Technology

Itron and Toumetis announced a project with San Diego Gas & Electric under the EPIC program to deploy real-time analytics across more than 800 distribution circuits, combining smart meter and other grid sensor data to help prevent outages and shorten outage duration.

Amazon says it delivered more than 13 billion items worldwide same or next day last year and expanded free same- and next-day delivery to over 4,000 smaller US cities and towns, with grocery and everyday essentials making up a large share of those orders.

Police say two sisters, ages 12 and 14, were found safe after communicating with a 19-year-old man on Roblox and Snapchat; the suspect is jailed in Georgia on kidnapping and interference with child custody charges while authorities seek extradition to Florida.

Platforms and AI firms are tightening content quality controls to limit AI-generated “slop,” which the article reports can degrade model performance; reported responses include takedowns, algorithm updates, and new hires focused on content expertise.

U.S. operations moved under an American-led joint venture and TikTok says U.S. user data and the recommendation algorithm are managed domestically; the article emphasizes that privacy outcomes still depend largely on how accounts are configured.

A Resume.org study reports 57% of companies use AI in hiring, and experts describe growing use of AI for resume screening, chatbot interviews, and a renewed emphasis on live interviews and AI collaboration.

Bad Bunny's all-Spanish album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the first time an all‑Spanish-language record has received that honor; he also won Best Música Urbana Album and Best Global Music Performance.

Bad Bunny's album "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" won album of the year at the Grammy Awards, the first time an all‑Spanish‑language album has won that category. The artist began his acceptance speech in Spanish and collected three wins that night.

Hundreds gathered at the Utah State Capitol for the 5th annual Rally to Save Our Great Salt Lake as officials warn the lake dropped to its third-lowest level and public health experts cite risks from toxic dust and worsening air quality. State leaders and advocates note a pending $30 million acquisition of U.S. Magnesium to route more water to the lake as part of broader restoration efforts.

Mercedes has given the S‑Class a broad mid-cycle refresh that replaces or upgrades roughly 2,700 parts and introduces a revised 4.0‑liter V8 with mild‑hybrid support. The update also adds expanded rear-seat amenities and an updated MBUX voice assistant with short‑term memory.

Amazon says it found hundreds of thousands of suspected child sexual abuse images in AI training data during 2025 and reported them to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, while providing limited information about where the material originated.

At Davos 2026, leaders framed artificial intelligence as a large, capital‑intensive infrastructure driving economic and geopolitical shifts; discussions focused on governance, control and limits in compute, energy and data center capacity.

South Florida is expecting unusually cold weather, and many residents are testing heaters or using space heaters and other heat sources. Local technicians and fire officials emphasized routine heater maintenance and noted the risks of space heaters placed too close to flammable items.

Sergey Brin donated $20 million to Building a Better California, a new nonprofit focused on housing affordability; the group disclosed other contributions and has funded two ballot initiative drives. It has not taken a position on a proposed 5% billionaire asset tax that could seek the November ballot.

OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor said vibe coding will become commonplace, but he argues the bigger disruption will be AI agents that change how software is structured and operated.

Families of the Challenger crew created the Challenger Center in 1986 to continue the mission of space education, and the nonprofit now operates 32 centers and estimates it has reached more than 7 million students worldwide.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Directive No. 2026-1 to prepare state agencies to explore and possibly commercialize geologic hydrogen, with multiple reports due by April 1. The order directs reviews of legal, technical, infrastructure, workforce and environmental issues tied to exploration, production, transportation and storage.

Archaeologists in Oaxaca uncovered a well-preserved 1,400-year-old Zapotec tomb that contains carved figures, a large owl at its entrance and ritual murals; teams from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History are stabilizing and studying the site while surveys probe possible connected underground chambers.

A group of 19 Buddhist monks and their dog are continuing a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace toward Washington despite a severe winter storm, and the group paused public visitation on Jan. 26 because of hazardous weather.

EY's global chief innovation officer, referred to as Depa, says he has a 'high sensitivity' for spotting AI use and outlines writing and presentation cues such as neutral tone, repetition, vague hedging, and surface-level insights. A Business Insider survey of 220 respondents found about 40% said they sometimes or always hide AI use at work.

A powerful winter storm moving across much of the U.S. has raised the risk of widespread power outages; the article summarizes reported safety and food-safety guidance from sources such as the American Red Cross and USA TODAY.

HP introduced a suite called HP AI for printers, currently available in the US, and a reviewer found the Perfect Printing feature can cut printed pages but is still inconsistent across sites.

Starting Jan. 26, New York City will require delivery apps to show a tipping option at checkout with a 10% default gratuity, and a federal judge recently rejected Uber and DoorDash's bid to block the law.

Double Fine previewed Kiln at Xbox's Developer Direct and released Keeper last year; both games are presented as examples of the studio's unusual, creativity-focused designs within Microsoft's umbrella.

Ubisoft said it will reorganize into five 'creative houses', discontinue and delay several games, and cut its fiscal targets; the announcement coincided with a more than 30% fall in the company's shares.

Samuels & Associates agreed to take over operations of Time Out Market in Fenway a day before it was set to close, and the Time Out Market name will remain under a license agreement.

Veterinary groups and pet experts outline seven practical measures for cold-weather pet safety, including preparing emergency supplies, keeping animals indoors during severe storms, cleaning paws after walks, and confirming identification. The guidance aims to reduce risks such as hypothermia, poisoning from de-icing chemicals or antifreeze, burns near heaters, and pets becoming lost.

Microsoft is rolling out AI features to Paint and Notepad for Windows Insiders, including a Paint 'Coloring book' tool that generates four blank templates from text prompts and Notepad streaming for AI writing tools.

General Motors engineers drove two pre-production EVs 5,000 miles to gather real-world data and traced a slow public fast-charger to a software typo that the operator fixed.

The New Product Zone at the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando presented new golf tech, travel solutions, performance gear, novelty items, and wellness products. Notable entries included AI-powered smart glasses, GPS radios with detachable screens, and travel protection systems for clubs.