Industry
We Strapped on Exoskeletons and Raced. There's One Clear Winner
WIRED put the latest consumer exoskeletons from Dnsys and Hypershell in a head-to-head test on a pro athletic track. Personal exoskeletons were everywhere at CES 2026 . There were ambitious designs from newcomers WiRobotics, Sumbu, Ascentiz, and Dephy, while Skip Mo/Go was back promoting its long-overdue tech trousers. Dnsys (pronounced Deen-sis), a comparatively well established name, had some new launches to tease, Hypershell was back with its top model, and Ascentiz had us sprinting across the show floor . An exoskeleton is a relatively new class of wearable device designed to enhance, support, or assist human movement, strength, posture, or even physical activity.
EU investigates Elon Musk's X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes
EU investigates Elon Musk's X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes The European Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk's X over concerns its AI tool Grok was used to create sexualised images of real people. It follows a similar announcement in January from the UK watchdog Ofcom. Regina Doherty, a member of the European parliament representing Ireland, said the Commission would assess whether manipulated sexually explicit images have been shown to users in the EU. A previous statement from X's Safety account said the social media platform had stopped Grok from digitally altering pictures of people to remove their clothing in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. But campaigners and victims said the ability to generate sexually explicit pictures using the tool should have never happened in the first place, and Ofcom said its investigation would remain ongoing.
EU launches inquiry into X over sexually explicit images made by Grok AI
The AI chatbot feature on X, Grok, was found by one study to have generated about 3m sexualised images in 11 days. The AI chatbot feature on X, Grok, was found by one study to have generated about 3m sexualised images in 11 days. Investigation comes after Elon Musk's firm sparked outrage by allowing users to'strip' photos of women and children The European Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk's X over the production of sexually explicit images and the spreading of possible child sexual abuse material by the platform's AI chatbot feature, Grok. The formal inquiry, launched on Monday, also extends an investigation into X's recommender systems, algorithms that help users discover new content. Grok has sparked international outrage by allowing users to digitally strip women and children and put them into provocative poses.
Deepfake 'Nudify' Technology Is Getting Darker--and More Dangerous
Sexual deepfakes continue to get more sophisticated, capable, easy to access, and perilous for millions of women who are abused with the technology. Open the website of one explicit deepfake generator and you'll be presented with a menu of horrors. With just a couple of clicks, it offers you the ability to convert a single photo into an eight-second explicit videoclip, inserting women into realistic-looking graphic sexual situations. "Transform any photo into a nude version with our advanced AI technology," text on the website says. The options for potential abuse are extensive.
Why I'm launching a feminist video games website in 2026
'I knew the readers were there' Zoe Hannah and Maddy Myers (right), co-founders of feminist video games website Mothership. 'I knew the readers were there' Zoe Hannah and Maddy Myers (right), co-founders of feminist video games website Mothership. I've been a games journalist since 2007, but still there isn't much video games coverage that feels like it's specifically for people like me. W hether you're reading about the impending AI bubble bursting or about the video game industry's mass layoffs and cancelled projects, 2026 does not feel like a hopeful time for gaming. What's more, games journalists - as well as all other kinds of journalists - have been losing their jobs at alarming rates, making it difficult to adequately cover these crises.
People Are Protesting Data Centers--but Embracing the Factories That Supply Them
As the data center backlash grows, support is growing for server factories and the hundreds of jobs they're expected to bring. Last month, Pamela Griffin and two other residents of Taylor, Texas, took to the lectern at a city council meeting to object to a data center project. But later, they sat back as council members discussed a proposed tech factory. Griffin didn't speak up against that development. A similar contrast is repeating in communities across the US.
Are your memories merely illusions? Scientist claims recollections arise from random fluctuations rather than your actual past
John Fetterman's own WIFE turns on him over ICE as Senator comes under fire for his silence on shooting of Alex Pretti What happened to Alex Pretti's key witness? Trump voices disapproval over Alex Pretti shooting and gives Minneapolis immigrant ultimatum: 'I don't like it' Shocking history of handgun Alex Pretti was carrying when he was shot by Border Patrol is revealed... as judge bans Trump administration from'destroying evidence' from scene Sinister truth about Celine Dion's song All By Myself: Singer's producer reveals bombshell secrets of her 26-year age gap marriage... that he swore not to tell until her husband René died The nastiest clique in Hollywood have had their dirty secret outed... there's no coming back from this: MAUREEN CALLAHAN Sandra Bullock's Blind Side costar Quinton Aaron is'fighting for his life' in hospital after falling at home China's top general accused of leaking nuclear secrets to the US amid President Xi's military purge Daredevil Alex Honnold reveals'embarrassing' fee he was paid to climb 101-story Taiwan skyscraper live on Netflix without a harness Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo'creeped a lot of people out' says anonymous Oscar voter amid Wicked snubs Forensic video analysis of Alex Pretti's final 30 seconds exposes'John Wayne gun' question that can't be ignored Taylor Swift's mom Andrea and Donna Kelce make rare public appearance together ahead of pop star's wedding to Travis Kelce Seedy underbelly of America's exclusive golf clubs... as cart girls expose ultra-rich world of sex scandals and drunken debauchery My son nearly died from the flu and had to relearn how to walk... as new'super' strain causes child hospitalizations to rise Real estate mogul is sensationally found GUILTY of murdering football coach's son outside mall Are your memories merely illusions? Whether it is a beloved childhood recollection or the simple knowledge of what you had for breakfast, our memories often seem like the only things we can be certain of. But a group of leading physicists now argue that all of your memories could merely be an illusion. According to this bold theory, all of your recollections are more likely to arise from random fluctuations in space than from real past events.
UK maker of AI avatars nearly doubles valuation to 4bn after funding round
A British AI startup that makes realistic video avatars has almost doubled its valuation to $4bn (£3bn), in a boost for the UK technology sector. Synthesia was valued at $2.1bn last year and moved into new offices in central London, marking the moment with a ceremony attended by the Sadiq Khan, the city's mayor, and Peter Kyle, then technology secretary. On Monday, it announced its latest funding round, led by an existing investor, Google Ventures, had raised $200m and valued the British company at $4bn. Google Ventures is the search firm's venture capital arm. Synthesia uses human actors to generate digital avatars of people and also offers employers the ability to create replicas of their staff.