First Drive: The 2027 Rivian R2 entirely changes the EV game

​Rivian’s second EV is the sub-$60,000 R2, and it was worth the wait.  Rivian provided flights from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, Utah, and accommodation so Ars could drive the R2. Ars does not accept paid editorial content. This month, Rivian begins customer deliveries of the highly anticipated…

Say hi to “Siri AI”—Apple announces new, more “conversational” voice assistant 

New features coming this fall alongside two-tiered, Google-powered AI model overhaul.  Today at its pre-filmed Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, Apple was finally prepared to fully introduce the long-delayed “Apple Intelligence” update for its Siri voice assistant. The new “Siri AI”—now being promised for OS updates rolling out “this fall”—will…

Gemini 3.5 and Antigravity come to Google NotebookLM

NotebookLM is getting a big upgrade, but it’s only for AI Ultra and enterprise accounts right now.  Google’s NotebookLM was one of the company’s first forays into generative AI technology, and in un-Googley fashion, it hasn’t been shut down yet. In fact, NotebookLM is getting one of its biggest…

Your empty cuppa could capture carbon

Polystyrene can be upcycled into carbon sponge material. Humanity has littered the sky with the refuse of fossil fuel use, releasing enough CO2 to change the planet’s climate. We are also chucking incredible sums of carbon in the form of plastics into landfills and into the environment around (and…

F1 in Monaco: Finally, the cars were flat-out in qualifying

​The cars are too big to race well, but the competition for pole position is thrilling.  Formula 1 held its annual race on the streets of Monte Carlo this past weekend. The event predates the sport—the first Monaco Grand Prix was held in 1929 on a layout that isn’t…