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Illustration: The Verge

Canada’s security agency is trying to dissuade Canadians from using TikTok, telling users that their data is “available to the government of China.”
In an interview with CBC News set to air on Saturday, David Vigneault, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said that “there is a very clear strategy on the part of the government of China … to be able to acquire … personal information from around the world,” the CBC reports.
“They’re using big data analytics, they have amazing computer farms crunching the data, they are developing artificial intelligence … based on using this data,” Vigneault added.
The Chinese government’s ability to access user data is at the forefront of US efforts to regulate — and potentially even ban — the app. Congress passed a bill that would ban TikTok unless it divests from its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, in April. TikTok sued the US government over the law in May, arguing that the looming ban is unconstitutional.
TikTok has previously claimed that staffers in China are unable to access US and European users’ data. The company has undertaken two massive corporate restructuring efforts — Project Texas and Project Clover, referring to the US and European endeavors, respectively — to silo off user data from China. US user data is hosted in Oracle’s cloud infrastructure and isn’t supposed to be accessible by anyone outside the US, though a recent report by Fortune suggests efforts to secure US user data have been “largely cosmetic.”
“These assertions are unsupported by evidence, and the fact is that TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, nor would we if asked,” TikTok spokesperson Danielle Morgan told The Verge.

Illustration: The Verge

Canada’s security agency is trying to dissuade Canadians from using TikTok, telling users that their data is “available to the government of China.”

In an interview with CBC News set to air on Saturday, David Vigneault, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said that “there is a very clear strategy on the part of the government of China … to be able to acquire … personal information from around the world,” the CBC reports.

“They’re using big data analytics, they have amazing computer farms crunching the data, they are developing artificial intelligence … based on using this data,” Vigneault added.

The Chinese government’s ability to access user data is at the forefront of US efforts to regulate — and potentially even ban — the app. Congress passed a bill that would ban TikTok unless it divests from its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, in April. TikTok sued the US government over the law in May, arguing that the looming ban is unconstitutional.

TikTok has previously claimed that staffers in China are unable to access US and European users’ data. The company has undertaken two massive corporate restructuring efforts — Project Texas and Project Clover, referring to the US and European endeavors, respectively — to silo off user data from China. US user data is hosted in Oracle’s cloud infrastructure and isn’t supposed to be accessible by anyone outside the US, though a recent report by Fortune suggests efforts to secure US user data have been “largely cosmetic.”

“These assertions are unsupported by evidence, and the fact is that TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, nor would we if asked,” TikTok spokesperson Danielle Morgan told The Verge.

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Image: 91Mobiles

After 2023’s big year for foldable phones, what’s next? According to these leaked pics, we can expect Motorola’s foldable Razr line to stretch that front cover screen even further on both versions. As revealed by 91Mobiles and Sudhanshu Ambhore on X, the Razr 50 Ultra 5G will feature a 4.0-inch screen on the outside, which is a noticeable upgrade from the 2023 Razr 40 Ultra (called the Razr Plus in the US) and its 3.6-inch front cover screen.

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge
2023 Motorola Razr Plus

On the renders of this 2024 model, the new, larger outside screen stretches nearly to the phone’s hinge assembly, with only a small bezel area, giving users even more area to use without opening it to use the 6.9-inch pOLED display that’s inside.

Image: 91Mobiles
Motorola Razr 50 5G

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Meanwhile, the cheaper standard version appears to have ditched last year’s tiny 1.5-inch cover screen for a 3.63-inch pOLED panel that mimics the Plus / Ultra experience from 2023. Allison Johnson found that size screen useful enough to serve as “…kind of a secret weapon,” so buyers could have a tough choice ahead of them.
A list of specs says the more expensive Razr 50 Ultra 5G will have slightly better cameras and more RAM than the cheaper phone, as well as support for 45W charging and a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. However, as 91Mobiles notes, the cheaper phone seems to have slightly smaller bezels for the inner screen and a larger battery, at 4,200mAh vs. 4,000.
Last year, Motorola announced its new foldable lineup on June 1st, so if that schedule holds up, we should probably find out all of the official details soon.

Image: 91Mobiles

After 2023’s big year for foldable phones, what’s next? According to these leaked pics, we can expect Motorola’s foldable Razr line to stretch that front cover screen even further on both versions. As revealed by 91Mobiles and Sudhanshu Ambhore on X, the Razr 50 Ultra 5G will feature a 4.0-inch screen on the outside, which is a noticeable upgrade from the 2023 Razr 40 Ultra (called the Razr Plus in the US) and its 3.6-inch front cover screen.

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge
2023 Motorola Razr Plus

On the renders of this 2024 model, the new, larger outside screen stretches nearly to the phone’s hinge assembly, with only a small bezel area, giving users even more area to use without opening it to use the 6.9-inch pOLED display that’s inside.

Image: 91Mobiles
Motorola Razr 50 5G

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Meanwhile, the cheaper standard version appears to have ditched last year’s tiny 1.5-inch cover screen for a 3.63-inch pOLED panel that mimics the Plus / Ultra experience from 2023. Allison Johnson found that size screen useful enough to serve as “…kind of a secret weapon,” so buyers could have a tough choice ahead of them.

A list of specs says the more expensive Razr 50 Ultra 5G will have slightly better cameras and more RAM than the cheaper phone, as well as support for 45W charging and a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. However, as 91Mobiles notes, the cheaper phone seems to have slightly smaller bezels for the inner screen and a larger battery, at 4,200mAh vs. 4,000.

Last year, Motorola announced its new foldable lineup on June 1st, so if that schedule holds up, we should probably find out all of the official details soon.

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Image: Tyler McVicker

Valve’s next game appears to be a multiplayer hero shooter known as Deadlock. This is according to leaks from playtesters posted on social media earlier today, with some of the details verified by known Valve data miner Tyler McVicker.
“Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here’s ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon,” McVicker posted on X.
The post included four screenshots allegedly from the game, which features characters (one of which looks like the Sniper from Team Fortress 2) battling in a city map that seems reminiscent of Half-Life 2’s City 17. Another image shows a hero named Grey Talon and includes the character’s weapon and ability icons with a short description.

Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here’s ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon. pic.twitter.com/KdZSRxObSz— ‎Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) May 17, 2024

Deadlock wasn’t a game Valve gave any indication was in the works, so its reveal is certainly surprising. Earlier this week, McVicker shared more information about Deadlock on his X page, writing that the game is “fast-paced interesting ADHD gameplay. Combination of Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, Overwatch, Valorant, Smite, Orcs Must Die.” The Verge has reached out to Valve for comment.
Though Valve is now mostly known for its PC publishing platform Steam and the Steam Deck, the company is still making games. Last year, Valve released Counter-Strike 2, an update to the perennially popular Counter-Strike GO. Back in 2017, Valve president and co-founder Gabe Newell shared that the company was working on three “full games” for VR, with one of them being the 2020 hit Half-Life: Alyx. Deadlock doesn’t seem to be a VR title, so there might be even more secret Valve games looming on the horizon.

Image: Tyler McVicker

Valve’s next game appears to be a multiplayer hero shooter known as Deadlock. This is according to leaks from playtesters posted on social media earlier today, with some of the details verified by known Valve data miner Tyler McVicker.

“Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here’s ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon,” McVicker posted on X.

The post included four screenshots allegedly from the game, which features characters (one of which looks like the Sniper from Team Fortress 2) battling in a city map that seems reminiscent of Half-Life 2’s City 17. Another image shows a hero named Grey Talon and includes the character’s weapon and ability icons with a short description.

Deadlock wasn’t a game Valve gave any indication was in the works, so its reveal is certainly surprising. Earlier this week, McVicker shared more information about Deadlock on his X page, writing that the game is “fast-paced interesting ADHD gameplay. Combination of Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, Overwatch, Valorant, Smite, Orcs Must Die.” The Verge has reached out to Valve for comment.

Though Valve is now mostly known for its PC publishing platform Steam and the Steam Deck, the company is still making games. Last year, Valve released Counter-Strike 2, an update to the perennially popular Counter-Strike GO. Back in 2017, Valve president and co-founder Gabe Newell shared that the company was working on three “full games” for VR, with one of them being the 2020 hit Half-Life: Alyx. Deadlock doesn’t seem to be a VR title, so there might be even more secret Valve games looming on the horizon.

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Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Since the iPhone X’s introduction of OLED and Face ID in 2017, Apple’s phones haven’t changed their look significantly, but now The Information reports a major redesign is underway for a new “Slim” iPhone. The outlet says it could arrive in 2025 as part of the iPhone 17 refresh, with a price even higher than Apple’s current most expensive model, the iPhone Pro Max.
9to5Mac reported on a rumor from Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu saying the new iPhone 17 models could have a refreshed design with a smaller Dynamic Island. Following a rumored size increase and a new side button for the iPhone 16 lineup later this year, the “Slim” iPhone 17 would feature a 6.6-inch display that falls in between the 6.1-inch screen of the smallest version and a 6.9-inch screen on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Another report from analyst Ross Young reportedly pegs the new display size at 6.55 inches.
The Information’s sources indicate there are still multiple designs under consideration for the new high-end model, with an aluminum frame, smaller hole and cutout for the front-facing camera hardware, and center-mounted rear cameras as some of the factors being considered. One other factor could be a rumored energy density upgrade for the iPhone 16 Pro Max reported earlier by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says that if the new design with a stainless steel battery case goes well, then it could be adopted in all models for 2025.
All of this follows the introduction of Apple’s slim new iPad Pro, which has held up impressively against YouTube’s strongest bend tests. Hopefully, a skinny iPhone will do the same in pants pockets and purses when (or if) it ever arrives.

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Since the iPhone X’s introduction of OLED and Face ID in 2017, Apple’s phones haven’t changed their look significantly, but now The Information reports a major redesign is underway for a new “Slim” iPhone. The outlet says it could arrive in 2025 as part of the iPhone 17 refresh, with a price even higher than Apple’s current most expensive model, the iPhone Pro Max.

9to5Mac reported on a rumor from Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu saying the new iPhone 17 models could have a refreshed design with a smaller Dynamic Island. Following a rumored size increase and a new side button for the iPhone 16 lineup later this year, the “Slim” iPhone 17 would feature a 6.6-inch display that falls in between the 6.1-inch screen of the smallest version and a 6.9-inch screen on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Another report from analyst Ross Young reportedly pegs the new display size at 6.55 inches.

The Information’s sources indicate there are still multiple designs under consideration for the new high-end model, with an aluminum frame, smaller hole and cutout for the front-facing camera hardware, and center-mounted rear cameras as some of the factors being considered. One other factor could be a rumored energy density upgrade for the iPhone 16 Pro Max reported earlier by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says that if the new design with a stainless steel battery case goes well, then it could be adopted in all models for 2025.

All of this follows the introduction of Apple’s slim new iPad Pro, which has held up impressively against YouTube’s strongest bend tests. Hopefully, a skinny iPhone will do the same in pants pockets and purses when (or if) it ever arrives.

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Illustration: Cath Virginia / The Verge

As the corpse of E3 lies a-mouldrin’ in its grave, its spirit marches on in the form of a bevy of video game showcases and events. There’s a hefty number of them — some notable, some not (but they should be) — and they encompass a wide range of games and genres. Here’s your guide to the whats, wheres, and whens of this year’s summer of games.

Access-Ability Summer Showcase 2024
Accessibility has become a major feature of games, with developers often incorporating accessibility features in their marketing materials. The Access-Ability Showcase takes that one step further, curating an entire digital event around games with robust accessibility features. “Our aim is to make sure that if a game looks exciting, you don’t have to worry about getting hyped, only to learn later that a game doesn’t support your needs as a player,” wrote Laura Kate Dale, host of the Access-Ability showcase. The showcase starts on June 7th at 11AM ET on Twitch and YouTube and will feature viewing options for American and British sign language and audio descriptions.

Photo: Summer Game Fest

Summer Game Fest
Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest was one of the first on the scene to take over when E3 started foundering during the covid-19 pandemic. This is the fourth year of Keigh-3, and it has only gotten bigger with this year’s event boasting over 55 gaming partners, including the big hitters like Xbox and Playstation to smaller outfits like Annapurna Interactive and Thunderful Games. You can watch the main showcase on Twitch and YouTube on Friday, June 7th, at 5PM ET.
Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition 2024
Immediately following the Summer Game Fest presentation, iam8bit and Double Fine Productions are hosting the SGF edition of their Day of the Devs showcase. Day of the Devs is one of my favorite parts of Summer Game Fest since it always exposes me to games I’ve never heard of before that quickly become my favorites. In 2022, that’s how I heard about A Little to The Left, Escape Academy, and Desta: The Memories Between. It also was one of the first showcases that featured a little game called Animal Well — maybe you’ve heard of it. Make sure you tune in to the Day of the Devs showcase on June 7th at 7PM ET on Twitch and YouTube so you can find your next indie obsession.
Xbox Games Showcase
Just a few days after the main Summer Game Fest showcase, Xbox will host its own event on Sunday, June 9th, starting at 1PM ET on Twitch and YouTube. Though Xbox just held an indie partner showcase in April, debuting a handful of interesting indie titles — including this one about Japanese mascots — this showcase promises to be much bigger. Xbox is incorporating all its studios, including the recently acquired Activision, so expect a bunch of heavy-hitter AAA games from the biggest studios in the world. After Sunday’s event, Xbox is also teasing a second showcase it’s dubbed a “[REDACTED] Direct.” Though the company is trying to be coy, it’s widely rumored that the [REDACTED] in question is the latest Call of Duty game. There’s also a chance Xbox will share more information on the report that this next Call of Duty will be added to Xbox Game Pass.

Wholesome Direct 2024
If the high-energy / high-action games featured in the bigger showcases aren’t your thing (and even if they are), then the Wholesome Direct may have what you’re looking for. The Wholesome Direct features games that are, according to the event’s curators, “incredibly hopeful, artistic, and creative.” Last year’s Wholesome Direct featured Venba, and the game’s creators credit (literally) being featured in the showcase as a major factor in their success. Watch the Wholesome Direct on Twitch or YouTube on Saturday, June 8th, at 12PM ET.
PC Gaming Show
The PC Gaming Show, hosted by PC Gamer, is a showcase that was initially designed to address the lack of PC gaming representation during E3. Ten years after its debut, it’s still going strong with the showcase taking place June 9th at 4 PM ET on Twitch and YouTube.

Steam Next Fest
Like the PC Gaming Show, Steam Next Fest is all about the games not on Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch. (Although some of the games featured during Next Fest might also be on those consoles, too.) Steam Next Fest does its presentation a bit differently, though. It lasts for a full week, giving gamers access to demos of forthcoming games, livestreamed developer interviews, and deep dives on the games featured. Next Fest starts June 10th at 1PM ET and lasts until June 17th, so you have plenty of time to check everything out.

Ubisoft Forward 2024
Ubisoft Forward returns for Summer Game Fest 2024. Ubisoft will share updates on its games on June 10th at 3PM ET. We should expect more details about Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, the second season of Skull and Bones, and more.
Nintendo Direct
Buried in all the speculation regarding Nintendo’s next console and when it will be revealed was a message from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa about the next Nintendo Direct. “We will be holding a Nintendo Direct this June regarding the Nintendo Switch software lineup for the latter half of 2024,” he said in a post on X. Though there’s no specific date attached to the Direct, we should probably expect it around the same time as all the Summer Game Fest activities since Nintendo likely won’t want to be left out of all the fun.
Gamescom 2024
Rounding out this year’s summer of games is Gamescom 2024. The event is kinda like the European version of E3 and will feature its own showcase event similar to the keynote addresses of E3s past. Gamescom kicks off on Wednesday, August 21st (my birthday!), and lasts until August 25th, with the Opening Night Live showcase, hosted by Geoff Keighley, typically taking place during the week, time TBD.

Illustration: Cath Virginia / The Verge

As the corpse of E3 lies a-mouldrin’ in its grave, its spirit marches on in the form of a bevy of video game showcases and events. There’s a hefty number of them — some notable, some not (but they should be) — and they encompass a wide range of games and genres. Here’s your guide to the whats, wheres, and whens of this year’s summer of games.

Access-Ability Summer Showcase 2024

Accessibility has become a major feature of games, with developers often incorporating accessibility features in their marketing materials. The Access-Ability Showcase takes that one step further, curating an entire digital event around games with robust accessibility features. “Our aim is to make sure that if a game looks exciting, you don’t have to worry about getting hyped, only to learn later that a game doesn’t support your needs as a player,” wrote Laura Kate Dale, host of the Access-Ability showcase. The showcase starts on June 7th at 11AM ET on Twitch and YouTube and will feature viewing options for American and British sign language and audio descriptions.

Photo: Summer Game Fest

Summer Game Fest

Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest was one of the first on the scene to take over when E3 started foundering during the covid-19 pandemic. This is the fourth year of Keigh-3, and it has only gotten bigger with this year’s event boasting over 55 gaming partners, including the big hitters like Xbox and Playstation to smaller outfits like Annapurna Interactive and Thunderful Games. You can watch the main showcase on Twitch and YouTube on Friday, June 7th, at 5PM ET.

Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition 2024

Immediately following the Summer Game Fest presentation, iam8bit and Double Fine Productions are hosting the SGF edition of their Day of the Devs showcase. Day of the Devs is one of my favorite parts of Summer Game Fest since it always exposes me to games I’ve never heard of before that quickly become my favorites. In 2022, that’s how I heard about A Little to The Left, Escape Academy, and Desta: The Memories Between. It also was one of the first showcases that featured a little game called Animal Well — maybe you’ve heard of it. Make sure you tune in to the Day of the Devs showcase on June 7th at 7PM ET on Twitch and YouTube so you can find your next indie obsession.

Xbox Games Showcase

Just a few days after the main Summer Game Fest showcase, Xbox will host its own event on Sunday, June 9th, starting at 1PM ET on Twitch and YouTube. Though Xbox just held an indie partner showcase in April, debuting a handful of interesting indie titles — including this one about Japanese mascots — this showcase promises to be much bigger. Xbox is incorporating all its studios, including the recently acquired Activision, so expect a bunch of heavy-hitter AAA games from the biggest studios in the world. After Sunday’s event, Xbox is also teasing a second showcase it’s dubbed a “[REDACTED] Direct.” Though the company is trying to be coy, it’s widely rumored that the [REDACTED] in question is the latest Call of Duty game. There’s also a chance Xbox will share more information on the report that this next Call of Duty will be added to Xbox Game Pass.

Wholesome Direct 2024

If the high-energy / high-action games featured in the bigger showcases aren’t your thing (and even if they are), then the Wholesome Direct may have what you’re looking for. The Wholesome Direct features games that are, according to the event’s curators, “incredibly hopeful, artistic, and creative.” Last year’s Wholesome Direct featured Venba, and the game’s creators credit (literally) being featured in the showcase as a major factor in their success. Watch the Wholesome Direct on Twitch or YouTube on Saturday, June 8th, at 12PM ET.

PC Gaming Show

The PC Gaming Show, hosted by PC Gamer, is a showcase that was initially designed to address the lack of PC gaming representation during E3. Ten years after its debut, it’s still going strong with the showcase taking place June 9th at 4 PM ET on Twitch and YouTube.

Steam Next Fest

Like the PC Gaming Show, Steam Next Fest is all about the games not on Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch. (Although some of the games featured during Next Fest might also be on those consoles, too.) Steam Next Fest does its presentation a bit differently, though. It lasts for a full week, giving gamers access to demos of forthcoming games, livestreamed developer interviews, and deep dives on the games featured. Next Fest starts June 10th at 1PM ET and lasts until June 17th, so you have plenty of time to check everything out.

Ubisoft Forward 2024

Ubisoft Forward returns for Summer Game Fest 2024. Ubisoft will share updates on its games on June 10th at 3PM ET. We should expect more details about Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, the second season of Skull and Bones, and more.

Nintendo Direct

Buried in all the speculation regarding Nintendo’s next console and when it will be revealed was a message from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa about the next Nintendo Direct. “We will be holding a Nintendo Direct this June regarding the Nintendo Switch software lineup for the latter half of 2024,” he said in a post on X. Though there’s no specific date attached to the Direct, we should probably expect it around the same time as all the Summer Game Fest activities since Nintendo likely won’t want to be left out of all the fun.

Gamescom 2024

Rounding out this year’s summer of games is Gamescom 2024. The event is kinda like the European version of E3 and will feature its own showcase event similar to the keynote addresses of E3s past. Gamescom kicks off on Wednesday, August 21st (my birthday!), and lasts until August 25th, with the Opening Night Live showcase, hosted by Geoff Keighley, typically taking place during the week, time TBD.

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Illustration: The Verge

Jan Leike, a key OpenAI researcher who resigned earlier this week following the departure of cofounder Ilya Sutskever, posted on X Friday morning that “safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products” at the company.
Leike’s statements came after Wired reported that OpenAI had disbanded the team dedicated to addressing long-term AI risks (called the “Superalignment team”) altogether. Leike had been running the Superalignment team, which formed last July to “solve the core technical challenges” in implementing safety protocols as OpenAI developed AI that can reason like a human.
The original idea for OpenAI was to openly provide their models to the public, hence the organization’s name, but they’ve become proprietary knowledge due to the company’s claims that allowing such powerful models to be accessed by anyone could be potentially destructive.
“We are long overdue in getting incredibly serious about the implications of AGI. We must prioritize preparing for them as best we can,” Leike said in follow-up tweets about his resignation Friday morning. “Only then can we ensure AGI benefits all of humanity.”

Building smarter-than-human machines is an inherently dangerous endeavor.OpenAI is shouldering an enormous responsibility on behalf of all of humanity.— Jan Leike (@janleike) May 17, 2024

The Verge reported earlier this week that John Schulman, another OpenAI co-founder who supported Altman during last year’s unsuccessful board coup, will assume Leike’s responsibilities. Sutskever, who played a key role in the notorious failed coup against Sam Altman, announced his departure on Tuesday.
“Over the past years, safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products,” Leike posted.
Leike’s posts highlight an increasing tension within OpenAI. As researchers race to develop artificial general intelligence while managing consumer AI products like ChatGPT and DALL-E, employees like Leike are raising concerns about the potential dangers of creating super-intelligent AI models. Leike said his team was deprioritized and couldn’t get compute and other resources to perform “crucial” work.
“I joined because I thought OpenAI would be the best place in the world to do this research,” Leike wrote. “However, I have been disagreeing with OpenAI leadership about the company’s core priorities for quite some time, until we finally reached a breaking point.”

Illustration: The Verge

Jan Leike, a key OpenAI researcher who resigned earlier this week following the departure of cofounder Ilya Sutskever, posted on X Friday morning that “safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products” at the company.

Leike’s statements came after Wired reported that OpenAI had disbanded the team dedicated to addressing long-term AI risks (called the “Superalignment team”) altogether. Leike had been running the Superalignment team, which formed last July to “solve the core technical challenges” in implementing safety protocols as OpenAI developed AI that can reason like a human.

The original idea for OpenAI was to openly provide their models to the public, hence the organization’s name, but they’ve become proprietary knowledge due to the company’s claims that allowing such powerful models to be accessed by anyone could be potentially destructive.

“We are long overdue in getting incredibly serious about the implications of AGI. We must prioritize preparing for them as best we can,” Leike said in follow-up tweets about his resignation Friday morning. “Only then can we ensure AGI benefits all of humanity.”

The Verge reported earlier this week that John Schulman, another OpenAI co-founder who supported Altman during last year’s unsuccessful board coup, will assume Leike’s responsibilities. Sutskever, who played a key role in the notorious failed coup against Sam Altman, announced his departure on Tuesday.

“Over the past years, safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products,” Leike posted.

Leike’s posts highlight an increasing tension within OpenAI. As researchers race to develop artificial general intelligence while managing consumer AI products like ChatGPT and DALL-E, employees like Leike are raising concerns about the potential dangers of creating super-intelligent AI models. Leike said his team was deprioritized and couldn’t get compute and other resources to perform “crucial” work.

“I joined because I thought OpenAI would be the best place in the world to do this research,” Leike wrote. “However, I have been disagreeing with OpenAI leadership about the company’s core priorities for quite some time, until we finally reached a breaking point.”

Read More 

Both the Garmin Epix Pro and Fenix 7S Pro are currently matching their all-time low. The same goes for Garmin’s inReach Mini 2. | Image: Garmin

Here at The Verge, our deal writers spend a lot of time covering the latest discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers that happen to sell the tech we cover. Admittedly, REI is often not one of them, but the company’s anniversary sale — which runs through May 27th — is a great chance to save not only on tents, glamping chairs, and subzero sleeping bags but also Garmin’s rugged lineup of sports watches.

For the next week or so, many of our favorite Garmin watches are on sale for up to 25 percent off, with Amazon and Garmin matching REI’s pricing in most instances. The second-gen Garmin Epix Pro Sapphire Edition, our favorite model for endurance athletes, is available from Amazon, REI, and Garmin starting at $799.99 ($200 off), which matches its lowest price to date. If you want a longer-lasting alternative, one equipped with practically every fitness feature Garmin offers, you can also pick up the Fenix 7S Pro Solar at Amazon, REI, and Garmin’s online storefront starting at $599.99 ($200 off). This multisport watch has many of the same features as the Epix Pro, only it sheds the OLED display to conserve battery life.

As an added bonus, Amazon, REI, and Garmin are all selling the Garmin inReach Mini 2 for $299.99 ($100 off), its lowest price to date. It’s not a high-end watch, but as someone who often carries the second-gen satellite communicator in the backcountry, I can tell you it’s a literal lifesaver. The handy subscription-based tool is great for texting and sharing your location with others while hiking, though its most vital feature is its ability to trigger SOS alerts in the event of an emergency. The fact you can use the rugged gadget to check the weather report and navigate back to your starting point just adds to its appeal.

More Friday savings to consider

Elgato’s excellent Cam Link 4K, one of our go-to recs for Twitch streamers and other content creators, is currently matching its all-time low of $79.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. The simple HDMI-to-USB dongle lets you use a host of compatible full-size cameras with Zoom, Google Meet, and streaming software like OBS, allowing you to make better use of whatever mirrorless camera, DSLR, or action cam you have sitting around.
Now through June 8th, Woot is selling Samsung’s noise-canceling Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for just $119.99 ($110 off), which is a new all-time low. Despite being a couple of years old, the Buds 2 Pro remain one of the best pair of earbuds you can buy if you own a Galaxy phone, as they offer optional 24-bit audio support, great sound, and a more comfortable design than the original Galaxy Buds. Plus, they provide a handful of Samsung-only software tricks, including head-tracking spatial audio and auto device switching. Read our review.
Nerf’s first gel blaster, the Gelfire Mythic, is available at Amazon for $19.99 ($50 off), its lowest price to date. The fully automatic blaster shoots pellets made of water-infused gel instead of reusable foam darts or balls, though you do get a whopping 10,000 of them right out of the box. The Mythic also features a retractable stock and removable barrel, providing you with a wide array of play styles. Just don’t forget to wear the included eye protection.

Both the Garmin Epix Pro and Fenix 7S Pro are currently matching their all-time low. The same goes for Garmin’s inReach Mini 2. | Image: Garmin

Here at The Verge, our deal writers spend a lot of time covering the latest discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers that happen to sell the tech we cover. Admittedly, REI is often not one of them, but the company’s anniversary sale — which runs through May 27th — is a great chance to save not only on tents, glamping chairs, and subzero sleeping bags but also Garmin’s rugged lineup of sports watches.

For the next week or so, many of our favorite Garmin watches are on sale for up to 25 percent off, with Amazon and Garmin matching REI’s pricing in most instances. The second-gen Garmin Epix Pro Sapphire Edition, our favorite model for endurance athletes, is available from Amazon, REI, and Garmin starting at $799.99 ($200 off), which matches its lowest price to date. If you want a longer-lasting alternative, one equipped with practically every fitness feature Garmin offers, you can also pick up the Fenix 7S Pro Solar at Amazon, REI, and Garmin’s online storefront starting at $599.99 ($200 off). This multisport watch has many of the same features as the Epix Pro, only it sheds the OLED display to conserve battery life.

As an added bonus, Amazon, REI, and Garmin are all selling the Garmin inReach Mini 2 for $299.99 ($100 off), its lowest price to date. It’s not a high-end watch, but as someone who often carries the second-gen satellite communicator in the backcountry, I can tell you it’s a literal lifesaver. The handy subscription-based tool is great for texting and sharing your location with others while hiking, though its most vital feature is its ability to trigger SOS alerts in the event of an emergency. The fact you can use the rugged gadget to check the weather report and navigate back to your starting point just adds to its appeal.

More Friday savings to consider

Elgato’s excellent Cam Link 4K, one of our go-to recs for Twitch streamers and other content creators, is currently matching its all-time low of $79.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. The simple HDMI-to-USB dongle lets you use a host of compatible full-size cameras with Zoom, Google Meet, and streaming software like OBS, allowing you to make better use of whatever mirrorless camera, DSLR, or action cam you have sitting around.
Now through June 8th, Woot is selling Samsung’s noise-canceling Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for just $119.99 ($110 off), which is a new all-time low. Despite being a couple of years old, the Buds 2 Pro remain one of the best pair of earbuds you can buy if you own a Galaxy phone, as they offer optional 24-bit audio support, great sound, and a more comfortable design than the original Galaxy Buds. Plus, they provide a handful of Samsung-only software tricks, including head-tracking spatial audio and auto device switching. Read our review.
Nerf’s first gel blaster, the Gelfire Mythic, is available at Amazon for $19.99 ($50 off), its lowest price to date. The fully automatic blaster shoots pellets made of water-infused gel instead of reusable foam darts or balls, though you do get a whopping 10,000 of them right out of the box. The Mythic also features a retractable stock and removable barrel, providing you with a wide array of play styles. Just don’t forget to wear the included eye protection.

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Illustration: The Verge

A note from OpenAI says that you may no longer have to download files you have on Google Drive or OneDrive if you want to use ChatGPT to analyze your data. You will be able to add those files directly to the chatbot. The feature, rolling out to paying ChatGPT users over the next few weeks, will save people from the annoyance of having to first download a file and then upload it again on the chatbot.
Once they’ve got access to the feature, ChatGPT Plus, Enterprise, and Teams users will only need to give the chatbot access to their Google Drive or OneDrive account. OpenAI says in a blog post that the integration means ChatGPT can read through Excel, Word, PowerPoint files, and their Google equivalents “more quickly.” So far, the improved data analytics features are only available through GPT-4o, the faster and improved version of GPT-4 which powers the paid version of the chatbot.

We’re rolling out interactive tables and charts along with the ability to add files directly from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive into ChatGPT. Available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise users over the coming weeks. https://t.co/Fu2bgMChXt pic.twitter.com/M9AHLx5BKr— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 16, 2024

OpenAI also improved ChatGPT’s ability to understand datasets from instructions written in natural language. Users can ask the chatbot to run Python codes for analytics, merge or clean datasets, and create charts from information on files.
ChatGPT had been able to make charts if asked, but now the chatbot lets people interact with the tables and charts it makes, expand the table’s view, and customize the data visualization — for example, by changing colors or asking additional questions on the cells. ChatGPT currently supports bar, line, pie, and scatter plot charts for interactive visualizations and will generate static versions for chart types it doesn’t yet support.
OpenAI reiterates in the blog post that it will not train AI models from data that ChatGPT Enterprise and Teams users upload, and ChatGPT Plus subscribers can opt out of training.

Illustration: The Verge

A note from OpenAI says that you may no longer have to download files you have on Google Drive or OneDrive if you want to use ChatGPT to analyze your data. You will be able to add those files directly to the chatbot. The feature, rolling out to paying ChatGPT users over the next few weeks, will save people from the annoyance of having to first download a file and then upload it again on the chatbot.

Once they’ve got access to the feature, ChatGPT Plus, Enterprise, and Teams users will only need to give the chatbot access to their Google Drive or OneDrive account. OpenAI says in a blog post that the integration means ChatGPT can read through Excel, Word, PowerPoint files, and their Google equivalents “more quickly.” So far, the improved data analytics features are only available through GPT-4o, the faster and improved version of GPT-4 which powers the paid version of the chatbot.

OpenAI also improved ChatGPT’s ability to understand datasets from instructions written in natural language. Users can ask the chatbot to run Python codes for analytics, merge or clean datasets, and create charts from information on files.

ChatGPT had been able to make charts if asked, but now the chatbot lets people interact with the tables and charts it makes, expand the table’s view, and customize the data visualization — for example, by changing colors or asking additional questions on the cells. ChatGPT currently supports bar, line, pie, and scatter plot charts for interactive visualizations and will generate static versions for chart types it doesn’t yet support.

OpenAI reiterates in the blog post that it will not train AI models from data that ChatGPT Enterprise and Teams users upload, and ChatGPT Plus subscribers can opt out of training.

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Signing in is about to get more convenient in Android 15 and Wear OS 5. | Screenshot: Google

AI was the main focus of the Google I/O keynote this year, but there are still a bunch of new feature updates hidden in the various developer sessions. Case in point, 9to5Google spotted that Android 15 and Wear OS 5 are going to get some convenient passkey updates.
In its “Passkeys and identity best practices” dev session, Google announced that Android 15 is going to get a single-tap sign-in process. Instead of having two separate screens — one to select an account and another for a biometric prompt — Google will merge them into a single screen.

The end result is you’ll be able to just use your face, finger, or any other screen unlocking method to log in to an account. For devs, this will be automatically supported in new versions of Credential Manager on Android 15 or higher. Another update is that Autofill will also display Credential Manager results in Gboard. That includes passwords, passkeys, and Sign in with Google.

Screenshot: Google
Wear OS 5 will also get passkey support.

Another neat update is it’ll get easier to log back in to your apps if you buy a new device thanks to a new “Restore” passkey feature for phones and tablets. An app will be able to save a restore key to Credential Manager. That key is then stored locally on the device, and if cloud backups are enabled, it can be automatically transferred over to the new device. In a nutshell, users won’t have to log into each app one by one.
Passkeys are also coming to Wear OS 5 in a quarterly platform release. That will allow you to use either passkeys, passwords, or Sign in with Google straight from the wrist. Google says this capability will also work with third-party password managers, naming Dashlane as one example. The Apple Watch already has some of these authentication features, so it’s nice to see Google continue to even the playing field for Android smartwatch users.

Signing in is about to get more convenient in Android 15 and Wear OS 5. | Screenshot: Google

AI was the main focus of the Google I/O keynote this year, but there are still a bunch of new feature updates hidden in the various developer sessions. Case in point, 9to5Google spotted that Android 15 and Wear OS 5 are going to get some convenient passkey updates.

In its “Passkeys and identity best practices” dev session, Google announced that Android 15 is going to get a single-tap sign-in process. Instead of having two separate screens — one to select an account and another for a biometric prompt — Google will merge them into a single screen.

The end result is you’ll be able to just use your face, finger, or any other screen unlocking method to log in to an account. For devs, this will be automatically supported in new versions of Credential Manager on Android 15 or higher. Another update is that Autofill will also display Credential Manager results in Gboard. That includes passwords, passkeys, and Sign in with Google.

Screenshot: Google
Wear OS 5 will also get passkey support.

Another neat update is it’ll get easier to log back in to your apps if you buy a new device thanks to a new “Restore” passkey feature for phones and tablets. An app will be able to save a restore key to Credential Manager. That key is then stored locally on the device, and if cloud backups are enabled, it can be automatically transferred over to the new device. In a nutshell, users won’t have to log into each app one by one.

Passkeys are also coming to Wear OS 5 in a quarterly platform release. That will allow you to use either passkeys, passwords, or Sign in with Google straight from the wrist. Google says this capability will also work with third-party password managers, naming Dashlane as one example. The Apple Watch already has some of these authentication features, so it’s nice to see Google continue to even the playing field for Android smartwatch users.

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First we lost Sonic, now there goes Steam. | Image: Tesla

Tesla might be dropping Steam support on some new deliveries of Model X, according to a message from the company shared by a Reddit user who is expecting to take delivery of the long-range version of the electric SUV.
Tesla’s message alerts the customer that the company is “updating the gaming computer” in the Model X and says it’s “no longer capable of playing Steam games.” The message ends with a button for the customer to confirm they will proceed with the delivery.

There’s no indication that other Tesla models will be affected. And we’re not seeing any signs that the automaker plans to remove Steam from current owners’ vehicles through a software update. However, Tesla’s already seems to be leaning toward dropping Steam support for some other models.
Steam isn’t available in the Cybertruck, for example, and Tesla hasn’t said whether it plans on bringing the gaming platform to its bestselling Model Y and Model 3 vehicles, despite newer models sporting improved AMD Ryzen processors. The company has already removed some games over the years, including Sonic the Hedgehog.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk had hyped Steam as a selling point, advertising the new GPU as powerful with the ability to play top-tier games like Cyberpunk 2077. Steam launched in a revised 2022 version of the redesigned Model S and Model X. Initial 2021 models were not installed with sufficient RAM to support the advertised games, so Steam was not included. Musk has said a retrofit would be available, but it’s not free.
There’s speculation that Tesla might be backtracking on powerful gaming hardware in new Model S and X vehicles. Musk has been busy squeezing the company through hot-headed layoffs in an effort to make the company “absolutely hard core.” Tesla scaled back on what a new low-cost vehicle will look like and is going all in on building a robotaxi, which means games like The Witcher are no longer a priority.

First we lost Sonic, now there goes Steam. | Image: Tesla

Tesla might be dropping Steam support on some new deliveries of Model X, according to a message from the company shared by a Reddit user who is expecting to take delivery of the long-range version of the electric SUV.

Tesla’s message alerts the customer that the company is “updating the gaming computer” in the Model X and says it’s “no longer capable of playing Steam games.” The message ends with a button for the customer to confirm they will proceed with the delivery.

There’s no indication that other Tesla models will be affected. And we’re not seeing any signs that the automaker plans to remove Steam from current owners’ vehicles through a software update. However, Tesla’s already seems to be leaning toward dropping Steam support for some other models.

Steam isn’t available in the Cybertruck, for example, and Tesla hasn’t said whether it plans on bringing the gaming platform to its bestselling Model Y and Model 3 vehicles, despite newer models sporting improved AMD Ryzen processors. The company has already removed some games over the years, including Sonic the Hedgehog.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk had hyped Steam as a selling point, advertising the new GPU as powerful with the ability to play top-tier games like Cyberpunk 2077. Steam launched in a revised 2022 version of the redesigned Model S and Model X. Initial 2021 models were not installed with sufficient RAM to support the advertised games, so Steam was not included. Musk has said a retrofit would be available, but it’s not free.

There’s speculation that Tesla might be backtracking on powerful gaming hardware in new Model S and X vehicles. Musk has been busy squeezing the company through hot-headed layoffs in an effort to make the company “absolutely hard core.” Tesla scaled back on what a new low-cost vehicle will look like and is going all in on building a robotaxi, which means games like The Witcher are no longer a priority.

Read More