Law
AI might not be coming for lawyers' jobs anytime soon
AI might not be coming for lawyers' jobs anytime soon Generative AI might have aced the bar exam, but an LLM still can't think like a lawyer. When the generative AI boom took off in 2022, Rudi Miller and her law school classmates were suddenly gripped with anxiety. "Before graduating, there was discussion about what the job market would look like for us if AI became adopted," she recalls. So when it came time to choose a speciality, Miller--now a junior associate at the law firm Orrick--decided to become a litigator, the kind of lawyer who represents clients in court. She hoped the courtroom would be the last human stage. "Judges haven't allowed ChatGPT-enabled robots to argue in court yet," she says.
iRobot has filed for bankruptcy and may be taken over by its primary supplier
After Amazon's acquisition of the Roomba-maker fell apart, it ran out of options. The Massachusetts-based company plans to sell all assets to its primary supplier, a Chinese company known as Picea Robotics. If approved by a bankruptcy court, the move would allow iRobot to continue operating in the ordinary course, pursue its product development roadmap, and maintain its global footprint, iRobot wrote in a press release. The company expects the deal to close in February 2026, but says it will continue to operate with no anticipated disruption to its app functionality, customer programs, global partners, supply chain relationships or ongoing product support. That means your Roomba should continue to clean normally and you'll be able to get consumables and replacement parts.
Roomba vacuum cleaner firm files for bankruptcy
The US firm behind the Roomba smart vacuum cleaner, iRobot, has filed for bankruptcy protection after facing competition from Chinese rivals and being hit by tariffs. Under the so-called pre-packaged Chapter 11 process, the main manufacturer of its devices, Shenzhen-based Picea Robotics, will take ownership of the firm. The tough commercial landscape had forced iRobot to cut its prices and make major investments in new technology, according to documents filed on Sunday. US import duties of 46% on goods from Vietnam, where most of iRobot's devices for the American market are made, increased its costs by $23m (ยฃ17.2m) this year, the firm said. The loss-making company was valued at $3.56bn in 2021 after the pandemic helped to drive strong demand for its products.
Rob Reiner used his fame to advocate for progressive causes. 'Just a really special man. A terrible day'
Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. Rob Reiner used his fame to advocate for progressive causes. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . Rob Reiner was a Hollywood legend and also a political force, a frequent voice in progressive causes and a Democratic Party activist.
2 found dead at home of Rob Reiner
Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . Two people were found dead Sunday afternoon at the Brentwood home of director and actor Rob Reiner, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed. Margaret Stewart, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman, said the department was called to the home around 3:30 p.m. for medical aid.
Google pulls AI-generated videos of Disney characters from YouTube in response to cease and desist
Google seems to be cracking down on the use of Disney characters in AI-generated videos on YouTube after it was hit with a cease and desist letter. The company on Friday that will bring Disney characters to Sora and ChatGPT, and bring AI-generated shorts from Sora to Disney+. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy . By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy .
Kindle's in-book AI assistant can answer all your questions without spoilers
Kindle's in-book AI assistant can answer all your questions without spoilers But the catch is authors and publishers can't opt out of having this feature in their works. If you're several chapters into a novel and forgot who a character was, Amazon is hoping its new Kindle feature will jog your memory without ever having to put the e-reader down. This feature, called Ask this Book, was announced during Amazon's hardware event in September, but is finally available for US users on the Kindle iOS app. According to Amazon, the feature can currently be found on thousands of English best-selling Kindle titles and only reveals information up to your current reading position for spoiler-free responses. To use it, you can highlight a passage in any book you've bought or borrowed and ask it questions about plot, characters or other crucial details, and the AI assistant will offer immediate, contextual, spoiler-free information.
Drone footage shows Bondi Beach gunmen on bridge
Australian police say a shooting at Bondi Beach, which killed 12 people - including one gunman - targeted the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah. Twenty-nine people were injured, with a second gunman in critical condition. Drone footage appears to show a gunman firing from a bridge in a nearby carpark. In the wake of a recent fatal shark attack, the BBC is off the coast in Sydney to learn how authorities are trying to protect people. The BBC's Katy Watson was in the courtroom as Erin Patterson was sentenced to life.