Should you use your robot vacuum with recycled water? My results after a week of testing

A new study suggests that people are unconsciously adopting the speech patterns of AI chatbots like ChatGPT in their everyday conversations. The creepier part? Most don’t even notice it’s happening.

Editor’s Note: If you’ve ever cringed at overly polished or robotic phrasing in emails or casual chats, this might explain why. As AI tools become more embedded in our lives, they’re reshaping not just how we write, but how we think and speak—raising questions about authenticity and the blurring line between human and machine communication.

Meta (formerly Facebook) just snagged three top AI researchers from OpenAI—Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai—to boost its own "superintelligence" ambitions. It’s a classic Silicon Valley talent grab, signaling Meta’s aggressive push to compete in cutting-edge AI.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about hiring a few engineers—it’s a power move in the AI arms race. Meta’s poaching from OpenAI, a leader in the field, shows how fierce the competition for top AI talent has become. For the industry, it means more resources flowing into AI development, but it also hints at the growing rivalry between tech giants. For the rest of us? Faster AI advancements, but also more questions about who’s really leading the charge.

If you're stuck on today's bite-sized NYT Mini Crossword, we've got you covered—here's the full solution set for June 26's puzzle, no spoiler warnings needed.

Editor’s Note: Crosswords are a daily ritual for millions, and the Mini is a quick, satisfying brain teaser. Sharing answers isn’t just about cheating (hey, we’ve all been desperate); it’s a way to learn tricky clues faster or confirm you’re on the right track. For puzzle fans, this is like a backstage pass to the game’s mechanics.

AI isn't just taking jobs—it's inventing entirely new ones. From "synthetic reality producers" crafting hyper-realistic digital environments to roles we haven't even named yet, this article highlights 15 emerging careers born from AI's rapid evolution. It's a glimpse into how the tech is reshaping work, not just replacing it.

Editor’s Note: While AI disruption sparks anxiety, this story flips the script—it’s about opportunity. These roles hint at how human creativity and tech will collaborate in weird, unexpected ways. For anyone feeling uneasy about automation, it’s a reminder that adaptation might look less like competing with robots and more like steering them.

A federal judge just threw out a lawsuit filed by authors who claimed Meta illegally used their books to train its AI systems. The judge ruled in Meta’s favor, dealing a blow to writers fighting against tech companies using their work without explicit permission.

Editor’s Note: This ruling is a big deal because it’s part of an ongoing battle over whether AI companies can freely scrape creative works—like books, art, or music—to train their models. Authors and artists argue it’s theft; tech companies say it’s fair use. This case sets a precedent, but it’s far from the last word on the issue. If courts keep siding with Big Tech, creators might need new laws to protect their work—or risk losing control over how it’s used.