Steam Controller: The Ars Technica review
Valve's new hardware is solid but might not justify its $99 price.

Valve's new hardware is solid but might not justify its $99 price.

Google's Gemini app now offers its Nano Banana-powered personalized image generation feature for free to all eligible users in the U.S., previously exclusive to subscribers. The AI utilizes Google account data (Gmail, Photos, YouTube, Search) to create images reflecting user interests without explicit prompts.

Omen AI, a startup founded by Zach Laberge, secured $31 million in Series A funding led by Nava Ventures to expand its real-time fluid monitoring technology for liquid-cooled data centers. The solution aims to prevent costly bacterial outbreaks and downtime in AI compute infrastructure.

TIDAL announced a new policy to prevent fully AI-generated music from earning money on its platform and will remove AI tracks impersonating artists. Effective July 15, 2026, this move aims to protect 'organic creativity' and aligns with similar efforts by other streaming services like Spotify and Deezer.

PlayStation aims to retain users who migrated to PCs by expanding usage scenarios beyond the living room with peripherals and unique next-gen experiences. Hardware pricing will balance profitability with customer value, acknowledging component cost increases.

A California law taking effect July 1 bans streaming services from playing ads louder than accompanying video content, likely prompting broader compliance beyond the state.

Sony will remove 551 StudioCanal movie and show titles from UK PlayStation Store libraries as of September 1 due to expiring licensing agreements, affecting previously purchased content.