• Sennheiser introduces new TV headphones bundle with Auracast

    January 23, 2026

    Sennheiser has unveiled its RS 275 TV Headphones, which are bundled with a BTA1 digital receiver. These headphones use Auracast technology to provide low-latency audio at a range of up to 50 meters, and can connect to other devices enabled with Auracast or Bluetooth Classic. For those unfamiliar, Auracast is broadcast Bluetooth audio; we have an explainer about it after CES 2024 put this audio tech onto the big stage. The digital receiver introduces an Auracast signal in a physical space for any other compatible devices, which might include hearing aids or loudspeakers as well as other headphone sets. The…

  • GM to end Chevy Bolt EV production next year, move China-made Buick to U.S. factory

    January 23, 2026

    General Motors is shuffling where its vehicles are made in a move that will shift production away from China and Mexico and to a U.S. factory in Kansas. That change will also mean the end of its rebooted Chevrolet Bolt EV, the only vehicle currently built at the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas. The factory musical chairs reflect an economic and political environment, shaped by the Trump administration’s tariff policy and its decision to end the federal EV tax credit, which provided up to $7,500 off qualifying electric vehicles. These changes have made it more expensive to build vehicles in…

  • Polestar predicts huge sales growth to end, but smooth sailing ahead

    January 22, 2026

    Polestar was one of Australia’s fastest-growing auto brands last year in terms of sales, and while it doesn’t expect the same growth in 2026, the Sino-Swedish brand is confident its expanding local dealer network and increasing customer awareness will keep people interested in its electric vehicles (EVs). Marking an impressive 38.5 per cent sales increase over 2024, Australian sales for the Geely-owned EV brand were propelled by demand for its two relatively new SUVs, the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, which helped push its total sales to 2373 in 2025. They also contributed to a 36 per cent increase in…

  • Darth Maul’s standalone series premieres on Disney+ on April 6

    January 22, 2026

    Darth Maul, the beloved, sometimes spider-legged former Sith Lord first introduced in Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace, is officially getting his own animated spin-off on April 6, 2026, based on a new teaser trailer published by Disney. Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord was originally announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2025, and is set after Maul’s arc in Star Wars: The Clone Wars but before his appearance in Star Wars: Rebels. The 10-episode series covers Maul’s plot to rebuild his criminal syndicate “on a planet untouched by the Empire,” according to Lucasfilm. “There, he crosses paths…

  • Voice AI engine and OpenAI partner LiveKit hits $1B valuation

    January 22, 2026

    LiveKit, a developer of infrastructure software for real-time AI voice and video applications, has announced the raise of $100 million in funding at a $1 billion valuation. The round, which comes 10 months after LiveKit’s previous fundraise, was led by Index Ventures with participation from existing investors, including Altimeter Capital Management, Hanabi Capital, and Redpoint Ventures. LiveKit powers OpenAI’s ChatGPT voice mode. The startup’s other customers include xAI, Salesforce, Tesla, as well as 911 emergency service operators and mental health providers. The company was founded in 2021 by Russ d’Sa and David Zhao as an open source software project for…

  • Polestar opposes looming changes to Australian EV incentives

    January 22, 2026

    Polestar Australia has called on the Australian Government to leave its long-standing electric vehicle (EV) incentives alone, following an announcement in December last year that its EV subsidy scheme would be reviewed. Since July 1, 2022, EVs priced below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles ($91,387 for 2025-26) have been exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), potentially saving novated lessees thousands each year. The Australian Treasury estimates that roughly 100,000 EV buyers have benefited to date. Following the review, which was promised when the discount was legislated, the government could end, renew or modify the scheme. According…

  • JBL made a pair of AI-powered practice amps

    January 22, 2026

    JBL is trying its hand at something new, with a pair of AI-powered practice amps. The BandBox Solo and BandBox Trio include an onboard Stem AI that purportedly lets you separate or remove vocals and instruments from any music streamed over Bluetooth. So, say you’re a young guitarist learning “Stairway to Heaven” (as one does). At least in theory, you could use the speaker to remove Jimmy Page’s part and hone your chops with the rest of the band. The $250 BandBox Solo, designed for individual musicians, has a single guitar / mic input. And the $600 BandBox Trio, better…

  • Are AI agents ready for the workplace? A new benchmark raises doubts.

    January 22, 2026

    It’s been nearly two years since Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella predicted AI would replace knowledge work — the white-collar jobs held by lawyers, investment bankers, librarians, accountants, IT and others. But despite the huge progress made by foundation models, the change in knowledge work has been slow to arrive. Models have mastered in-depth research and agentic planning, but for whatever reason, most white-collar work has been relatively unaffected. It’s one of the biggest mysteries in AI — and thanks to new research from the training-data giant Mercor, we’re finally getting some answers. The new research looks at how leading AI…

  • David Ellison extends deadline for Warner Bros. Discovery takeover offer

    January 22, 2026

    Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is apparently still hopeful that investors will approve his $108.4 billion hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount Skydance announced Thursday that it’s extending its all-cash offer to acquire the storied studio, and giving investors until February 20, 2026 to accept. The company’s previous offer expired on January 21, but with a lawsuit in the works and a revised Netflix deal to compete with, Paramount Skydance wants to stay in the conversation. Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery originally announced their $82.7 billion acquisition agreement in December 2025. Netflix’s deal is for a significant portion, but…

  • Google DeepMind CEO is ‘surprised’ OpenAI is rushing forward with ads in ChatGPT

    January 22, 2026

    Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said he’s “surprised” that OpenAI has already moved to introduce ads within its AI chatbot. In an interview with Axios at Davos, the AI leader was responding to a question about using ads to monetize AI services, saying the idea is something that the team at Google was thinking through “very carefully.” Hassabis also said that his team wasn’t feeling pressure from the tech giant to make “a knee-jerk” decision around advertising, despite how key ads are to Google’s core business. The DeepMind co-founder’s remarks followed Friday’s news that OpenAI will begin testing ads as a…