This startup will send 1,000 people’s ashes to space — affordably — in 2027
Started by an engineer who worked on the space shuttle program, and at Blue Origin, Space Beyond has a spot on a 2027 Falcon 9 flight.
Tech
Microsoft gave FBI a set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects’ laptops: reports
The FBI served Microsoft a warrant requesting encryption recovery keys to decrypt the hard drives of people involved in an alleged fraud case in Guam.
TikTok-like microdramas are going to make billions this year, even though they kind of suck
The business model behind these apps replicates the same dark patterns as mobile games.
TikTok finalizes deal to create new US entity and avoid ban
The deal ends a six-year long political saga that that started in 2020 when President Donald Trump tried to ban the app over national security concerns during his first term.
OpenAI chief Sam Altman plans India visit as AI leaders converge in New Delhi: sources
Sam Altman is set for his first India visit in nearly a year.
The end of the Sony era in TVs
There aren’t many tech companies that can claim Sony’s level of influence in how we live our lives. From the Walkman to the PlayStation to the Trinitron, Sony has been making excellent gadgets in multiple categories for decades, which makes this week’s news just a little sad. Sony’s new joint venture with TCL isn’t the […]
Anbernic’s next wireless controller adds a screen and heart rate monitoring
Anbernic has announced its second wireless controller through a teaser video on YouTube highlighting its features. The company’s first gamepad, the RG P01, offered features like Hall effect triggers and joysticks for just $18. Pricing for the new Anbernic RG G01 hasn’t been revealed, but it may be more expensive due to several upgrades, including […]
Influencers are pushing suspicious peptides. How much are you willing to risk?
This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they’re going to change your life. Optimizer arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 10AM ET. Opt in for Optimizer here. On TikTok, it’s disturbingly easy to find videos of […]
Only 1 week left (or until the first 500 passes are gone): The first TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 ticket discount is ending
Register now to save up to $680 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass and get a second ticket at 50% off. This offer ends next week on January 30, or once the first 500 tickets are claimed — whichever comes first.
AI labs wage a reputational knife fight at Davos
This is an excerpt of Sources by Alex Heath, a newsletter about AI and the tech industry, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. The leaders of the three preeminent frontier AI labs spent this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, taking shots at each other like candidates in a […]