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Anker's revolutionary 3D texture printer has raised an astounding $45 million on Kickstarter, offering advanced features like AI positioning and versatile material compatibility.... SMRTR every day.
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SMRTR Tech
June 27, 2025
Would you swap your real-life pet for an AI-powered alternative? Meet Sirius the robot dog and decide for yourself
Would you swap your real-life pet for an AI-powered alternative? Meet Sirius the robot dog and decide for yourself
Sirius, a robotic dog with an AI brain, is nuzzling its way into the world of digital pets. Standing just 10 inches tall, this chihuahua-sized companion from Hengbot boasts "emotional intelligence" and can mimic real dog behaviors like jumping and even dancing.

Unlike its predecessors, Sirius leverages advanced AI to recognize voice commands, process natural language, and understand gestures. Users can teach it tricks, upload custom facial expressions, and program routines using a game-like visual editor.

CEO Peiheng Song says, "With Sirius, we didn't just build a robot, we created the first of a new kind of robotic species."

This high-tech pup packs impressive specs: up to 5 TOPS of edge computing power, a 2250mAh battery for 40-60 minutes of playtime, and an aerospace-grade alloy frame.

Available for pre-order worldwide at $1299, Sirius aims to fetch the hearts of curious kids and tech-savvy developers alike when it launches in Fall 2025. [Read More]
 
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Social Media

 
‘I blame Facebook’: Aaron Sorkin is writing a Social Network sequel for the post-Zuckerberg era (4 minute read)
A sequel to "The Social Network" is in development, focusing on Facebook's negative impacts revealed in The Facebook Files. The new film, directed by Aaron Sorkin, will explore the platform's effects on teens, political elections, and global issues. This follow-up promises to be more critical of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg than its predecessor, highlighting the company's awareness of its harmful influence.
 
Reddit CEO pledges site will remain “written by humans and voted on by humans” (2 minute read)
Reddit is grappling with preserving authentic human interaction as AI-generated content increases. CEO Steve Huffman values the platform's 20-year history of genuine conversations, leading to partnerships with Google and OpenAI for AI training. Reddit is implementing strict verification to ensure only human posts, maintaining its role as a source of real user experiences. Advertisers are attracted to Reddit, seeking visibility in AI chatbot responses.
 
Reddit is being spammed by AI bots, and it’s all Reddit’s fault (3 minute read)
Reddit is battling an influx of AI-generated spam posts, a direct consequence of selling user data for AI training. CEO Steve Huffman describes it as an "arms race" to detect and block fake content. Companies are using AI bots to create posts, hoping their content will appear in chatbot results, forcing Reddit to explore new verification methods.
 
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Tech Giants

 
Microsoft wants to avoid another disastrous CrowdStrike PR abomination and here's how it wants to do it (4 minute read)
Microsoft's Windows Resiliency Initiative (WRI) aims to enhance Windows' reliability and security through ecosystem collaboration, practical guidance, and product innovation. Key changes include moving antivirus tools from the kernel, adding new recovery features in Windows 11, and partnering with security vendors. The initiative seeks to reduce disruptions while maintaining security. New capabilities will be released to partners in a private preview, with updates coming in Windows 11 24H2.
 
Apple’s weighing major shift to prove it’s serious about theatrical movies (3 minute read)
Apple is considering starting its own theatrical distribution unit, signaling a potential long-term commitment to movie theaters. This move comes as the company releases its $250 million F1 film, following a history of mixed success with theatrical releases. Apple's decision could impact its relationship with Hollywood and its overall content strategy.
 
LinkedIn CEO says AI writing assistant is not as popular as expected (2 minute read)
LinkedIn users are hesitant to use AI for polishing posts, according to CEO Ryan Roslansky. The professional nature of the platform and potential career impact of AI-generated content are deterring users. However, AI-related job listings have increased 6x, and users adding AI skills to profiles are up 20x in the past year.
 
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AI & Apps

 
Windows is finally kicking the Blue Screen of Death to the curb (2 minute read)
Microsoft is replacing Windows' iconic Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with a Black Screen of Death in Windows 11. The new crash screen will offer clearer information about system errors, including stop codes and problematic drivers, to aid in diagnosis. This change, alongside the new Quick Machine Recovery feature, aims to enhance system stability and recovery following a major outage last year that impacted millions of Windows devices.
 
Google launches Doppl, a new app that lets you visualize how an outfit might look on you (3 minute read)
Google's new AI app, Doppl, lets users virtually try on clothes using their own photos. Available on iOS and Android in the U.S., users upload a full-body image and can see themselves in various outfits. Doppl expands on Google's previous virtual try-on tech, focusing on personalized visualization. The app aims to make style exploration fun and interactive, though Google cautions it's still in early stages and may have inaccuracies.
 
Gemini is getting ready to replace Google Assistant on Android (2 minute read)
Google is updating Gemini for Android to allow device and app control without requiring Gemini Apps Activity to be enabled. This change, rolling out July 7th, lets users perform tasks like setting alarms and sending messages while maintaining privacy by not contributing to AI training data. The update aims to make Gemini more useful as a personal assistant without compromising user privacy concerns.
 
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Miscellaneous

 
Anker's extraordinary 3D printer has become the most popular campaign ever on Kickstarter, with nearly $45 million pledged (4 minute read)
Anker's EufyMake E1, a UV-curable ink 3D-texture printer, has become Kickstarter's most funded project with nearly $45 million raised. The device prints textures up to 5mm thick on over 300 materials, including metal and leather. It features AI positioning, self-cleaning, and rotary printing capabilities. While promising, questions remain about long-term durability, ink costs, and real-world precision for this consumer-focused 3D printing alternative.
 
TikTok user donates AirTag-tracked sneakers to Red Cross, things get… interesting (3 minute read)
A TikTok user tracked donated sneakers using an AirTag, revealing their journey from Munich to a second-hand shop in Bosnia. The shoes traveled through Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia before being resold for 10 euros. This unusual journey aligns with Red Cross's donation process, which involves selling surplus items to recycling companies or directly to resale businesses in other countries.
 
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Bite-Size Stories

Tesla's robotaxi rollout is already under investigation, as videos surface of erratic driving (4 minute read)
Tesla's Robotaxi launch in Austin sparked investigations by the NHTSA after videos showed autonomous vehicles behaving erratically, raising concerns about the readiness of their camera-only system and the company's limited data sharing.
 
The creator of the Delta emulator made a Game Boy Camera-style app for your iPhone (2 minute read)
Delta Camera, an iPhone app by Riley Testut, recreates the Game Boy Camera's retro style with low-res, monochrome images, while adding modern features like manual exposure and zoom, set to launch later this year.
 
Apple Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Taking Podcasts Mainstream With iPod and iTunes (6 minute read)
Apple marks 20 years of podcast support in iTunes by highlighting 20 favorite podcasts, sharing a letter about podcasts' impact, and recalling Steve Jobs' description of podcasts as "the next generation of radio."
 
How LTX Studio is simplifying the video editing workflow for solo creators (7 minute read)
LTX Studio, an AI-powered video creation tool, streamlines content production for solo creators by automating tasks like scripting, B-roll insertion, and editing, reducing editing time significantly and enabling more frequent cross-platform posting.
 
China is Making Cars Weird (1 minute read)
Chinese EV brands are driving innovation in the automotive industry, introducing unconventional designs and features that challenge traditional car concepts and could reshape our relationship with vehicles and transportation.