Start your (electric) motors, Tech Insiders.
From PlayStations on wheels to AI copyright battles, Gmail inbox escape hatches, and Europe cracking down on Big Tech, today's updates cut across entertainment, security, and power plays in tech, where software is redefining everything from how we drive to who controls the digital gates. Ready to roll? |
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Here's what you need to know today: |
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Sony and Honda's Afeela 1 Turns an Electric Car Into a Gaming Lounge on Wheels |
Sony and Honda's long-teased collaboration is finally here, and their first EV, the Afeela 1, is leaning hard into entertainment. Launching next year for $89,900, the electric sedan is pitched as much as a gaming lounge as it is a car, with built-in PlayStation Remote Play designed for passengers on long trips. |
The headline feature is native PlayStation streaming, letting passengers play titles like Gran Turismo via a PS5 or PS4 on the car's central or rear displays. All it takes is a controller and a solid connection (Sony recommends at least 15 Mbps) to turn downtime on the road into console time.
Underneath the screens, the Afeela 1 is no gimmick. A 91 kWh battery powers dual electric motors in an all-wheel-drive setup, delivering up to 360 kW and placing it firmly in the premium EV bracket, even if performance stats remain under wraps. Why it matters: Sony and Honda are betting that cars should evolve like consoles, not machines. Whether a hit or a niche experiment, it points to an EV future built around software first.
The Afeela 1 hints at a future of driving that may come with a controller, in addition to just a steering wheel. |
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Would you actually want a PlayStation built into your car's entertainment system? |
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| Results from Friday's Pulse Check |
Would you download a robot dance routine? |
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NYT Reporter Takes On Big AI |
Image created with ChatGPT |
Filed in California federal court with five other writers, the lawsuit claims the companies pirated books to feed large language models powering their systems. Unlike earlier cases, the plaintiffs are avoiding a class action, arguing that mass settlements let AI firms off too cheaply for widespread copyright violations. If stealing books was AI's original sin, this lawsuit is the reckoning authors have been waiting for. |
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Gmail's New Fix for Compromised Email Addresses |
Google is finally letting users change their @gmail.com address, offering a way out if an inbox has been hacked, leaked, or spammed beyond repair. |
Image created with Midjourney |
A newly spotted support document confirms you can switch to a new Gmail address without creating a new account. The original address won't stop working, effectively becoming an alias, while you move on with a clean identity.
The feature appears to be rolling out quietly in limited regions, starting with India/Hindi markets, but once live globally, it could be a long-overdue fix for compromised Gmail accounts. At last, escaping a compromised inbox won't require scorched earth, just a new address and a little dignity restored. |
Cyberattack Knocks France's Postal Service Offline |
Image created with Nano Banana Pro |
Basic services remained available, with cash withdrawals, card payments, and some counter services still functioning, though several post offices reported disruptions. Online payments were still available, but only via SMS authentication.
The attack shows that a few lines of code can floor even a nation's critical infrastructure. (La Poste says everything is back to normal as of Dec. 26. |
Italy Orders Meta to Pause WhatsApp AI Terms |
Italy's antitrust watchdog has ordered Meta to suspend WhatsApp terms that could block rival AI chatbots, stepping up its investigation into whether the company is abusing its dominant position. |
Image created with Midjourney |
Regulators say the rules risk choking off competition and innovation in the AI chatbot market. Meta fired back, calling the decision "fundamentally flawed," blaming system strain, and confirming it will appeal.
The move fits a broader European crackdown on Big Tech. Italy opened the probe in July and expanded it in November, arguing the updated terms effectively exclude competitors to Meta AI. With Brussels watching overhead, Italy is making it clear to Meta that being big doesn't buy you a free pass. |
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| Senior Staff Writer at TechnologyAdvice |
Leon Yen is a cybersecurity expert and seasoned tech journalist with over a decade of experience, including founding a cyber risk startup and leading industry-focused research and reporting. |
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