• Kodiak taps Bosch to scale its self-driving truck tech

    January 5, 2026

    Self-driving trucks company Kodiak AI announced on Monday it is working with global automotive supplier Bosch to develop a system of hardware and software that can give standard big rigs autonomous driving capabilities. The collaboration was announced at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and it could help Kodiak bring its self-driving tech to more trucks, faster. Kodiak, which is developing self-driving trucks for highway, industrial, and defense uses, has already developed and designed a self-driving system with redundant systems for braking, steering, sensors, and computers. In January 2025, Kodiak’s self-driving trucks began making driverless deliveries for Atlas Energy Solutions in…

  • Impressive bass performance without a subwoofer

    January 5, 2026

    We’re used to Samsung updating its Q990 soundbar at CES every year, and 2026 is no different. However, the company also debuted the HW-QS90H: a new all-in-one option that Samsung says won’t require a standalone subwoofer due to its Quad Bass Woofer system. The QS90H offers 7.1.2-channel audio with 13 total drivers. Before the show properly kicks off, we got to listen to the new soundbar for a quick judge of its merits. The first thing I noticed about the QS90H is its impressive bass performance. Most of the time when a company claims its soundbar doesn’t need a subwoofer,…

  • Flutterwave buys Nigeria’s Mono in rare African fintech exit

    January 5, 2026

    Africa’s largest fintech company, Flutterwave, has acquired Nigerian open banking startup Mono in an all-stock deal valued between $25 million and $40 million, according to people familiar with the transaction. The acquisition brings together two of Africa’s leading fintech infrastructure companies. Flutterwave operates one of the continent’s widest payments networks, while Mono, often described as the “Plaid for Africa,” has built APIs that allow businesses to access bank data, initiate payments, and verify customers. Mono has raised about $17.5 million from investors, including Tiger Global, General Catalyst, and Target Global. Sources close to the deal said the acquisition allowed all…

  • Samsung brought an absolute beast of a 130-inch Micro RGB TV to CES 2026

    January 5, 2026

    Amid endless AI hype and a guest visit from the CEO of Hartford Steam Boiler (?!), Samsung had a big surprise for us tonight at CES 2026: A massive 130-inch Micro RGB TV. It’s so large, it’s suspended by a large metal stand that surrounds the entire screen, which also lets you tilt the screen just a bit. (For the Samsung diehards, it’s basically a reinvention of its “timeless gallery” stand from 2013.) I imagine bringing this TV home would be like Bart Simpson adopting his beloved elephant Stampy: Your pets would be terrified, and your family would probably be…

  • L’Oréal’s CES 2026 beauty devices include a skin-like flexible LED mask

    January 5, 2026

    Over the last ten or so years, L’Oréal has brought a taste of beauty tech to the masses at CES 2026. This time, it has three devices to show off: the “Light Straight + Multi-styler” as well as the helpfully named LED Face Mask and LED Eye Mask. Don’t let the unassuming names mislead you. These three products actually harbor some unique traits. The Light Straight (and multi-styler, which I’m going to just call the Light Straight from here on), for instance, uses infrared light to help generate the heat required to style your hair. Meanwhile, the LED Face Mask…

  • Volkswagen Golf GTI turns 50, big birthday celebrations planned in 2026

    January 5, 2026

    This year marks five decades of the iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI, and the German brand is planning big things for the nameplate’s big birthday. Starting with the Mk1 Golf GTI in 1976, “the world’s most successful compact sports car” has sold more than 2.5 million units across no fewer than eight generations so far. 50 years on, VW says the GTI’s core DNA remains the same – “[an] agile engine, lightweight front-wheel drive, balanced chassis, perfectly fitting sports seats and crisp, no-frills design”. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. VW has confirmed…

  • Much brighter and impressively adaptable

    January 5, 2026

    Samsung announced its newest portable projector ahead of its First Look showcase at CES 2026, but you might have been a little confused as to what’s changed. The company says the is nearly twice as bright as the 2022 Freestyle projector, rated at 230 ISO lumens, which was pretty underwhelming. The new Freestyle+ can output at 430 ISO lumens. If this is the first you’re hearing of ISO Lumens, it’s an internationally standardized rating for projectors, intended to standardize manufacturers’ claims of brightness. It still looks very similar to its predecessors, with 160 degrees of rotation that makes it easy…

  • Lamborghini says AI is inevitable in car manufacturing – even for low-volume supercars

    January 5, 2026

    The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in building cars is inevitable, according to Lamborghini, even among smaller specialised automakers – like the Italian exotic brand – that still hand-make some components. AI is widely used for infotainment and safety systems in new vehicles, and it’s also typically employed by automakers to make production lines faster in the quest for greater volume, both in terms of efficiency and quality control. Speaking to CarExpert, Lamborghini chief manufacturing officer Ranieri Niccoli said AI still has a role to play at the company, despite it being a niche brand whose end goal is not to…

  • Unique speaker designs debut at CES 2026

    January 5, 2026

    In addition to its annual soundbar updates, Samsung debuted two new home speakers at CES 2026. The Music Studio 5 and 7 are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi units designed to blend in with your home decor thanks to their minimalist look. They certainly don’t look like your typical speakers, and Samsung has packed them with features that it says will ensure optimal sound quality from each one. The Music Studio 5 has a four-inch woofer and two tweeters, and a sound profile that’s optimized by AI Dynamic Bass Control. The design is an interesting interplay between a circle and a square,…

  • Move over, BYD: Australia has a new cheapest PHEV, but only for a limited time

    January 5, 2026

    Chery has put BYD in check, slashing the price of its most affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) for a limited time and therefore claiming the mantle of Australia’s cheapest PHEV. The model year 2026 (MY26) Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban is being offered for $34,990 until February 28, 2026, a reduction of $5000; the flagship Ultimate is also being offered for $38,990 drive-away, also down $5000. Pricing for purely petrol-powered Tiggo 7s is unchanged, and the offer sees the premium for plug-in hybrid power slashed from $10,000 to $5000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click…