EU Won't Shirk Hitting Tech for Fear of US Backlash, Ribera Says
By and Samuel Stolton
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The European Union 's antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said the bloc won't shy away from taking on Silicon Valley firms for fear of retaliation from the White House.
The Spaniard was speaking minutes after she escalated probes against Alphabet Inc. 's Google and iPhone maker Apple Inc. in a move widely seen as a potential provocation to US President Donald Trump, who's threatened tariffs in response to any future fines.
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33 minutes ago
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Good Taste Is More Important Than Ever
The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. There's a lesson I once learned from a CEO—a leader admired not just for his strategic acumen but also for his unerring eye for quality. He's renowned for respecting the creative people in his company. Yet he's also unflinching in offering pointed feedback. When asked what guided his input, he said, 'I may not be a creative genius, but I've come to trust my taste.' That comment stuck with me. I've spent much of my career thinking about leadership. In conversations about what makes any leader successful, the focus tends to fall on vision, execution, and character traits such as integrity and resilience. But the CEO put his finger on a more ineffable quality. Taste is the instinct that tells us not just what can be done, but what should be done. A corporate leader's taste shows up in every decision they make: whom they hire, the brand identity they shape, the architecture of a new office building, the playlist at a company retreat. These choices may seem incidental, but collectively, they shape culture and reinforce what the organization aspires to be. Taste is a subtle sensibility, more often a secret weapon than a person's defining characteristic. But we're entering a time when its importance has never been greater, and that's because of AI. Large language models and other generative-AI tools are stuffing the world with content, much of it, to use the term du jour, absolute slop. In a world where machines can generate infinite variations, the ability to discern which of those variations is most meaningful, most beautiful, or most resonant may prove to be the rarest—and most valuable—skill of all. I like to think of taste as judgment with style. Great CEOs, leaders, and artists all know how to weigh competing priorities, when to act and when to wait, how to steer through uncertainty. But taste adds something extra—a certain sense of how to make that decision in a way that feels fitting. It's the fusion of form and function, the ability to elevate utility with elegance. Think of Steve Jobs unveiling the first iPhone. The device itself was extraordinary, but the launch was more than a technical reveal—it was a performance. The simplicity of the black turtleneck, the deliberate pacing of the announcement, the clean typography on the slides—none of this was accidental. It was all taste. And taste made Apple more than a tech company; it made it a design icon. OpenAI's recently announced acquisition of Io, a startup created by Jony Ive, the longtime head of design at Apple, can be seen, among other things, as an opportunity to increase the AI giant's taste quotient. Taste is neither algorithmic nor accidental. It's cultivated. AI can now write passable essays, design logos, compose music, and even offer strategic business advice. It does so by mimicking the styles it has seen, fed to it in massive—and frequently unknown or obscured—data sets. It has the power to remix elements and bring about plausible and even creative new combinations. But for all its capabilities, AI has no taste. It cannot originate style with intentionality. It cannot understand why one choice might have emotional resonance while another falls flat. It cannot feel the way in which one version of a speech will move an audience to tears—or laughter—because it lacks lived experience, cultural intuition, and the ineffable sense of what is just right. This is not a technical shortcoming. It is a structural one. Taste is born of human discretion—of growing up in particular places, being exposed to particular cultural references, developing a point of view that is inseparable from personality. In other words, taste is the human fingerprint on decision making. It is deeply personal and profoundly social. That's precisely what makes taste so important right now. As AI takes over more of the mechanical and even intellectual labor of work—coding, writing, diagnosing, analyzing—we are entering a world in which AI-generated outputs, and the choices that come with them, are proliferating across, perhaps even flooding, a range of industries. Every product could have a dozen AI-generated versions for teams to consider. Every strategic plan, numerous different paths. Every pitch deck, several visual styles. Generative AI is an effective tool for inspiration—until that inspiration becomes overwhelming. When every option is instantly available, when every variation is possible, the person who knows which one to choose becomes even more valuable. This ability matters for a number of reasons. For leaders or aspiring leaders of any type, taste is a competitive advantage, even an existential necessity—a skill they need to take seriously and think seriously about refining. But it's also in everyone's interest, even people who are not at the top of the decision tree, for leaders to be able to make the right choices in the AI era. Taste, after all, has an ethical dimension. We speak of things as being 'in good taste' or 'in poor taste.' These are not just aesthetic judgments; they are moral ones. They signal an awareness of context, appropriateness, and respect. Without human scrutiny, AI can amplify biases and exacerbate the world's problems. Countless examples already exist: Consider a recent experimental-AI shopping tool released by Google that, as reported by The Atlantic, can easily be manipulated to produce erotic images of celebrities and minors. Good taste recognizes the difference between what is edgy and what is offensive, between what is novel and what is merely loud. It demands integrity. Like any skill, taste can be developed. The first step is exposure. You have to see, hear, and feel a wide range of options to understand what excellence looks like. Read great literature. Listen to great speeches. Visit great buildings. Eat great food. Pay attention to the details: the pacing of a paragraph, the curve of a chair, the color grading of a film. Taste starts with noticing. The second step is curation. You have to begin to discriminate. What do you admire? What do you return to? What feels overdesigned, and what feels just right? Make choices about your preferences—and, more important, understand why you prefer them. Ask yourself what values those preferences express. Minimalism? Opulence? Precision? Warmth? The third step is reflection. Taste is not static. As you evolve, so will your sensibilities. Keep track of how your preferences change. Revisit things you once loved. Reconsider things you once dismissed. This is how taste matures—from reaction to reflection, from preference to philosophy. Taste needs to considered in both education and leadership development. It shouldn't be left to chance or confined to the arts. Business schools, for example, could do more to expose students to beautiful products, elegant strategies, and compelling narratives. Leadership programs could train aspiring executives in the discernment of tone, timing, and presentation. Case studies, after all, are about not just good decisions, but how those decisions were expressed, when they went into action, and why they resonated. Taste can be taught, if we're willing to make space for it. Article originally published at The Atlantic
CNET
44 minutes ago
- CNET
My Favorite Portable iPhone Charger Is 35% Off in All Colors
I take my phone with me wherever I go, and I'm not afraid to admit that I have come to rely on it for just about every aspect of my life -- from getting news, weather and navigation help to staying in close contact with friends, family and coworkers. That means, like many people, I live in constant fear that my iPhone's battery will die on me right when I need it most. That is, until I found the Anker 622 MagGo, which CNET ranked as the best magnetic power bank with an integrated stand and which I now take with me everywhere I go. Right now it's available with a 35% discount on Amazon. That drops the price to just $31 from the $48 list price, making this an excellent value for a major convenience. The charger comes in a variety of colors -- including white, dark gray, lavender, pale blue and pale green -- and it's pretty common to see one or two colors on sale at any given time. But the current discount applies to every option. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Here's why I've stuck with this little charger for so long Have you seen people walk around with a loop of cable hanging from their pocket to their phone? I've been there and hooked that loop on too many chairs and table corners. Never again. The ring of magnets in the Anker 622 MagGo aligns with the MagSafe magnets in every iPhone since the iPhone 12, latching securely and charging without wires. (The notable exception is the iPhone 16E, which does not offer MagSafe but does charge wirelessly using Qi technology. The Anker 622 MagGo will charge the iPhone 16E but won't latch to it magnetically.) It's also compact -- a little backpack feeding power to the phone while you're holding it or have it stashed in a pocket, even a jeans pocket if your fit isn't too tight. Those features alone would have convinced me but the Anker 622 also includes a fold-out back flap that props up my iPhone and can also hold the phone in its wide orientation for StandBy mode. With a power adapter such as the Anker Nano Pro (not included) and a charging cable, I've taught long classes with the phone angled to help me keep track of the time without checking my watch. Essential Anker 622 MagGo specs Here's what you need to know. Battery capacity: 5,000 milliamp hours 5,000 milliamp hours Voltage: 1.55 volts 1.55 volts Output: 7.5-watt Magnetic (compatible with MagSafe-equipped devices, iPhone 12 and later) or 20-watt USB-C port. Can charge only one device at a time. 7.5-watt Magnetic (compatible with MagSafe-equipped devices, iPhone 12 and later) or 20-watt USB-C port. Can charge only one device at a time. Input: The same single USB-C is also how you recharge the device. The same single USB-C is also how you recharge the device. Size: 4.13-inch by 2.61 inches by 0.5 inch 4.13-inch by 2.61 inches by 0.5 inch Weight: 5 ounces 5 ounces Included: Magnetic battery, 60cm (23.6 inches) USB-C to USB-C cable Magnetic battery, 60cm (23.6 inches) USB-C to USB-C cable Warranty: 24 months Jeff Carlson/CNET MagSafe-compatible charging I've owned several battery chargers and each one has some sort of compromise. They're bulky. They require a cable. They charge wirelessly but don't include a magnet to keep the phone in place so it's hard to maintain that connection. There's always something. The Anker 622 is half an inch thick and snaps onto the back of my iPhone using the MagSafe-aligned magnets. I don't have to turn it on to start charging -- power flows as soon as the connection is made. Now, this isn't the highest-capacity (5,000 mAh) or fastest portable charger. That's fine. What I usually need is a way to eke out a few more hours of battery life on my iPhone. I can typically get a full top-off of my iPhone 15 Pro. The Anker 622 MagGo is smaller than an iPhone 15 Pro. Jeff Carlson/CNET Making a stand The other appealing feature of the Anker 622 MagGo for me is its built-in stand. Honestly, it doesn't look like it should work well: It's a fabric-covered set of plastic pieces that lie flush against the case, folds in two places and attaches to the back of the unit with a magnetic strip when extended. Yet I've had no problems with the stability of my iPhone 15 Pro or even the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max size. The stand on the Anker 622 MagGo slides down and adheres with a magnetic strip. Jeff Carlson/CNET This also lets me use standby mode by turning the iPhone to landscape orientation (the magnets are strong enough to hold the phone in place) when it's on a table or desk. Flip the iPhone horizontally to take advantage of StandBy mode while charging. Jeff Carlson/CNET Smart port placement matters The charger gets its juice from a single USB-C port, which is positioned on the edge of the case, not the bottom. That means you can replenish it while the stand is open -- many chargers' ports are stuck on the bottom. Having the USB-C port on the side keeps it accessible even when in its stand configuration. Jeff Carlson/CNET That USB-C port also acts as a charger for other devices when you plug in a cable, such as when your Apple Watch needs a boost. Charge other devices, such as an Apple Watch, from the Anker 622's USB-C port. Jeff Carlson/CNET How the Anker 622 MagGo compares to similar power banks Before getting the Anker 622 MagGo, I carried an Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, which doubles the battery capacity, includes a USB-A port and charges wirelessly but without magnets to hold the phone in place. That meant if I didn't use a cable, the phone and charger needed to be stable and level; too often I'd find the iPhone slid off its wireless perch and not charged. It's also larger and heavier. I still use it, but it's the power bank that goes into my carry-on suitcase as a backup charger. The Anker 622 MagGo is much smaller and lighter than my old reliable Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, which is now a solid backup. Jeff Carlson/CNET Since I've owned this Anker 622 MagGo, the company has released a few updated models. The $55 Anker 633 (currently on sale for $45) packs 10,000 mAh into a slightly thicker brick, includes a USB-A port in addition to USB-C and has a metal kickstand for resting the phone upright. You can also consider getting the chunkier Anker MagGo Power Bank that delivers 10,000 mAh and follows the same idea of compact magnetic charging and a convenient kickstand. Its main appeals are faster 15-watt magnetic charging and Qi2 compatibility, plus a small display on the side that reports the battery capacity and an estimate of the remaining battery in hours. For more smart buys, check out this amazing multitool and a portable TV that can go anywhere. And if you happen to be gift shopping, check out our roundup of the best gifts for grads, the best Father's Day gifts and the best tech gifts for anyone, anytime of year.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Social Rundown: Apple iOS 26, PB&J Zoom court feud, and spider lamp
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Welcome back to the Social Rundown, where you can learn about the online trends happening globally and in Texoma, too! Want to get the latest tea or news on what's trending on social media? Tune in daily! Apple iOS26 The iOS 26 upgrade is expected to be released in September, around the time Apple is expected to roll out the new iPhone. The latest upgrade includes its new 'liquid glass' design, and Apple has highlighted plans for more AI tools designed to simplify people's lives and make its products even more intuitive, while also providing an early glimpse at the most significant redesign of its iPhone software in a decade. PB&J Zoom court feud A Detroit woman was removed from an online court session after showing up late and attempting to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich during the call. Footage from Detroit's 36th District Court shows an unimpressed judge regarding her tardiness, as well as her clothing choices. Spider Lamp One Japanese engineer has created a neat lamp with six legs that crawls around your home in the dark. A spider-shaped lamp is expected to be introduced in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
