Tech advances reshape auto, AI, media. Businesses pivot, society navigates online radicalization, environmental crises, digital divides, and policy scrutiny, as consumer products evolve.

Ford's Answer to China: A Completely New Way of Making Cars Wired reported on August 11, 2025, that Ford is revolutionizing EV manufacturing with its "Ford Universal EV Production System." This innovative method involves building the front, middle, and rear sections of electric vehicles simultaneously on separate lines, then joining them—a departure from traditional linear assembly. Ford CEO Jim Farley states this "assembly tree" approach will be 40% faster, reduce parts by 20%, and use 30% fewer fasteners, saving significant costs. The new "Ford Universal EV Platform" will utilize this scalable 400-volt architecture, incorporating cheaper LFP batteries, with the first $30,000 midsize electric pickup expected in 2027. This project is secretly led by Doug Field, formerly of Apple and Tesla. Source

Christian Militants Are Using Instagram to Recruit—and Becoming Influencers in the Process Wired reported on August 14, 2025, that Christian nationalist paramilitary groups are increasingly using Instagram to recruit and spread propaganda, adopting influencer-like strategies. Groups like "The 13th Northeast Guerillas" post slick, edited videos featuring armed men with religious symbols, promoting fitness and survivalist training. The Tech Transparency Project identified nearly 200 such accounts, many operating merch stores for funding. Experts note this trend reflects a growing paramilitary wing of Christian nationalism, targeting a younger, "Christ-pilled" demographic, and leveraging Instagram's visual and monetization features for audience growth and cross-promotion, differentiating from older, more traditional militia movements. Source

Senators Press Howard Lutnick’s Former Investment Firm Over Tariff Conflict of Interest Concerns Wired reported on August 14, 2025, that Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren are scrutinizing Cantor Fitzgerald, an investment firm formerly led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, over potential conflicts of interest related to US tariffs. This probe follows a Wired report that the firm's investment banking arm, now run by Lutnick's sons, explored creating a financial product allowing clients to bet on tariffs being legally overturned. Despite Lutnick being a prominent tariff supporter in the Trump administration, a Cantor Fitzgerald spokesperson denied involvement in such activities. The senators have requested detailed information on any communications the firm had with the Executive Branch regarding tariffs. Source

Revel shutters rideshare business, pivots to EV charging The Verge reported on August 11, 2025, that Revel is discontinuing its rideshare operations to pivot entirely to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. CEO Frank Reig cited intense competition from industry giants like Uber and Lyft, describing the rideshare market as "low margin" and "asset-heavy." Revel, which began with electric mopeds before expanding to an all-Tesla ridehail fleet primarily in New York and New Jersey, plans to sell its 165 for-hire vehicle license plates and existing fleet. The company will now focus on building fast-charging hubs, with hundreds more planned for New York City and California by the end of next year. Source

AOL Will Shut Down Dial-Up Internet Access in September Wired reported on August 12, 2025, that AOL will officially shut down its dial-up internet service on September 30, 2025, marking the end of an era for a technology that served as the primary internet gateway for millions. This discontinuation also includes the AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser. Despite the rise of broadband, approximately 175,000 US households, predominantly in rural areas with limited infrastructure, still relied on dial-up as of 2022. The move highlights the persistent digital divide, where many rural users face expensive or non-existent alternatives, leading to vastly slower internet experiences compared to urban areas. Source

Lelo Sona 3 Cruise Review: Stale Update Wired reviewed the Lelo Sona 3 Cruise on August 15, 2025, deeming it a "stale update" that offers minimal enhancements over its predecessor, the Sona 2 Cruise. Despite arriving five years later, the new vibrator retains the core features like body-safe silicone, 100% waterproofing, two-hour battery life, and the "Cruise Control" function. The primary difference is an increase in vibration settings from 12 to 16. While it now offers app control and introduces "SmoothRise Technology," the reviewer concluded there's no compelling reason for existing Sona users to upgrade, suggesting they save their money or invest in newer, more innovative products from the brand. Source

ESPN will offer a $39.99 bundle with Fox’s live sports streaming service The Verge reported on August 11, 2025, that ESPN and Fox will launch a bundled live sports streaming service for $39.99 per month, offering a $10 savings compared to individual subscriptions. Both standalone services debut on August 21st, ahead of the NFL's 2025 season. Fox One, priced at $19.99, includes channels like Fox News and Fox Sports, while ESPN's service costs $29.99 and provides its live channels along with WWE event coverage. This strategic partnership follows Warner Bros. Discovery's announcement that it is also developing its own direct-to-consumer live sports streaming product, indicating a growing trend in the sports media landscape. Source

Stripe apologizes for customer service agents claiming LGTBQ products were banned The Verge reported on August 13, 2025, that financial services company Stripe issued an apology after its customer service agents incorrectly claimed that the company prohibited the sale of LGBTQ+ content. This confusion emerged as users questioned content deindexing by itch.io, for which Stripe processes payments. While Stripe's terms do ban adult content, spokesperson Casey Becker clarified, "Stripe has no prohibitions on the sale of LGBTQ+ content or goods." Recordings revealed agents explicitly stating a ban on LGBTQ content, which Stripe attributed to a mistake, pledging to ensure future inquiries are answered accurately. Source

Gear News of the Week: A New Privacy Phone Arrives, and Samsung Has a $30K 115-Inch Micro RGB TV Wired reported on August 16, 2025, about the "relaunch" of the Up Phone by Unplugged, co-founded by Erik Prince, which promises enhanced privacy. Running on UnpluggedOS, an Android Open Source Project build disconnected from Google Mobile Services, it features a built-in Firewall, VPN, and a hardware kill switch to prevent data collection. However, the device faces skepticism due to past privacy claim issues and outdated 2021 specifications for its high $989 price. Additionally, its core privacy services become a paid subscription after the first year. The article also briefly notes Ultrahuman's smart ring now includes ovulation tracking. Source

Here’s a look at the final Pebble Time 2 design The Verge showcased the final design of the new Pebble Time 2 on August 13, 2025, as revealed by Core Devices CEO Eric Migicovsky. The updated smartwatch features a sleek, minimalist aesthetic with a stainless steel front, back, and buttons, drawing inspiration from the Pebble Time Steel. Key design elements include multicolor RGB backlighting, a second microphone, and reduced bezels with a flatter glass display. Functionally, it boasts a 1.5-inch 64-color e-paper display, touchscreen, heart rate monitor, and an impressive 30-day battery life, aiming to satisfy both original Pebble fans and new users. Source

Best Side Sleeper Mattress 2025: Picked By a Sleep Science Coach Wired reported on August 12, 2025, on its updated guide for selecting the best mattresses for side sleepers. Acknowledging that the majority of Americans prefer sleeping on their side, the guide underscores the crucial importance of mattresses that ensure proper spinal alignment while providing ample cushioning for hips and shoulders. Insufficient lumbar support or pressure relief can lead to significant discomfort and strain for side sleepers. The Wired Reviews team, including a certified sleep science coach, rigorously tested hundreds of beds, narrowing down their recommendations to the top 10. Recent additions include The WinkBed for heavier side sleepers and the Wolf Memory Foam Hybrid Premium Firm. Source

Central American Beaches Are Being Overrun With Local and Foreign Plastic Wired reported on August 12, 2025, about a new macro-study revealing extensive plastic pollution on Latin America's Pacific coastline, with Central American beaches being particularly affected. The citizen science initiative, covering over 12,000 kilometers, found plastic bottles dating back decades, though most were less than a year old. Scientist Ostin Garcés emphasized that plastic, the dominant form of coastal garbage globally, has now infiltrated even the most remote areas and is increasingly found within human bodies. The study, which utilized visible dates on collected bottles and caps to determine origin, highlights the urgent need to address unchecked plastic production and consumption. Source

I Tried the Best At-Home Pet DNA Test Kits on My Two Cats (2025) Wired reported on August 16, 2025, after testing at-home pet DNA kits (Basepaws and Wisdom Panel) on cats. While these kits use SNP arrays to determine breed ancestry and health predispositions, the article highlights their limitations, especially for cats, as most are not purebred and feline genetics are less diversified than dogs'. Breed ancestry results showed disparities between kits, and health reports, though useful for identifying risks, require veterinary consultation and aren't definitive. Basepaws provided a valuable oral health report. The author strongly advises against unreliable hair/fur allergy tests, recommending vet-supervised methods for allergy detection. Source

An AI Model for the Brain Is Coming to the ICU Wired reported on August 11, 2025, that the Cleveland Clinic and the startup Piramidal are collaborating to develop an AI model designed to monitor patients' brain health in intensive care units. This innovative system is trained on extensive electroencephalogram (EEG) data, rather than text, to interpret neural signals. The goal is to overcome the current challenges of manual, time-consuming EEG review by flagging abnormalities like seizures or altered consciousness in real-time, enabling quicker medical intervention. Piramidal plans to test the model with live patient data within the next six to eight months, eventually scaling up to monitor hundreds of patients simultaneously. Source