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A sample of a polymetallic nodule at the Viridian Biometals lab in Pasadena, California. | Photo: Getty Images The Trump administration took the next step toward unilaterally jumpstarting deep-sea mining this week, announcing a "consolidated" permitting process for both searching for and commercially extracting minerals that have so far remained relatively untouched. These minerals are found so deep in the sea that they're beyond any single nation's national jurisdiction - which is why President Trump has sparked outrage over his efforts to bypass an international mining code. A chorus of scientists and ocean advocates warn that disturbing the deep seabed could trigger a chain of unforeseen consequences that could eventually harm coastal communities … Read the full story at The Verge.

Nex Computer runs both Android and this Windows Phone-esque mobile UI that they made in-house. Nex Computer, a company that makes hardware designed to turn your phone into a laptop, is working on something new: the NexPhone. It's a midrange phone that's designed to double as your computer and comes with Android and Linux installed, both of which will offer desktop experiences when plugged into a monitor. But the NexPhone's best trick is that it can dual-boot into Windows 11, essentially becoming a full Windows PC when hooked up to a display - and also offers a mobile UI that pays tribute to Windows Phone when it's unplugged. It's a delightfully geeky attempt to answer the age-old question: Why can't your smartphone just be your whol … Read the full story at The Verge.

What is an authentic photo? A couple of weeks ago, Adam Mosseri posted to his grid. In a series of messages, Instagram's top exec laid out his concerns for the platform in the coming year, largely around AI. The post was equal parts Working Through It, a sounding of alarms, and a rallying cry to creators who use the platform: AI is about to be everywhere on Instagram, and the best way to stand out from "inauthentic" content is to be an authentic, original voice. "Everything that made creators matter - the ability to be real, to connect, to have a voice that couldn't be faked - is now accessible to anyone with the right tools," he says. The people want gritty realness … Read the full story at The Verge.

Your YouTube Shorts feed might soon be filled with a lot more AI-generated content from your favorite creators - including AI-generated versions of the creators themselves. In his annual letter released today, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says that sometime this year, creators will be able to make Shorts using their "own likeness." Mohan didn't share further details about these likenesses. "We'll have more to share soon, including the launch date and how the feature will work," according to YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle. But the likenesses are part of a growing push from YouTube into AI tools; this year, creators will also be able to use A … Read the full story at The Verge.

YouTube TV is getting ready to launch two major updates that will allow you to watch multiple non-sports channels simultaneously, as well as choose from 10 new paid plans focused on a range of topics, including sports, entertainment, and news. In his annual letter to users, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says both of these changes will arrive "soon." YouTube TV has been slowly expanding its multiview feature over the past few years. It introduced multiview for sports broadcasts in 2023 before expanding it to news, weather, and business programming - but only for preselected channels. The platform later started testing the ability for users to cust … Read the full story at The Verge.