Techmeme
January 5, 2026, 7:15 AM

Top News

Chris Welch / Bloomberg:
Samsung updates its TVs to add new AI features, including a Sound Controller feature to independently adjust the volume of dialogue, music, or sound effects  —  Samsung Electronics Co. unveiled its 2026 home theater lineup, aiming to cement its position as the leading TV maker amid intensifying competition …
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge:
Samsung upgrades its Family Hub refrigerators with AI features, such as voice control to open and close the door and Gemini-powered AI Vision to track inventory  —  Voice control opening and closing comes to Samsung's Family Hub smart fridges. … Samsung's latest update …
Satya Nadella / sn scratchpad:
Satya Nadella says the tech industry needs to move past “slop vs sophistication” arguments and view AI as a “cognitive amplifier”, not a human substitute  —  As I reflect on the past year and look toward the one ahead, there's no question 2026 will be a pivotal year for AI.
Stephen Foley / Financial Times:
PwC US Senior Partner Paul Griggs says PwC decided to “lean in” to crypto work after years of taking a more cautious stance, following Trump's crypto embrace  —  Big Four firm has made strategic pivot towards digital assets, says US boss  —  PwC decided to “lean in” …
Dylan Butts / CNBC:
Starlink says it is providing free broadband service to new and existing customers in Venezuela through February 3, 2026  —  Elon Musk's Starlink is offering free broadband internet service to users in Venezuela through Feb. 3, following U.S. airstrikes and the capture of ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.
Wen-Yee Lee / Reuters:
Taiwanese prosecutors file additional indictments against Tokyo Electron's Taiwan unit and three other defendants over the alleged theft of TSMC trade secrets  —  Taiwanese prosecutors said on Monday they had filed additional indictments against the Taiwan unit of Tokyo Electron (8035.T) …
More: Tech in Asia
Debby Wu / Bloomberg:
Sources: Alibaba's Amap will soon launch an AI tool to let restaurants render 3D images by just uploading videos or photos, in a bid to compete with Meituan  —  Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is launching a service to help restaurants use AI to showcase interiors, part of a broader effort …
More: Benzinga
New York Times:
A Chinese hospital says Alibaba's PANDA AI tool has analyzed 180,000 CT scans and detected ~24 pancreatic cancer cases since its deployment in November 2024  —  A tool for spotting pancreatic cancer in routine CT scans has had promising results, one example of how China is racing to apply A.I. to medicine's tough problems.
Wall Street Journal:
A profile of Max Tegmark, the physicist pushing to halt AGI development, who was subpoenaed by OpenAI over the Future of Life Institute's past ties to Elon Musk  —  Max Tegmark wants to halt development of artificial superintelligence—and has Steve Bannon, Meghan Markle and will.i.am as supporters

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Featured Podcasts

Lenny's Podcast:
How to show up in any room with a low heart rate: Silicon Valley's missing etiquette playbook | Sam Lessin
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Conversations with people I admire about things I'm genuinely interested in.
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Channels with Peter Kafka:
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Can We Build a Better Social Network?
The future is already here. Each week, journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton explore and make sense of the latest in the rapidly changing world of tech.
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Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith speaks with leaders in government, business, and culture to explore the most critical challenges at the intersection of technology and society.
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More News

Dominic Preston / The Verge:
Ian Hodgson / Financial Times:

Earlier Picks

Victoria Song / The Verge:
Jasmine Sun / New York Times: