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1,318 stories across 6 topics

Artificial intelligence

Stripe is buying the AI gateway OpenRouter.

The acquisition will combine Stripe’s payments platform with OpenRouter, which connects developers to a range of AI models while aggregating the costs of using each one. Stripe hasn’t disclosed the terms of the deal, but The New York Times reports that it’s purchasing the startup for $7.5 billion. [Link: Stripe Buys A.I. Start-Up OpenRouter for $7.5 Billion | https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/business/stripe-openrouter-ai.html?partner=slack&smid=sl-share | The New York Times]

Gadgets

Today’s Vergecast: Our Pixel reviewer roundtable.

Senior reviewer Victoria Song leads a Vergecast roundtable with editors Dominic Preston and Cameron Faulkner to talk about the Pixel 11/Pro/Fold and the Pixel Watch 5. We discuss if HiLight is a LowLight, whether we miss the temperature sensor, and if the Watch 5’s GPS truly beats Garmin and Apple. And stay tuned for more camera discussion on Friday’s Vergecast. Watch | Listen | Get ad-free [Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1EfI0LZrl4]

Artificial intelligence

Taking the piss out of (into) data centers.

Liquid Death, a marketing company that occasionally sells water, enlisted Jason Kelce to sing a song about sending your pee to help cool data centers. (It’s an obvious stunt: don’t send your pee to strangers.) Ironically, everyone in the video probably needs to consult a doctor about dehydration. [Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9OhekhlZ9Y]

Gadgets

Bugatti’s Tourbillon-inspired MicroLED TV twists, turns, and unfolds.

While checking out the 1,800-horsepower Destrier that Bugatti unveiled at Monterey Car Week, the folks at Road & Track also got a taste of the carmaker’s C-Seed Bugatti N1 TV. Inspired by another 1,800hp beast, its sculptural design unfurls the 110- or 137-inch TV hiding inside in 45 seconds and can rotate up to 180 degrees. [Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVLE1KbVeAY]

Gadgets

Right-clicking without the clutter.

Microsoft’s latest Experimental Windows 11 Insider Preview build introduces support for Emoji 17.0, alongside an updated context menu experience in File Explorer that’s “designed to feel faster, cleaner, and easier to tailor.” A notable personalization feature finally lets you add the “Print” command to the context menu in Windows 11. [Image: The “Customize menu” option at the bottom of the new context window takes you to a settings page where you can choose which file actions to enable. https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Windows-11-updated-context-menu.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]

Artificial intelligence

Similarweb says it can track conversational AI ads.

The new AI Ads tracking data set for ChatGPT and Google’s AI Mode and AI Overviews pulls insights from anonymized web usage data provided by a panel of Similarweb users, instead of relying on synthetic prompts. Similarweb reports that 26 percent of ChatGPT responses and nearly 30 percent of ad-eligible Google AI Mode queries include a sponsored ad. [Link: Similarweb Unlocks the Black Box of AI Ad Placements Across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and AI Mode | https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260818652197/en/Similarweb-Unlocks-the-Black-Box-of-AI-Ad-Placements-Across-ChatGPT-Google-AI-Overviews-and-AI-Mode | Business Wire]

Artificial intelligence

The new Gemini model is now available in AI Mode for Search.

The newly-announced Gemini 3.7 Flash is rolling out today as an option for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. The updated model is better at following instructions and “understanding your intent, so you get even more helpful responses,” says Search VP of product Robby Stein. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/HPs49Vya4AAzKLw.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all]

Artificial intelligence

Claude in Chrome is now Claude Cowork.

Anthropic updated its Chrome extension so using the side panel bot now saves chats to your history, where you can continue them outside in the browser in Claude’s desktop, web, or mobile apps. The Cowork version is available today for Max and Team users, and coming to Pro users “over the coming weeks.” [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-12-at-5.04.31-PM.png?quality=90&strip=all]

Gadgets

Don’t touch that dial!

The Made By Google keynote, hosted by Trevor Noah, kicks off at 6PM ET. Stay tuned to this website starting at 5:30PM for our live blog. Victoria Song will be there live, with Jay Peters, Jake Kastrenakes, and myself following remotely. Let’s see what happens. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/madebygoogle-2026.png?quality=90&strip=all]

Artificial intelligence

This week in the big AI data center buildout.

AI data center projects are continuing to pop up across the US, with frequent opposition from locals concerned about their impact. Here are a few recent articles about the projects: * Atlanta News First: Lovejoy data center proposal withdrawn after community pushback * FlagerLive.com: Flagler County Echoes Surging Backlash Against Data Centers with One-Year Construction Ban * MLive.com: Data-center developer sues Oakland County city * Ohio Capital Journal: All candidates for Ohio governor have now called for restrictions on data center boom * Spectrum News 1: Community opposition grows as Louisville weighs data center code changes

Gadgets

Now that’s what I call pistachio.

Samsung’s online-exclusive “Pistachio” version of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks great, and has apparently been selling well. But I’m a much bigger fan of Google’s Pixel 11 finish by the same name. It looks a lot closer to the color of a good pistachio gelato, unlike whatever minty nonsense Samsung is up to. [Image: Your pistachios really shouldn’t look like the phone on the right. https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/google-pixel-11-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-pistachio.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]