Latest News

Volvo’s parent company has introduced a new electric sedan in China, highlighting a persistent gap for American car buyers.

The Geely Galaxy A7 EV combines a conventional design with a reported 550km of CLTC range, launching at a price point that remains remarkably low by Western electric vehicle standards. However, it seems destined to remain absent from US showrooms.

That initial low headline figure requires some context. Car News China notes a lower entry price, but the actual EV trims start at 112,800 yuan (approximately $16,530) and go up to 119,800 yuan. This is still competitive pricing for a sedan of this class, though not as unbelievably cheap as the earliest reports suggested.

Geely

Affordable pricing, complicated availability

Beyond the pricing details, the vehicle’s core offering appears robust. The A7 EV is equipped with a 58.05 kWh LFP battery and a 160 kW front motor, with Geely citing a 550km range on the CLTC cycle. There are indications of a smaller-battery variant, suggesting the lineup may expand further.

Geely

The rest of the car feels more refined than typical budget options. The EV features understated exterior design, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen, a digital driver display, and an interior configuration that prioritizes practical family use over extreme cost-cutting. This distinction is key, as the car’s main draw is its everyday usability at a low cost, not just its novelty.

Why US buyers will miss out

For American audiences, the situation feels all too familiar.

China continues to produce affordable, well-equipped EVs, while the US market rarely sees comparable pricing on new electric sedans.

There are no current signs of a US launch for the A7 EV, meaning American consumers will likely only observe this vehicle from a distance.

Geely

What comes next for the Galaxy A7

The key question now is whether the EV variant can help boost sales for the broader Galaxy A7 series.

Geely

Geely sold 15,230 A7 units in China during the first quarter of 2026, but this represents a 59.4% drop from the previous quarter.

If the EV version succeeds with buyers, it will be significant not just as a new trim, but as an indicator of how rapidly China’s budget EV sector is evolving.

Volvo’s parent company has introduced a new electric sedan in China, reigniting a familiar frustration for American buyers.

The Geely Galaxy A7 EV combines a conventional design with an advertised 550km CLTC range, launching at a price point that remains remarkably low by Western electric vehicle benchmarks. However, it is unlikely to ever reach American showrooms.

That initial headline price requires some clarification. Car News China notes a lower starting figure, but the actual EV trims begin at 112,800 yuan (approximately $16,530) and climb to 119,800 yuan. While still competitively priced for a sedan of this class, it is not as drastically cheap as the earliest reports suggested.

Geely

Low Cost, Complicated Launch

Beyond the initial pricing ambiguity, the vehicle’s fundamentals appear strong. The A7 EV is equipped with a 58.05 kWh LFP battery and a 160 kW front motor, with Techgeeks citing a 550km CLTC range. While a smaller battery variant may be in development, further details on the full lineup remain pending.

Geely

The rest of the package feels more refined than its budget positioning suggests. The EV features understated exterior design, a 14.6-inch central display, a digital driver’s screen, and an interior that prioritizes everyday usability over stripped-down minimalism. This approach highlights the car’s core value: practicality at an accessible price.

Why US Customers Will Miss Out

For American audiences, the situation echoes a well-worn narrative.

China continues to develop affordable, well-equipped EVs, while the US market rarely sees comparable pricing on new electric sedans.

With no indications of a US release for the A7 EV, it will likely remain an overseas model, leaving American consumers to observe from a distance.

Geely

Looking Ahead to Sales

The key question now is whether the EV variant can help reinvigorate interest in the broader Galaxy A7 series.

Geely

Geely sold 15,230 A7 units in China during Q1 2026, marking a 59.4% decline from the previous quarter.

If the EV version gains traction, it will serve as more than just a new trim option; it will demonstrate how rapidly China’s budget EV sector is evolving.

If you have ever registered for an application only to waste five minutes searching for a six-digit code hidden in your email, you understand how tedious this process can be. I particularly dislike the magic sign-up links that websites send, as they often stop functioning if my default browser is not Google Chrome.

Fortunately, Google is addressing this issue with a new verified email credential for Android, offering a truly clever solution.

What is wrong with OTPs?

The standard OTP has long been the foundation of email verification, yet it presents significant challenges. You must exit the app, open your inbox, locate the email, copy the code, and return to the app.

This lengthy procedure frustrates both users and app developers. The excessive number of steps can cause users to abandon the sign-up process, resulting in lost potential users before they even experience the app.

iOS resolved this problem by enabling users to sign in via Apple account. Recently, it also introduced a feature to autofill OTPs from emails, similar to how Android supports OTP autofill from messages.

Techgeeks

Now, Google is developing a seamless signup process that eliminates the need for users to switch between apps.

How does the new system work?

Google now issues a cryptographically verified email credential directly to Android devices through the Credential Manager API. When an app needs to confirm your email, it can retrieve that credential directly using the Credential Manager API.

A small prompt appears on screen showing what information is being requested. You tap to confirm, and the app gets your verified email. No switching apps, no codes, no delay.

Android Developers Blog

Google recommends pairing this with passkey creation, so the first sign-up becomes the last time a user has to do anything manual.

The same can also be used for account recovery and re-authentication of sensitive actions, including setting changes, updating profile details, and more.

Android Developers Blog

The best part is that the new feature supports Android 9 and later devices, so you don’t need the best new Android smartphones to enjoy this quality-of-life improvement.

Are there any restrictions?

There are a few restrictions. The feature currently works only with regular consumer Google Accounts, not Workspace accounts. It also only works with Gmail accounts, and not with third-party email accounts that you might have used to create your Google account.

Anyone who has ever registered for an application only to waste five minutes searching for a six-digit code hidden in their email inbox understands the frustration involved. I particularly dislike those magical sign-up links sent by websites, especially when they malfunction because my default browser isn’t Google Chrome.

Fortunately, Google is addressing this issue with a new verified email credential for Android, offering a truly clever solution.

What exactly is wrong with OTPs?

While one-time passwords (OTPs) have long served as the foundation of email verification, they present significant challenges. Users must exit the app, access their inbox, locate the email, copy the code, and return to the app.

This lengthy procedure negatively impacts both consumers and application developers. The numerous steps involved often lead users to abandon the sign-up process midway, causing apps to lose potential customers before they can even test the service.

iOS resolved this problem by enabling users to sign in via their Apple account. Recently, it introduced a feature to autofill OTPs from emails, mirroring Android’s support for OTP autofill from messages.

Techgeeks

Now, Google is also creating a seamless signup process that doesn’t require users to jump between apps.

How does the new system work?

Google now issues a cryptographically verified email credential directly to Android devices through the Credential Manager API. When an app needs to confirm your email, it can pull that credential directly using the Credential Manager API.

A small prompt appears on screen showing what information is being requested. You tap to confirm, and the app gets your verified email. No switching apps, no codes, no delay.

Android Developers Blog

Google recommends pairing this with passkey creation, so the first sign-up becomes the last time a user has to do anything manual.

The same can also be used for account recovery and re-authentication of sensitive actions, including setting changes, updating profile details, and more.

Android Developers Blog

The best part is that the new feature supports Android 9 and later devices, so you don’t need the best new Android smartphones to enjoy this quality-of-life improvement.

Are there any restrictions?

There are a few restrictions. The feature currently works only with regular consumer Google Accounts, not Workspace accounts. It also only works with Gmail accounts, and not with third-party email accounts that you might have used to create your Google account.

Xpeng, a rapidly rising name among Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, is setting its sights on the heavens. The automaker is working toward a future where its flying cars could soon be delivered to early adopters. Although this concept may seem like something out of a sci-fi novel, Xpeng is already discussing order volumes, regulatory clearances, and large-scale manufacturing.

What is the timeline for these aerial vehicles?

Xpeng

According to Reuters , Xpeng anticipates launching mass production of its aerial vehicles in 2027. Company President Brian Gu revealed that the firm has secured over 7,000 orders, predominantly from within China. Currently, the automaker is navigating the approval process with national aviation regulators. Gu expressed optimism that full-scale deliveries could commence as early as next year, provided that all necessary certifications are finalized.

The specific vehicle in focus is Xpeng’s AeroHT, known as the “Land Aircraft Carrier”. This system consists of a six-wheeled van equipped with a detachable two-seater electric aircraft mounted in its cargo area.

Nick Mokey / Techgeeks

Aerial mobility is just one facet of Xpeng’s strategy

The executive is also backing other ambitious projects for imminent launch, including the mass production of humanoid robots scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Furthermore, 2027 is slated to be a pivotal year for robotaxi trials conducted with global partners. Xpeng intends to initiate robotaxi testing in Guangzhou later this year, potentially resulting in the deployment of hundreds to thousands of autonomous vehicles within the next 12 to 18 months.

Self-driving cars promised a future where you sit back, relax, and glide past the gridlock while the car handles everything. A new study from the University of Texas at Arlington has some bad news for that fantasy. According to research, widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles could actually make traffic significantly worse.

Professors Stephen Mattingly and Farah Naz conducted a meta-analysis on how self-driving cars could affect vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Their findings showed an average 5.95% increase in vehicle miles traveled. Non-shared autonomous vehicles pushed that figure even higher, to nearly 7%.

“The rise of AVs could make commuting more convenient, but it may also lead to more pick-up and drop-off activity, more empty vehicle trips, and new costs.”

The logic is simple. When your car can drop you off and drive itself home, or cruise around looking for rides, roads get busier. As Dr. Mattingly put it, “Where will commuters send their car when they don’t need it?” Will it be sent to a parking lot, sent to try to find other riders, or sent home?”

Are robot taxis already causing chaos on the streets?

To put it succinctly, the research shows that robotaxis are already causing an increase in vehicle miles traveled, and once their adoption becomes universal, it will put extreme pressure on existing infrastructure. But that’s in the future; if current news reports are anything to go by, the robotaxis are already causing havoc on roads.

Waymo

For example, Waymo launched in Nashville on April 7, 2026, and within five days, people were posting viral videos of its robotaxis freezing at intersections and driving into restricted zones. In December 2025, a San Francisco power outage left dozens of Waymo vehicles frozen at intersections city-wide.

It’s not only a US-specific issue. Just a few weeks back, dozens of Baidu robotaxis simultaneously stopped on elevated highways in Wuhan, China, stranding passengers mid-traffic for over an hour.

These are just a few examples. Dozens of similar incidents have occurred over the past few months, where robotaxis have gotten stuck for various reasons and caused traffic jams.

This is happening while robotaxis are still largely in trial mode. Multiply this by a factor of a hundred or even a thousand, and it’s easy to imagine how much worse traffic could become in the future.

So what happens next?

Dr. Naz summed it up well: “AVs are not inherently good or bad. Their impacts will depend heavily on how they are deployed and governed.” Without smart policy ahead of mass adoption, the self-driving dream risks handing us a shinier, more expensive traffic jam.

If we are to pay that price, autonomous vehicles must clearly demonstrate that they are safer and more reliable than human drivers, which they have failed to do till now.

Reports indicate that SpaceX is preparing to produce its own graphics processing units, the critical components driving artificial intelligence. This information was disclosed in excerpts from its S-1 registration statement, a mandatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission prior to a public offering.

According to Reuters, SpaceX identifies “manufacturing our own GPUs” as a primary future capital expense. This follows Elon Musk’s recent announcement of a dedicated TeraFab chip facility designed to create hardware capable of withstanding extreme space environments and powering its orbital AI data centers.

SpaceX

The Rationale Behind SpaceX’s Chip Manufacturing Ambitions

The primary driver is supply chain security. During the TeraFab announcement, Elon Musk noted that even purchasing all currently available chipsets would satisfy only 2% of their projected future needs.

The filing further cautions potential investors that SpaceX lacks long-term agreements with numerous chip vendors, leaving the company without assurance that it can procure sufficient computing hardware to fuel its expansion.

While designing and producing custom chips appears to be the logical fix for supply shortages, semiconductor manufacturing is an extraordinarily intricate process. SpaceX is not traditionally a semiconductor firm, at least not until now.

Is GPU Production a Feasible Goal?

Frankly, it represents a monumental undertaking. In the same S-1 document, SpaceX acknowledged that its orbital data center initiatives might not succeed commercially. Advanced chip fabrication involves thousands of precise steps that must execute flawlessly, making it one of the most difficult challenges in engineering.

TeraFab still has significant ground to cover to master these complexities. The industry is dominated by a few key players: ASML holds a near-monopoly on photolithography equipment, while TSMC controls the vast majority of high-end chip production.

TSMC

Musk has confirmed that Terafab will oversee the entire chip production lifecycle, from design and fabrication to packaging and testing, all within a single facility. Whether SpaceX can successfully execute this plan is yet to be determined.

Fall Detection stands out as one of the top reasons to own a smartwatch, particularly for those seeking a safety tool that requires minimal configuration.

\n

However, Google appears poised to restrict this flexibility on the Pixel Watch, as recently uncovered app strings indicate users will likely need to log in with a Google account to maintain access.

\n

Currently, Pixel Watch owners can still activate Fall Detection without linking an account. According to Android Authority’s APK teardown, code within version 4.4.0.897056328 of the Pixel Watch app reveals new alerts instructing users to sign into Personal Safety to retain the feature.

\n

These strings also hint at a potential grace period before access is revoked, although the specific duration remains unclear. Consequently, a feature currently available without an account may soon rely on account status.

\n

The App Already Signals the Shift

\n

The most compelling evidence lies in the language Google is integrating into the application. The new notifications indicate a future where users without an account will receive a countdown and a prompt to link Personal Safety to a Google account.

\n

Google

\n

This suggests the change is more of an impending policy update than a mere possibility.

\n

There is at least one practical benefit. Fall Detection settings can synchronize across devices once the watch is linked to an account, simplifying management over time, even as it strengthens Google’s ecosystem integration.

\n

Why This Change Is Significant

\n

This is important because Fall Detection is a core benefit of smartwatches, particularly for those purchasing one for an elderly relative or anyone seeking emergency assistance with minimal hassle.

\n

Requiring a login alters that dynamic. Most Pixel Watch purchasers likely won’t mind, as they typically sign in during initial setup.

\n

Christine Romero-Chan / Techgeeks

\n

However, for users who appreciated the less intrusive approach, this would eliminate one of the more user-friendly aspects of the current experience.

\n

What to Expect Next

\n

Nothing here confirms that Google has already implemented this change. These findings come from code teardowns, and work-in-progress code doesn’t always make it to release.

\n

Nevertheless, the messaging appears sufficiently developed that Pixel Watch owners should prepare for this to become official unless Google alters its plans.

\n

The remaining uncertainty is timing. Google has yet to disclose the length of the grace period or when enforcement will start.

\n

Until then, the most reasonable expectation is that Fall Detection may soon become another Pixel Watch feature that functions best, or exclusively, once you are signed in.

Artificial intelligence has undoubtedly brought plenty of useful tools to the internet. But it has also handed one of the most horrific forms of abuse a grim new boost. Recent reporting and watchdog findings point to the same ugly pattern of generative AI helping offenders create child sexual abuse imagery on a greater scale.

These are now becoming increasingly realistic, and in formats that are becoming harder for platforms, regulators, and child-safety groups to deal with.

How AI is making the scale worse and content more extreme

Frank Ching / Unsplash

Back in February, Reuters revealed that actionable reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery had more than doubled over the past two years, while the Internet Watch Foundation later said it identified 8,029 AI-generated images and videos of child sexual abuse in 2025 alone. This grim picture was also laid out in a Bloomberg report on how generative AI is changing the child sexual abuse material landscape in the US.

Investigators aren’t just dealing with AI-generated pornographic images and videos anymore, there are even manipulated images of real children and even chatbot conversations where offenders allegedly seek grooming advice or role-play sexual abuse. Meanwhile, law enforcement is burning time trying to figure out whether a child in an image is real, digitally altered, or entirely fake.

Real cases are getting more disturbing

Pexels

The report points to a Minnesota case involving William Michael Haslach, a school lunch monitor and traffic guard accused of using AI tools to digitally undress children in photos he had taken at work. Federal agents identified more than 90 victims and found nearly 800 AI-generated abuse images on his devices. This showcases how offenders are increasingly using everyday photos pulled from social media to create explicit material.

Investigators are drowning in volume and bad leads

The scale is getting ugly fast. Bloomberg reports that NCMEC received 1.5 million AI-linked CSAM reports in 2025, up from 67,000 a year earlier and 4,700 in 2023. At the same time, investigators say automated moderation systems are generating a flood of junk tips, swamping already overstretched task forces. And every wrong call burns time that could have gone toward a child facing immediate harm.

Artificial intelligence has undoubtedly brought plenty of useful tools to the internet. But it has also handed one of the most horrific forms of abuse a grim new boost. Recent reporting and watchdog findings point to the same ugly pattern of generative AI helping offenders create child sexual abuse imagery on a greater scale.

These are now becoming increasingly realistic, and in formats that are becoming harder for platforms, regulators, and child-safety groups to deal with.

How AI is making the scale worse and content more extreme

Frank Ching / Unsplash

Back in February, Reuters revealed that actionable reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery had more than doubled over the past two years, while the Internet Watch Foundation later said it identified 8,029 AI-generated images and videos of child sexual abuse in 2025 alone. This grim picture was also laid out in a Bloomberg report on how generative AI is changing the child sexual abuse material landscape in the US.

Investigators aren’t just dealing with AI-generated pornographic images and videos anymore, there are even manipulated images of real children and even chatbot conversations where offenders allegedly seek grooming advice or role-play sexual abuse. Meanwhile, law enforcement is burning time trying to figure out whether a child in an image is real, digitally altered, or entirely fake.

Real cases are getting more disturbing

Pexels

The report points to a Minnesota case involving William Michael Haslach, a school lunch monitor and traffic guard accused of using AI tools to digitally undress children in photos he had taken at work. Federal agents identified more than 90 victims and found nearly 800 AI-generated abuse images on his devices. This showcases how offenders are increasingly using everyday photos pulled from social media to create explicit material.

Investigators are drowning in volume and bad leads

The scale is getting ugly fast. Bloomberg reports that NCMEC received 1.5 million AI-linked CSAM reports in 2025, up from 67,000 a year earlier and 4,700 in 2023. At the same time, investigators say automated moderation systems are generating a flood of junk tips, swamping already overstretched task forces. And every wrong call burns time that could have gone toward a child facing immediate harm.