, it has two suspension types: a front telescopic suspension and a rear spring one. Navee claims its steel frame supports up to 330 lbs.

Then there's the Eagle F1X, which could put golf caddies out of work. This electronic cart can carry your clubs (up to 44 lbs). It has a "smart auto-follow" feature that uses a combination of AI and ultra-wideband. It also responds to voice and gesture controls. The 33-lb. cart uses a pair of 250W motors, and Navee claims it can handle 36-hole games. Strangely, the bottom portion looks like an F1 racer because, hey, why not?

Render of a golfer using the Navee Eagle F1X as its caddy, following behind.
Navee Eagle F1X
Navee

To further prove that Navee isn't afraid to jump the shark, the company has a product that could, well, jump over sharks. The WaveFly 5X is an electric seaplane that can "glide on the water and ride into the sky." The company claims a max speed of 53 mph, a cruising speed of 40 mph, and a maximum flight time of 70 minutes. I'm not ready to put my life in its hands, but surely some deep-pocketed adventurer will.

In addition to real-world ranges almost always being much lower than advertised, there are other caveats. First, post-purchase customer support in the world of micromobility is almost always a sketchy prospect. I once had to file a Better Business Bureau claim to get support from even the most well-established brand, Segway. Don't be shocked to experience the same or worse from lesser-known companies.

Second, Navee hasn't yet listed pricing or release dates for its new models. Based on their specs and the company's older gear, you'll likely see prices of well above $1,000 for each one. (And that’s not even counting the seaplane.) Regardless, you can learn more at the company’s website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/navees-ces-lineup-includes-a-speedy-e-scooter-a-golf-cart-and-a-seaplane-180000473.html?src=rss

Cambridge Audio unveils three wireless bookshelf speakers at CES

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Cambridge Audio has three new active speakers at CES 2026. The L/R Series is a trio of active bookshelf-style speakers, each with wired and wireless modes.

The flagship L/R X is an 800W model (400W per speaker). The largest of the three, it unsurprisingly carries the highest price, at $2,299. It uses a 2.5-way acoustic design: a 28mm Torus tweeter alongside dual 5-inch woofers. The L/R X has a pair of 6-inch force-canceling passive radiators, a 64-bit audio pipeline, DynamEQ and Wi-Fi streaming (via Cambridge Audio's StreamMagic app). It even adds LED underlighting for an extra aesthetic touch.

The walnut variant of Cambridge Audio's new L/R X speaker
The walnut variant of the L/R X
Cambridge Audio

In the middle is the $1,599 L/R M. Cambridge Audio describes it as using the same foundations as the flagship model (including the 2.5-way acoustic design), but with only 300W of power. This model has smaller (4-inch) dual woofers alongside the same 28mm tweeter. Its smaller force-canceling passive radiators measure 4.75 inches each. Like the larger model, the L/R M supports Wi-Fi streaming and includes LED underlighting.

The smallest and most affordable of the three is the $549 L/R S. This 100W speaker pairs a 21mm hard-dome tweeter with a 3-inch long-throw woofer. Although you can save money on this model, you'll miss out on Wi-Fi streaming. (In its place is Bluetooth aptX HD.) It also lacks the LED underlighting found in the L/R X and L/R M.

Each speaker is available in black, white, green, blue, orange and walnut colors. Cambridge Audio says all three tiers of L/R speakers will be available "later in 2026." You can learn more at the company’s website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/cambridge-audio-unveils-three-wireless-bookshelf-speakers-at-ces-100000178.html?src=rss

CES: ASUS made a special Hideo Kojima version of the ROG Flow Z13

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Who among us hasn't looked at the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and said, "That's great and all, but what if it had more Hideo Kojima?" Well, our cries have been heard. Behold, the ROG Flow Z13-KJP, a collaboration between ASUS and Kojima Productions.

On the inside, this model is no different than the standard version we reviewed last May. The device takes a Surface Pro-like form factor and beefs it up into something that’s more like a gaming laptop. (Ergo, ASUS's pitch of the product as a "gaming tablet.")

But on the outside, you'll find a design "for Ludens who dare." The Death Stranding influence is evident, but you may pick up on some Metal Gear-adjacent touches as well. The tablet's gold color, symbols and integrated carbon fiber conjure Kojima’s Ludens mascot. This variant is slightly larger than the standard one, most noticeably in the detachable keyboard.

Marketing image of the ROG Flow Z13-KJP 2-in-1 with accessories
ROG Flow Z13-KJP
ASUS

There will also be matching accessories available, including a mouse, case, headphones and a desk mat. Depending on your region, those may or may not be bundled with the device. (We'll update this story when we find out more.)

Fortunately, once the design novelty wears off, you're left with a fairly powerful gaming machine. The Copilot PC has a 13.4-inch IPS touchscreen with a 180Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness. Its port selection is surprisingly generous: two USB 4 Type-C ports, one USB-A port, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio and a microSD slot. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip inside has integrated graphics that punch above what you'd expect. You can configure it with up to 128GB LPDDR5X 8000 RAM.

ASUS ROG Flow Z13 one-page feature roundup
More Kojima than you ever expected from a "gaming tablet"
ASUS

ASUS hasn't yet revealed pricing or availability for the ROG Flow Z13-KJP. You can read more about the standard version in Sam Rutherford's review.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/ces-asus-made-a-special-hideo-kojima-version-of-the-rog-flow-z13-000000768.html?src=rss

JLab expands its gaming lineup at CES with keyboards, mice and headsets

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JLab, known for quality consumer audio that doesn't break the bank, is diving further into gaming. At CES 2026, the company has new keyboards, mice and headsets aimed at gamers. Sticking with the brand's "bang for your buck" angle, they're available in three reasonably priced tiers.

The entry-level tier adopts the Nightfall brand name, which JLab already used on its 2023 gaming headphones. (They're still available and now come in pink and white colors, alongside the preexisting black.) Joining them is a $40 "ultra-light" mouse that weighs 53g. Also costing $40 is a Nightfall keyboard that the company claims has "unmatched precision and accuracy for its price." Its specs include a 52±7 gram-force actuation and a 2.4mm key travel distance.

A keyboard, mouse and gaming headset
JLab's Midnight tier
JLabs

JLab’s mid-range suite is called Midnight. In that tier, you'll find a $100 mechanical tenkeyless keyboard with N-key rollover, anti-ghosting, and a media dial. You'll also find the $70 Midnight mouse with a 1,000Hz polling rate. And there's a $100 wireless gaming headset with 50mm drivers and an estimated 70+ hours of battery life.

Finally, there's the premium (but still reasonably affordable) Daybreak tier. This segment's mouse costs $100 and offers "true 1:1 tracking" with a PAW3395 sensor. Meanwhile, the $150 Daybreak keyboard is a mechanical tenkeyless model with magnetic keys and a built-in palm rest. The $130 Daybreak headset uses dual drivers (50mm + 20mm) and supports DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio.

JLab hasn't yet announced specific release dates. But it says all the new gaming products will arrive in Q2 2026. You can learn more on the company website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/jlab-expands-its-gaming-lineup-at-ces-with-keyboards-mice-and-headsets-160000419.html?src=rss