The Verge
Tesla Investor Day 2023: all the news and announcements from Elon Musk’s next ‘Master Plan’ event
Photo by Loren Grush / The Verge
Part three of the company’s Master Plan is here.
The VergeThe VergeThe best video doorbell camera to buy right now
Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge, Shutterstock
We pick the best brainy buzzers for keeping an eye on people, packages, and anything else that comes across your front porch.
The VergeTesla’s Investor Day event live blog
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Tesla is holding its first-ever Investor Day event at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, during which Elon Musk is expected to unveil the third iteration of the company’s “Master Plan.” The event will be livestreamed on YouTube and Twitter, but just in case you don’t feel like subjecting yourself to Musk’s stereotypical bluster, you’ll want to follow The Verge’s live blog for all the announcements and updates.
Tesla stopped inviting members of the mainstream press to its event right after the Cybertruck reveal in 2019. It was around the same time that the company disbanded its media relations department, leaving Musk’s Twitter account (and a sporadically updated blog) as the sole outlet for information about Tesla.
That said, there’s...
The VergeOpenAI announces an API for ChatGPT and its Whisper speech-to-text tech
Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge
OpenAI has announced that it’s now letting third-party developers integrate ChatGPT into their apps and services via an API and that doing so will be significantly cheaper than using its existing language models. The company is making Whisper, its AI-powered speech-to-text model, available for use through an API and making some important changes to its developer terms of service.
OpenAI says its ChatGPT API can be used for more than just creating an AI-powered chat interface — though it also highlights several companies that have been using it for that purpose, including Snap’s My AI feature, which was announced earlier this week. The company says its new model family, called gpt-3.5-turbo, is the “best model for many non-chat use...
The VergeHere are the best iPad deals right now
Select iPad models go on sale quite regularly. | Image: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
While the best iPad deals come around during major sale events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day, you can still find plenty of great discounts at all times of the year if you know where to look. Whether you’re after the high-end iPad Pro or the most affordable entry-level iPad, there’s likely a sale going on somewhere that you may be interested in.
Of course, it’s difficult to know exactly where you can find the most notable deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, including the latest ones...
The VergeUSPS will order 9,250 Ford E-Transit EVs and 14,000 EV chargers
Image: Ford
The US Postal Service is buying 9,250 Ford E-Transit battery-electric vehicles and 14,000 EV charging stations from three different suppliers as part of its plans to electrify a large portion of its mail delivery fleet. In an announcement post on Tuesday, the agency said it hasn’t finalized plans for where the vehicles and infrastructure will be deployed but intends to “begin building out its charging infrastructure across a minimum of 75 locations within the next 12 months.”
The chargers will help power a growing number of EVs. In December, the USPS announced its plans to add 66,000 electric vehicles to its fleet by 2028. While around 45,000 of those will be “Next Generation Delivery Vehicles” (NGDV) manufactured by Oshkosh, the agency...
The VergeA GOP plan to ban TikTok nationwide advances out of committee
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
Republicans on a powerful House committee voted to advance a bill on Wednesday that would allow President Joe Biden to ban TikTok from the United States, despite objections from Democrats and civil liberty groups.
In a 24-16 vote, the House Foreign Affairs Committee greenlit Rep. Michael McCaul’s (R-TX) Deterring America’s Technological Adversaries Act, or DATA Act, sending it to the House floor. The bill directs Biden to sanction, or possibly ban, TikTok nationwide if the administration finds that the company shared user data with individuals associated with the Chinese government. If that data was used to surveil, hack, or censor users, Biden could impose additional sanctions against TikTok and its parent-company Bytedance.
“TikTok is...
The VergeFinal Fantasy XVI has a medieval approach to diversity
Image: Square Enix
Nixing people of color in service to making a game ‘rooted in reality’ not only runs contrary to the game’s own goal of having broad appeal but also to the game’s own internal world-building.
The VergeSoaring SUV sales make it harder to hit climate goals
An assembly line of Huawei Seres Aito M7 electric SUVs on February 3rd, 2023, in Chongqing, China. | Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images
SUV sales soared in 2022, a trend that makes it much harder to reach global climate goals, experts say. And while car buyers flocked to electric SUVs along with their gas-guzzling counterparts, supersize EVs pose their own environmental challenges.
When it comes to slashing pollution from passenger vehicles, bigger is the opposite of better. SUVs burn through about 20 percent more oil on average than medium-size cars. Electric SUVs also require larger batteries than other EVs, and experts are already warning that we won’t have enough raw materials to meet skyrocketing demand for lithium-ion batteries.
Bigger is the opposite of better
Nevertheless, SUVs outcompeted their smaller counterparts in 2022. While car sales overall slumped last...
The VergeMotorola’s new Razr foldable is arriving this year
The 2020 Motorola Razr is the most recent one released in the US. | Photo: Dieter Bohn / The Verge
Motorola’s launching yet another Razr this year, according to a report from CNBC. Yang Yuanqing, the CEO of Motorola’s parent company Lenovo, told the outlet that the next-gen foldable would arrive “very soon” with some improvements to the device’s hinge.
In an interview with CNBC, Yang didn’t expand much on what’s new with the upcoming Razr but said its inner display could have a less notable crease when unfolded — an issue that just about every foldable maker has to contend with. “I think it’s much better,” Yang told CNBC in reference to the new device.
“As YY [Yang Yuanqing] mentioned, we are committed to the foldable space and dedicated to expanding the Razr franchise offerings soon,” Motorola spokesperson Luciana Vedovato tells The...
The VergeTesla Superchargers are now open to non-Tesla EVs at ‘select sites’ in the US
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Tesla owners pulling up to certain Supercharger locations in the US are being greeted with an unfamiliar sight: electric vehicles from other car companies, parked in the spots previously reserved just for them, sipping up electrons alongside Model 3s and Model Ys.
Tesla’s Supercharger network, once exclusive to customers of Elon Musk and only Elon Musk, is now open to non-Tesla EVs. The company, which has been allowing other companies’ EVs to use its chargers in Europe for months, is now doing the same in the US — as per the instructions laid out in the Biden administration’s $7.5 billion plan to expand EV charging options to more Americans.
“It’s always been our ambition to open the Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs, and by doing...
The VergeTesla’s new ‘Master Plan’ is coming — let’s grade the first two
Image: PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images
Tesla’s first ‘Master Plan’ was widely seen as a success. But the second is where things started to go off the rails. In advance of the release of the third version, let’s go through the previous two with a fine-tooth comb and assign some grades.
The VergePokémon Sleep is just the start of my fully gamified life
Image: The Pokémon Company
Whenever I go for a walk, whether it’s to grab a coffee or a proper hike, I annoy the hell out of my family by playing Pikmin Bloom incessantly. No matter how picturesque the view is around me, I spend plenty of time staring at my phone, making sure I’m planting flowers efficiently and helping fresh new pikmin grow. It’s a game that you play by walking; more steps mean more flowers and pikmin, so it’s at least encouraging me to move around. But it’s also a prime example of how video games have infiltrated nearly every part of my life. And with Pokémon Sleep launching in the summer, that problem is only going to get worse.
Now as someone who loves both pokémon and sleep, it seems like an app designed with me in mind. The idea is that you...
The VergeThe LG A2 is about as affordable as OLED TVs get, thanks to a $700 discount
The LG A2 is a great TV if you want an OLED on a slightly tighter budget. | Image: LG
If you’re more of a movie and TV show watcher than a gamer and you want a TV with deep black levels and better viewing angles, LG’s A2 OLED is on sale at Best Buy starting at $599.99 ($700 off) for a 48-inch model. The main difference between the A2 and LG’s pricier models is that the A2 lacks HDMI 2.1 ports and is capped at a 60Hz refresh rate, which makes it less ideal for gaming with a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
There’s nothing wrong with putting more emphasis on picture quality than speed if your budget can’t be stretched far enough to have both, especially if one of your gripes with your current TV is an inability to see details in dark scenes. Also, many new console games are still played at 60Hz in 4K anyway, so the A2 isn’t...
The VergeHow to watch Tesla’s 2023 Investor Day event
Image: Tesla
Tesla’s first Investor Day event is today, at which Elon Musk will pull back the curtain on the company’s third “Master Plan.” It’s a sequel to a 2016 blog post in which Musk said the company would expand its EV offerings to more vehicle segments and make them autonomous.
The third plan is expected to include “the path to a fully sustainable energy future for Earth,” Musk wrote on Twitter.
It will likely also include details on a new next-generation vehicle platform that will cost less to manufacture, updates to its Full Self-Driving technology (which is currently on hold due to a recall).
When is Tesla’s Investor Day?
Tesla’s Investor Day begins on March 1st at 5PM ET / 2PM PT at the company’s Austin, Texas-based Gigafactory.
How to...
The VergeThe best iPhone to buy in 2023
Navigate Apple’s lengthy iPhone product catalog like a pro. | Image: The Verge
Whether you want a battery that lasts for days, the best deal, or a small form factor, we’ve got some recommendations for an iPhone you’ll love.
The VergeSony announces 2023 TV lineup: better late than never
After making the unusual decision to wait until after CES to announce its latest TVs, Sony is finally introducing the 2023 lineup of Bravia XR sets. The new lineup includes a wickedly bright QD-OLED at the top of the pile, but this is otherwise mostly a year of iterative refinement and modest improvements. Several of the TV models have gained more dimming zones and slight brightness improvements compared to the sets from last year that they’ll be replacing.
As always, image processing is being positioned as a major draw for Sony’s TV portfolio. The company is as confident as ever that its Cognitive Processor XR is what makes Sony TVs stand out from the field in the way they handle challenging scenes. New this year is a feature called XR...
The VergeHitman’s developer takes a stab at an online fantasy RPG
Image: IO Interactive
IO Interactive, the developer known for the long-running Hitman franchise, is working on a new game in the fantasy RPG genre it says it will “expand for many years to come.”
The title, codenamed “Project Fantasy,” won’t have anything to do with the Hitman franchise (although it would be hilarious to see Agent 47 wielding a bow and arrow on horseback). In its announcement, IO Interactive shared an image showing three World of Warcraft-esque characters looking out into a sprawling landscape and says the team takes inspiration from roleplaying books and tabletop games.
A new adventure begins at IOI. Join the party and help us realize our vision for a bold new online fantasy RPG: https://t.co/NV4TKL1cuO pic.twitter.com/m2xDZCqbZx
— IO...
The VergeStranger Things is getting a stage play that’s also a prequel
Image: Netflix
Stranger Things is getting a prequel to help make the wait for season 5 a little easier — though to check it out, you’ll need to head to London. Today, Netflix announced Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a stage play that will premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End starting in “late” 2023 and that serves as an origin story of sorts.
Stranger Things creators the Duffer brothers will serve as creative producers, while the story was penned by Kate Trefry, a writer on the show since season 2. The story follows younger versions of characters like Hopper and Joyce as they deal with the early days of the darkness that haunts Hawkins, Indiana. Here’s the official premise:
Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young...
The VergeRad Power Bikes’ RadRunner e-bike gets a major facelift — and a trailer for furry friends
Image: Rad Power Bikes
Rad Power Bikes’ RadRunner is an e-bike designed to appeal to the broadest number of people. A utility bike with fat, comfy tires, a beguiling design, a simplified but not underpowered drivetrain, and an affordable price tag, the RadRunner is one of the company’s consistently most popular models. And now, it’s getting a major facelift.
The RadRunner 3 Plus, announced today, has a radical new look that borrows heavily from the sharply angled frame designs of the latest versions of the RadCity commuter and RadRover models. That means it comes with a bevy of new parts, including integrated battery, hydraulic disc brakes, a custom geared hub motor, a new ergonomic frame, and an improved LED display that’s easier to use.
But the accessories...
The VergeYouTube’s new leader teases AI tools that can virtually swap creators’ outfits and locations
Mohan revealed upcoming features for Shorts and YouTube TV in his first public address as head of YouTube along with new generative AI tools expected to roll out to creators in the coming weeks. | Image: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for YouTube
Neal Mohan, the new head of YouTube, outlined his key priorities and teased some upcoming features for the media platform in his first address to the community since stepping up to the role last month. In his letter, Mohan opens by saying that he’ll “continue to put [creators] first” and recapping some of the recent features the platform has added. He also teased one particularly interesting new one: YouTube is developing generative AI tools for content creators.
“Creators will be able to expand their storytelling and raise their production value, from virtually swapping outfits to creating a fantastical film setting through AI’s generative capabilities,” said Mohan in a letter published today. “We’re taking the time to develop these...
The VergeIntel and Microsoft seem to be hinting at Windows 12
Image: Microsoft
Both Intel and Microsoft seem to be preparing for the as yet unannounced Windows 12. The hardware leaker @leaf_hobby, known for revealing the full specs of Intel’s Xeon chips before launch, has published details about Intel’s Meteor Lake desktop platform. Intel reportedly mentions internally that its next-gen CPUs will support Windows 12.
While the tweet has since been deleted, VideoCardz notes that Meteor Lake is expected to include 20 PCIe Gen5 lanes and support for Windows 12. We asked Intel to comment on the leak, but the company refused. Microsoft also declined to comment on the reports of Intel preparing to support Windows 12.
While Microsoft hasn’t announced any plans for Windows 12, there are already signs the company is looking...
The VergeVolkswagen, Audi, and Porsche are getting their own in-car app store — and yes, that includes TikTok
Image: VW
If you’ve long felt like the one thing missing from your Audi was in-car TikTok, fret no more. Volkswagen Group is the latest to join the in-car app party, and it’s doing it in a big way. And it’s a preview of the conglomerate’s big plans for a unified in-car software platform that will govern how its cars operate for years to come.
The world’s second-largest vehicle manufacturer announced today that it will soon roll out an app store designed to serve its wide portfolio of car brands. Inside, drivers will find familiar third-party apps optimized for car-friendly usage.
The initial rollout includes big names like TikTok, Spotify, Yelp, and more, all optimized for in-car use and designed to run from an infotainment system screen. The...
The VergeTikTok will limit teens to 60 minutes screen time a day (but you can turn the limit off)
TikTok will also soon roll out similar features available to all users to allow for better screen time management. | Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
TikTok has announced a batch of new features intended to reduce screen time and improve the well-being of its younger users.
In the coming weeks, a daily screen time limit of 60 minutes will be automatically applied to every TikTok user under 18 years old. Teens that hit this limit will be asked to enter a passcode to continue watching. They can disable the feature entirely, but if they do so and spend more than 100 minutes on TikTok a day, they’ll be asked to set a new limit.
TikTok claims these prompts increased the use of its screen time management tools by 234 percent during the feature’s first month of testing. Teens will also be sent an inbox notification each week that recaps their screen time, allowing younger users to be aware...
The VergeTwitter’s timeline just isn’t loading right now
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Twitter seems to be having difficulties, with users reporting that the site’s timeline isn’t loading on either the web or mobile apps.
The site itself is still accessible, as are individual accounts and the ability to send new tweets. But trying to load a timeline — whether “For You” or “Following”— just isn’t working. There’s been a spike of reports for the site on DownDetector, and users on Twitter are reporting broken timelines in the US, UK, and elsewhere. Oddly, it seems that lists (curated groups of users) do still work, so try that if your feed isn’t otherwise loading.
Here’s what Twitter currently looks like for most people. What’s happening? Well, we don’t know.
Image: The Verge
Welcome to Twitter! Hope...
The VergeThe next big Olympics esports competition will feature chess and Just Dance
Image: CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is taking its next steps into esports competitions, and it’s adding chess and Just Dance to the mix.
In June, the IOC will host Olympic Esports Week, which expands upon the Olympic Virtual Series it put on in 2021 with some new events. Like the Olympic Virtual Series, Olympic Esports Week will focus on virtual representations of physical activities. While that means you won’t see any Overwatch 2 gold medalists, the IOC is adding some entries to the lineup that adhere less to the traditional concept of “sport.”
New for Olympic Esports Week are archery, tennis, tae kwon do, Just Dance (Ubisoft’s hit dancing franchise), and chess, which will sit alongside returning competitions in motorsport (via G...
The VergeThis is Meta’s AR/VR hardware roadmap for the next four years
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
During an internal presentation, Meta execs laid out plans for three new Quest headsets, AR glasses in 2027, and a ‘neural interface’ smartwatch.
The VergeHBO Max’s Dune series has lost a lead actress and a director
Actress Shirley Henderson at a special screening of Stan & ollie. | Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Dune: The Sisterhood — HBO Max’s Dune prequel series about the origins of the Bene Gesserit — already appeared to be in a bit of trouble back when it lost its original co-showrunners, hired two more, and then lost one again. Now, though, things seem to be getting worse.
Deadline reports that actress Shirley Henderson, one of Dune: The Sisterhood’s lead actresses, and director Johan Renck, who was slated to direct the first two episodes, have both decided to pull out of Dune: The Sisterhood just as the show enters a lengthy production hiatus. In a statement to Deadline, an HBO Max spokesperson emphasized that The Sisterhood’s hiatus had already been scheduled before two of the series’ key figures chose to part ways with the project, and...
The VergeTwitter rewrites its rules on violent content under Elon Musk
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Twitter announced that it has “officially launched” a new Violent Speech policy that outlines its “zero-tolerance approach towards Violent Speech.” Its content is similar to Twitter’s previous violent threats policy, though it manages to be both more specific and more vague.
Both policies ban you from threatening or glorifying violence in most scenarios (each version has carve-outs for “hyperbolic” speech between friends). However, the new set of rules appears to expand on some concepts while cutting down on some others. For example, the old policy stated:
Statements that express a wish or hope that someone experiences physical harm, making vague or indirect threats, or threatening actions that are unlikely to cause serious or lasting...
The VergeElon Musk’s ‘lab leak’ tweets could be an issue for Tesla’s plans in China
Illustration by Laura Normand / The Verge
CNBC reports The Global Times, a state-run paper in China, has warned Elon Musk about pushing the covid “lab leak” theory. Reporter Eunice Yoon said the social media post asked if Musk is “breaking the pot of China,” with a meaning similar to asking if he was biting the hand that feeds him.
Ever since Musk announced his intention to buy Twitter, it’s seemed certain that at some point, the service’s content would put him at odds with the Chinese Communist Party, as Nilay Patel wrote after the deal closed:
Are you excited for the Chinese government to find ways to threaten Tesla’s huge business in that country over content that appears on Twitter? Because it’s going to happen.
How fast we arrived at this most obvious sticking point is no...