The Verge

Why a new report on Anthropic automating AI development is alarming researchers

2026-11-06T16:48:06-05:00

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. | Photo: Jason Henry/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Anthropic is using AI to build more powerful AI. And it appears to be working remarkably well, with the company's models improving roughly twice as quickly as a year ago, with little indication of slowing down.

That's according to a new report published Thursday by the AI safety research organization METR, following an 11-week investigation inside the company, as part of a report evaluating its AI research and development. The probe is separate from a program offering safety researchers "employee-like" access to systems in the wake of high-profile hacking incidents over the summer.

The findings offer some of the clearest evidence yet of AI …

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OpenAI valued at $1.25 trillion, as rival Anthropic nears its IPO

2026-11-06T18:46:18-05:00

OpenAI is now valued at $1.25 trillion in a new round of funding that has raised another $11 billion, according to Bloomberg. That would make it one of the world's most valuable companies, not long after raising $122 billion from investors in March at a valuation of $852 billion.

Echoing FT and Wall Street Journal reports from last week, Bloomberg says OpenAI is still pursuing additional investments that could increase the amount to $20 billion, and that it had initially hoped to raise as much as $30 billion at a higher valuation of $1.4 trillion. That was before tech stocks dropped, and the results of the midterms showed how much public o …

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China reportedly recruited AI exec to spy on Jensen Huang

2026-11-06T18:00:44-05:00

China's intelligence agency recruited Megaspeed executive Alice Huang to spy on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, according to The New York Times. The Ministry of State Security (MSS) enlisted her to glean information about American AI chips and "potentially influence the company to push for its most advanced chips to be made available to China." Megaspeed is a customer of Nvidia's, and Alice Huang also has "relationships with executives at the highest levels of the A.I. chip industry," including leaders at Gigabyte, the NYT says.

Last week, the NYT reported that Jensen Huang was seen as the target of a "Chinese spy plot" and shared details about Al …

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Starlink Mobile: All the news on SpaceX’s major mobile carrier ambitions

2026-11-06T17:45:43-05:00

SpaceX has declared that it’s going to make Starlink Mobile a “major” mobile carrier. The Elon Musk-owned company has already deployed thousands of direct-to-cell satellites, but its next big challenge is building out its 5G network here on Earth.

As part of its plans to rival AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, SpaceX has inked a deal with Qualcomm, which will deploy its cellular technology across tens of thousands of 5G cell sites starting in 2027. SpaceX is also reportedly in talks to buy Boost Mobile, potentially allowing it to launch Starlink Mobile through the service. Another report suggests SpaceX may tap into 80,000 cell sites across the US to build out its network.

SpaceX’s big plans have garnered some reactions in the telecom industry. Tim Höttges, the CEO of T-Mobile’s parent company Deutsche Telekom, said he takes SpaceX’s plans “super serious” but that it could cost Musk more than $200 billion to pull off.

Follow along for the latest updates on Starlink’s major mobile carrier ambitions.

KPop Demon Hunters on 4K Blu-ray costs less than a month of Netflix Premium

2026-11-06T16:50:38-05:00

Buying the 4K Blu-ray disc version of KPop Demon Hunters was already going to be a wise idea for some people, especially those who primarily keep their $26.99 Netflix Premium subscription just to watch the hit animated flick in 4K. But at just $24.99 from Barnes and Noble and Amazon instead of its original $49.95 price, it’s easier than ever to recommend.

KPop Demon Hunters (4K Blu-ray)

Where to Buy:

The Criterion Collection version of the film recently launched, and comes with a bunch of extras in a gorgeous set. In addition to the 4K digital master, complete with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound, you also get two standard 1080p Blu-rays, one containing the film, and the other packed with special features (a full feature-length animatic, a making-of documentary, lyric videos, and more). It includes physical goodies, too, like collectible postcards, as well as an essay by Polygon alum Karen Han.

Kpop Demon Hunters was on my list of physical movies to buy, and this deal just turned it into a must-buy ahead of the holiday season.

Update, 4:50PM ET, November 6th: Previously, this deal was available for in-store pickup at Barnes and Noble, but it’s currently available online at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

All the latest updates on AI data centers

2026-11-06T15:03:32-05:00

Massive new data centers are the physical foundation for tech companies’ hopes and dreams for AI. But the rush to expand warehouses full of energy-hungry servers has also kicked up fights across the world over their impact on power grids, utility bills, nearby communities, and the environment.

Data centers were a major bipartisan issue ahead of the 2026 midterms, and voters largely opposed data center expansion at the polls. Tech giants like OpenAI and Amazon are promising to work more closely with local communities and cover their data center energy costs. But following the election, Democratic leaders are calling for further data center restrictions and slowdowns that the AI companies will have to grapple with.

From audacious plans about data centers into space, heated local battles over buildouts, and potential environmental impacts, here’s The Verge’s news, coverage, and reporting surrounding data centers and the companies that are building them.

Shure’s popular podcasting and streaming mic is almost $50 off

2026-11-06T14:47:02-05:00

Shure’s MV7 Plus is a popular podcasting and streaming mic. | Image: Shure

While the Shure Mv7 Plus is popular with streamers and podcasters, it’s equally good at impressing your friends and coworkers on meetings and Discord calls. It’s currently marked down to $255 at various retailers, including Amazon, Guitar Center, and directly from Shure. That’s almost $50 lower than its usual price, and just a few dollars off Amazon’s all-time low. If you don’t already have a stand, both Amazon and Shure are offering a bundle that includes the mic and a desktop stand for $269, and the white model is also discounted at Amazon.

Shure MV7 Plus

Shure’s MV7 Plus is an updated version of its popular USB microphone. The new version features a USB-C port, a customizable LED light panel, and several additional features available in the Motiv Mix app.

Where to Buy:

When our team shared some of our favorite audio gear in late 2024, we noted that the Mv7 Plus was the mic we send to podcast guests for remote interviews. It’s known for its crisp and clean audio quality, with auto-leveling and denoising, so you can use it without touching an equalizer.

The MV7’s unique shape and sonic profile is inspired by the Shure SM7B (also discounted), a microphone that’s often used in professional recording. This version is meant as a more budget-friendly variant for content creators looking for a simpler setup, with both an XLR output and USB-C, letting you wire into an audio interface or directly to a computer.

Lame-duck Congress might actually do something: speed up energy projects

2026-11-06T13:42:30-05:00

A massive permitting bill that could help energy projects come online much quicker and potentially lower utility bills for Americans is advancing with bipartisan support. And while it could be a catalyst for lots of clean energy, it could also speed up polluting projects and limit oversight of new data centers.

With data centers demanding more electricity for AI, environmental advocates fear that developers could take advantage of the reforms to evade public scrutiny and rely more heavily on fossil fuels. The bill sacrifices caution for speed, limiting environmental reviews and preventing communities from stopping a project from moving forw …

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Meta’s Muse AI can create custom ‘spaces’ for the version of the app you need right now

2026-11-06T15:00:43-05:00

Meta will now allow you to build customized, app-like experiences within Muse. The new feature, called "spaces," allows its AI assistant to build things like a shopping hub, school dashboard, music tracker, trivia game, and more, which you can interact with directly in the Muse app.

Meta says you can create a new space by describing it. If you connect an outside app to Muse - like Gmail, Google Calendar, OpenTable, Notion, and others Muse works with - the AI assistant will continuously pull information from them, allowing it to update pricing, dates, and other information in your space in the background. You can also interact with elements …

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Amazon is now making a Melania Trump TV series

2026-11-06T13:22:13-05:00

Following the Melania documentary movie that premiered earlier this year, Amazon is now planning to release a two-part Prime Video series focusing on the first lady. The show, Melania: The Series, is set to debut on November 20th.

"MELANIA, The Series reveals never-before-told stories, offering unprecedented insight into Melania Trump's life, including the extraordinary days immediately following the 47th Presidential Inauguration," according to a description in a press release.

Here's what Amazon says the two episodes will be about:

I. Family & Trust:

Melania Trump sets priorities as she prepares to become America's First Lady. B …

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